The Legion Horde

Before landing, Zack caught sight of two towering steel giants standing silently on the runway below. From a distance, they looked like ancient, otherworldly gods draped in metallic armor, their massive forms radiating an aura of destruction, as if they could tear the world apart at any moment.

As the aircraft descended, Zack's awe grew stronger. The giants, named Goliath, stood at a staggering 8.8 meters tall—far exceeding their original design of 5.6 meters due to some structural modifications. At their feet, Zack felt truly dwarfed, barely reaching a third of their height. His gaze traveled up their immense mechanical bodies to the two colossal 50mm Vulcan cannons mounted in place of arms.

The sheer size of the cannons was mind-blowing. A 20mm caliber was already classified as artillery, but 50mm? That could easily fit a grown man's fist into the barrel. Aside from the weapons, the Goliath' overall design was as intimidating as it was functional—rugged and straightforward. Their "heads," which housed high-sensitivity sensor systems, were embedded in their chests, shielded by layers of thick alloy armor. Meanwhile, less critical components were left exposed, giving them a raw, brutalist aesthetic.

Where a conventional head might sit, the Goliath instead featured a 20-unit missile launcher loaded with armor-piercing missiles designed to obliterate fortified structures. "Does this thing even move?" Zack muttered, skeptical despite being its creator. The sheer size made him question if the Cold Fusion reactor could handle the job."Sir, the Titan isn't capable of flight, but for ground operations, the Cold Fusion reactor is more than sufficient," Ego, his AI companion, assured him.

Relieved, Zack gave the command. "Power them up." At his words, the Goliath, which had been eerily still, suddenly roared to life. The ground trembled as their massive frames began to move. With the hum of rotating machinery, their sensor assemblies—glowing like menacing red eyes—lit up, bathing their surroundings in an ominous scarlet glow. "Goliath online. Awaiting combat instructions," came a chilling, synthesized voice from their internal speakers.

"Holy crap…" Zack breathed, his excitement surging. "Who could stand against this?"

The sight of the Goliath towering before him stirred something primal. These weren't just machines—they were walking fortresses, mechanical juggernauts designed for total domination. "We'll start by testing their combat capabilities," Zack said, unable to contain his impatience. He'd momentarily forgotten about the unmanned armors waiting for activation in the hangar.

"Sir, the unmanned armors are still offline," Ego reminded him.

"Oh, right. Activate those too," Zack said, snapping back to reality. Moments later, the sound of thrusters filled the air as five unmanned armors emerged from a nearby hangar. They formed a perfect line in front of Zack, each one landing with a heavy thud.

Unlike the sleek and fragile designs often seen in the movies, Zack's armors were built for war. Their reinforced alloy plating gave them a bulkier, more intimidating presence. Each was outfitted with an array of weaponry: shoulder-mounted nine-unit micro-missile pods, palm-mounted pulse cannons, and heavy Vulcan guns similar to those used by his Goliath. Designed for maximum firepower, these armors sacrificed speed and agility for raw destructive potential.

The downside? Their top speed was only Mach 1.5, and they lacked specialized air combat capabilities. But that didn't matter—these units weren't built for dogfights. Their purpose was clear: to rain destruction from above and provide aerial support for Zack's mechanical ground forces. "Let's start with the usual—select a remote area for the test," Zack ordered.

The chosen location was a desolate, uninhabited stretch of land far from any settlements, making it an ideal testing ground. Its scarred terrain bore the marks of past experiments, with deep craters and scorched patches scattered across the landscape—a testament to the relentless efficiency of Zack's weapons. "Unmanned armors, proceed to the target coordinates and initiate a full bombardment," Zack commanded.

The five armors powered up and launched into the sky, their thrusters igniting as they accelerated toward the area. Within seconds, they broke the sound barrier, leaving faint shockwaves in their wake. "They're not the fastest, but for unmanned units, it's good enough," Zack remarked as he watched their silhouettes fade into the distance. These mass-produced units couldn't compare to the high-performance suits, but for their intended purpose, they were more than adequate. "Sir, the unmanned armors have reached the are. Satellite footage is—" Ego began.

"No need. I can see it just fine," Zack interrupted. The next moment, the once-dark area lit up with a brilliant, overwhelming glow, illuminating nearly half the mountain.

Boom! Boom!

A series of thunderous explosions rolled through the air seconds later, reaching Zack's ears even though he was several kilometers away. The ground beneath him trembled faintly as if the earth itself was groaning under the assault. Thanks to Ego's calculations, the missiles hit with meticulous accuracy, covering the area in a precise "carpet" of destruction with no overlap. This ensured maximum coverage and devastation. Once the missiles were expended, the unmanned armors transitioned to their next phase, unleashing their machine guns and pulse cannons. Each unit took responsibility for a designated area, saturating it with relentless firepower. The ground was churned and torn apart repeatedly, soil and debris flying into the air as the earth seemed to recoil under the bombardment.

When the missile bays reloaded, the armors conducted a second round of carpet bombing, leaving the surface turn into cratered wasteland. After completing their run, the five unmanned armors, now cloaked in smoke and gunpowder residue, returned to the airport in a synchronized formation. "Not bad," Zack muttered, nodding in approval. He was satisfied with their performance. For sheer firepower, their combined output had surpassed his older power armor. "Alright, Goliath' turn," he said eagerly, ready to watch his steel giants in action. But before he could give the command, Ego's voice cut in sharply. 

"Sir! Do you remember the zombie horde in the north I mentioned a few days ago?"

"Yeah, what about it?" Zack asked, his brow furrowing. He had heard about the massive horde but dismissed it, knowing the trajectory showed it crossing the Potomac River and steering clear of any major population centers.

"It's changed course, sir. The horde is now heading straight for Washington, D.C.," Ego replied, urgency lacing its tone.

Zack's expression stiffened. He knew the scale of this horde, and Washington, D.C. wasn't equipped to handle such a threat. "How big is it?" Zack asked calmly, though his eyes narrowed.

"Unclear, but it's massive—definitely not less than 30 million," Ego answered, its usually precise estimates faltering.

Zack's mind raced. A horde of this size, if left unchecked, would devastate everything in its path. "If we don't intervene, by the time it reaches NYC, its numbers could easily double or triple," Ego warned. "Every city it passes will add to its size, and every survivor base it overwhelms will fuel its growth." Zack's calm demeanor turned icy. "Do you think I'm just going to sit back and let it happen? What am I, Kane?" he snapped, his voice cold. "But I won't send my forces without a reason," Zack added, then quickly asked, "Ego, how many survivors are in capital city?"