Fracture

                                    

                                          
A massive cruiser tore through the atmosphere, its descent transforming the predawn sky into a canvas of fire and roaring turbines. Trails of smoke billowed in its wake as the flames subsided, revealing the ship's sleek, metallic surface shimmering against the first light of dawn. In mere seconds, hidden turrets snapped out from their compartments like the predatory grin of a leviathan, each one bristling with an array of calibers. Yet, the true menace lay in the rows of missile platforms stretching along the vessel's angular planes. This was no ordinary cruiser – it was a harbinger of devastation.
And devastation was exactly what it intended to deliver.
Allen stood at the edge of the barren desert, a lingering chill in the air. His eyes narrowed as he tracked the ship's rapid descent. The scream of its thrusters rose to a piercing wail, a violent intrusion upon the desert's eerie silence.
Another burst of flames erupted from its auxiliary thrusters, as if the primary jets alone couldn't bear the gargantuan mass. For a heart-stopping moment, Allen feared the ship would slam into the sands below.
But the cruiser stabilized, groaning under its own weight as it descended with calculated precision. Allen exhaled slowly, relief mingling with unease.
He glanced at the horizon where a faint glow signaled the approach of dawn. After hours of relentless combat under the cloak of night, the emerging light offered no solace – only a stark illumination of the chaos below. The skirmish resembled shadows flitting over a desolate landscape, but the fiery tracers and staccato bursts of gunfire told a far deadlier story. The distant rumble of artillery was a constant reminder of the battle's proximity, and the scent of scorched metal and ozone lingered in the air.
From what he could tell, the Arctos ACUs were still firing and moving as one, which was still pretty bizarre.
Before he could delve deeper into that thought, the cruiser unleashed a barrage of cruise missiles. The horizon erupted in a cataclysm of explosions, fire and smoke spiraling upward, casting an eerie glow against the dim sky. The very air vibrated with the impact, shockwaves rippling through his body. The thunderous roar of cannon fire followed, each concussive blast making the ground tremble beneath his feet. Each cannon shell made craters in the sand, adding to the utter chaos.
Sand whipped around him as the colossal ship drew closer, its landing gear deploying with a resonant clunk. The thrusters dimmed, their fiery glow fading as the behemoth settled onto the desert floor. An unsettling calm descended after the storm of noise, broken only by the distant echoes of battle.
As if on cue, the back of the ship shifted. A massive panel groaned and began to lower, unfolding into a ramp that slammed into the ground, sending a wave of sand cascading outward. Allen squinted through the swirling dust, watching as lines of ACUs poured from the belly of the beast. Their metallic bodies caught the sparse light, moving with purpose.
Most marched toward the raging battle, but a small contingent veered in his direction.
One of them halted before him and snapped a crisp salute. "Sir." It stated, its robotic voice cold and precise. "This cruiser was dispatched by command of Eternity class vessel XEROS. Orders: Retrieve Arctos Colonel Allen Fletcher."
Allen raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms as he regarded the ACU. "Arctos Colonel? Seems the titles are still in order." He remarked dryly. "Very well. Patch me through."
"Understood." The ACU responded without hesitation. It stepped aside, assuming a guard position while scanning the horizon.
From across the desert, several large drones detached from the cruiser, their bulky frames reflecting the faint light. As they approached, Allen recognized them – HTD drones, Heavy Tactical Drones. Each was the size of a transport truck, armored with sleek yet imposing plating capable of deflecting anything short of heavy artillery. These were more than drones; they were mobile fortresses, command centers designed to project power deep into enemy territory.