MEGA MAN Project ZETA: Dawn of a New Era

"Three AM, on the Tenth Day of the Sixth Month,

The city sleeps well thus far tonight. The streets remain emptied of activity, as per curfew mandates set by Legion to better streamline the operation of Armada patrol units. Atmospheric conditions are normal and calm with no signs of storms in sight. All Armada vessels are accounted for and operational. Flagship Alphastar, under General Commander Estelle Durand is currently patrolling the Tesla Court, on the East Side of the city. All seems well; looking down on the city from above, it doesn't seem like the world is such a bad place..."

Estelle Durand stopped her dictation and threw a look to a young woman typing away rapidly at the ships main console. "Are you getting all of this, Isla?" she asked, knowing what the answer would be before the question even escaped her lips.

"You know it Essie," Isla said. "You almost got all mushy on me for a second with that one."

"I suppose," Estelle said, giving a deep, long sigh as she walked towards her ship's observation window. "It wouldn't be prudent to spare any sentiments, especially not when we report directly to Legion. And at that, why withhold the truth of the matter? We've created a paradise here; a place wherein all humans can live their lives without fear. With the Armada on patrol, the Maverick armies wouldn't dare mount an assault within city limits."

"You might want to hold onto that thought Essie," Isla said. "Look." Isla slid her seat out of the way her monitor and pointed to a message from another Armada patrol ship.

This Armada Patrol Ship Triton, calling to any ship in the area near Jogress street. We've just witnessed an explosion of unknown origin on the corner of Jorgess and Tesla Court Avenue. We're too far off to investigate. If anyone has a patrol in this vicinity, we request that you look into it.

"Jogress Street?" Estelle said.

"That's not far from here," Isla added. "We passed that corner moments ago. I guess we just missed our chance."

"Like Hell we did!" Estelle remarked. "Have the pilots turn us around. We'll double back for now. Let the other patrols know that we're on it, and to double up on the defenses around City Center and Union Square. We don't want anything getting through us."

"Roger that Essie! I'm on it!"​

-/-​

Deep beneath the vegetation of a overgrown jungle, a legion of Mavericks were hard work. Their warehouse, built into the pit of a dormant volcano, was a vital position for their operations, and the circulation of the latest weaponry. As many "grunts" pushed and pulled cargo both stolen and delivered, they were overseen from a distance by a dominator presence.

Upon a balcony overlooking the warehouse floor, stood a single, green-armored Reploid. A sneer was striking wildly across his face, and his hands were clasped formally and commandingly behind his back. "Everything is coming together nicely," the Reploid said quietly. "Soon we'll have enough wear to take on that blasted Armada... And those new generation Reploids. Shame they refuse to join out cause; they'll regret it though."

A small, mechanized orb floated idly to the green Reploid's side, and spoke to him in a dry, robotic voice. "Commander Eros, Strike Force Seven has reported back from their mission."

"Ah yes!" Eros exclaimed, even more enthused by the news. "The infiltration unit I sent to New Abel City has finally made contact. Play the message."

"This is Sargent Stratus to Commander Eros," came a voice from the orb's speaker. "You were right about the city. The underground provided vulnerable entrance into the city limits. We were able to set the charges into a building from the basement up just by taking the sewers. They were completely unguarded. The charges should have gone off by now. Awaiting further orders."

"Is that all?" Eros asked.

"That is all," the orb confirmed.

Eros fell silent for a moment. Then, with an even wider grin, he said, "relay back to the Strike Force. Tell them to lay low, keep an eye out and see who and what shows up to investigate. We want to know what New Abel City is capable of. They're only to engage the enemy if put under fire."​

 

The faint crackling of electricity could be heard behind Zeta, a sound normally associated with a single Reploid. In a flashy display of thunder and lightning, a tall white reploid with a golden spiked right arm and a heavy duty left sparked into existence. "You're getting sloppy Zeta. If you want to impress me like you say you do, then you'll have to be alot more quick to fire." Gemini Spark White, or White as everyone called him, was known for his very close relationship with Megaman Zeta. They shared many qualities, one of which was a hatred towards killing. Shown by the 30 unconscious, chained up Mavericks on the ground in front of him as Zeta came into sight. "I assume you came for Mavericks or an Armadancall correct? I've seen no signs of Armada, dear, but I got thirty unconscious Mavericks ready to haul back to base. My brother and Zero are out fighting stuff like usual. It's a wonder they haven't destroyed the base with there constant competitiveness and "who's the strongest" duels. Black always wins though, so Zero just ends up pushing himself harder... Oh well." He shrugged and plopped onto the ground with a thud, gesturing for Zeta to join him, and not paying any heed to the noise from behind him.



Further in, a black reploid, similar to White, cut another Maverick down. "That's three fifty for me Zero. How you faring over there partner?" This reploid was black, and had a golden spiked left arm. The twin brother of Gemini Spark White was known simply as Black. He was best friends with Zero, though they constantly battled to see who was better. So far, Zero had never beaten Black, who had superior battle skills. However, Zero was catching up to quickly for comfort, and Black has had to step up his game the past few years, nearly being beaten only a couple of days ago by a clever diversion tactic by Zero.

Currently, Black stood a good distance away from his partner, as they were slaying Mavericks to see who could take out more before they were all defeated. So far, Black had three hundred and fifty slain. He was confident about his victory.

 

White pouted but otherwise agreed. "Y'okay!" He smirked as he disappeared with the mavericks.



Black scoffed, lifting his thunderblade and cutting the last of the mavericks down. "201. HAHAHA!" He laughed loudly as he yelled out, "I win again Zero! Eh, what the... who... are you?" Black came face to face with a tall cloaked figure who spoke quietly, "I know you want peace. Join me and we will unite the reploids and mavericks... think about it... Gemini." The figure chuckled before disappearing.

 

The halls and rooms of the Alphastar were bathed in a violent red lightning that tinted over the natural colors. A piercing drone of alarms echoed through into the main hangar, from where the investigation team would be deployed down to the city streets via the hydraulic platform built into the of the ship. There, a team of thirty soldiers stood huddled around in a circle. At this circle's center stood Estelle, who, with a fiery passion to which the soldiers were conditioned, delivered her briefing.

"We're preparing to drop onto the city streets. I know that you're worried that this may be a Maverick assault... Or something worse. However, it is this that you have all been trained and readied for your whole lives this far. When touch ground, we fan out, and search the immediate vicinity. Note that you're all equipped with the light armor model. So don't neglect to keep your energy shields up; these models don't have them on a constant active loop like the heavier versions do. All Reploids found are to be approached with caution and treated as hostiles. Understood?"

"YES MA'AM!" the soldiers all chimed in unison.

"Good. Now let's yet ready for--"

"Essie? Essie do you copy?" Isla's voice called over the ship's intercom.

"He's Isla. What is it?"

"Well, it seems like we've to a fire-fight down there. I guess someone on the ground got things started."

"A fire-fight? Alright everyone! New plan! Isla, I want a squadron of heavy support units ready to go. They'll join us once they're ready, which better be soon. And don't hesitate to give us cover fire!"

"Roger that Essie. We're in hover right now. I'm lowering the ramp down to the street."

Moments later Estelle was standing on the street, glaring at the burning building. Paramedics had arrived to treat the injured and traumatized. Fire departments had also arrived to quell the fire, though both still operated under some banner of the Armada. Estelle directed half of her soldiers to aid with the recovery efforts, and began to walk towards an unwelcome site: a young man, adorned in blue armor... A Reploid boy, as Estelle took note immediately. She approached him, with an indignity about her. "Explain yourself," she demanded.​

 

The nerve of Reploids! To think that they could simply waltz out of the city after what had just happened. Estelle couldn't bear the thought of it as the blue Reploid casually shrugged off the burning building mere yards behind him. Did he not understand it? That Reploids and humans were a war? As leader of the Armada, she wasn't going to stand for anything less than total cooperation, whether from humans or Reploids.

Before the Reploid got out of her range, she turned about and grabbed at his arm to hold him back. "I can't allow your departure," she stated. "A building has just exploded and gone up in flames, and a firefight has recently been observed. Both of these within the human Haven of New Abel City. You are hereby detained, by order of Legion, and are to cooperate with the Armada as we investigate your role in these events. Any hostile action you take against us will be deemed Maverick, and you will be retired accordingly."​

-/-

"Replay message," Eros said, apparently for the one hundredth time.

He was once more in the company of the small, orb Reploid, which was constantly playing over the last message delayed from the city infiltration. The sounds of panicked voices, gunfire and Reploids being blown apart placed over and over again through the low resolution speakers. Despite what he was hearing and what it meant, he was still grinning, as though getting some sense of pleasure from his team's destruction. Yet at the same time his eyes were winced in sheer disgust. The combination of expressions made it difficult to tell whether he was awkwardly pleased or extremely angry.

Then, there was a sudden flash of green filled the room, and the orb rest about the ground in smoldering shambles in its wake. "So they blew their covers. I guess fools will always be fools. Good thing they weren't Echo members. Otherwise it would be a serious loss." Eros rose, and activated the intercom. "Hangar, this is Eros. Get me a squadron and a shuttle ready. I'm leaving for New Abel City. Over." He didn't wait for the Hangar's response; they would obey him without question if they knew what was best for them.

He proceeded out to his balcony overlooking the warehouse floor, where the other Reploids were still diligently working. Scanning over the area, Eros located a light gray armored Reploid barking orders across the floor. "Captain Trex!" he called, instantly grabbing the Reploid's attention. "I've got to step out for a few days. I leave you in charge of operations here. I trust everything will go according to plan?"

"Of course Commander Eros!" Trex said as he saluted.

"For your sake, it better. Otherwise, you'll have more than me to answer to."​

 

White arrived shortly after Roll left, pouting at being left behind by Zeta. He looked over at Dr. Light and ran over to him, hugging him happily, "Hi dad!! Do you have any upgrades for me huh huh?! I'm trying to get Zeta's attention... but I don't think it's working... I'm upset dad..."



Black appeared by Zero and Zeta, towering over the three easily. "I apologize for my friend's actions, I am Commandant Black, one of the two Gemini Twins. If we had known you had this covered, I would have never given the order to neutralize the threat. You have my sincerest apologies Ms. Estelle, and I can assure you that this was merely a small miscommunication. I will be taking both of them back to complete other missions that need to be finished immediatly..." Black glared at Zeta out of the corner of his eye as he continued, "As for you, I never gave you an assigment here in the field, you shouldn't even be here at all. I'll have to explain to Dr. Light the trouble you caused coming here today. I will also be placing you under the constant watch of my brother when we return to base."

Turning back to Estelle, Black bowed, "Again, I apologize. If there is nothing else, I will be leaving with these young Reploids."