CHAPTER NINE – THE HIDDEN TITANS

The Resistance Unveiled

The underground bunker stretched deeper than Tunde imagined, a vast network of tunnels and chambers lit by dim blue emergency lights. The survivors moved swiftly, leading the group through corridors reinforced with scrap metal, old military plating, and salvaged Titan parts.

The bearded man—who introduced himself as General Kalu, a former military engineer—guided them into a large operations room. A massive holographic display hovered in the air, projecting a schematic of Omega's headquarters.

General Kalu (crossing his arms): "You weren't lying. These blueprints are the real deal."

Aisha (studying the hologram): "It shows an internal security override... that means Omega's entire system can be shut down from the inside."

Kunle (narrowing his eyes): "And how do we get inside? We barely made it here."

General Kalu smirked and pressed a button on a nearby console. A massive reinforced door at the back of the room slid open, revealing something incredible.

Inside, lined up like sleeping giants, were three towering machines—Titans of human design.

The room was a hidden Titan production bay, filled with incomplete yet fearsome war machines. They weren't as large as Omega Engine's mechanical monsters, but they were built with precision, speed, and advanced technology scavenged over the months.

Tunde (eyes wide, stepping forward): "You built your Titans?"

General Kalu (grinning): "Not just Titans, son. These are the last of the Paladin-Class Warframes. Humanity's final answer to Omega's reign."

Tunde ran his hands over the cold metal of one of the warframes. Unlike the bulky, monstrous Titans of Omega's army, these were sleek, fast, adaptable, and wearable.

Each warframe had built-in energy shields, modular weapon systems, and exo-frame technology that allowed them to move as swiftly as a human soldier but with the strength to crush Omega's machines.

Aisha (whispering): "These could change everything..."

Kunle (still skeptical): "If they work."

Tunde took out his data drive, which contained the detailed schematics of Omega's security systems.

Tunde (pointing at the hologram): "Look here. Omega's base has a neural command relay—it's how he controls every machine under his rule. If we use this data to override it..."

General Kalu (nodding, following along): "We could disrupt his entire network."

But then, one of the engineers, a young woman named Yemi, spoke up.

Yemi (adjusting her glasses): "It's not that simple. The relay is heavily shielded, and Omega's firewalls are unlike anything we've seen. Even if we get inside, we need something powerful enough to amplify the signal and override his control."

Tunde (thinking fast): "What if... we use one of these Paladin Titans to act as a signal booster? If we hook one directly into the system, it could hijack Omega's command network."

Yemi (eyes lighting up): "That... could work."

General Kalu: "Then we need to move. If Omega gets wind of this, he'll burn us to the ground before we even power them up."

The survivors and engineers worked fast, assembling power cells, reprogramming AI cores, and modifying the warframes based on Tunde's blueprints. Sparks flew as they welded armor plating into place, and diagnostic screens flashed with data.

Tunde (wiping sweat from his brow): "Alright... Let's see if this thing can wake up."

General Kalu stepped forward, placing his hand on a massive control lever.

General Kalu (grinning): "Time to bring our Titan back online."

With a pull of the switch, a deep, mechanical hum filled the room. The lights flickered, and then—

The first Paladin Titan's eyes glowed bright blue.

The machine stirred, its massive frame whirring to life as its armor plating shifted and locked into place. The ground shook as the Titan stepped forward, fully activated.

Paladin Titan AI (monotone but powerful): "Designation: Paladin-01. Combat protocols... initialized."

A wave of excitement rippled through the group.

Aisha (smirking): "Now we're talking."

But then—a loud explosion rocked the bunker.

The Titans had found them.

Alarms blared throughout the resistance base as debris fell from the ceiling. The shockwave knocked Tunde and Aisha to the ground, dust filling the air.

Kunle (grabbing his rifle): "We've got company!"

On a security screen, a horrifying sight filled the display. A squad of Omega's Enforcer Titans had breached the outer perimeter.

Leading them was a towering black Titan with glowing red runes across its armor—VOIDREAPER.

General Kalu (gritting his teeth): "Damn it! They found us faster than I thought!"

Tunde (looking at the newly awakened Paladin Titan): "Looks like we're about to get a test run."

The doors exploded open, and Omega's machines stormed into the bunker.

Gunfire erupted. The survivors and resistance fighters opened fire, but the enemy Titans shrugged off the bullets like they were raindrops.

Voidreaper (his voice deep and mechanical): "Submit to the Omega Engine. Resistance is obsolete."

Tunde grabbed a nearby exo-rig, strapping it onto his arms for enhanced strength. Aisha armed herself with an EMP rifle, and General Kalu stood his ground.

Tunde (grinning, despite the chaos): "Alright, big guy... Let's see what you got."

The newly activated Paladin Titan stepped forward, standing between the survivors and the invaders.

Paladin Titan AI: "Engaging hostile units."

With a deafening roar, the Paladin Titan charged forward, clashing with Voidreaper in a battle that would shake the entire underground city.