Sector 458

Another day in the outer sector, assigned to energy terraforming. We build the infrastructures and energy arteries of Aether, expanding its territory and keeping it protected. This is all that remains of the outside world. A world that destroyed itself, and one we are now trying to protect ourselves from. The previous generations abused the planet. All that’s left to us is the task of fixing what they ruined. Now our survival is at stake — the survival of all humanity. We cannot afford to fail. I am one of the best with the Eagle Eye. From the sky, my drone control is impeccable. My Sphera units are among the best. I was one of the first to successfully miniaturize a nuclear reactor and integrate it inside the Sphera drones. They power the drone… but they can also be used for defense. Then the sandstorm hits. Sensors degrade — lidar scattering, optical distortion, signal attenuation. Surveillance confidence drops. The storm blinds the perimeter. Out of the sand, they appear. Humans. Armed. Riding diesel-powered vehicles. They must have used the storm to mask their approach, overwhelming scanners until they slipped through unnoticed. “What’s going on? Who are these people?” They’re human. Outside the outer wall. How is that possible? They’re inside the construction site. “I’m sending a communication to Aether. I hope the EX-Guardian are coming soon...”