-=+ +=- [COMPLETED] The Second Universe -=+ +=-

Part 10: Operation Payday and Universal War One

With extreme precision and professionalism despite the massacre on mostly unarmed though hostile targets they had just committed, they dropped the poor CROS guards that weren't already murdered by the grenade that had flown in, who were, from the TERRIFIED ASS look on their faces, hoping for the massacre up above not to reach them, and, in the middle of the room, floating upon a black glowing pedestal, was the artifact they had been searching for. It was luminously glowing a blueish-purplish color similar to the .450 rounds in that rifle Allen had picked up and looted from the place's security armory, though with this artifact, it seemed patterns of stars permeated the glow.

Phantom scanned for traps, of which there were none, and he then went to bag it up and tossed in his own heavily secured void-enhanced storage pocket dimension, for fear of, if the item was sent to an R&D reservoir dimension, having the item possibly somehow stolen by the CROS despite the locked nature of the pocket dimensions when not in use. They quickly made their way back to the food court, though they had noticed plenty of CROS SWAT-esque enforcers on their way to the group's position, who were likely reinforcements to support the law enforcement that had now already been killed.

"All, prep ambusher scenario with XM338s, though weapons free. Locations pinged, move." As Phantom transmits that message, the others head for cover upon understanding the message. They create holes in cover by bashing their XM338's heavy-ish stocks into surfaces, which they shove their XM338s into, also synchronizing that hole with their shields to create a fortified bunker effect, and soon enough, the CROS enforcers arrive. They point their guns around, not having a visual on any of the group due to jammers also placed. As soon as they cross an invisible line made and placed by Phantom -- which he had pinged prior --, the group begins firing on the unfortunate CROS guys.

The scene is truly an unfortunate one on the perspective of the CROS enforcers, who were now being mowed down by the multiple vectors of normal and punch-fracturer enhanced XM338 machine gun emplacements. Micromissiles also fly from the team, bombing the other unfortunate CROS enforcers who weren't immediately killed by the hail of XM338 fire. Their heavy armor was also vaporizing from the sheer heat of the 1.00 SevMG round, which indeed caused many problems for them that were somewhat thankfully negated as they were killed by the rounds flying their way. Once all of the enforcers laid among (among us!1!!!111) the bodies of the dead, Phantom quickly blew the door off a utility roof staircase area using an M194 shotgun.

"Up the stairs, go." He transmitted, motioning for the others to follow him. They did, heading up the stairs, and eventually arriving at the roof. Several CROS helicopters attempted to perform strafing runs with rockets and guns on the group, though they were met with no success and complete devastation, as the group simply pointed their XM338s up and magdumped on the unfortunate choppers. CROS fighter aircraft also attempted to strafe them, also being blown up by the XM338 rounds. Phantom also now whips out a TEAAML rocket launcher from his pocket dimension, spamming the trigger on the unfortunately placed adjacent hotel complex, blowing up windows and tearing gaping holes in the building, corpses visible flying out. This time, Gen took her turn creating a portal, and she motioned for the others to get in as they indeed did. When Phantom and the others had successfully crossed, he spoke into EXTF comms. "We have the artifact. Operation Payday is a complete success. 675 CROS personnel dead."

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"Tech Report"

December 8, 35794 - 10:20:29

Head of the Department of Defense "Rio"

MILCOM/CENTCOM Building

Astera, Teraton, New World Union 

The Department of Defense's Head is sitting in her office, mostly going through average mundane tasks, such as signing paperwork and other things. Eventually, she discovers a report buried in the pile of other documents in her inbox. Clicking it, she reads through it, discovering a list of New World Union next generation systems and their completeness status report, which gives her a reason to smile.