Priority: Special Region

-New Ginza Square-

The battlefield was set, and the time for hesitation had passed. Leading the charge were the Lancer Tank Platoons of the 75th Armored Division, splitting into two columns, their massive forms rumbling forward with relentless precision. In this universe, light tanks had been phased out, Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) now ruled the frontlines, designed for high maneuverability and perfect for harassing and flanking the enemy's forces. These tanks would be the first to engage the legions of enemy soldiers identified by the cloaked recon drones on the other side of the gate.

Following the tanks were the command APCs and IFVs, packed with the elite 5th SIF and 6th Marine Division troops, ready to storm the front. After them, two Artillery Regiments rolled in, followed by the logistics units, ensuring the battle machine ran smoothly from the backlines.

-IFV and Command APCs-

The Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs) were as formidable as the Lancers, with the same energy shielding, but they were built for a different kind of warfare. While the Lancers bulldozed through enemy lines, the IFVs were designed to counter mass infantry and swarming tactics methods used by countless hostile races across the galaxy. Armed with a 45mm rapid-fire turret, an AT smart missile pod, two 20mm three-barrel rotary autoturrets, and 3 SWARM pods, these vehicles were designed to crush anything that stood in their way.

Each IFV carried up to 8 fully equipped soldiers and had 4 ports for SAT-8 combat bots, which could deploy on the fly to assist in battle. The command APCs, on the other hand, were the eyes and ears of the operation. These field command vehicles carried powerful sensors and electronic warfare (EW) suites, but their weapons were minimal: two 20mm three-barrel rotary guns and a single SWARM pod. However, they made up for it with an energy shield dome capable of protecting all within a 10-meter radius. The APCs' armor and shielding were identical to the IFVs', but their larger design allowed them to carry 8 fully equipped soldiers alongside the EW and sensor stations.

"Hammerhead One-One, we're out of the tunnel, over," crackled the voice of the lead tank commander.

"Roger that, Hammerhead One-One, you are weapon free. I repeat, weapon free. Over," came the cool voice of General Nguyen, giving the order to all units.

"Copy that, Hammerhead Command. Over."

The line of Lancer tanks poured out of the gate like a flood, forming an impenetrable perimeter around the entrance. The tanks unleashed their firepower, raining down on enemy camps not far from their position. Meanwhile, the IFVs raced ahead, slamming into the front lines as they deployed their infantry. The command APCs at the rear activated their protective shield domes, creating a temporary sanctuary for their troops.

The enemy forces, initially caught off guard, scrambled to organize. Panic rippled through some of their ranks, while others quickly regained composure, falling into their combat formations, ready to defend their position as they had been trained to do.

"Ash, take the 2nd squad and lock down our left flank! First squad, with me! Move, move!" Ava barked orders as she exited the IFV. She barely had time to adjust before she turned her attention to the battlefield. "David, get that LMG on the rock formation! Move it, now!"

Ava's helmet display flickered to life with tactical data, and she watched as enemy forces began to assemble into large, vulnerable clusters. It was a perfect opportunity for the Lancers' 120mm HEIP shells, which could tear through those formations with brutal precision. Through TACNet the advanced system linking all soldiers, drones, combat bots, and vehicles in the area, Ava saw the enemy's attempts to retake the gate. Their numbers were staggering, around 700,000, but that number was already being drastically reduced by the overwhelming firepower of the UNE forces.

"Keep up the fire" Ava's voice rang through the comms, steady and cold as steel.

Ava darted behind the armored bulk of a Lancer, firing her rifle with deadly precision. Her shots tore through the waves of pig-like creatures, their grotesque forms falling in heaps as they mindlessly charged up the hill toward her position. The Lancer responded with a deafening boom as its main gun unleashed a 120mm HEIP shell that obliterated a trebuchet and its crew, leaving nothing but vaporized remnants. In the sky, a swarm of missiles and streams of 20mm fire shredded through the wyvern raiders, turning them into flaming wrecks, their Imperial air support reduced to nothing in an instant.

Ava's gaze snapped to the sky, catching sight of dozen fireballs streaking toward the UNE line from the enemy trebuchet behind their frontlines. The enemy appeared to be focusing all their fire on taking down one of the shield domes. But the fireballs disintegrated the moment they hit the energy shield, leaving the dome undamaged. Inside the APC, the crew flashed a thumbs-up to a nearby officer, signaling that the shield was holding strong. A few more ballista shots bounced harmlessly off the dome, offering no threat.

Then, from the depths of the enemy's lines, thousands of Trolls appeared, charging up the hill in makeshift armor, massive hammers swinging in the air. Ava didn't hesitate. The Lancers opened fire, their 120mm HEIP shells cutting down the monstrous charge with brutal efficiency. The trolls were wiped out in moments massive bodies torn apart by the relentless onslaught. Even the 45mm on the IFVs made short work of the remaining few, mowing them down with ease.

"Commander, you need to see this," came Ashley's voice over the comms, urgent and tense.

Ava's pulse quickened. "On my way." She bolted toward Ashley's position. "What's going on, LC?"

"Look, 11 o'clock," Ashley's voice rang out, the location marked on Ava's HUD through TACNet. "The enemy's up to something."

Ava's vision zoomed in, locking onto the only stone tower visible on the battlefield. It stood tall in one of the enemy's wooden forts, a solitary watchpoint against the chaos below. At the top, a blueish aura flickered, sparking with unnatural intensity, growing with each passing moment until, with a deafening crack, the energy discharged a series lightning bolts striking the shield dome in rapid succession. Each strike caused the dome to shimmer and fluctuate violently.

"What the hell was that?" Jimmy's voice came through, his disbelief evident. "Even a Marikar super heavy tank took hours of continuous fire to make a shield fluctuate like that."

"Hammerhead Command, this is 5th SIF lead. The enemy's deploying some kind of lightning strike weapon. Recommend immediate destruction. Target location uploaded. Over," Ava's voice was steady, but her mind raced.

"Copy that, 5th SIF lead, over."

Suddenly, the air around the tower crackled again. The aura flared, and lightning bolts tore into the shield dome, causing it to flicker and collapse under the intense energy. The APCs fell back, another one scrambling to reposition and activate another shield dome. But the damage was done. Half a dozen Marines were caught in the lightning's path, their personal shields failing in an instant. The electrical surge fried their TAC suits, leaving them writhing in agony, their bodies burned and charred but they're alive.

A Lancer shifted its turret and locked onto the tower, unleashing a plasma shell aimed at the source of the enemy's power. But the shell was stopped cold mid-flight by an invisible shield, detonating in mid-air, taking down the enemy's protective barrier in the explosion.

"They have energy shields?" Ashley's voice was sharp with disbelief.

Ava's voice was a low growl. "No, this is something else. I don't know what it is… but it's down now."

"Fire again, everything you've got!" Ava barked over the radio, her voice sharp with urgency.

The Lancer's main turret rumbled in response, its massive gun unleashing a deep, thunderous boom. In an instant, missiles launched from their pods, streaking toward the tower with blistering speed. The stone structure didn't stand a chance. The missiles hit with pinpoint accuracy, obliterating the tower in a brilliant flash of plasma fire, the blueish aura surrounding it flickering and vanishing into nothingness.

The destruction of the tower hit the Imperial forces like a shockwave, and their formations began to unravel. Troops scattered, their once-cohesive lines splintering as panic set in. What had been a well-organized defense now devolved into complete chaos.

Meanwhile, through the gate, the artillery regiments had arrived, ready to unleash their deadly payload.

-Artillery-
In the 31st century, the old fire-and-forget artillery pieces had long since been retired. What remained were Multiple Launch Missile Systems (MLMS)—the future of artillery warfare. Each launcher was capable of firing five salvos of 20 plasma missiles at a time, each missile powered by an AI that sought out and locked onto targets with extreme precision. There were six MLMS per platoon, supported by two missile replicator trucks for rapid reloading.

"Hammerhead Command to all artillery units: Level their positions. Weapon free!" General Nguyen's voice crackled through the comms, his orders clear and decisive.

In an instant, the sky erupted as salvo after salvo of missiles rocketed into the air. They arced high before descending upon the enemy positions, their explosive impacts creating blue explosions that lit up the battlefield like a lightning storm.

The explosions were devastating. At the epicenter, the plasma flashes evaporated everything in their path—enemies reduced to ash in seconds. Those unlucky enough to be further away were torn apart by shrapnel, their armor shredded, their bodies torn, as the missiles' deadly force left nothing but devastation in their wake.

The remnants of the Imperial forces, broken and scattered, began a disorganized retreat toward a dense forest to the northwest of the gate. But General Nguyen had no intention of letting them escape.

"Pursue them. Do not let them regroup," the General ordered, his voice cold with determination.

From the drones scouting the retreating enemy, live footage streamed back through TACNet. Commander Bennett watched closely as the footage revealed a pattern in the enemy's retreat. Despite their disarray, they were moving with purpose, avoiding certain areas. This wasn't a random retreat—it was a trap.

"This is Commander Bennett to all units: Do not pursue into the jungle. I repeat, do not pursue. It's booby trapped!" Ava's warning came too late. Her voice cut through the comms with urgency, but the message didn't reach everyone in time.

The first of the UNE Marines didn't realize until it was too late. A massive explosion tore through the jungle with a purple flash, sending one of the Marines flying through the air. His shield dome fluctuated, throwing him off balance and sending him crashing into a nearby tree. The impact shattered his shield, leaving him vulnerable.

Before he could recover, the ground beneath him erupted again. Another booby trap triggered, damaging his TAC suit and sending him flying into yet another trap. The nanotech in his suit scrambled to repair the damage, but the damage kept coming. The next explosion hit him with even more force, hurling him toward a large rock. The impact was brutal his body slammed into the stone with bone-crushing force, breaking several ribs and leaving him incapacitated.

Another UNE Marine sprinted toward the wounded soldier, his voice sharp with urgency. "Medic! We need a medic here!"

"All units retreat! Use your thrusters and frog jump out of there. Get the hell out of that forest!" General Nguyen's voice crackled over the radio, urgent and commanding.

The forest echoed with the sounds of explosions, the booby traps still detonating as UNE troops scrambled to withdraw. Thankfully, the traps didn't claim any lives, but the damage was still significant: 46 minor injuries, 14 serious cases, and one unfortunate marine who lost her left arm to a devastating explosion.

When the last of the UNE troops finally emerged from the forest, a deafening silence fell. The air felt thick, heavy with tension. Then, the sharp alarm of TACNet blared to life in their helmets, breaking the stillness. Ava's eyes widened as the alert popped up on her screen: A massive formation of enemy wyvern raiders was rapidly closing in from the north. At the same time, the routed Imperial soldiers were rallying, charging out of the forest with reinforcements trolls, goblins, and orcs that had been hiding deeper in the woods.

"Form up! Create a battle line, move, move!" Ava's orders rang out, clear and decisive. Her brainwaves were instantly relayed through TACNet, translating into specific commands for every soldier around her. They all knew exactly what had to be done. "Bring the APCs up here and deploy their shields! Focus the IFVs to the north we need to bring down those fliers!"

Rob sprinted to Ava's side, ready for combat. "They just don't know when to quit, do they?"

A burst of laughter crackled through the comms as Jimmy quipped, "Ha! Just like you with the girls, Rob!"

"Oh, fuck off, Jimmy!" Rob shot back, the camaraderie and laughter lifting the soldiers' spirits even amidst the chaos.

"Focus, people. Here they come," Ava snapped, cutting through the banter as she immediately aimed her rifle at the advancing enemy.

She wasn't overly concerned with the wyvern raiders, their numbers overwhelming yet manageable as the IFVs' 20mm cannons and SWARM pods rained down on them, cutting through the sky and reducing the wyverns to little more than burning husks. Instead, her attention was laser-focused on the forces emerging from the forest.

The enemy trolls hulking brutes in makeshift armor were lobbing booby traps at the UNE line. Though the traps could cause a fluctuation in personal energy shields, they were useless against vehicle shields and the massive shield domes protecting the APCs. Ava couldn't help but admire the enemy's discipline. Despite the crushing defeat they had just suffered, and the superior technology and firepower the UNE had brought to bear, they still managed to maintain formation, charging together like a single, brutal unit.

The air was thick with smoke and the acrid stench of burning flesh, but in just a few minutes, the tide had turned. Most of the enemy forces were either dead or so badly wounded they couldn't continue the fight. The mournful sound of a horn echoed from deep within the forest, signaling the retreat.

Ava's instincts flared. General Nguyen, having learned from his previous miscalculation, immediately gave the order to fall back. "Set up a defensive perimeter around the gate," he commanded. The troops began to move, drawing back to the relative safety of their stronghold.

"Have the engineers set up that beacon and deploy recon drones to map the area around us," General Zhang ordered his comm specialist, his voice firm. He then turned to Ava. "Commander, I need to see you."

With a nod, Ava left Ashley in charge of the 5th SIF and made her way back toward General Nguyen's command APC near the gate. As she moved through the battlefield, the sight was devastating. Thousands of dead and wounded Imperial soldiers lay scattered across the land, the ground once lush and green now barren, stained with blood and littered with the corpses of enemies. The air was thick with the smell of death, but Ava kept her helmet sealed—the stench was unbearable.

Nearby, UNE Marines and medics worked quickly, trying to treat the wounded. Some cried out in pain, their injuries too severe for anything more than temporary relief. Ava kept her focus ahead, her mind set on what lay ahead.

Ava found herself questioning the nature of this war. Would it all be slaughter after slaughter until the enemy finally surrendered or until the last of them fell? Humans, Elves, Orcs, Trolls, Wyverns what did any of it even mean anymore? Before the New Ginza incident, these creatures were mere myths, figures mentioned only in ancient literature. Now, they were all too real, standing before her on the battlefield. This world, this strange, twisted world was unlike anything humanity had ever encountered. Once again, the universe had surprised them.

"You asked to see me, sir?" Ava snapped to attention, saluting General Nguyen with precision.

"At ease, Commander," the General's voice was firm, though tinged with an undercurrent of something unspoken. "Follow me outside. There's something I need to tell you."

Ava lowered her salute, her body still tense as she fell into step behind the General. They walked toward the open field, the air heavy with the aftermath of battle. Combat drones hummed overhead, providing aerial surveillance while soldiers worked tirelessly to establish a defensive line. Ava's mind buzzed with anticipation something was off, the way General Nguyen moved, the weight in his voice.

"It's about your mother. Rear Admiral Ruby Bennett." The words hung in the air, pulling the ground out from under her.

Ava's gut tightened at the mention of her mother. Something was wrong. She could feel it in the pit of her stomach, in the coldness of the General's tone. Her breath caught, but she forced herself to maintain composure, standing as straight as ever, despite the sudden storm raging inside her. "Is she alright, sir?" she asked, her voice steady, though her heart thudded in her chest.

The General hesitated for a moment, his eyes briefly drifting to the horizon before meeting hers again. "I don't know how to make this easier, Commander, but your mother… she's among the people who were taken to this side of the gate." He paused, letting the words sink in, his expression unreadable. Ava stiffened, but she didn't flinch, holding her ground as she absorbed the shock. "The Admiral came to Eden Prime that day to surprise you. She was supposed to meet you at the barracks that evening."

"It's been two weeks since the New Ginza incident, sir. We're just finding out now?" Ava's voice faltered, betraying the worry gnawing at her insides, but she quickly masked it, her eyes cold and focused.

"She didn't tell anyone. She was on leave… not until yesterday, when she was supposed to report back to her fleet. When she didn't show, we tried to contact her. No response." General Nguyen's words fell heavy, each one adding weight to the burden she was already carrying. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box, handing it to her. "Today, they saw her in a video from New Ginza Square being taken by the enemy. Based on the DNA analysis of these officer stars, we believe it's hers. I thought you might want to keep this."

Ava opened the box, her fingers trembling as she pulled out the small golden officer star. A bloodstain marred its surface, a stark reminder of what her mother might be going through.

The General's voice softened, but the determination in it was palpable. "Don't worry, Commander. We'll get her back. No matter the cost. We don't abandon our own."

Ava clenched the star tightly, forcing herself to swallow the wave of emotion threatening to consume her. "Thank you, General. And don't worry I won't let this affect my ability to complete my missions." She closed the box with deliberate care, holding it close in her fist, as though the simple act of holding onto it would ground her in the chaos.

General Nguyen gave her a knowing look. "I know you will, Commander. You're dismissed."

HSS Normandy Bridge, Flagship of the 9th Terra Fleet, Eden Prime Orbit

"We've got the signal from the Special Region, sir," the Executive Officer reported, his voice steady but tinged with urgency. "Coordinates locked. We're waiting for your order."

Admiral Owen Hackett stood at the bridge, his eyes scanning the view of the void outside. His face was unreadable, his mind running through the possibilities of what this next move meant.

"Where is it?" he asked, his voice sharp and commanding, as the weight of the moment settled over him.

It appears to be a rogue system, sir," the AI responded coolly. The holographic projection of the Milky Way galaxy unfolded in the air, slowly zooming out to reveal a distant, isolated system far beyond the galaxy's edge. The star system was a lone anomaly, sitting like a solitary sentinel at the edge of known space. "Seventy-five thousand light years from the Sol system. At maximum speed, we'll be there in one month."

Admiral Hackett studied the projection, his mind already calculating the implications. His eyes narrowed as he turned toward his XO. "What's the status of the interstellar gate construction fleet?"

The XO's voice was steady, but there was an edge of readiness in it. "They're ready, sir. Everything's green. No issues."

"Signal the fleet. Prepare for the space dive," Admiral Hackett ordered, his voice sharp and commanding. "Helmsman, take us out."

The air around the bridge hummed with tension as the ship's systems engaged, preparing for the massive leap ahead. The countdown began, echoing through the control room.

"Space dive sequence initiated... in 5… 4… 3… 2… 1... Space dive successful."

With a deafening surge of power, each ship in the 9th Terra Fleet generated its own wormhole, bending the very fabric of space as they launched themselves into it. The fleet entered the tunnel at a velocity many times faster than light, its ships vanishing into the folds of the universe as the entire armada began its journey toward the Special Region.

-Interstellar Gate-

The Interstellar Gate is a revolutionary technology developed by Humanity, a feat of engineering that defies the very fabric of space itself. While traditional space travel can take hours, days, or even months to traverse the vast distances between star systems, the gates allow for instantaneous travel across light-years. When two gates are linked, ships can pass through them with no delay, slipping between points in the galaxy as though they were mere coordinates on a map.

This groundbreaking system enables the UNE to station entire Terra Fleets at strategically placed gate hubs, poised and ready to respond to any threat with unmatched speed. A fleet, once scattered across the stars, can now mobilize to any point in space within minutes, delivering overwhelming force to any system in peril before the enemy even knows what hit them.

-Terra Sphere-

Terra Sphere is humanity's ultimate fortress, a Dyson Sphere encircling a G-type yellow-dwarf star. This monumental structure, far beyond mere architecture, is a gargantuan military complex, its inner surface a vast network of command centers, research labs, and production hubs. The star at its core powers the entire sphere, its radiant energy channeled to fuel the advanced technologies and defensive systems that make Terra Sphere one of the most heavily fortified locations in the galaxy.

The sphere's immense shell spans the orbit of an entire planet, its surface covered in gleaming energy grids, shielding arrays, and massive orbital platforms. Entire fleets are stationed within its protective embrace, ready to deploy in seconds across the galaxy. Automated defense drones patrol its outer and inner layers, ensuring no threat goes unnoticed.

More than just a military stronghold, Terra Sphere is the nerve center of UNE operations, its gravity-defying arcologies housing millions of soldiers, strategists, and researchers, all working in unison to ensure humanity's dominance. Its design is a testament to human engineering brilliance, a ring of power and protection, standing as a monument to the might and ingenuity of the UNE.

Here, amidst the ever-turning sphere, the fate of entire star systems is decided—within moments, Terra Sphere can redirect fleets, launch devastating counterattacks, and become an unmovable fortress against any who dare challenge it.