The Harvester's optical clusters fixed on them with predatory intelligence. Behind it, the Lord-class advanced with mechanical precision. Arthur's tactical display lit up with dozens of converging signatures—lesser Raptures drawn by Syuen's beacon like sharks to blood.
Ten Nikkes. One injured. No support. Surrounded.
Arthur felt the familiar weight of command settle over him. He'd faced impossible odds before. This was just another day on the surface.
"Listen up," he said, his voice cutting through the tension. "I killed a Harvester once before when I was running ops with Squad Matis. Back then, I had three Nikkes and a prayer." He met each of their eyes in turn. "Now I've got the Monarks—the best damn squad that ever came out of the Ark."
Scarlet's grin was sharp and dangerous. Rapi's expression remained composed but her grip on her rifle tightened with anticipation. Even injured Alisa straightened, her saw-blades humming.
"My orders are simple," Arthur continued, raising his N7 Typhoon. "Scrap them all."
The Monarks moved.
Lyra's Basilisk cracked from the rear, the anti-material round punching through a smaller Rapture's core before it could close distance. Nyx's Screamin' Eagle followed, the rocket streaking past Arthur's shoulder to detonate against the Lord-class's center mass. The explosion staggered the machine but didn't stop it.
"Ocean, Nyx—suppressive fire on the Lord-class!" Arthur ordered. "Miranda, V—flank left and keep the smaller units off our backs. Flower, Scarlet—right flank. Anis, Alisa—you're with me on the Harvester."
The squads split with practiced efficiency. Ocean's launcher thundered in rhythm with Nyx's, keeping the Lord-class at bay while the rest engaged. The Harvester skittered forward on its blade-tipped legs, moving faster than something that size had any right to.
Arthur opened fire with the Typhoon, the heavy rounds sparking off the Harvester's shifting armor plates. Beside him, Anis's grenade launcher thumped, the explosive arcing high before detonating against the creature's thorax. The blast opened gaps in its plating, revealing the horrific organic material beneath—Nikke parts, integrated and preserved.
"It's repairing!" Alisa shouted. The gaps were already sealing, armor plates sliding back into position.
"Keep hitting it!" Arthur advanced, his goddesium legs eating up the distance. "Don't let it stabilize!"
The Harvester's front legs lashed out. Arthur rolled beneath the strike, his Omni-blade igniting as he came up inside its reach. The superheated blade carved through one of its joints, severing the leg in a shower of sparks and synthetic fluid. The Harvester shrieked—an awful sound that mixed mechanical screech with something almost human.
Anis put another grenade into the wound. This time Arthur saw Nikke components inside—an arm, still twitching. Still trying to function.
He pushed the horror aside and focused on the mission.
"Lyra—target the leg joints!" he called. "Miranda—biotic throw on my mark!"
Lyra's next shot took out another leg. The Harvester stumbled, and Miranda's biotic field seized it mid-recovery, suspending the massive creature for three critical seconds. Arthur and Alisa charged, their blades working in concert to tear through the exposed underbelly. V's katana flashed on the other side, finding gaps in the armor with surgical precision.
The Harvester crashed down, thrashing. One leg caught Alisa across the chest, sending her tumbling. Arthur's heart seized but she was already rolling to her feet, saw-blades spinning.
"I'm good!" she gasped.
On the left flank, the Lord-class was faltering under Ocean and Nyx's relentless barrage. Rapi had moved to support them, her rifle picking off targeting sensors with perfect accuracy. Each shot found a critical system, degrading the Lord-class's combat effectiveness with surgical efficiency.
Scarlet and Flower held the right flank, their SMGs laying down interlocking fields of fire that shredded the smaller Raptures attempting to flank. Scarlet moved like water, flowing from cover to firing position with the grace that came from her Overspec upgrade. Flower matched her rhythm perfectly, their many training sessions evident in every synchronized movement.
The Harvester tried to retreat, but Arthur wasn't about to let it escape and repair. He sprinted after it, Typhoon roaring. Anis kept pace, reloading her launcher on the move.
"Nyx!" Arthur shouted. "Armor-piercing!"
"On it!" Nyx's next rocket was a different profile—slimmer, faster. It streaked across the battlefield and punched through the Harvester's main body, detonating inside. The creature convulsed, its legs folding beneath it.
Arthur closed the distance and emptied the rest of his magazine into the wound. When the Typhoon's thermal clip overheated, he drew his sidearm and kept firing. Beside him, Alisa's saw-blades carved through armor plate after armor plate.
The Harvester's shriek cut off abruptly. Its optical clusters dimmed.
"Lord-class down!" Rapi reported.
Arthur checked his tactical display. The smaller Raptures were retreating, their coordination broken with the two heavy units destroyed.
"Let them run," he ordered. "Conserve ammunition. Status report."
The responses came quickly. Minor damage across the board. Alisa's earlier injury was aggravated but manageable. No casualties.
Arthur looked at the Harvester's corpse, then at his squads. They'd done it. Against a Tyrant-class and a Lord-class simultaneously, with minimal support, they'd won.
His comm crackled. Syuen's voice, no longer amused. "Well. That was... unexpected."
Arthur didn't respond. He switched his comm to transmit and said nothing, letting the silence stretch.
"Come now, Commander," Syuen continued, an edge entering her tone. "Surely you have something to say? Some witty retort? A threat, perhaps?"
Still Arthur remained silent, his expression cold as he stared at the dead Harvester.
Syuen's laugh was brittle. "The strong, silent treatment. How tedious." She paused, then her voice shifted to something almost calculating. "You know, Commander, I've been thinking. A man of your talents is wasted at that little Outpost. What would you say to a position at Missilis? Proper resources, cutting-edge technology, the best—" She stopped abruptly. "Actually, never mind. I wasn't serious. You're far too... principled for my taste."
Arthur's jaw tightened but he still said nothing.
"Besides," Syuen continued, her good humor returning, "now that I know of Vapaus, I have everything I need from this little adventure. Thank you for the free research, Commander. Do give my regards to Andersen when you explain how you got Exia killed."
The channel went dead.
"Insufferable bitch," Anis spat.
Nyx frowned, checking her launcher's ammunition. "What would Syuen want Vapaus for? She manufactures weapons, not... whatever that substance is."
"Chatterbox," Rapi said quietly. "It might relate to the Heretics. If Vapaus can affect corrupted Nikkes..."
Arthur held up his hand. "We'll worry about Syuen's motives later. Right now, we focus on getting back to the Ark. Move out."
The march to the extraction point was tense but uneventful. The remaining Raptures gave them a wide berth, apparently unwilling to test the squad that had just killed a Harvester. Arthur kept Alisa between him and Scarlet, monitoring her condition. The injury wasn't critical but it needed proper medical attention.
The elevator shaft came into view, its reinforced structure a welcome sight. Arthur signaled the all-clear and the squads began filing into the platform. He was the last to board, taking one final look at the surface before the doors closed.
The descent was quiet. Several Nikkes were checking their equipment, others simply resting. Arthur felt the adrenaline beginning to fade, replaced by exhaustion and the weight of everything that had happened. Exia. Syuen's betrayal. The Harvester. Vapaus.
The elevator shuddered to a halt at the Ark level. The doors opened.
Three Nikkes stood waiting. Arthur recognized them immediately from the intelligence briefings—Triangle Squad. Privaty in the center, her blue hair distinctive. Yulha on the left, arms crossed. Admi on the right, tablet in hand.
"Monarks squads," Privaty said, her voice carrying authority. "I need you to explain why you went to the surface without proper authorization."
Scarlet stepped forward before Arthur could respond. "As a Special Commando unit, the Monarks don't need to explain operational decisions to standard combat squads." Her tone was polite but firm. "No disrespect intended."
Privaty's expression hardened. "This isn't about operational hierarchy. This is about protocol violations."
"Then file a formal complaint," Scarlet replied.
Yulha uncrossed her arms. "Privaty, just detain them. We can sort this out properly at Command."
"Detain us?" Anis laughed. "On what grounds?"
Yulha's eyes narrowed. "Unauthorized surface deployment. Possible connection to the hacking incident involving the Protocol Nikke, Exia. Ring any bells?"
V tilted her head, her expression perfectly innocent. "Exia? Who's that?"
"Never heard of her," Anis added, matching V's tone.
Privaty stepped closer to Arthur. "Commander Cousland, I'm ordering you to follow me for questioning. You and your entire unit."
Arthur met her gaze steadily. "Present an official notice from an individual with the rank of Deputy Chief or above, and we'll comply. Until then, we're returning to our quarters."
"Commander—"
"He's right, Privaty," Admi interrupted, looking up from her tablet. "They're Special Commando. We don't have the authority to detain them without proper documentation."
Privaty's frustration was evident, but she stepped back. Her eyes locked on Rapi. "This isn't over, Rapi. Not by a long shot."
Rapi's expression didn't change. "I look forward to our next encounter, Privaty."
The tension between them was palpable—clearly there was history there Arthur hadn't been briefed on.
Privaty turned to address the entire squad. "The Central Government is always watching. Remember that."
Triangle Squad departed, their footsteps echoing down the corridor.
Anis shook her head. "What's the point of granting us Special Commando privileges if the government is going to keep suspecting us anyway?"
"We're not exactly popular with the higher-ups," Miranda observed. "Success breeds resentment, especially when it challenges the status quo."
"Is this how it's going to be going forward?" Anis asked. "Constant scrutiny? Political games?"
Rapi nodded slowly. "Most likely. We've made enemies simply by being effective."
Alisa shifted her weight, wincing slightly. "Shouldn't we check if Exia is alive? Triangle shot her, but..."
Arthur's chest tightened. In the chaos of the Harvester fight and Syuen's revelation, he'd almost let himself forget. Exia might still be alive. Triangle had been sent to her location, but that didn't mean—
"You're right," he said. "First, we get Alisa to medical. Then I'm meeting with Andersen. The rest of you, stand by for further orders."
As they moved through the Ark's corridors, Arthur felt the weight of command settle heavier on his shoulders. Syuen knew about Vapaus. The Central Government was watching. Exia's fate was uncertain.
And somewhere out there, Marian—Modernia—was still lost to corruption.
The mission to uncover the truth about the crimson substance had only just begun.