Fort Aegis

Roughly 8 hours after they left New York City, the helicopter neared its destination. From the window, Lucius could see the ruins of a once beautiful city and just as Moon said, the beast activity in this area was high enough for Lucius to notice even from a helicopter. 

'This is on par with the horde that attacked in Ohio' Lucius frowned.

Maybe it was because this task involved him protecting defenseless miners like his parents, he was eager to get involved. Unlike before, he lacked the power to protect anyone, but this time, he had the strength to influence the outcome of the chaos about to unfold. 

"We are here, Fort Aegis." Moon said after a while, drawing everyone's attention to the windows.

The base was encircled by a towering perimeter wall constructed from reinforced Xenosteel, integrated with advanced sensor arrays that detect both aerial and terrestrial threats. It had watchtowers equipped with automated defense turrets that stood vigilant, their operators monitoring the surroundings through augmented reality visors.

The main entrance to Fort Aegis was a fortified gatehouse with biometric scanners and AI-driven security protocols. A series of blast-proof gates insured controlled access, allowing personnel and authorized vehicles to enter only after a thorough inspection. 

Lucius quickly noticed the gates were flanked by guard posts, manned by elite soldiers in familiar exoskeleton suits. In the past, he would frown and curse each time he saw them built, this time he didn't feel anything.

From above, he could see the minors being directed on what to do by armed soldiers, many were even whipped. The atmosphere was shrouded in blue mist caused by the presence of the meteors, the center of the facility was exempted from this harsh condition.

It was the Command Center, surrounded by a wall and hiding within a translucent blue barrier. It was a state-of-the-art facility housed within a sleek, multi-story building, the exterior is clad in reflective, adaptive camouflage panels that shift color to blend with the surroundings.

The Aether Hawk landed within the command center, and as the students got off the helicopter, Dean walked past Lucius while saying something in a hushed tone.

"I am certain these mines feel more comfortable to you than the city. This is where you belong." Dean said spitefully, but to his surprise, Lucius showed no reaction and acted like he heard nothing.

[A bitter individual… Not surprised.] Lyxor said.

'He is a child who has never gotten no for an answer. What did you expect?' Lucius shrugged his shoulders.

"Hey Lucius, look!" Ralph tugged Lucius's hand excitedly, pointing at the cameramen and reporters from news agencies filming them from a distance.

His eyes were like that of a child who had been given a new toy. It reminded Lucius of the look Lia had when the soldier gave her a lollipop, feeling him with mixed emotions, thankfully his face remained indifferent.

"Alright now, I give you all a quick tour and let you rest for the day." Moon said, and the students followed silently.

To the west of the Command Center are the living quarters, designed to accommodate special guests like them. These quarters are housed within a cluster of interconnected dome structures, made from self-healing materials that repair any damage automatically. 

Each dome was climate-controlled and shielded from Aether pollution through advanced filtration systems. They were equipped with special guest suites, which were luxurious and spacious, that had floor-to-ceiling smart glass windows that could display scenic views or opaque privacy screens. Each suite includes a private living area, bedroom, and bathroom, all furnished with expensive pieces of furniture.

The dining facility was a central dining hall that offered a variety of cuisine options, with chefs specializing in nutrient-rich meals to keep guests in peak condition. The hall was equipped with holographic menus and robotic servers for efficient service.

From there they moved to the medical center which was adjacent to the living quarters, equipped to handle any emergencies, including Aether exposure.

It had isolation wards for treating those affected by Aether pollution or infected by mutated beasts. These wards were equipped with decontamination chambers and automated medical assistants. They utilized nanotechnology and AI, allowing for quick and accurate medical assessments while also having a rehabilitation area for injured personnel and guests, with advanced physiotherapy equipment and virtual reality systems to aid in recovery.

This left Lucius wondering if all mining facilities had these and if yes, why wasn't it used to save people suffering from Aether-scourge like his parents?

They soon left the medical center and moved to the research and development Labs located on the eastern side of the base. The R&D Labs focused on studying the properties of Aether crystals and mutated beasts. These labs are heavily shielded to prevent any hazardous leaks.

Upon entering the facility, Lucius was greeted with the sight of containment units used for storing and analyzing Aether samples and captured beasts, while also equipped with fail-safe mechanisms. The R&D labs had an innovation wing where scientists and engineers developed new technologies to combat mutated threats and harness Aether energy safely.

The next stop was the training Grounds south of the base, the training grounds are equipped with various facilities like obstacle courses, featuring variable difficulty levels to simulate different terrains and challenges. It had simulated combat zones with holographic enemies and dynamic environments to train for real-world scenarios. However, what caught Lucius's attention were the Aether Chambers, which were basically controlled environments where they could safely practice their abilities and adapt to Aether-rich conditions.

They moved to the transportation hub near the base's perimeter. It had hangar bays housing VTOL aircraft, drones, and ground vehicles. The aircraft were equipped with Aether-powered engines for enhanced performance. There were also landing Pads For incoming and outgoing helicopters and other aerial vehicles, with automated refueling and maintenance systems.

"The entire base is enveloped in a sophisticated environmental control system that monitors and regulates air quality, temperature, and humidity. Anti-pollution barriers and Aether filtration systems ensure that the base remains a safe haven amidst the hazardous mining operations." Moon explained. "I will leave you all to unpack, eat, and get some rest. Your internship for the week begins tomorrow."