She sat up on her bunk, tapping her "Finance" tab. The numbers appeared in bright red text.
?? Omega Squad Financial Report
?? Total Earnings Before Spending: 2,100,400 Credits
?? Squad Purchases: Armor, Weapons, Ammo, Hangar Upgrades (Bunk Beds, Paint, Gear Storage, Barracks Area, Ammo Lockers, etc.) → 500,000 Credits Spent
?? Remaining Balance (Divided Among Squad Members):
Each Member Balance: 266,733 Credits
A notification popped up.
? Phoenix Corp Restriction: Rank Too Low to Transfer Credits.
Lyra scowled. "Motherf—"
She clenched her fists. She needed 1,000,000 credits to form her own PMC. Instead, her money was locked away in individual accounts, and Phoenix Corp wasn’t letting them share.
Fucking bureaucracy.
"Problem?" Lara asked from across the room, brushing her hair.
Lyra exhaled. "Yeah, I need a million credits to start my PMC, and I can’t even pool our money together because of Phoenix Corp’s rank restrictions."
Lara smirked. "Welcome to corporate slavery."
Bilal sat up from his bunk. "Nah, this is just New Earth’s version of capitalism. Earn big, spend bigger, and in the end, you’re still broke."
Ava, already fully dressed, smirked. "And yet, I don’t see you complaining when you get to spend those credits on me."
Bilal grinned. "Baby, I’d go bankrupt for you."
David, half-asleep, muttered, "You already are."
Shawn chuckled. "Alright, lovebirds. Save it for later. What’s on the agenda today?"
Just then, their P.D.D.s beeped simultaneously.
?? NEW MISSION ALERT ??
MISSION TYPE: Escort & Defense – Timber Shipment
CONTRACTOR: Iron Fang Security PMC
OBJECTIVE: Deliver three trucks of high-grade timber to Iron Fang’s newly established base 50km from Phoenix Corp HQ.
PAYMENT: 300,000 Credits (Divided Among Squad)
THREAT: Mutation Republic Raiders expected in the region.
RESTRICTION: No Phoenix Corp air support available.
Lyra checks her P.D.D."Hmmm! new mission invite. should we take it? Its timber shipment."
Bilal scratched his head. "We’re moving… lumber? Seriously?"
Lara smirked. "I mean, after fighting warlords and drug cartels, I guess we’re back to the basics."
Ava loaded her rifle. "And getting shot at. Don’t forget getting shot at."
Lyra exhaled. "Let’s move."
The team arrived at the Phoenix Corp motor pool, where three massive eight-wheeled transport trucks were lined up, loaded with stacks of reinforced timber.
Standing nearby was a tall, scarred man with a cybernetic right arm—his Iron Fang PMC badge pinned to his chest.
?? Name: Commander Rylan Voss
?? Faction: Iron Fang Security (New PMC, seeking expansion in New Earth.)
He gave them a quick nod. "Omega Squad? Heard a lot about you. Hope you live up to your reputation."
Shawn smirked. "We exceed expectations."
Rylan chuckled. "Good. You’ll be escorting these trucks through some rough territory. Mutation Republic forces have been raiding convoys, and we’re expecting resistance."
Lyra crossed her arms. "Any intel on their numbers?"
Rylan shook his head. "Hard to say. Some say it’s just scavengers. Others say they’ve built a full warband out there. Either way, keep your guns loaded."
Bilal patted his LMG. "That’s the only way I keep ‘em."
The trucks roared to life, rolling out in a tight formation.
?? Truck 1 (Lead Vehicle): Driven by Rylan, with Lyra and Lara riding shotgun.
?? Truck 2 (Middle Vehicle): David driving, Shawn and Bilal manning the turret.
?? Truck 3 (Rear Vehicle): Ava driving, with two Iron Fang soldiers on lookout.
The landscape changed fast. The smooth roads near Phoenix Corp HQ turned into uneven, rocky wasteland. Distant ruins poked out of the horizon like skeletal remains of a dead civilization.
For about an hour, everything was quiet.
Too quiet.
Then—a distant rumbling.
Lyra narrowed her eyes. "You hear that?"
Lara loaded her sniper rifle. "I see dust trails behind us."
David’s voice crackled through comms. "Looks like we’ve got company."
Out of nowhere, a mutant war truck roared over a sand dune, mounted with a jury-rigged flamethrower.
Ava cursed. "Here we go!"
?? HOSTILE FACTION DETECTED: MUTATION REPUBLIC RAIDERS
Surviving humans who adapted to the wasteland through genetic alterations.
Aggressive, brutal, and territorial.
View all PMC operations as a threat to their survival.
?? Multiple enemy vehicles appeared on radar! ??
?? The first war truck opened fire, spraying flames toward Truck 2.
Bilal swung his LMG into position. "Not today, freaks!"
RATATATATAT!
A spray of bullets ripped through the engine, sending the burning war truck into a violent roll, crashing into a sandbank.
Shawn whooped. "One down!"
From the left flank, a motorcycle gang surged forward, throwing makeshift grenades.
Ava yanked the wheel, swerving Truck 3, dodging an explosion. "You motherfuckers are persistent!"
Lara leaned out of Truck 1’s window, sniping a raider off his bike.
?? Headshot. The rider flipped over his handlebars, body tumbling into the sand.
Lyra gritted her teeth. "We need to push through! Keep driving!"
Just when they thought they had cleared the worst of it, a massive armored vehicle cut them off—a rusted APC covered in bone trophies.
A loudspeaker crackled.
"You do not belong here. Surrender the cargo, and we let you live."
Shawn cracked his knuckles. "Oh, they wanna negotiate?"
Bilal grinned. "I negotiate in bullets."
The APC’s turret spun toward them.
"FIRE EVERYTHING!" Lyra shouted.
?? Explosions rocked the convoy.
?? Omega Squad went full assault mode.
?? Flames and bullets ripped through the battlefield.
Ava drifted Truck 3 sideways, using the vehicle as cover.
Bilal jumped onto Truck 2’s turret, sending a storm of lead into the APC’s gunner seat.
David lobbed a grenade. BOOM! The APC’s right treads shredded apart, leaving it stranded.
With one final sniper shot from Lara, the APC exploded, sending shrapnel into the sky.
Silence.
Then—cheers.
Rylan’s voice cracked through comms. "Holy shit. You guys are insane!"
Shawn smirked. "We get that a lot."
Just then, another voice crackled through their comms.
"Damn. That was impressive."
They turned to see a tall, broad-shouldered soldier in Phoenix Corp. tactical gear, walking toward them with a relaxed stance.
Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.
Name: Agent Victor Kain
Rank: Operative – Logistics Division
Assignment: Phoenix Corp. Liaison for Omega Squad
He extended a gloved hand toward Lyra, giving a sharp nod. "Heard a lot about you, Omega Squad. I’m your new operational liaison. Looking forward to working with you."
Lyra narrowed her eyes but shook his hand. Something about this guy felt too perfect.
Shawn leaned toward David. "He looks like he walked out of a recruitment poster."
David smirked. "Yeah. That’s what bothers me."
Unbeknownst to Omega Squad, Victor Kain wasn’t just a liaison.
[CLASSIFIED FILE – HIGH COMMAND ACCESS ONLY]
AGENT VICTOR KAIN – TRUSTED OPERATIVE OF MAYOR THOMAS SHAW
- Assigned to Omega Squad to monitor their actions and report any disloyalty.
- Ensuring they remain assets, not liabilities.
The convoy finally reached Iron Fang’s base, battered but victorious.
MISSION COMPLETE – 300,000 CREDITS EARNED
Rylan Voss clapped Shawn on the shoulder. "Iron Fang owes you one. If you ever need work, we pay well."
Shawn smirked. "We’ll keep that in mind."
Lyra smirked, checking her balance.
Still not enough for her PMC.
She sighed. "Guess we need more missions."
Bilal wrapped an arm around Ava. "More missions mean more money. And more money means more dates."
Ava rolled her eyes but smirked. "Keep dreaming, dumbass."
Just then, David checked his P.D.D. and froze.
[CREDIT DEPOSIT: +100 CREDITS]
The whole squad turned to look at him.
Bilal pointed. "AGAIN?!"
Shawn threw his hands up. "Alright, what the actual fuck?"
Ava shook her head. "This has to be a bug. A ghost payment. Something."
David just sighed. "At this point, I don’t even care. Free money is free money."
The squad burst into laughter, still baffled by the mystery of David’s secret 100 credits.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
With three trucks full of timber unloaded, Omega Squad was stuck in Iron Fang territory with no ride back.
Lyra groaned. "Let me guess. We’re waiting for Phoenix Corp to send a transport?"
Victor Kain smirked. "Actually, there’s a faster way. The Iron Fang market sells vehicles. You’ve got the credits, don’t you?"
David checked his balance. "Hell yeah, we do."
NEW PURCHASE – 80,000 CREDITS SPENT
VEHICLE ACQUIRED: "The Iron Beast" (Armored Jeep, Seats 6)
As the team climbed into their new ride, Bilal called shotgun while Ava took the driver’s seat.
Shawn looked around the reinforced steel plating and mounted front turret. "Not bad."
Lara tapped on the dashboard. "This thing better not break down mid-mission."
Ava revved the engine, smirking. "Well, let’s find out."
With a roar, the jeep sped off into the wasteland, taking Omega Squad back to Phoenix Corp HQ.
LOCATION: SECURED ROOM – HIGH COMMAND HQ
Mayor Thomas Shaw stood alone in a dimly lit conference room, his back to the door, staring at a holographic map of New Earth.
The door hissed open, and a hooded figure stepped inside.
"You summoned me, Chancellor?" the voice asked.
Shaw turned, his face shadowed but his eyes burning with ambition.
"Omega Squad is getting too much attention." He paused. "We need to control them… or break them."
The hooded figure nodded. "And if they resist?"
Shaw smirked. "Then they’ll see what happens when they stand against Phoenix Corp."
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Iron Beast tore through the rugged wasteland, its reinforced tires kicking up dust clouds as Ava pushed the accelerator. The sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the rocky terrain.
Lyra sat in the passenger seat, half-distracted, her mind still racing over the mission, the credits, and the growing feeling that something bigger was happening behind the scenes.
Then—the roar of engines behind them.
?? WARNING: UNKNOWN PURSUERS DETECTED ??
David checked the rear cameras on the dashboard.
"Two dirt bikes, closing in fast!" he called out.
Bilal grabbed his LMG. "If they’re looking for a fight, I got enough ammo to host a welcome party."
Shawn scanned the terrain ahead. "Could be Mutation Republic… or renegades looking for easy loot."
Ava narrowed her eyes. "Or worse—Phoenix Corp doesn’t like loose ends."
Lyra pulled out her rifle, resting it against the doorframe. "We find out the old-fashioned way—force them to reveal themselves."
The bikes zigzagged through the terrain, kicking up sand and rock as their riders maneuvered effortlessly through the uneven ground.
One of the bikers pulled ahead, raising a pistol—
?? BANG!
A single gunshot rang out—but instead of aiming at them, the biker shot into the air.
Ava’s eyes widened. "Wait—what the hell?"
The second rider pulled up beside them, lifting their visor.
A familiar smirk met Ava’s confused expression.
"Been a while, sis," the rider said.
Ava froze, her grip on the wheel tightening.
"No fucking way."
New Character Introductions
?? Ryder Renner – Ava’s Older Sister (Leader of the PMC "Black Dawn")
?? Kane Maxwell – David’s Older Brother (Tactical Head of Black Dawn, former Phoenix Corp officer)
David’s eyes widened in shock. "Kane?"
The second rider nodded. "Still playing soldier for Phoenix Corp, little brother?"
The Omega Squad members exchanged glances. This was not what they expected.
The convoy pulled to a stop at a high mountain ridge, overlooking the vast desert below. The setting sun bathed the sky in deep oranges and purples, casting long shadows over the rocky cliffs.
Ryder hopped off her bike, removing her helmet, shaking out her black, shoulder-length hair.
"You guys are lucky," she said, leaning against a boulder. "If we were anyone else, you’d be dead right now."
Shawn smirked. "Cute. You should see what happens when people actually try."
David, still processing his brother's sudden appearance, stepped forward.
"Kane—what the hell are you doing here?"
Kane crossed his arms. "The same thing you should be doing—staying the hell away from Phoenix Corp."
David frowned. "We’re making good money."
Kane scoffed. "Yeah? And when you finally have enough to make your own PMC, you think they’ll let you?"
The words hit hard.
Lyra clenched her fists. "They can’t stop us if we have the credits."
Ryder sighed. "That’s where you’re wrong."
She gestured toward the horizon. "Phoenix Corp controls everything. The licenses, the first city, the land itself. The moment you file for PMC registration, Shaw will come after you and if you go independent? They’ll wipe you out before you can establish yourself."
Silence fell over the squad.
Ava crossed her arms. "Then how are you still standing?"
Kane smirked. "Because Black Dawn is independent. We don’t answer to Phoenix Corp, and we don’t share resources with them. That’s the only way to survive—build something outside their grasp. Build your own pmc. That way you can make your own ranks."
Ryder leaned toward Lyra. "If you want to start your own PMC, you need to make big money—fast. You need power, influence, and most importantly… protection."
Lyra exhaled, her mind spinning. She was starting to see the real game now.
David frowned. "There has to be another way."
Kane shrugged. "There are people in High Command who fear Shaw, but they can’t act because he has too much power. If you prove yourself, those people might back you. But you need to move fast."
Ava narrowed her eyes. "Why are you telling us this? Why now?"
Ryder smirked. "Because someone already set things in motion for you. You still have the usb?"
Ava stepped forward. "Wait— the USB I gave Lyra. How did you know?"
Ryder grinned. "Because it came from our father."
Lyra’s breath caught in her throat.
Lyra felt her chest tighten. "My father… he knew this would happen?"
Kane nodded. "And whatever’s on that drive is your way out of this mess. The password is from the stories your father used to tell you. that's all I know."
Ryder gave one last glance toward Ava. "This is your chance to break free, sis. Don’t waste it."
With that, they climbed onto their bikes, kicking up dust as they disappeared into the wasteland.
Back at Omega Squad’s Hangar, Lyra sat on her bunk, staring at the USB.
Her hands trembled slightly as she plugged it into her P.D.D.
A login screen appeared.
ENTER PASSWORD:
Her mind flashed back to her childhood.
To James’ voice, telling her stories about a world that no longer existed.
Then she remembered.
James always ended every story with the same words:
"No matter what happens, remember… this world isn’t just ours..... Its called Earth."
Lyra inhaled sharply.
Her fingers typed one word.
PASSWORD: EARTH
The screen flickered—then unlocked.
a progress bar moving to sync....
A financial transaction appeared.
[TRANSFER COMPLETE: 5,000,000 CREDITS Transferred]
Her heart stopped.
"What the fuck…?"
But that wasn’t all.
A holographic map materialized, glowing faintly as it projected a detailed terrain scan. At the center, a set of coordinates pulsed softly, marking the location of a potential base site—deep within an unclaimed sector, untouched by Phoenix Corp.
Just beyond its borders, another territory blinked into view—this one already claimed.
BLACK DAWN TERRITORY DETECTED
Lyra’s eyes narrowed. Her father hadn’t just found her a place to start—he had positioned her right next to one of the PMCs operating outside of Shaw’s control.
This wasn’t just a base.
It was a foothold in a war she hadn’t even realized had already begun.
A second file opened—a video.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The recording flickered, static lines running across the screen as the image stabilized.
James Vox appeared—older, worn, but very much alive. His face was marked by years of hardship, his eyes filled with a deep, unspoken sorrow.
Then, he spoke.
"Lyra… my love… if you're seeing this, then the time has come. And for that, I am sorry."
He took a slow breath, his gaze steady.
"Circumstances forced me into the shadows. I had no choice but to fake my death. Shaw never wanted the people of the Citadel to know the truth—that the world above was livable again.
I tried to fight him. I tried to expose him. But I failed."
James ran a hand through his graying hair, his jaw tightening.
"Even after my warnings, Shaw still found a way. He played the long game—slowly, methodically. Secretly, he sent scouting teams, established footholds, and built Phoenix Corp in the dark, long before anyone else knew New Earth was habitable.
That’s how he built his empire."
The recording glitched for a moment, then continued.
James leaned forward, his expression darkening.
"The Citadel was never just a bunker. Beneath its deepest levels, buried under time and war, were stockpiles—massive caches of weapons, vehicles, and resources from the old world. And Shaw… he sold them."
"That’s how he funded Phoenix Corp. That’s how he gained power before anyone could stop him."
A shadow passed over James’ face, his voice quieter now.
"For twenty years, I’ve worked from the outside. I made friends in every faction—the Renegades, the Black Market, even the Mutation Republic. I had to. Because I knew this day would come."
He looked directly at the camera, at her.
"Lyra, listen to me. War is coming. The power Shaw holds cannot go unchallenged. You cannot run from this fight. You must stand, and you must build."
The screen glitched again, but his voice remained clear.
"You need people. Fighters, engineers, operatives—you need an army. You need to build your PMC as strong as Phoenix Corp. Stronger. Because that’s the only way to stop what’s coming."
His lips pressed into a thin smile—a father’s pride, a warrior’s burden.
"I am so proud of you, my daughter."
The feed began to distort, the signal breaking.
His final words cut through the static, heavy with emotion.
"Take care, Lyra. And when the time comes… fight. Fight for something greater than survival."
The screen faded to black.
Lyra sat in silence.
She wasn’t just some soldier anymore.
She was about to start a revolution.
PMC:CHRONICLES
Volume 2 is under development