Colonia Storm Tour

Doubts and questions were buried in the sky of gunfire and smoke. All that remained in people's eyes was the steel humanoid sweeping across the ice field. They cheered as they watched it move. Joy and elation drowned out the remnants in the ice and snow, just like the time it had happened to him before.

His past was that of an ordinary person, like most people around him, adapting to the world, living, growing, and then growing old and dying. That's how it should have been, but because of an accident, it all vanished like ice in the summer sun, and then they threw the remnant into the trash heap, after stripping him of his last coin and an arm.

War is the only thing he has left, the only thing he understands.

And now he is about to lose this one and only.

Islands in the South Pacific, cities in Taiwan, even the moon, a place most people in the world can only dream of. With just one order, they can rush to any battlefield; all they need is for the illusion forged by that technological power and the still uncertain future to nod in confirmation.

The helmet lost power, and the world before his eyes dimmed and fell silent. The low hum of the heating and ventilation systems had ceased. A shell exploded nearby, and the explosive shockwave and sonic boom, after a brief moment of disorientation, plunged him back into the hallucination.

"Forward! Forward!" Various data jumped on the helmet's visor, and the leader's voice appeared in his ears again. Even though the hideous giant was charging towards the troop on the gray rocky ground, the sea of ​​blue skin seemed endless, as dense as the fire net sweeping overhead.

He pulled the trigger, watching the giant who had come for him fly through the air, its gushing blood staining the moonstone before him. He saw the heat sources disappearing from the helmet interface, one after another, the iron cavalry's steady line of troops trampling over the corpses of the genetically modified behemoths as they advanced, as if nothing could stop them.

Except for death.

That battle claimed several lives; their bodies were mutilated beyond recognition by space, but they finally found peace in the flames. Some of the weapons they used were recovered, while others will be sent to museums and classrooms in the future. They were buried to the strains of the national anthem, and their repaired exoskeletons will be accepted by new warriors.

And he was right there, watching their fate unfold—the fate a soldier deserved.

But it wasn't like this, feeling my body temperature being slowly stripped away in the Antarctic storm.

If they win, there might still be a chance. But he couldn't see that; the grime on his helmet visor and his fading senses prevented him from doing so, and the distant explosions were growing ever more distant.

"Don't do this." He wanted to say that, but now he couldn't even fully repeat the words in his mind. His body was cooling, and cooling meant death, the moment he didn't want to come.

Just then, the ears, which should have been deprived of their powers, caught the sound of footsteps. One, two, their footsteps slow and disordered, unlike their former steady self, and unlike the elves, who didn't possess such a thing.

Who are they? What are they going to do? What are they going to do to me?

In a daze, the men approached him, converging on the wreckage stuck in the snow. They touched him with tools, cutting through his armor and piercing his machinery. Then, he suddenly understood who they were and what they were about to do.

No, save me, Leader! His struggles, weak and feeble in the darkness, gradually turned into wails. Don't leave me like this! Stop them! Don't let me end like this! Leader? Where are you?

He suddenly felt light, a blinding brilliance, and a storm on the icy plains as sharp as a scalpel, as well as even colder tools.

Then, his consciousness returned to the eternal nothingness.

Is this a good idea?

"He's beyond saving, this is the best outcome."

“I don’t think we can do anything about the deceased’s body—well, this poor kid is just mud now, there’s nothing we can do if we can’t find anything to prove it.”

"Hey, look, it still has a head. I guess its brain is still active for a few more minutes? I don't know how it did it—whatever, it's already pretty good."

So, like I said, is this really a good idea?

"I checked. This guy has no family, no relatives, and none of his comrades from the same team survived. Don't worry."

He put away the scanner in his hand and looked at the fleet sweeping across the distant horizon. "Our work is not without value."

"hope so."

“Me too,” another person replied, looking at the fleet streaking across the distant horizon, after their meteor-like trails had faded into the distance, “for the future of Foehn.”

"Yes, for the future."

Those with physical disabilities usually become cavalrymen, while those with severe physical and limb disabilities become spearmen.

Section 3: The Passing of the Spark (Part 1) - From the Backfire

"I've been busy reminiscing about the past. I've never thought about what I really want. There's no reason to keep these gadgets and strange ideas; do they even matter?"

Perhaps it's time for us to let go of the past and climb down from the wall. There must be treasures that shine brighter than anything we've dug from the bones of a lost world.

It might be extremely dangerous, but we must keep going. Let's see what awaits us in that darkness, perhaps even something to ignite a spark of light…

But now, it's time for us to dance in the ashes and flames..."

"Day 41 after restrictions were lifted. Objective: Proceed to the gathering point in Alban."

——AC-058 Offline

After closing the diary, AC-058 once again clicked on the recruitment message for unaffiliated androids posted by the mysterious figure "Extinction Point." This was the seventh time she had opened the page.

The "Extinction Point" team offered very good treatment and even made a special note that they would do their best to help if there were any difficulties.

This made AC-058's heart flutter, but AC-058 was not blinded by these benefits and acted on his own. He decided to wait until they reached the gathering point to discuss it with his friends.

AC-058 activated its communication equipment: "Calling IMC-104, this is AC-058." AC-058 walked slowly in the field, looking at the radar and said: "Everything is normal around me. We are 20 kilometers away from the rendezvous point in Alban City."

"Received. We are 70 kilometers from the rendezvous point. The Lethbridge Industries base there is engaged in battle with the Ironbloods. Be careful."

"clear."

Suddenly, the radar beeped: "Situation at 2 o'clock!"

AC-058 looked up and saw a lone human figure standing by the dilapidated roadside, waving at her.

Before AC-058 could react, the humanoid figure quickly ran over.

"Thank God, we've finally seen other androids!" MG-049 prayed thankfully, then screamed as she looked at AC-058, "058?!"

"049, what are you doing here?"

“After we were separated, I avoided the patrols of Lethbridge Industries and ran out of the base, intending to reach the rendezvous point ahead of time along the original route, but after walking for two days, I couldn’t see a single person.” As he spoke, MG-049 lowered his head guiltily and apologized in a low voice: “I’m sorry, 058. I left you back then.”

“In that situation, there was no point in you staying,” AC-058 smiled. “Besides, I was the one who told you to leave. You were just following my orders, my friend.”

"But the fact that you actually made it this far alive really gave me a fright."

"Can I take that as you congratulating me?" MG-049 muttered.

"By the way, what about 058 and IMC-104? I saw you two escape together."

"We were then surrounded and pursued by mercenaries from Lethbridge Industries. To draw their fire, they took another route to the rendezvous point." "That's how I was able to escape from there."

"But don't worry, 049, 104 and the others are all fine."

"Then I can rest assured..." MG-049 breathed a sigh of relief.

"Now that you're relieved, let's get going. Time waits for no one, 049."

After AC-058 finished speaking, he sped off. MG-049 nodded and followed behind AC-058.

Several hours later, AC-058 and MG-049 finally arrived in Alban.

What came into view were dilapidated streets and crumbling buildings. Desolate and deserted—that's probably the best way to describe it.

AC-058 attempted to search for IMC-104 using radar, but could only see scattered red dots on the radar.

"It seems 104 and the others haven't arrived yet." "049, come with me to that building. We need to rest before 104 and the others arrive."

After entering the building, MG-049 couldn't wait to find a corner and lean against the wall to sleep.

AC-058 smiled helplessly, but she could understand. Several days of arduous travel were not something an ordinary humanoid could withstand.

AC-058, relying on MG-049, gradually fell into a slumber, but the radar still operated at low power to prevent a surprise attack.

The next day, an unmistakable buzzing sound woke AC-058. She picked up her gun, checked the feedback, and couldn't help but mutter "Damn it."

IMC-104 and LBI-031 had arrived in Albany and sent a distress signal. She quickly assembled her gear and woke up MG-049 beside her.

Emerging from the building, AC-058 and MG-049 began to take in their surroundings. The street was a scene of utter devastation; the building that had been teetering on the brink of collapse just yesterday had crumbled. A thick cloud of smoke from the burning embers, accompanied by a faint stench of decay, filled their throats, causing them to wince.

Drones flew overhead intermittently, and gunfire could be heard from all four directions. AC-058 opened the map and found that she was less than 2 kilometers away from IMC-104 and the others. She tried to contact them by radio, but all she could hear was static.

AC-058 set the location of IMC-104 in the navigation system, which then provided them with a route. Next, they shouldered their supply packs and headed towards their target.

Turning the corner, MG-049 first saw a jeep. The jeep was overturned and burning, with the bodies of several Lethbridge Industries mercenaries lying around it. MG-049 went over to check them one by one and found they were all dead. Their ammunition, weapons, and license plates were all missing; apparently, someone had taken them.

Immediately afterwards, they heard another burst of gunfire. The rate of fire was very high, definitely from a vehicle. After running about two blocks in the direction of the gunfire, they saw a light troop carrier, exactly the one they were looking for.

It stopped at the intersection, and the IMC-104 was firing its vehicle-mounted machine gun. As I approached, I saw the LBI-031 providing cover for the IMC-104 from a nearby bunker.

"Damn it! Where are AC-058 and MG-049?!" IMC-104, operating the machine gun, roared while firing at the mercenaries who were closing in. "We're not here for a vacation!!!"

At this moment, AC-058 and MG-049 finally reached the side of the troop carrier.

IMC-104 yelled at them, "Get in the car!"

"Here they come!" AC-058 and MG-049 jumped onto the troop carrier together.

"Zzzzz!!!!"

LBI-031 floored the accelerator and sped off in the troop carrier!

The troop carriers sped away from the city along the broken streets.

Section Four: The Passing of the Spark (Part Two) - From the Backfire

Wow!!!

LBI-031 exclaimed excitedly, "That was really close!"

“Yes,” AC-058 and MG-049 replied, equally shaken. Although they didn't know the exact number of Lethbridge Industries mercenaries, it was certainly a close call. IMC-104, on the weapons platform, leaned down and extended his hand: “Nice to see you again, buddy.”

“Me too, my friend,” AC-058 replied, shaking her hand.

After exchanging pleasantries, MG-049 asked curiously, "IMC-104, how did you end up in this neighborhood?"

"We originally planned to sneak into the rendezvous point in troop carriers, but we were discovered and chased all the way here." IMC-104 shrugged helplessly.

No sooner had he finished speaking than LBI-031 glanced back and shouted, "Look behind us! It's a..."

Before they could finish speaking, an explosion from behind the vehicle startled the three of them. AC-058, sitting sideways, turned his head and saw a shell hit the road with a bright flash, then exploded, sending shrapnel flying in all directions.

AC-058 and MG-049 quickly turned their assault rifles to the rear, spotting four pursuing vehicles. "Enemy sights behind, right! One wheeled armored vehicle, three jeeps."

The IMC-104 quickly turned its vehicle-mounted machine gun and began firing fiercely at the rear.

The vehicle-mounted machine gun spewed fire, and tracer rounds poured out, quickly igniting the fuel tank of one of the jeeps, which crashed out of control into a building on the side of the street. Before everyone could catch their breath, a shell exploded near the left rear wheel of the troop carrier, throwing the entire vehicle high into the air by the force of the blast.

"Hold on tight!!!!" IMC-104 shouted.

AC-058 and MG-049 clung tightly to the handrails inside the vehicle to avoid being thrown out, while LBI-031 beside them gripped the steering wheel tightly. But when they looked back, they discovered that IMC-104 was no longer on the weapons platform.

The troop carrier tumbled several times in the air before crashing heavily to the ground. AC-058's helmet cracked, and he tasted the metallic flavor of an explosion in his mouth. The uninjured LBI-031 tried to pull AC-058 and MG-049 out of the deformed troop carrier. The sound of enemy vehicle engines grew closer...

AC-058 and MG-049 saw several squads of Lethbridge Industries mercenaries jump out of jeeps, followed by an officer. Knowing they were trapped, they shouted to LBI-031, "Go! Go now!"

LBI-031 hesitated, raising and lowering his rifle. Finally, he cursed under his breath and ran into a side alley.