State of Ukraine, Helios Corp Warehouse Complex
Maxim Chernykh’s team, August 14, 2049, 05:23 PM
There were still a few hours left before the dusk fell, and the sun poured its heat mercilessly over the concrete walls of the industrial district, casting harsh shadows across the scorching asphalt. The Helios Corp warehouse complex appeared lifeless and abandoned — a series of massive concrete blocks, alongside an empty parking lot, all surrounded by a tall fence. Not a soul in sight, and even the birds avoided the area. Then again, this was typical of areas where Shaiszu portals were active. The new masters of Earth tolerated no competition.
A swift, nimble flying scout whizzed overhead, making its second pass around the area, meticulously scanning the terrain. Only two days ago, this place was a hive of activity, but now everything had come to a halt: trucks frozen mid-loading, robots powered down, and forklifts standing idle. It was as if someone had given a command, and people simply vanished, abandoning their tasks, leaving behind silent machines and unfinished business — like the footprints of a bygone era.
“Pretty grim scene,” Maksim muttered, studying the drone’s live feed of the area alongside his team from the cab of the truck.
“Hey, think we can snag one of their vehicles?” Nikola, ever upbeat and proactive, didn’t share his gloom. “I mean, why not? It’s free and just begging for it! Clearly, they don’t need ‘em if they left everything behind, and we could sure use the extra cargo space!”
“Not a bad idea,” Alisa agreed. “We need to expand our fleet anyway. No point buying it from TACTA if we can just take this stuff. Actually, I’d grab everything — to rebuild, sell, or strip it down for parts.”
“Are we sure that won’t count as ‘theft’ though? I mean, we’re on a mission, after all,” Nika mused, eyeing the abandoned vehicles. “What if Rzeszów’s already claimed them all?”
“Let’s finish the mission first,” Maksim grumbled darkly. “Thinking about looting before we’ve even completed the job? Bad omen.”
“But you don’t believe in omens,” Vasilevskaya quipped, exhaling vapor from her vape. “Or horoscopes, Tarot, Odin, or magic in general!”
“Alright, team, enough chatter!” he cut in, shutting down the conversation. “I’m formally declaring the mission open. Let’s get to work! Daria, why the hell aren’t you suited up yet? And where’s your helmet? Put that vape away and get your helmet on! Move it!”
“Yes, sir... Maxie! I’m on it!”
“Switch to conference mode, visors down,” Maksim demonstrated by lowering his own. [And no more talking aloud until the mission’s over. Alisa, stop circling the perimeter. Park the bird by the main gate.]
[Got it.]
[Nika, I’m about to get the truck under the roof. Help me with the stealth module — I’ll tell you what to do. Alisa, we’re short on drones and even shorter on ammo, but we’ll leave two combat units here to cover Moira. And let’s send one scout higher up for tactical overview.]
[Okay!] Redhead responded.
[On it,] Alisa confirmed.
The mission has begun!
----------------------------------------
Unfortunately, the team had only six functional combat drones left of their flying machines’ fleet. And two of those had to stay behind to guard the truck with Moira. Ammo was running dangerously low — escaping Kyiv had taken a heavy toll, wiping out most of their tech.
On the upside, five lightweight, high-speed racing drones had survived — sport models, incredibly fast and equipped with top-tier cameras. Each drone was also fitted with a few lidars, whose data the System quickly utilized to generate a tactical 3D map of the area.
On the ground, Big One was still operational, though it had seen better days. Along with it, two quick wheeled bots had survived. They were almost armorless, but both equipped with rapid-fire, small-caliber machine guns. Though, they were also nearly out of ammo — another cold military truth: the faster you fire, the faster you run out.
At least, summoning the TACTA Drone to deliver the ordered medical supplies went off without a hitch. It arrived as scheduled, and Max with Nika had unloaded the small order in five seconds flat. The Drone gave a cheeky wing-flap before darting off into the distance. And with that, their little “quest” ended.
They could only hope none of the newly acquired supplies would be needed anytime soon. Still, Alisa took the opportunity to treat Max and Nika, applying some of the regenerative gel and bandages to speed up their healing.
The truck was left in a safe spot just 180 meters from the entrance to the complex, reactivating the stealth module before heading out. After a short sprint, the team reached the entrance gate. The drones, having already flown over the fence, took their positions, enhancing the real-time 3D map of the territory that the AI was building from the drones’ footage. One scout immediately ascended for a tactical overview of the whole area.
[Streaming to Free Rzeszów’s designated server has started, channel is stable, transmitting all drone data,] Alisa reported curtly.
[Great, let’s get started. We'll begin with that building — it looks like their administrative office is located there. Several entry points are available. The main gate’s out — too exposed,] Maksim said as he placed markers on the map. [We don’t know what we’re up against inside, so let’s not draw any unnecessary attention. There’s an emergency exit on the east side — it looks promising. The area’s clear. Move out, to positions!]
Another short sprint followed.
Big One extended its manipulator to test the door handle — locked! After scanning the surroundings, the bot, under Alisa’s control, spotted the sensor panel of an electronic lock. Carefully nudging the plastic cover next to it, it revealed a single port for a smart cable. Perfect, a quiet entry might be possible.
[WonderKid, you’re up.]
[On it!]
Daria had prepped for moments like this. Instead of connecting directly through her interface implant, she used a handheld module, which allowed her to work without removing her helmet. The girl rushed to the door, quickly attached the cable, and crouched behind the bot for cover.
[I’m in! Thirty seconds!]
A soft beep from the lock soon followed.
Not taking any chances, Vasilevskaya darted back into cover as soon as the hack was complete. Max and Nika, already in position, aimed their rifles at the door. Big One moved forward, accompanied by two combat drones and three scouts, ready to breach.
[Max, I’ve got a bad feeling,] Daria said as she crouched into position. [I’m pretty sure the lock sent out an unauthorized access alert, and I think the local security AI is gearing up for a welcome party. But I have no proof, just a hunch — yeah.]
[Got it,] Maksim nodded, though with his helmet on, it was barely noticeable. [First thing we do once inside is find proper access consoles. There’s gotta be at least a couple according to protocol — we need access to their network. And let’s brace ourselves for any surprises.]
The door creaked open, and Big One along with the drones slipped inside.
The flying machines zipped through the short corridor in an instant, emerging into the warehouse. Dim emergency lights barely pierced the darkness, casting long, distorted shadows from the towering shelves, which stretched all the way up to the ceiling, stacked with endless rows of boxes and containers.
[All clear. Mapping out the interior,] Alisa reported, leaving Big One at the door to stand guard while sending the scouts forward at full throttle, sweeping the rooms.
The rest of the team’s drones followed, except for one left outside to monitor the Helios Corp perimeter from above. Somewhere deep inside, a red light blinked to life on a large console in a dark room...
[Max, looks like Daria was right. We’re being watched!] Alisa remarked after a frantic sweep of the area. [At the very least, all the surveillance cameras are active and tracking our drones. And look how many there are — far too many for a simple warehouse facility! They aren’t even bothered that it’s dark in here — apparently, night vision is fully active.]
[Noted. The mission briefing didn’t mention a security system, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t one,] Maksim responded, tracing a path on the complex map. [Here — these administrative offices seem promising. Likely spots for the manager’s office, security room, and the engineering control hub. Let’s head there first. We’ll try to pull up a layout of the facility, figure out the contents of the warehouse, and see if we can get the lights on to record everything properly for the final report.]
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The team moved in, covering each other as they entered the building.
[Big One and one of the combat bots will lead. I’m right behind them,] Maksim commanded as soon as everyone was inside. [Alisa, Daria, you’re in the middle. Nikola and the last bot will cover the rear. Stay sharp and watch out for traps. If the security systems are active and haven’t reacted to the drones, the AI might be luring us into an ambush!]
After passing through a short corridor, they turned left into a massive storage hall. The scorching heat from outside was replaced by a refreshing coolness — emergency lighting, ventilation, and air conditioning systems were all functioning properly.
//SYSTEM
Notice! “Gungnir BETA, v. 0.09.5” module activated
The visual feed changed instantly. Darkness retreated sharply, revealing even the finest details. A new layer of infographics highlighted potentially significant objects, including good cover spots for combat.
This effect was provided by the AI processing of the visuals received from the night vision systems in the helmets and the drone cameras. By combining passive light amplification with active infrared illumination, and overlaying the lidar results on top, they had achieved an impressive outcome.
Additionally, the feed was enhanced using data from thermal imagers, electromagnetic sensors, as well as audio and chemical detectors built into each team member's helmet. After processing, they were also added as optional visual filters, disabled by default to avoid information overload.
On the left side of their view, an AR-interface column appeared, displaying each team member’s status. Instead of portraits, each was represented by a small square displaying the name, the current 'first-person view,' and two bars — one green, one red, both filled to 100%. On the right, a similar layout showed key robots and drones.
The interface elements blinked, briefly enlarging before shrinking down again, indicating their scalability. They then neatly shifted to the corners to keep the field of view clear.
Finally, a real-time tactical map appeared in the bottom right corner, fully customizable like the rest of the interface elements.
[Sorry, everyone,] Daria muttered, clearly embarrassed. [I… uh… gave the Combat Module its own name. No one minds, yeah?]
As she spoke, the interface element linked to her name grew slightly and highlighted itself, indicating who was speaking now. That’s right, the System had integrated seamlessly into the team’s always-on communication conference.
[We activated this module even though it’s not fully completed. But the core functionality is ready. Nikola, thanks for the input on the HUD interface configurations and the military algorithms for the AI assistants,] Alisa added.
[You’re welcome,] Redhead smiled, and though her face wasn’t visible behind her helmet’s visor, the System added a small smiling emoji next to her status mediaglyph.
[Gungnir?] Maksim’s curious girlfriend messaged him privately.
[Ah-ha. Odin’s spear. Said to pierce any target, break through the thickest shields and armor, shatter swords — you know, all that stuff. Sorry, but all our team’s names follow Norse mythology. It’s an unspoken rule. Not a big deal for us, but for WonderKid, it’s essential. Cool with you?]
[Yeah, sure,] Nikola nodded, accompanied by an emote of a nod. [I get it, no problem.]
With the enhanced visuals, small details immediately stood out. A still-active forklift that had jammed its prongs into a stack of pallets, blinking sadly with an orange warning light. Ladders and a couple of scissor lifts were left scattered in the aisles. Boxes, plastic bottles, and crumpled papers littered the floor. A couple of tables by the wall still held a half-drunk cup of coffee and a bitten chocolate bar — clear signs the warehouse staff had evacuated in a hurry.
[Alright, let’s move,] Maksim ordered curtly.
To avoid getting lost in the maze of shelves, the team stuck close to the wall, advancing slowly.
They passed through a series of large storage areas — the complex was much bigger inside than it appeared from the outside. Finally, a sign reading “Administration” appeared, and the team got into a corridor leading to the ‘office section’ of the building.
They had already reached the middle of it when, suddenly, the entire AR-space was flooded with a bright red area of the visual telegraph — Daria’s ‘Sixth Sense’ passive ability from the third-level ‘Foresight’ attribute had triggered..
Before Maksim’s eyes, a message flashed.
//SYSTEM:
NEURAL SURGE – ACTIVATED!
Out of nowhere came the understanding — he had just poured every bit of his energy into this ability, and the backlash would be brutal later. But right now, that didn’t matter. The trap was laid perfectly, and the lives of his entire team rested on his shoulders.
Time slows down, much more than before.
Hidden panels in the ceiling begin to open at a snail’s pace, revealing rapid-fire turrets. Max sees three of them – his view isn’t enough to catch more. He takes control of all the drones to provide himself a full 360-degree view, not relying solely on the lidar data.
Meanwhile, his hands, moving with agonizing slowness, raise the assault rifle. He’ll take on the first turret himself, hoping the bullet caliber will be enough to pierce the armor, if they have any.
The command to engage afterburner mode is given, and two scout drones slowly turn, revealing a fourth, fifth, and sixth ceiling nest! He can also see hidden compartments at the entrance and exit doors, from which two heavy armor plates are gradually sliding out, meant to cut off entry and exit, trapping them inside the corridor.
The turret bodies emerged fully now. It was clear their design prioritized speed. And unfortunately, they were armored, though lightly, likely to avoid compromising their deployment and maneuverability. The System, already processing the situation, highlighted weak points on their structure.
At that moment, in the augmented reality, six translucent red tunnels appeared, tracing turrets’ projected firing paths. The denser the color, the higher the probability of where they would fire. Daria had connected, activating her “Glimpse into the Future” ability, which integrated seamlessly with the virtual environment controlled by the System.
“Must assign all the targets!”
The first turret clearly wouldn’t have time to turn. But Maksim could take it down with his rifle alone, he was sure of that.
The second one would be Alisa’s target. She wasn’t as fast as her brother at this moment, but she could react almost instantly once she saw the command. To ensure success, the wheeled bot would back her up, firing at the same target.
The third and fourth turrets would be handled by the combat drones — paired up, as their small-caliber machine guns might not have enough punch to get through the armor alone.
But the fifth firing tunnel was bad news — it was aimed directly at Dasha, who didn’t have the reflexes or the agility for evasive maneuvers in a firefight. She wouldn’t be able to dodge. Neither Nikola, Big One, nor the remaining unnamed bot could make it in time either — they were too far away or poorly positioned.
“Too risky!”
Max made the split-second decision to sacrifice two of the scout drones, sending one into the turret’s line of fire and using the other to ram the barrel, redirecting the shots. This would buy enough time for Big One to finish rotating and destroy the turret.
As for the sixth combat platform, it was Nikola’s task. Luckily, it was malfunctioning — unlike the others, its mechanism was lagging behind, and it hadn’t even fully deployed yet. This gave Redhead just enough time to dodge out of its kill zone and, with the help of the wheeled bot, suppress it before it became a threat.
The team’s drones opened fire first. Alisa followed, reacting much faster than any ordinary human. The ground robots unleashed their firepower as well.
As the turrets completed their deployment, they retaliated, trying to halt the bold intruders. Bullets chewed up the concrete near Maksim and Alisa, clipped drones’ hulls and tore apart the poor flying scout thrown into the line of fire.
But it was already too late.
Maksim’s automatic rifle roared to life, quickly joined by Redhead’s one. She saw the “dodge” command in her HUD and, in a feat of incredible agility, managed to open fire mid-jump.
Within seconds, it was over. Smoke filled the corridor, and Maksim collapsed onto one knee, doubling over in pain, while Daria had completely lost consciousness.
But the trap had failed — no one was seriously hurt. Almost.
Alisa rushed over to her brother, helping him remove his helmet. She could already see his medical monitor readings and took off the medpack mid-run. The armor had already injected him with a quick-acting painkiller, one they’d recently purchased and pre-installed in the armor’s medical slot.
“Nika, take care of WonderKid,” Max croaked, fighting off a wave of nausea.
But the command wasn’t needed — Redhead had already moved, knowing exactly what to do. After the TACTA Drone had delivered their supplies earlier, she and Alisa had prepared two med-packs. Maksim’s sister kept the primary one, while Nikola had taken the backup.
“Does Dasha have an implanted med-monitor?” Redhead asked, kneeling beside the unconscious girl. “Wait, never mind, I see it now. I can pull up the status-mediaglyph — it has the info I need.”
“Well, she’s got the most basic civilian version,” Alisa still answered as she examined her brother. “So, the data is limited — only pulse, blood pressure, temperature, and stuff like that. But I’m pretty sure she’s dealing with the same thing as Maksim. They both ran out of that strange energy, and their abilities pulled the rest from their bodies instead. We’ve got those advanced TACTA stimulants — should be enough to get both of them back on their feet.”
“Hm, so what stopped us from preloading these stim ampules into the med slots on our armor and tying their use to the System? It’s constantly monitoring our vitals anyway,” Nikola pointed out as she opened her med-pack and pulled out a case of TACTA meds. “Even the basic data from a civilian med-monitor would give enough info to decide when to use the pharma.”
She quickly extracted the needed ampule, slotted it in, and gave the command for injection.
“Inborn stupidity, that’s what,” Maksim rasped, wiping his face with Alisa’s help. After the backlash, a heavy nosebleed had drenched his lips, cheeks, and chin. “But yeah, good idea. Let’s implement that. You guys just need to update the System to take it into account.”
“We had planned for Gungnir to eventually handle combat chems and medical treatment too. We’ll tweak it once we get the chance to work on the code,” Alisa said, packing away the meds and slinging the med-pack back over her shoulder.
Daria stirred and let out a heavy sigh — the TACTA stimulant worked fast.
“Easy now, you’re alright,” Nikola reassured her. “You passed out after using your magic ability. How’re you feeling? Can you hear me?”
[Yeah, I hear you. I… think I’m okay. Yeah…] Daria answered in the conference channel. [Wait… can I talk now? And is my helmet off?]
“Yes, WonderKid, you can talk,” Max reassured her. “After the gunfight we just had, there’s no point in staying silent. We walked right into a trap full of turrets, but made it out thanks to your ‘Glimpse into the Future’ and my ‘Neural Surge’.”
He gave Alisa a grateful nod, and then stood up with a groan. Carefully surveying the aftermath of the battle, he shook his head and put his helmet back on.
“For a supposedly civilian corporation, this is overkill,” the guy added, spreading his hands. “Or maybe there’s something about Helios Corp I don’t know... But this kind of defense is pure military-grade, expensive, and top-notch. Now we just have to figure out what they’re hiding here, and whether we got shortchanged by taking this mission.”
Alisa walked over and tapped one of the armored plates that had sealed off the corridor’s entrance and exit.
“So… how exactly are we getting out of here?”