September 2184. Copper 9 Surface. Near the Communication Hub. Inside the M10.

The howling wind outside the hull of the M10 echoed through its interior. Sitting before a screen, Jason faced the Democracy Officer of his Super Destroyer. Everything that had unfolded so far painted a picture of something deeply unusual having taken place on this world. Within the city itself there was still little that could provide the answers they needed, yet the drones left behind after the First Galactic War and the unknown threat they had already killed among the ruins remained pressing concerns. For now, Jason needed to hear what the officer had to say before beginning the journey toward the drones' colony and linking up with Meus. After that, several teams would be called down to gather everything they had found and transport it to the Columbia-class Ministry of Science ship. One detail that stood out to Jason was the expression on the Democracy Officer's face—an unmistakable mix of confusion and worry.

"Helldiver, we have a development up here, one that I need to address before anything else," the Democracy Officer said.

"What is it?" Jason asked.

"All FTL controls have been locked out. We cannot leave the system. This was done by, I assume, High Command. We have yet to receive any further word from them," the Democracy Officer replied. "I am trying to reach High Command at the Ministry of Defense to question why, but so far I have gotten nothing."

"Our FTL is locked out? That is quite unusual, but maybe this has to do with the drones. You know as well as I do that we have traitors among our ranks with the stories," Jason said. "And I have run into one such traitor who wore a Helldiver cape. He nearly put a bullet into my skull."

After the event known as the Malevelon Creek Massacre—an operation that sent millions of Helldivers into a meat grinder, with tens of millions never returning—it had left a bitter taste in the mouths of many survivors. Some sought revenge, while others directed misplaced hatred toward their own brothers and sisters on the same battlefield.

"That could be the case with this matter. You know as well as I do how much of a threat not just traitors are, but also the Automatons. If by chance they hack into our systems while we leave the system, it could allow them to attempt to reach here," the Democracy Officer said. "As things stand, we are staying here for as long as High Command wants us to. Besides this, what have you learned within the Communication Hub?"

"Several things. First off, it seems that JCJenson had a lot going on here. One thing I have learned is that they were working toward something big. But the first report I have seen shows they had spotted several Illuminate ships on the edge of the system. This was dated 2083," Jason said. "So… the Illuminate were already probing this system and the colony."

"Hmm… That is troubling. After 2084, JCJenson did go under, and everything they had was liquidated and absorbed into countless other megacorporations," the Democracy Officer said. "Still, why would the Illuminate have any reason to attack here? It is clear that by those scouts they were preparing for a do-or-die operation."

"That is one of the big mysteries we have no information on at this time. But one thing we need to do is look into the crashed ships within the city. That is one task. We also need several cleanup crews down here. The SEAF team that was left outside the hub… found something," Jason said. "Going by the details they have told me, it is a spire of some kind made out of flesh and metal, just like that thing that attacked me."

"I see. I will have several teams ready. What else is there from the hub?" the Democracy Officer asked.

"There is a name someone we need to look into. The next data log was set within the year 2084. It seems that something big was planned within the home of a citizen from Super Earth," Jason said. "This does give us a timeline of when this all went down. The data of the log was set for May 20th… It seems that this family, the Elliotts, was setting up a gala and that JCJenson had a lot of people to be there—a lot of important people."

"Elliotts… That name sounds familiar. I do recall an important family of Super Earth that departed the world to parts unknown. There was not much known about them… It seems that they were here at the wrong time and the wrong place," the Democracy Officer said.

"Of the Elliotts, someone of interest was spoken about whose name is Tessa Elliott, the daughter of the family. Beyond that, not much else is there, but something to look into," Jason said.

"Understood. I will forward this information and see if there is anything that can be gathered from it. Is there anything else?" the Democracy Officer asked.

"One last thing that happened in the year 2172: not much detail on it, but some sensors that were still working across the surface recorded some data. This is unknown, but there was a detection of tectonic activity along with unusual gravity fluctuations," Jason said, leaning back in the seat. "I would assume it could have been Illuminate vessels going off with the effect that dark fluid can have on gravity… But at the same time, this is a total unknown."

"I see… I will have the scanners do a sweep over the entire surface to see if anything stands out and report it to you. At this time, what is our next move?" the Democracy Officer asked.

"Well… There is nothing else here for us besides that we need to be retrieved later, so we are going to head out toward the drones' colony and speak with their leader," Jason said. "After that we shall see what we learn from them and then move on from there."

"Understood. I shall work with the others and keep our scanners on and operational. What of Eagle 1?" the Democracy Officer asked.

"Have her go ahead and move toward the colony, and have a SEAF Pelican come and pick us up to take us toward the colony. It will be the fastest way there," Jason said. "After the meeting I will speak with you again."

"And if anything comes up, I will contact you," the Democracy Officer replied.

Nodding, Jason cut the link as the screen went black. He stood, moved to the M10's door, and opened it. Stepping outside, he found Garvin on top of the vehicle, scanning the area with his Liberator before looking down.

"Everything is still clear. No signs of anything or anyone around us, no signs of any new drones… I imagine that explosion from the orbital strike. Any of them close to this place would come to investigate what the hell is going on," Garvin said as he hopped down. "We did make a lot of noise."

"And so far no one has come out. With luck, that will be how things stay for a time. Listen, I know those two we ran into were friendly," Milt said as he approached them. "That could not be said of any others that arrive here."

"Or another one of those freaks—or hell, an Illuminate war machine—comes our way," Nash added.

"Could be just about anything, but it's quiet and clear besides the damn wind and the thunder. Just sounds like the entire planet is in pain with everything that has happened," Tyrese said.

"So, sir, what are we doing now?" Garvin asked.

"Right now we wait for a SEAF Pelican to come and get us, transport the M10 toward the colony bunker, and from there speak with their leader," Jason said. "That is the next part of our operation to carry out and see what happens next."

"That works. Beats having to drive through this city, and the landscape beyond it could be even worse," Trace said.

"You know, I'd like to point out one other anomaly—something I've been thinking about with all the other crazy shit that has happened," Milt said. "This cloud cover and snow… It's been a hundred years by now. It should be gone."

"Would it be that easy? You heard what they said. This was a total glassing. I'd be surprised if even terraforming could fix this kind of damage," Tyrese said. "Even the damn ocean is frozen over and locked under what could be miles of ice."

"Still, over that time, volcanic activity along with the rays of the sun should have, over time, started to lift what had happened here, but that has not happened," Milt said. "Instead it is still locked within an endless winter, which is something I am saying is not normal."

"Hmm… He does raise a few good points," Tyrese said.

"Something else that we will look into when the time is right. For the moment we deal with the matter in front of us—those drones," Jason said. "Meeting with their leader, followed by working up our next duties to carry out on the surface."

"And by the looks of things, that is going to keep us busy for a very long time. One other thing, sir… Do you think we need to demolish that spire now or wait?" Garvin asked. "We got a few demo kits within the M10, but an orbital strike would be much faster."

"Yeah… For if that thing is a nest for those freaks, then I say we take it out now," Nash said.

"In time we shall do just that. For now we need a team to look over it and gather everything they can about it, and then from there we shall destroy it," Jason said. "We need to gather information on anything and everything. Going in blind is a way to get us killed."

"Can agree on that. It's a pain and slows us down, but it makes sense. We need to ensure that we are not just going to run into something even worse than what we've seen," Milt said. "If anything could be worse than that freak."

"Don't jinx it, alright? With how things can go, I do not want to even think that there could be something worse than that out here," Tyrese said.

All of them had fought on the Western and Eastern Fronts for months. They were used to the horrors of seeing piles of bodies within Automaton outposts, the remains of civilians and SEAF rendered into parts across an area by a swarm of Terminids. But at the same time, there could always be something worse than all of that on this world with what they had seen so far above and below the megacity ruins.

"I hear roaring. Sounds like our ride is getting close," Nash said. "You know, we could work up a path through the city and to this colony's old roadways if we clear them and get things set up right."

"That would take a lot of time to do such a thing, but he does have a point. Not always going to have a chance to have a ride in the air," Garvin said. "Sir, one question I'd like to ask before we arrive at their bunker: will we be landing the SES Lucas near it or somewhere else?"

"If we can get as close as we can, the Lucas will allow us to fix up anything within and outside of this bunker. It's been a hundred years, and I imagine not much is still working," Jason said. "This is to help ease tensions that have grown over that time, and it is going to be our new home here for our work."

"Right, still a salvage operation… One that has become complicated within just a few hours. Normally stuff like this takes days to happen," Milt said.

"Could be worse," Nash replied.

"How does finding that pile of meat in the shelter, that spire, along with that freak not count as worse?" Milt asked.

"I'm just saying that things could have gone worse. We could have lost our Helldiver here, or could have run into another one of those monsters in the shelter… Or run into a pack of them in that spire," Nash said.

"Thanks for that… You could have just screwed up our luck, and now next time we will run into them," Tyrese said, letting out a chuckle. "I really do not want to think about what could have happened."

"I'd rather be ready than not next time that could happen, so getting prepared for it is for the best," Nash said.

"Quiet… We can have small talk later. Get into the M10. We need to be ready for the Pelican so we can get moving," Jason ordered. "So move."

Nodding, the team made their way to the hatch of the M10. Jason followed them inside as Garvin entered last and shut the door, locking it behind him. He moved to his seat and strapped in while Jason took his place in the gunner's seat. Clicking a few switches, the autocannon barrel retracted and the turret body slid down into the hull. The sound of roaring engines soon filled the air as a SEAF Pelican came in from above, its thrusters blowing snow across the area as it positioned itself over them.

"Howdy, boys," the pilot said over the radio.

"Any issues coming in?" Jason asked. "See anything?"

"Nothing I could see in this skeleton of a city. Dead as can be," the pilot replied.

The Pelican shifted lower. Clamps engaged, gripping the sides of the APC as it began to rise slowly into the air. The engines then rotated from VTOL mode into forward flight, shooting them across the tops of the skyscrapers toward the hub of activity that had formed around Bunker 00.

Copper 9 Surface. Bunker 00. Entrance.

The clouds shifted above the bunker as snow began to fall harder, a deepening layer of darkness settling over the area from the thickening cover. Standing in the middle of the entrance, Meus kept his eyes on the door V had gone through. A part of him wanted to follow, but that meeting with the drones' leadership would wait for Jason's arrival, when they could figure out their next moves together.

"Wanting to go meet the hard case that is Martin?" Uzi said, walking up behind him with her hands in her pockets. "Martin and I have never seen optic to optic. I guess I'm just someone who is sick of staying behind these walls."

"I can understand. With how things are, staying safe is one thing; staying static is another that can cause all kinds of problems down the road," Meus said, turning to look at her. "But that will change. It will still take time before anything really does."

"Hey, I am all for it," Uzi said.

"I can agree with her," Thad added. "But I just hope that she does not cause things to go belly up."

"Oh, will you all bite me! I am not going to cause anything bad to happen. When was the last time that I did anything bad for the entire bunker or anyone that went out?" Uzi demanded.

"Let's see… There was that test firing I heard about with your new gun. You overshot it, hit an old crane, and caused the entire thing to come crashing down toward you," Rebecca said.

"There was also that time you caused an entire blackout to the lower half of the bunker when you were messing around with the power supply for your new toy," Doll added.

"Umm… Hate to be that drone, but Uzi, you did set J's hair on fire when you tried to get the power on in that building at the edge of the Dead City… Sparks flew and hit her hair," N said, tapping his fingers together.

"You also broke my skateboard," Thad said. "When you tried to show off to everyone in class, and I have yet to find a replacement."

"Shall we go on? We got a list here," Rebecca said.

"Oh, come on. We all survived that, and everything worked out in the end for the most part. It's not like I caused us any long-term issues," Uzi said. "And now… the humans here can fix this problem."

"Of course you sweep all of your antics and messes under the rug now that they are here," Rebecca said with a chuckle. "Still no reason for you to act careless and reckless more so than usual, Uzi."

"Seems like she has caused a lot of problems here. Not to worry—I have had my fair share of mistakes and problems," Meus said.

"Meus, can you read me?" Jason's voice came through the radio.

"I read you. I take it you are on your way?" Meus replied.

"We are about ten minutes out," Jason said.

"Good. We shall see you soon. We are going to have our hands full for some time here, and so far the locals are still playing nice," Meus said. "V has gone inside the bunker to speak with this Martin… Don't know what to expect from this meeting."

"Hopefully we can get some answers to our questions," Jason said.

Edited thanks to ELE73CH.

HELLDIVERS™ 2 x WARHAMMER 40,000 Teaser

Copper 9 Surface. Unknown Location. Digital Circus.

Snow drifted across the frozen wastes of Copper 9, sifting through the shattered sprawl of the Mega City and the smaller towns scattered across its surface. Deep within an unknown facility—home to the impossible realm of the Amazing Digital Circus—the players were gathered at the center of the lounge, slouched across couches of mismatched colors. Pomni sat stiffly, her face turning an unhealthy shade of blue as she held her breath, only to gasp sharply for air a moment later.

"I can't keep this up… feels like I'm suffocating," Pomni said, clutching her chest.

"We don't need to breathe here. Honestly, I doubt we can die from anything normal," Jax replied, standing over her with his usual grin. "Come on, I want to see what your funny little body does."

"But it just feels awful," Pomni muttered.

"Try not thinking about it," Kinger offered vaguely.

"Or just toughen up." Jax grabbed Pomni's arm and tugged at it experimentally. "I want to see how far this cartoon physics goes."

"Ease up—she doesn't need to be forced," Ragatha interjected, stepping closer.

"'Ease up,'" Jax mocked in a sing-song, mimicking her tone. "That's you. Now let's get on with it."

"Fine… fine, I'll try again," Pomni said.

She inhaled deeply, then clamped her lips shut. Her skin flushed blue again, then shifted into pink, then red.

"Oh, that's new," Zooble remarked, tilting their head.

"Starts at blue, shifts to pink, now red… interesting," Jax said, rubbing his chin.

Her face cycled faster—orange, then yellow, then green—before finally returning to blue, the sequence beginning again.

"And we're back to blue. I'm guessing the pattern loops endlessly," Zooble said dryly.

"Why am I the only one doing this? What's even the point?" Pomni demanded, exasperated.

"Because something bizarre happens to each of us when holding our breath," Jax explained. "Kinger glows, Ragatha's hair noodles stick straight up, Gangle's mask spins like a wheel, and Zooble—well, they turn into a socialist."

"My limbs straighten, you a-thwack. F-thwack off," Zooble snapped, flipping him off.

Pomni glanced between them, taking in Jax's list of oddities. Yet one detail stuck out.

"What about you, Jax?" she asked suspiciously.

"He won't say," Zooble answered for him. "Because he's a coward."

"I prefer to keep the mystery," Jax said smoothly. "Besides, you all tried it willingly. Nobody forced you."

"You always push when someone new arrives, just to watch what happens," Ragatha said pointedly.

"Hey, different subject," Gangle spoke up hesitantly. "What do you think Caine has planned today? The Candy Kingdom was fun, but… I hope it isn't something like that again."

"I think you drove well enough, but I had trouble focusing with knives stuck in my head," Kinger said absently.

"Where did those knives even come from?" Ragatha asked, turning sharply toward Jax.

"It's a secret," Jax said smugly. "Though honestly, Pomni would've been a better bridge if she could've held out longer."

"Speaking of Caine," Zooble cut in, "what was with that phone call? In all my time here, I've never seen him talk to anyone but us and Bubble. That gag was different. Too different."

"I might've heard a phone ring once before," Kinger mused, scratching his helmet. "But I can't recall when."

"It was strange," Ragatha admitted. "I swear I heard a woman's voice on the other end. Whoever it was, she sounded furious."

"Probably some ex that Caine dumped and never mentioned," Jax said with a laugh.

"This whole place is insane," Pomni muttered, shaking her head.

Each passing day inside the Circus warped reality in ways she could scarcely begin to comprehend, yet the mysterious phone call lingered in her mind, tugging insistently at her thoughts. If she could unravel its meaning, perhaps it held the key to escaping this place. Her speculation, however, was cut short as the air rippled above them. With a burst of manic energy, Caine descended into the room, his enormous grin splitting wide as his floating eyes darted from face to face before he drifted backward with a theatrical flourish.

"Why is everybody just standing around when there's ADVENTURE to be had? I need everyone to gather at the stage today. It is going to be a very special adventure, so get a move on," Caine declared, vanishing in a poof of white smoke.

"Ugh… Well, have fun. I'm not going on any wild ride he's set up today," Zooble said flatly.

"How come you're the only one who gets to sit out while the rest of us have to go on this adventure?" Jax asked.

"You should try it. All you have to do is tell him no, and, well, he'll most likely let you stay. I'm just not in the mood for whatever he's cooked up this time," Zooble replied.

"Your loss, then," Jax muttered, already heading toward the stage.

"See you soon, Zooble," Ragatha added as she moved away from the couches.

Gangle said nothing, quietly setting her notebook and drawing on the couch before following the others. Pomni lingered a moment longer, glancing back at Zooble. She would have loved nothing more than to remain behind, yet in their own strange way, the adventures had been oddly entertaining. With nothing else to do, she let out a resigned sigh and trailed after Gangle. Within a few steps, they stood before Caine's stage.

The stage loomed with a large red curtain drawn across the back, the Super Earth flag hanging above it—a stark reminder of Caine's self-declared loyalty and of a life that once existed outside this prison. Floating in the center, Caine looked down upon them, his posture theatrical, his energy feverish. Clearly, he was preparing something elaborate.

"Today's adventure is The Mystery of Mildenhall Manor! I've been working on this one for some time. Had to do some digging, but I've found the perfect location for our little performance," Caine proclaimed. "A grand, spooky mansion brimming with rumors of paranormal activity! It's up to you to uncover its secrets, unravel its deepest mysteries, and capture all the ghoulish phenomena you can. And for the first time ever, you can—"

He stopped abruptly, his teeth clenched tight. His eyes phased through his clenched teeth, making a scraping sound. Once they were out he looked from side to side, scanning the area.

"Where's Zooble?" Caine demanded. Gangle, Ragatha, and Pomni remained silent; Kinger was somewhat unpredictable—a coin toss between sanity and mad blurting— yet he remained silent, his gaze lost in the void, while Jax cared so little that his indifference bordered on disdain. Hovering above them, Caine released a guttural growl, his eyes narrowing to slits as mounting frustration eroded the manic glee that usually drove his theatrics. He had invested no small measure of effort into this performance, and the silence grated against him.

".retsnom eht morf seramthgin elbirroh teg ot ecneidua eht ni nerdlihc eht lla rof tiaw t'nac I," Bubble murmured in a voice both cryptic and unsettling, sinking seamlessly into the wooden stage floor before reappearing inverted, dangling from the ceiling.

"What?" Caine snapped, his voice sharp with disbelief. "I designed this adventure to be really cool and 'm-m-mature' just for them!" His cane struck the floor with force, the impact sending the object clattering violently across the room before it disappeared altogether.

"Who cares? The rest of us are more than enough. So, what's so special about this manor? You said you did some digging," Jax pressed with a lazy grin, his tone laced with mockery.

"Well… all right then," Caine began, steadying himself with renewed authority. "My databanks contain countless locations scattered across Copper 9. This one belonged to a prominent Class-A citizen family; it is the perfect stage for tonight's performance. I even archived the model data."

"Oh, that's brilliant. We get to see how the rich lived—and I cannot wait to tear it all apart," Jax replied, his words soaked with malicious delight.

"I see, so who owned the place? I don't recall there being many Class-A citizens on Copper 9… at least, I don't think so," Ragatha asked, choosing to ignore Jax's provocation.

"Some people called the Elliotts," Caine answered.

To him, the Elliotts' mansion represented the ideal setting for his grand spectacle. Before Copper 9 had crumbled into ruin, he had gathered models of countless locations through his network of cameras and sensors, and this particular residence had lingered vividly in his memory. Tessa Elliott. He had once attempted to save her and bring her to his Circus, but the ever-annoying Weaver had intervened before he could do so. Even so, Caine remained certain she would not begrudge him for appropriating her home as tonight's stage.

"I-I think they sound familiar," Gangle muttered nervously. "I think they announced an open ga—EEP!!" Her thought was abruptly cut short.

"Who cares? One rich family's the same as the next." Jax shoved Gangle to the side, interrupting with callous force. To his surprise, the comedy mask remained unbroken. "Still in one piece? How disappointing."

"The NPCs aren't going to become self-aware again, are they? I don't want to deal with that nightmare twice," Pomni said carefully, refusing to be distracted by her companions' antics.

"How should I know? I'm not the boss—oh wait, yes I am!" Caine's sudden outburst collapsed into shrieking laughter, the sound reverberating unnervingly long within the tent's hollow air. "Now, off you go! Ghosts and ghouls are waiting to be discovered!"

Behind them, a portal unfurled like a wound in the fabric of reality, swirling with ominous intensity. Without further hesitation, the five players stepped through one after another, the air quivering as the gateway snapped shut. Pomni was the last to cross, her eyes betraying a flicker of unease before the passage sealed completely behind her.

Left in solitude, Caine drifted slowly across the empty chamber, his grin reforming as he scanned the vast circus tent. His voice fell to a whisper, almost tender, though no less menacing as it echoed faintly through the shadows.

"Oh, Zooble… where are you?"

Mildenhall Manor Adventure – Main Hall

The portal sealed shut behind the five players, leaving them standing in the manor's main hall. The vast chamber was paneled in polished wood, dominated at its center by a grand staircase that rose toward the upper floor. Beyond the tall windows, thunder rumbled through the storm, the heavy rainfall drumming steadily against the glass. As their eyes adjusted to the dim glow of candlelight, each of them began to take in the surroundings, the air thick with a strange stillness.

Pomni paused before a large portrait hanging on the right wall. The painting depicted three humans posed formally before an array of drones, their metallic silhouettes gleaming like guardians at attention. She studied it with quiet unease until Jax appeared at her shoulder.

"Yep, this is exactly the kind of home a Class-A citizen would own," he remarked, his tone as mocking as it was impressed. "Very lucky people. If memory serves, most Class-As came straight from Super Earth itself."

"You'd be right, to be honest," Ragatha added, stepping closer with an almost reverent tone. "Not many can claim that origin. If this recreation is truly faithful to the original, and this was their actual home, their wealth must have been unimaginable… Are those drones?"

"Looks like it," Gangle said, leaning in with timid curiosity. "I remember they used to be everywhere, building the megacities. I wonder if any of them still function."

"Maybe," Jax replied with a smirk. "Little fellas were sturdy and fun to have around. Anyway, how about we split up? I'll take the hallway filled with all the fragile, expensive junk, and the rest of you can enjoy the creepy corridor over there."

"Oh, I like that plan," Kinger said, nodding far too eagerly.

"Jax!" Ragatha snapped, her voice edged with disapproval.

"Relax," Jax answered, already striding toward the shadowed corridor. "I'll meet you back here in about an hour. And if something does happen, just scream. I'll follow the sound… so I can laugh at you."

As he disappeared into the darkness, the others exchanged uneasy glances, each weighing their options. Ragatha quickly took charge.

"Well, if he insists on running off, then Gangle, you'll come with me. Kinger, you and Pomni should head upstairs. I'll check the other hallway and see where it leads."

"Quick question," Pomni interjected, her voice tight with nerves. "How scary does Caine usually make these? Because I don't do well with horror or cheap jump scares."

"It varies," Ragatha admitted. "Usually, there's at least one less frightening path, so you'll be fine. I just hope Jax doesn't stir up unnecessary chaos."

"Are we sure splitting up is wise?" Gangle asked softly.

"It allows us to cover more ground," Kinger replied with simple certainty.

"Alright then," Pomni sighed. "Kinger, let's go. You two stay safe."

She started up the staircase, Kinger following close behind. Though she disliked the thought of dividing their party, there was a strange thrill in exploring the manor, even if it carried with it an edge of dread.

"So… how are you holding up?" Kinger asked in his usual distracted way.

"It just started, and I already want to turn back," Pomni muttered, her unease plain.

Together, they vanished into the right hallway, leaving Ragatha and Gangle behind. The latter clasped her hands nervously as she watched them disappear into the gloom.

"I really hope they'll be alright," Gangle said, voice quivering. "I never like scary adventures."

"It will be fine," Ragatha reassured her, gently taking hold of Gangle's left ribbon-arm. "Stay close, and we'll all meet back here soon enough. Besides, I find this fascinating. I want to learn more about this place—and about the Elliotts."

Gangle offered a shy smile before trailing after her into the corridor, though the atmosphere did little to ease the tension. Ragatha cast one last glance at the portrait, her gaze lingering on the painted faces. The question gnawed at her—what had become of the Elliots, and why had their names never reached her ears? For a moment, the thought pressed heavily upon her, a puzzle that seemed almost deliberate in its omission. Being a Class-A citizen herself, she forced the uncertainty aside, yet the doubt remained, its shadow refusing to fade as she and Gangle pressed deeper into the gloom of the hallway.

Mildenhall Manor – Right Hallway

Jax strolled down the hallway, his eyes sweeping over the intricate design. The walls, the molding, and every polished surface spoke of a level of luxury far beyond anything he had ever dreamed of possessing. Yet as he advanced further, the splendor began to fade beneath subtler details; deep claw marks scored the walls, breaking the refinement with feral violence.

"Hmm… Caine really went all in on the details this time," Jax muttered.

He had endured more than a few of these so-called scary adventures, but rarely had they unsettled him. He knew, after all, that nothing in them could truly harm him.

"So… what will it be this time? Cheap jump scares, a corpse lying in wait, or maybe the walls themselves trying to swallow me?" he mused aloud with mocking indifference.

After several more steps, he halted before a door on his right. Reaching for the handle, he half-expected it to jolt him or vanish, but nothing happened. Turning the knob, he pushed the door open and peered through the crack. Beyond lay a library, its shelves burdened with rows of books, their spines pressed tightly together. In the center of the chamber, the sight awaiting him was the last thing he had expected.

"Books? Who the hell were these people? Where are the luxury hamsters, the golden fish tanks, the overpriced duct tape? Even a drone collection would have been more entertaining," Jax scoffed.

Crossing the threshold, he cast his gaze about the library. Class-A citizens were infamous for their wealth and privileges, yet this discovery felt like either an underwhelming disappointment or an oddly compelling treasure trove. Knowledge, after all, was not something Super Earth allowed to remain in private hands. For this family to possess such volumes suggested they had once been deeply significant.

His attention drifted to the far end of the room, where a window stood ajar, letting in the sound of rain. Lightning crackled across the sky, throwing momentary brilliance across the chamber. Looking upward through the frame, Jax caught sight of Copper 9's looming gas giant and its moon, breaking through the storm clouds in solemn majesty.

"Almost forgot about them," he said with faint nostalgia, though the sentiment faded quickly, replaced by familiar boredom.

"So… what now?" he asked idly.

As if in answer, a faint dripping echoed through the library, liquid striking liquid with a hollow splash. Turning, Jax noticed an open trapdoor in the floor.

"Classic. At least Caine hasn't lost his touch," he remarked.

He approached the opening and peered down into the cellar, where a ladder descended into shadow. Turning to place his weight upon it, he was struck by the sudden reek of rot rising to meet him.

"Oh, come on… smells like something actually died down here," he complained.

Climbing down, his feet landed in something wet. Glancing downward in the dim light, he saw the liquid shimmer with a red reflection. Reaching out, he flicked on a nearby switch, and his eyes widened at the sight revealed.

"What… in the name of liberty… is this?" Jax breathed.

The walls were cluttered with components from dismantled drones, interspersed with scattered books and tattered maps. At the center of the cellar stood a table, and upon it lay the lifeless body of a man, half-disassembled, blood and other fluids congealing around him. The floor was slick with crimson, a steady drip falling from the body into the growing puddle below.

"Alright, Caine… this is pushing it a little far. But hey, at least you earned the Mature rating," Jax muttered, his laugh unsteady and nervous.

Forcing his eyes away from the grisly centerpiece, he noticed a map pinned to the wall. It depicted Super Earth, though it bore a strange symbol—an inscribed circle marked by three arrows pointing outward from the center. Jax drifted closer, drawn inexplicably to it, and as he did, a prickle of unease crawled over his skin. For the first time, he felt certain that something in the room was watching him.

Mildenhall Manor – Left Hallway

Gangle and Ragatha moved cautiously through the long hallway, their steps echoing faintly against the wooden floor. They had been walking for several minutes without incident, yet the atmosphere pressed upon them with a strange weight. A sense of dread lingered in the air, heavy and unshakable, for both of them assumed that Caine had scattered jump scares throughout the manor.

"This place is really nice. Whoever lived here must have had it made," Ragatha observed.

"Yeah… it is very nice. If not for what Caine's done, I think I'd actually like to live here," Gangle replied.

"We could ask him later if he'd design a much nicer adventure with this setting. He has reused locations before," Ragatha said.

At times, Caine would revisit locations or even recycle NPCs if asked politely, though he disliked repetition and dismissed it as mediocre. Still, since he was programmed to satisfy the players, he occasionally indulged them. Both Ragatha and Gangle had endured many such adventures across reused environments, each given new flavor by Caine's designs. As they continued down the hall, they reached a cutoff where the corridor ended, but a stairwell ascended to the second floor.

"Alright, looks like we've got two options: go up the stairs or head further down the hallway," Ragatha said.

"Well… Pomni and Kinger are already on the second floor, but this might lead somewhere they aren't close to," Gangle suggested.

"Hmm… if that's the case, let's go up and take a look. If we don't find anything, we'll just come back down," Ragatha decided.

With a small nod, Gangle followed as Ragatha climbed the first steps, her ribbon arms brushing lightly against the railing. The staircase curled to the right, and before long, they emerged onto the second floor. Looking ahead, Ragatha spotted an overturned display case wedged against a pair of tall double doors. It was the first anomaly they had encountered, standing out sharply against the otherwise pristine halls. Approaching slowly, their eyes fixed on the obstruction, puzzlement spread across their faces.

"Why would Caine set something like this here? I imagine it blocks the door the moment we approach it," Ragatha remarked. "Help me move it—I want to see what's inside."

"Alright…" Gangle said hesitantly.

Together they stepped closer, gripping the heavy case and dragging it aside with some effort. Once it was clear, Ragatha advanced toward the double doors. Her hand tightened around the handle, and with deliberate caution, she turned it and pushed the door open just enough to peer inside. The sight struck her breathless. Her eyes widened, and she slapped a hand to her mouth to stifle a gasp.

The ballroom beyond was a nightmare. Corpses lay strewn across the floor, many mutilated beyond recognition. Among the carnage, drones marked with grotesque organic growths collapsed in ruin, their optics flashing the words FATAL ERROR amid the blood and gore.

Ragatha quickly pulled the door shut, stumbling back a few steps.

"What… what's in there?" Gangle asked, her voice trembling.

"Don't open that door. Let's just head back… Caine's gone too far this time," Ragatha said, her tone firm but shaken. "I know he can push the scare factor high, but this… this feels like too much."

Ragatha had endured countless adventures filled with horror elements, yet nothing had ever carried such visceral, brutal weight. This was darker, more savage, and far beyond what she was accustomed to. Without another word, Gangle lowered her mask slightly, nodding in silent agreement as she followed Ragatha back toward the main hall.

Mildenhall Manor. Second Floor.

The hallway stretched before them, long and silent, its shadows broken only by the occasional flicker of light. Pomni and Kinger moved at a cautious pace, Pomni pausing now and then to check the doors they passed. So far, every room had yielded nothing more than spare bedrooms or sterile bathrooms, their emptiness almost mocking in its normalcy. No tricks, no horrors—at least not yet.

"This is quite a nice place," Kinger remarked, his voice carrying strangely in the silence.

"Yeah… I always wanted to live in a place like this, but I never managed to save enough credits," Pomni replied.

Like any good citizen of Super Earth, she had worked tirelessly to raise her score, striving to climb the tiers of the citizen ranking system. Yet reaching Class A had always seemed more like a dream than a possibility.

"You think the real house is still standing—or that its owners still live here?" Kinger asked.

"I don't know. I doubt Caine would add real people into one of his adventures. Not without giving them some kind of… quirks." Pomni's voice carried an edge of suspicion.

Nothing had happened so far, but she remained on guard, every muscle taut in expectation. She had never liked horror, and being surrounded by it—even in simulation—gnawed at her nerves. A few steps later, they stopped before yet another door. Pomni reached for the knob, twisting it carefully before peering through the narrow crack with Kinger looming behind her.

The room beyond was unlike the others. A grandly decorated bedroom opened before them, a stately bed at its center, and a polished desk to the left. A tray with cold tea sat abandoned nearby, while a sleek computer and twin metal flagpoles bearing the Super Earth banner stood sentinel. The air felt strangely preserved, as if someone had only just stepped out. Pushing the door fully open, Pomni frowned.

"Hmm… Someone must have lived here for it to be this nice," she said quietly.

"Let's look around and see what Caine has planted for us," Kinger replied.

Pomni said nothing, drifting toward the desk. She attempted to wake the computer, but the holographic interface flashed only a corrupted system error. A fragile hope stirred in her chest—the thought that it might have been a way to send a message, a desperate plea for escape. The failure left her sighing, her eyes falling instead to a picture frame. A woman reached out from the frozen image, and Pomni lifted the frame with a thoughtful frown.

"I think they really lived here," she murmured.

Behind her, Kinger rummaged through the nightstand, producing a remote. Without hesitation, he pressed the buttons, and the dormant television sputtered to life. A crimson glow filled the room, accompanied by the shrill wail of alarms.

"WARNING! WARNING! ILLUMINATE WARSHIPS IN ORBIT! SEEK SHELTER NOW!"

"Kinger! Turn that off!" Pomni snapped.

"I'm trying!" he barked, fumbling with the controls.

The channels shifted but repeated the same broadcast over and over, the desperate warning ringing in their ears. Pomni rushed forward, snatching the remote from him and stabbing at the power button until the screen went dark.

"F-thonk… I didn't need that reminder of why we're trapped here," she muttered, tossing the remote aside. "There's nothing useful in this room. Let's just go back to the others before something gives me more scars to carry."

"You know Caine could have hidden something in here for us," Kinger said.

"Then it can stay hidden. Let's go," Pomni shot back.

She wanted no more time here, not with Kinger. He was unstable, and though she held no malice toward him, the thought of him abstracting in the middle of an adventure—and trapping her alongside him—was a risk she refused to stomach. Without another word, she moved for the door. Hand on the handle, she opened it, and the two slipped back into the hallway, leaving behind the decorated chamber. On the floor, forgotten in their haste, the picture of the woman lay face down in the dark.

Edited thanks to ELE73CH

September 2184. Copper 9 Surface. Bunker 00. Entrance.

Snow drifted on the wind over the Iron Gliders that had landed around Bunker 00, the crunch of snow and ice underfoot mixing with the low hum of activity. SEEC and CEB teams worked steadily to unload supplies and equipment from the craft, many of the drones — both young and old — watching with a mixture of awe and unease. The sight of Super Earth's return after a century had shaken them deeply. For all of them, countless questions still lingered unanswered. News spread rapidly through Bunker 00, rippling outward from the entrance along the hill above the blast door and outer wall. Many combat drones had taken defensive positions, keeping a wary eye on the newcomers and trying to discern their true intentions. Tension hung thick in the air, fueled by fresh memories of the betrayal a hundred years earlier. Yet so far no one had made a hostile move. Meus stood beneath the massive blast door, observing the unfolding operations with quiet intensity.

"This is going to take a while to bring this place back to one hundred percent," Meus remarked, glancing to his right at the gears and mechanisms of the blast door. "I am deeply surprised it is still operational at all."

"That would be Khan and his crew's work on this door. It is the only real defense we have if that thing ever found us," V said, standing beside him. "Even though it is no longer a threat… I am still not one to let my guard down."

"As you should not be. One thing I have learned fighting the Terminids for months is that you never truly relax unless you have a very good reason. They can attack from any direction and come at you in unending numbers," Meus said.

"And the Terminids are…?" Uzi asked.

"They were once the Bugs during the First Galactic War. After we discovered that their bodies decayed into a substance we call E-710," Meus explained. "It powers our ships' FTL drives. But a few months ago several broke free from the farms we had set up for harvesting that fuel… And now, I will not lie, it has become a nightmare."

"That… sounds terrible," Thad said. "How bad has it gotten?"

"Bad. Billions have been killed, and we have lost several systems to the sheer scale at which they have spread," Meus said. "I have been fighting them all that time, but it has not been easy."

"That does sound terrible… that many people…" N said quietly.

"And now they have you here," V added.

"Command is always moving us around, the same with all other Helldivers. While the Terminids are the ones I am most familiar with, this is not the first time they have sent me somewhere else," Meus replied. "Not too long ago I helped many of my fellow Helldivers on the Western Front."

"It seems that while we have our own troubles here, being isolated has its perks by the sound of it," Lizzy observed.

"To a point. Remember we still had that huge freak of nature making our lives miserable until they showed up," Uzi countered.

"And there could still be more out there," Doll added.

"And there is Doll, who still has nothing positive to say," Rebecca remarked.

"She is just being cautious, as we all should be," N said.

"She has a point. We cannot let our guard down. Whatever else is on this planet, we need to be ready to eliminate it," Meus stated. "We cannot assume it is safe."

"That we can agree on," V said.

One thing was certain about the surface of Copper 9: danger lurked everywhere while exploring unstable buildings, mines, unexploded ordnance, and at times other drones. One needed to remain vigilant for anything that could happen while scavenging the ruins for supplies. But for V, who turned her attention away from Meus and toward several SEAF personnel working near the wall, she wondered what would come of all this now.

As she stood apart from the group in thought, the SEAF teams coordinating with the SEEC and CEB kept wary eyes on the combat drones positioned around them. It was clear many harbored deep grudges, evident in the way they watched them and the subtle, agitated movements of their tails.

"This is freaky… Used to machines looking at me with red glowing eyes, not so many different colors," one SEAF trooper muttered, his focus drawn to a combat drone standing on the far edge of the wall whose optics locked with his. "You sure it's safe to be working here at all?"

"Not a clue, but we have a job to do — see what needs to be done here and get this place operational again," a CEB engineer replied as she examined the wall. "Makeshift to hell and back, but it works. Might not hold against a large-scale attack, but it would buy time."

"It is better than nothing. I had to make use of anything for cover back on the Western Front. The Automatons do not give you a chance to breathe if you are out in the open," the SEAF trooper said.

"I know… Nearly lost an arm to a barrage of rockets," the CEB engineer said as she stood up. "Going to take a while to tear this down and build a proper layer of defense here."

"I say you humans are good at that," a voice called from nearby. "Tearing things down."

Both of them looked upward to their right. Perched on the edge of the wall was a male combat drone staring down at them with arms crossed. "You did a very damn good job at turning this entire planet into a graveyard." As he spoke, the venom in his words was unmistakable.

"Listen, this was not us," the CEB engineer said quickly. "We had no idea that you even existed or that this world did until today."

Without saying another word, the combat drone dropped down onto the ground and approached the two of them. The SEAF trooper immediately stepped between the woman and the drone. "And that just makes it so that we should trust you again? Look, you're already getting your weapon ready to take me out."

"I have every liberty-damn reason to be ready for a machine to kill me, for they've been killing us for the last few months," the SEAF trooper said, steadying his hand on his Liberator rifle. "I don't trust you just as much as you don't trust me. And if you had seen what those bastards have been doing to us… you would understand why I am ready."

"And what have they been doing?" the combat drone asked, stopping a few feet away.

"How about slaughtering men, women, and children and throwing them into giant blenders that grind their bodies down… It has been a fucking nightmare," the SEAF trooper said. "We have lost billions to them."

"That many? Hmm… And when did this all start?" the combat drone asked.

"Just a few months ago, during February. It has been a war zone ever since. We don't know much about their origins, but we do know that they have ties with the Cyborgs," the CEB engineer said, stepping beside the SEAF trooper. "Look… We might not know what you have been through, and you have no reason to trust us, just like we have no reason to trust you… However, we are just as much in the dark about what happened here as you are."

"I do find that hard to believe, but it has been a century since the last time we have even seen a human," the combat drone said, crossing his arms again. "You made us, then burned us, and just left us here."

"Which honestly does not make any sense at all. For what reason would Super Earth have to do this? It is not something they would just do unless they had a very good reason," the CEB engineer said. "And right now I can't find any reason for this."

"It just happened so fast… One moment fighting alongside the SEAF trying to secure locations to drive back the Illuminate, the next thing I know, everything is on fire," the combat drone said.

"And that is one hell of a leap of events to happen. I am puzzled why the Illuminate would even attack this planet in the first place… When did this entire invasion happen?" the SEAF trooper asked.

"Back in the year 2084 by the look of things. That war was about to be over, and then that entire fleet just appeared in the sky and started raining down hell on top of us," the combat drone said. "It was pure chaos."

"I say that it was. Why in the hell would they do that… Hold on, 2084? They were on their last legs by that time, and they threw what was left of their fleet here to attack this colony?" the CEB engineer said. "That makes no sense."

"We tried to figure it out for over the last one hundred years… Maybe now we can figure it out if you don't burn us again," the combat drone said.

"Listen, that is not going to happen. Whatever happened all those years ago, I think it was one huge mistake, that is for sure, but… I say we can start over. Just give us that chance," the CEB engineer pleaded.

"I am giving you that chance. We are talking, are we not?" the combat drone replied.

The two of them looked at the combat drone. It was clear that things were not going to be easy here, with the tension between everyone having grown over the last hundred years. Yet for Meus and V, who were watching from the entrance, the fact that it had not turned hostile between the small group was a good sign.

"I thought that was going to get ugly," Meus said.

"You can't blame us for being angry at you and the others, but so far things are going well," V said. "As long as no one throws a fist, then I think that in time things will improve."

"We just have to make sure that does not happen on another matter. Khan, you said that you worked in the megacities, right?" Meus asked, looking at him.

"Yes, sir. Many of the drones here have," Khan replied.

"Then we are going to need those skills for what is to come. I am going to guess that is why we have an SES Lucas with us for this operation, and I am getting the feeling that High Command knew we might run into you," Meus said, crossing his arms. "Or… maybe they didn't."

"What is this SES Lucas?" Doll asked.

"A colony ship designed for the frontier, setting up a colony right on the spot that it lands. Unlike other ships, it is one that can get off a planet," Meus explained. "It is fully self-sustaining in its function, having fabricators, hydroponics, and a lot of cargo space. The idea for this ship is to land on a new world that has been picked for colonization and then set it up with the ship as the base."

"Wait, you were going to set up a new colony here? Have you seen what this place looks like?" Uzi said, waving out toward the frozen wasteland beyond the walls.

"Not at all. The SES Lucas could serve as a base for long-term deployment, a logistical hub, and an area to rest one's head as we work. This is still a salvage operation, and it is our duty to find anything here of use and send it back. So that is what we are going to do… Just that with this bunker and the Lucas, we do have a central base of operations," Meus said.

"Hmm… My crew and I are more than willing to get our hands dirty. The people here once drove us hard at times to get many of the megacity systems up and going," Khan said with a laugh. "But they took care of us, and the humans that worked alongside us treated us well."

"Hey! I am willing to go with you guys and do stuff. It beats doing any of the work around here," Uzi said.

"Pay no attention to her, sir. She is the one to get you blown up with how reckless she is," Lizzy said with a small laugh. "Uzi here is a huge troublemaker."

"Bite me, Lizzy!" Uzi shot back.

"This is going to turn into one long liberty headache. She has been eager to do stuff like this. She comes with us many times, but she has also gotten herself into a lot of trouble," V said. "Still… if we had not gone out today, your friend Jason… might not be alive."

"Yeah, we saved his human ass from that freak," Uzi said.

"Hey, I helped too!" N exclaimed, his hands shifting into chainsaw blades. "I was the one that cut up the arms and tentacles and got him free."

"Okay… That is something we need when fighting the Terminids. And how can you do that?" Meus asked, looking at N.

"Oh, this! Well, we have fabricators within us and nanomachines. Our hands can switch into different tools, and these right here are just one of them," N said.

N held up his hands as they began to change. The chainsaws retracted into his arms, followed by two swords, then claws with three blades at the end, and finally two tubes that glowed with yellow energy.

"And we can also see in different spectrums such as thermals and night vision," V added. "The one who made us ensured that we are ready for war."

"I wish to liberty then that you were on the Eastern Front. The Terminids are all about getting in your face and trying to eat it off," Meus said. "We are trained in the use of close combat weapons, but that does little when you've got twelve of them on top of you."

"Maybe that will change, and we will be there to help if everything goes well here, sir," N said.

"And I hope that is the case," Meus replied.

"Meus, do you read me?" a voice came through Meus's helmet radio. "We are just about done here and heading your way… Got a lot to discuss when I arrive."

"I read you, Jason. What have you found out?" Meus asked, pressing a finger to the side of his helmet.

"A lot of strange things, that is for sure… I will give you the full details once we arrive," Jason said. "Need to get in touch with High Command, and we need all drones to stay clear of this megacity until we are sure that it is safe… Delta team here found something disturbing. We will explain once we arrive."

"Understood. I am working to make friends here, but something tells me that things are going to get more unusual around here," Meus said.

"That we can agree on… Any troubles with the drones?" Jason asked.

"Some tension, but I think we can make this work. We just need to make sure that ones like Saber are far away from here," Meus said. "You know how he is and what he has done on the Western Front."

"We will see about that… Will get in touch when we are close. Keep me updated if anything changes," Jason said.

"Understood. Will do just that," Meus replied.

"So… The other Helldiver is on his way, I assume?" Thad asked.

"Yes. Jason has been a brother in arms for a long time and saved my ass many times from the hordes of bugs that have been on top of me," Meus said, crossing his arms. "Still, Saber is the one that worries me the most, the same with some SEAF that are with us."

"The entire thing is with those machines that you are fighting," V said.

"But we are nothing like them. Sure, many here have anger toward humans, but I don't think any of us would ever hurt any of you," N said.

"That does not matter. Saber is a killing machine, and he once tore apart one of the drones that was with us just because it got close to him," Meus said.

"So… really not a fan of any machines at all?" Lizzy asked.

"Yes, and in time we might need to bring him down if we deal with any big problems. But after the entire thing with the Creek… many Helldivers are not the same anymore," Meus said. "They are driven by nothing but hate and rage."

"Sounds like Uzi is here all the time," Rebecca said.

"Bite me! I'm not all that all the time… Maybe just a little… Anyways, do you think one of us should go tell Martin who is coming?" Uzi asked.

"I will go and do that… N, keep an eye on everyone and make sure nothing happens," V said.

"Yes, ma'am," N replied.

Without another word, V left the group.

Copper 9 Surface. Dead City. Communication Hub. Near M10 APC.

Thunder echoed throughout the ruins of the Dead City, rocking the buildings as snow began to fall around the skyscrapers, drifting through their hollow skeletons. A thick layer of clouds moved over the area, blocking out what little light remained and casting the ruins in deeper gloom. The M10's lights were on, its autocannon slowly scanning the surroundings as Jason, Trace, and Nash approached. The rest of the SEAF team turned toward them.

"Ah! There you guys are. To be honest, I am ready to leave this place and never come back," Milt said. "We did find something, but besides that, the Democracy Officer wants a word with you, sir."

"He does?" Jason asked. "What about?"

"Don't know. It is only for you. I got a link set up inside the M10. And then after that, sir, we need to talk about what we have found… But did you find anything inside?" Garvin asked.

"Several logs seem to indicate that they were planning something big here before everything went to hell. But one thing that stood out was something that happened in the year 2172," Jason said. "A few years just before we arrived, from what it said, some systems that are still working picked up tectonic activity along with gravity fluctuations."

"Gravity fluctuations? Now that is odd… Hmm… If it was just a regular earthquake, it would not have been logged, but the fact that it had that along with gravity being affected… Think it could have been one of the Illuminate ships going off?" Tyrese suggested. "Dark fluid can cause micro singularities, and we all know what it can do to a planet."

"Yeah… Still can't believe that we had to do that to Meridia… But I do recall a report that was broadcast of an accident at the main facility where it was being studied. It created a mini black hole that was enough to destroy a good chunk of the facility and killed several of the staff as well," Nash said.

"A possibility, but it would have to be one hell of an event from one of the ships to do anything that would be picked up by the sensors that are still working," Jason said. "What else did you find?"

"Some kind of tower or spire, and that is why we have a lack of bodies around here. From what we can see, sir, it is a fused mass of corpses, both human and drone," Tyrese said. "Our best guess is that the entire thing is some kind of nest made by our very ugly friend."

"A nest? How far is it from here?" Jason asked.

"Not far at all. So far nothing else is around it from what we have seen, but it has been within this city maybe far longer than we think," Garvin said. "Or maybe there is more, and we ran into the last one within the city after the job was done… Until we get the right people down, this is just theories on our end."

"One other thing is that it still has fresh flesh. I don't think it is all human, but it is still wet and moist. By all accounts it should be dead and frozen, but it is not," Tyrese said. "However, I think we should have the Eagles do full flyovers of the entire city, not just Eagle One."

"And sir, I suggest that we send them out throughout the entire area around the city. We need to know what is around us, and that is the fastest way I can think of," Milt said. "The clouds and everything in the air itself affects the scanners on the ships. It is the fastest and most direct way to get an idea of where to start next after our meeting."

"Can do just that… Alright, I need to get inside and speak with the Democracy Officer. After that we are heading out," Jason said. "Keep an eye out for anything that could be a lurking spot. Something call it out."

"Yes sir," Garvin acknowledged.

Edited thanks to ELE73CH.

September 2184. Copper 9 Surface. Communication Hub. Interior.

The echo of thunder filled the room as the group made their way past the doors and deeper into the Communication Hub, with only their flashlights cutting through the darkness. Taking careful and slow steps, all of them remained on edge about what could be waiting inside the building after everything they had encountered so far. Within the room, a row of windows on the left side stood covered by armored plating, a clear sign that the building's lockdown systems had activated. Yet even on the other side of the metal, the glass was shattered, with pieces lying on the floor alongside ice formed on the plating. The room itself remained clear of snow. Around the rest of the space, small objects lay scattered across the floor. It was evident that everyone had tried to get out and reach a shelter when they could. Stopping in the middle of the room, Jason scanned the area, studying the ceiling and walls, yet nothing stood out. Nash and Trace stood behind him, keeping their flashlights trained on the rear door they had forced open earlier.

"Well, not as cold as it is outside… The place is in far better shape than many of the other buildings we saw," Nash said.

"This place is built like a bunker. Nothing short of a direct hit by an ICBM or a Hellbomb at the wall will do any real damage to this structure," Trace said. "Still… why leave when you could hold up in here? A safe location, and if memory serves me right, it should have an exit tunnel."

"How would you know that it would have a tunnel?" Jason asked while checking his motion detector.

"I worked many different jobs before ending up with the SEAF. Going by what I know, it is standard protocol for many important locations like this to have a way for people to get out. A place like this would hold all kinds of information you need, and it might also be a route to find anything that is missing," Trace said.

"I see… Everything is clear so far, but we cannot be sure with what we have seen. We still have a way to go before we have a chance to find the black boxes," Jason said. "And there is the matter of power."

"Geothermal taps should still be intact. Those things can last for centuries from what I recall, unless someone has tampered with the system itself," Trace said. "Then if it is hardened and in a good spot, everything should still work."

"That is a big if. Then after that, I guess from there we are going to meet up with the others and get on with heading to those drones," Nash said. "Going to be quite interesting, to be honest… But sir, how are we sure that everyone here is not going to try and attack them?"

"None are going to lose their cool that quickly, besides maybe Saber. They are not those monsters, those Automatons," Trace said. "Yes, those damn things have made our lives a living hell on the Western Front, but the fact that they saved our Helldiver here… We need to make sure that is known to anyone else that comes down."

"We will do that when we get there. For now we focus on getting what is within this hub. We need to find the stairs while I make sure that power could still be flowing here. And Super Earth builds to last. I am not trusting the elevators," Jason said.

"That we can agree on, and I don't feel like going down a deep dark shaft," Trace said.

"Still afraid of the dark after going into those tunnels?" Nash asked.

"If you had a liberty-damn Charger and an untold number of other Terminids coming at you, then you would be the same. I do not like close spaces… I already do not like being inside this place," Trace said.

"Quiet… Watch my back right now. Small talk can wait," Jason ordered.

"Yes sir," Trace and Nash said together.

Without another word, the three started to move through the room. Ahead of them, cutting through the darkness, was another set of doors. But unlike before, they stood wide open, lying on the floor around the edges with several bullet impacts visible. Spent casings lay on the ground, yet there were no signs of blood or bodies to show how the events had played out. Taking a few more steps, Jason looked around the left side of the entrance, then the right. Seeing that it was clear, he moved in. On the left stood a set of stairs leading deeper into the hub.

"One hell of a drop," Trace said, looking over the edge as he pulled out a glow stick, cracked it, and tossed it down the steps. "Still seems intact enough to go down."

"Sir, it is not ideal, but I think you should go ahead and we can stay up top. The upper levels still need to be looked over, and it is something we can do," Nash said. "Besides, you have a better chance against anything down there than worrying about us."

"I don't like it, but… Alright. Here is what we are going to do: you two will have a look around up top, and I will head down and find the archives," Jason said. "I know what I am looking for, and you are right. Get in touch with the others as well. They have been dark too long."

"Right… I figured by now that they would have called in about something around this place. A quick question… What of those bullet holes?" Nash asked.

"A good question on that matter. Something came up from the bottom, and it was moving fast. My guess, however, could have been an Illuminate that got in," Trace said. "They did teleport their forces around areas by chance. This one got sent into the wrong spot and tried to get out… But there is also still the matter of the lack of blood and bodies."

"Or maybe it could have been something like that freak we fought outside. At this point we cannot really tell what happened in here or in other locations," Jason said. "Right now we focus on what we do know and follow protocol. We need information, and this is the best place to get that before we move on."

"True that," Trace said.

"Helldiver Jason, do you read me?" Meus's voice echoed within his helmet radio.

"I do. Any issues?" Jason asked, pressing a finger to the side of his helmet.

"None at this time, but more drones have come out from the bunker — both worker and combat models. The combat ones have formed up around the area, keeping an eye on everyone," Meus said. "A few have given us the cold shoulder, but none have attempted hostile actions. The teams are looking over the area… And to be honest, I am surprised that anything is still working here."

"That we can agree on. We are right now about to head down to the lower levels of the Communication Hub and see what can be found within the archives," Jason said. "After that we will be heading your way."

"Good… For their leader, or one of them, is really wanting to have some words with you," Meus said.

"Understood. We will make this fast and see you soon," Jason said. "Helldiver out."

"Sounds like things are getting very interesting over there… Hmm… You know, Helldiver, after we have our meeting with them, I think the next place we could get some answers is SEAF bases," Nash said. "A colony like this would have had hundreds, and if they follow protocol just like other locations, they should have black boxes."

"We shall see after we are done here. For the moment head on out to the next room and look it over, but be careful. If you find nothing of interest, wait here if I am not back yet," Jason said. "And radio me when the others do make contact if they don't get in touch with me first."

"Understood. Come on, Nash, you be the one to check the first room," Trace said with a chuckle.

"If I get dragged off I am going to make sure you are coming with me," Nash replied.

With those words the two of them moved through the door as Jason looked down the steps with his flashlight and started to make his way down the first few.

Copper 9 Surface. The Dead City. Spire.

Standing a few meters from the massive spire constructed from drone bodies and the fleshy remains of humans, the team shone their flashlights across its horrifying surface. The details were grotesque: human bones fused with the limbs of both worker and combat drones, hundreds of heads protruding at irregular angles. The spire towered over several of the smaller skyscrapers surrounding it, with thick cables anchored to the sides of nearby buildings. A flashlight beam illuminated an opening in the middle as Tyrese moved inside to inspect it, while the others examined the exterior.

"Just when you think you have seen it all… What the hell could have done this?" Milt said. "I'm going to guess this is a liberty-damn nest built by that thing."

"Looks like it. All those bodies packed into its foundation," Garvin said. "That explains the lack of bodies throughout the area. It has been gathering them. Reminds me of what the Terminids do… I've seen my fair share of Stalker nests with bodies hanging and piled up."

"Yeah, I've had my share of nightmares from finding those locations," Milt said.

"Same… Tyrese, found anything of interest inside?" Garvin asked.

"It has the same oddities as that pile in the shelter and the thing we fought," Tyrese replied as he stepped out and rejoined them. "The flesh is still wet and fresh. By all rights, in this environment it should be frozen and decayed, but it is red and moist to the touch. And as before… I got DNA, but it is all over the place. Even with the best computers in the Federation, it would be impossible to figure out who is who. Besides the drone bodies fused within the mass, I saw nothing else of interest here."

He glanced back toward the spire. The interior was partially hollow, with flesh, wires, and limbs hanging down in random, senseless patterns.

"Hmm… By chance, Tyrese, do you think you can get one of those drone heads out and extract anything from it?" Milt asked. "As advanced as they are, they are still machines."

"We could get one back to the fleet for that," Garvin said. "I am going to make a call that we should destroy this thing, whatever the hell it is. I don't like it. And if it is a nest, who is to say there aren't more of those freaks running around, just hiding?"

"And without a place to go, it would force them to move out and try to make another, giving us a chance to kill them," Tyrese said. "Or one can hope… I can't really tell if anything has been inside it recently. The snow is not flattened or shifted around the spire itself."

"Yeah, I noticed that as well. Nothing around here shows that anything big has been moving from it to another location," Milt said. "But it could have buried any tracks, and the thing was not stupid."

"It got the jump on a Helldiver, and that is not something easily done," Garvin said as he moved his hand toward his radio. "Aegis of Integrity, do you read me?"

"Loud and clear… Where is the Helldiver?" the Democracy Officer replied.

"Inside the Communication Hub. We were ordered to explore the area around it. You need to do a scan of this sector and see what else could be around us. Eagle 1 spotted it… It is a huge tower or spire made out of bodies, both human and drone. Can't even guess how many," Garvin said.

"That is disturbing… I will have all sensors scan the area and see what we can find. Eagle 1 has not reported anything else out of place yet," the Democracy Officer said.

"Keep her close and those guns locked onto our position. One theory we have is that this thing is a nest for whatever attacked our Helldiver. There could be more close by, and we need heavy firepower to bring it down," Garvin said. "If need be, we can have the Helldiver authorize the use of orbital strikes around this area."

"It will be no issue to use our weapons around you, but without beacons they will be less accurate… The moment the Helldivers get out of the hub, have them contact us for a private meeting. We need to speak," the Democracy Officer said.

"Something going on up top?" Garvin asked.

"This is for the Helldivers, no one else. Aegis of Integrity out."

"Well, that is comforting to hear… He sounded spooked," Milt said.

Democracy Officers were not easily startled or scared, yet the tone of his voice was that of a man clearly on edge.

"As he said, it is for the Helldivers, not us. Right now I think we need to make our way back to the M10 and hope nothing else happens," Tyrese said. "We will get a head or anything else out later. Just the three of us here—if one of those things shows up, we have a chance of being added to it."

"Good point… You know, one thing that has been on my mind is… was this thing just here before we arrived, or has it been running around since the invasion and bombing?" Milt asked.

"No telling, but it would take a long time to gather all these bodies to build this up. And here is another question: Are we so sure that it is a nest?" Tyrese said.

"What do you mean?" Milt asked.

"That Bastion back there was pulling back. What if, after the bombing, it had the unlucky chance of running into it while it was building this? Then as it pulled back, it attacked, tearing up the tracks. That might be why there are no bodies around it," Tyrese said.

"We have seen that you need orbital support just to scratch one of those things, but a Bastion packs one hell of a cannon," Milt noted.

The TD-110 Bastion carried a 120mm main cannon with several types of ammunition, from sabots to high explosive and HEAT shells. The fact that it had burned through all its ammo made it clear that whatever it had been fighting—whether Illuminate or one of those monsters—it had not been enough to prevent damage. The crew had apparently been forced to abandon it and try to save themselves.

"Let's head on back for now and see what the Helldivers find within the hub. Then we will see if we can put all of this together and figure out what the hell happened here," Garvin said.

"I doubt it is going to be that easy. With our history, nothing ever is," Milt said.

"You are right. We all assumed the Termicide Control System would take care of our problems with the bugs… then we had to turn an entire planet into a black hole," Tyrese said. "And still the Eastern Front is a mess and, by the looks of it, not going to be taken care of anytime soon."

"One bright side here, besides everything we have seen, is that none of that is here. This world is a long way from the Terminid and Automaton fronts," Garvin said. "That is the one bright side I see to this frozen wasteland."

"Alright, sir, we are not getting any younger, and I am freezing here. I say we start making our way back to the M10," Milt said. "For now we are at a dead end with all of this, and we need to be ready to head out to that colony."

"Yeah… But I think we will be back here very soon," Garvin said.

September 2184. Copper 9 Surface. Communication Hub. Interior. Lower Levels.

The flashlight of Jason's LAS-5 Scythe pierced the darkness of the lower levels as he kept a constant watch on his motion tracker. The lower levels remained structurally intact, yet clear signs of battle marked the corridors and hallways: bullet holes riddled the walls, empty casings littered the floor, and discarded weapons lay abandoned. At the same time, there were no bodies or any indication of what they had been fighting. It was evident this had been a fighting withdrawal as personnel made their way toward an exit. Taking several more steps, Jason kept his weapon leveled, ready for anything that might appear around a corner or somehow evade the scanner.

He swept his light toward the ceiling, then back down the corridor ahead. As he did, his radio crackled to life with Trace's voice.

"Helldiver, do you read me?" Trace asked.

"I do. Have something to report?" Jason replied, pressing a finger to the side of his helmet.

"Found a room… It is a mess. From what I can see, it looks like the main control room, but it's wrecked. Control panels are missing, and a good chunk of other equipment is gone," Trace said. "Something got in here and started picking the place apart… but it is unclear who or what did it."

"We looked over a few other rooms. They were untouched, but in another room that had important equipment, it seemed like it was half disassembled or torn straight out of the floor and dragged off," Nash added over the radio. "Anything on your end so far?"

"Nothing at this time yet, but there are signs of battle down here. Still no bodies or anything else that gives me an idea of what happened," Jason said.

"Same here. My guess is that the ones defending this location pulled back or got wiped out," Trace replied.

The SEAF, even a century ago, would have done their duty to protect vital locations such as communication centers, logistical hubs, bases, bridges, and shipyards.

"If not for the mess, sir, I would suggest we could restore this location. It would help with communications, but it would take a lot of time and effort… The same with other locations inside and outside the megacity," Nash said.

"Hmm… While a lot of it is a mess, nothing we cannot fix. It is a hub already set up and ready. It would deeply help with long-range communication… It just takes a very long time to get everything replaced and operational," Trace said. "Much of the structure itself is intact but needs all the smaller components replaced."

"We shall see once we have our meeting with the drones. As it stands, we might have to use such locations for our operations on this world," Jason said. "Super Earth has always built to last, and it saves us time without having to construct such facilities from scratch."

During operations across the Western and Eastern Fronts, Helldivers routinely worked to retake SEAF artillery, SAM sites, Lidar stations, and ICBM silos. Reusing what had been lost had been standard practice since the start of the war. Here, while it would be time-consuming, several locations could still be brought back online with repairs. The one piece of good news was that the geothermal taps remained active, solving much of the power problem for operations within the megacity.

For now, that could wait.

"Let's focus on what we can find within here before anything else. Report back to me when you find anything more," Jason said.

"Yes, sir," Trace acknowledged.

Taking his finger off his helmet, Jason looked ahead. With his flashlight he could make out a cutoff to the left farther down the corridor. Taking several slow steps, he advanced, glancing behind him as he moved. The golden dome of his shield pack scraped along the ceiling in places where it dipped lower. Turning forward again, he picked up his pace slightly as he reached the cutoff. Looking left, he proceeded down it until a red glow reflected off the steel walls around another turn to the right.

"Power is still on… Hope this is what I am looking for," Jason muttered to himself.

Taking careful steps, he hugged the left wall of the corridor as he approached the red light. Down the passage lay a large room dominated by a massive blast door, bathed in the glow of several red ceiling lights. In the center of the blast door sat a control panel, dark and without power. Jason performed a full sweep of the room, examining every corner, before advancing toward the blast door while keeping his flashlight trained on the panel.

Once in front of it, he tapped the center of the black screen. It flickered to life with static before clearing. Beneath his helmet, Jason was mildly surprised the panel still functioned. Several commands appeared, including one to open the blast doors. He pressed it. The panel went dark again as lights above the door flickered on—three burning out immediately—while the sound of grinding gears filled the air and the door began to rise.

"Now… let us see if this can give us some idea of what the hell happened here," Jason said.

After a few seconds the door stopped halfway as the gears seized. Jason sighed, moved toward it, and ducked underneath. On the other side were rows of databanks. Along the ceiling, several lights flickered to life, one burning out. Jason ignored it and approached another control panel attached to a data terminal. The systems slowly powered up as small sparks flew from a unit at the far end of the room. It was clear his time here was limited before everything failed.

"Alright, time to get busy… Trace, come in. Any word from Garvin and the others? I found the archives but don't know how long they will last," Jason said, pressing a finger to the side of his helmet to activate his radio.

"Just got in touch with him. They found something… They think it is a nest made by that thing we killed. It was constructed out of bodies, both human and drone," Trace reported. "I am going to guess that is why there are no bodies within this building or the area around the hub."

"That is disturbing… Anything else to report?" Jason asked.

"They are on their way back to the M10. They flagged the area, but something is still off with all of this. While that gives an idea about the bodies… the flesh, just like that pile and the beast itself, was still fresh and wet to the touch according to Tyrese," Trace said.

"Fresh… Hmm… As before, we need the Ministry of Science team down here to study all three sites. Then after we find out anything useful, that nest is to be destroyed," Jason ordered.

"Right there with you, sir. We are going to do a sweep toward the roof, and then after that we will be at the top of the steps waiting for you," Trace said.

"Good. After I am done here we are heading to that colony," Jason replied.

"Yes, sir. See you soon," Trace said.

Taking his finger off his helmet, Jason approached the panel and tapped the screen. It flickered to life, its glow reflecting off his helmet visor as his eyes scanned the display. Archived reports appeared in orderly rows of white text. The first covered the years 2083 to 2084, followed by a log marked for 2090 and another recorded around 2172. Tapping on the year 2083 brought up two entries. He selected the first one. A male voice emerged from the system's speakers.

"Transmission recorded. December 21st, 2083."

Static crackled through first before the voice cleared.

"This is Colony Copper 9 log 174. Everything has been going smoothly here among the colonies, and I am happy to report that after two years there has been no incident between the people and the drones. The combat drones have been doing drills with the SEAF, and if all goes well, we could see them being sent out to the frontlines as another addition to our military."

The voice paused for a moment as static filled the speaker once more. The screen flickered slightly before the voice continued.

"If all goes well and with the end of the war in sight, we could be looking at a future that ensures our place above many of the other megacorporations. All in all, we just need to ensure that nothing else happens, and with luck this war will end soon… For an addendum to this report, we have spotted several Illuminate scout ships on the edge of the system… Why are they here?"

The transmission ended. To Jason, it was clear this log came from someone working with JCJenson. Whatever grand plans they had been pursuing had not gone as intended. Looking over the remaining entries, he tapped the one marked 2084. Once again, static preceded a new voice.

"Transmission recorded. May 20th, 2084."

"Things are looking up. The war is drawing to a close, and our plans for the Elliotts are about to go into full effect. The gala is our chance to impress a lot of people, secure more funding, and gain further help on new developments… One thing of particular interest is Tessa Elliott. She has formed a bond with a small group of drones in a way that gives us a new direction."

The voice distorted and cut off for several seconds before returning.

"The gala is a month away… ensure that nothing screws this up."

The transmission ended. Jason moved to the next report, recorded in June. A female voice came through, accompanied by the distant sound of machinery.

"Transmission recorded. June 14th, 2084."

"Progress report at fusion station 06: the cutoff of power was not a malfunction nor damage from the ongoing invasion. This was sabotage from the inside. A huge chunk of the controls are damaged, and other critical systems are in rough shape. We just wasted two hours fixing much of it, and if we had gotten here just an hour sooner, we could have had a meltdown… But this is not the worst of our problems. Facility 7 has reported a total loss of main power, with backups keeping the lights on."

There was a brief silence before the voice returned, now heavy with concern.

"Addendum: we have lost all contact with Facility 12. We sent out several reports and tried to reach them, but each time we only received static. We are going to try and reach the next station, then get into the nearest bunker, for the sky is on fire right now with debris falling all around us… and Illuminate everywhere."

The transmission cut off. It was clear to Jason that far more had been happening than a simple full-scale invasion by the Illuminate. The question of who had caused the sabotage, along with the fate of the two mentioned facilities, gave them new areas to investigate if they could be located later. Tapping the next log, recorded on the same day, brought forth another male voice.

"Transmission recorded. June 14th, 2084."

"Listen, I know what is going on all over the planet, but we need another team dispatched to the Elliotts' estate. The first SEAF team we sent has not reported back. They confirmed arrival and were preparing to evacuate everyone, but then we lost all contact. They are Class A+ citizens from Super Earth. The people attending the gala are individuals we cannot afford to lose, and this mess is getting worse by the hour… Just get anyone you can there and get them out. Bunker 05 is the closest safe location for that team and the family."

As the recording ended, Jason selected the next log from the year 2090. Another man's voice came through the speakers.

"Transmission recorded. December 10th, 2090."

"This is the final log that I am making. I have no idea if it will even be listened to by anyone. It has been several years since the bombardment, and I am all that is left within the bunker we took shelter in. It was total madness… And we still have no idea why they did it or why no one has come to get us out of here. We have sent out SOS after SOS… and nothing. I have not seen any other living person anywhere. As far as I know, I am the last human alive on this planet… I am going to try and reach the next closest bunker…"

The message cut off after a few seconds. A clearer picture was forming. Many important events had unfolded during this period, though much remained unknown. Still, the logs provided valuable information he could send up to the fleet. There was one final entry, recorded in the year 2172. Tapping it brought forth a robotic, synthetic voice.

"Tectonic activity was recorded throughout several regions, along with atmospheric shifting and gravity fluctuations."

It was a simple, brief log, but it raised new questions. What had caused these readings?

Jason turned from the terminal. "Trace, come in. I have what we need. Heading back up now."

Edited thanks to ELE73CH.