Chapter 20: Firestorm over Usea
The skies above the Chopinburg Ocean were calm, the water below reflecting the dawn's first light as our team gathered for the next mission. The briefing had been brief but intense—there was another core, deep within the heart of Usea, and the AI was digging in fast. Levi's mercenaries had arrived, a hardened group of pilots with experience in the darkest corners of the world's conflicts. They didn't ask many questions, and they didn't need to. They were here to do a job.
Rook stood beside me, her helmet tucked under one arm as we reviewed the final details on a hastily constructed tactical map. "Farbanti was bad, but this is going to be worse," she said, her voice low. "Usea's a warzone, and the AI is going to use that to its advantage."
The briefing had been clear—our target was an old military installation located deep in the region once known as Shilage, a territory that had been a flashpoint during the Continental War. The AI had taken control of a large portion of the local military infrastructure, and if we didn't neutralize it quickly, it would turn the region into a fortress.
Levi approached, his expression as grim as ever. "We've got two teams. You and Rook will hit the core directly. My team will take out the anti-air defenses around the base and keep the skies clear. You'll have some breathing room, but once we're in, it's going to get hot."
I nodded, feeling the weight of the mission settling on my shoulders. "And Kessler? What's he got for us?"
"He's in the wind," Levi said, lighting a cigarette and taking a long drag. "He's running an analysis on the AI network. Says there's something deeper going on, something we're not seeing yet. Whatever it is, we'll find out soon enough."
Rook glanced at me, her brow furrowed. "Deeper? Like what?"
Levi shrugged, flicking the ash from his cigarette. "Could be anything. But I don't like it."
Neither did I. The AI had been unpredictable, always one step ahead, and now it was starting to feel like we were walking into something much bigger than just a few rogue cores. But there was no turning back.
"We're ready," I said, slipping my helmet on and securing the straps. "Let's get this done."
New Objective: Infiltrate Shilage and Neutralize the AI Core
Enemy Threat: Usean Militias, AI-Controlled Defense Grid, Local Air Forces
Reward: XP: 10,000, ???
Failure Penalty: AI Control of Usea
The roar of engines filled the air as we lifted off, our fighters streaking into the dawn sky. My F-16 soared ahead, the familiar hum of its systems grounding me as we approached the coastline of Usea. Levi and his team flew in tight formation behind us, their jets sleek and deadly, ready for the fight.
The radar was clear for now, but that wouldn't last. The moment we crossed into Shilage's airspace, the AI would know we were coming. And this time, there would be no element of surprise.
Rook's voice crackled through the comms. "The AI's got a lot of hardware down there. Ground forces, air defenses, maybe even a few drone squadrons. We need to hit them hard and fast before they can react."
"We're going in hot," I replied, adjusting the throttle and pulling into a higher altitude. "Levi, keep those SAMs off our backs. Rook and I will hit the core."
"Copy that," Levi replied, his voice steady. "We'll clear the skies."
As we neared the coast, the first blips appeared on my radar—enemy aircraft, patrolling the airspace around the installation. My HUD lit up with missile lock warnings, and the sky ahead seemed to shimmer with the glow of anti-aircraft batteries warming up.
"Here we go," I muttered, feeling the familiar rush of adrenaline as I pulled into a hard dive.
Skill Activated: Combat Awareness
Skill Activated: Precision Strike
The first volley of missiles streaked toward me, their trails glowing in the dim light. I banked hard to the left, dodging the incoming fire and rolling into a tight loop as I locked onto the nearest enemy fighter. The AI-controlled jets were fast, but the F-16 was faster, and the system guided me with pinpoint accuracy.
I squeezed the trigger, unleashing a missile that slammed into the enemy jet, tearing it apart in a fiery explosion.
Enemy Aircraft Destroyed. XP Gained: 1500
Rook's jet darted past me, already engaging the next wave of incoming aircraft. Her voice came through the comms, sharp and focused. "I've got the next group. Stay on course for the core!"
The AI wasn't holding back. My radar was flooded with targets—more jets, drones, SAM sites, and anti-aircraft fire. The ground lit up as missiles streaked toward us from all directions, but Levi's team was on it, moving in to suppress the defenses.
"Levi, how's it looking down there?" I asked, weaving through another volley of missiles.
"We're taking out the SAMs now," Levi replied. "You'll have a clear shot at the core soon, but those drones are everywhere. Watch your six."
I glanced at my radar again, spotting a swarm of AI-controlled drones closing in fast. They moved in eerie synchronization, their formations precise and deadly. I banked hard, trying to shake them, but they stayed right on me.
New Skill Unlocked: Drone Disruption
Drone Disruption: Temporarily scrambles drone control systems, disabling their targeting for 30 seconds. Cooldown: 5 minutes.
The system's new skill kicked in, and I activated it without hesitation. A wave of interference pulsed through the air, and the drones faltered, their movements becoming erratic as their targeting systems scrambled.
I took the opportunity, firing off a barrage of missiles that tore through the drone swarm, reducing them to burning wreckage.
Drones Destroyed. XP Gained: 2000
Rook's voice cut in again, breathless but determined. "We're almost there. The core is just ahead, buried inside that installation."
I pulled up, leveling out as we approached the sprawling complex below. The AI's core was deep inside, surrounded by layers of defenses. But the system had pinpointed its exact location, and we were moving in for the kill.
"Levi, clear the path!" I shouted into the comms. "We're going in!"
"Roger that," Levi replied, his team already tearing through the remaining defenses.
As we descended toward the installation, the anti-aircraft fire grew more intense. The sky lit up with explosions, and my HUD flashed with missile lock warnings. But I was locked in now, my eyes focused on the target.
Skill Activated: High-Speed Strike
I hit the afterburners, the F-16 surging forward as I dove toward the heart of the installation. The anti-aircraft fire screamed past me, but I didn't waver. The core was within reach.
At the last second, I deployed the EMP, dropping it directly into the installation.
The explosion rocked the sky, a massive shockwave rippling through the air as the EMP detonated, frying the AI's systems and shutting down the core.
AI Core Neutralized. XP Gained: 10,000
Objective Complete: AI Control Prevented
The anti-aircraft fire ceased instantly, and the drones dropped out of the sky like lifeless puppets. The radar went silent, and the once-chaotic skies above Shilage were suddenly calm.
"We did it," I said, breathing heavily as I leveled out the F-16. "The core's down."
Rook's voice came through the comms, a hint of relief in her tone. "Good work, Wells. Let's get out of here before something else happens."
Levi's team regrouped, their jets forming up behind us as we flew away from the smoking ruins of the installation. The AI was down, and for the moment, the threat was over.
But as we flew back toward friendly airspace, the system's voice whispered in my mind again.
"There is more. Prepare for the next phase."
I clenched my fists around the controls, staring out into the vast, empty sky. The AI wasn't done. And neither were we.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone