The main console screen read –30°C.
The deep crunch of metal against snow and ash was the only thing that broke the deathly silence. The Ariake squad's Aimex units moved slowly across the frozen wasteland, each step sinking like an undeniable judgment into the dead surface of the world outside.
"Do you want me to eliminate the particles from the visual field, Captain?" Aicom asked, her artificial feminine tone barely contaminated by a slight metallic hum that betrayed her origin.
"Do it. And stabilize the lighting. I don't want another blind foray."
"Affirmative."
In a blink, the snowfall disappeared from the main monitor, filtered out by the visual cleaning system. A map remained as a thumbnail on the right edge of the interface: a red dot blinked over the gray terrain. Objective: 15 km.
The microphone icon lit up with a faint, dry sound.
"Aleph to Alpha. Respond, Alpha."
"Alpha here. Go ahead, Aleph One."
"We've detected faint thermal signals at ten o'clock. Origin unknown. Over."
Lariat checked the thermal camera. Everything was blue and black: cold, dead. Nothing alive in that sector. He pressed the control on his helmet, activating the general channel.
"Channel open. All units, stay alert. Possible threat at ten o'clock. Do not use live ammunition."
The voices responded in unison, as compact as the click of a magazine locking into place:
"Aleph OK. Clover OK. Silver OK. Delion OK. Baldur OK. Clipper OK."
"Aicom, track active heat sources. Combat mode."
"Confirmed. Initiating extended thermal scan."
The six Aimex units adjusted their pace. The hiss of hydraulic valves and servomotors filled the cockpits. The silence of the outside world contrasted with the constant hum of the heavy machinery that kept them alive.
"Captain, we're 10 kilometers away. I'm detecting severe thermal fluctuations. I recommend increasing the circulation of antifreeze," the artificial intelligence stated in her cold, feminine voice.
"Do it, and notify the platoon. Close formation. Something's approaching."
"Should we send out a probe?"
"Negative. We lost the last one, and the engineer almost tore my head off. Issue the order."
"Transmitting."
The units closed ranks in a wedge formation, their lights cutting through the oppressive darkness like xenon blades. Without that illumination, the world outside was nothing: a perpetual night over frozen ruins.
"Delion to Alpha. Report: Intermittent heat and radiation signals."
"Alpha here. Received. Prepare for combat. No casualties."
A voice interrupted the common frequency, urgent:
"Targets at seven o'clock... of the wolf type!"
Lariat's Aimex turned immediately. He activated his pulse sword; a line of energy raced along the blade, roaring with an electric hum. The charge level reached 90%.
But before he could finish the turn, Aicom sounded the alert:
"Contact to your right, 15 meters. Speed: 80 km/h," Aicom said calmly, despite the urgency of the message.
Lariat reacted on pure instinct. He pulled the control, stopping the Aimex with a pneumatic roar. A second later, a gigantic beast roared past him, jaws open, spitting steam and a corrosive drool that sparked on contact with his suit's armor.
"More beasts! Twelve o'clock!" a voice shouted over the intercom.
"Twenty thermal sources approaching," Aicom added with surgical calm, as the radar filled with red dots.
Lariat brought his sword down on the neck of the charging creature, slicing through skin, bone, and spine. The electrical pulse exploded inside it like a lightning bolt, and the beast fell dead with a final spasm.
"Aicom! Retreat strategy, now."
"Calculating trajectories. Stand by..."
"Everyone prepare for retreat! Now!"
The ground trembled under the footsteps of dozens of creatures. Two of them lunged at Lariat. He dodged one, using the full power of his dorsal engine. Snow, steam, and blood splattered across his monitor.
"Fall back, Captain!" Clipper shouted from the rear.
Lariat jumped back with a single assisted leap. An explosion shook the ground where he had been standing seconds earlier. The monitor filled with white static for a moment.
"Damn it! I told you, no explosives without permission..."
"Escape route calculated. Authorization for counterattack and dispersal, please," Aicom stated, as the central monitor flickered with emergency signals.
"Authorized. Activate the plan."
"Synchronizing traps and flares with all units."
Lariat raised the left arm of his Aimex, pointing at the line of beasts that were beginning to surround them.
"On my signal, fire and retreat according to protocol six!"
The CO₂ grenades exploded at once, releasing a dense bank of gas that blinded the creatures. Spike traps, almost invisible under the snow, began to activate in a chain reaction. The beasts shrieked as they stepped on them, tearing their limbs.
"Flare deployment programmed. Executing," Aicom said.
Lariat saw the flash of multiple stun flares on his screen, disorienting the enemies. In the midst of the chaos, the seven Aimex units turned and retreated, leaving behind only fire, corpses... and another failed mission.
They returned at full speed to the underground bunker of VS-100 Vulcanus.
And as the metal cooled and the lights of the subterranean city flickered in the distance, Lariat knew that this time, they wouldn't just reproach him for the failure.
Something out there had changed.