NOVEL WEB Chapter 9: The Communication Hub.
September 2184. Surface. Approaching the Communication Hub.
The APC rumbled across the snow, pushing through the icy terrain as it neared the Communication Hub. After the harrowing encounter beneath the leaning skyscraper, their mission resumed. The hub was the primary relay for all planetary communications, not just with orbit but across the surface in the event of a major assault. Designed with survival in mind, its core systems were housed in a fortified bunker, able to detach from the damaged upper structure if necessary. If compromised, explosives would trigger, sealing the facility in a final act of defense.
Though the exterior had taken heavy damage, likely from orbital bombardment, intel suggested that the bunker itself might still be intact. The objective was clear: gain access, bypass the explosives if active, and retrieve whatever data remained on the status of the planet, its facilities, and the broader war effort.
Jason manned the turret, sweeping the thermals across the hub's silhouette. So far, the readings were clear—no sign of the strange machines or anything else they'd encountered earlier. He, along with the SEAF soldiers, were still shaken from the events in the warehouse. What they faced there had been unlike anything recorded before.
One of the SEAF soldiers finally broke the silence. "So... are we just going to keep ignoring what happened back there? The thing we saw, those machines—what the hell were they?"
They had all been holding it in, but the tension finally cracked as they approached the hub.
"I've been in battles on dozens of worlds," one of the Helldivers said. "We've seen horrors that keep most soldiers awake at night. But that... was something else entirely. We need to look into it once we secure this site."
"Think it's something the Illuminate left behind?" another soldier asked. "Maybe it survived the bombardment."
"Could be. They had advanced tech, but from what I've seen in the archives, nothing like that was ever documented."
Speculation was all they had. The real question lingering in their minds was why orbital annihilation was necessary in the first place. Was the threat so grave that leaving anyone behind was considered too dangerous?
Jason interrupted the discussion, glancing at the driver. "Are we getting close?"
"About to reach the front now," the driver responded. "Looks like the orbital strike tore through the structure pretty bad."
Jason switched the turret's view back to night vision. The building was a wreck. Entire chunks of walls, ceilings, and satellite dishes had collapsed into heaps of rubble. But just to the right of the structure, a large enough hole in the wall caught his attention.
"Take us toward that breach. It's big enough for the APC," Jason ordered.
The driver adjusted the course. "Got it. But getting in will be easier than getting out. That snow's packed high around the hole."
Jason nodded. "We'll deal with that later. While a few of us head inside, the rest will work on clearing that snow. Keep the APC prepped. If we need to move fast, we can't get bogged down."
A collective groan came from the SEAF soldiers. "Sir, I'm requesting a raise in my citizenship score after this," one of them muttered.
Laughter rippled through the group, a momentary break from the tension. Jason even allowed himself a chuckle. It was the kind of gallows humor they needed to keep going.
As the APC powered through the snow mound, its six-wheel drive kicked in. The vehicle maneuvered along the wall, sliding slightly before it settled inside the wreckage of the hub. The interior was just as much of a disaster. Desks, debris, and the skeletal remains of the personnel lay strewn about. The orbital strike had been swift—no one on the upper levels stood a chance.
Jason scanned the area. "Alright, two of you are with me. The rest stay here, start clearing that snow and keep the APC ready. One of you mans the gun. We'll need updates every thirty minutes. Clear?"
"Yes, sir," the soldiers responded in unison.
Jason pushed open the hatch and stepped into the cold, snow crunching beneath his boots. He signaled two soldiers to follow. "I think I see the door to the stairs. Let's move."
At the far end of the ruined room, a door barely clung to its hinges. With a solid kick, Jason forced it open, sending the remains of the door splintering inward. Flashlight in hand, he swept the stairwell. All clear. He motioned for the others to follow.
As they descended, the wind's howl faded, replaced by the rhythmic sound of their boots echoing off the walls. Three flights down, the stairwell was wide enough to accommodate the generators they would need to haul inside. Reaching the bottom, Jason took a cautious look around. The area was quiet—no threats, no surprises.
"Clear," he called out, his breath misting in the cold air.
One of the SEAF soldiers examined the door ahead. "Seems more intact than the ones upstairs."
Jason nodded, his flashlight revealing a thick, reinforced door. If the protocol had kicked in, the bunker should have sealed itself. He tested the handle, expecting resistance, but to his surprise, it turned. He motioned the others to take positions on either side and with a firm push, the door creaked open.
Inside, a long hallway stretched ahead, littered with shell casings and bullet holes. Skeletons in SEAF uniforms lay sprawled across the floor—remnants of a brutal surprise attack.
"Another massacre," Jason muttered.
"Looks like they were caught from behind," one soldier remarked, shining his light on the scene. "Panic fire. This wasn't a normal engagement."
Jason frowned. "The Illuminate could teleport their forces. Maybe they hit them before the ships opened fire."
They continued down the hall, the grim scene offering no further answers. At the end, a massive metal door awaited, its design capable of withstanding a nuclear strike. There would be no brute-forcing this one, but Jason had an idea.
"All old installations like this have an emergency override," he explained, dropping to his knees to feel around the floor. His fingers found a crack, and with a grunt, he pried a hidden panel loose. "One of you help me out here."
Together, they lifted the heavy panel, revealing a crank beneath. Jason gripped it and began turning. Slowly, the locks on the bunker door disengaged. Ten minutes later, the door was ready to open.
The soldiers pulled it wide, revealing a dark interior beyond.
"Alright, get back up top, bring the generators and lights down. I'll stay here and start checking things out," Jason ordered.
They needed power. Whether they could bring the systems back online was another question entirely. Worst case, they'd find nothing. Best case, they'd uncover vital intel before everything collapsed.
Edited thanks to ELE73CH.