The heavy steel doors of the subterranean command center hissed open, entirely oblivious to the apocalyptic warzone violently raging hundreds of feet above our heads. Valerius didn't wait for a tactical clear. He stepped aggressively into the dimly lit access corridor, his massive frame radiating an absolute, terrifying aura of unadulterated violence. I followed closely, perfectly in step, the sleek submachine gun resting comfortably against my shoulder. The heavy black diamond on my finger felt incredibly warm against the cold metal of the weapon, a physical reminder of the empire I was about to violently defend.
We bypassed the standard civilian elevators, heading directly for the heavy industrial lift specifically designed for rapid tactical deployment. As the heavy metal grate slammed
