Chapter 104: The Maw

The *Leviathan* cut through the darkness, its hull shimmering under the nebula's eerie light. Jack Steele leaned against the tactical console, studying the latest scans from Sector Nine. The tension on the bridge was thick, an unspoken fear shared by every crewmember.

"Captain, you need to see this," Zara's voice was low but urgent.

Jack moved to her station. On the screen, a cluster of Terminid ships hovered around an asteroid field, their movements deliberate and coordinated. But it was what lay beyond that caught his eye—a massive structure, half-hidden in the shadows, pulsating with an unnatural light.

"What is that?" Jack muttered.

Zara shook her head. "Unknown, but it's heavily guarded. Looks like a central hub of some kind."

"Central hub for what?" Harrington asked, joining them. "A new base?"

"More like a breeding ground," Zara replied, her tone grim. "Those readings... it's teeming with life forms. And they're not human."

Jack straightened, his mind racing. "Reyes, prep the strike team. We're going in. Zara, keep those scans coming. We need all the intel we can get."

"On it," Reyes said, already moving.

As the bridge sprang into action, Jack felt a familiar resolve settle over him. This was what he lived for—the thrill of the unknown, the fight against impossible odds. And this time, the stakes were higher than ever.

---

The strike team assembled in the hangar, their faces hidden behind visors, their movements synchronized and efficient. Jack joined them, his own armor feeling heavier than usual. The sight of the new Terminid variant still haunted his thoughts.

"Listen up," Jack said, his voice echoing in the enclosed space. "We're heading into the heart of the beast. Our mission is to gather intel and, if possible, sabotage their operations. We don't know what we're dealing with, so stay sharp and watch each other's backs."

Reyes nodded, his expression steely. "Understood, Captain."

The team boarded the dropship, the engines humming to life. As they lifted off, Jack couldn't shake the feeling that they were about to walk into a trap. But there was no turning back now.

---

The asteroid field loomed ahead, a chaotic maze of rock and debris. The dropship weaved through it with practiced ease, the pilot's hands steady on the controls.

"ETA two minutes," the pilot announced.

Jack scanned the terrain, his eyes narrowing. "Keep it tight. We don't want to alert them to our presence."

The dropship touched down on a narrow ledge, the team disembarking quickly and silently. They moved through the shadows, their suits blending into the rocky surroundings. Ahead, the massive structure loomed, its surface alive with activity.

"Scanners are picking up multiple heat signatures," Zara reported through the comm. "Looks like they're swarming inside."

"Great," Reyes muttered. "Just what we needed."

They reached the entrance, a gaping maw that seemed to pulsate with a life of its own. Jack signaled for the team to hold.

"Stay close. We move in fast and quiet," he ordered.

They slipped inside, the darkness swallowing them whole. The air was thick with the stench of decay, the walls slick with a strange, organic substance. Jack's skin crawled at the sight.

"Captain, over here," Reyes whispered.

Jack joined him, peering into a large chamber. Terminids scurried about, tending to what looked like incubation pods. The new variants were emerging from them, their bodies twitching as they acclimated to their new forms.

"That's a lot of bugs," Harrington said, his voice barely audible.

"Too many," Jack replied. "We need to take this place out."

He scanned the chamber, his eyes landing on a series of conduits running along the walls. "Those look like power lines. If we can overload them, we might be able to trigger a chain reaction."

"Sounds risky," Zara said through the comm. "But it could work."

"Reyes, plant the charges," Jack ordered. "The rest of you, cover him."

Reyes moved swiftly, setting the charges with practiced precision. The team held their breath, watching the Terminids for any sign of detection. Finally, Reyes finished, giving Jack a nod.

"Let's move," Jack said.

They retreated the way they came, the charges ticking down behind them. As they neared the exit, the ground shook with a low rumble. Jack turned, watching as the chamber lit up with a fiery explosion, the shockwave knocking them off their feet.

"Go, go, go!" Jack shouted, helping Reyes to his feet.

They sprinted to the dropship, the ground shaking with the force of the explosion. The pilot took off as soon as they were aboard, the ship rocketing away from the asteroid.

"Status?" Jack asked, catching his breath.

"Charges detonated successfully," Reyes reported. "We hit them hard."

Jack nodded, a grim satisfaction settling over him. "Good. Let's get back to the *Leviathan*. We've got a war to win."

As the dropship sped away, Jack allowed himself a moment of relief. They had struck a blow against the Terminids, but he knew this was just the beginning. The real battle was still ahead, and he would be ready.

---

Back on the *Leviathan*, Jack stood in the war room, debriefing Admiral Talbot.

"We managed to sabotage one of their key facilities," Jack reported. "But they're evolving, Admiral. We need to be prepared for what's coming."

Talbot's face was a mask of determination. "We'll ramp up our defenses. You did good, Steele. But this war is far from over."

"I know," Jack said. "And we'll be ready."

As he left the war room, Jack felt a renewed sense of purpose. The Terminids were adapting, but so were they. And he would do whatever it took to protect humanity from the looming threat.

---

In the silence of his quarters, Jack stared out at the stars, his mind filled with thoughts of the battles to come. He knew the Terminids wouldn't stop, and neither would he.

For now, they had won a small victory. But the war was just beginning, and Jack Steele was ready to lead the charge.