Picking up his backpack, he threw the damaged console into it, hung it on his back then slowly look around. While he was busy making his call, a new mechanical monster was now the one at the entrance. This one was almost twice the size of the first one and in shape of a giant iron insect.


He looked around quickly to see that some other men dressed in Mantis uniforms were headed out of the foyer to the stairs area, the first mechanical construct trailing behind them. The foyer was almost now quiet with burning fire, thick smoke, shattered furniture and data consoles with broken dead bodies scattered in the mix.


Taking careful steps as he moved crouching to avoid the gaze of the machine, he was able to get to the other side of the foyer, following the trail of the attackers at a long distance. He was surprised at the direction of the attackers as he was sure the attackers were here for the data in the vault because nothing else of real value that will require this level of desperate precision attack.


But if what they are here for is in the vault, then they are going the wrong way. Well he might soon find out, if he stayed alive long enough that is.
Outside the tower, the ADMEC standing guard around it to protect their colleagues inside fend off attacks from armored air cars and hover tanks.


The heavier ADMECs in their insectoid shapes were the ones carrying the heavier fire power, with the twin mini guns on their shoulders, then backed with rocket ports. Two of them had sacrificed a mini gun and rocket placement to make a way for heavy duty energy cannon lined on one shoulder. Though less maneuverable than the lighter and smaller humanoid shaped ones, their heavy fire power was making up for the lapses.

Like a flash, it struck his mind. He needed to call Dr. Bryant for help. He tried calling through the regular line but it couldn’t go through as there was a communication blackout around the place. Well it is still a corporate security system that he knows how to bypass. He ran through several network frequencies then picked one that was unblocked. The call was picked up at the other end.


“Hardwire, I wasn’t expecting your call back this soon. “ the head of Dr. Bryant spoke from the tiny holo display. “Was your attempt successful? “
“Yes but that is not what I’m calling about, “ Hardwire replied speaking rapidly, with his breath coming out in spurts, fear almost paralyzing him. “There is trouble here, a very big one. Please you have to call for help and also come in here to rescue me. I’m trapped within this place, I can’t go out. “


“What kind of trouble? “ the cyborg asked.
“The very big type, “ he turned the vid pickup on his wrist comm to show the images of what is happening at the foyer.
“Ok Hardwire stand by, stay away from trouble, help will be coming soon. “ the call went off as the holo image vanished.

He was just been escorted out of the office where the door to the lift for the vault is when he saw three odd looking Mantis troops. The odd thing was that one of them was huge practically a giant and the other appears as a female. But some thing about the third one raised a stir in his mind some where, as if he is someone familiar, but try as he may nothing readily comes to his mind as the sudden shock and surprise of the encounter weighed on his mind.


There was no time for the surprise to fully register on his face when the three Mantis raised their guns towards them and started to fire. Hardwire dove to the ground as their shots took out his two escorts and they fell close to him. He was still trying to process what was happening when all hell broke loose, shootings every where, innocent people being mowed down by gun fire.


He stayed down watching as people were rushing out to the entrance at the foyer, crammed full at the door, pressing on each other and stepping on those who fell on the ground on a wild eyed panicking stampede.
Crawling between the unmoving escorts, he went for his portable data console and his wrist comm that has fallen from the CSC agent who is dead from gun shot wounds. The wrist comm was ok but the portable console was smoking from a bullet hole.


Damn the data console is damaged that will put the stored data in it under jeopardy. He took quick check to see that the hard box for storage may still be intact but he was not sure. He was still watching his console when the pandemonium increased in vast proportion. The entrance to the foyer that was blocked by people trying to escape the building blew in as something that seems impossible crashed through.


A mechanical figure in human shape but twice the height of two tall men was what blew the door and the duracrete walls surrounding it to pieces. Humans who were still stuck on the door were knocked off and those who fell close to the mechanical monster were crushed under its massive feet. He was still watching in bewildering awe when the construct started shooting both bullets and rockets, adding to the death and chaos already reigning in the place.

✴ ✴ ✴ ✴ ✴
Hardwire had no word to describe how he was feeling when he was rudely interrupted and escorted out of the vault by Colonel James and his underlings. Anger, frustration are just words that are understatements to really picture his mood.


But despite that, he has to comply and meekly go along with them. His portable data console, his wrist comm and backpack were all confiscated, there was no possible way for him to communicate with anyone outside.


What’s his problem anyway? Why is that guy so pig headed, myopic and blind? Hardwire fumed. Doesn’t he realizes that his over grown ego had virtually destroyed any chances of the Earthwatch and CSC having access to the sensitive data in the vault. The length Trans Terra had gone to protecting what is there shows there are wealth of damning information in the vault which the mega corporations will not want falling into the hands of government officials.


He noticed that as soon as he unplugged his portable data console from the machine, the black wall security came up again securing the data in those mainframes. And the program he used to fool that black wall can only work once, according to what Dr. Guthrie had told him. It means at this stage even himself can no longer crack that security set up again. Damn this colonel James, his stupidly and incompetence stinks to the high heavens. No wonder Marvel hates him with passion.

All those behind him followed his example, going down and firing. Some were shooting rockets from their RPG launchers. The colonel was fortunate to have dropped to the ground and rolled out of the way as lazer bolts, bullets and rockets exploded all around him taking out lots of his troops. Those far behind ran further away and took covers at corners around the corridor.


Just then the ADMEC shook with grating sounds from its joints, shoulders mounted gun and rocket pods spewing leads and explosives. That moment the corridor turned to a place of confused noises of gun fire and explosions. A brave CSC agent took one last effort, held on to one of the heavy duty artillery gun, turned it to center on the ADMEC then he fired. Before he could see the result of his effort, a burst of fire from the tri barrel mini gun on the ADMEC’s should tore him in two. Same time that his desperate fire hit the ADMEC dead center, blowing apart the waist area, ripping off the legs from the torso which made the ADMEC to crash heavily on the ground.


That was like a cue for another lull in the shootings and explosions. Simon took time to survey the results of what has happened, it was pure carnage. Dead bodies on both sides. Lots of CSC and Mantis troops were dead but they are far from depleted. The survivors has hanged back, ready to re-engage them once they get close enough. Simon was sad when he took stock of his own followers, he had just five of them still standing, his heart felt a stab of pain as he saw that his lieutenant, Jummila was among the fallen.


A low whine as if a port or door was been forced open drew his attention back. A part lifted from the fallen and damaged ADMEC. From it Icicle climbed down, holding a huge hand gun.
“Miss me? “ she asked Simon with a cold smile.
Recalling they have a short time to leave this place, he turned to the opposite direction from where they were headed before. “Let’s get out of here, we have short time. We can’t go ahead that way, there’s another way behind we can escape through. “

“I will offer this just once, drop your weapons and surrender. “ a voice boomed from the area the CSC and Mantis troops are gathered. “You are surrounded. Give up now and we might spare your lives. “
Simon Omega took a careful peep at who might be speaking. He recognized him from images he was shown while being briefed about this mission. That is colonel Willey James, the one in charge of Earthwatch and CSC operations in Nuterra at the moment. Well from the briefing, the colonel was tagged as one who isn’t much of a serious threat or a competent leader. Time to put all that to test, Simon, concluded.


Giving every of his remaining followers signs to be prepared, glad that Jummila was still alive, which was hard to take note of in all the fires and explosion, he held tight to his weapon. Looking at the ADMEC which had not moved again since the firing stopped, he hoped Icicle was still alive.


“Ok, we yield, hold your fire. We surrender and we are coming out and dropping our weapons. “ Simon Omega said, standing up and moving to a point where they can see him. He acted like about dropping his gun. As soon as he noticed the colonel giving the sign for his troops to stand down. Simon dove to the ground, his gun firmly held in his hands and pulling the trigger he ordered with a load voice. “Fire. “

“Alright everyone let’s go. Icicle you lead the way. “ he directed.
They were out of the vault as all the holo screens and power tubes lights all turned red and started to pulsate with numbers showing on the central data console running on a count down sequence as the door slide shut.


As they ran ahead to get away aa quick as possible, a big explosion knocked Icicle’s ADMEC backwards. The noise from that explosion shook all those following behind as Simon tried reading what was ahead amidst the smoke and dying fire. Just ahead of them, some yards away, a full contingent of CSC officers and Mantis troops blocked their way, all armed with heavy duty lazer guns, grenade launchers and mobile artillery guns.


“Back, back and take cover. “ he shouted with his voice turning raw. Fear threatening to cloud his always calm demeanor. Seeing the hardware brought against them, it was difficult to see the possibility of being able to overcome such obstacles. He even harbored doubts that the single ADMEC with them will be enough to turn the tide of that.


Two more heavy explosions hammered the frame of the ADMEC. Bright energy beams followed after, hits after hits staggering the machine causing Icicle to reel and not able to concentrate fully. Parts of the ADMEC’s body was beginning to dent and peel off. The ceramic cover over the armor plating were starting to melt and liquefy.


Though the ceramics were designed to serve as both heat sink and disperser, giving the ADMEC protection against heat based attacks. The mobile artillery guns fielded by those attackers carry heavy duty energy beam that was powerful enough to over power the ceramic heat protection after sustained and repeated hits.


After the bombardment which saw most of Simon Omega’s followers running further back, crouching and keeping themselves from fire as much as possible, there was a lull from the shootings. The ADMEC was damaged on several places, with torn parts and some armor plating hanging in tatters.

Two men on CSC uniforms turned with mild surprise seeing the door to the vault open as if they weren’t expecting that to happen. But the surprise turned to full alarm as they saw those standing at the door. Simon shot both of them down before they could raised their weapons.


Apart from these two, the vault was virtually empty. The data consoles were on with their screens displaying encrypted figures flowing through them at fast speed. The chairs were disarranged as if they have been used just recently but no one was there at the moment. Simon was a bit surprised because he was told to expect to see some data techs busily trying to hack the secured data here. Well since no one is here, it simplified things.


Walking toward the central console after passing the other data port machines and mainframes, he pull out a fast transfer data cord then connected the holo projector to the data port of the central console. Lights began to blink on the projector as the monitors before it blinked off and on severally then the fast running encrypted figures on the screen stopped and then did a reversal. Their direction of flow was at the opposite side. This way all data in every mainframe and data port engines were flowing into the holo projector. It took all of five minutes when the holo graphic head of Nicolas spoke.


“Download complete of all data in the vault. “ the head said. “You have one hour to get to the safety zone as that is how long it will take for all three power tube to reach critical mass. “
Simon Omega didn’t need much prompting to know what that means, there is a massive explosion about to take place and they need one hour to get to safety. He disconnected the holo projector from the central console and deactivated it.

One thing was made clear to him by Cedric before coming here. He has been informed that the Earthwatch and CSC operatives may have overwritten some new security codes over the ones that was there before in order to have access and maintain control then also restricting entrance to the vault. But he was supplied with what can help him deal with that.


Reaching down into a side pouch, he pulled out a round holo projector with data storage capability. Well this one has been modified to do a whole lot of other things. Once activated, the holo projector displayed over it a 3D light image of a head, of about twelve inch in length. The face of the head was someone Simon was told is Nicolas Lamont Ludwig, the president of Trans Terra International, he owned this tower but now deceased. Well how the head can help them he has no way of knowing, he was only following the instructions he was given.


He took the holo projector close to the external control panel for the vault’s door. The holo image of Nicolas head turned from the red colored light of the holo display to green.
“Please give the correct authorization code. “ the door’s electronic voice said.
The holographic head gave out some numbers too quickly for any of the people around to follow.


“Authorization code accepted. Stand by for retinal scan and facial recognition authentication. “ came again from the speaker grill of the door. A green light ran over the holographic head, scanning and in seconds went off. The vault door slide open with a low click. “Welcome, you are authorized to enter. “
Though when the government took over the building, they set up their own security protocol over the whole tower, the vault included. Still the initial security programs of the corporation that owns the place is still active however in passive manner. With the authentication codes given by the holographic head, all new and old security set up responded. The overwritten commands of Earthwatch and CSC were over thrown.

As the CSC guards noticed that their gun fire was having very little effects on the mechanical construct, some one pulled out a HE grenade, threw it at the ADMEC. The explosive sound rocked the tunnel making Simon’s ears to ring and his teeth shock as he grind them. The explosion only pushed the ADMEC two steps backwards. Icicle with a grim look on her face construed by the multiple colored blinking control lights in the near dark cockpit, outlining the set visage in dark shadowed and multi colored hues, she punched the rocket fire controls.


Rockets shot out and exploding among the midst of their attackers till there was nothing left ahead but torn parts of the heavy iron crates, mangled smoking and bloodied body parts of men in both the uniforms of CSC and Mantis troops. Thick smell of smoke, burnt flesh and fresh blood permeated the enclosed space. There was a low ammo warning on the control area of the ADMEC calling Icicle’s attention to the depleted munitions available to her.


“It’s all smooth road till we get to the entrance of the vault from here on. “ Simon Omega led the others forward as the ADMEC marched behind them.
Soon they got to the entrance of the vault, its super dense armored door locked. There is just no way they can crack into that door on time with the resources they have on them. Not even the ADMEC is strong enough to create a dent on a door that strong.


The vault isn’t just locked with a strong door, it is all made of that multi layered armored plantings. It wasn’t built as path of the building, it was constructed separately and put in this place then the tower was built over it. Simon Omega wasn’t worried though, he came with the necessary tools to unlock the door.

Just then a shout of pain caught his attention from behind which was followed by another one. Then he noticed that some small groups of CSC officers have been about to sneak in behind them and are shooting. From the look of things, two of his men are down already.


“Uthega, take your squad and deal with those back stabbing bastards. “ Simon ordered, his mind trembling from the thought that if they must succeed in this mission, they will have to avoid delays.
Uthega led his squad backwards, collecting a rocket launcher from one of them, loading it and firing. There was a loud explosion sound, cries of alarms and pains followed from further backwards. With that Simon Omega continued ahead confident that their back will be effectively covered.


A little while later, the were halted in their advancement by a mixed group of CSC and Mantis troops firing at them. Though they have no cover from fire, yet their attackers were able to pull on heavy iron crates along the place behind which they can fire from. Simon quickly dropped down and lay on the floor, those behind him followed his move, the ones too slow to follow were cut down by the fire. Still the ADMEC covered them from the bulk of the shots. With a short burp, the mini gun on its shoulder fired, taking apart an iron crate covering and a second burst took those hiding behind it out.

“Ok guys lets go. “ Simon called out to the rest. “Icicle, you lead on with the ADMEC. “
With servomotors whirling in loud whines and each step causing the floor to tremble, Icicle’s ADMEC led the way . The place was a lot wider than a maintenance access, it was a big tunnel with a cylindrical shape easily wider than a twenty feet diameter made of a shinny metal with bright light panels above, lighting there way.


They haven’t gone far into the place when gun ports slid open from the top, sides and floor. They were heavy duty lazer mini guns with smart targeting. They started firing and Icicle’s ADMEC took most of the heavy lazer beam shots. The dense armor covering of the machine deflecting the blasts because of the special ceramic covering on the surface. Icicle punched in the target lock on her tac HUD display, locking on to all five guns firing at them then punched in the firing button for the rockets. Five rockets shot out of the ports on the ADMEC’s shoulders, all unerringly headed for the guns. Each of the rocket hit its intended target and they all blew up. Nothing was left of the guns but twisted metals and ripped wires with broken couplings.


Simon took a while to take stock of their looses, four of his troop members were down, struck by lazer fire that passed the sides of the ADMEC.
“Ok let’s move ahead. “ He screamed as he followed carefully behind the cover of the ADMEC going ahead.

Taking a deep breath after making sure both of the launcher tubes were loaded, he calmed his mind because he has to time this right. He ran ahead with fingers on the triggers, rocket launchers lifted and the muzzle shooting rockets. He rolled the other way avoiding some of the fires just as the rockets exploded.


The security people were blown away by the explosions and the makeshift cover tore apart. Simon’s shoots were dead on target. Fire and smoke flashed briefly and went off. Simon got up picking his rifle after dropping the rocket launcher tubes. He saw a CSC officer, bloodied but still standing. Simon shot him with his rifle, solid lead bullets struck the officer on the face, turning it into an explosion of blood, bones and brains.


Before his fellow officers will recover from the shock of the explosions and target Simon, Jummila and Uthega led their squads in to the corridor, their guns blazing. In a short while it was over, all the CSC officers covering the area were down.
Simon ran down the corridor, took a right turn then stopped at a vent that was just two feet by two feet squared area in size. Above it is a sign that says maintenance access.


Signaling to those behind him to give way, he beckoned on Icicle in the ADMEC to come ahead. He pointed at the vent and the ADMEC dug its mechanical hands at the sides and pulled the vent out, crashing the duracrete walls around it. The tiny hole didn’t open into a tunnel as should be expected from a maintenance access point, but was showing part of a metallic door covering it.


With few punches from the ADMEC, crumbling duracrete and creating dust, the hole became wide enough to see the whole door. A sealed entrance door about eight feet in height by a six feet breadth. The ADMEC dogged its hands into the lintels at the top and side of the door then pulled. The force peeled away the door, lintels and all from the duracrete wall. With a few more punches, causing rains of duracrete debris, a hole wide enough to allow entrance of the twelve feet high ADMEC was gaping at them.

Though the tower was way too high for stairs to make any meaning, yet some are there to lead between one floor to the next closest one. Simon took one of those stairs to the next floor which from the plans he had studied led to a corridor of office rooms, which will definitely be getting packed with securities now.


He was almost to the top of the stairs when lazer fire drove him back. His quick reflex saved him but the other two men following him behind, members of his personal squad weren’t so lucky. The crimson lazer bolts struck them and they dropped, tumbling downward the stair way.


The fire coming ahead was well coordinated and unrelenting. Though Icicle with her ADMEC can come ahead and clear them out, but that will take a little while to allow his men to part for her to pass. Time he doesn’t have much off.
“Hey you two, give me your rocket launchers. “ the two he spoke to quickly came to him, and dropped the bulky TEC 2 launchers with him.

As he led them to the office with the hidden lift to the vault, he imputed the security code to open the door. It acknowledged the code but flashed in with this words LIFT UNOPERATONAL.

Damn, he should have expected this. As soon as the alarm went off, the lift gets automatically crashed, it is a safty mechanism. Well he will have to go for the second option, which will mean they will have to spend more time and face more stiffer resistance. There is another secret access to the vault, made to appear like a maintenance access duct.


“Icicle get ready for option B. You will have to go with me. “ Simon spoke into his wrist comm unit. “Get someone else to mount the entrance and the foyer of the tower. “
“Copy boss. “ Icicle replied from her control pod in the ADMEC 1. She touched the inter comm unit for communication within only the ADMEC machines. “ADMEC 8, come and take my place, I have to give cover to the boss and others. “ The pilot on the ADMEC acknowledged.


Just then, behind Icicle’s machine, another ADMEC came in, this one much larger than hers, about twenty feet in height. The ADMEC was in the shape of a huge mechanical insect. It crashed through the hole already made, creating a much bigger one. It took Icicle’s place as she moved her ADMEC to go with the moving group led by Simon Omega.

As he led them to the office with the hidden lift to the vault, he imputed the security code to open the door. It acknowledged the code but flashed in with this words LIFT UNOPERATONAL. Damn, he should have expected this. As soon as the alarm went off, the lift gets automatically crashed,


it is a safty mechanism. Well he will have to go for the second option, which will means they will have to spend more time and face more stiffer resistance. There is another secret access to the vault, made to appear like a maintenance access duct.


“Icicle get ready for option B. You will have to go with me. “ Simon spoke into his wrist comm unit. “Get someone else to mount the entrance and the foyer of the tower. “
“Copy boss. “ Icicle replied from her control pod in the ADMEC 1. She touched the inter comm unit for communication within only the ADMEC machines. “ADMEC 8, come and take my place, I have to give cover to the boss and others. “ The pilot on the ADMEC acknowledged.


Just then, behind Icicle’s machine, another ADMEC came in, this one much larger than hers, about twenty feet in height. The ADMEC was in the shape of a huge mechanical insect. It crashed through the hole already made, creating a much bigger one. It took Icicle’s place as she moved her ADMEC to go with the moving group led by Simon Omega.

From that height, they would need to have engaged their antigravity pack and thrusters to achieve controlled landing. She had seen through the ultra high definition display on the HUD the sudden surprise and shock on the faces of the guards at the security booth, they looked up with wide eyes at what was dropping on them from a none existing security screen.


No shot has been fired by any of the ADMEC she could see, but they had landed on them, crushing the CSC officers under the weight of the ADMECs. Icicle had gone for the door first because she really was the most excited among them wanting to put everything she had learned on the simulator to practice. The crowd of panicked people pouring out of the entrance didn’t dissuade her, she just plough through the bodies, grinding them under the massive heel of the machine as she crashed into the building.


Going in she had seen her boss, Simon Omega, Jummila and Uthega pinned down by fire from some people behind a well covered barrier. She had blown them up to allow Simon continue with his part of the plan. Hers is to stay here and confront other Mantis securities and CSC operatives that will be coming down from several floors to try and stop them. By now reinforcements would have been called from outside this place. Heavy deployment of hover tanks and all kinds of air artillery might already be on there way. The other ADMEC still outside the building will take care of that.


Just behind the massive hole created by Icicle’s ADMEC entrance , some of Simon Omega’s following poured in, stepping over the crushed and dead bodies all dressed in full combat Mantis uniforms complete with helmet. But a twin slash of red was boldly marked on their chests to differentiate them from the real Mantis troops. Simon called them over to him, they were about twenty in number, all armed with lazer rifles and few RPG guns. He divided their ranks into three squads, each led by either him, Jummila or Uthega. At least a RPG is held by each group.

Icicle loved the swift response of the ADMEC to her every wimp, especially the speed at which the auto smart lock and targeting had worked, taking out its small oppositions. From the enhance vid display of the HUD she could see the dead and mangled bodies of the CSC officers.


Then Simon Omega, her commander was giving her some directions . The feeling of power this ADMEC gives was exhilarating that she was almost tempted to forget their major goal here. As per Simon’s direction, she faced the ADMEC rocket ports to the door that looks like an office entrance, she fired some rockets at it. As each rocket hits, it exploded. Soon the door was blown wide open, flames and smoke burning furiously around it.


This is turning out to be as much fun as promised. The hardest part has been waiting for Simon Omega, Jummila and Uthega to infiltrate the tower, then shut down the defensive screen covering the tower, also to disable all the surface to air guns and rocket/missiles placement around the place.


She and eight other ADMEC were kept in the storage area of five big hover trucks that were just milling around at the edge of the authorized fly zone close the Trans Terra tower. The storage containers holding the nine ADMEC opened up, dropping them as soon as the security screen went off.

The huge machine was in a humanoid form, twelve feet in height. Two mechanical arms each with three fingers on it, a straight torso then two legs. The construct was standing up right, the shoulders carrying a single massive tri barrel mini gun, then two rocket pods on the shoulders.


The ground trembled as it took steps to get into the foyer, the surviving runners scattered from the monster, giving it as much as a wide breadth possible. The sudden appearance, though it cheered Simon Omega, caught the CSC with another surprise. They turned to face the new threat with fear on their faces as they already knew they can’t deal with it. Still their guns were raised and bolts after bolts of lazer far were sent its way.


All the shots bounced off the body of the machine. It turned to the area where the CSC guards were crouched, the targeting system locked on to multiple targets, puff of smoke started to spew out of the rocket ports. Every single cover where the CSC operatives were hiding exploded. The covers and bodies hiding behind them were ripped apart.


Simon Omega came out of hiding, looking at the machine, smiling he gave a signal to its front area where he knew the view point is. From the move of that ADMEC, Simon Omega could tell that Icicle was the one at its pilot seat. The ADMEC’s move mimics perfectly her deadly motions.

Simon pulled out a frag grenade that was programmed to explode on touching a surface. He hurled the explosive at those coming from the entrance. The Mantis and CSC guards coming from there were too late to see what was thrown their way. The throw was perfect, it landed just ahead of them then the grenade exploded, taking out all four of them, three Mantis and one CSC.


They were blown off their feet and sliced by super heated shrapnel from the frag bomb. But the grenade was indiscriminate in its target, as those struggling to get out of the building through the clogged door were caught in the blast, some suffering lethal cuts from the shrapnel from the blast, tearing through them and dropping them to the floor in death throes.


While Simon’s attention was on those coming from the entrance, Jummila and Uthega faced the one coming at them from the door to the office hiding the entrance to the vault. They lifted their rifles, firing lazer bolts, hitting the two Mantis troops there. They were hit several times as they danced an uncontrollable mortal pirouette then dropped on the floor.


Just then the office door opened and a young man in his early 20s was been led out by two CSC guards, armed. One of them was carrying a portable data console. The young man been led out saw Simon and his followers first, then for a split second a flash of recognition seem to cross the young man’s face. The other CSC guards had noticed the dead bodies on the floor and the alarm sounds going on had alerted them.


They looked up seeing Simon Omega and those with him preparing to fire at them responded but a little too late. As two of them dropped down under the impact of the fire while others scattered, scrambling for cover and returned fire. Though the CSC operatives may have been surprised and took some hits, but their professionalism took over. Their return fire was accurate and fierce.


Simon took a stinging burn on his shoulder from a lazer bolt that was aimed for his head, a last second drop saved him. Uthega got two hits, on his arm and leg from the well coordinated fire, teaching him that brute force is not enough. Only Jummila escaped unscathed as she got under cover and stayed down. While still maintaining the upper hand in their firing the CSC had started calling for back up.


Simon knew then that they have just few minutes before he and those with him will be overwhelmed when those CSC back ups get here. Just then as if in response to his inner needs, the entrance door crashed, not outward from the pressure of people pushing to get out, but inward, as a huge machine crashed through the hardened armored glass creating a shower of thousands of tiny glass pieces, mixed with the flesh and bones of those still trying to get out of the door mangle and blood spraying all over the floor of the entrance.

Jumping out of the lift, his rifle raised as if to fire, Simon ran out heading for the those guarding the line of office doors which were all opened as the office staff have all joined the people running for the entrance. Those Mantis and CSC there were standing back to allow the human traffic run by. The sudden appearance of Simon and the other two following him didn’t immediately raise any threat awareness as they were all on Mantis uniforms but something about the determined way they were moving and the pointed guns raised concerns, then the fact that none of them was with a helmet really showed that was all odd.


But the sudden realization didn’t help them one bit as from the extreme range Simon opened up with his rifle, solid leads smack into the CSC operatives. They collapsed under the heavy impacts of the bullets. Jummila and Uthega both fired their lazer rifles, bolts of light beams cut through the four Mantis troops standing there. Though their uniforms were body armor but none had the heat sink tech to dispel the concentrated heat from the lazer bolts which melted the thrice reinforce super Kevlar armor they were wearing, allowing the super heated light beams to cut through flesh and tissue, cauterizing the wounds so there was little in the way of spilled blood.


The sounds of gun fires doubled the frantic rush to the door as the almost ordered rush for the door broke into pandemonium with stampede resulting. But Simon paid those no heed as his attention was drawn to the guards coming from the entrance and the ones looking up from the office door where the lift leading to the vault was hidden. Their attention have been drawn by the gun fire.

The door of the lift parted at it got to the floor level slamming Simon Omega with the full blast sound of the alarm and a voice accompanying it. A LOCK DOWN IS IMMINENT. ALL VISITORS AND NONE SECURITY PERSONNEL PROCEED TO DESIGNATED EXITS.


The words were been repeated every ten seconds. From the inside of the lift, they could see the people in the foyer running for the entrance of the building which was opened now as no need to check those going out because of the sudden emergency. The security people at the entrance, both CSC and the Mantis troops, look around in some what perplexed fashion as they try to decipher the nature of the emergency.


The people rushing out were doing that in almost blind panic, crowding the small door at the entrance, bodies pressed on each other as everyone tried going out at the same time. Those not heading for the door were the armed guards on black on black and the CSC on civies, armed with their rifles all alert.
“Well our aim is for the vault, which will be locked up by now. We really can’t open it till the others get here. “ Simon looked at Jummila then winked. “Though that shouldn’t stop us from having fun. “

A holo screen display was before the panel and a lazer light simulated keypad appeared before it. It shows figures and graphs indicating the security screen is at 82% power level. He called for the controls nodes, which came out with several unrecognizable digital icons.


Well he had been educated a bit on what they all stand for. He saw the icon for general screen shut down. He activated it but the screen requested for the password and security codes and clearance. He was irked and almost punched the screen with his hand till he realized, the screens are just holographic display, his fist will just passed through.


Well time for option two. He was giving a data cube in the shape of a flat silver colored disc, which he placed on the control panel port. Just then the screen went off and rebooted. Same started happening to all the screen in the security floor. They all started going off and rebooting. Just then the icons on the screen before him showed that the security screen protecting the tower was down. Immediately loud sound of alarms started going off in all the floors of the Trans Terra tower.


“Time to go guys. “ he called to the others who came to him. Simon brought out some portable termite explosives, gave some to his two follows. “Plant these in as much areas of the data consoles as you can. It will blow up every equipment then chew up everything. Set the detonation time for 30 seconds. “


After the set up, they all crowded in the lift and went down. Seconds after their leaving, the termite explosives blew up one after the other with bright flashes that started melting all the metal and plastic parts of the consoles. The holo screens and monitors sputtered with electronic hiss and began to go off one after the other. The sealed cubicle of the lift lessen the loud wailing of the alarm going off, still a mute sound of it still manages to seep through.

The lift signal that they have arrived at the designated floor. “Ok let’s kill some geeks. “ Simon Omega threw the cylinder after activating it as far as it can go, when the lift door open. He closed the door again. The sound proof lift prevented them from hearing the cries of surprise, shock and alarm as those in the security area tried ducking or running away from the unfamiliar object.


The neutron detonator finished its countdown and exploded with a blue concentric conical shaped light, that as it touched every living body, every cells within their body shrunken, fizzled and died. The overall appearance of that was the skin immediately turned black.


Simon Omega stepped through the open lift door as he was sure that the explosion was over. Almost everyone in the floor appeared dead. Those still moving were stumbling in a dazed fashion. They were the ones that were too far away from the reach of the neutron detonator blast Ray. So the side effects was the disorientation those who survived were feeling.


Short blast from their guns took out the survivors. Fountain of blood flew out of holes created by the bullets striking bodies. After the last body dropped, Simon got into the room directing others to make sure every single person in the place was dead. Most of those here were just techies on white lab coats, but there were also few Earthwatch agents and CSC operatives were interspaced.


The security level area is a wide place with data consoles, chairs and much screens that shows live images from the thousands of spy micro cameras in the tower, infra red, heat and sonar sensor displays with the building schematics for every floors. The control panel for the security screen outside. Then there were the link to the sat com and web net for external data supply.


A wide map holo display and tac screen were further down the level. Simon ignored all this and headed straight for the control panel for the security screen out side. Just then fresh crack sounds came from behind him. Turning to see what was the cause, he saw the giant, Uthega crushing someone’s skull by pressing the head in between his massive palms. The victim’s eyes popped out of the sockets and the jaws took a strangely twisted shape. Simon shook his head dismally and turned back to the security screen panel , that man enjoys killing people with his bear hands.

“All right guys we are covered for the next thirty minutes. “ Simon Omega said, pulling off his helmet, holding out his gun, then unclipping a high explosive frag grenade from his belt.
The others followed his example. The giant, when he pulled off his helmet, was Uthega and his was carrying a huge tri barrel GAT pulse lazer rifle. The third person of the group was the black skinned female Jummila. She brought up her gun on the left hand while on the right she was holding a gleaming stiletto.


“Listen up , we may have between twenty to thirty people in the security control floor. “ Simon said as he looked at both of them. “We take them out quickly, stealth at this point is no longer an option. Remember our aim is to shut down the defensive screen covering this tower, so our guys outside can come in. We all lob in frag and explosives first, them follow up with hails of blistering fire. We kill everyone in there, no time or room for prisoners. “


“I have a better suggestion, why not use this, “ Jummila said handing over a bulky metallic shin cylinder, with a blinking amber and blue light. “That is a neutron detonator, it is a weaponized version of what is used in advanced stasis and food preservation. It kills all living things within its blast radius, including microbial and viral organism, while leaving electronic and other equipment intact. “


“Now that is a nice touch. I’ve actually heard of several failed attempts to safely weaponize neutron used in stasis field but none was successful. “ Simon grinned as he heft the weighty cylinder in his hand.
“Oh it was successful alright but was in underground usage by criminals. “ She said, eyes gleaming as she smack her lips in anticipation. “Though its use was highly limited and restricted, one because the process of making is expensive. Two, what’s the fun in using an expensive weapon that don’t get to blow up things. “


“Right, this will work well. At least until after shutting down the security screen. Then we get to blow up all the equipment here. “ Simon said as the lift was about two levels to the security floor. “The equipment there are very delicate, who knows if we damage it before shutting down the screen, it may not go down again. So good thought Jummila. “

Looking up, he noticed the sixty seventh micro spy camera he had passed through. He smiled with admiration under his black helmet. These guys are serious. From the schematics of the building he had studied before taking up the job, he had seen there are over two thousand micro spy cameras scattered over the tower. Not counting the ones hidden guns use for their see and fire, then the hover cams that buzzes over the air like tiny insects. Infiltrating this place without help from earth is virtually impossible.


He was given a camouflage cover device, that can have access to the cameras security network through the clearance given to him. Once activated, he will have access to the network links of all the spy and recording devices within the tower, he can either shut them down, which will raise immediate alarm or loop them to continue playing previous recordings, which will give him and his fellows some time to break into the security control center.


Choosing the appropriate lift, he entered with the two with him and choose the appropriate floor, level 59. As the lift took off, Simon brought the device he was given, a thick round disc like object, with a glass screen, with illuminated numeric pad showing on the face. He punched in some number, activated it and two green tiny circles of lights started to blink till with a tiny ping sound became steady.

Simon Omega wasn’t worried about been stopped and harassed by CSC or Earthwatch agents within the walls of the Trans Terra tower, as he knew that Mantis are no longer on full control of security here but CSC has taken over. So putting on Mantis uniforms would normally have subjected him and his two followers to constant security checks and harassment, as no Mantis personnel is allowed independent movement within this whole place without an Earthwatch agent or CSC operative with him.


Practically, Simon Omega would have had less attention drawn to him if he had appeared in a CSC uniform, it will mean less harassment that way. The problem with that is, the CSC uniform has no face cover, so his features will be seen by all. Secondly, all CSC personnel operating within this tower now know each other facially, so no way he can successfully infiltrate the tower in that way.


Hence the choice for Mantis uniforms, as it has full helmet cover with dark reflective face plate visor. But in other to let him have his way with less checks, he was supplied with top security clearance given to him by Cedric and guaranteed was from their benefactor on earth. The security code was put in a small ident patch three of them fixed at the breast of their uniforms , which each time they are stopped and scanned, cleared them to not only pass but move around freely unmolested and unsupervised by either a CSC operative or Earthwatch agent.


His goal on this mission was to facilitate the retrieval of the sensitive data in the vault, within the underground floor of the tower before the earth government employees crack the security protecting it and have access to the loads of sensitive data there that the mega corporations don’t want falling into the hands of earth government.


He saw the lift going straight down to the vault but ignored it for the moment. Going there now is impossible because the place is highly protected. Any attempt to break into that place now without due preparations, will seal the entrance and he was not in the mood to break through several feet of solid dense armor plating door of titanium, ceramic laminated cover and thick duralloy door. So ignoring that area for the moment he headed for the security control room.

✴ ✴ ✴ ✴ ✴
The three of them dressed in the full black on black Mantis troops uniforms walked through the security booth bubble and door after passing the clearance. Normally with the temporal take over of the Trans Terra International, no Mantis troop is allowed to roam on their own within the premises considering that their parent company, Iris System Securities and its owner, were indicted with conspiracy.


So both the CSC and Earthwatch agents had to be around any Mantis troop to keep an eye on them. But these three new troops walked with confidence clearing all the security check points flawlessly. That in itself was strange but another unusual aspect of it is the appearance of two of the three troops.


The one in front and the middle, seems to be the leader. He was well built, with a height around 6 feet, even the heavy armored clothing of the Mantis uniform could not hide the fact that he was heavily built. On the right side of him was the second trooper, whose lithe moves and body curves shows is a female.


That wasn’t strange, as there are some female Mantis operatives, but there are very few of them and are hardly used on sensitive field operations. That might cue some interest but not enough to raise any alarm, at least not till you see the third member of the trio.


He was huge, a seeming giant of a man, despite the elasticity of the black uniform he was wearing, his frame seem to stretch the armored fabric to its elastic limits. All three were armed with rifles that are made to look like standard issued lazer rifles but on closer inspection shows, that one of them is a solid projectile weapon, that was held by the leader of the trio Mantis troop.

“General Leyland himself personally verified and cleared him. I got a call from him, sir. “
“And why wasn’t I informed? “ he turned to the woman as she seem to be the head of the team.
“I was told by the general that you were dully informed and ordered to give the specialist every cooperation and unhindered access. “ Janney spoke with a kind of wired bewildered look on her face.


“Of course the general briefed me on all of that, even gave me the direct security clearance for him. “ James turned away from the woman and faced Hardwire. “ But why wasn’t I informed, miss Janney, that the specialist is the lackey of that sniveling snake bounty hunter, Marvel. Yes Hardwire, I know who you are. You and your pig headed boss always try to make me look bad. Not this time, you won’t. “


“But sir he was sent and dully cleared for this by the highest authority on CSC matters, who he is personally is no concern of ours. “ Janney came at the colonel again. “ His performance has proven that the general made the right choice. “


“ Will you shut the hell up, girl. “ Screaming, colonel James glared at her. He turned to the CSC security that came with him, “Escort that weasel out of here and confiscate what ever it is he has with him. Make sure you lead him out of this building into his vehicle, watch him till he lifts off. If he gives you trouble, you are authorized to stun his ass with a painful setting. “


Hardwire didn’t say anything the whole time, all he did was disconnect his portable console from the data terminal and just watch the colonel as he spoke. The black wall security encryption came back on as Hardwire’s controlling program was pulled off and the holo screens went back to displaying the high speed scrolling of encrypted figures across the screen. Two men, armed and in CSC uniform came at him, one of them took his data console from him with his backpack and the other pointed a big stun rifle at him.


“C’mon move it kid, “ the other one said as he prodded Hardwire with the muzzle of his stun rifle.
“Sir I don’t think we can get any data from this set up with out his help. “ Hardwire heard Janney’s voice complaining as he was led out.


“I wouldn’t want to repeat myself again in telling you to shut up, miss Janney. “
“Let me state for the record that I’m highly opposed to this.”
“Duly noted girl. “ turning to face the rest of the team, he said. “Well I will have to put the rest of you under house arrest. You will all be restricted to your quarters and no access to communication whatsoever will be allowed you. We wouldn’t want any of you sneaking behind my back to go secretly giving the general a wrong and distorted version of what happened here now, will we? “
The CSC security led the data tech team out of the vault at gun point.

“Ok let’s see what this baby has got. “ He said going into the general menu. Several folders appeared on the screen but were not given names but numbers. As he was about wondering how to go about that, he saw a file at the bottom of the list that can be used to decodes the figures.


A slow process but that seem to be one more defense set up to prevent speedy accessing of the data. Just as Hardwire was about activating that, the door to the vault opened, fully armed contingent of CSC officers led by none other than colonel Willey James stepped in.
Oh sh.it was all Hardwire could think of at the moment


“What the hell is going on here? “ boomed the voice of the head of Earthwatch agency.
“Sir this is the specialist sent to us from earth to help us crack the security set up preventing us from accessing the data contained here. “ Janney quickly turned to reply him, her face aglow with pride. “And from what we are seeing he has succeeded in accomplishing what we have been attempting to do for weeks. “
“And who authorized this? “ the colonel snorted angrily

Just then the solution hit him, the best way to deal with the black wall is not try to confront it, as that is impossible, it will just evolve into something else and deal with the attacker. Hardwire followed the advice giving to him by the cyborg, Dr. Bryant, that he should let his program mimic the black wall, go along with it as part of it then slowly replacing its encrypted figures with that of his own, slowly swallowing the program one at a time. Instead of destroying the black wall security, Hardwire started to take control of it.


The bright green upper case letters, ACCESS GRANTED appeared on the screen which made all the others watching break out in happy applause at the brilliance displayed by Hardwire. Several hands were tapping his shoulders in congratulations and faces smiled at him.


This next part will be tricky, he thought. Hardwire have always learned that before accessing sensitive data, always make a copy. These people around him are sound data technicians, it will be hard to hide this from them. But he did try anyway.


As he acted like realigning the speedy encrypted figures, he started copying the data into his portable device, decrypted and decoded. He got a prompt on the screen that his decryption is successful, that contains a subliminal message that his download of the data within the system was complete and successful.

Concerns crossed the faces of all the onlookers, as the result of what just happened seem apparent to them all except Hardwire. He waited for a while, watching the encrypted figures that had stopped scrolling while the black wall security program ran its diagnosis, resume their speed movement through the screen.


But this time there were slight differences. Hardwire had actually expected the imputed program to be located and terminated once it gets into the corporate data space and that was how it was supposed to work. As it was deleted, it no longer appeared as a threat to the black wall data defense. Instead while the black wall program was scanning it during its diagnosis, it was learning and adapting to the programming type of the black wall.


So when deleted by the black wall, it was only the part that had not yet adapted to the programing format of the corporate system that got wiped out, the other part was adapted and assimilated into the overall programing system.
“Now the fun begins. “ Hardwire cracked both knuckles as the others watched in amazement.


He decided to take down the black wall security first because any attempt by him to access any of the information within the system might get the black wall up again, either to block his efforts or quickly wipe out every data in the whole system.


He took a while to read the programming sequence of the black wall, then knew that it wasn’t going to be easy to destroy. The program appeared too advanced, it was made to be fluid, flexible and maneuverable. Like a living mind, evolving with each new contact with perceived threats, learning new ways to counter it. Its full format and algorithm keep changing at nano second speed. Speed too fast for any human hacker to follow.