บท 22: Phantom's Veil
The wind howled over the desolate plains of Erusea as we approached the target, the distant outline of Phantom Research Facility barely visible through the thick clouds. Our small strike team flew in tight formation, the roar of our engines barely cutting through the deafening silence of the coming storm. This wasn't just another mission. It was the first real strike against Viktor Zaitsev, the mastermind pulling the strings behind the AI network.
Phantom wasn't just another installation. According to Levi's intel, this was where Zaitsev's most secretive research had taken place—the development of AI cores, military drones, and god knows what else. The facility was buried deep beneath the mountains, protected by layers of defenses and a garrison of Zaitsev's loyal mercenaries. Taking it down wouldn't be easy, but it was the first step in dismantling his empire.
"We're five minutes out," Rook's voice crackled over the comms, steady but tense. "Levi, your team ready?"
Levi's calm voice cut through the static. "We're in position. Once you hit the facility, we'll take out their external defenses. Keep their air support off your back."
"Good," I replied, adjusting the F-16's controls as I checked the radar. "Once we breach the perimeter, it's all on us. This is our shot to cripple Zaitsev's operation. We take Phantom down, and we put him on the defensive."
I could feel the tension building in the pit of my stomach, the weight of what we were about to do settling over me. Zaitsev wouldn't take this lying down. He'd throw everything he had at us once he realized we were coming for him. This was the start of a war—a war we weren't guaranteed to survive.
New Objective: Infiltrate Phantom Research Facility and Disable AI Development
Objective: Breach Phantom's defenses and neutralize Zaitsev's operations
Enemy Threat: AI-Controlled Drones, Ground Forces, Air Defenses
Reward: XP: 15,000, ???
Failure Penalty: AI Expansion and Zaitsev's Control Increases
As we closed in on the facility, the first blips appeared on the radar—enemy aircraft, patrolling the skies around Phantom. These weren't just standard patrols; they were AI-controlled drones, sleek and deadly, designed with precision and speed in mind. Zaitsev's signature.
"There they are," Rook said, her voice tight. "Drones. Zaitsev's not taking any chances."
I nodded, gripping the controls tighter as I pulled into formation. "Levi, you see them?"
"Copy that," Levi replied, his team already engaging the enemy drones. "We'll handle them. You focus on getting inside the facility."
The drones moved fast, locking onto us the moment we entered their range. My HUD lit up with missile lock warnings, and the sky exploded with movement as the first wave of drones streaked toward us.
Skill Activated: Drone Disruption
Skill Activated: Combat Awareness
I activated the system's drone disruption protocol, sending a pulse of interference through the air. The drones faltered for a split second, their movements becoming erratic as their targeting systems scrambled. I took the opportunity, pulling into a tight dive and locking onto the nearest drone.
"Missile away," I muttered, firing off a Sidewinder.
The missile streaked through the sky, slamming into the drone and tearing it apart in a fiery explosion.
Enemy Drone Destroyed. XP Gained: 2000
Rook was right behind me, her fighter weaving through the chaos as she engaged the next wave of drones. "I've got two more on my tail!" she shouted into the comms, her voice strained.
"I see them," I replied, rolling into an evasive maneuver as I lined up a shot on the drones chasing her.
Skill Activated: Precision Strike
The system guided my movements, and I fired off another missile, taking out both drones in a single hit. They erupted into flames, debris scattering across the sky.
Enemy Drones Destroyed. XP Gained: 4000
Levi's team was already engaging the rest of the drones, and the sky was filled with explosions as the drones fell one by one. But there were still more. Zaitsev had deployed dozens, maybe hundreds of these things, all designed to protect Phantom from any outside threat.
"We can't keep this up forever," Rook said, her voice tight. "We need to get inside that facility."
I nodded, glancing at the radar. "We're almost through. Just a little more."
As we pushed through the drone defenses, the sprawling complex of Phantom came into view. It was massive, carved into the side of the mountain like a fortress. Anti-aircraft batteries lined the perimeter, and SAM sites were positioned on the nearby ridges, ready to light us up the moment we got too close.
"We'll take out the SAM sites," Levi said, his jet darting past me. "You and Rook focus on breaching the facility."
"Copy that," I replied, adjusting my course. "Let's finish this."
New Objective: Breach Phantom's Perimeter
Objective: Take out key defenses and gain access to the research facility
Threat Level: Extreme
Reward: XP: 5000, ???
Failure Penalty: Mission Failure
The anti-aircraft fire erupted as we approached the perimeter, the sky lighting up with tracer rounds and missile trails. My HUD screamed with warnings as the SAM sites locked onto us, and I had to pull into a sharp roll to dodge the incoming fire.
"Missile lock!" Rook shouted, diving to avoid the barrage.
"I've got you covered," I replied, firing off flares as I evaded the next volley of missiles. "Levi, how's it looking?"
"We're almost done here," Levi grunted, the sounds of battle filling the comms. "You'll have a clear path in thirty seconds."
I dodged another missile, the heat from the explosion washing over the cockpit as I rolled out of the maneuver. Phantom loomed ahead, and the facility's defenses were starting to buckle under the pressure.
Rook's voice cut in, her tone urgent. "There! A weak point in the western perimeter! We can hit it and punch through."
"I see it," I said, my heart racing as we adjusted course. "Let's go."
We pulled into formation, diving toward the weak point in the perimeter. The anti-aircraft fire intensified as we approached, but I activated the system's high-speed strike protocol, boosting the F-16's speed as we raced toward the target.
Skill Activated: High-Speed Strike
Skill Activated: Precision Strike
I locked onto the perimeter defenses, firing off a barrage of missiles that tore through the installations, clearing a path for us to breach the facility.
Perimeter Defenses Destroyed. XP Gained: 5000
"We're in," I shouted into the comms, my heart pounding as we raced through the breach and descended toward the facility. "Levi, hold the perimeter. We're going after the core."
"Copy that," Levi replied. "We'll keep the skies clear."
As we descended toward the facility, the ground forces were already mobilizing—Zaitsev's mercenaries, armed to the teeth and ready for a fight. But we weren't here for them. We were here for the core.
"Rook, you ready?" I asked, my voice tight with focus.
"Let's end this," she replied, her tone fierce.
New Objective: Infiltrate Phantom and Disable AI Core
Objective: Enter the facility and neutralize Zaitsev's core
Threat Level: Critical
Reward: XP: 10,000, ???
Failure Penalty: AI Expansion Continues
We touched down just outside the facility, our jets cooling as we dismounted. The entrance to the core was heavily fortified, but the system had already pinpointed its location deep within the complex. We moved quickly, weapons ready, knowing that every second we delayed gave Zaitsev more time to retaliate.
As we breached the outer door, the cold air hit us like a wall, and the inside of the facility was a maze of sterile corridors, buzzing with the hum of servers and machines. This was where Zaitsev had built his empire—where the AI cores were born.
"Core's this way," I said, leading the way through the narrow halls. "We need to move fast."
As we pushed deeper into the facility, the system's voice stirred again, colder than before.
"Warning: Core defenses are active. Prepare for resistance."
And that's when we saw it—the heart of Phantom. A massive room, lined with server banks and glowing terminals. In the center, a large AI core pulsed with an eerie blue light, its presence almost overwhelming.
But something else was there. A figure stood near the core, shrouded in shadows, watching us as we approached.
It was him. Viktor Zaitsev.
The mastermind behind everything.
And as he stepped forward, his voice cut through the silence like a knife.
"You've done well to make it this far," Zaitsev said, his tone calm but chilling. "But this is where it ends."
I tightened my grip on my weapon, my pulse quickening. This was it. The mastermind himself.
But something told me that this wasn't going to be the final battle.
Not yet.
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