The carrier slipped out of the dark stretch of space with a deep shudder, its massive engines winding down to a steady hum.
On the command deck, the sound was felt more than heard... a vibration through boots on the polished alloy floor.
Outside, the stars stretched, blurred, then snapped back into clarity as the vessel steadied itself in orbit.
"Stabilizers at sixty percent… bringing it up now."
"Aye, gravity plates holding. We're clear."
From his vantage near one of the observation rails, Orion took it in.
Ahead, six destroyers flared into formation, bristling with gunmetal armor.
Twelve smaller corvettes slipped into their escort pattern like darting fish.
Together, they formed a steel phalanx around the carrier... and carried with them almost five thousand souls. Soldiers, pilots, ruin explorers, engineers, etc. All breathing in anticipation.
He was about to turn around when he realized that there was an even bigger force behind them... However they were disorganized and the largest ship they had were cargo ships.
'Mercenaries... ' Orion thought before turning to the planet.
***
*Command Bridge*
The planet below dominated the view.
Roughly the size of Erythra-9, its surface was a patchwork of dense green jungles and fractured highlands, wrapped in fog where sunlight broke apart on tangled vines.
The real prize wasn't the wilderness. It was the ruin.
Even from orbit, you could see it... streaks of shattered stone and ancient alloy cutting across the landscape, jagged scars of a civilization most likely long dead.
Towers slumped in weird shapes, half-buried structures sprawled under roots.
But what unsettled everyone was the static.
"No readouts," muttered the sensor chief, swiping through a dead display.
"Planetary interference is scrambling all scans. Some kind of… residual field?"
"Residual field?" The commander's voice was sharp. "This isn't a battlefield, Lieutenant. Be precise."
"It's… layered interference, sir... Ma. Could be residue from the planets field or it could be mechanical. But whatever it is, it's masking the surface and preventing us from getting a read out on the planet."
Orders snapped out.
Within an hour, the first scout team was already in motion.
On the flight deck, a squad of space fighters stood gleaming under harsh floodlights.
Modified interceptors, their frames bore extra sensors and reinforced wings.
Pilots climbed into cockpits while ground crew secured launch clamps.
"Squadron One, green across the board."
"Launch sequence ready."
The sleek ships flew into the void one after another.
"Squadron One, this is Talon Lead. Beginning sweep vector two-one-five. Keep spacing tight... the interference is like flying through soup."
Static crackled, then a younger voice: "Copy that, Lead. Sensors barely reading beyond one klick."
The commander leaned forward, jaw tight. "Keep this channel open. Report every thirty seconds."
For several minutes, only the sound of thrusters and strained voices cut through.
They flew low over the canopy, the ruins opening like scars below.
Then it happened.
"Contact! Something just... "
"Shit! I've lost control, my systems are... "
A sharp scream, then silence. The deck went dead. Everyone froze.
Another voice, panicked: "Lead, we've lost Two and Four! They just... gods, they just disintegrated!"
On the tactical display, two blips winked out.
No impact markers. No wreckage. Just absence.
The commander's voice cut across the chaos. "All fighters, evasive maneuvers! Break off, repeat, break off!"
"The old traps are still functioning!" Talon Lead's voice came through ragged, strained by G-force.
"Some kind of automated defense grid... embedded in the ruins!"
The sound of alarms filled the comms as more fighters dodged lances of searing light erupting from hidden ground emplacements.
"Six, pull up! You're too low..."
"I can't... engines locked... "
Another blip vanished.
Then another.
Finally, the commander's voice boomed through the bridge. "Recall the survivors. NOW."
The remaining fighters limped back toward orbit, their formation ragged.
Of the squadron of eight, only four returned.
Their hulls were scorched, wings clipped, one fighter venting atmosphere from a punctured fuselage.
When the hangar clamps caught them, silence followed.
The commander broke it first, voice iron. "Half a squadron gone. Defenses still live down there. Whatever is on that planet, it isn't abandoned. And it sure as hell doesn't want us here."
***
Alara Veyrn frowned as she listens to the Squad leader's report… although she had expected something like this to happen… it still didn't feel good to lost soldiers.
'Mission had barely started, and I already lost 4 fighters.' She sighed lightly but she couldn't let that keep her down.
In fact, the active defenses made the ruin even more valuable but also more difficult and she already lost 3 fighters before the battle started.
She could feel the Majors behind her boring hole into the back of her skull and for good reasons.
"Commander Veyrn, what are your next orders?" Captain Swift interrupted her thought process thankfully saving her from freezing.
"Connect to the Mercenaries and order them to begin scouting, warn them of active defence and priority is to secure a landing zone."
A paused followed as she decided, "Extra 100,000 Standard Credit to the first three groups to send back coordinates."
The majors looked at each other, some looked satisfied, and others looked irritated or just blanked faced.
"Yes, Commander." Captain Swift relied before immediately connecting to the mercenaries.
***
On one of the Corvette ships used by mercenaries, mercenary squad leader Obi heard a ping from the secured channel the fleet had connected them to.
"Talon Net, this is Atlas Command. Commence surface scout sweep. Assume active defenses. Priority: secure LZs. Transmit verified LZ coordinates on contact. First three groups with validated LZs receive 100,000 SC each. Update every fifteen. Atlas out."
With the radio brevity came a file and when he opened it a similar notice was presented to him.
[
Order: Ruin Recon & LZ Security — Immediate
To: All contracted mercenary units
From: Fleet Command — FC-310 "Atlas" (Veyrn)
Priority: Alpha — Immediate
Directive: Commence coordinated surface scouting of the ruin site. All teams are to assume the presence of active defensive systems.
Primary objective is to locate, secure, and mark one or more safe landing zones suitable for follow‑on insertion and supply. Move deliberately; avoid unnecessary exposure to unknown emplacement fire.
Rules of engagement:
If you encounter active defenses, disengage and report. Do not attempt to neutralize automated systems unless ordered.Protect scouts and recon assets; preserve intel for fleet exploitation.All transmissions must include GPS coordinates (planetary datum) and a universal timestamp.
Incentive: An immediate bonus of 100,000 Standard Credits will be awarded to each of the first three groups that transmit verified, actionable landing‑zone coordinates and confirmation of area security.
Report cadence: Status updates every 15 minutes while on reconnaissance; immediate SOS on contact or critical discovery.
Signed,
Fleet Commander Veyrn
FC-310 "Atlas" ]
He scanned through the document but the thing that stood out the most to him was the 100,000 SC that he stood to gain.
He immediately grabbed his weapon and orders his men to get ready to follow him.
"Cha, send our scouts out immediately… I want all 300,000SC."
A similar thing played out in all the mercenaries' vessels as they all began to move out… racing to be the one to claim the bounty.