The stench of sulfur, industrial solvents, and fear was thick in the air as The Ember Knights strike team – Kai (as Umbra), Breaker, and Shift – navigated the cramped, steaming sewer tunnels beneath Tartarus Forge. Their environmental suits, though offering protection, did little to mask the oppressive heat radiating from the plasteel refinery above. Kai's Draconic Energy Reserves were at 98%, his senses, amplified by his "Wyrm-Sight" and Draconic Affinity of 17, were a whirlwind of input – the rumble of heavy machinery, the distant shouts of Cerberus workers, the faint, metallic tang of raw plasteel ore.
"Approaching designated breach point: Exhaust Vent Gamma-7," Shift whispered into their encrypted comms, her portable sensor array displaying a schematic of the vent system. "It's directly beneath the primary raw material loading bay. Minimal internal security detected on this vent access, but expect heavy patrols in the loading bay itself." "Elara, Roric, are we clear on external observation?" Kai asked. "All clear, Umbra," Elara's voice replied from Epsilon. "No unusual Cerberus patrols detected on the Forge's outer perimeter. Their focus seems to be internal. Roric is monitoring their command frequencies – still nominal, no indication they suspect an imminent attack."
They reached the base of Exhaust Vent Gamma-7, a massive, circular duct constructed of reinforced alloy, its opening covered by a heavy, corroded grate. "Breaker," Kai said, "your stage." Breaker nodded, his Gorgon Anima flaring. He didn't try to pry the grate. Instead, he braced himself, and with a mighty heave, tore the entire grate assembly from its moorings with a screech of protesting metal. He then, with surprising quietness for such a destructive act, set it aside.[Breaker – Gorgon Anima: Structural Breach successful. Anima Core (Breaker): Depleted by 8%.]
"Impressive," Roric commented dryly over the comms. "Subtlety is clearly not Breaker's primary strength, but effectiveness is undeniable." Shift deployed a miniature drone – one of the Old Republic maintenance units they'd reprogrammed – up the vent shaft. Its optical feed appeared on Kai's HUD. The shaft was clear, leading up to another grate that opened directly onto the noisy, bustling raw material loading bay. At least six Cerberus guards were visible, overseeing the automated transfer of plasteel ore from massive hover-transports.
"Six guards, heavily armed, focused on the ore transfer," Kai observed. "Shift, can you disable that internal grate's locking mechanism remotely, or create a localized sensor ghost to mask our entry?" "Working on it," Shift replied. "Their internal security network here is… archaic. Should be able to create a temporary sensor loop." A few moments later, "Done. You have a sixty-second window where their sensors on that grate will show nothing out of the ordinary."
"That's all we need," Kai said. "Breaker, you first. Create an immediate, overwhelming distraction. Shift, follow him, plant the incendiary charge Roric provided for the loading bay at the designated structural weak point. I'll cover your entry and then move to the outbound distribution hub. We have five minutes to plant all charges and exfiltrate before the primary timers initiate."
Breaker, with a guttural roar, launched himself up the vent shaft like a cannonball, his massive stun baton crackling. He burst through the upper grate with the force of an explosion, landing amidst the shocked Cerberus guards, his riot shield deflecting their initial, panicked shots. Kai and Shift were right behind him. As Breaker became a whirlwind of destruction, scattering guards and disrupting the ore transfer machinery, Shift darted towards a massive support pillar, her movements quick and precise, planting the first incendiary charge.
Kai, as Umbra, moved like a phantom through the ensuing chaos. He didn't engage directly unless necessary, his priority being speed and reaching his own targets in the distribution hub. He used his "Shadow Meld" to slip past a panicked group of Cerberus workers, then his "Draconic Roar" to send a squad of responding guards stumbling in confusion, buying Shift more time. His "Wyrm-Sight" was invaluable, allowing him to see the energy signatures of active security systems, the faint Anima traces of any potential MODs (none detected so far, thankfully), and the optimal paths through the sprawling complex.
He reached the outbound distribution hub – a vast chamber filled with conveyor belts, automated cargo lifters, and stacks of refined plasteel ingots ready for shipment. Two more guards were here, alerted by the distant sounds of Breaker's rampage. Kai didn't hesitate. He activated his "Claws of the Shadow Drake," the obsidian talons now crackling with faint azure sparks from the Old Republic energy integration. His "Shadow-Coil Strike (Path of Deception)" was a blur of misdirection and tearing force. Both guards went down before they could even raise an effective alarm. [Hostiles Neutralized: 2. EXP +30. Draconic Energy Reserves: 75%.]
He quickly planted his two incendiary charges at the critical junctions of the primary conveyor system and near a large stack of volatile chemical catalysts used in the plasteel refinement process, as per Roric's plan. "Umbra, charges planted at distribution hub," he reported. "Timers set." "Shift, status?" Roric's voice cut in. "Loading bay charge planted, Roric! Timer active!" Shift replied, her voice tight with adrenaline. "Breaker's created a glorious mess, but more Cerberus heavy response units are inbound!" "Understood," Roric said. "All units, exfiltrate to the primary sewer access point. Now. You have less than three minutes."
The retreat was even more chaotic than the infiltration. Alarms were blaring throughout Tartarus Forge. Cerberus soldiers were swarming from every direction. Kai, Shift, and Breaker fought a desperate running battle back towards the exhaust vent, using every trick, every skill, every last ounce of their Anima and energy. Kai unleashed his "Shadowflame Barrage (Rank 1)" for the first time in true combat, sending multiple bolts of dark, corrosive fire into a squad of advancing Cerberus enforcers, scattering them in screaming, burning disarray. The power was immense, intoxicating, but the Draconic Energy drain was severe. [Shadowflame Barrage: Effective. Multiple hostiles incapacitated/routed. Draconic Energy Reserves: 40%.]
They reached the vent just as the first of Roric's incendiary charges detonated in the distribution hub with a deafening roar, sending a shockwave through the Forge. A split second later, Shift's charge in the loading bay went up, engulfing that entire section in a raging inferno. "Go! Go! Go!" Kai yelled, shoving Shift and a heavily wounded Breaker (his Gorgon Anima completely shattered, his armor smoking) down the vent shaft.
As Kai prepared to follow, he saw a new figure emerge from the smoke and flames of the loading bay – taller than the other Cerberus soldiers, moving with an unnatural speed and grace, wreathed in what looked like shimmering heat haze. A MOD. And not a low-level one. Before Kai could react, a searing beam of pure heat, like a concentrated lance of sunfire, shot from the figure's outstretched hand, narrowly missing Kai and melting a fist-sized hole in the plasteel wall beside him. Cinder. It had to be.
[SYSTEM ALERT: HIGH-TIER MOD DETECTED! Anima Signature: Pyromantic (B-Grade or Higher – 'Cinder' Presumed). EXTREME THREAT! IMMEDIATE EVASION RECOMMENDED!] There was no time to fight, no time to think. Kai threw himself down the vent shaft, the roar of the conflagration and Cinder's furious, Anima-fueled cry echoing behind him. The inferno had been lit, but a new, far more dangerous fire had just been awakened.