From the cockpit, the pilot’s voice crackled through the comms. “Five minutes to drop zone. Prepare for extreme heat.”
Lyra sat near the open side door, staring down at the vast Endless waves of golden dunes, rolling like an ocean frozen in time. The sun blazed across the landscape, making the sand shimmer like molten metal. —just pure isolation. It was unlike anything she had ever seen. Their patterns shifting under the brutal sunlight. No trees, no buildings, no landmarks. Just… emptiness. - a desert in its raw, unforgiving beauty.
"Shit," Lara muttered, adjusting her visor. "This place is hell."
Lyra muttered, adjusting her visor. "I thought wastelands were bad, but this? This is another level."
Bilal wiped sweat from his forehead. "We die out here? We ain’t even leaving skeletons. We’ll just be… dust."
David checked his P.D.D. mission briefing.
Mission: Locate and Secure Missing Oil Team
Primary Objective: Investigate the lost Phoenix Corp. oil extraction team that went dark 48 hours ago.
Secondary Objective: Assess potential hostile presence and extract resources.
Threat Level: Unknown.
Ava, loading her rifle, frowned. "If they went dark, something happened. Either they found something they weren’t supposed to, or someone found them."
Shawn stretched his arms, smirking. "You could dump me anywhere, and I'd survive. But this? This is where people go to die. Either way, sounds like fun."
Just then, a blaring alert echoed through the cabin.
? WARNING: SEVERE WEATHER DETECTED. ?
The pilot swore. "Hold onto something! We’re heading into a sandstorm!"
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The sky turned a sickly orange-brown as the storm consumed the horizon. Wind howled like a living beast, shaking the drop ship violently.
"This is bad, this is really bad!" the pilot yelled, struggling with the controls.
Omega Squad braced as the ship tilted sideways.
? IMPACT WARNING! ?
The next few seconds were a blur—
Metal screeching. Flames erupting. Sand exploding around them.
Then—darkness.
Lyra gasped, coughing up dust. Her ears rang as she blinked through the haze.
The drop ship was wrecked, half-buried in sand.
Nearby, the others groaned, pulling themselves from the wreckage.
Shawn stumbled forward, bleeding from his arm. "Everyone still breathing?"
"Barely." Lara winced, clutching her ribs.
Bilal pulled the surviving pilot from the wreckage. "He’s alive! Lucky bastard!"
Ava checked her comms. Dead. No way to call for backup.
David, shielding his eyes from the sun, scanned the dunes. "We’re stranded. And there’s no way Phoenix Corp is sending rescue anytime soon."
Lyra took a deep breath. "Then we do what we do best."
Ava smirked. "Survive."
After patching up their wounds, Lyra and Lara climbed a rock formation, scanning the horizon.
Then—they saw it.
A thick column of black smoke, miles away.
"Camp fire?" Lyra
"That’s not a campfire," Lara murmured.
Lyra zoomed in with her rifle scope—and her heart dropped.
A massive oil rig, surrounded by armored vehicles and guard towers. Soldiers patrolled the perimeter, heavily armed.
Then, she spotted the logo.
A red skull inside a vulture’s wings.
"Shit," she whispered. "It’s not just any renegade faction. It’s the Sand Vultures."
Then, she spotted something else. An Oasis near the rig.
A chain-link cage near the oasis, filled with people.
"Shit," she whispered. "The lost oil team. They’re alive."
? Faction Identified: The Sand Vultures
A ruthless, nomadic PMC controlling illegal oil fields.
Deals in fuel smuggling, weapons trading, and mercenary contracts.
Known for capturing and executing Phoenix Corp. personnel.
Lara clenched her fists. "So that’s what happened to the missing team."
Lyra exhaled. "Then we don’t just need to take that rig—we need to rescue those people."
Ava’s voice crackled through the comms. "Are we even equipped for that?"
Bilal exhaled. " We’ve got no choice."
Lyra grinned. "We’re Omega Squad. We’ll figure it out."
Lara shouted, "We either take that oil rig, or we die out here."
Shawn chuckled. "Now you’re speaking my language."
Omega Squad approached under the cover of a sand dune, watching enemy movements.
"Alright," David whispered. "We’ve got twelve hostiles, plus whatever’s inside."
Lyra loaded her rifle. "We go in silent. Take down patrols first."
Bilal stretched. "Or… we just go loud."
Ava shot him a look. "You just want an excuse to use your machine gun, don’t you?"
Bilal grinned. "Obviously."
Lyra sighed. "Fine. We go loud."
Lara grinned. "Hell yes."
Then—chaos.
- Lyra sniped the first guard.
- Lara threw a grenade, blowing up an outpost.
- Shawn and Bilal stormed the main gate, clearing the way.
- David hacked the control panel, locking enemy reinforcements inside.
- Ava moved like a ghost, dropping enemies with precise headshots.
By the time the dust settled, the oil rig was theirs.
If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
But the hostages were still in the cage.
Lyra sprinted toward them, cutting the lock. "We’re getting you out of here!"
The oil workers, dirty and dehydrated, stumbled forward, grateful but weak.
One of them, a woman in a torn Phoenix Corp uniform, grabbed Lyra’s arm. "You don’t understand… they weren’t just keeping us prisoner. They were waiting for someone to buy us."
Lyra's stomach turned. Human trafficking.
But just as they caught their breath, Lara pointed.
"Guys… look at that."
She looked toward the airstrip. "We need to move. Now."
Parked at the makeshift airstrip was a massive C-100 cargo plane, fueled and ready.
Next to it?
An oasis. Palm trees, water, actual shade—a miracle in the desert.
Bilal wiped his forehead. "Well, damn. This is the best day ever."
Ava smirked, stepping closer. "Yeah?"
Then she grabbed his collar and kissed him.
The squad stared.
Lara whispered, "Holy shit."
Shawn clapped his hands. "Alright, someone owe me money? I knew this would happen."
Bilal, still dazed, blinked. "Uh… did I just win life?"
Ava patted his cheek. "Don’t ruin it."
Then—alarms blared. "Enemy reinforcements incoming!"
Lyra shouted, "Get everyone on the plane!"
The team loaded barrels of stolen oil into the C-100 cargo plane.
The engines roared, and the plane lifted off—just as a second sandstorm engulfed the battlefield.
The squad watched from the sky, the Sand Vultures’ former base now a burning ruin beneath them.
"Mission accomplished," Lyra breathed.
"Better than accomplished," Shawn grinned. "We’re about to get filthy rich."
As the C-100 cargo plane touched down on the Phoenix Corp. airstrip, the aftermath of their desert war still clung to their bodies. Their armor was scorched, their weapons low on ammo, and their faces worn with exhaustion.
But as the landing gear screeched to a halt, they saw something unexpected—an entire welcome committee.
Firefighter crews and medical personnel rushed forward, hosing down the cargo plane’s engines to prevent overheating while combat medics scanned Omega Squad for injuries.
At the front of the formation, Lt. Tim, along with several squad leaders from across the base, stood at attention.
For a moment, the squad just stared at the crowd.
"Did we just—" Bilal whispered.
"—become celebrities?" David finished.
Lyra adjusted her gear, scanning the hundreds of soldiers watching them. No one had expected a squad of rookies to pull off what they just did.
They had survived a crash, fought a warlord's army, stole their fuel, rescued prisoners, and made it back in one piece.
Omega Squad wasn’t just another PMC team anymore. They were a force to be reckoned with.
And the entire base knew it.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Omega Squad barely had time to process the last 48 hours before they were summoned to the main grounds.
This wasn’t just a standard debrief—this was something bigger.
As they marched into the open-air command square, they saw the entire base gathered in formation. Hundreds of operatives, officers, and engineers stood lined up, their eyes fixed on them.
At the central podium stood Mayor Shaw, Warlord Salami, Field Marshal Richard Wallace, and Lt. Tim.
A massive Phoenix Corp. banner hung behind them, fluttering in the wind.
The silence was thick with anticipation.
Then—Shaw stepped forward.
The Mayor’s voice boomed across the airfield, commanding attention.
"Today, we witness the rise of a new legend within Phoenix Corp. A squad that defied the impossible, conquered the merciless desert, and returned victorious—not just with resources, but with the lives of their fellow soldiers.
When we sent them out, they were recruits, Initiates learning their place in our ranks. But today, they return as warriors—specialists who have proven they can adapt, survive, and overcome any challenge thrown their way.
We sent Omega Squad into the unknown, and instead of breaking, they came back stronger. They took down an enemy force, secured vital resources, and most importantly, they brought our people home.
And for that, we honor them today."
The entire base erupted into applause.
Even seasoned veterans clapped in respect—a rare show of recognition.
Omega Squad had not just earned their promotions, they had earned the respect of an entire army.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Warlord Salami stepped forward next, his massive frame towering over them. His deep voice cut through the air.
"Omega Squad. You have completed a mission that most veteran squads would have failed. You didn’t just survive—you thrived."
A soldier stepped forward, carrying a black metal case. Salami flipped it open, revealing six silver insignias.
"For securing critical resources and executing a high-risk mission, Omega Squad is hereby promoted to Specialist Rank."
As the insignias were pinned onto their armor, a notification flashed on each of their P.D.D. devices.
[PROMOTION: SPECIALIST RANK UNLOCKED]
Shawn smirked, nudging David. "Specialists, huh? Sounds fancy."
Bilal muttered, "Yeah, but do we get a pay raise?"
Salami wasn’t finished. He gestured toward the massive C-100 cargo plane sitting behind them.
"Additionally, as recognition for your actions, Phoenix Corp is granting Omega Squad full ownership of the C-100 cargo plane. It is now yours—sell it, keep it, modify it, the choice is yours."
Bilal’s jaw dropped. "We own a goddamn plane?!"
Lara chuckled. "Now that’s an upgrade."
Salami turned back to the squad. "And finally, for rescuing fellow operatives and securing additional resources beyond mission parameters, Phoenix Corp awards you a total payout of—"
?? [TOTAL PAYOUT: 850,000 CREDITS + 200,000 BONUS FROM PHOENIX CORP] ??
Omega Squad’s P.D.D. devices buzzed as their accounts updated.
Bilal immediately collapsed onto the floor. "WE’RE RICH!"
Ava smirked. "Finally, I can buy proper gear."
Lara patted Lyra’s shoulder. "Time to stock the armory."
Lyra stared at her balance, letting out a slow breath.
They had started with nothing—just raw survival instincts and whatever gear they could scrape together.
Now?
Omega Squad had elite armor, weapons, and enough ammunition to start a war.
And they were just getting started.
As the ceremony ended and the base began to disperse, Lt. Tim walked up to them, arms crossed.
"You did good out there." His usual hard expression softened for a second. "But don’t let this go to your heads. This was just the beginning. Your next mission is already waiting."
Lyra smirked. "Wouldn’t expect anything less."
Tim chuckled. "Good. Because now that you’re Specialists… the real war begins."
As Omega Squad turned to leave the ceremony grounds, David’s P.D.D. beeped.
[CREDIT DEPOSIT : +100 CREDITS]
He blinked. "Oh, come on—again?!"
Bilal stared at him. "Dude, what the actual fuck? Who keeps paying you?!"
Ava crossed her arms. "Alright, I’m convinced. You’ve got a sugar daddy in High Command."
Shawn smirked. "Maybe it’s your dad funding your escape plan."
Lara laughed. "Or maybe Phoenix Corp accidentally set up a paycheck glitch."
Lyra shook her head, staring at his screen. "No name. No source. Just… another 100 credits."
David groaned. "At this point, I don’t even care. Free money is free money."
The squad burst into laughter, still baffled by the never-ending mystery of David’s secret 100 credits.
And with that, Omega Squad walked off, richer, stronger, and more dangerous than ever.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
[Phoenix Corp. – Secure Database]
[ACCESS GRANTED – OMEGA SQUAD]
Chancellor: Thomas Shaw (Supreme authority over Phoenix Corp.)
High Marshal: [CLASSIFIED] (Unknown identity, direct control over PMCs.)
Sector General: Augustus Vale (Oversees external operations, Citadel security.)
Commissioner: Eleanor Krause (Licensing, funding, and black-market ties.)
Command Overseer: Garret Miles (PMC performance evaluations, war economy.)
License Warden: Felix Grayson (Enforces PMC laws, revokes licenses.)
?? WARLORDS (Top PMC Leaders – Control entire sectors)
- Warlord Salami (Phoenix Corp. Special Forces Leader)
?? FIELD MARSHALS (High-Ranking Commanders – Lead Major Operations)
- Field Marshal Richard Wallace (David’s Father – Resource & Oil Division)
?? CAPTAINS (Squad Leaders – Manage Tactical Units)
- Capt. Tobias Crane (Elite Strike Forces)
- Capt. Darius Holt (Mechanized & Air Assault Units)
?? LIEUTENANT (Second-in-command of squads, tactical leadership.)
- Lt. Timothy "Tim" Vale (Omega Squad’s former instructor)
?? ENFORCER (Heavy weapons & demolitions specialist)
?? RANGER (Recon, scouting, and survival expert)
?? GUNNER (Frontline combat specialist)
?? SCAVENGER (Tech and resource retrieval expert)
?? Warrior (specialist) - current Omega squad rank
?? RECRUIT (Newly licensed PMC soldiers)
?? DRUDGE (Non-combat support roles – logistics, medical, repairs)
?? EXILE (Stripped of rank due to failure/betrayal)
?? GHOST OPERATIVE (Classified black-ops unit – No official records)
?? BLACKLISTED (PMC operatives banned from Phoenix Corp.)
?? VULTURE CAPTAIN (Leaders of rogue scavenger factions – Linked to Sand Vultures)
[RANK: Warrior - SPECIALISTS]
?? Lyra Vox
?? Bilal Gilani
?? Lara Thorne
?? David Maxwell
?? Ava Renner
?? Shawn Shaw
?? NEXT PROMOTION: Complete 5 successful missions to qualify for Lieutenant Rank.