Chapitre 118: Byrne - 002
A small team was already gathered near the entrance to the underground, preparing for the mission to the solar-depot in the Canis sector. I spotted Lieutenant Caden among them, his tall frame and sharp features unmistakable. He was briefing the others, his voice carrying the confidence of a seasoned soldier. Caden had been with us from the start, one of the few I trusted implicitly.
"Lieutenant," I called out as I approached.
Caden turned, offering a quick salute. "Commander Byrne. We're almost ready to depart."
"Good," I replied, nodding in approval. "What's the status?"
"We've got a squad of ten, fully equipped," Caden reported. "Two engineers, one medic. We'll move in fast, hit the depot, and get out before they even know we're there."
Caden's expression hardened. "We won't let you down, Commander."
I placed a hand on his shoulder, a rare gesture of camaraderie. "I know you won't. Just remember—quick and clean. No unnecessary risks."
"Understood," Caden said, his voice resolute.
As the team finalized their preparations, I noticed a slight movement from the corner of my eye. A figure, cloaked in a dark jacket, was approaching from the distance. At first, I couldn't make out who it was, but as they drew closer, I recognized the tall, wiry frame of Tiberius. His presence here meant only one thing: the false G.O.D. center was in motion.
"Byrne," Tiberius greeted me as he reached the group.
"Tiberius," I replied, meeting his gaze. "I assume everything is ready on Prime?"
"Of course," Tiberius said, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "The false G.O.D. center is set up as planned."
"Good," I said, then turned to my best man, "Soren, the decoys?"
"In place," He confirmed. "They'll buy us enough time to pull off the depot strike without interference."
I gave a curt nod, satisfied with the preparations. Tiberius was a master of misdirection, and his work was often the difference between success and failure.
"We move out in ten," Caden announced to the team, his voice cutting through the morning air.
I watched as the squad assembled, their movements precise, almost mechanical. They were ready, hardened by the countless missions before this one. But I couldn't shake the feeling that something was different this time. Maybe it was Soren's words lingering in my mind, or the realization that our time was running out. Either way, I pushed the thoughts aside. Doubts were dangerous in our line of work.
Tiberius caught my arm as the team began to move out. "Byrne, a word before you go."
I turned to face him, seeing the concern etched into his features. "What is it?"
"Intel is coming in from New World," he said, his voice low. "It's not just about the violence, the destruction. There's something… off."
"What do you mean?" I asked, my interest piqued despite the urgency of the mission.
Tiberius hesitated, a rare moment of uncertainty from the usually composed strategist. "The reports—we're seeing signs of anomalies, things that don't make sense. It's like the fabric of reality itself is shifting over there."
I frowned, the implications of his words sinking in. "And you're just telling me this now?"
"I didn't have enough information before," Tiberius replied, his tone defensive. "But if this continues, it could change everything. I'm talking about a complete collapse of the structures we've known."
A chill ran down my spine, unrelated to the cold air. The idea that the very foundation of our reality could be in jeopardy was almost too much to comprehend. But I didn't have the luxury of time to dwell on it now.
"Keep monitoring it," I said, my voice steady. "We'll deal with it when we have to."
Tiberius nodded, his expression grim. "Just be careful, Byrne. The game might be changing."
With that, he turned and disappeared into the shadows of the monastery, leaving me with a gnawing sense of unease. But I had a mission to focus on, and nothing could distract me from that. Not even the potential unraveling of reality itself.
"Commander, we're ready," Caden called out, bringing me back to the present.
I nodded, pushing Tiberius's warning to the back of my mind. "Let's move out."
The team began their silent march through the ruins, the weight of our task pressing down on us. As we headed toward the drop point, I couldn't help but glance back at the monastery one last time, the suns casting it in an eerie glow. Whatever was happening on New World, whatever changes were coming, I knew one thing for certain: we would face it head-on, just as we always had.
The journey to the drop point was a quiet one, the kind of silence that comes from years of shared hardship. The squad moved with the efficiency of veterans, each step calculated, every breath measured. The weight of our mission was palpable, pressing down on us like the gravity of a distant planet. But we had long since learned to carry such burdens without faltering.
As we approached the transport, a sleek, dark craft hidden among the wreckage of a collapsed building, Caden signaled for the team to halt. The transport was a relic of a time before the war, its once-polished surface now dull and scarred from countless missions. It had seen more battles than most of us, and yet it remained steadfast, much like the crew that would soon board it.
"All clear," Caden murmured into his comms, his eyes scanning the surroundings one last time.
"Move in," I ordered, and the team responded immediately, slipping into the transport with practiced precision. I was the last to board, pausing at the entrance to take one final look at the ruins of Urden.
As the hatch sealed shut behind me, I felt the familiar hum of the engines vibrating beneath my feet. The transport's interior was dimly lit, the only sounds the steady rhythm of the engine and the occasional clatter of gear as the squad settled in. Caden took his place beside me, his expression as serious as ever.
"ETA to the Canis sector?" I asked, strapping myself into one of the seats.
"Twenty minutes," Caden replied, checking his wrist display. "We'll be in and out before they know we're there."
I nodded, leaning back and closing my eyes for a moment. Twenty minutes. In that time, we could change the course of the war—or lose everything. The stakes were always high, but today felt different. The weight of it all pressed down on me, and for a brief moment, I let myself feel it.
Soren's words echoed in my mind. Maybe just a few years. Couldn't we stop?
But there was no stopping, not now. Not until they were gone, not until every last one of them had paid for what they'd done. I opened my eyes, pushing the thoughts away. There was no room for doubt, no time for hesitation. We had a job to do.
"Commander," Caden said, breaking the silence. "We're getting close. Time to go over the plan."
I straightened in my seat, focusing on the task at hand. "Alright, listen up," I began, my voice firm as I addressed the squad. "We're hitting the solar-depot on the outskirts of the Canis sector. It's lightly guarded, but don't get complacent. We go in fast, hit hard, and get out before they can react. No heroics, no unnecessary risks. Our objective is to cripple their supply chain in the Virgo region. That means taking out the depot and any transports we find."
The squad listened intently, their faces set in determination. I could see the resolve in their eyes, the same fire that burned in my own heart. This was what we were born for, what we had trained for. There was no turning back.
"We'll split into two teams," I continued. "Caden, you'll lead Team One. Your job is to secure the perimeter and neutralize any threats. Team Two will be with me. We're taking out the main depot and planting charges. Once the charges are set, we regroup at the extraction point. We move fast and silent. Understood?"
"Yes, Commander," the squad responded in unison, their voices a steady chorus of determination.
Caden gave a quick nod, his expression unreadable. "We've been through worse, Commander. We'll get it done."
I met his gaze, a silent understanding passing between us. We had been through hell and back together, and I trusted him with my life. "I know we will," I said, my voice softer now, but no less certain.
The transport shuddered slightly as it began its descent, the soft whine of the engines filling the cabin. The lights dimmed further, casting shadows across the faces of the squad. Each one of them was a seasoned warrior, hardened by the battles we had fought together. But they were also human, and I could see the tension in their eyes, the way their hands gripped their weapons just a little tighter.
"We're coming in low," the pilot's voice crackled over the comms. "ETA five minutes."
"Prepare for drop," Caden instructed, his voice cutting through the tension.
The squad moved with precision, checking gear, securing helmets, and ensuring weapons were ready. I did the same, the familiar routine grounding me, pushing away the doubts that tried to creep in.
The transport dipped lower, the sound of wind rushing past the hull growing louder. I could feel the adrenaline starting to course through my veins, sharpening my senses. This was the moment we lived for—the calm before the storm, the brief silence before the chaos.
"Two minutes," the pilot announced.
I rose from my seat, gripping the overhead rail for support. "Remember the mission," I said, my voice steady. "We're here to strike a blow that will cripple their operations in Virgo. We do this, and we bring them one step closer to collapse."
The squad looked to me, their faces a mix of determination and resolve. "We've got this, Commander," Caden said, his voice filled with quiet confidence.
I nodded, the weight of leadership heavy on my shoulders, but also a source of strength. "Let's do this."
The transport's hatch hissed open, revealing the desolate landscape of the Canis sector below. The suns were lower now, casting long shadows across the barren terrain. The depot loomed in the distance, a dark silhouette against the fading light.
"Go, go, go!" Caden ordered, leading Team One out of the transport with swift precision.
I followed with Team Two, hitting the ground running. The cold air bit at my exposed skin, but I barely noticed. My focus was entirely on the mission, on the depot that lay ahead. We moved quickly, the terrain rough but navigable. The depot's defenses were minimal, just as the intel had suggested, but I wasn't taking any chances.
"One, secure the perimeter," I ordered over the comms. "Two, on me."
Caden's team spread out, taking up positions around the depot's outer edges, while my team advanced toward the main structure. The depot was a massive, hulking building, its metal walls reinforced with layers of armor. It was built to withstand orbital bombardments, but we weren't here to destroy it outright—we were here to cripple it from the inside.
"Two, stack up," I commanded as we reached the main entrance. The team formed up behind me, weapons ready.
I placed a breaching charge on the door, the adhesive material clinging to the metal surface with a soft hiss. "Breaching in three, two, one—breach!"
The charge detonated with a sharp crack, blowing the door inward. We moved in fast, sweeping the area with practiced precision. The interior was dark, lit only by the faint glow of emergency lights. The air was thick with the smell of oil and metal, the hum of machinery vibrating through the floor.
"Clear," one of the team members called out as we secured the entrance.
I moved to the center of the room, scanning the area for our target. "Plant the charges on the main conduits. We need to take out the power core and any supply routes connected to it."
The team spread out, each member moving to their assigned target. I followed the cables running along the walls, tracing them back to a large, cylindrical structure in the center of the room. This was the heart of the depot, the power core that kept everything running.
"Charges set," one of the team members reported, their voice calm despite the tension in the air.
"Good," I replied, setting my own charge on the power core. "We have thirty seconds once these go off. Make sure you're clear."
"Commander, we've got movement," Caden's voice crackled over the comms. "Looks like they've caught wind of us."
"Hold them off as long as you can," I ordered, my heart rate quickening. "We're almost done here."
The team finished planting the charges, and we regrouped at the entrance. I took one last look at the power core, the red lights blinking ominously on the charges we had set.
"Move out," I commanded, leading the team back the way we came.
We exited the building just as the first sounds of gunfire erupted from the perimeter. Team One was engaged, the flash of muzzle fire lighting up the twilight. I could see Caden and his team returning fire, holding off the incoming forces with disciplined precision.
"Caden, we're pulling out," I called over the comms. "Fall back to the extraction point."
"Copy that," Caden replied, his voice tight with concentration.
We moved quickly, the ground shaking beneath us as the charges detonated inside the depot. A massive explosion ripped through the building, sending a shockwave that nearly knocked us off our feet. I looked back to see the depot engulfed in flames, the power core obliterated.
"Objective complete," I reported, the satisfaction of a successful mission tempered by the sight of the enemy forces closing in.
"Get to the transport!" I ordered, pushing the team to move faster. We sprinted across the rough terrain, the transport's engines already roaring to life in the distance.
Caden's team was the first to reach the transport, laying down suppressive fire as they boarded. My team followed close behind, covering each other as we made the final dash to safety.
"Go, go!" I shouted as we piled into the transport, the hatch closing behind us with a resounding clang.
The transport lifted off the ground, engines straining as we shot into the sky. The enemy fire was heavy, but our pilot maneuvered with skill, weaving through the barrage as we gained altitude.
I took a seat, my breath coming in ragged gasps as the adrenaline began to fade. The team was silent, each member processing the mission in their own way. We had succeeded, but the cost was always high.
Caden sat across from me, wiping sweat from his brow. "That was close."
"Too close," I agreed, leaning back in my seat. "But we did it. The Virgo region is safe for now."
Caden nodded, his expression one of quiet relief. "One step closer."
"One step closer," I repeated, my thoughts already turning to the next mission, the next target. We couldn't afford to rest, not when the fight was far from over.
As the transport leveled out, the landscape of Talar spread out beneath us, a desolate reminder of what we were fighting for. The ruins of Urden, the flames of the depot in the distance, all of it was a part of the war that consumed our lives.
But as I looked out at the barren world below, I couldn't help but think of what Tiberius had said—about New World, about the fabric of reality itself. The thought lingered in my mind, a dark cloud on the horizon.
The war was changing. And with it, so were we.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone