Sneaking up on the Eclipse Camp wasn't too difficult - Viv had decided to introduce me to the Solid Snake approved stealth container (that is to say, the cardboard box - though this one had been manufactured by Diamond Dogs). The one we were utilizing incorporated some modifications for the setting, of course - specialized anti-scanner coating, ostensibly for protecting medical supplies. Metal Gear Rising was what I had to thank for that.

The fact that cardboard boxes were an unknown also helped.

Examining the perimeter of the camp revealed that there were five sentries - two in watch towers, the remainder stationed at all entrances. Two additional guards patrolled the inside of the camp, occasionally stopping to check in with the sentries. In theory, a well done defensive plan.

Of course, you can't prepare for something that (to you at least) doesn't exist.

Careful usage of a tranq pistol was enough to take out all of the guards - first those in the towers, then the ones at the entrances, and finally the ones on patrol. Once they were down, Viv took point on entering the campsite.

"Any other intel that you can feed me, Synais?"

"They're have been strange cries coming from the camp, but our attempts to match it with creature from the Witcher, Monster Hunter, and Final Fantasy universes have so far been a failure-"

A sudden screeching from the largest building in the camp caused Viv to freeze and made me flinch. "That the one?" I probed Synais.

"Yep. Sound familiar?"

"Sounds like a noios-"

"I believe that I may be able to assist with the classification of our unknown beast," interrupted...Master Teasonai? "My apologies for intruding - the guild at Astera wished to contact myself and the Business for information on the native life of the Origin System. They exchanged this information with facts about the native beasts of their world."

"I see. Can you tell me what I am hearing?"

"That is the call of a Monoblos."

"...Wait, you mean the endangered relative of the Diablos?"

"Yes. I suggest you locate it and mark it for pickup. Such a creature should not be allowed to die."

"Understood, I'm on it."

XXXXXXXX

Once inside the camp, it only took us a matter of moments to pilfer it for all things of value - currency, fuel, crafting components, the like. The Eclipse warriors within were effortlessly defeated and swiftly sent to base for interrogating - the Warframe Capture Teleporter made issues with intercepting prisoner transfers all but impossible.

With all other tasks completed, we made our way into the central structure of the camp.

There, under observation by three Shadow Carja warriors and a restrained bellowback (one carrying fluids designed for cooling) was a Monoblos - one covered in heavy scars.

Needing no direction, Vivian swiftly incapacitated the warriors while I hacked the machine and turned it to our side. Once that was handled, we began checking the flying wyvern for additional injuries. When we were certain it had none, we called in a drone to rescue the creature - the structure a large opening in its roof, allowing us to safely exfiltrate it upwards without having to cut out pieces of the roof.

When the creature was safely out of site, we exited the building.

Well, that had been a bust - sure, we'd rescued the wyvern, but no were no closer to finding the -

"Well done."

Both of us came to a halt. Standing before us was a machine similar to the ones we had seen at the Proving...but this one was quite a bit smaller than before. As in, man sized.

...How the hell had it snuck-up on us?!

"I presume you're wondering how I managed to approach you unseen? You can figure out a lot about someone's thoughts by examining their expression. As for your question, well, it's easy to hide from sensors if they are looking in the wrong plane of existence. Would you expect to find someone hiding in the rift plane if you weren't looking there?"

So, they knew about Warframe. "..No, I wouldn't."

"Ah, a smart one. It's been so long since I fought an intelligent progenitor commander...or at least, one who was inserted into one."

"...What?"

"Oh, don't look so surprised. I'm well aware of what you are. Using a metal gear solid box for stealth? Understanding the nature of the Tenno without asking? There is only one way a being like you could know those facts."

"...I see. So, do you wnat to continue talking, or shall we fight?"

"I'd prefer to fight right now," intoned Viv, who was already cracking her knuckles.

"Well, then you shall have your request granted-"

Before he could finish, I summoned Marcosias and fired off one of my heavenly blasts in the machine's face. Whilst it was dazed, Viv leaped forward and punched it in the gut, knocking it back, though the machine righted itself before it could fly too far. I fired off another attack at it, but to my shock, it had no effect on the machine.

Then, wihtout warning, the machine fired off some projectile at us. It exploded into light, but I was neither stunned, blinded nor hurt by the detonation. When I tried to use my warframe powers, though, nothing worked.

"Sucks to lose your powers, doesn't it?" spoke our foe, now walking toward us. Viv tried to punch it again, only for the machine to deflect each blow and force her back.

"It does. So, what are you gonna do now?"

"Now? I'm going to kill you."

Then, without warning, the machine curled in on itself and started glowing red. Acting on instinct, I grabbed Viv and Bullet Jumped out of the camp. A moment later, a massive explosion obliterated the Shadow Carja camp, though thankfully there were no fatalities.

Once I was certain there would be no further explosions, I checked to see if anyone had shown up to track us. Sure enough, several drones were converging on our location. Sighing, I opened up a portal to my hub and charged through, with Viv following suite.

Looks like we had a new enemy to fight.

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AN: Read and Review! This is Flameal15k, signing off!