[Neo-Atlantis - The Royal Palace Command Center]
The holographic map of the island was glowing red. Thousands of green dots (immigrants) were flooding into the residential districts. But among them were flashing red triangles.
"Report," Alex said, sitting on his obsidian throne.
"Sir," Luna stood at attention. "We have processed 50,000 immigrants in the last 24 hours. But God's Eye has flagged 500 of them."
"Spies?"
"The worst kind," Luna swiped the screen. "CIA operatives, Mossad agents, Council assassins... they are all disguised as doctors and engineers. They are planning to sabotage the Fusion Core."
Alex tapped his finger on the armrest. "We need security. Real security."
"I can train a militia, Master," Luna offered. "Give me a month, and I will make them killers."
"A month is too long," Alex shook his head. "And humans can be bribed. Humans feel fear. I don't want soldiers who hesitate."
Alex opened the System Store. He navigated to the [Military & Warfare] tab. He scrolled past "Tanks" and "Jets." He went to the [Future Warfare] section.
Item: Cyber-Hounds (Pack of 10). Cost: $10 Million.
Item: Mech-Suit Infantry. Cost: $50 Million/Unit.
Item: The Titan Protocol (Gene-Soldiers). Cost: $1 Billion/Battalion.
Item: The Praetorian Guard (S-Class Androids). Cost: $5 Billion (Squad of 100).
"Dawn," Alex smiled. "Why hire people when I can print perfection?"
"Purchase the Praetorian Guard," Alex ordered. "And buy the Titan Protocol for the local police force."
[Transaction Processing...] [Expenditure: $50,000,000,000.] [Assets Acquired: 10,000 Units.]
[The Barracks]
Deep beneath the palace, the "3D Bio-Printers" roared to life. They weren't printing plastic. They were weaving synthetic muscle and nanocarbon bones.
HISSS.
Steam vented from the pods. The doors opened. Ten thousand soldiers marched out in perfect unison.
They were 7 feet tall. They wore matte-black "Void Armor" that absorbed light. Their faces were covered by full-face helmets with a single glowing red eye-slit. They carried Pulse Rifles that could melt a tank.
"Identify," Alex commanded, his voice amplified over the speakers.
THOOM. Ten thousand boots hit the floor at the exact same millisecond. The sound was like thunder.
"WE ARE THE LEGION," they spoke as one. Their voices were synthesized, deep, and terrifying. "WE SERVE THE KING."
Luna took a step back. Even she, an S-Class assassin, felt a chill. These things felt... empty. They had no souls. Only orders.
[The Deployment]
"Deploy," Alex waved his hand. "Secure the streets. Protect the Fusion Core. And if you find a spy..."
Alex's eyes went cold.
"...break them."
[Neo-Atlantis - Sector 4 (Immigration Zone)]
Agent Miller (CIA) was disguised as a janitor. He was planting a C4 charge near the water filtration plant. "Too easy," Miller whispered into his radio. "This place is a soft target. No police anywhere."
THUD.
A shadow fell over him. Miller turned around. He looked up. And up.
Standing behind him was a Praetorian Guard. The red eye-slit stared down at him. The soldier was silent as a grave.
"Oh god," Miller reached for his gun.
The Praetorian didn't even use its rifle. It simply reached out with a black-armored hand. It grabbed Miller's gun barrel and crushed it like a soda can.
"Target Identified," the Praetorian buzzed. "Hostile."
Miller screamed as the shadow engulfed him.
[System Notification] [Security Level: Absolute.] [Spy Count: Dropping Rapidly.]