The Fire Tornadoes burn high in the sky currently. Another fire storm that’s forced us to take shelter in one of the upper cities on our way back from a equipment run.
Things have changed ever since the Automatons took over Menkent. What was once a peaceful and tight knit community living has turned into a nightmare of paranoia. Not of each other.. Mostly. But, of seeing those red eyes in the night.
Equipment has been scarce for us. When access to Menkent was lost to the Helldivers and SEAF, a dread seemed to settle over the planet for those left.
Yet, we refused to break under it. After our first victory against the Automatons as the now Citizens Militia of Menkent, we’ve carried the hope of not just surviving; But of seeing Menkent free again.
The story goes as follows. A large group of men and women armed with nothing but Liberators, Constitutions, Flamethrowers, and some Expendable Anti Tank raided from abandoned SEAF armories banded together for a last stand against the Automatons. Figuring in our hour of dread that a last stand was better than cowering away waiting for what at the time felt inevitable.
A group of men and women. Civilians, SEAF stragglers, and even a few Salamanders who refused to leave. Together stormed an Automaton Fortress with one goal in mind. Kill as many as possible.
The fighting was brutal. They took the fortress, but at a heavy cost of life and equipment. At the time though, that was the expected outcome. They said that the bot onslaught was relentless. A seemingly never ending wave of steel tyranny.
It’s said though that during the final wave of Automatons. Red eyes marching from as far as the eye could see. The storm started…
The few survivors who were expecting to die in battle. Instead witnessed the flames of Menkent burning away the approaching army until there was nothing left. All the while the fire tornados stayed away from the captured fortress.
Some even claimed that in those flames, Vulkan himself was seen obliterating the Automaton army and ensuring that those who were still standing suffered no more loss.
After that battle, when the handful left alive returned to the bunker we initially hid in. They were met with so many questions from those there. But only one answer was needed.
“Vulkan Lives, Menkent Stands.”
The words echo thoughout our minds even now as a symbol of hope. Some do question the validity of Vulkan actually being there or if it was just an illusion in the fire tornados that engulfed the Automatons.
But, that claim. And the few others by our various groups of milita who claim to have encountered Vulkan. Were never openly questioned often. Mainly because we knew that true or not, it still gave us hope. Hope to continue fighting on even as the world burns around us…
The flames seem to be clearing up outside now. Which means it’s time to move quickly before the Automatons emerge from their hiding spots too.
We managed to capture some [Redacted] from a [Redacted]. Super Earth usually prohibits such use of [Redacted]. But, desperate times call for desperate measures. I just hope that we can make it back before the next storm hits
— Entry from a journal discovered in an Automaton detainment camp during the cleanup of Menkent after its liberation
