A warehouse loomed in the dim glow of Northern District's industrial outskirts, its steel-plated walls casting jagged shadows across the cracked asphalt. From a ridge overlooking the site, a group of mercenaries lay in wait, their silhouettes barely visible against the night sky. The air was thick with anticipation as they prepared their gear, each movement deliberate and practiced.
Each of the mercenaries was a seasoned operative, bound together by a shared objective—and a hefty payout. Rook, the team's leader, crouched low, his cybernetic arm whirring softly as he adjusted the scope on his sniper rifle. He ran a final diagnostic on the weapon, ensuring every component was in perfect working order. Satisfied, he slung the rifle over his shoulder and checked in with the hacker on their team.
"Byte, what's the status on the security?"
"Almost there," he replied, a small laptop balanced precariously on his knees as his fingers danced across the keyboard. Lines of code scrolled rapidly, and after a few tense seconds, he let out a low, satisfied chuckle. "Got it. The automatic turrets on the fence are down. You've got about 20 minutes before they reboot and come back online. Make it count."
"Good work," Rook nodded before turning to the rest of the team, his voice low but commanding. He held up a large tablet, its screen glowing faintly with a detailed layout of the warehouse. The blueprint displayed multiple entry points, guard patrol routes, and the locations of key assets inside. The team gathered closer, their eyes fixed on the plan.
"Alright, listen up," Rook began, his cybernetic arm gesturing to the screen. "This place might look like a run-of-the-mill warehouse, but according to our unknown employer, it's actually a front for Senator Arlen's little potion smuggling ring. You know, the guy who's always preaching about how cultivators are the bane of society."
"Our job is simple," he continued, his tone shifting back to business. "We go in, clear out the goons, and grab anything of value. Intel suggests there's a a stash of cash big enough to make us cry tears of joy, along with cartable stacks of gene potions and solutions."
"For those of you who haven't worked with us before, let me make one thing clear: the Steel Smashers don't fail. Byte, Invisible Demon, Brick, and I have completed numerous missions, and tonight's no different. With you all on board, we've got the firepower and the brains to hit them hard, hit them fast, and get out clean before those turrets come back online. Byte's bought us a window—let's not waste it."
He zoomed in on the warehouse layout, pointing to two primary entry points. "We'll split into two teams and attack from both points. Jyn, Rosa, Widowmaker and Vail take the east entrance. Do not engage until I give the signal. Kael, Zero and I will take the west entrance."
The team nodded, each member quickly adjusting their gear for the impending mission. Jyn tightened the straps on her lightweight armor, ensuring her movements would remain silent and unrestricted. Widowmaker checked her large assault rifle, running a hand along the barrel to ensure it was clean and ready for action.
Rosa stood out as he fidgeted with the straps on his oddly metallic gloves, his long arms making the task seem almost effortless. The gloves gleamed faintly under the dim light, hinting at some hidden functionality. He flexed his fingers, the joints of the gloves humming softly, before giving a satisfied nod.
Rook then turned to a lithe woman called Invisible Demon, her nickname earned from her adept ability to disappear from sight. Her pale skin and dark, close-fitting suit made her almost ghostlike in the dim light. She adjusted the straps on her gear, her movements quick and efficient.
He pointed to the warehouse. "Once we begin battle, you should take advantage of the diversion to slip in and head straight for the vault. Your job is to disable the internal security systems and clear the path for the rest of us. If there's anything in there that looks like it's worth more than the rest, grab it. We'll cover you on the way out."
Invisible Demon's lips curled into a sadistic grin, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. She loved the thrill of infiltration, the rush of moving unseen through enemy territory. "Consider it done, demon boss." she said, her voice a low purr.
Finally, Rook addressed the final two members of the team. "Byte, as always, you're our eyes and ears. Keep monitoring their systems. If anything changes—new patrols, reinforcements, or if those turrets come back online early—you let us know immediately. And if things go south, be ready to scramble their comms."
Byte's wiry frame and perpetually disheveled appearance made him look more like a college student than a seasoned mercenary, but his skills were unmatched. He glanced up at Rook, his eyes gleaming with excitement behind his glasses. "I've got you covered, demon boss. Just make sure you don't blow up the server room before I've had a chance to download the good stuff."
Rook smirked, then turned to Brick, the team's demolitions expert. Brick was a mountain of a man, his bulk accentuated by the heavy armor he wore. He cradled a grenade launcher in his arms like it was a child's toy, his grin wide and eager. "Brick, you're on standby. If we need an exit strategy or if things get too hot, you blow us a new door. But don't get trigger-happy—wait for my signal."
Brick chuckled, the sound deep and rumbling. "You know me, demon boss. I'm all about precision." He patted the grenade launcher affectionately, his eyes already scanning the warehouse for potential targets.
With the team briefed and ready, Rook gave a final nod. "Alright, let's move. Stick to the plan, and we'll all walk out of this richer than we came in."
The group split into their designated teams, their movements silent and deliberate as they approached the warehouse. Zero and Kael fell in beside Rook, their heavy footsteps muffled by the terrain. Invisible Demon activated her ability, her form shimmering briefly before she vanished from sight, leaving only a faint distortion in the air as she made her way toward the warehouse.
Jyn, Widowmaker, Rosa, and Dex headed for the east entrance, their forms blending into the shadows as they moved. As the rest took position, Rosa took his place behind a crumbling wall, his handgun resting comfortably in his grip. It was a custom piece he had commissioned from an intelligent smith called Forger. The gun was sleek and deadly, with a weight that felt just right in his hand. He'd paid a small fortune for it, but it was worth every kila.
In addition to the gun, he had also commissioned a retractable dagger and surprisingly, a pair magnetic gloves. Ever since Forger told him about the effects of the gloves, he had been fascinated.
According to Forger's instructions and the training he'd put in since acquiring the gloves, they were capable of delivering a powerful knockback force upon impact with a target. Beyond that, they allowed him to anchor himself to metal surfaces, giving him the ability to swing, pivot, or even launch himself across distances in one seamless motion, especially if he combined it with his ability. It was like adding a whole new dimension to his abilities—one that made him feel unstoppable.
That reminds me. I need to order a new batch of bullets from Forger once this mission is over.
The seconds ticked by, each one stretching into an eternity. Then Rook's voice crackled over the earpiece.
«Go!»
The night erupted in gunfire.
Dex's rifle cracked first, the sound sharp and precise. A guard on the wall crumpled, his body slumping over the edge. The rest of the team opened fire, their weapons spitting bullets into the darkness. The gangsters returned fire almost immediately, their shots wild and uncoordinated but no less deadly. The air was filled with the staccato rhythm of gunfire, the sharp tang of gunpowder, and the occasional shout of pain or command.
Rosa stayed low, his back pressed against the wall as bullets whizzed past. He fired off a few shots, his handgun whizzing with a sound that was almost musical. The recoil was minimal, the gun's design allowing for rapid, accurate fire. He took down two guards with ease, their bodies jerking as the bullets found their marks.
"They're not backing down," Dex said over the comms, his voice calm despite the chaos.
"They're not supposed to," Rook replied. "Keep the pressure on. Don't let them regroup."
The mercenaries moved like a well-oiled machine, each member playing their part. They shifted positions constantly, never staying in one place for too long.
"They've got an adept," Dex warned, her voice sharp. "Eleven o'clock, second floor."
Rosa glanced up, his eyes narrowing as he spotted the figure Mira had described. The man was tall and wiry, his hands crackling with electricity. He hurled a ball of energy toward the mercenaries, the air sizzling as it flew. The ball exploded against a nearby wall, sending shards of concrete flying.
"Typical politician," Rosa heard Rook mutter. "Find a way to neutralize the target. Our hands are also full with a fireball throwing dumbass over here."
The adept with electricity powers was a problem. His attacks were unpredictable and deadly, forcing the mercenaries to stay on the defensive. Rosa and the others fired a few shots in his direction, but the man ducked behind cover before the bullets could reach him.
"This guy is a fucking nuisance," Widowmaker spat. "Dex, can you get a clear shot?"
"Negative," Dex replied. "He's too well-protected. We'll have to get closer."
Rosa clenched his fists, his gloves humming with energy. He wanted to rush in, to use his improved abilities to end the fight quickly. But he knew better. Large-scale battles like this were not the time to show individual bravery. If he exposed himself now, he'd turn into Marbrook cheese before he could take two steps.
"Stay focused," Rook's voice crackled over the comms. "We'll wear them down. Just keep moving and shooting."
The firefight raged on, the mercenaries and the gangsters locked in a deadly stalemate. The air was thick with the acrid smell of gunpowder and the sharp crack of gunfire. Bullets whizzed past, ricocheting off walls and embedding themselves in the ground.
The mercenaries moved with precision, their training evident in every calculated step and well-placed shot. But the gangsters were relentless, their numbers and the terrain giving them an edge.
Rosa's handgun whizzed again, the bullets flying faster and straighter than they had any right to. His teammates noticed his impeccable accuracy, their eyes flicking toward him with a mix of curiosity and respect. Even in the chaos, they couldn't help but admire the craftsmanship of his weapon.
"Where'd yer get that thing?" Widowmaker asked between shots, her voice tinged with awe.
"Later," Rosa replied, his voice tight. "Focus on the job."
The minutes dragged on, the battle showing no signs of ending. The mercenaries were holding their own, but they couldn't keep this up forever. However, the gangsters had it worse, being seiged on two fronts.
Seeing that the current state of the battle was disadvantageous for them, the electricity adept decided to take a gamble. He began to accumulate origin energy, amassing a ball of electricity that was much larger than the ones he had been throwing. The mercenaries didn't miss such an obvious lightshow and quickly adjusted their strategy, spreading out to avoid being caught in whatever devastating attack was coming.
"Sparky's charging something big! We need to take him out now!" Jyn shouted.
Byte's voice crackled in their ears. «Invisible Demon, stop playing with your food. Take him out before he fries the whole team.»
"Aww... You're no fun, glasses," she replied as she shimmered into view behind a certain electricity adept, with a beautiful curved dagger in hand.
In a single fluid motion, she drove the dagger into his lower back, right between the kidneys. His body jerked violently, the electricity in his hands flickering erratically. Before he could even scream, she twisted the blade and yanked it free, severing the flow of origin energy.
The amassed charge collapsed in on itself. Sparks exploded around them as the unstable energy dissipated, lashing out in random, harmless bursts. The adept gasped, stumbling forward as his knees buckled.
"Too slow," Invisible Demon whispered into his ear, her breath cold against his skin.
She drove the dagger in a second time, this time straight into his spine. The adept choked, his limbs spasming before he crumpled to the ground, his body twitching as the last remnants of his power fizzled out.
«Sparky's down.» Invisible Demon reported over the comms, already slipping out of visibility.
«Good.» Rook said. «We've also dealt with Firebird over here. Move into melee position and take down the rest of these fools.»
Rosa nodded, clenching his gloved fists. The time for caution was over. It was time to end this.