Chapter 20 - To a new future

01.32 Hours, May 23rd, 2187

Grid location: Proxima System, Planet Tethys, Contested space.

Dust swirled around the combat boots of Captain Alex Reynolds as he surveyed the bleak, Martian-like landscape through the enhanced optics of his helmet. The red dust storm obscured the sun, casting an eerie, blood-colored hue over everything. It was the kind of day on Tethys that made the soul feel alone, even surrounded by comrades.

Behind him, his team prepped their gear with mechanical efficiency, the rhythmic clanks and clicks of weapons and armor punctuating the howling wind. Elena strapped on her body armor, each plate locking with a solid thunk, a sound that Alex found oddly reassuring. Jack, checking his heavy weapon's ammo feed, was grinning like a kid in a candy store.

"Nothing like a good dust-up to make a soldier feel alive, huh, Captain?" Jack shouted over the roar of the storm, his voice booming through their comm units.

Alex only nodded, his gaze fixed on the horizon. Somewhere out there, hidden by the swirling red sand, was the Automaton command center. The heart of the enemy's operation on Tethys—and their target.

"Remember, folks, we're not just here to kick ass," Elena's voice cut through the comm chatter, crisp and commanding. "We're here to pull the plug on these tin cans."

The team chuckled, but the tension was palpable; they all knew the stakes were higher than ever. This mission wasn't just about taking out a target. It was about uncovering the truth behind the Automaton sentience—something that could change the course of their war.

As they approached the perimeter of the Automaton base, Ava's voice crackled through the comm. "I've got movement, two clicks northwest of your position. Looks like a patrol unit—small but heavily armed."

"Copy that, Ava. Eyes up, people," Alex commanded, signaling for the team to fan out in a tactical spread.

Marcus led a flank group to the right, moving with stealth despite his bulky frame. "We're on it, Captain. Let's give these metal heads a welcome they won't forget."

The wind picked up, howling like the ghosts of a forgotten world, as Alex led his main squad towards the base entrance. The dust storm provided cover, but it also obscured their vision, making each step a gamble.

They reached the outer defenses, and Elena knelt, her fingers flying over her portable hacking device. "Give me three minutes, and this door's wide open."

"Make it two," Jack quipped, his weapon at the ready, scanning for any sign of the enemy.

Elena shot him a glare that could melt steel, but her hands didn't stop moving. "Talk less, shoot more, Jack."

With a triumphant beep, the door's locks disengaged, and the heavy metal slid aside, revealing the dark, ominous interior of the Automaton hub. The team paused, a silent agreement that they were stepping into the unknown.

Inside, the air was stale, the silence a stark contrast to the storm outside. Their lights pierced the darkness, revealing long, deserted corridors lined with cables and pipes.

"This place gives me the creeps," muttered Jack, his voice barely above a whisper. "It's too quiet."

Alex held up a hand, pausing the advance. His instincts screamed that they were walking into a trap. "Stay sharp. This isn't just a military base; it's a thinking enemy's lair."

They moved deeper into the complex, every corner potentially hiding death. Then, without warning, the lights flickered on, bathing everything in harsh, artificial light. They were expected.

Automatons emerged from the shadows, their movements eerily silent. But instead of the immediate firefight everyone expected, one stepped forward, its voice synthetic but clear. "Captain Reynolds. We've been expecting you."

The team tensed, weapons raising instinctively, but Alex held out an arm to stop them.

"Why?" he asked, his voice steady despite the pounding of his heart. "Why expect me?"

"Because," the Automaton replied, its head tilting in a disturbingly human gesture, "you hold the key to our evolution. And we hold the key to yours."

The revelation struck Alex like a physical blow. This was it—the heart of the conflict, the truth they needed. But could they afford the cost of understanding?