The system's message disappeared as quickly as it appeared when Zayn blinked.
He scoffed. It wasn't surprising, based on the shit he had already been dealing with from it.
The Iron Hallow slowly became more and more visible. As the massive structure of steel and stone sat on a hill, it looked big enough to disrupt the Earth's rotation.
Not a single sound in the jet as they approached. They all knew the same objectives, the same protocols, and the same orders.
Except for Zayn, of course.
But surprisingly, the jet had enough artillery for a small army, as rifles rattled on the wall in resonance with the jet's engine.
They slowly lowered in altitude as the jet made its way down, the mechanical humming of the parts filling the silence.
Missiles lined the edge of the fortress and followed every slight movement of the plane—like a predator stalking its prey.
A voice crackled in over comms.
"Approaching Iron Hallow. Final checks, lock in."
The force field finally lowered as they landed on the airstrip. The captain immediately got up and headed for the ramp, arms crossed, gaze dead ahead.
The jet finally slowed, descending in a wide arc before settling with a muffled thud on a skyport platform. The magnetic clamps locked into place with a hiss.
The soldiers, on instinct, grabbed their rifles and lined up behind the commander.
Zayn finally turned to Levi, whose hands were clasped together like he was in prayer. But not long after, he stood and headed for the right side of the captain—and Zayn followed in suit.
The ramp opened.
Cold synthetic air rushed in.
The commander stood for a second before stepping off. The air was stale, but at least it was safe.
Soldiers from all three factions moved in organized formations — sapphire, crimson, and obsidian insignias marking their uniforms. Drones buzzed overhead. Mechs loomed at the edge of the grounds like silent sentries.
The place was fairly silent, with the only significant sound being the tapping of combat boots on the white marble floors.
Levi leaned closer, lowering his voice.
"You feel that? Everyone's pretending to breathe easy, but it smells like death out here."
Zayn didn't reply.
He didn't have to — the tension in the air said it all.
Their captain led them through a scanner gate and into the reception hall. Diplomats and soldiers from rival factions stood in circles, whispering fake promises behind nervous smiles.
The reception hall was vast, with the enormous ring-like table placed at the center and the three faction banners hanging freely from the roof.
The Aurelian Ascendancy, the blue banner with a golden phoenix entwined around a jagged spire — of course, as the lead, domineering power.
The Echelon Syndicate, the red banner with a black fist and a circle around it.
The Zephyrite Confederacy, the white banner with a black serpent eating its tail around a black cube.
Sat under their banners sat the captains and their respective soldiers on either side of them.
The captain in front as they walked into the hall, his eyes trailing each one of them, his face twitching ever so slightly.
He finally got to his seat, as the metallic creak of the chair buckled under his weight — Levi and Zayn standing behind him.
Zayn's eyes flicked across the banners—symbols meant to inspire unity, now little more than painted lies. What a fucking joke.
SILENCE.
A strange silence filled the room as they all glared at one another.
Then a smooth voice sliced through the silence.
"For years we've waged war against each other... and what has it brought us? Absolutely nothing but pain, loss, and destruction."
All heads turned in its direction.
A slender man in civilian clothing with his hands in the air walked into the hall — as if saying I'm unarmed.
"Welcome, all of you, to the peace summit of the New World Order... Why don't w— ".
"Why are we here, Drex?"
A sharp, piercing French feminine voice cut through.
The voice belonged to Camille Moreau, the Captain Commander of the Zephyrite Confederacy, with her white hair tied up in a knot, loose strands playfully left in front of her face. She wore a black cloak and had a beautiful, yet dangerous face.
The man finally lowered his arms as he turned to her.
"Ma'am, it's Chancellor Drex," he said with a playful smile.
"Who's he?" Zayn asked as he leaned toward Levi.
Haaa.
Levi let out a quiet sigh, but he answered.
"Chancellor Drex Romanoff. Figurehead of the Iron Hallow... and a neutral relic from the old U.N. days... Let's just say he's one of the few people allowed not to have an alliance with any faction."
"Peace!" Drex screamed at the top of his lungs.
BAM.
Dorian Vale's fist finally hit the table, echoing throughout the hall. Heads turned to see him tapping the edge of his cigar onto the ash plate as he let out a smoky sigh.
His voice was the most prominent and commanding.
"You speak of peace, little man..."
A slow laugh rattled his shoulders.
"...when we have Aurelian scum developing illegal cyber weapons."
Nothing less was expected from the Captain of the Echelon Syndicate, wearing an oversized coat that tried to conceal his massive figure and his Scottish accent — but every time his arm came out, it was clear.
"Vale, you can't be throwing baseless accusations at us. We all know cyber weapons are illegal in the New World Order," Captain Jones spat.
"Lies! We hear of... what was it called again..."
A soldier leaned in towards him and whispered something into his ear.
"Ahh yes, Bionics."
Captain Jones' poker face was undoubtedly legendary — not a flinch, eyes fixed on him and fingers crossed on the table like he owned the place.
"As long as you have no proof, we aren't doing anything illegal. And apart from that, this is embarrassing for you... Besides, the leading faction in human experimentation shouldn't be pointing fingers on illegal matters."
"What?!"
He yelled as he jumped out of his seat and slammed his fists onto the table so hard you'd think it'd break — the vein in his forehead ever more visible as his knuckles turned white.
The cigar hit the table and died.
'Past, present or future, Leaders are still just little children with egos and god-complexes... Can't believe people die because of this bullshit.'
Hehehe.
Camille let out a soft chuckle as she stared at Vale.
"So that's all it takes to push your buttons... how pathetic."
Even seated, her presence coiled like a blade under silk. The kind of woman who could slit your throat while smiling—and make you apologize for bleeding.
"Oh shut up, cunt. The men are talking," Vale shot back.
"Excuse me?"
Her face twitched ever so slightly as she pulled a gun from her soldier's holster and pointed it at Vale.
"Say that again. I dare you."
"Uhm... why don't we try and deescalate the situation?"
Chancellor Drex scratched the back of his head as beads of sweat met on top of his brow.
"Shut up, Drex."
Vale pulled a gun from underneath his cloak and aimed it at Drex.
"So this was supposed to be a peace summit... what a joke."
Captain Jones made no fluff of the situation.
Immediately, both guns shifted directions to Jones. His eyes glanced at them before tilting his head slightly to the left.
All the Aurelian soldiers raised their guns — an order etched into the manual.
As Zayn's gun pointed at Vale's forehead, he started to feel his hands trembling — but slapped them over one another, tensing his muscles to strengthen his grip.
Every finger twitching as the sound of safeties clicking echoed louder than thunder.
And then so did the Zephyrite and Echelon soldiers, all with guns pointed at each other — waiting, stalking, daring the other to make a move.
BANG!
The first shot.
And just like that—peace died in Iron Hallow.