U.L.T.R.A. Builder

Before the Storm

Uri and V1 stood in the briefing room. The same old Quark extermination mission, or so they thought.

"A research platform in the African Union reported that it was under attack," explained the WDF agent in the room. "Its systems only caught a single picture before the whole platform went offline. I'll bring it up now."

The agent brought up the holographic panel and showed the pair the image. It showed the research platform burning, while in the top right corner, V1 could make out a blurry red M.A.S.S. unit. It had the same mono-eye as the green unit that had attacked the dam.

"We suspect the attacks were orchestrated by Cyclops. We want you two to head down there and take that M.A.S.S. out." He shifted a bit and continued. "This part is unconfirmed, but reports from the researchers say that they were chased by weird robots. Their descriptions match the Machines that V1 faced. You'll have to take care of them as well."

...

While V1 and Uri were flying to the platform, they exchanged idle chatter through the comms.

"Uri... are you sure you're alright? With what you were saying earlier- Are you ok with these missions?"

"I... I'm fine. Don't worry about me, please."

"Okay. Just talk to me if you need someone, I'm here for you."

"Gotcha– Hey look, we can see the platform now!"

The platform was coming into view. As the two saw in the picture, it was flaming from the apparent siege by Cyclops and the machines.

"You know... I have a hypothesis about the machines."

"What is it?"

"You know how the WDF brought me to their side with the blood donations?"

"Yeah, what about that?"

"What if Cyclops is doing the same thing, but for the other machines? It could explain why they appeared with the green unit at the dam."

"Well... I can see that. But what about the blood needed? They would need thousands of gallons, I can't see them getting all of that."

"That's the part I don't know. But it's the best thing I can come up with."

"I guess..."

...

They arrived at the research platform.

"Looks like the reports were right. There are machines everywhere, wow."

"Looks like it. I'll handle the machines, you look for the red unit."

"Roger."

V1 dashed off the Hyperion into the swarm of enemy machines. There were mainly Swordsmachines and Guttermen, with a few Mindflayers dotted in. While V1 was still in the air, the Guttermen began firing their chainguns at it. V1 was able to flick a few of its coins into the incoming fire, reflecting the shots into the individual Guttermen. As V1 landed, it pulled out the jackhammer, eager to test its new weapon. It slid to the nearest Swordsmachine, pulling back the hammer.

+BLUNT FORCE

The impact made an audible *clang* as it collided with the machine. The Swordsmachine collapsed, making its familiar shriek as it went to half health. V1 revved the chainsaw on the weapon and jabbed it into the machine, taking it out while it was down.

+GROOVY

+KILL

V1 accidentally let go of the switch that activated the chainsaw. But to its amazement, the chainsaw launched off of the jackhammer into a cluster of enemies. The saw ripped through 2 more Swordsmachines and a Mindflayer. Their cacophony of screams filled V1's audio circuits as the chainsaw returned to the gun.