"Gravity: 1g."
"Oxygen content: approximately 21%, nitrogen approximately 78%, argon—"
Reading the summarized environmental data on the holographic screen and seeing the live video feed, Samuel Young confirmed that the destination of the Universe 16 gate was Earth. The footage showed the Hellhounds and T-800 units exploring a desert region, but what caught his attention were the vast surface deposits of gold within the shielded area around the gate.
As the Hellhounds, T-800s, and unmanned aerial units continued scouting, they also found other rare resources exposed on the surface—jewels glistening in the sunlight, casting hues of red, blue, and green. Though dazzling, the fourth advance team paid little heed to these discoveries. After confirming no immediate threats in the area, they crossed the gate to Earth in Universe 16 to begin constructing a forward base, while the team's elite members established watchposts along the perimeter of the shielded zone to monitor any activity outside it. Meanwhile, orbital drones would soon be deployed for further reconnaissance once the base's foundations were set.
The scenes from Universe 16 left Samuel somewhat surprised and nostalgic, for the exposed gold and gem deposits near the gate brought back memories of a familiar game economy. It was unmistakable—this was the setting of Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2, a classic parallel universe he hadn't expected to encounter.
For Samuel, and many others, Red Alert 2 was an iconic game from childhood. In the early 21st century, it was a staple in China's internet cafes, along with Counter-Strike. Samuel's first exposure to PC gaming was through his cousin, who played Red Alert 1. Later, when his family acquired a computer, he installed Red Alert 2 and Counter-Strike: Condition Zero. Each Friday, he eagerly awaited school's end to indulge in these games until late at night—assuming, of course, there were no exams to worry about and his behavior had been up to standard.
There were multiple versions of Red Alert 2, from the base game to Yuri's Revenge, and various community mods. With limited intel from Universe 16, Samuel couldn't yet determine if this Earth was set in the original storyline, Yuri's Revenge, or something else. The universe, despite its mid-to-late 20th-century technology level, was known for its impressive technological marvels worth reclaiming and studying. These included the "Iron Curtain," which rendered armored vehicles invulnerable for short periods, and the "Chronosphere," capable of teleporting entire forces to designated coordinates instantly.
The Chronosphere even allowed transport to the past within the same timeline, unlike the time travel device in the Terminator universe, where each jump created a new parallel reality. Other superweapons, like the Allied Weather Control Device and Yuri's Psychic Dominator and Genetic Mutator, were equally intriguing. Though the Weather Control Device was redundant given Atlas's current atmospheric tech, capable of creating "lightning storms" at will, the Psychic Dominator and Genetic Mutator were potential threats. In Red Alert 2, these superweapons had permanent effects, turning all affected units into loyal followers of Yuri.
To counter these, Samuel planned to secretly assist his forces in Universe 16 with psychic support using Purity Blossoms to resist mind control. However, countering genetic mutation required infiltrators to obtain more information on Yuri's faction for Atlas's biology division to develop defenses.
Until further exploration clarified the risks in Universe 16, the Empire would proceed cautiously. Each faction in Red Alert 2 was formidable, and even the Covenant or the Reapers, despite their advanced technology, would struggle to conquer this Earth without resorting to overwhelming orbital bombardment.
Having assessed the four universes, Samuel quickly drafted detailed reports on Alien and Red Alert 2 and uploaded them for Atlas's intelligence core members.
Alphaerius and Omegon, watching Samuel work, were used to him "foreseeing" key information about these universes. This trust in them as monitors gave them a sense of importance, though Samuel had never told any Primarch, "You are the one I trust most, my child." He knew better than to risk unnecessary favoritism among the Primarchs, for subtle rivalries were inevitable. As their father, he needed only to maintain an even hand.
After uploading the reports, Samuel issued an order to the Department of Heretical Inquisition:
"Colonel Aya Brea, Universe 13's Joint Reconnaissance Force requires immediate support from the Department of Heretical Inquisition. Dispatch a dedicated armed force and, if necessary, Grey Knights."
He then gave additional orders to Major General John Price:
"Given that Universe 14's human domains may span the galaxy and are possibly at war with alien species, if conflict with local human factions or alien forces becomes unavoidable, coordinate with the following legions for reinforcement: Sons of Scars, Shadowmoon Wolves, Salamanders, and Sons of Humanity."
After sending dozens of orders to various departments, Samuel turned to Alphaerius and Omegon. Together, they boarded a magnetic levitation train, specifically designed for giants, and set out for the Akra sector. Although most of Akra's production lines had been relocated to Mars in the main universe, the core laboratories of the Research and Biology divisions remained.
The Akra sector was now a specialized research hub, while Mars had become the Empire's "Forge World." Samuel was headed there to oversee the final stages of the Imperial Guard project led by Alexia, who was currently performing modification surgeries on select candidates. Samuel's presence was to provide any necessary assistance and observe the new Imperial Guard soldiers in simulated combat.
The Imperial Guard of Atlas, while inspired by the Warhammer 40K Imperial Guard, was fundamentally different, possessing genetically modified soldiers based on Samuel's own genetic material. Technically, the Imperial Guard fell under the "Astartes" category, though in terms of heritage, they were peers to the Primarchs. Yet, in rank and power, the Primarchs still held the upper hand. The Guard's creation was intended to balance the influence of the Primarchs and their legions, preventing favoritism and rivalry.
On September 2, at 5:36 PM Pacific Time, at the spatial gate to Universe 13, the Purity Blossoms had transformed the environment within the shielded area. The deadly toxic mist had been cleansed, and resilient wild grass began to flourish, making this green oasis a stark contrast to the surrounding wasteland. After clearing the area of corpses, the engineering team was well underway with constructing the forward base.
After a day and night of effort, fully enclosed buildings with filtration systems—command centers, barracks, warehouses, and biological laboratories—now stood on Universe 13's Earth. The engineering team had excavated underground tunnels and magnetic railways to link the base's structures with the core ruins on the other side of the gate. This setup enabled rapid resupply of weapons, modular equipment, and provisions directly to the Universe 13 forward base.
Currently, the engineering team was completing the underground hangar, which was designed to accommodate up to six destroyers or cruisers, along with numerous Raven and Vulture gunships, transporters, and attack aircraft. The 1st Company of the Dark Angels Legion, led by Leon, was the first Imperial Legion dispatched to Universe 13. Their fleet included a Valiant-class cruiser as their flagship, accompanied by two Paris-class and four Cerberus-class II transport frigates.
To maximize the Dark Angels' effectiveness, the hangar construction was being prioritized to enable seamless air, land, and space combat operations. Leon hoped the Dark Angels could establish their reputation during the Empire's first military campaign, surpassing the other legions with similar missions.
At the perimeter of the shielded zone, the engineering team installed 400mm plasma cannons and triple-barrel 140mm Gauss cannons, with smaller bunkers between them manned by T-800s and cloned soldiers. Elite Imperial Guard units and Dark Angels in Titan V power armor patrolled near the base. The Guard contingent deployed in Universe 13 numbered three thousand, all outfitted in Makopower armor painted dark green, with shoulder insignia marking their allegiance to the Empire rather than any specific legion.
Although the Guard originated from elite security forces, the unification into the Joint Reconnaissance Force (Advance Teams) had transformed each member into an elite soldier with the addition of INQUIRIS serum and Makopower armor, making them as formidable as any legion's auxiliary forces.
Meanwhile, Colonel John "Soap" MacTavish, commander of the Universe 13 forward base, boarded a Black Hawk assault craft to lead a reconnaissance team beyond the shielded area, embarking on a new mission.
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