[Steel Moon] Failure

(Previous 2 chapters, [Update to my readers] and [Update to my readers II + Teaser] are removed)

Time: 1980

Location: Underground City X, [Unknown]

POV: Scientist Werner Von Braun

''Sir! We are finalising the space station project, as the last parts are assembled of the 20th space station we are then finally able to move onto the next project! But there are some strange readings on station 8, weird signals are coming from outer space, we do not know if it is in our solar system or external.'' My assistant said while giving me the reports, 'My duty to is the heaviest of the 4 bodies the Marshall gave the commandments to, it seems that the Marshall's deductions are correct, but it is too soon!' ''Startup the decryption systems, these signals have more meaning to them, activate the [Steel Moon] initiative!'' I ordered my assistant who was flabbergasted by my orders, not understanding why.

''JUST DO IT!'' I shouted anxiously, something I haven't done in a while, ''Schedule a meeting with the President and Supreme Marshall and a separate one with the representative of [you know who].

I rubbed my temples as all my plans have been thrown into disarray, 'I must put my faith in the Motherbase and the 3 Strongholds if push comes to shove.' I stood up and made my way through my main underground science-city, separated into 4 sectors, [Military Research], [Civilian Research], [Space Research] and [Advanced Research]. [Advanced Research] is the field that mostly paves a road in the dark for the other 3 fields, conducting highly dangerous experiments and constructions. Most of the times the Sectors also work together to achieve certain goals, mostly the [Space Research] and [Advanced Research] Work together and the [Military Research] and the [Civilian Research].

Walking through the 3rd largest underground city of the Motherbase complex makes it feel like we are above ground, with the latest update to the base being 5 years ago with a new one planned this year, it is much stronger and better than the original. After walking past the respective sectors I arrive in the Residential/ commercial areas. No one noticed my presence as I entered a small shop on the side of the road, the sign said: [Dragon Shop]. The man at the counter looked up and back down as I passed by him to the back of the shop, passing through a wooden door that leads to some stairs going downwards. I pass through the basement to a weapon rack, pulling out sets of weapons in a particular order and sliding them back into place in another certain order. After which the weapon rack moved into the ground and a multilayered defence system came into view. I enter through it with ease, finally arriving at my destination, a massive underground lab system which conducts the most unethical and weirdest research for the organisation.

With the largest funding in the history of mankind, the breakthroughs are constant. ''Sir the new batch of weaponry have been delivered to Confed!'' The head scientist of the underground lab stated proudly, ''Including the new missile defence systems and missile launchers?'' I asked with a raised eyebrow, ''Yes, also the new MBT the E75 Ausf. G, with new improvements to reliability, gun handling and armour protection.'' He said while pointing at the metal beast in one of the many labs.

I ignored the rest and made my way right through the middle to the massive construct in the centre, it was none other than the fusion reactor that was announced back in 1964, heavy humming noises came from the reactor as large magnets keep the heated plasma into place. Putting on my goggles I enter the control room. Time slowed down for me as I walked like a ghost through the group of scientists, it seems as no one knew of my existence, 'Sometimes I wish the Marshall was here to guide us and our actions...' I lamented in my mind.

There was chatter on the background as many scientists check their respective instruments. Making my way to the large button in the middle of the controls I silently opened the cover, no one noticed my actions yet. I silently press the button while closing my eyes, 'I can only pray for its success...' I said to myself.

''WARNING FUSION REACTOR I IS ACTIVATED! WARNING!'' The intercom sounded,

The Reactor came to life as alarms started to fire up, the scientists finally looked up to see my index finger silently pressed on the startup button. ''START UP THE COLLING SYSTEMS! REINFORCE THE INTERNAL MAGNETS!'' The Fusion project lead shouted as he acted quickly and decisively, everyone was in a complete state of confusion. The Fusion reactor was firing up massive amounts of electricity when my phone rang, I was annoyed by the disturbance but took the call, ''SIR! THE SIGNALS ARE FROM MASSIVE OBJECTS COMING FROM BEHIND THE MOON! THEY LOOK LIKE... THOSE SCI-FI SPACE SHIPS SIR!'' My assistant still being in the decryption chamber shouted anxiously. But before anyone could react large beams of elemental fire started making their way from the ships to our planet. I no longer cared and smashed the red button to the deepest parts. The roof parted open as the Fusion reactor started to overheat and its plasma was getting out of control.

Time moved silently and slowly for everyone, Supreme commander Rommel was reaching for his phone while Rudolf was pressing the emergency evacuation plan button. Agent Zero recalled all the agents to their outposts when suddenly a massive beam of plasma and energy was fired from the fusion reactor, slamming itself into space station number 3, which than re-directed the plasma to the other 19 stations. Three more beams appeared from the other strongholds, feeding this ring of purple plasma.

I prayed and prayed for the success, the hundreds of elemental fires approached the earth with a devastating might! And before anyone knew the slammed into the purple shield formed by the plasma, I looked with delight as the plasma was holding. But that delight soon turned into despair as I saw one of the stations explode under the massive amounts of stress, which was followed by another station exploring, this trend continued until no stations were left standing. My hands were trembling as I watched the debris fall to earth, ''INITIATIVE [STEEL MOON] HAS FAILED! REPEAT INITIATIVE [STEEL MOON] HAS FAILED!'' sounded over the intercom.

I gnashed my teeth, and Roared ''Redirect the energies to the strongholds!'' I said loudly to the Head of the Fusion project. Soon after a large purple shield formed over the 3 strongholds and the motherbase, while large amounts of people were being evacuated, the estimate is that billions will die today. We just watched as our world was about to be scorched by an unknown enemy, with unknown weapons and unknown objectives. But just as the elemental fires were about to enter the atmosphere they stopped, just hovering there, waiting. The intercom sounded like something was intercepting it, soon a voice was heard, speaking our language;

''Rejoice! People of Earth! The Federation has arrived!'' They sounded very joyful. My face, however, knew that this was either the end or the beginning of the end...