Warwick's legend keeps rolling across Night City. No one knows where he came from. NCPD will not spend money or bodies to pick a fight with a thing like that, and most corporations stay curious but noncommittal, watching from the sidelines.
The first to lose patience is Militech. They set a heavy ambush around a Scav stronghold and wait. Warwick comes as baited and steps right into the ring.
They still misjudge what they are facing. Even with an elite team, they lose to the killing machine in front of them. Their best netrunners cannot crack its network defenses or even meaningfully analyze the system.
In the net, they have no handle. In the physical, they have none either. Militech throws advanced destructive weapons, and still cannot break the armor. Warwick's claws open their "thick, solid" plates like tofu. The defeat is ugly, as bad as their run-in with Cybertron, maybe worse.
After that, Warwick does not limit himself to Scavs. He sometimes hits Militech squads and even storms one of their industrial parks, carries out a slaughter, and leaves clean. The city feels the jolt. Fighting Scavs and gangers is one thing.
Fighting Militech is another tier entirely. From this point, people in Night City grasp Warwick's actual weight. In the merc underworld, talk spreads of the unknown creature that looks part human and part wolf. Warwick settles into the role of a real urban horror story.
Confusion deepens
Militech rants: "Arasaka, this is yours. Otherwise, why is it chasing us? Cybertron wasn't enough, now you throw this at us?"
Arasaka replies: "What? It is after Militech? We thought you released it. Good. We just built Cybertron and expected you to match us with something worse, but it was a false alarm. Kang Tao, you were hiding deep, huh?"
Kang Tao: "O.o?"
With eyes on Warwick, the heat on Ascension Technology eases. Militech's pressure slackens, and Ascension slips back into a steadier growth phase.
Three months later
Northern Industrial Zone, perimeter
Ascension Technology Space Launch Site
The base is new and already busy. Marvin units shuttle between bays and gantries, giving the place a living pulse. Rocky arrives with Lucy, and they walk the fresh concrete together. Citizens and corps have stopped being shocked by Ascension's "new tricks," but some are surprised to see parts of the press-conference roadmap already real.
Results are not public yet, so the armchair take is simple: Ascension is rich on Arasaka contracts and can afford toys. Arasaka does not object to the expansion. As long as the serum keeps flowing, Ascension can play with robots or chase space if they want.
On paper, Arasaka praises the "creative, innovative" partner and urges them on. Inside, both sides know the truth. Arasaka provides no robotics or aerospace support. They are a top house in both domains and keep their hands off, hoping Ascension stumbles.
If expansion hurts the company's core, Arasaka can squeeze more leverage and profit out of the partnership. What Arasaka does not expect is that Ascension does not need their help. In these lanes, Ascension's tech is already miles ahead.
Back on the gantry, the launch site hums. "What do you think of the field?" Rocky asks, looking over at Lucy.