Mars, July 15, 2027. 0900 Hours.
The chamber’s machines roared, runes blazing like neon. John Mitchell shoved Xiaotong Zheng behind a pillar, his pulse racing. He’d led crews to ruin before—never again. “Zheng, what’s waking?”
Her scanner flickered. “The artifact’s linked to this… grid. It’s powering up.”
Yuri Leonov ducked a sparking drone, cursing. “Powering what? A Martian trap?”
Rachel Voigt fired a flare, illuminating towering Sumerer tech. “It’s a network. Underground, massive.”
Elias Moretti’s voice shook. “This is their legacy. Sumerers built this.”
Anika’s comms crackled from the outpost. “Runes translate to ‘guardians.’ It’s a warning.”
Mitchell’s eyes narrowed. “Guardians of what?”
Xiaotong’s scanner beeped frantically. “Energy surge—directed at us!”
A hologram flickered, showing a Sumerer figure, its voice a low hum. “Intruders, cease. The vault seals.”
Yuri snorted. “Chatty corpse, huh?”
“Shut it,” Mitchell barked. “Zheng, can we stop it?”
She shook her head. “It’s autonomous. We triggered it.”
The chamber quaked, walls closing. Rachel shouted, “Exit’s collapsing!”
Elias pointed to a rune panel. “That’s a control! I can hack it!”
“Do it!” Mitchell roared, covering him. Drones whirred, targeting. Yuri’s torch flared, blasting one. “Move, egghead!”
Xiaotong’s fingers flew over her tablet. “I’m syncing the artifact. It might stall them.”
The hologram’s voice boomed. “Leave, or perish.”
Mitchell’s resolve hardened. “We’re not done here.”