Ch. 5 Frozen Entry

Niroth Solren stood in a steady, vigilant stance, his heavy Aurum beam rifle raised and pointed into the distance. His fellow Thrashers were positioned around him, mirroring his posture, their weapons at the ready. The arctic wasteland stretched out before them, a pristine expanse of white, broken only by the jagged peaks of icy mountains and the domed ruin that beckoned in the distance.

Niroth Solren's visor seamlessly activated, initializing his combat AI known as S.W.I.F.T., which stood for Strategic Warfare Interface and Field Tactics. This cutting-edge system was designed to enhance his combat prowess and provide strategic insights. Similar to the H.A.R.P.Y. AI, S.W.I.F.T. was tailored for the rigors of battle, offering real-time threat analysis, target prioritization, and tactical recommendations in volatile situations. With S.W.I.F.T. engaged, Niroth's senses heightened, allowing him to perceive the environment with heightened clarity and respond swiftly to emerging threats.

Niroth's connection to the combat AI, S.W.I.F.T., was made possible by an invasive neural implant he had received during his early years with the Thrashers. Back then, his drive to prove himself led him to accept the implant, even though it came with a price beyond enhanced combat skills. Persistent discomfort and occasional pain served as reminders of the mechanical and biotech modifications he had undergone.

In the Thrashers, enhancements were routine to improve effectiveness in extreme environments. Every squad member received modifications customized to their roles. However, Niroth's body responded unusually well to these changes. Recognizing this, the higher-ups ordered him more enhancements than the standard, amplifying both his potential and the challenges he faced—melding his biology with technology in a way that set him apart from other Aelorians and even other Thrashers.

Joran Vyldari, the squad's commander, signaled the all-clear for the historians to disembark from the Pinfeather. As the group of scholars made their way onto the planet's surface, Niroth's focus intensified. He was keenly aware of the weight of responsibility that now rested on his shoulders—the safety of these historians was in their hands.

The distant ruin stood like a forgotten relic against the icy backdrop, its dome-shaped structure casting an ominous shadow on the landscape. As they began their approach, their feet crunched softly beneath the snow. Niroth's EVA suit kept his body insulated against the biting cold, but his attention remained fixed on the potential threats that could be lurking around the ruin.

About a hundred yards from the ruin, Niroth felt the weight of the situation settle in. This was uncharted territory, and the presence of the ruin was an enigma. It could hold answers or danger—possibly both.

Joran's voice broke through Niroth's thoughts. "Prepper, send out one of your sentries. We need to scout the area before we proceed."

Niroth nodded in acknowledgment, his fingers deftly reaching into a vest pocket to retrieve one of the three disc-shaped objects stored there. These were his specialized sentry robots, designed for reconnaissance and data collection. With practiced ease, he activated the sentry and released it into the air.

The small, disc-shaped machine hummed to life, its thrusters propelling it forward as it soared over the snow-covered ground. Niroth's visor displayed the sentry's feed, granting him a view of the area from its perspective. As the sentry approached the ruin, Niroth's grip on his rifle tightened. The group's cautious steps continued, their pace slow and deliberate. The sentry's feed revealed details of the ruin's exterior, including the concrete walls worn by time and weather. The wind whistled through the snowy expanse, buffeted by only the strange structure that stood alone.

Niroth's Sentry Zipped up into the air, gaining an aerial vantage of the ruin, the structure stood 20 meters tall and was made out of the same soil composite material that has been found in other constructions around the planet. Niroth's interaction with the S.W.I.F.T. combat AI differed significantly from how others connected with the H.A.R.P.Y. AI. Unlike the need for verbal commands, Niroth's interface was seamless—he merely had to think, and the AI would respond. Drawing upon this connection, he directed a mental command to S.W.I.F.T.,

"Scan the exterior of the building for any entrances or exits." The small disc-shaped robot darted lower, moving around the building, scanning it, and sending the architecture information directly back to Niroth, who then shared it among the entire group and said it aloud. "Exterior building schematics look like there's only one entrance on the front; architecture might suggest underground construction present."

Joran gave an affirmative ping over to Niroth's visor, then shouted, "Keep moving." His commanding voice pierced the frozen air, prompting the group to begin their cautious advance. As they neared the ruin, the imposing structure's heavy metal entrance came into view. It stood before them like a sentinel guarding secrets of the past. Joran signaled Pathfinder, one of the Thrashers skilled in bypassing security, to handle the door. The squad split their attention; half trained their weapons on the metal barrier, while the other half remained vigilant, scanning the exterior of the building for any potential threats.

Pathfinder gave an affirming nod and quickly stepped forward. Her gloved fingers deftly worked on the primitive locking mechanism of the door, attempting to pry a way in. After a moment, she looked back at Joran and reported, "Stuck tight."

Joran's response was quick and decisive. "Can we get it open?"

Pathfinder's eyes flicked back to the door as she replied, "If there's a mechanism reachable from the outside, it's frozen over by now. The lock's not budging. I recommend going loud."

Joran's gaze swept over the squad, his expression unreadable behind the visor.

"Everyone, back away from the structure. Demo, set a soft charge on that door. We need to breach and clear."

Demo spoke up. "Love startin' missions with a bang", Dropping his pack to the ground, he got on his knee and started going through his assortment of different explosives. Pulling out a small cylindrical device that looked similar to the one Niroth had grabbed in the amory, Demo put a small dab of black adhesive on the back of the device and stood.

Demo swiftly moved into action, placing a small cylindrical device on the metal door's surface. With a skilled touch, he pressed a discreet spot on its surface, setting a timer into motion. The small digital readout on the cylinder's exterior began counting down. However, before the seconds could tick away, Niroth's S.W.I.F.T. AI swiftly intercepted the explosive's presence through its advanced scanning capabilities. Warning alarms blared in Niroth's mind, alerting him to the potential threat. Almost instinctively, he acknowledged the alarm and designated it as a friendly component. The alarms ceased, leaving only a calm sense of awareness in their wake.

The countdown reached its final moments, and the small cylinder erupted into a brilliant display of golden light. Intense heat radiated from the device, so searing that it caused the snow and ice in a five-meter radius around the door to melt rapidly. The metal door, once a formidable barrier, was now defenseless against the onslaught of the soft charge's heat. The scorching intensity of the slow-explosion consumed the door and part of the concrete frame, leaving behind nothing but a pool of molten material where the entrance had once stood. The way inside was now open, a path forged through the ice and steel by the controlled fury of technology.

The melted doorway revealed a glimpse into the darkness that lay within the ruin. A stark contrast to the bright, icy expanse outside. Joran Vyldari's command cut through the anticipation: Pathfinder, lead reconnaissance; Prepper, have one of your chicks follow her in."

Pathfinder acknowledged the order, her wrist button activating her advanced suit's light-bending technology, rendering her nearly invisible but for the two blood-red gem visors that remained visible. With silent steps, she disappeared into the shadows, leaving only her eyes as a visible trace of her presence. Following her lead, Niroth's sentry gracefully glided after her, its sensors scanning the environment as it ventured into the enigmatic structure.

As they entered the ruin, a peculiar sight greeted them. The ceiling went up to the building's full height, the interior dome shape in full display. Rows of primitive-looking computers lined the octagonally shaped walls. Corpses, remarkably preserved rather than skeletal, sat in seats before the computers. The sealed environment, coupled with the subzero temperatures, likely contributed to their unusually intact state. Niroth could already imagine the excitement these remains would generate among historians.

In the center of the room, a large metal hatch dominated the space. Its current state indicated that it had been sealed for an extended period. The presence of the hatch confirmed Niroth's suspicion of lower levels in the structure. Niroth took a moment and commanded the drone to stare at the corpse, examining its features. "Ghastly-looking creature, something out of a horror holo," he thought to himself. Suddenly, Joran sent his visor a questioning ping.

Niroth swiftly shared the feed from his sentry's sensors with the rest of the group. Audible gasps and murmurs of amazement erupted from the historians as they beheld the surreal scene within the ruin.

After a tense pause, Pathfinder's voice crackled over the comms, breaking the silence. "Looks clear; no sign of mold here." Her report brought a collective exhale of relief from the group, knowing that at least this section of the ruin was not immediately compromised by the dangerous substance.

Joran Vyldari's voice followed, his command firm and steady. "All right, everyone, let's move in. Stay vigilant and stay close. Formation Echo. Watch each other's backs and keep your eyes open." The squad responded with practiced efficiency, moving into the ruin with weapons at the ready and a heightened sense of caution. The mysteries hidden within the walls of the ancient structure awaited their discovery.