Massive Disaster 4-20 Outline (Patreon)

Zedd gunning the Grande forward toward massive asteroid, engines straining from combat damage

Ship banking hard left around debris field, metal fragments scraping against hull

Kira gripping armrests, knuckles white: "Where are you going?"

Zedd's eyes locked on target, jaw clenched: "To that asteroid."

Nina leaning forward from passenger seat: "I thought you said we have to get back to the colony."

Zedd's voice clipped with barely controlled anger: "I know what I said."

Kira's tactical mind engaging: "Then what are you-"

Zedd snapping, hands gripping controls: "How about both of you shut up and let me do what I'm doing?"

They quiet down.

Immediate silence falling over cabin, tension thick as vacuum

Ship approaching what appeared to be barren rock surface

Suddenly multiple buildings materializing as they descend, architectural lines becoming visible

Geometric structures built into asteroid's surface, seamlessly integrated

Zedd's explanation while navigating approach: "Cloaking tech, only works outside of atmosphere. No air to get in the way."

Dev pressing face to viewport: "How long has this been here?"

Massive hangar door sliding upward with mechanical precision, revealing cavernous interior

Ship descending into artificial atmosphere, landing lights illuminating docking bay

Door sealing behind them with thunderous rumble

Zedd already unbuckling before ship fully powered down, removing a red chip from inside the main panel slot: "Get out and move quick."

Everyone stumbling to follow his urgency, cabin still spinning from combat adrenaline

Nina's business attire wrinkled, hair disheveled: "Why are we getting out?"

Zedd heading for exit ramp, movements sharp with purpose: "We made a jump with the Shatterpoint Drive. 300 LY in a half hour."

Continuing while walking: "It won't be usable until the drive cools down for another two hours. That’s the annoying thing with the Shatterpoint. It’s a bitch like that. We need to switch ships and get in something with more firepower and survivability."

Group exiting Grande into massive underground facility

Artificial lighting revealing hangar space larger than aircraft carrier

Multiple ships identical to Grande arranged in perfect formation

Each vessel gleaming under maintenance lights, ready for immediate deployment

Dev stopping dead, muscled frame rigid with shock: "Holy shit."

Zedd already moving toward facility's interior: "No time. Follow me!"

Breaking into run, enhanced physiology carrying him faster than baseline human should move

Caleb matching pace easily, enhanced abilities keeping up

Others struggling behind, feet echoing against polished metal floors

Group gawking at ship arrays while trying to keep pace

Adele breathing hard, NicStic forgotten in her hand: "Zedd, combien de vaisseaux as-tu construits?"

Caleb catching up to Zedd's shoulder: "Boss, what is all this?"

Zedd's response while navigating facility corridors: "I told you I've been preparing."

Caleb's confusion: "I thought that was the GUARDIAN program."

Zedd's dismissive explanation: "No offense, but the guardians are augmented shock troopers. I knew we need to get ready for war."

Kira's tactical assessment: "Against who?"

Zedd's blunt honesty: "I don't know. Anyone I feel like."

Group moving through connecting hallway, footsteps echoing

Emerging into even larger space, ceiling disappearing into shadows above

Massive ships dominating the hangar floor, dwarfing previous vessels

Capital-class vessels with armor plating thick as building walls

Most of group freezing in place, necks craning to take in scale

Ships rising like metal mountains, weapon arrays visible along hulls

Dev's voice cracking with disbelief: "Zee, what the fuck?"

Zedd not slowing, urgency driving him forward: "Literally, no fucking time."

Zedd rushing toward specific ship, hand finding hidden control panel

Boarding ramp extending with hydraulic hiss, internal lights activating

Ship designation "JADE" visible in elegant script along hull

Everyone following him up ramp, feet clanging against metal grating

Interior revealing advanced corvette configuration, bigger than Grande

Kira's persistence while strapping in: "Zee, that's not an answer."

Zedd ignoring her, hands flying over startup sequences. He takes ADAM's primary IC chip from pocket

Zedd slotting ADAM's chip into Jade's central console, systems integrating

Zedd settling into pilot seat, systems coming online around him

QEC array activating, attempting connection to Arkadia orbital satellites

Zedd into comm system: "This is Zedd to VI, do you read me?"

Static silence responding, no signal acquisition

Tension building as seconds pass without response

Zedd's voice tighter: "ADAM, can you try to contact Arkadia? I think the QEC is being blocked."

ADAM's voice through ship speakers, tone grave: "Boss, we both know that if the QEC is down, it's not a matter of interference."

Kira leaning forward in passenger seat: "Zedd-"

Zedd snapping, stress and fear breaking through control: "I don't fucking feel like answers right now!"

Caleb's commanding voice cutting through tension: "Boss!"

Zedd turning, face hard with barely contained emotion

Caleb meeting his gaze steadily: "Boss, you know I respect you. I owe you my life. Hell, I'd give you my life, but you gotta give us something here."

Moment of recognition passing between them

Everyone settling into seats as ship systems fully activate

Zedd's voice measured, professional: "I'll keep it simple and sweet. We're looking at a dual-op."

Leaning back in command chair: "What was sent after me was a Spectre-run stealth squadron - frigate plus interceptors."

Counting off on fingers: "Hacker Darts, disruptor torpedoes, ship-level surgical kill tools, the fucking works."

Voice hardening: "That ship that just escaped, that was a Spectre. Someone that does missions with no witnesses, no recovery, and no fucking survivors."

Zedd's tactical analysis: "They knew where my factory was, even if they couldn't find it, and they suspected what I was making here, even if they didn’t know it."

Enhanced perception reading group's stress levels: "Clearly, I'm a threat to the eezo dependent ship industry."

Voice dropping ominous: "I wasn't meant to live and if I wasn't meant to live, the company definitely wasn't meant to live either."

Dev processing implications: "Oh fuck."

Zedd's grim confirmation: "Exactly. Meaning there has to be a second op."

Nina's mind struggling with military reality: "Wait, I'm confused."

Kira's voice cutting through the silence: "...they're gonna torch the fucking colony.