Arborvoid

The war was spiraling beyond control.

In the military command center, General Adewale stood before a glowing holographic map, its swirling reds and oranges painting a picture of Earth's devastation. The battlefield shifted in waves, marking territory lost, reclaimed, and drowned in fire. Around him, his team worked feverishly, exhaustion creeping into their movements.

"They're tearing each other apart," Adewale muttered, voice low, controlled. "But we're still caught in the crossfire. We need to end this."

Emma stepped closer, her sharp gaze scanning the chaos with the dual mind of a scientist and a fighter. "There's a pattern," she noted. "The Zogarians are targeting their own infrastructure—their WoodDust processing hubs. They're trying to secure their supply."

Chloe, tapping rapidly at her console, pointed at a pulsing dot deep in the Amazon rainforest. "Look, Doc. This facility—it's massive. Heavily guarded. It's their main hub."

Emma's breath hitched as the realization locked in. "If we disrupt their WoodDust production, we cripple them. And maybe..." She hesitated, weighing the risk. "...the other aliens will retreat."

Adewale studied her carefully, eyes narrowing in calculation. "A bold move." His expression hardened. "But how do we get in? Their fortifications won't fall easily."

Emma's resolve solidified. "A small, elite team. We'll use their own technology against them."

---

Zogarian Command Ship – Emperor Zar's Chambers

High above Earth, Emperor Zar watched the same conflict unfold on his private war display, his molten eyes flickering with pure rage.

This was not how the invasion was meant to go.

The WoodDust operations—delayed. Human interference—escalating. And now, a new alien species dared to interfere with Zogarian conquest.

Zar's jaw tightened, his clawed fingers flexing at his side. The scent of burning Zogarian wreckage filled the chamber, even from afar.

A commander's voice, cautious yet unwavering, echoed through the transmission line. "Emperor. The humans have begun targeting our processing sites directly. They appear to understand the significance of our resource."

Zar's nostrils flared. "They should not have the intelligence for this."

A pause. Then his voice darkened, sharp as the edge of a blade. "Destroy any facility vulnerable to their assault. If we cannot harvest, we will ensure they never do either."

His molten gaze drifted toward Earth, his fury a quiet, seething storm.

---

Amazon Rainforest – The Mission Begins

In a makeshift hangar, the tension pressed down like a fog, thick with unspoken doubt and looming danger. The squad assembled in silence, their movements quick, efficient.

Adewale adjusted his modified infiltration suit, its angular Zogarian patterns shimmering faintly as it adapted to his form. The technology, reverse-engineered from captured harvesters, was unstable. But it was their only chance.

"This is a suicide mission," he said flatly, tightening his belt. "But it's our best shot. We go in, disable the facility, and get out."

Emma, checking her disruptor, watched its green energy pulse in quiet anticipation. "We shut down their defenses. Chloe will hack their systems remotely."

Through the comms, Chloe's voice crackled, sharp but undeniably present. "I'm with you every step of the way. Just stay alive."

---

Deep in the Jungle – Infiltration

Under the cover of thick, suffocating night, the team slipped through the towering labyrinth of trees and alien structures. Their suits blended with the Zogarian personnel—lean figures with glowing eyes and crystalline skin, all moving with practiced efficiency.

Adewale crouched, scanning the darkness. "Sensors picking up heavy security patrols. Stay low."

Emma's device hummed, guiding them forward. "Facility's central complex—straight ahead."

The squad moved like ghosts, weaving between shadows, each step calculated, quiet, measured.

Then—movement. Patrols closing in.

Emma lifted her disruptor, its green pulse cutting through the black. The soldiers fired in sync, sending silent bursts of charged WoodDust into the air. The energy crackled, colliding with the Zogarian guards—brief static distortions flickering across their bodies, sending them into momentary disarray.

A perfect window.

Adewale exhaled sharply, eyes narrowing. "We're in. Keep moving."

Ahead, the towering heart of Zogarian operations loomed.

And deep within it—the key to shifting this war.