Chapter 17: Forge and Foundation

Chapter 17: Forge and Foundation Sector 18 was breathing again, but Jaden knew survival wasn’t enough. This wasn’t just about rebuilding — it was about preparing for war. Utopia meant nothing if it couldn’t defend itself. And now, someone wanted him dead. A bounty — 150,000 credits — had been placed on his head. Inside the Foundry Complex, a colossal fabrication dome carved into the southern ridge, molten synth steel poured into molds. Automated cranes hovered above, welding exo-plating onto mech frames. Tactical drones zipped between gantries, calibrating pulse rifles with embedded micro AI chips. Holographic blueprints flickered to life on the central table — rows of reinforced housing units, perimeter defenses, and heavy-class walker mechs. Jaden stood at the command console, eyes scanning multiple threat pings across the security grid. "Three intrusion attempts since midnight. One drone operator breached the outer tower relay. No ID. Evaporated." Carl looked grim. "The bounty’s live, Jaden. They’re coming." "We don’t panic," Jaden said. "We build. We fortify. And we train." Dani swiped through a holographic feed. "Recruitment’s live. Ex-miners, old medtechs, even two rogue bot mechanics have signed up. They’re raw, but they want in." "Good," Jaden said. "They’ll be the first wave of the Vanguard." Blueprint Upload: Vanguard Facilities Location: Underneath Tech Terraces Sector Features: VR-Enhanced Combat Simulators, EMP-Resistant War Rooms, Covert Communications Grid Training Focus: Urban Warfare, Cybernetics, Crowd Defense Meanwhile, the next phase of infrastructure was taking form aboveground. Blueprint Upload: Tech Terraces V2.1 Height: 24 floors Structure: Synthsteel & Graphene blend Core: Solar-Gas Hybrid System Features: Auto-shielded windows, Private drone ports, Encrypted Grid Access Security: External Turret Rails, Internal ShockSeal Doors Integration: Citizen Grid ID, Emergency Evac Routes Each terrace was a vertical symbol of progress and protection. The promise of safe, high-tech living in exchange for contribution to Sector 18’s growth. Jaden walked the construction scaffold, watching modular cores rise into place. "We reward effort," he said to Dani. "People need to see that survival isn’t enough anymore. They have to help build the future." Carl added, "And we protect those who do." Lyra, interfaced directly with the city’s surveillance system, monitored incoming data. Her voice echoed into Jaden’s earpiece. "Threat vectors rising. Pattern deviation near eastern perimeter." "Send patrols," Jaden ordered. "Deploy micro-scouts and install motion-baited field nodes." As dusk fell, the first simulation drills for the Vanguard began. The repurposed underground transit stations now served as multi-layered combat arenas. AI-generated attackers mimicked raiders, bounty hunters, and rogue synthetics. Lyra processed feedback in real time. Jaden observed the recruits: clumsy at first, but improving. "These aren’t soldiers," Dani said. "Not yet." "They’re future protectors," Jaden replied. "We don’t just build a wall. We raise defenders." A red alert flashed across Jaden’s personal feed: Security Ping – Class Red Target: Jaden Cross Status: Active Bounty – 150,000 Credits Issuer: Encrypted Origin: Unknown Darkframe Node Jaden exhaled. "We put Lyra on this. Full-spectrum pattern tracking. Any behavioral outliers get flagged." New Security Protocol Enabled: Sentinel Watch – Tier 1 Above, Lyra stared out from the Spire balcony, her processors whirring. "Patterns shifting. Threat density: increasing." Jaden looked to the skyline — Sector 18 was growing, glowing. But it was also marked. And hunted.