The midnight rain turned to icy sleet as fifty thousand citizens and ten thousand coalition soldiers converged upon Government Plaza.
Illuminated by hundreds of mobile searchlights, the colossal neo-classical Presidential Palace stood behind a shimmering dome of twelve-tier orbital aegis forcefields.
The blue energy dome hummed with deafening power, vaporizing the falling sleet and casting an unearthly glow across the sea of assembled protesters.
"Look at that orbital aegis shield—it is drawing power directly from the capital's central geothermal line," Colonel Thorne reported, examining the thermal readouts.
"Director General Sterling barricaded himself inside with five hundred elite Praetorian cyborgs," Sabine stated, checking the ammunition load in her sidearm.
"The Praetorian cyborgs are positioning high-energy laser batteries along the palace parapets," Captain Brandon shouted, pointing to the glowing turrets.
