It was nice for the pilot of XCOM's Skyranger to be able to fly as close to the access point as possible – essentially the front door. No turrets mounted to the roofs in bastion, no heavy artillery keying in their position, or the threatening flash of ADVENT's cease and desist overtaking the cockpit view. By all accounts, it was smooth sailing.
Firebrand felt the unease drift from the squad sitting pretty in the Skyranger's holding, however. Noticeable, even to her, whose focus was dedicated on ensuring they didn't attract any attention from the interceptors that no doubt lurked. Central wasn't one to exaggerate, but they were aware that ADVENT never truly left any facility alone. Especially one of such marvelous scope as the abandoned Towers.
The sheer scale of which seemed to engulf the sky in a berth of twisted, derelict metal and reclaiming overgrowth spidering out of the mould-covered windows. Grime and dirt prevented any natural light from filtering in, creating a putrefying atmosphere within the facility itself. Firebrand, at first, wasn't even sure if it was safe to land the weight of the Skyranger on the helipad, judging from the cracks in the once-white, now yellowish and beige foundation.
Helipad.. how long ago was the facility even used..?
Nevertheless, they touched down safely, making the imposing height of the Tower ahead even more stifling. Firebrand flipped on the intercom as a way of providing an all clear to begin disembarking, gruffly quipping; " – Hope none of you have a fear of heights."
She smiled behind the flight helmet when she heard a distinct grumble of someone – Dragunova, if she had to guess – curse her under her breath. The lack of ADVENT's presence set her teeth on edge. She'd never been able to land the Skyranger, not unless it was to base. The apprehension hung in the air as pervasive as the daunting task at hand.
Lily Shen took point once the harness of the Skyranger lifted up. Her hands moved autonomously in a routine check of her magnetic rifle, ROV-R springing to life from the upper storage loft of the transport ship. His awakening prompted Dawn's GREMLIN, CAD-C, to 'yawn', with each of the panels twitching and fidgeting live. They joined their respective Specialists as they left, with the Chief Engineer exhaling in stark awe as she took in the Towers.
"This.." It certainly matched the maps that ROV-R funneled through on his uplink. She recognized the structure, but the live or archival footage could never hold a candle to standing before it. " – It's not like ADVENT to just up and abandon a facility this large."
"Do you expect hostilities?" rang Jane Kelly as she came up beside Lily, hauling her shard gun like nothing, letting the weight of it rest against her shoulder. The engineer's eyes shifted to shoot her a side-long look, subconsciously envious as she was constantly reminded the drag on her muscles her own rifle was giving her. Lugging sheets of metal around for production was something else entirely to being in full combat gear – weapons included.
" – We're not picking up any vital signals in the surrounding area, or much of anything. You're going to have to make your way to the top of the tower to access the data being broadcast. Be cautious, Menace." Bradford sounded in each of their earpieces. "I don't like you going in blind."
"That is what you have me for. I will be your eyes. They are far more reliable than your computer scanners anyway." Elena may have been a crack shot, but her natural talents lied in tracking and scouting. She strode forward; black trench coat billowing behind her as she settled her mask into place. She blended well in the dark shadows cast deeper into the facility, where all light seemed to be swallowed up by the disuse and neglect of the building.
" – Tread carefully, Dragunova." An unknown smile befell Elena's lips, head turning to briefly regard Mox.
"Is that worry or concern I hear, Mox?"
He grunted in response, though did not deign to answer her, busying himself with checking his bullpup as the squad awaited Elena to track forward and give the all clear. The Reaper yearling couldn't help a quiet snicker. Typical Skirmisher. Never picking a battle they can't win.
She advanced slowly, though, taking in contextual clues to the facilities origin. The scratched, peeling paint, the ruined scaffolding and the ivy of vengeful nature spilling out from the damp, inhospitable conditions – if she had to guess, the Towers may very well be twenty years old. As for the purpose? Generally, one of this size gave her only one answer: production. Of what.. she did not know.
Elena pushed herself up to the side of a set of stacked, forgotten crates once her keen eyes caught sight of two, black figures looming at the entry point. Upon closer inspection, she realized it wasn't black at all, but rather heavy, rusted iron and half-faded symbols. Rent metal hung off the frame in a twisted mess of exoskeleton and plating. The robots – MECs, perhaps? – seemed deactivated for now, but she reckoned if there was enough power in the Towers to send out a broadcast strong enough by the Avenger, then there must be enough juice to power the bots.
She pressed her communications device pinned to her lapel, whispering in a hushed tone. " – All clear up until the entry. There appears to be two ADVENT-style MECs inert by the doorway. Sergeant?"
"Hold position. We're advancing." came Kelly's order.
Once the squad approached her position and taking the cover that Kelly directed them to, Lily's brows furrowed as she eyed the MECs, a frown touching her lips.
"You're right in that they look like ADVENT's current MECs, but they're practically ancient by their technology's standard." she murmured, keeping her voice low. " – We should be able to shred right through their armour. Don't get cocky, though, those guns still look functioning.. and dangerous."
With silent direction from Kelly, Mox and Clacher lined up their respective weapons – though the latter kept his sniper rifle on his back, trading it for the more conservative pistol – to the two MECs. Upon the Sergeant's signal, they open fired; slaughtering the peace with the angry crack of gunfire and screeching metal.
Mox's bullpup made short work of his target, the kicks of three bullets piercing through the frame and, as Lily predicted, shredding the internal circuitry with ease. The exposed plating hissed in a fizzle of broken electricity and live wires, but was ultimately felled. It's companion groaned, stiff metallic joints creaking as they fought against the rust – robotic movements hauling the unconventional rifle to the group, only to get a second pistol shot between the eyes, taking the head clean off.
Lily stepped towards the destroyed MECs, lowering to a kneel and gesturing ROV-R over with the cybernetic chip in her hand. She got him to run a basic diagnostics on the materials as she manually sifted, gaze searching the corpse of metal, interest naturally gravitating to the weapon.
" – This rifle isn't like the ADVENT's standard magnetic ones. I don't even think it's gene-locked." She didn't touch it, just in case the stickers or paint had since peeled off. She nudged the heavy, unwieldy thing with her own mag rifle, tugging it from the MECs' grip. "I.. don't think it's an ADVENT rifle at all. Maybe a prototype, before they shipped the standard weaponry we see today."
"I don't want to give them an opportunity to find out how deadly they still are." Kelly muttered, to which the Chief Engineer bobbed her head in agreement. " – Dragunova?"
Elena silently moved on, past the fallen MECs, towards the entry. She noted the all too large factory-like doors, that were peeled back and no doubt making the entire facility draughty and bitingly cold. She was intimately familiar with winter and donned thick armour and a thicker coat, making her largely unaffected. She didn't like the wide open area, though. Too many nooks and crannies. Her gaze cast upwards. Too many catwalks and scaffolding.
The factory floor looked no better than the archaic MECs stationed outside. Large, dilapidated mechanical claws segmented the area, with the same make and model robots hoisted onto the production cranes like meat on a hook. Scrap metal and part refuse lined the room messily and in dire need of some housekeeping.
A glance to the side confirmed that large crates stacked upon each other lay unmarked at the walls in hazardous heights. One of the crates that had toppled open spilled out it's guts, confirming them to be spare materials – in that crate's case, coils, springs and copper tubing. Copper.. another obsolete metal claimed by entropy.
She struggled to find any way to ascend. The stairway leading to the next floor up seemed to be blocked by debris of the wall collapsing in on the stairwell, and the shattered look of the stairs themselves didn't lend for much reliability. Squinting, she strained to see on the far end of the facility some sort of elevator shaft. It didn't look like it was for humans, given the same crane-like harness given to the MECs, but it meant their mission was not dead on arrival.
"It's some kind of.." the good Doctor's voice sounded behind her, the soft hum of her GREMLIN not far behind. "Robotics development facility… ?"
"Pretty advanced stuff." Lily intoned flatly, rising in a sarcastic lilt as she added; " – For about. Twenty years ago."
The moment Lily made her presence known; the entire building groaned with an electronic whine of machines shaking off their rust and getting to work. The dark lowlight of the factory floor was brightly illuminated as each of the lights snapped on. The squad raised their weapons in alert, though Lily was the only one to keep hers lowered once the intercoms embedded into the corners of the room crackled into life.
"And so prodigal child finally returns."
Confusion worked the muscles of Lily's face – apprehension set as the voice sounded from all around them. Not human, she thinks, glancing to ROV-R in some sort of confirmation. He was having no luck, with any sort of diagnostics coming up inconclusive at best – or just downright negative and blank otherwise. Prodigal child..?
"I see Father's pride in your abilities was not entirely unfounded. I am so glad you could join me."
" – How do you know my father?" she blurted out immediately, eyes widening, only to sharpen into a glare as it bounced from intercom to intercom. Why are you calling him 'Father', anyway? Was the unspoken question. Either way, the voice only provided a low, thrumming, electronic byte of laughter as it's answer.
It became clear, as the area was bathed in better light, that a company of armed, active MECs awaited them on the factory below, having escaped Dragunova's sight by hiding inert within the aisles. Lily sucked in a breath, readying her magnetic rifle as Kelly gave the command to assault.
"Central, what the hell was –!"
"Working on it," he gruffly responds over the communications as the firefight broke out.
Although sluggish, the MECs were still aided by computer assistance, making their aim just as pinpoint as a fully functioning robot. They lifted their rifles in unison, letting a barrage of conventional bullets lose from the prototype guns. They shelled into the disheveled cover and Kelly reckoned that the support barriers wouldn't hold out long against concentrated or sustained fire.
Vaulting over the half-cover, she sprinted under the fire to slide towards one of the cranes, finding the larger base adequate protection. She waited until she heard a dip into the gunfire's synchronized hailing to peek out of cover and nail the full spit of her shotgun into the chest of an approaching, slow-moving MEC.
The kickback was.. new to experience, and she let out a low whistle as the barrel smoked with magnetic fire, having felt the stock plough into her shoulder. That was quite some firepower she was going to have to get used to and one she was happily looking forward to doing as such. Pumping it, she peeked out of cover again only for the MEC she aimed at to get a bullet straight through it's central core, courtesy of Clacher.
"My apologies," the voice from the intercom rumbled again. " – We don't get much in the way of maintenance out here. Still! I believe they are more than adequate for the task at hand."
"What task would that be – grinding us into paste?" Lily spits in retort, readjusting her grip on her rifle to level with one of the approaching MECs. She was glad she never skipped out on any live-fire training and she really only had Central to thank for his diligence in keeping her fit and capable of protecting herself. She squeezed the trigger, the rifle feeling strange and alien in her arms. But, at least her aim wasn't terrible, and she'd shot the side of the MEC clean off.
It vainly attempted to lift up it's single arm to point haphazardly with it's own weapon, but that too was cut off as it got too close to Jane's sword. With a second swipe, she ensured it was dead.
"Still unable to get an exact fix on his location. It's like he's bouncing across the entire facility." Central informed. He knew if Lily was up here, tracing the signal instead she'd have details and then some. She heard his mumbled cursing, her chest twinging sympathetically.
Mox shot forth his grapnel, the twin serrated blades piercing through the metal chassis. As much as it would be a test of strength to try and pull the robot towards him, he more wisely chose to let himself be roped forward, capitalizing on the machine's momentary disorientation as it attempted to compute the next optimal move to slash his ripjack upwards – and through the neuroptics. Planting his boot on the frame, he tugged his ripjack out.
A shadow cast over him as the last remaining MEC attempted to gut him with the end of the rifle, though was quickly felled by the three kicks of his bullpup and a surgical shot from Dragunova's weapon. He threw a glance over to the shadowed Reaper – nodding lightly in appreciation and respect. With her mask, it was impossible to determine her thoughts, but she returned the gesture imperceptibly.
"Ahah!" Central cheered in eureka, his efforts finally paying off for something. He cleared his throat, returning to stoic professionalism as he explained; " – Getting some unusual readings from the levels above you. I'm betting that's where we'll find whoever is manning the intercom."
"Got it. But.." Lily frowned, taking in the sight of the factory floor. " – There doesn't seem to be any way to ascend to the upper levels. Maybe if we haul the debris blocking the stairs..?"
"Chief," Dragunova called, grabbing her attention. She directed her to the elevator shaft she'd spied earlier on the far end of the area.
"Good eye, Elena. If I hack that elevator control console, I'm sure I can restore power and get us access. ROV-R?"
The GREMLIN beeped happily, plates shifting as a tune of duty beeped out, fluttering over towards the control panel. Lily smiled gently at his antics, descending from the upper platform to make her way across the factory floor with the squad to the elevator. ROV-R's controls popped up in a faint hologram by her chipped hand, to which she began to remotely hack the console as they moved.
"You should be proud, Lily." That damn voice spoke again. The Chief Engineer tried not to let him mess up her concentration, though something uneasy tugged in her gut when he mentioned her by name.
" – There are so few alive today that could ever uncover my signal. By my estimations, you only had a thirteen percent chance in probability of locating this facility in the first year of broadcast."
"Maybe I can hack the intercom to make him shut up." she mutters. Whomever was out there, listening, he seemed to huff and take a personal offense to her flippancy; the electronic, inhuman voice somehow conveying a real sort of emotion when he spoke.
"You were but a child when I was torn away! I could never understand the pain Father must have felt at my loss, but still. We shall complete his legacy.. together."
Talk about a way of making her blood run cold. She almost messes up her line of code before she corrects it swiftly. Of all the missions she had to personally attend, why did she get stuck with some creep?
"I'm pretty sure I would've remembered dad mentioning about a psychotic brother, whoever you are. Just drop the act, it's starting to get creepy."
" – Don't let him get into your head, Lily." Central pipes up, having carefully monitored the conversation and not at all liking what he was hearing. "I knew your father for years and I can vouch that he never mentioned anyone like this. Don't rise to his bait and focus on the task at hand."
"Right." That statement irked her somewhat, though she knew it shouldn't. Her father saw Central as a good man – good enough that Shen senior might have relied on him to take care of his daughter. But what if there were things you didn't know, Bradford? What if this – this guy did know my father..? You didn't know him all his life.. I.. I can't help but feel like the name's on the tip of my tongue..
Lily shook her head to clear her thoughts, finalizing the hack and calling down the elevator.. or more accurately, the one-MEC forklift. She smoothed her hand through her hair; clearing her throat. " – Lift's back online, but this was designed to move MECs, not people. If we want to get to the upper levels, it's going to be one at a time."
As Kelly signaled for Dragunova to take the lift up first, the intercom spurted into life once more – and the whole facility groaned. The unstable ground felt as if it'd collapse in on itself and create a sinkhole, causing Lily to splay her hands to steady herself and grip to the safety railings. Several more derelict MECs were uplifted to the factory floor from whatever storage unit that must have been a sublevel, and the voice's incessant ranting continued.
"You were the flawed child, not me! I was the ideal. Undiluted. The best of Father's work." Recognition flashed across Lily's eyes, her mouth falling agape. " – I am Raymond Shen's true legacy!"
"I remember you.." she breathed, her arms on autopilot as they raised the rifle in preparation to defend herself against the approaching MECs. "Dad was.. trying to upgrade the base's AI. To be something.. more like us. But.. but you weren't like this back then. You were simple."
Then, quietly, she adds;
"Father called you.. Julian."
As much as the Hunter was lacking in psionic proficiency, when compared to his older brother – there was something cathartic to take from the 'flexing' of it, akin to stretching one's legs once he teleported at the foot of the abandoned facility. He was quick to pull that power back to him and like his sister's cloak, he enshrouded himself in untraceable shadow.
Rising from his crouch, Dhag-Mai stuffed the alien device back into his pocket, gaze appraising the towering building with little more than mild, yet rising, interests. He clicked his tongue on the roof of his mouth; tutting to himself. " – Getting in the habit of chasing ghosts now, XCOM? Can't say I'm surprised. Your band of misfits and fossils are full of them."
Oh, that was quite a stinger. He should use that one on Kingsley, once she wasn't enfeebled. Trust his brute of a brother and their fickle Father to go over the top.
"If they're not careful, they might just drive you straight into the grave." A smirk graces his lips at that. Chatting to himself was a habit he wasn't fond of kicking any time soon. There really were so few who could hold his attention long enough for him to care. " – That'd be so easy for you, wouldn't it, Kingsley? No, you're a spiteful thing, just like Them. You'll live."
He strolled, casually. As if this little side job was nothing more than a leisurely walk through the park to be taken at his own pace. And, truly, the ball was in his court on this one. He had first strike advantage – and he wasn't one to prematurely pull the trigger when so much more fun could be had.
Alas, before he could lose himself to the thrill of the hunt, he supposed he should clear off the basics, first. Who was he dealing with? Ishmael's ex, for starters. If it wasn't for Dawn landing in their clutches just long enough for him to spare a passing glance, he wouldn't be here. "Personal thanks are in order, of course. The look on their faces! I'd almost say it's worth it for that alone."
The answer to his question, at least partly, was in the form of the two destroyed MECs scattered like rubbish at the entrance to the facility. Dhag-Mai lowered himself, pushing the felled robot to it's back and inspecting the damage. The bullet wounds were consistent with bullpups. Mox. He sneered at the thought of the Skirmisher and even more so at his sister's incompetence to do her namesake.
The second robotic corpse perked his brow, however. "Pistol shots.." he mused a loud, rooting out a nine millimetre calibre bullet from one of the holes – then chuckled lowly. "Got yourself a sharpshooter? That's cute."
He discarded the spent shell, investigating further into the facility. The pungent, acrid scent of magnetic fire hit his nose; to which wrinkled. So, they were packing some half-decent firepower. What else? He scanned the factory floor turned battleground for any more corpses to analyse. One of them sported what appeared to be deep cuts. Too thin to be the twin serration of a ripjack, so either Ranger were present on the squad.
Given the Phantom's presence on the last mission – and the no doubt blow to his mental health suffered at the hands of his Father – Dhag-Mai put his money on it being Jane Kelly.
The Hunter determined, as he finished his sweep, that the only way the squad could have advanced was to take the shaft to the upper levels. That was fine by him, he had other ways to maneuver. He exited the floor, back to the open entrance and glanced up to one of the broken windows of the second level.
Angling his grapple carefully, he shot forth the grapnel and reeled himself towards the ledge, slipping inside. The dark of the facility lent itself well to his camouflage, leaving only the soft illumination of his eyes glowing beneath his hood. His grin returned; tenfold.
The hunt was on.