Day 18 - 1400 Hours / 2:00 PM – Command Tent, FOB Starlight
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Later that afternoon, Jake & Twilight sat in a hastily constructed command tent overlooking the active construction site. The heavy machinery was already changing the landscape, Transforming the irradiated parking lot into a formidable base. Jake's Pip-Boy projected the three locked Legendary & Mythical assets onto a small, holographic display.
"The system is surprisingly cooperative," Jake observed, tapping the 2B entry. "It seems the 'World Missions' are a one-way portal for me, but a secure extraction point for the asset."
"Indeed. The system details state that once the asset is secured and the mission criteria are met, the asset is quantum-locked to your identity and will transfer to the Commonwealth at the time of your return," Twilight explained, consulting the extensive data she had already pulled. "However, the energy cost to open and maintain the dimensional nexus is significant. Each mission requires 3,000 SP."
Jake winced. "Three thousand? That's just less then half my current supply."
"A necessary expenditure for Mythical and Legendary assets, Commander. Remember, These assets are essentially game-breaking in terms of lore and power level." Twilight stressed. "The asset 2B is particularly intriguing. The descriptor of 'Six Perks' suggests a highly customized combat model. Her world, Designated as 'Post-Apocalyptic Neo-Japan,' is catastrophically hostile, indicating extreme risk."
She then highlighted the two Legendary entries: Peggy Carter & Natasha Romanoff.
"Peggy Carter—a high-value intelligence asset and command presence from a 'World War II-era Alternate Timeline.' Her perks will likely focus on leadership, non-combat skills, and strategic thinking. She is a foundational asset for establishing a stable government."
"And Natasha Romanoff—A high-level operative and counter-terrorism specialist from the 'Modern Age Superheroic Timeline.' Her perks will be focused on infiltration, espionage, and black-ops combat. She would be the ideal commander for MTF Omega-1 or even MSOC itself."
"So, 2B for raw combat power, Peggy for brains & command structure, and Natasha for the shadow war." Jake summarized, Leaning back thoughtfully. "If I can get them, The Commonwealth Defense Force becomes instantly world-class, not just wasteland-class."
"Precisely! But we need to select the first mission carefully…" Twilight advised, Her tone shifting to that of a concerned friend. "The risk level is high, And the SP cost demands a guaranteed success. I recommend securing the Legendary assets first. Their non-anomalous combat profiles make the environment slightly more predictable for a first dimensional jump."
"Good point, Twi. Let's start with a foundational asset. The one who can help us build a real military command." Jake decided, Tapping the entry for the WWII agent.
"System: Initiate World Mission: Secure Natasha Romanoff. Cost: 3,000 SP."
The Pip-Boy screen flashed a bright green, And the SP count immediately dropped.
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Current Summoning Points (SP): 3,000 SP
World Mission Activated: Secure Natasha Romanoff
Nexus Stability: 100%
Destination: Alternate World - New York - New York City, 2018
Mission Objective: Locate, Kill, And Secure Target Asset (Natasha Romanoff) during a Hostile Engagement.
Deployment Time: Standby
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"The portal is preparing, Commander." Twilight said, Her voice dropping to a serious, low tone. "I will manage the base and the nexus stability from here. Just... be careful, Jake. This is not like clearing a Raider camp. You are entering a true alternate reality."
Jake stood up, Slinging a freshly summoned R.A.I K-84 across his back & checking the power cells on his Ray-Gun. He looked at Twilight, His green eyes determined.
"Don't worry, Twi. I've got a mission to accomplish. And I'm not going to let a little thing like time & space stop me from bringing our new Chief of Staff home."
The air in front of Jake shimmered, Crackled with blue electricity, and then tore open, revealing a swirling, unstable vortex of light and color—a dimensional gateway.
"See you soon," Jake said, And without hesitation, he stepped into the dimensional nexus.
The vortex snapped shut behind him, Leaving Twilight alone in the Command Tent.
"Oh, My word! He just... did that!" Twilight whispered, Her anxiety returning in a rush, manifesting as a flurry of rapid diagnostic checks on the now-closed portal coordinates. "I must ensure the return signature is locked! I need a dedicated sensor array! And a full-spectrum shield! And perhaps a comprehensive analysis of all known alternate history timelines! By the stars, I hope he remembers to take notes!" She flew into a focused, organized panic, her mechanical fingers typing furiously on her wrist display. "Operation: Commander Recovery Protocol Delta is now active!"
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Objective: Save Natasha Romanoff!
Objective Time: Two Days | 20 Hours
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Mission Information: The Zombie Infection has started! Here are the types! Norm-Zombie – The Classic slow Zombie, Abnorm-Zombie – The Runner Zombie, Light-Zombie – The 'Light' Zombie is a Zombie with light mutations like strong muscles & etc…, Mutant-Zombie – The Mutant-Zombie is a Zombie that already had mutant powers before becoming a zombie.
Mission Completion Condition: Save Natasha Romanoff | Kill 100 Zombies (Any Zombies)
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Extra: If wanting to save more people, They must have more then 40% trust in you. - Note: 40% trust doesn't guarantee people you saved will be taken back with you, For them to have a larger chance a higher percentage of trust will have to be met.
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Day Two of the Dead - Year: 2018 – Time: 0700 Hours / 7:00 AM - Location: New York, New York City - Averager's Tower
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Jake's Temporary Mission HUD:
'Summoned Soldiers: 0/10'
'Summoned Combat Nikkes: 0/0'
'Summoned Vehicles: 0/4'
'Summoned Combat Robots: 0/2'
'Summoned Civilian Nikkes: 0/0'
—————————————————————
The transition was instantaneous but disorienting. One moment, Jake was standing in the humid air of the Starlight Drive-In; the next, he was assaulted by the smell of burning rubber, ozone, and the coppery tang of blood.
Jake stumbled slightly, his boots hitting the sleek, polished concrete of a high-rise landing pad. He steadied himself, gripping the R.A.I K-84 tightly. The sky above was a choking gray, thick with smoke spiraling up from the city below. The sound was the worst part a cacophony of distant sirens, car alarms, and a low, pervasive moaning that seemed to rise from the streets like heat haze.
"Welcome to New York…" Jake muttered, His mask filtering out the worst of the smog. He glanced at the towering 'A' logo on the side of the building. Avengers Tower. "Alright, System. Let's not waste time."
He tapped his Pip-Boy. He had limited slots so that he will need his very best.
"Summoning Protocol: Active!~" Neo said finally back online.
[Select Units for Deployment:
Soldiers (10/10): 6x Delta Force (Equipped with Customized M4A1 Carbine Assault Rifle, MCX Spear-22 Battle Rifle, Benelli M9 Shotgun, Suppressors & Advanced Optics, And Self-Sufficient Packs & Comms.)
2x Rainbow Six Operators (Operator Name: Alex D. Garcia, Codename: Mirage Equipped with M4A1 Carbine Assault Rifle as First Primary with Remington 81 Shotgun as Secondary Primary, And lastly a Glock S18Auto Pistol as a Sidearm. Mirage can use PSYCHE OUT; Creates a slightly transparent, Holographic decoy of Mirage that moves in a straight line in the direction she is facing. The decoy can ascend & descend stairs, It is immune to damage & will disappear if 'damaged' by a enemy. — Operator Name: Lera Melnikova, Codename: Finka - Finka Equipped with AK-77z Assault Rifle as First Primary with Ray-Gun Mark II as Emergency Secondary Primary, And lastly a Model 50 SN Shotgun Pistol as a Sidearm. Finka can use ADRENAL SURGE; Which activates nanobots to give allies an HP boost & regain consciousness those who are unconscious, Including herself.)
2x Combit Medics (Equipped with Benelli M9 Shotguns & Advanced Trauma Kits (IFAKs) & Tourniquets.)
Combat Robots (2/2): 2x M-MU04 – Heavy Unit (The M-MU04 is massively proportioned & greatly bulky, Significantly larger and wider than both the M-MU02 & M-MU03. It has a powerful, Almost barrel-chested appearance, reinforcing its "Heavy" classification. Equipped with an FSN Hybrid-30 Assault Rifles as First Primary with R.A.I K-84 Energy Rifles as Secondary Primary).
"Your finally back online, Huh?~" Jake smiled happy to hear his frist partner. "Missed me?" Neo's text flashed in a cheeky pink font across Jake's HUD, Accompanied by a winking emoji.
"You have no idea…" Jake muttered, A smirk forming beneath his ballistic mask. "Lock in the selection. We're going in heavy. Keep the vehicle slots in reserve for the extraction phase."
"Executing Summoning Protocol. Standby for Titanfall... kidding. Deploying assets."
The air on the Avengers Tower landing pad distorted violently.
First came the M-MU04 Heavy Units. They didn't shimmer into existence; They slammed into reality with a weight that cracked the concrete pavers. Standing seven feet tall, With barrel chests and thick, slab-like armor plating, they looked like walking tanks. Their FSN Hybrid-30 Assault Rifles looked like toys in their massive mechanical grip, And the R.A.I K-84s were magnet-locked to their backs.
Next, The Delta Force team materialized in a tactical semi-circle, weapons raised, scanning the skyline.
Finally, the two Rainbow Six Operators appeared. Mirage (Alex D. Garcia) adjusted his goggles, his holographic emitters humming. Finka (Lera Melnikova) checked the glowing yellow adrenal nanobots on her gauntlet, then racked the slide of her AK-77z. The Ray-Gun Mark II holstered at her hip hummed with a dangerous green light.
"Perimeter secure!" The Delta Lead whispered over the comms. "Atmosphere is toxic. Smoke & Decay. We have movement on the lower platforms."
"Rules of engagement: Headshots. Double tap." Jake ordered, Checking his R.A.I K-84. "Our VIP is Natasha Romanoff. She's likely inside. Let's find her."
Jake closed his eyes, Activating Ability: Clairvoyance.
The wireframe map of the tower expanded in his mind. The building was glowing red. The lower floors were a swarm of hostiles. But near the top, in the Penthouse Living Area – Tony Stark's famous party deck he saw a single, frantic Blue Signal fighting a cluster of Red Signals.
"Contact. Two floors down. She's cornered," Jake snapped, Eyes opening. "M-MU04s, Take point. You're the battering rams. Delta, flank. Finka, Mirage, you're with me."
[Trust Level: 0% (Unknown)]
[Kill Count: 0/100]
They breached the stairwell door. It was blocked by debris, but the lead M-MU04 simply walked through it, the metal door crumpling like tin foil against its chassis.
They descended rapidly. The sound of snarling and breaking glass grew louder.
"Preparing Adrenal Surge!" Finka stated, Her Russian accent thick but calm. "On your mark, Commander."
"Hold it. Breach in 3... 2... 1... MARK!"
The M-MU04 kicked the double doors to the Penthouse open.
The scene inside was chaotic. The pristine white and chrome of Stark's penthouse was smeared with blood & oil. Natasha Romanoff, Clad in a tactical suit, was fighting back-to-back with a Stark Industries Security bot that looked like it was malfunctioning.
She was surrounded by Norm-Zombies the former staff in business suits & three Abnorm-Zombies that were skittering over the overturned furniture with unnatural speed.
But the real threat was a Mutant-Zombie. It was a massive figure, Wearing the tattered remains of a tactical vest. Its skin had hardened into rock-like gray plates, And one arm had mutated into a fleshy, bone-spiked club.
"Widow! Get down!" Jake roared.
Natasha didn't hesitate. She swept the leg of a zombie & rolled behind the bar counter.
"Engage! Free fire!"
The M-MU04 Heavy Units opened up. The roar of the FSN Hybrid-30s was deafening in the enclosed space. High-caliber rounds tore through the Norm-Zombies, Shredding them to pieces.
The Abnorm-Zombies shrieked & leaped, Trying to close the distance.
"Psyche Out!" Mirage yelled. He pointed forward, And a perfect holographic duplicate of himself sprinted into the center of the room.
The Abnorms, Driven by pure aggression, tackled the hologram. They passed right through it, Stumbling into the open.
"Easy pickings," Finka muttered. She drew her Ray-Gun Mark II. FZZ-FZZ-FZZ! Three piercing green bolts slammed into the lead runner, Punching clean holes through its skull. It dropped instantly.
[Kill Count: 12/100]
The Mutant-Zombie roared, ignoring the small arms fire, and charged toward Jake.
"Big guy on me!" Jake shouted. He raised the R.A.I K-84. "Let's test the Vortex."
He triggered the under-barrel launcher. A blue sphere sailed through the air & struck the Mutant-Zombie in the center of its chest.
VWROOOOOM.
The air warped. The Mutant-Zombie's charge was arrested instantly as the gravity well deployed. It howled as it was lifted off the ground, Its limbs contorting inward. Nearby furniture, Glass, and two unlucky Norm-Zombies were sucked into the crushing singularity.
With a wet crunch, The Mutant-Zombie was compressed into a dense sphere of meat and bone, then dropped to the floor as the vortex dissipated.
[Kill Count: 15/100]
Natasha Romanoff slowly stood up from behind the bar, Her Widow's Bite gauntlets glowing blue. She looked at the crushed ball of biomass that used to be a 300-pound mutant, then at the massive robots, and finally at Jake.
"Stark didn't build those…" She said, Her voice steady but her eyes calculating. "And S.H.I.E.L.D. doesn't have gravity grenades."
Jake stepped forward, Lowering his weapon but keeping his finger near the trigger guard. "S.H.I.E.L.D. is busy. We're the cavalry."
[Trust Level: 15% (Skeptical)]
"Identify…" She demanded.
"Jake Maxis. Minutemen Commonwealth Defense Force. We're here to get you out, Agent Romanoff."
"Minutemen?" She scoffed slightly, Though she relaxed her stance a fraction seeing the dead zombies. "Historical reenactors saving the world? That's a new one. Look, Thanks for the assist, but I'm not leaving. Tony's internal servers are locked down. There's a biological profile on these things in the mainframe. If I leave, The data is lost when the emergency power fails."
Jake shakes his head. "We have to leave, I don't want to be an asshole… But, This world is fucked. This is biological, But this is Biologically Cosmic… The Celestials are also being infected with this…" Jake explained to Natasha, He speaking with no lies just the hard truth…
Natasha's sharp eyes narrowed, Assessing the complete lack of deception in Jake's posture & tone. The way he spoke not of some local virus or a Hydra plot, But of Celestials was deeply unsettling. It was an apocalyptic truth spoken with the flat, Tired authority of a soldier who had seen too much.
"Celestials... that's a new one…" She repeated, The skepticism in her voice replaced by a grim acceptance. She was used to dealing with the unbelievable, But the phrase "Biologically Cosmic" felt like a heavy stone dropped into the pit of her stomach. "You really think this is it? Game over?"
"The extraction timer says two days & twenty hours until the end of the mission. I'd rather not stay and find out what happens when that clock hits zero." Jake stated, His tone firm. "My AI, Neo, just finished scrubbing your data. We have the biological profile. It's locked into my system. We need to move. Now."
He gestured to the two massive Black Hawk helicopters, The UH-60 Black Hawks (Minutemen Variant) that were beginning their descent onto the crowded landing pad, rotors chopping through the smoke-filled air. Their dark, matte-black finish & subtle design modifications gave them an aggressively modern, almost stealthy profile that even Natasha recognized as top-tier.
[Trust Level: 35% (Grudging Acceptance)]
"Finka, Mirage! Form up! Delta & Medics, Secure the egress route to the pad! M-MU04s, Suppress the south wall!" Jake barked, already moving.
The team instantly shifted into a well-oiled machine. The two Medics formed a protective line at the doorway. Mirage deployed another hologram near the stairwell entrance, Hoping to divert any internal threats. The Heavy Units turned their massive forms, Laying down sustained R.A.I K-84 fire onto the zombies clinging to the outside walls.
VVROOOM-BZZZ. The energy rifles hummed, Vaporizing Abnorm-Zombies by the dozen.
"Come on, Agent Romanoff!" Jake urged, Running toward the balcony. "The lift is secure!"
Natasha didn't need to be told twice. She moved with the fluid grace of a dancer, Covering the distance in three swift strides, her pistol raised and scanning.
On the landing pad, The Black Hawks touched down simultaneously, their side doors already sliding open. The roaring downdraft scattered zombie parts & debris.
"Heavy One! Hold the railing! Suppressive fire on the lower structures! Heavy Two, Board the first bird!" Jake yelled over the noise.
The Delta team piled into the first Black Hawk, Securing the perimeter of the interior cabin. Finka $ the Medics boarded the second.
Natasha jumped into the first helicopter with Jake. As she clipped her harness in, She grabbed the headset hanging near her seat.
"Pilot, Clear the area before lifting! We've got climbers!" She ordered instinctively.
"Already on it, Ma'am!" The Minutemen pilot replied calmly.
The M-MU04 Heavy Unit assigned to the railing opened its chest plate, Revealing a heavy-duty, multi-barreled weapon a specialized chain gun. RAT-TAT-TAT-TAT-TAT! Tracer rounds stitched across the side of the tower, carving a deadly, clear zone below the pad.
"Heavy One, that's enough! Board! Heavy Two, cover Heavy One!" Jake commanded.
The massive M-MU04 spun, its huge treads thundering on the concrete, and it lumbered into the second Black Hawk just as the first began to ascend.
"Go! Go! Go!"
Both helicopters lifted abruptly, Pitching hard to the west as they dodged a rapidly approaching cloud of smoke & debris.
From the window, Natasha watched the Avengers Tower landing pad. It was now swarming with reanimated corpses, Clawing at the empty space where the helicopters had been.
"You saved the data…" Jake said, Tapping his Pip-Boy. "And you secured yourself. That's a successful mission."
Natasha stared at him, Then at the devastation of New York City unfolding below. Fire consumed blocks, And the streets were clogged with what looked like feeding frenzies.
"What is the Minutemen Commonwealth Defense Force?" she asked, her voice low. "And where the hell are you taking me?"
[Trust Level: 40% (Secured Asset - Extraction Protocol Active)]
[Kill Count: 38/100]
Neo's text flashed on Jake's HUD, a small, triumphant graphic of a data chip next to it: [Data package secured. Asset secured. Total kills: 38. We need 62 more.]
"We're taking you home, Agent Romanoff." Jake replied, Letting the helicopter bank into a turn. "A place where we fight threats like this every Tuesday. And as for the Minutemen..."
He leaned in, His green eyes steady beneath the mask.
"We're the guys who never stopped fighting. We're your new family. And your new Chief of Staff position is waiting." He said… "As for now, it's up to you what we do here… Know anyone still alive? Tony would have been in the Tower, So he is most likely infected or dead…" Jake finished saying.
The helicopter reached altitude, And the dimensional nexus signature on Jake's Pip-Boy began to pulse a steady, ready blue.
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Objective: Save Natasha Romanoff (Completed)
Objective Time Remaining: Two Days | 19 Hours 36 Minutes
Mission Completion Condition: Save Natasha Romanoff (Completed) | Kill 100 Zombies (Any Zombies) [38/100] | Survive…
Extraction Initiated: Hold Defendable Position (10 Minutes)
Current Extraction Status: Airborne - Nexus Ready for Jump
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"As for now, it's up to you what we do here… Know anyone still alive? And not infected? Tony would have been in the Tower, So he is most likely infected or dead…" Jake finished saying.
Natasha removed the headset, The adrenaline from the rapid extraction starting to recede, replaced by cold calculation. She took a deep breath of the filtered air, The sheer scope of the apocalypse outside making her usual self-control waver for a flicker of a second. She trusted her own observation more than any system readout. The entire world was gone.
"Tony's dead…" Natasha stated flatly, Her eyes like chips of jade as she stared at the burning wreckage of a familiar skyscraper. "The outbreak was too fast. If he was infected, It would have been quick. If he wasn't, He wouldn't have stayed."
She paused, Considering her options, her brain already running scenarios faster than Jake's HUD could update. The Minutemen's objective was completed, But her own duty, the deep-seated need to save who she could, was not.
"You said 'anyone still alive & not infected'…" Natasha repeated, Turning to Jake. "There is one place. A secure, Deep-underground facility designed to be radiation-proof & sealed against biological threats. It was a secondary S.H.I.E.L.D. bunker under the old Brooklyn Navy Yard—Level Eight Clearance only. A few non-combat personnel, techs, and researchers were stationed there. It would have been the first place the uninfected command structure ran to."
She pointed southeast. "It's a long shot, But it's the only shot for anyone who wasn't an Avenger."
[Trust Level: 45% (Developing Trust - Shared Goal)]
Jake nodded, Instantly shifting his focus. He liked having a mission objective, And he liked someone who could provide detailed intelligence. "Pilot, New vector. Brooklyn Navy Yard. Natasha, Give me the coordinates."
The pilot adjusted the helicopter's nose, The UH-60 Black Hawk (Minutemen Variant) slicing through the heavy, toxic air.
"New Objective: Exfil Secondary Assets." Jake announced to the team over the comms. "Natasha Romanoff has identified a potential safe zone. We are proceeding to the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Expect heavy resistance on approach—this is a high-value target for any hostile entities."
Jake hands a piece of a form saying. "Minutemen Soldiers' Creed
I am an Minutemen Soldier.
lam a Warrior and a member of a team.
I serve the people of the Minutemen Commonwealth, And live the Army Values.
I will always place the mission first.
I will never accept defeat.
I will never quit.
I will never leave a fallen comrade.
I am disciplined, physically & mentally tough, trained, and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills.
I always maintain my arms, My equipment & myself. I am an expert and I am a professional.
I stand ready to Deploy, Engage, And Destroy the enemies of the Minutemen Commonwealth Defence Force, In close combat.
I am a Guardian of Freedom & The Minutemen way of life.
I am an Minutemen Soldier." Natasha & looked at Jake. "What do you do with the Creed is up to you. Accept it or not, we'll all still keep you safe." He says with confidence, then he nods.
Natasha took the paper from Jake, her fingers briefly brushing against the tough, laminate coating of the card. Her eyes scanned the text, absorbing the words—Mission first. Never accept defeat. Never quit. Never leave a fallen comrade.
It was simple, direct, and focused. It wasn't the philosophical ambiguity of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s ever-changing mandate, nor was it the ego-driven morality of the Avengers. It was the doctrine of a dedicated survival force. It was the kind of oath she could respect. She folded the card and slipped it into a pocket on her tactical suit, a gesture that spoke volumes more than words.
"Understood," she replied, her voice low. "If you're serious about building a new world, you need engineers more than you need shooters right now. I'm taking you to a group of twenty specialists: five electrical, three mechanical, two comms, five xenobiologists, and five logistics personnel."
"Xenobiologists?" Jake asked, a hint of surprise in his voice. "For S.H.I.E.L.D.?"
"We deal with aliens, remember? And cosmic forces," Natasha said dryly, giving him a knowing look. "Their expertise will be invaluable with that 'Biologically Cosmic' assessment you made."
[Trust Level: 50% (Confirmed Ally - Full Cooperation)]
"Pilot, We are on the ground in thirty seconds. Be advised: The exit may be compromised by the time we secure the assets." Jake instructed. "Heavy units, form a firing line to suppress any emerging threats from the tunnels. Delta, Medics, prepare for rapid triage & asset handling. We move fast, we move clean."
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Day Two of the Dead - Year: 2018 – Time: 0700 Hours / 7:00 AM - Location: New York - Brooklyn Navy Yard
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The team rappelled the final twenty feet from the maintenance hatch into the rusted service tunnel, The metallic clanging of their gear echoing in the confined space. The M-MU04s moved with surprising agility, Their treads biting into the concrete floor as they flanked the entrance.
The team sprinted through the dark hallways, Guided by the wireframe overlay in Jake's mind. Natasha led the way, Navigating the defunct security measures and identifying junction points.
They reached the final entry point—a massive, Reinforced containment door marked LEVEL 3: BIO-CONTAINMENT AND RESEARCH. The emergency lights above flickered, casting long, nervous shadows.
"This is it. The pressure seals should still be holding." Natasha said, Her pistol up. "There's an iris scanner above the keypad."
Before she could attempt to bypass the system, a frantic, muffled hammering started from the other side of the heavy door. A desperate voice yelled through the thick steel.
"Is anyone there?! We're locked in! The automated sequence triggered! We can hear... things... moving in the levels above us!"
The blue dot on Jake's Clairvoyance map, Representing the uninfected, was centered right behind that door. But the map also showed several clusters of red signals converging on their current location from the adjacent service tunnels.
"We have immediate hostiles incoming. Two main groups—one behind us, One flanking from the east access." Jake announced, Raising his R.A.I K-84. "Light-Zombies are leading the assault. Expect enhanced speed & durability. Finka, Stand by to deploy Surge."
He turned to the door, Realizing he couldn't use another explosive breach without risking the people inside.
"Natasha, I need you to communicate. Tell them we are military. Tell them to stay calm & stay away from the door. I'll cut the lock." Jake said, Drawing a sleek, compact plasma cutter from his pack.
"Copy!" Natasha replied, Knocking sharply on the steel. "This is Agent Romanoff! S.H.I.E.L.D. assets! We are external recovery! Stand clear of the door! I repeat, STAND CLEAR!"
The voice inside, clearly relieved but panicked, shouted, "It's the Widow! Oh god! Stay back, everyone! Stay back!"
Jake activated the plasma cutter. It emitted a thin, intensely focused jet of orange-white energy, screaming as it began to melt through the heavy steel of the locking mechanism.
"Delta Lead, engage the rear flank! M-MU04s, suppress the east access! Use the R.A.I K-84s only! Conserve standard ammo!" Jake ordered.
The Delta team immediately peeled off, their suppressed M4A1s spitting controlled bursts of fire down the darkened corridor.
CRASH!
The eastern tunnel access exploded inward as a group of four Light-Zombies burst through the drywall. These weren't slow shufflers; they were fast, unnaturally muscled, and covered in thick, pale tissue that looked like a layer of bone-plate armor. They sprinted on all fours, making unsettling scraping sounds on the concrete.
The M-MU04 Heavy Units swiveled their massive bodies and opened fire with the R.A.I K-84s. The green energy bolts were immensely powerful, but the zombies' mutations absorbed a significant portion of the kinetic energy, slowing them down rather than vaporizing them instantly.
"Fire-for-effect! Concentrate your fire! Two on the lead! Two on the second!" Jake yelled into his comms, sparks showering from the lock mechanism he was slicing through.
Finka saw the threat. "Adrenal Surge... now!"
BZZZZ-WHOOSH.
A wave of yellow nanobots instantly spread through the M-MU04s, the Delta team, and Jake. His vision sharpened, his heart rate stabilized, and he felt a palpable surge of strength. The M-MU04s' rate of fire increased slightly, the repeated energy blasts finally overloading the Light-Zombies' protective mutations, causing them to collapse into smoking piles of flesh.
[Kill Count: 42/100]
"Lock almost clear!" Jake grunted.
"The air vents! They're coming through the vents!" A Delta operator shouted.
Jake looked up, his Clairvoyance map spiking with three small red signals dropping from the ceiling intake. These were Abnorm-Zombies, agile and small, dropping like spiders.
"Mirage! Diversion!"
"Got it!" Mirage activated his gadget. Three faint, Shimmering figures of himself appeared on the ground, sprinting in different directions.
The Abnorm-Zombies landed, Their movements jerky & aggressive. One lunged for the nearest visible target—a holographic Mirage—passing straight through the light and staggering as it hit the wall. The two Combat Medics, armed with Benelli M9 Shotguns, reacted instantly.
BLAM! BLAM!
The nine-pellet loads ripped into the Abnorm-Zombies at point-blank range, turning their heads into red mist. The Medics didn't flinch, already scanning for the next threat.
[Kill Count: 45/100]
CRACK!
The plasma cutter finished its circuit. The massive door hissed, And the melted locking pin dropped away. Jake shoved the door open with a physical effort, revealing the terrified faces of the twenty civilians, huddled behind a hastily stacked barricade of desks and medical supply crates.
"We are secure! Move! Move! Medics, Start assessing for injuries! Delta, cover the entrance to the spiral staircase!" Jake barked.
The sight of Natasha Romanoff, unharmed and commanding, seemed to be enough for most of the S.H.I.E.L.D. personnel. She was a legend, and her presence was a powerful psychological boon.
[Trust Level: 70% (Relief & Authority Recognition)]
"Listen up!" Natasha commanded, Her voice cutting through their fear. "We are leaving this dimension! You are coming with us. No questions, no lingering. Grab anything critical a flash drive, a hard suit, nothing more. We move in five-man groups!"
One man, A xenobiologist with thick glasses & a lab coat, stepped forward, holding a ruggedized laptop bag. "Sir! Agent Romanoff! I have the core research database—the full history of the pathogen! It's on a compressed drive, 4 terabytes!"
"Good man. Get to the Medics. They'll assess your physical status." Jake said, Already motioning for the first group to move. He pointed to the massive M-MU04s defending the tunnel. "These assets will ensure your passage. Trust them."
[Other Trust Level: 55% (Relief & Authority Recognition)]
The first five civilians, Stunned but obedient, were guided by a Delta operator up the stairwell.
Jake stepped into the containment room, his eyes sweeping the area. He needed to hold this position for ten minutes to initiate the extraction, and the enemy was already here.
"Neo, What's the kill count? And the status of the anomaly alert?"
[Kill Count: 45/100. Still need 55 more for the bonus objective. Anomaly Alert at 50%. The increasing kill rate is drawing attention, Boss. Expect a horde in the next 15 minutes. We need a strong choke point.] Neo reported.
Jake looked at the room: Solid walls, A single door they had just breached, and the small, tight stairwell leading up.
"Finka, Form a line with the two Medics right here…" Jake said, Pointing to the mouth of the containment room. "It's a perfect choke point. Natasha, You & Mirage guide the rest of the civilians up the stairs. Once everyone is past the second floor, Signal me. We initiate the extraction protocol from the ground."
He had found his defensible position. The sealed, Underground room was now their bunker, and the narrow service tunnel their killing field.
"Get ready, Minutemen. Time to earn our keep." Jake announced, Shouldering his R.A.I K-84. "No one gets past this line!"
Out of the wall walked out Kitty Pryde holding Anna Marie LeBeau (Rogue) & Laura Kinney (X-23)'s hands, As Kitty collapsed tired of walking through walls with two others…
The moment Kitty Pryde, Rogue, And X-23 dropped out of the solid concrete wall, Landing in a tired heap of tactical gear and dust, Jake Maxis's focus didn't break, but it did widen. He registered the new, non-hostile signatures on his Clairvoyance overlay instantly three new blue dots & his protective instinct kicked in, overriding the immediate tactical surprise.
"More movement behind them, Commander! They're pushing the Delta line!" Finka yelled, Her eyes locked on the narrow tunnel entrance. The thud-thud-thud of suppressed M4A1s echoed down the tunnel, a desperate rhythm of defense.
"Medics, Peel off! Now! We have three wounded! Treat them like high-priority casualties!" Jake ordered, His voice cutting through the panic. He didn't ask who they were; He just saw three people in acute distress.
Natasha Romanoff, Already halfway up the stairwell with the third group of specialists, froze. She recognized the figures instantly mutant allies, high-value targets, and a massive political risk, all at once. She turned & sprinted back down the stairs, Her Widow's Bite gauntlets lighting up with defensive energy.
"Kitty! Anna! Laura! You're alive!" Natasha said, Her usual stoicism momentarily cracked by sheer relief. She dropped to a knee, Assessing Kitty Pryde who was pale & shaking from the exertion of phasing through so much material while carrying two others.
Kitty gasped for air, Her lips only managing to form a single, ragged word. "Nat... Tower... fell..."
Anna Marie LeBeau, Rogue, looked dazed but coherent. Her green eyes were heavy with fatigue, and she leaned heavily on X-23's shoulder. Laura Kinney, X-23, was the most physically intact, but her claws were sheathed, and she was breathing shallowly, her body humming with the low-level vibration of her healing factor working overtime.
The two Combat Medics, Trained to ignore everything but the wound in front of them, slapped high-grade trauma kits onto the ground next to the trio.
"Status check! Any penetrating trauma?" The lead Medic demanded, Already cutting away a sleeve to check for shrapnel.
"Commander, Hostiles are breaking through! They're not normal Light-Zombies!" The Delta Lead reported over the comms, His voice tight. "We have one with biological armor & another with a heat signature!"
Jake glanced at his HUD. The "Anomaly Alert" was ticking up steadily, Nearing 75%. The increase in unique, powered individuals even his own forces was clearly drawing the system's "anomalous horde."
He slammed a new energy cell into his R.A.I K-84 & stepped to the front of the choke point where Finka stood. "Natasha, your call. Get them up the stairs now. Mirage, You assist. We are going loud. We need fifty-five more kills, And we're about to get them all at once."
[Trust Level: 85% (Shared Adversity - Confirmed Rescue)]
[Other Trust Level: 70% (Confirmed Rescue - New Allies)]
"Roger that! Medics, You move with your patients! Don't stop treating them, Even on the run!" Natasha commanded, her leadership persona fully engaged. She & Mirage expertly guided the three exhausted mutants now high-value assets up the spiral staircase, blending them with the remaining S.H.I.E.L.D. specialists.
The tunnel entrance suddenly became a chaotic vortex of death. The Delta Force team had been pushed back to the inner junction, and now, the true threat emerged.
The first was a Light-Zombie, But one with a terrifying biological upgrade: The Pyro-Zombie. It was radiating intense heat, its skin scorched black & bubbling, but its core seemed untouched. As it shambled, The air around it shimmered, causing the paint on the walls to instantly blister and smoke.
The second was the armored one the Delta Lead mentioned: The Rock-Skin Zombie. It moved with ponderous, unstoppable force, its flesh replaced by jagged, granite-like plates that completely shrugged off the Delta Force's standard-issue armor-piercing rounds.
"Rock-Skin needs kinetic energy saturation! Pyro-Zombie needs cryo-damage! We don't have cryo!" Jake roared, Leveling his energy rifle. "Finka, use the Ray-Gun on the Pyro-Zombie! Its plasma bolts might be hot enough to overwhelm the anomaly!"
"Understood!" Finka replied, Her face grim. She unholstered the Ray-Gun Mark II. FZZZZZZZ-BOOM! The first green plasma bolt slammed into the Pyro-Zombie. It didn't vaporize, But the intense, focused energy caused a flash of blue-white fire to erupt across its body, and it shrieked a sound of searing pain before it stumbled.
Jake focused the R.A.I K-84 on the Rock-Skin. He fired the under-barrel Vortex Grenade directly into its face. VWROOOOM.
The rock-plated head compressed violently, but the body mass resisted the full crushing force of the singularity. The Rock-Skin Zombie was momentarily stunned, but its heavy boots were still rooted to the floor.
"Not strong enough!" Jake yelled, Pulling out his Ray-Gun & his R.A.I K-84, dropping into a kneeling stance – Ability: Cybernetic Reflexes activated. Time perception slowed to a crawl.
"The R.A.I. K-84's vortex weakened the armor. I need sustained, concentrated fire into the weak point. Its joints. Now." Jake thought.
In the slowed reality, Jake tracked his two weapons. He unleashed twin streams of fire: The Ray-Gun Mark II's piercing green bolts & the R.A.I K-84's wide blue energy blast. He targeted the hinge of the Rock-Skin Zombie's knee joint where the granite plating was thinnest.
The concentrated energy fire found the gap. The knee joint disintegrated in a cloud of vaporized bone and rock. The massive zombie tipped over, its tremendous mass hitting the ground with a seismic CRACK.
Jake snapped his Reflexes off. He was back in real-time, The air ringing with the combined noise of the engagement.
"M-MU04s! Focus the Fusion-Hybrid Rifles on the downed rock target! Turn it to paste!" Jake ordered.
The two giant robots, Now at the choke point entrance, opened up with their FSN Hybrid-30s. The 100-round magazines unleashed a torrent of heavy-caliber ammunition. The Rock-Skin Zombie's body was methodically shredded until nothing remained but a smear of gray dust and blue blood.
[Kill Count: 51/100]
The Pyro-Zombie, Enraged by the plasma hits, charged Finka.
"Mirage is clear! Civilians are secure on the next floor!" Natasha's voice cut in over the comms. "We have the extraction point!"
"Finka, Fall back! Mirage, Prep the area for a hard defense!" Jake commanded. He tossed a Nuke-Grenade. Lethality Calibration instantly targeting the Pyro-Zombie's core mass.
The Nuke-Grenade, A high-tech explosive designed not for maximum blast but for anomalous, localized annihilation, struck the Pyro-Zombie just beneath its exposed ribcage.
BOOM!
The explosion was followed by a flash of intensely bright, Sterile blue light. For a fraction of a second, The light seemed to suck the very heat from the air. The Pyro-Zombie didn't just explode; It was instantly reduced to cold ash and a cloud of harmless, inert vapor. The extreme energy signature of the Nuke-Grenade had neutralized the anomaly entirely.
[Kill Count: 83/100]
"That was… efficient…" Finka murmured, Lowering her Ray-Gun Mark II and falling back into the containment room.
"Extraction Point secured, Commander! All thirty-three assets—twenty specialists, Agent Romanoff, and three X-men—are on the stairwell and moving to the surface!" Natasha reported. "Where are we holding?"
"The stairwell itself. It's the tightest choke point." Jake declared, his eyes scanning the wireframe map which was now flashing bright red in the service tunnels below and behind them. "Neo, Anomaly status!"
[Anomaly Alert: 90%. Commander, the energy from the Nuke-Grenade and the sustained combat has triggered the 'Anomalous Horde' early. Estimated time to contact: 45 seconds.] Neo's text flashed with a sense of urgency.
"Forty-five seconds. That's all we need." Jake moved to the entrance of the stairwell, where the Delta Force and the M-MU04 Heavy Units had formed a tight, three-layer line across the corridor. "Minutemen! We hold the line for twenty seconds for the rest of the team to get to the surface! Then we initiate extraction!"
The sound that erupted from the tunnels was no longer moaning or shrieking. It was a single, deafening, guttural bellow—the sound of hundreds of reanimated throats roaring in unison, a wave of pure, predatory hunger. The floor began to tremble.
"Here they come!" The Delta Lead shouted.
The corridor was suddenly flooded. Norm-Zombies & Abnorm-Zombies surged forward, their numbers so great that they began climbing over one another.
"Full Auto! Fire-for-effect! Conserve R.A.I K-84 for the big ones!" Jake roared, dropping a small, metallic cylinder onto the floor behind the M-MU04s.
WHIRR-CLICK. The cylinder unfolded into an automated turret armed with a twin-barreled shotgun. It instantly began spitting high-explosive pellets into the approaching mass.
RAT-TAT-TAT-BOOM! The combined fire of the Delta Force, the M-MU04s' FSN Hybrid-30s, and Jake's own weapon tore holes in the crowd. The sheer density of the horde, however, meant the casualties were staggering.
[Kill Count: 107/100]
"We have two minutes to hold!" Jake yelled, He looked at the last of the S.H.I.E.L.D. specialists scrambling up the stairs. "Natasha, Initiate the extraction sequence! Put the call through my Pip-Boy!"
"Affirmative! Accessing Nexus Protocol now!" Natasha's voice was strained as she guided the last of the mutants through the hatch at the top of the stairwell.
The ground began to vibrate more violently. The Norm-Zombies, Previously just fodder, were now being physically pushed forward by something huge and powerful behind them.
"Heavy contact! The Rock-Skin's big brother is here!" The M-MU04 Lead warned.
A new, Massive shape burst through the wall of the tunnel, a creature so large it nearly filled the corridor: The Juggernaut-Zombie. It was a towering, Shambling nightmare, its body a mass of thick, obsidian-black, hardened skin, twice the size of the Rock-Skin. It wielded a massive, Jagged slab of rebar ripped from the structure itself.
"Finka! Adrenal Surge! Now!" Jake commanded.
BZZZZ-WHOOSH. The nanobots surged.
"M-MU04s, Focus the R.A.I K-84s on the Juggernaut's head! Delta, Keep the tunnels clear!"
Jake sprinted out of the choke point, Executing Ability: Cybernetic Reflexes. The world again slowed to a crawl. The Juggernaut-Zombie was raising its rebar club for a devastating swing that would pulverize the M-MU04s.
Jake used the moment. He fired a Vortex Grenade directly into the Juggernaut's torso. VWROOOOOM. The anomaly immediately started trying to tear the giant apart. The obsidian plating cracked, but held.
He then pulled out his Ray-Gun & emptied the clip, Targeting the cracks created by the Vortex. The green plasma bolts punched deep into the compromised armor.
CLIK-CLIK-CLIK. The Ray-Gun was empty. Jake immediately discarded it, Pulling out a frag grenade & tossing it into the chest wound.
KABOOM!
The combined forces of the singularity & the internal explosion were too much. The Juggernaut-Zombie's chest cavity burst open, And it dropped its club with a deafening clang.
[Kill Count: 113/100]
The massive, Shuddering KABOOM! that tore apart the Juggernaut-Zombie was the final punctuation mark on Jake's mission. He scarcely heard the resulting clang of the creature's rebar club. His focus was entirely on survival.
While the chaos erupted, Jake's muscle memory, honed by Perk: Scavenger, triggered an immediate battlefield sweep. He pulled a fresh R.A.I K-84 energy cell from the pack of a recently vaporized Light-Zombie & slapped it into his rifle. The familiar hiss of a full charge was the sweetest sound in the collapsing tomb.
"Go! Go! Go! The nexus is unstable!"
Jake plunged into the blue-white tear in reality, Following the hulking M-MU04 Heavy Units & the Delta Force team. The vortex immediately snatched the two Black Hawks, Accelerating them through the dimensional void. Inside the transport, The noise was unbearable a grinding, crushing sound as the ship's reality field fought the Nexus field.
Natasha Romanoff gripped the overhead webbing, her eyes squeezed shut against the impossible distortion of space.
"Twilight, Hold the line!" Jake shouted into the static-filled comms.
"H-holding! But Commander, The structural integrity coefficient is dropping! We must initiate immediate materialization!" Twilight's voice shrieked in his ear.
—————————————————————
Jake's HUD Updated:
'Summoned Soldiers: 137/300'
'Summoned Combat Nikkes: 1/110'
'Summoned Vehicles: 54/120'
'Summoned Combat Robots: 32/65'
'Summoned Civilian Nikkes: 5/95'
—————————————————————
Day 18 - 1400 Hours / 2:00 PM – Command Tent, FOB Starlight
—————————————————————
The two UH-60 Black Hawks (Minutemen Variant) didn't so much land as they were forcibly extruded from the center of the command tent area. The blue tear snapped shut with a force that momentarily extinguished the running lights on the construction machinery. A column of heat and toxic New York smog briefly billowed into the clean, sunny Commonwealth air before dissipating.
The helicopters were instantly surrounded by construction Minutemen and security personnel.
Twilight Sparkle zoomed down from the main computer bank, Her mechanical form a blur of focused motion.
"Jake! You're back! And… oh my word, the energy cost was exactly 104.7% above the theoretical maximum! That's an organizational nightmare!" She cried, Instantly overriding her anxiety to triage the situation. She extended a pair of diagnostic probes, Checking the physical integrity of Jake's armor.
The back hatch of the second Black Hawk opened with a hiss, And the two M-MU04s lumbered out, followed by the six Delta operators. From the lead helicopter, Natasha Romanoff, Mirage, Finka, the Medics, and the twenty S.H.I.E.L.D. specialists plus Kitty Pryde, Rogue, and X-23 poured out, blinking in the bright sunlight.
Natasha adjusted her position, Taking in the bustling but ordered base. "It's not S.H.I.E.L.D., But it'll do. We have twenty specialists & four high-level assets, Jake. Where do we start?"
Jake, His body aching but his spirit soaring, gestured around the camp. "We start with the creed, Chief. We start by placing the mission first. Your first mission is to tell me everything you know about those three. Because they just risked their lives to come through that portal. And we never leave a fallen comrade."
"Understood…" Natasha replied, The Minutemen creed card now tucked securely into her hand. "They are priority assets. The one with the green coat & white hair is Anna Marie LeBeau, Code name Rogue. The one who phased us is Katherine Pryde, Code name Shadowcat. The third is Laura Kinney, Code name X-23. They're all X-Men... And they just watched their world burn."
Jake looked out at the thriving construction site, A beacon of hope in a scarred wasteland. He had the commander, the specialists, and now, he had heavy hitters.
"Then we make sure the Minutemen Commonwealth Defense Force is the last place on Earth that burns." Jake declared. "Twilight, Prepare a full command brief. We need to assign roles to our new personnel. Start with Lieutenant General Romanoff."
"Lieutenant General?" Natasha raised an eyebrow, A ghost of a smile touching her lips. "I like the sound of that."
"Already on it, Commander!" Twilight chirped, Her anxiety replaced by the focus of an executive officer with thirty-three new organizational challenges. "The briefing material for the Chief of Staff of the Army is being compiled now! Oh, This is so exciting! We're building a real army!"
"Cool it, Twi..." Jake said to Twilight with a light chuckle. He then looked at Katherine Pryde & Anna Marie LeBeau, Both passed out; The teleport was just too much for them. But Laura Kinney... Laura Kinney had her healing factor, Yet she was still tired. Two days of running from the infected was too tiring.
Jake gently lifted Anna into his arms, His movements careful & reassuring. He was unafraid of her formidable power, Because he trusted completely in his Military System's advanced safeguards and strategic protocols that kept him safe and secure.