The dropship shuddered violently as it pierced the clouds, the descent becoming increasingly turbulent. Duke gripped the edge of his seat, bracing himself against the chaos that enveloped them. The distant thud of explosions echoed through the ship, a grim reminder that the moment they hit the ground, it was going to be chaos.
“Ten seconds to drop!” Iron Jack’s voice boomed, cutting through the cacophony.
Duke glanced at his squadmates, each one wearing a determined expression. They were ready. They had to be.
“Remember,” Iron Jack continued, his tone serious, “this planet isn’t like anything you’ve faced before. Stick together, cover each other, and for the love of democracy, watch your backs!”
The lights flickered, and the hatch doors began to open, revealing a swirling maelstrom of smoke and flames below. Duke's heart raced as he leaped from the ship, plunging into the maelstrom of chaos.
As he fell, the world blurred into a torrent of color and sound. Duke activated his parachute, and it deployed with a satisfying whoosh, slowing his descent. Below him, the battlefield unfolded—a vast expanse of shattered buildings, overturned vehicles, and the glint of robotic sentries patrolling the ruins.
He touched down roughly but rolled with the impact, quickly regaining his feet. The squad landed nearby, each of them springing into action as the chaos of war surrounded them.
“Right on time for the party!” Trent shouted, popping a few rounds into a nearby enemy droid that had spotted them. The bullets pinged harmlessly off its armor, and it turned toward him with a metallic whirr.
“Get back!” Lila yelled, her voice urgent as she tossed a grenade. The explosive detonated, shredding the droid into pieces and sending debris flying.
Duke took a deep breath, adrenaline coursing through his veins. “Let’s move!” he shouted, rallying the squad. They took off toward the nearest cover, weaving through the wreckage as more enemy robots appeared on the horizon.
"Where the hell are the rest of the squads?” Mel asked, ducking behind an overturned APC, her eyes scanning the area for threats.
“Probably stuck in traffic,” Duke quipped, ducking as a plasma blast sizzled through the air where he had just stood. “We need to establish a perimeter before they get overwhelmed!”
Just then, Iron Jack’s voice crackled through their comms, gravelly and commanding. “Stay sharp, Helldivers! The enemy’s regrouping. We’re going to push toward the outpost. The intel says we can find a command center there.”
As they moved, a massive metallic figure emerged from the smoke—a hulking robot with a gleaming cannon arm, towering over the ruins. The squad paused, eyes wide.
“Great,” Trent muttered, “now we’re fighting mechs.”
“Just another day at the office,” Duke replied, adrenaline heightening. “Lila, you got any heavy ordinance?”
“I’ve got a couple of grenades left!” she said, rummaging through her gear.
“Good enough,” Duke said, taking a deep breath. “Everyone, flank it! Mel, keep its attention while Lila and I move to get a shot!”
"Roger that!” Mel grinned, brandishing her rifle as she dashed out from cover, firing at the mech. “Hey, metalhead! Over here!”
The mech turned, focusing its attention on Mel, and in that instant, Duke and Lila rushed forward, ducking low. “Now!” Duke yelled, as Lila tossed a grenade right under the mech's foot.
The explosion rocked the ground, and the mech stumbled back, its systems flickering. “Go for the joints!” Duke shouted, raising his rifle and firing directly at the exposed circuitry.
