Chapter 14 - Over the Sand Dune and Through the Canyon

"The fastest way to get from here to there is gonna be a skimmer" announced Audrey Manning. "Of course, we're going to have to fight our way out to get one…"

"You're telling me we fought all the way into Omega, but now we have to backtrack?" complained Sabeen.

"If you want, you can stay here" snapped Manning. "We're splitting into two squads and taking out as many of the StarFire control systems as we can. Delta Labs only has trams coming in and out-no landing bays or orbital launch systems. Cargo comes in through Beta Labs and EnPro, so we'll head to Beta then divide."

Moving as quickly as possible while killing demons was already routine for the group. If it wasn't for the screeching, blood splatters, and weird flickering lights one might be tempted to call the journey boring. One benefit of being forced through EnPro? Chock-full of plasma weapons and cells, plus repair materials for riot shields whose self-healing capacities were completely shot after the long journey.

(A/N: Originally I had the idea to essentially write a "first person shooter" section here from various perspectives but because of future plans for this story/universe I figured it would be wasted effort-plus I couldn't find the motivation to do it.)

Unblemished, two riot shields fronted the group's return to Omega Labs. Empty plasma cells traced a path back to both teams' victorious shutdowns of StarFire control stations. Unlike practically everything else kicked off by blood turning statues into real people, the operations were textbook. The only downside came from a lack of ammunition afterward.

"The last time we were here, I forgot the lecture on not telling anyone what's going on, that you have to be sworn to secrecy, that the Union Aerospace Corporation now possesses the legal right to terminate you should anything you see in Omega leak out...but there's no point" sighed Manning. "You've already seen a lot that some of the board hasn't even been briefed on."

The group moved into the "portal room" to find that two archways last seen in a power-up phase were completely dark and inoperative.

"Finally, some progress!" Manning pumped her first, but returned to a serious expression seconds later. "Before we jump through one of those, we'd best go get all the best toys from deeper in the labs, assuming everything hasn't been completely demolished by now…"

Johanna confided to Kharazim that if portals were the least of the secrets here, "what else must these people be up to?"

"I prefer not to dwell on it" he replied. "Ytar will guide my path."

Doors to another section of Omega were less impressive than the building-size entryway. Shadows danced off all manner of objects, caused by the forever-faulty-and-flickering lights that the Union Aerospace Corporation could not seem to banish despite its limitless resources. When enough fixtures finally illuminated, even Nephalem were shocked at the chamber's size.

"The Honored Hall could fit here half a dozen times" breathed Johanna. Her tone turned from admiration to exasperation. "Though I suppose these displays have nothing to do with honoring the best of the fallen."

Audrey Manning paused before sheepishly explaining the purpose of this area within Omega Labs.

"The people who run this place don't like to walk around laboratories. They dislike the tanks full of pickled demons and the mess that comes with teleportation demonstrations. The Exhibition" (she gestured to the entire interior) "showcases the absolute best of Union Aerospace technology."

"So a museum of fancy tech" replied Caanan Westfall unprompted.

Manning rolled her eyes but did not disagree.

Valla stopped by a large pod over twice her height. Through shattered glass a mannequin looked out below a label reading "MARINE."

A recording began playing.

"While teleportation is the preferred method of transporting security personnel, the UAC realizes not everyone has the luxury of instant movement from one point to another. UAC Advanced Weapons has collaborated with UAC SpaceWorks to produce the HellJumper series of pods. These armored, shock-proof, orbital-rated cocoons safely deposit individual warfighters on the surface of a target planet at a fraction of the cost."

Other examples stood even taller, wider, and heavier. In the dim light, Sabeen Whitwer nearly tripped on a real Mach-2 Chaingun (instead of foam mock-ups found in other dioramas, such as the BFG Carrier) inexplicably included in the "HEAVY GUNNER" exhibit that ended up on the floor due to destruction of its pod.

Moving deeper (Whitwer having picked up the chaingun), Nazeebo ducked under a rotating object only to realize it wasn't solid.

"The Marathon-class Assault Cruiser is the pride of UAC SpaceWorks. Utilizing cutting-edge plasma power technology developed at facilities on Mars, this marvel of modern engineering can transport an entire pacification force in our HellJumper pods. Whether you're defending your own territory or conquering new lands, SpaceWorks will help you build a better tomorrow through superior firepower.."

Johanna turned to their non-Nephalem team lead.

"Can we acquire one of these vessels?"

Manning recoiled as if slapped.

"No. Absolutely not. The mere mention is preposterous. Why, I ought to…"

She quickly stopped talking after seeing every mouth agape, including those of her own soldiers.

Caanan Westfall dared to speak up at this point.

"Don't we have portals to be jumping through?"

Plasma gun users restocked. That plasma cells were lighter, more numerous, and easier to carry caused the remaining soldiers armed with traditional gas-operated firearms to ditch their wares in favor of energy weapons (save Sabeen's fascination with the Mach-2).

"The Series 5 Plasma Rifle improves on the weaknesses of the Series 3 and cancelled Series 4: Greater stopping power and pinpoint accuracy. This comes at the cost of a much lower rate of fire, but with the most advanced auto-targeting optics available from UAC Advanced Weapons a competent user should see only upsides in using this lightweight, powerful rifle."

Despite possessing her own suite of combat arms, Valla found herself interested enough to take one of the collapsible snipers. However, she was the only Nephalem to do so-the UAC carried no upgrades for Kharazim's fists nor did any of their research relate to the summoning rituals employed by Witch Doctors like Nazeebo. Johanna refused to trade her Light-infused armor for "simple tools of uncivilized brutes" ("I heard that!" said Manning) when Valla suggested taking up a riot shield like those hefted by their Marine counterparts.

Plasma cells powered up a pair of MULEs (Munition and Utility Light Extender)-these mechanical "beasts" carried a dozen times more ammo than even the largest backpack. Manning bemoaned incompatibilities between the unmoving Heavy Operations Replenishment Service Extenders nearby and plasma cells-the older HORSE being built for fusion cells instead.

"Wrong voltage, wrong amperage, wrong socket" she huffed. "At least grab some Vertical Assault Maneuverability Packs while we're here…"