08:25
Conference Hall 4, Admin Tower, New Eden
Sohel's voice carried across the room, steady and resolute.
"Team Alpha will be led by me. Team Charlie by Captain Aphrodite. Sergeant Roy and Lieutenant Petrov are with me. The rest of you go with Aphrodite. Alpha targets Liora. Charlie goes after Noam. Any questions?"
De Luca raised a hand.
"Yes, Luca?"
De Luca leaned forward, brows furrowed. "It's simple to get to Noam. Just hunt down the Phoenixes until we corner him. But Liora? I don't see any leads in the report you shared. How do you expect to reach her?"
Sohel didn't flinch. "That's for me to worry about. You focus on your mission. We'll get to her when the time is right. Any more questions?"
This time, Arina raised her hand.
"Yes, Sergeant?"
"This mission…" Arina's voice was sharp, sceptical. "You're asking four of us to go after a literal army. That's suicide."
Sohel's reply was immediate and unwavering. "It isn't suicide. I never said TF7 can't call on SNA forces for backup. And if you're ever cut off, unable to receive support, you'll still have an ace watching your six."
The conference room doors slid open with a hiss.
A tall figure walked in — precise footsteps, expression serene, almost human. Her voice was calm but confident as she stopped before the table.
"Hello, soldiers. I am the Adaptive Unified Robotic Assistant — AURA. You can count on me to watch your six."
Arina scoffed, arms crossing over her chest. "One android? That's supposed to make the difference against an army?"
Annabelle stepped forward, eyes gleaming with pride. She tapped her tablet, and the briefing screen flared to life.
First, a grid of satellites lit up the display, then unfolded into a detailed 3D schematic: a sleek military attack drone, and behind it, a massive VTOL attack aircraft bristling with weaponry — twin 40 mm autocannons, a 105 mm howitzer, a 120 mm mortar system, and a devastating 220 mm cannon fitted to its belly.
Annabelle's tone was measured but smug. "Oh, she can do more than you imagine. AURA has access to the entire Watson Industries arsenal — including our autonomous swarm drone system. And…" she swiped again, zooming in on the massive VTOL, "…your new mobile base. Prototype WAI-004. Only one has been built. And I'm donating it to SNA. To you."
She turned to Sohel with a faint smirk. "Major, name our new ride."
Sohel studied the aircraft. Its frame carried the spirit of Artemis, their old warbird — only larger, heavier, and hungrier for battle. After a few moments, his answer came, low and steady.
"Athena", he said. "The successor of Artemis."
The name lingered in the air. The squad sat in stunned silence, awe written across their faces as the realisation hit them: they weren't just a task force. They were being armed like a private army of gods.
Sohel broke the silence, his gaze sweeping across them all.
"Still think this mission's impossible?"
Arina sat straighter, her scepticism gone, replaced with conviction. "No, Major. I promise you — we won't let you down."
"I know," Sohel said. "That's why I chose you."
He let the weight of his words hang for a moment before concluding.
"Alright, that's all for now. Report every move to me. And remember: be brutal, but don't be heartless. Alpha squad, wheels up in sixty minutes. Runway Two. Scramble."
Sohel turned and strode toward the exit. Chairs screeched as every member of Task Force Seven shot to their feet, saluting sharply.
The war had begun.
10:00
Runway – 2, SNA Airfield, New Eden
The engines of the C-02 transport jet rumbled steadily, a low vibration running through its frame as Sohel sat strapped into his seat. He held his phone close, his voice low but firm.
"Just go to the cantonment, Sarah. I know the Sanctuary defence system is strong, but I don't want to take any chances."
On the other end, his sister's voice was warm but defiant.
"You worry too much, brother. I'll be fine. This is our home. I'm not leaving it just because the world's on fire. You focus on what you have to do."
Sohel pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing in quiet frustration. No matter how much he argued, Sarah always had the final word.
"Alright," he relented softly. "Just… stay safe, yeah?"
"Yeah, yeah. I know. You take care too."
A faint smile touched his lips. "Goodbye, Sarah."
He ended the call, the weight of their exchange lingering with him — another reason he couldn't afford to fail.
Before he could pocket the phone, a hand swung at him. His reflexes kicked in, and he caught the wrist just before the slap connected. Looking up, he found Mitali standing over him, her eyes glistening though her lips curled into a scowl.
"You're such a jerk, you know?" She said, her voice cracking slightly as she fought to keep her tears in check.
For a moment, the air between them was heavy with five years of silence, guilt, and longing. Then Sohel's warm smile broke through, gentle and familiar.
"I know," he said quietly. "Good to see you again, Mitali."
Mitali's shoulders finally dropped, her anger dissolving into relief. She sat down beside him, wiping the corners of her eyes as she muttered, "Don't disappear on me again."
Sohel chuckled softly. "I'll try not to."
The intercom crackled to life, breaking the moment.
"Lieutenant Petrov here. Engines hot. Runway clear. All systems green. Ready for takeoff, Major."
Sohel strapped in fully, with Mitali doing the same as the jet began to roll forward. The vibrations deepened into a roar as the aircraft surged down Runway Two. The ground crew waved their hands, waving the heroes goodbye.
Outside, the world blurred into streaks of concrete and steel. Then, with a sudden weightless lift, the C-02 broke free of the ground, soaring into the humid New Eden sky.
For the first time, Task Force 7 were airborne again — together.