In less than half an hour, the first scout team was already in motion.
On the flight deck, a squad of space fighters stood gleaming under harsh floodlights.
The interceptors had their frames modified with extra sensors attached to their 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 space one after another.
"Squadron One, this is Talon Lead. Beginning sweep vector two-one-five. Keep spacing tight... there will likely be interference on ground."
Static crackled, then a younger voice: "Copy that, Lead."
A short pause followed before coming again. "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... " One voice came through the comm link.
"Shit! I've lost control, my systems are... " Another voice came through before the Squad Leader could reply.
A sharp scream, then silence.
The deck went dead silence, and everyone froze as the communication sounded through to the command centre.
Another voice panicked: "Lead, we've lost Two and Four! They just... by the gods, they just disintegrated!"
On the tactical display, two blips vanished.
There were no impact markers on the map and no wreckage.
It was like they vanished which backed the third speaker's word.
The Squad Leader's voice cut across the chaos. "All fighters, evasive manoeuvres! Break off, repeat, break off!"
"The old traps are still functioning!" Talon Squad Leader's voice came through ragged, strained by G-force.
"Some kind of automated defence 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... my engines are locked... "
Another blip vanished.
Then another.
Finally, the Commander Alara's voice boomed through the bridge. "Recall the survivors. NOW."
The remaining fighters returned back to 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 squad leader broke it first, voice was tired. "Half a squadron gone. Some of the defences are still live down there. Whatever is on that planet, the owners don't want us there."
***
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 lose 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 defences made the ruin even more valuable but at the same time more difficult and she already lost 3 fighters before the real 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 saving her from freezing in front of her inspectors.
"Connect to the Mercenaries and order them to begin scouting, warn them of active defence and their 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.
"This is Atlas Command. Commence surface scout sweep. Assume active defences. Priority: secure Land Zones. Transmit verified Land Zone coordinates on contact. First three groups with validated LZs receive 100,000 SC each. Update every fifteen minutes. 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 attack base. Move deliberately; avoid unnecessary exposure to unknown emplacement fire.
Rules of engagement:
If you encounter active defences, 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.