Reborn as a Space Mercenary: From Salaryman to Galactic Legend

The desert winds of Kynara carried a chill that cut through the night, whispering across the barren expanse surrounding Vela Drasik's auxiliary base. Ethan crouched behind a rock formation, his upgraded visor highlighting the perimeter of the compound in faint blue outlines. Syndicate guards patrolled the area in tight, disciplined patterns, their laser rifles glinting in the moonlight.

Beside him, Thalor Veskra stood silently. The towering Velkarn mercenary was a stoic figure, his scaled body blending into the shadows. Despite his imposing size, Thalor moved with the precision of a seasoned predator. He didn't speak unless necessary, letting his actions do the talking. A few meters above them on a ridge, Zyrix Korran lay prone with his plasma sniper rifle, its scope scanning the compound for vulnerabilities.

"All clear on the west flank," Zyrix's calm voice crackled in Ethan's comms. "Two guards near the loading dock, and one patrolling close to the rear gate. Routine, but tight."

Ethan studied the guards' movements through his visor, formulating their next steps. "We'll move when the rear guard turns the corner. Thalor, you take point and disable the gate. Zyrix, cover us."

Thalor gave a silent nod, his golden eyes reflecting the faint moonlight.

The team moved under the cover of darkness, their cloaking devices rendering them almost invisible. Ethan led them along a narrow path, using the terrain for concealment. The muted hum of the cloaking devices was barely audible against the desert winds.

Thalor reached the rear gate first, crouching low as he examined the locking mechanism. Without a word, he unsheathed his Velkarn blade, a weapon forged from his home sector's rare minerals. The blade shimmered faintly as he slid it into the mechanism, severing key components with precision. Within moments, the gate slid open with a soft hiss.

"One obstacle down," Thalor said, his deep voice breaking the silence for the first time.

"Good work," Ethan replied, signaling for the team to advance.

From his vantage point, Zyrix whispered into the comms, "Rear guard is circling back. Ten seconds to clear the gate."

Thalor and Ethan ducked behind a stack of crates near the entrance as the guard approached. A faint whistle cut through the air, Zyrix's shot. The guard dropped without a sound.

"Neutralized," Zyrix confirmed.

The interior of the base was dimly lit, the metallic walls reverberating with the hum of machinery. Ethan gestured for the team to split up, each taking their assigned roles. Zyrix remained perched on the ridge, providing overwatch through the skylights, while Ethan and Thalor moved deeper into the compound.

Thalor paused near a laser tripwire, raising a scaled hand to stop Ethan. "Trap," he muttered.

Ethan crouched and activated his hacking device. The faint hum of the tool filled the air as he interfaced with the system, bypassing the tripwire with careful precision. "Clear," he said, motioning for Thalor to proceed.

The Velkarn mercenary moved like a shadow, his massive frame betraying none of the sound one might expect. He dispatched a nearby guard with a single blow, his blade cutting through armor effortlessly.

They reached the central loading area, where rows of crates were stacked high. Ethan's visor highlighted Syndicate insignias and faint energy signatures emanating from within the containers.

"Experimental materials," Ethan murmured, scanning the area.

Thalor began planting explosives on key machinery without a word, his movements efficient and deliberate. Suddenly, a mechanical whir filled the air. Ethan's HUD flashed a warning as automated turrets descended from the ceiling.

"Turrets," Ethan hissed, diving behind a crate as laser fire erupted.

Thalor remained calm, his thick hide absorbing a glancing shot as he approached one of the turrets. He slammed an EMP device onto its base, disabling it in a burst of sparks. The second turret swiveled toward Ethan, pinning him behind cover.

A sharp crack echoed from above as Zyrix fired. The second turret's power core exploded, silencing it instantly.

"Turrets neutralized," Zyrix reported.

Ethan exhaled, nodding toward Thalor. "Let's keep moving. They'll know something's wrong."

The team pressed deeper into the base, encountering heavier resistance. Syndicate guards began patrolling the corridors in pairs, their movements coordinated and efficient. Ethan relied on Zyrix's sniper cover to thin their ranks, while Thalor handled close combat with brutal efficiency.

In the control room, Ethan inserted a data spike into one of the terminals, downloading critical information. His visor displayed files detailing the Syndicate's plans for scaling alloy production.

"This is worse than I thought," Ethan muttered. "They're not just experimenting, they're preparing for large-scale deployment."

Thalor, standing guard near the door, glanced back. "Then we destroy it."

As they moved toward their final target, a high-pitched whine echoed through the corridors. Ethan's HUD lit up with multiple red markers closing in fast.

"Drones," Iris warned.

Three sleek, spider-like combat drones emerged, their energy cannons glowing blue. Ethan's plasma pistol discharged immediately, hitting one of the drones, but its advanced armor absorbed the shot.

Thalor lunged forward, his blade slicing through a drone's legs. Sparks erupted as the machine collapsed, but the remaining two adjusted, targeting him with coordinated attacks.

Zyrix's voice came through the comms. "Hold position. I'll take the high ground."

A plasma shot from Zyrix's sniper rifle pierced one drone's processor, sending it into a tailspin. Ethan capitalized on the distraction, using his plasma dagger to slice into the final drone's core. It sputtered and fell, its lights dimming.

The team regrouped, breathing heavily. "Final explosives are in place," Thalor said, his voice steady despite the tension.

Ethan's HUD flashed another warning, more reinforcements approaching. He clenched his jaw. "This isn't over yet."

As Syndicate reinforcements poured into the base, the team braced for the next phase of the mission, their exit uncertain.