LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 31: Helldivers.
September 2184. Copper 9 Orbit. SES Super Destroyer Aegis of Integrity. One Week Later.
A week had passed, marked by calculated progress and meticulous coordination as efforts on Copper 9 moved forward. Beneath the surface, teams delved into the extensive tunnel systems surrounding Bunker 00, following orders from Jason to evaluate their potential. The initial surveys revealed a mix of outcomes: some tunnels were entirely collapsed, their usefulness eliminated by time and structural decay. Others, however, remained accessible, presenting an opportunity to expand operations.
To ensure these corridors were viable, engineers began reinforcing them with bracing to prevent further collapses. The work was slow but necessary, designed to allow for safe navigation and the movement of equipment. Alongside these efforts, specialized teams cleared out infestations of hostile insect-like creatures. These entities, while not yet bold enough to approach Bunker 00, posed a potential threat. Their elimination was handled decisively, ensuring no chance of their interference with ongoing operations.
In orbit, the Aegis of Integrity and its fleet made significant strides in bolstering logistical and observational capabilities. A constellation of microsatellites now orbited Copper 9, each with a specific role. Communications satellites reestablished stable connections between orbital command and ground teams, while electronic intelligence (ELINT) and imagery intelligence (IMINT) satellites provided critical data on the planet's surface and electromagnetic activity. Navigation satellites improved coordination across operations, and weather satellites began offering insights into Copper 9's unpredictable atmosphere.
Salvage teams, meanwhile, worked to reclaim resources from the debris-strewn orbit. Abandoned stations and wreckage were methodically dismantled, their materials funneled into fabricators for reuse. Mining operations on the planet's surface complemented these efforts, creating a steady supply chain to support the fleet and ground teams.
On the surface, Bunker 00 was gradually returning to operational status. The drone colony surrounding the bunker, once a self-reliant system, had suffered years of degradation. Many systems were barely functional, and the lack of spare parts complicated repairs. Human technicians and drones collaborated, addressing the most critical failures first while laying the groundwork for longer-term solutions.
Progress culminated in a milestone: the restoration of power to Bunker 00. Lights flickered back to life across the facility, illuminating corridors that had remained dark for over a century. While this achievement was just the beginning, it signified a turning point in the mission.
The renewed activity brought a sense of momentum, though challenges remained. The alliance between humans and drones was still in its infancy, and the planet's secrets continued to elude them. Copper 9's history and the events that had shaped its current state raised questions that demanded answers.
Still, the tone within both the fleet and the bunker was measured optimism. The groundwork had been laid, and while obstacles were inevitable, the results of the past week underscored the potential for success. Each repaired system, secured tunnel, and salvaged resource represented a step toward stability—a foundation upon which further progress could be built.
SES Super Destroyer Aegis of Integrity. Helldiver Jason's Private Quarters.
For the past week, Jason had been shuttling between the Aegis of Integrity and the surface of Copper 9, juggling responsibilities that kept him perpetually on edge. His reports to the Ministry of Defense had been routine updates: the progress on rebuilding, the evolving relationship with the drones, and the challenges they were facing. Yet, Jason couldn't shake the feeling that the Ministry wanted something more—something he hadn't yet provided.
A sharp knock at his door broke through his restless thoughts, followed by a voice he knew all too well.
"Helldiver, it's time," came the call of the Democracy Officer, firm and impatient.
Jason groaned, slowly forcing himself awake. Pulling the covers aside, he slid to the edge of the bed, stretching briefly before standing.
"Coming. Anything to report?" he asked while beginning the process of donning his gear.
"The SEAF team at Facility 7 has discovered what appears to be a vault in the lower levels. They've been instructed to hold off on any breach attempts until you arrive," the Officer replied from the other side of the door.
Jason slid on the last piece of his armor, his movements mechanical and practiced. He picked up his helmet, staring at it for a moment, the worn surface reflecting the dim light of his quarters. With a practiced motion, he slid it on, the seal hissing into place. Facility 7 had been their primary focus, a location that seemed to yield as many questions as answers.
Opening the door, Jason stepped out, the Officer falling into step beside him as they made their way toward the holographic map table. The map displayed Copper 9 in painstaking detail, a testament to their efforts to understand this fractured world. Jason touched the interface, zooming in on the highlighted Facility 7.
"Hmm… still holding secrets, it seems. What's the status of the team at the communication hub?" he asked, shifting the map to the dead city that housed the hub they had visited days before.
"The conditions are slowing them down," the Officer explained, his voice laced with restrained frustration. "The cold and oxygen supplies are burning through their time. Still, they've managed to extract several of the drives. By the end of the day, they should have the rest ready for transport. That said, they're skeptical about whether we'll be able to recover any useful data from them."
Jason nodded, his expression unreadable beneath the visor of his helmet.
"Once they're secured, have them sent directly to the Ministry of Science ship for analysis. What about that… thing? The mass of bodies in the bunker where we found the ID card?"
"They've just finished loading it up. It's en route as we speak."
Jason paused, his gaze fixed on the holographic map. The tangled web of mysteries they had uncovered before meeting the drones demanded scrutiny. Leaving any potential threats unexamined wasn't an option. Copper 9 held dangers that had once terrified even Super Earth—a reality Jason couldn't ignore.
"Good. I'm heading down. I need to see if anything new has come up and decide who will accompany me to Facility 7. Building trust with the drones is crucial, and having some of them along should help," Jason said, his tone decisive. Though his relationship with the drones was still tentative, he was beginning to appreciate their company and insights.
Leaving the map table, Jason made his way to the hangar via the lift. The Aegis of Integrity hummed with quiet activity, its crew working with practiced efficiency. Reaching the hangar, he boarded Pelican 1, where the pilot was already prepping for launch.
"This is Pelican 1," the pilot announced over comms. "We're departing the SES Super Destroyer Aegis of Integrity, heading planet-side."
The dropship disengaged from the destroyer, descending toward Copper 9's surface. Inside the Pelican, Jason's thoughts raced. Facility 7 was only one piece of the puzzle. Reports from the communication hub suggested there were other facilities, scattered across Copper 9, their statuses unknown or marked as destroyed. Exploring these locations would be a monumental task, but their orders were clear: salvage what they could.
As the Pelican pierced Copper 9's atmosphere, flames licking its hull, Jason stared out at the planet below. He couldn't help but wonder how the tenuous alliance between humans, drones, and Super Earth itself would evolve in the days to come.
Bunker 00. Uzi's Room.
An unfamiliar hum resonated through the bunker's corridors as systems long dormant had been replaced or repaired. Engineering teams, both human and drone, had worked tirelessly to breathe new life into Bunker 00. Power now coursed through the complex, illuminating halls that had been dark for decades. Only a few corners remained shrouded in shadow, their resurrection yet incomplete.
For Uzi, the restoration of the bunker was a bittersweet accomplishment. Like many others, she appreciated the newfound energy that pulsed through the place, its flickering lights a small sign of hope. Yet the last few days had been anything but kind. The discovery of a keepsake belonging to her long-lost mother had been a sharp reminder of what she had lost. Adding to her frustration, Martin's harsh reprimand still echoed in her mind.
She lay sprawled on her bed, staring at the ceiling before her gaze fell to the black choker in her hand. The item was simple yet profound, a silent testimony to the mother she barely remembered. Letting out a weary sigh, she tucked it back into her pocket.
"Another day… another headache," she muttered, her voice tinged with resignation.
Her purple optics scanned the chaos of her room—papers covered in hastily scribbled plans and designs plastered the walls, while tools and random bits of machinery littered the floor. It was a mess that mirrored her jumbled thoughts.
"I wonder if Jason will need me today," she mused, her gaze drifting to the Senator. The pistol hung from a metal hook, resting in its holster—a symbol of the trust Jason had shown her.
Jason had given her the weapon just days ago, a gesture that carried weight. Even though she knew the pistol held personal significance for him, he had handed it to her without hesitation, absorbing the inevitable backlash from Martin. She couldn't forget the tension in that moment, the anger Martin directed at her and her father, threatening exile. Jason's intervention had changed everything, shielding her from the consequences and ensuring her place in the bunker remained secure.
Her fingers brushed against the edge of the holster as she stood, the weight of the weapon and what it symbolized grounding her. Jason's actions had been more than a lifeline; they had been a statement—a refusal to let her or her father be cast aside.
Looking around her room one last time, Uzi steeled herself. Whatever the day had in store, she would face it head-on. There was work to be done, questions to answer, and a tenuous alliance to uphold. If Jason needed her today, she would be ready.
September 2184. Bunker 00. Martin's Office.
The air in Martin's office was thick with the remnants of tension, a stifling atmosphere that made it feel as though the walls themselves were closing in. A few days had passed since the incident at Facility 7, but the consequences of Uzi, Doll, and Lizzy's unauthorized foray into forbidden tunnels still loomed large over the bunker. Those tunnels had been buried for a reason, and their discovery had opened a new chapter of unforeseen dangers.
Martin's call had been brief but sharp. Uzi, Doll, and Khan had been summoned to his office, a place of authority where only the most desperate or culpable dared to tread. To everyone's surprise, Jason had arrived as well, his presence a harbinger of something far more complex.
Uzi stood at the far side of the room, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. Her purple optics burned with frustration, their glow faint but unmistakable in the dimly lit room. Her gaze never wavered from Martin as he sat behind his desk, a wall of cold indifference. The sharp edge of his words was like a blade, and it was clear from his unreadable expression that this conversation would not end in her favor. Not by a long shot.
"Uzi," Martin's voice broke the silence, low and seething with barely contained anger. "I've overlooked countless mistakes, turned a blind eye because of your record. But this? This is beyond reckless. You and Doll's little adventure almost got you all killed, and it could've brought those bugs straight to our doorstep."
Uzi opened her mouth to retort, but Doll beat her to it, stepping forward with a defiant air. "This was my idea, Martin. I suggested it. She only came because I talked her into it."
The words did nothing to soften Martin's glare. "The both of you are in the same position. I'm running out of patience. You've pushed me to the edge, and now I'm considering exile. You and your father."
The mention of her father made Uzi's optics flicker, a spark of anger surging through her chest. "Fine!" she shot back, her voice rising with an intensity that could have shattered the stillness of the room. "It's not like you care about us, anyway! You sit in your office all day, barking orders while we risk our lives out there! How many have died because of your commands? And then you threaten us with exile the moment we step out of line!"
"Uzi!" Khan's voice boomed, silencing her in an instant. He stepped forward, his tone far more measured but laced with frustration. "He does care. More than you think. And you know damn well he doesn't have the luxury to be out there with us. He carries his own weight—just like the rest of us."
Khan's words hit harder than Uzi expected. He had lived through the horrors of the pre-bombardment world, before the nuclear devastation, and while he may not have known Martin back then, he had seen enough to know the man wasn't without heart, even if he didn't always show it.
"Everyone, please…" Doll interjected, her voice quiet but strained, trying to steer the conversation back to calmer waters. But it was too late. The dam had already broken.
Martin stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor in the sudden silence. His eyes were cold, and calculating, but before he could speak, Jason—who had been standing silently in the background—stepped forward.
"I think I have a solution," Jason said, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade. He glanced around the room, his eyes lingering on Uzi and Doll, before continuing. "And, for what it's worth, it's a good thing they found those tunnels."
Martin's expression shifted from irritation to confusion. "A good thing?" His voice was heavy with skepticism. "Explain."
Jason stepped forward, his posture calm and deliberate, as if he were presenting a calculated strategy. "Traveling on the surface is a nightmare, and as you know, our resources are stretched thin. But those tunnels... we could reinforce them, use them as strategic routes. And for the Bugs? That area can be turned into a kill zone. We'll trap them in a confined space and eliminate the threat once and for all."
Uzi and Doll exchanged wide-eyed glances, their shock palpable. Never in their wildest dreams had they imagined their reckless exploration could be considered anything but a mistake. They had thought they were in for a brutal punishment, not an opportunity.
Jason wasn't done. "To keep them out of trouble, to ensure something like this never happens again, I suggest you assign them to me. I'm already working with V, N, and J. They can assist me during operations—under my direct supervision. It'll keep them occupied, out of your hair. And if anything goes wrong? It'll be on me. I'll take responsibility for their safety and their actions."
Martin's gaze shifted from Jason to Uzi and Doll, then back to Jason, his mind working furiously behind the cold mask of his expression. After a tense beat, he sat back down slowly, as if the weight of the decision were pressing down on him.
"Alright," Martin said, his voice carrying a heavy finality. "But just as you said—anything that happens to them, or anything they do, is on you."
Jason nodded, his calm demeanor never faltering. He stepped forward, offering Uzi and Doll a chance for redemption. For Uzi, it was more than that—it was an escape. An escape from the suffocating walls of Bunker 00, a chance to see the world beyond, and maybe even uncover the truth about her lost mother.
Her purple optics glimmered, no longer with frustration, but with the flicker of hope. She hadn't expected a way out, but now, for the first time in days, a sense of possibility surged through her. She wasn't just a pawn anymore; she had a purpose. And whatever the future held, she would face it on her terms.
Bunker 00. Uzi's Room.
The soft hum of the bunker's machinery was a constant presence, one that Uzi had grown used to over the years, but today it felt heavier. After the meeting, after everything had been said, she found herself drawn to Jason like a moth to a flame. For once, she could do something. Be free.
The thought was intoxicating—the possibility of escape from this suffocating metal labyrinth. It was a rare, fleeting feeling, but it was there. And it lingered, crackling in the air like static before the storm.
Then, a sharp knock shattered the silence.
"Uzi, you in there?" The voice that followed was unmistakable—a synthetic male voice, familiar and unsettling in its monotony. Her father. Khan.
"I am. The door is unlocked," she called out, already pulling herself off the bed. The familiar creak of the door opening followed, and Khan stepped into the room. He paused just inside the doorway, his optics scanning her with a quiet intensity. She did not look at him directly. The room was thick with the kind of tension only years of strained silence could breed.
"How have you been doing?" Khan's smile was soft, almost reluctant, as if unsure of how to approach her after everything. "Work's slowed down a bit, so I thought I'd come see you."
Uzi barely registered his words. Her focus remained on the object in her hand. The black choker, its leather surface worn and familiar. Her father's optics immediately snapped to it when she held it up, the look in his gaze unreadable. For a brief moment, it was as if time had stopped. His expression faltered, and his mouth opened slightly, but he said nothing.
"I still don't understand how it ended up there," Khan murmured after a long pause, his voice low, strained. "How could it have ended up in that place, after all the searching we did?" His words were a confession, a crack in the armor he had built around himself. He had searched for years, scoured countless locations, and found nothing. Until now.
"None of us did," Uzi replied, her voice a quiet murmur. She poked at the choker, her fingers trembling slightly as she traced the edges. "But with the humans here... I think we have a chance. A chance to find her. To get some answers about why she left."
Before Khan could respond, the sound of footsteps echoed from the corridor outside, growing louder as they approached the door. Three drones entered the room, each with their own distinct personalities. Lizzy, always the first to speak, followed by Thad, who was as persistent as ever. And then Rebecca—quiet but sharp in her observations.
"Uzi, the big man's coming down," Lizzy announced with a grin, her optics flashing with excitement. "Looks like something big is going down today. Want to head up top?"
Uzi nodded, her mind racing with the thought of seeing Jason again. A chance for freedom, for something more than the monotony of bunker life.
"You think I could come with you guys this time?" Thad asked eagerly, his voice almost a plea. He had been asking for this for days, but the answer had always been the same: No. But today, there was a hint of hope in his tone.
"Why?" Rebecca's voice cut through the air like a blade. "Do you have any idea how dangerous it is out there? You've seen what the humans are doing to those bugs, right?" She shook her head in disbelief. "Copper 9 is no place for anyone who's not prepared."
Uzi's expression hardened, the weight of the truth settling heavily in her chest. "They need the bodies for fuel," she said flatly, her voice cold. "Don't ask me how, don't ask me why. I don't care." She tightened her grip on the Sentor, its sleek black surface now a familiar weight at her side. She strapped it to her waist without hesitation.
Khan's gaze softened as he watched her, pride mixed with concern. His voice, when he spoke again, was quiet but firm. "Be safe out there. If you do go with them... I'll be working late, so you might not see me when you get back."
Uzi gave him a small, almost imperceptible smile. The first smile she had given him in days. "I know how you are. Just know, with a little luck, we might find something else about Mom. If we do, I'll let you know." The words were a promise—a promise to herself as much as to him.
She walked past him, her footsteps steady and purposeful. The weight of the choker in her hand felt like a tether to something larger, something lost but still out there.
As Uzi, Lizzy, Thad, and Rebecca made their way down the hall, the sound of their footsteps echoing in unison, Khan remained in the room. He stood frozen for a moment, his gaze shifting back to the door, then to the piece of paper in his hand.
His fingers trembled slightly as he unfolded it, revealing something that had been buried for far too long. A drawing. Crude and jagged, the shapes of vessels—ships, perhaps—scrawled across the page in black ink. Beneath them, a word was scrawled in thick, uneven letters. A name of a place, a destination, underlined by a single, bold line.
He had found it, among the piles of papers he had locked away in the darkest corners of his closet. At first, he had dismissed it as a malfunction, a glitch in her systems, something his wife had left behind in a fit of confusion. But now, looking at it again, a new thought gnawed at him. She knew.
The truth hung in the air, suffocating him. The questions that had haunted him for years—about his wife, about what happened at Camp 98—suddenly took on a new urgency. Was it all true? The drawings, the patterns?
His optics dimmed as the weight of the discovery pressed down on him. He folded the paper carefully, tucking it back into his shirt pocket. His mind raced, torn between what he should do and what he was willing to keep buried. Should he tell the others? Should he reveal everything, now that Uzi was so close to finding the truth? Or should he keep it hidden, just a little longer, until the time was right?
The silence in the room was deafening. The bunker felt smaller now, more oppressive.
Only time would tell.
Bunker 00. Corridor 1.
Uzi and the others made their way toward the entrance of Bunker 00, a quiet anticipation hanging in the air. Jason was expected soon, and with him, a storm of uncertainty that none of them could ignore. Thad, still unsure of where he stood with the mysterious figure, had barely exchanged more than a few words with him during their last encounter. Yet, like the others, he felt an undeniable pull to speak with Jason, to understand him, and perhaps even share in whatever was about to unfold.
Rebecca, on the other hand, was stepping into this world for the first time. She'd heard Lizzy speak about Jason frequently, but the stories, like most things in this bunker, were wrapped in mystery. Now, with the lights finally restored and a sense of normalcy creeping back into the corridors, she was curious—perhaps even eager—to meet the man who had changed so much of their lives.
"It's nice to see again, without fumbling around with flashlights," Rebecca remarked, the glow of the lights feeling almost comforting after so long in the darkness.
"This is thanks to the humans. I stayed out of their way for the most part, but I can't shake the feeling that big changes are coming," Thad added, his voice tinged with a mix of hope and unease.
As the group continued walking, Uzi remained silent, her mind occupied with thoughts that refused to settle. She couldn't stop thinking about what they'd found at that place—the fact that her mother had once been there. That discovery gnawed at her, raising more questions than it answered. She felt like she was on the verge of something, but it was slipping just out of reach.
Lizzy, glancing down at her phone, stopped at a photo that caught her attention—a picture of her with Jason, taken during a rare moment of peace. Unlike Uzi, Lizzy wasn't as eager to venture out into the chaos of the outside world, especially with the dangers lurking beyond the bunker. But she knew something was coming, and like the others, she couldn't ignore it.
"You alright, Uzi? You've been quiet," Lizzy asked, glancing over at her friend, her voice gentle.
Uzi snapped out of her thoughts. "Sorry... just thinking about everything. The fact that my mom was there, that place... It all feels connected. It's not just random. It can't be."
Her words hung in the air as the others exchanged looks. Lizzy had shared the details of their findings with Rebecca and Thad, and though none of them had answers, they all shared in the confusion and the uneasy feeling that something bigger was unfolding.
As they neared the door leading to the bunker's entrance, a figure caught their attention. Another drone stood at the edge of the door frame, watching them.
"Emily? What are you doing here?" Thad called out, his voice edged with curiosity.
Emily turned, her expression tense. "You know that man with the cape, Jason? Well, four more with capes just showed up... but one of them... one of them scares me."
Her voice trembled slightly as she glanced back toward the entrance. The others followed her gaze, seeing several crates being unloaded and a group of four figures standing near them. The sight of them sent a chill through Uzi and the others.
"Which one?" Rebecca asked, her curiosity piqued, but also wary.
Emily pointed toward the figure at the center of the group. The man stood tall, his right arm and left leg entirely metal. His cape was shredded, torn at the ends, and riddled with holes. There was a rawness to him as if his very presence bled through the air. He wasn't like the others.
The others took a step forward, taking in the rest of the group. One man was covered in heavy armor plating, his entire body encased in it, even part of his helmet. Another wore a mix of white and green armor, while the last wore armor that seemed unfinished, wires snaking around his chest.
The man with the bionic limbs turned toward them, his eyes hidden behind a red scanner that appeared in front of his visor. The coldness of his gaze sent a shiver down Emily's spine, and she instinctively backed away, retreating down the corridor.
"Look alive," the man with the bionic limbs spoke, his voice flat, devoid of emotion. "We've got machines coming our way."
"Relax, Saber," another man interjected, his tone dismissive as he checked the ammo in his machine gun. "They're not the killing machines we're used to dealing with."
Saber didn't respond to the comment. He simply began loading his weapon, the tension between him and the others palpable.
The man in heavy Devastator armor—Meus—seemed to take the lead, though. "We're not here to fight," he said, his voice stern but calm. "Jason called us in. We need to work together, or it's over for all of us."
Saber's reply was a harsh grunt, but he didn't argue further. Instead, he walked to the far side of the room, muttering to himself as he began inspecting his own weapons.
Uzi, feeling the weight of the moment, took a step forward, breaking the silence. She had to do this, had to speak to him.
"Hey, is Jason here?" Her voice was steady, but there was a flicker of uncertainty.
Saber didn't even look at her as he answered, his voice cutting like ice. "And why would we want anything to do with you walking tin cans?"
Uzi's expression hardened. "My name is Uzi, and I just want to speak with him." Her tone carried an edge, her patience wearing thin with the hostility in Saber's words.
Saber finally turned to face her, his gaze filled with disdain. "If not for Jason, I'd be painting the walls with your oil."
The words hit like a punch. Lizzy, Thad, and Rebecca flinched at the cold venom in Saber's voice, fear creeping into their optics. It was clear that Saber was not like Jason—he was a force unto himself, and the contempt in his eyes was tangible.
Meus stepped in before the situation could escalate further, his voice commanding. "Enough, Saber. You've made your point." He looked at Uzi and the others. "You can speak with them. Just know, if you're not here for a fight, I suggest you make it quick."
Saber said nothing as he walked to the corner, continuing his inspection of his gear. Meus gave him a side glance but didn't press further.
"I apologize for his behavior," Meus said, his tone softening. "He's a veteran of the Automatons front. But like Jason said, we must work together, or we'll all die out here."
Uzi, feeling the weight of those words, nodded. It was clear that this was only the beginning. They had no idea what lay ahead, but one thing was certain: they couldn't afford to stay in the shadows anymore. Not if they were going to survive.
Edited thanks to ELE73CH.