Chapter 240: "Nano Suit," "Dragon's Roar," and Westbrook

March 9th, early morning.

In the core section of the Ruins Base, within the Armed Division's equipment preparation facility, Sector 14:

"Wow, so this is the nano suit?" Soap exclaimed as he adjusted the sleek, black, muscle-defined "nano suit" with the help of the logistics personnel.

"This isn't the kind of nano suit made for Thunder Warriors or Astartes, Major," a logistics officer explained while checking the final settings on a floating holographic screen. "It doesn't have the active liquid metal layer that can crush or suffocate you. It's a Hazard Environment Combat Suit (HECV) that uses nanotechnology, optical camouflage, bionic tech, and condensed batteries.

Your vanguard team has been complaining for a while that the company hasn't updated your combat gear since the opening of the sixth space gate, right? Well, the company prepared a batch just for you. Also— Major, we're about to begin the first nano-injection and extraction test. Please prepare yourself."

Soap nodded, "Alright, go ahead."

"Yes, sir."

Once Soap lowered his arms and stood ready, the logistics officer tapped the "Inject" button on the screen.

Szz—

A tiny prick sounded as a needle pierced Soap's skin, and the screen displayed a progress bar: "20%... 40%..."

"Gah!"

Underneath his helmet, Soap grimaced as it felt like his entire body was being bitten by tiny insects. The feeling didn't subside until the progress bar hit "100%."

"Hmm, muscle state... normal. Bones... normal. Organs... all normal," the logistics officer muttered while watching the data on the screen.

Soap, on the other hand, felt a sudden wave of clarity and energy. The suit felt like a second skin, with no discomfort at all. He clenched his fists and did a few quick jumps.

"Whoa, my strength must be over a ton now! This is insane!" Soap couldn't believe the massive improvement.

"Only company elites like you, who have undergone Inquisitor serum injections and genetic enhancements, can safely handle the Hazard Environment Combat Suit," the logistics officer explained. He then tilted his head slightly, adjusting his red-lensed visor as he added, "Major, from now on, this suit will be your personal gear. 

Without external armor, the suit can withstand small-caliber plasma attacks, but don't push your luck. If it gets damaged, the company will cover repair costs, but a percentage will be deducted from your annual bonus."

"Can I ask how much this suit costs?"

"About thirty million to start," the logistics officer replied, his eyes still on the holographic screen. "Now, we'll proceed with the nano-extraction. The first time will cause significant discomfort, so brace yourself."

"Thirty million?" Soap blinked in surprise, then nodded. "Alright, I'm ready."

Seeing Soap give the go-ahead, the logistics officer tapped the "Extract" button.

Szz—

The slight prick of the needle returned as the nanobots flowed out of Soap's bloodstream and back into the suit.

"Argh!!"

Soap winced in agony, dropping into a crouch as the extraction completed. When the progress bar finally finished, he collapsed on the metal floor, gasping for breath. "Man, that wasn't 'discomfort'— that was like being skinned alive!"

The logistics officer chuckled, "Don't worry, Major. After the first injection and extraction, you won't feel this way again."

Then, turning to his colleague, who was operating a mechanical exoskeleton nearby, the logistics officer called out, "Hey! Get the external armor ready for the Major!"

Four staff members quickly approached, helping Soap don the silver-gray armor made from dwarven-forged steel, a perfect fit over the nano suit.

It didn't take long for the team to finish the process, and the logistics officer smiled as he informed Soap, "All done, Major. You still have thirty minutes before your scheduled departure to the front-line base in Universe 09."

"Thanks."

With that, the logistics officer and his team departed, leaving Soap to stretch and loosen up his shoulders and neck joints. He then met up with Ghost and Roach, who had also completed their outfitting, and they exited the equipment preparation facility, heading toward the more expansive core area where the space gates were located.

As they walked along the aerial corridor, they could see the expanded dimensions of the space gate, now reaching 41x41 meters.

"Looks like the boss is getting closer and closer to becoming... a god," Soap remarked as he gazed through the transparent screen at the space gate, which shimmered like a mercury mirror.

"Hmm." Ghost's eyes were drawn to the statues on the altar— four Astartes warriors holding boltguns and chainswords— and he nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile, Roach, who was trailing behind them, was absorbed in examining the new equipment they had received. His excitement was visible beneath his helmet as he marveled at the upgrades.

The HUD inside their helmets was much clearer than the previous HECV suits, with dynamic detection and pulse scanning significantly more accurate. In the upper right corner of the display, the battery indicator read "Battery: 100%/1440h," meaning they could operate for at least three months without changing batteries.

Although it couldn't compare to the cold fusion reactors of the Primarch power armor or Titan suits, a three-month endurance was far beyond what even the AECS elite's Mac-Power Armor could achieve.

Finally, new gear! Roach's face lit up with excitement as he eagerly anticipated their first combat mission at the front-line base.

"Roar—!"

Suddenly, a deafening dragon's roar interrupted Roach's thoughts.

What?

He turned toward the sound and saw a massive black-scaled dragon, wings folded, squeezing awkwardly through the seventh space gate (Terra). It lumbered into the core section of the Ruins Base.

The intercom then issued a warning: 

"Mr. Nidhogg, please keep your volume down to avoid disturbing the employees' daily work. Failure to comply will affect your year-end performance evaluation. Thank you for your cooperation."

"Roar, understood," the black-scaled dragon, Nidhogg, lowered its head obediently.

Then, with booming footsteps that shook the ground, Nidhogg followed the glowing wands of the ground crew and passed through the eighth space gate, heading toward the front-line base on Prosperity Star.

What...?

As Nidhogg's enormous frame disappeared from view, Soap commented, "I thought the company was preparing to open a theme park, showing off magical creatures from fantasy worlds."

"I remember the company had plans for something like that, but the conditions aren't right at the moment," Ghost replied, continuing forward. "And even if they did, I doubt they'd use combat-capable dragons as attractions."

"Fair point. Maybe the boss needs Nidhogg for the integration efforts in Universe 08. Hey, Roach, don't fall behind."

Soap called out to Roach, then followed Ghost to the end of the corridor.

The three of them took the maglev elevator to the waiting area in front of the ninth space gate.

"Wow! I'm so jealous of your vanguard gear!" came a voice as soon as they exited the elevator.

It was Reyroya, the human-vampire-werewolf hybrid, who tapped on her armor and joked, "It sucks that our physical abilities are so strong. Unless we get custom gear, it's hard to enhance our strength and speed further."

"Is that a complaint or are you just showing off?" Soap shot back, before turning to face Reyroya, her twenty Honor Warriors, and dozens of AECS and ARS elite soldiers. He spoke in a serious tone:

"Everyone, Commander Krauser has appointed me as the operational leader of this joint task force. Even when we reach the front-line base, I'll be in full command during mission execution.

The company can't spare extra resources and manpower for Universe 09 at this time, so I expect everyone to focus and work together to help establish the branch in Night City."

"Yes, sir!" Reyroya immediately saluted, raising her right hand in a crisp military salute.

"Major."

With Reyroya leading by example, the rest of the task force followed suit, saluting Soap.

"Major MacTavish, although we have some time, we shouldn't keep Colonel Price waiting. He has urgent tasks that need our attention," Selene, still dressed in her standard Atlas uniform, reminded Soap before stepping through the "mercury mirror."

"Let's go," Soap commanded, leading the group through the space gate.

A familiar flash of white light filled Roach's vision, and as it cleared, he found himself standing at a base designed around the space gate.

After a full day and night of construction, the base had taken shape, with most facilities already operational. Roach stood still for a few seconds before following the others toward the vertical landing pad in the northern sector.

As they walked, he used the local network to pull up a high-altitude view captured by orbital drones. From the drone footage, Roach could see that the space gate and the base were about 200 kilometers southeast of Night City, deep in the desert.

The space gate's natural cloaking effect, combined with the optical camouflage shelters, ensured the company would remain undetected by local forces. Roach also identified that Night City was located on the west coast of North America.

It seemed that the wars that had ravaged Universe 09 had likely destroyed Los Angeles and San Francisco, leading to the creation of a new city between them, which had grown over time into the sprawling metropolis of Night City.

Soon after, the group reached the landing pad

, where six Black Hawk gunships and a stealth-equipped Pelican transport awaited them, their engines already running.

Beep—Beep—

As the screen in his helmet chimed, Roach noticed that Soap had assigned him, Selene, Reyroya, and ten Honor Warriors to "Team 02." Soap also sent Roach a personal directive: "Under no circumstances should you let the AI out of your sight. Ensure her safety."

Understanding the gravity of his orders, Roach quickened his pace, joining Selene and the others as they boarded one of the Black Hawk gunships marked with the "02" insignia.

Everyone took their seats as the cabin doors closed.

Ground personnel quickly moved to safety and gave the pilots the thumbs-up.

Roar—Roar—

Engines roared as dust kicked up.

Receiving the all-clear from the tower, the pilots lifted the Black Hawks and the Pelican into the air. The transport fleet banked toward the sky, emerging from the camouflage shelter and into the blazing sun.

Once the stealth mode was engaged, the fleet disappeared, blending seamlessly into the sky.

Inside the cabin, Roach, a towering figure of muscle, sat silently across from the calm, "meditating" Selene, quietly observing the advanced AI. From outward appearances alone, it was impossible to tell if she was human or a machine.

Suddenly, a live comm window popped up on his helmet screen.

It was Price, appearing on-screen from the base command center, wearing his signature black beanie and smoking a cigar.

Puff—

Price exhaled smoke and addressed the team:

"Joint Task Force, your mission to assist the investigators in clearing out the gangs remains unchanged. They believe Westbrook is a prime location for the company's branch office.

The corporations and gangs entrenched there control everything, and you're all seasoned employees with good judgment. So I'm granting the task force full open-fire authority.

However, I must remind you that this is the company's first combat operation in Night City, so make sure to stage it as a gang war. As for any potential damage to the company's reputation, Selene will handle that. Don't hesitate to clean up those lawless scumbags.

That's all. Front-line base out."

With that, Price cut the connection before anyone could respond.

"Typical," Roach shrugged, accustomed to Price's no-nonsense style. He then pulled up a close-up aerial map of Night City.

Westbrook was located on the eastern edge of the city, bordering the desert. It certainly seemed like a strategic starting point.

After reviewing the intel, Roach closed his eyes, mimicking Selene as he mentally prepared for the imminent "cleanup" operation.

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