The gleaming towers of Arasaka Corporate Plaza pierced the Night City skyline like steel spears, their illuminated windows casting cold reflections across the dark streets below.
Somewhere within those towers, executives plotted, engineers innovated, and soldiers prepared for wars most citizens would never know existed.
Far away from the corporate spotlight, another battle was already beginning.
Inside a secured Militech facility, Minister Samiru sat before a mountain of data files while holographic displays floated around him.
Lines of code, cyberware schematics, and neurological compatibility reports streamed endlessly through the air.
Victor sat opposite him, reviewing the information he had recently delivered.
Samiru’s expression was filled with satisfaction.
“Hmm…
this data is extremely valuable.” The older man adjusted his glasses before continuing.
“You’ve done excellent work, Victor.” Victor simply waved a hand dismissively.
“It’s nothing.
Just doing my job.” A faint smile appeared on his face.
“Although, I am curious about one thing.” Samiru raised an eyebrow.
“Oh?” “What happens next?” The minister chuckled.
“Officially, I shouldn’t discuss that.” Victor remained silent.
After a moment, Samiru shrugged.
“But your clearance level is high enough.” He leaned back in his chair.
“The plan is simple.” A new hologram appeared.
Cyberware blueprints.
Neural architecture diagrams.
Experimental combat enhancements.
“We’ll use the data to accelerate development of our next-generation cyberware systems.” Victor studied the projection carefully.
Samiru pointed toward one of the highlighted files.
“Specifically, a new Berserk operating system.” Victor’s eyes narrowed slightly.
A Berserk system.
One of the most dangerous and powerful combat implants ever created.
The technology could transform ordinary soldiers into monsters on the battlefield.
If developed successfully, it would dramatically strengthen Militech’s position.
Victor nodded slowly.
“Interesting.” Samiru smiled.
“Very.” A brief silence followed.
Then Victor casually asked another question.
“And after development?” Samiru immediately understood what he meant.
“We’ll need test data.” Victor leaned back.
“Human testing.” “Naturally.” The answer came without hesitation.
Samiru spoke as if discussing maintenance schedules.
“We can acquire gang members.” “Scavs.” “Prisoners.” “Homeless people.” “Disposable assets.” Victor remained expressionless.
To corporate executives, lives were resources.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
The minister continued calmly.
“If necessary, Counterintelligence can provide additional candidates.” Victor tapped the desk thoughtfully.
“What about exceptional subjects?” That question immediately caught Samiru’s attention.
“You mean talented individuals?” Victor nodded.
The minister smiled.
“Those would be ideal.” Superior nervous systems.
Superior combat instincts.
Superior adaptation rates.
The better the subject, the more valuable the results.
Victor slowly stood.
“If I find anyone suitable, I’ll let you know.” Samiru laughed.
“I’d appreciate that.” The call ended shortly afterward.
The room fell silent.
Victor stood motionless for several moments.
Then his gaze shifted toward Canris.
The towering operative immediately straightened.
“Boss?” Victor crossed his arms.
“I think it’s almost time.” Canris frowned.
“You mean Koch?” Victor nodded.
“Militech won’t wait much longer.” The room suddenly felt colder.
“They’re going to move against him.” Canris considered that carefully.
“Should we prepare?” Victor remained silent for several seconds.
His fingers tapped lightly against the desk.
Protection operations were normally handled by Arasaka security teams and Counterintelligence agents.
The Special Operations Division only intervened when things became dangerous.
Very dangerous.
Their purpose was simple.
When everyone else failed…
They finished the job.
Finally, Victor made his decision.
“Prepare the unit.” Canris nodded.
Then Victor added: “And this time, I’m coming too.” For a moment, Canris genuinely thought he had misheard.
“What?” Victor looked up.
“You heard me.” Canris blinked.
“Boss…” His expression became strange.
“You’re personally joining the operation?” Victor smirked.
“Problem?” “No!” Canris immediately shook his head.
“I’m just surprised.” He wasn’t lying.
The target was merely a researcher.
A corporate defector.
Even if complications appeared, Arasaka had plenty of specialists capable of handling the situation.
Sending Victor personally felt excessive.
Victor understood exactly what he was thinking.
Normally, he’d agree.
But this time was different.
A dangerous smile appeared on his face.
“I’ve been buried under paperwork for weeks.” Canris immediately understood.
Victor was bored.
That alone made the situation significantly more dangerous.
Victor stretched his neck.
The joints cracked softly.
“Besides.” His eyes narrowed.
“The situation with Dangerous Dolls has already been settled.” Canris nodded.
Victor continued.
“Which means certain rats may start moving again.” His smile widened slightly.
“I hope they do.” Canris suddenly felt sorry for whoever those rats were.
They had no idea what was coming.
— Not long afterward, Victor entered the Special Operations armory.
The massive room resembled something from a military science-fiction movie.
Weapons.
Armor.
Cyberware diagnostics.
Combat drones.
Every piece of equipment represented a small fortune.
Victor stepped onto the preparation platform.
Immediately, robotic arms descended from above.
First came the black combat bodysuit.
Flexible.
Bullet-resistant.
Designed specifically for enhanced operatives.
Then came the armor.
Matte black plating covered his body piece by piece.
Red highlights glowed faintly between the segments.
The finished result looked less like military equipment and more like something a corporate grim reaper would wear.
The helmet descended last.
Click.
The faceplate sealed.
Immediately, a crimson V-shaped visor illuminated the darkness.
Combat systems activated.
Threat analysis.
Biometric monitoring.
Target acquisition.
Neural synchronization.
All systems online.
Victor flexed his fingers.
The armor responded instantly.
Perfect synchronization.
Nearby technicians couldn’t help staring.
Even after seeing it countless times, the sight remained impressive.
A weapons compartment opened.
A blade emerged.
Victor grabbed it effortlessly.
The katana gleamed beneath the facility lights.
Forged from advanced tungsten-steel alloys and custom engineered for cybernetic combat, it could slice through armor that ordinary weapons struggled to damage.
He spun the blade once.
Twice.
Then smoothly returned it to its sheath.
Click.
The sound echoed through the armory.
“Let’s move.” His electronically distorted voice filled the room.
Nearby, Canris had already finished equipping his own armor.
Heavy tactical plating.
Mirrored combat visor.
Massive reinforced gauntlets.
Everything about him screamed battlefield brutality.
Canris looked at Victor and laughed.
“Boss.” “What?” “No matter how many times I see it…” Victor sighed.
“…” “Your armor still looks cooler than mine.” Victor shook his head.
“Stop kissing my ass.” Canris laughed loudly.
The Special Operations team quickly assembled behind them.
Weapons checked.
Communications verified.
Vehicles prepared.
Everything was ready.
Now all they needed was a reason to deploy.
— Meanwhile…
On the opposite side of Night City…
A very different team was preparing for the exact same operation.
Maine crouched behind an abandoned structure overlooking a busy roadway.
Traffic flowed steadily beneath the neon lights.
Corporate vehicles moved in organized formations.
Security patrols followed predictable routes.
Everything appeared normal.
But tonight was anything but normal.
Rebecca sat nearby cleaning her shotgun.
Pilar was nervously checking ammunition.
Sasha monitored surveillance feeds.
The entire crew was waiting.
Waiting for a target.
Rebecca finally broke the silence.
“So…” She glanced toward Maine.
“We’re really doing this?” Maine didn’t look away from the road.
“Doing what?” “Hijacking an Arasaka convoy.” Pilar laughed nervously.
“When you say it like that, it sounds insane.” Rebecca grinned.
“Because it is insane.” Maine finally turned around.
“The contract’s accepted.” His voice was calm.
“That means we’re doing it.” Simple.
Direct.
Final.
Nobody argued.
That was Maine’s style.
Once he made a decision, the discussion ended.
Sasha studied the mission file again.
The payment remained difficult to believe.
One hundred fifty thousand Eurodollars.
Enough money to change lives.
Enough money to buy freedom.
Enough money to make mercenaries ignore common sense.
Rebecca whistled.
“That’s a lot of eddies.” Maine nodded.
“Exactly.” Split evenly, everyone would receive a substantial payout.
And according to the mission briefing, the target wasn’t a combat specialist.
Just a researcher.
A corporate defector.
On paper, the operation looked straightforward.
Intercept convoy.
Capture target.
Eliminate target.
Collect payment.
Easy.
At least that’s what the mission file suggested.
Unfortunately…
The mission file was missing one very important detail.
One detail capable of getting every member of the crew killed.
Maine stared at the convoy route displayed on the screen.
Everything still seemed manageable.
Arasaka transported personnel every day.
Researchers.
Executives.
Engineers.
Analysts.
Nothing unusual.
But this convoy wasn’t carrying an ordinary researcher.
Far from it.
Unknown to Maine…
Unknown to Rebecca…
Unknown to the entire crew…
The man they were preparing to abduct was currently under the protection of the Director of Arasaka Special Operations.
And that changed everything.
Because while Maine believed he was hunting a vulnerable corporate scientist…
Victor was already preparing for war.
Far away, armored transport vehicles began leaving an Arasaka facility.
Special Operations personnel moved into position.
Encrypted channels activated.
Weapons were loaded.
Safety systems disengaged.
A storm was gathering.
Neither side fully understood what was about to happen.
But the collision course had already been set.
And once the first shot was fired…
Night City would witness a battle between one of the city’s most notorious mercenary crews and the deadliest corporate soldiers Arasaka could deploy.
The operation had begun.
And blood would soon follow.
——————————– CREATORS’ THOUGHTS ShadowSamuraiTL Have some idea about my story?
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