The beast didn't slow, it crashed straight into the SWAT line.
Vehicles flipped like toys. Officers were thrown through the air, armor scraping across pavement as the shockwave rippled through the street. Fire followed right behind it, flames swallowing engines and forcing everyone to scatter.
"MOVE!" Caden shouted.
He and his squad hit the ground level with Renn, sprinting into the chaos. They dragged injured officers out of the street, pulling them behind cover as more fire rained down.
"Get them out of here!" Caden barked, lifting one officer and handing him off. "Don't stay exposed!"
Around them, Guardians and SWAT finally synced up, rifles, snipers, heavy rounds, all focused on one target. Shots echoed between buildings, explosions rattling the streets.
But it wasn't enough.
The beast kept pushing.
Fire blasted again, this time sweeping across the street and catching vehicles mid-position. Metal warped. Sirens died. The city was turning into a battlefield.
Back at STF HQ, alarms stacked on top of each other.
Ian's screen lit up with alerts, and then Renn's message came through:
We're gonna need STF support.
Ian didn't hesitate.
He stood up fast, chair sliding back behind him as he moved. Within seconds he was in the main hangar, grabbing the intercom.
"I need every available soldier in the HQ, now."
The room exploded into motion.
"I want every ship, vehicle, and weapon en route to Solara Minor immediately!"
Support crews rushed in. Engines roared to life. Soldiers geared up on the move, climbing into transports as fast as they could. The entire hangar shifted into a war launch.
Ian suited up mid-stride and boarded the nearest ship.
"Go."
Back on Solara Minor, Caden and Renn were still holding the line when the sky changed.
Massive STF ships broke through the clouds, descending over the city.
Renn exhaled quietly. "There it is."
Caden closed his eyes for half a second. Finally.
The ships hit the ground hard, ramps dropping as STF soldiers poured into the streets, spreading out with precision. Within moments, they surrounded the beast from every angle.
The T-Rex roared,
Then turned and ran.
It sprinted through the city, smashing through debris, turning corners at impossible speed for something that size.
A smaller STF pursuit craft dropped low behind it.
Inside,
Ian.
He weaved through buildings, closing the distance fast. The city blurred around him as he matched the beast's speed.
"Almost…"
He pushed closer.
The roof hatch snapped open.
Ian stepped up onto the moving craft without hesitation, wind tearing past him as he locked onto the target.
Then he jumped.
The beast reacted instantly.
Its tail whipped around,
CRASH.
The ship behind him exploded into a building.
But Ian was already airborne.
He landed clean on the beast's back.
The creature roared, speeding up, trying to shake him off—but Ian ran forward across its spine, closing the distance to its head.
He grabbed the massive horns,
And pulled.
With a burst of strength, Ian launched himself forward, using the momentum to drag the beast off balance.
The ground came fast.
The T-Rex slammed into the street, crashing through concrete and debris, the impact shaking the entire block.
Then,
Silence.
Dust filled the air.
By the time it cleared, Caden and Renn were already moving in.
STF soldiers swarmed the creature, locking down its limbs, clamping its jaws, injecting sedatives into its neck. The beast let out one final low growl… then went still.
Contained.
Ian stepped out of the dust, brushing debris off his armor like it was nothing.
"…That was fun."
Caden walked up, still catching his breath.
Ian looked at him for a moment—really looked this time.
Then nodded.
"Welcome to the STF."
Caden blinked slightly. "…Sir?"
"You proved it out here," Ian said. "We need that kind of thinking. That kind of speed."
Renn crossed his arms. "So he's leaving the Guardians?"
Ian shook his head slightly. "No. The Guardians are doing exactly what we built them for, handling the smaller threats across the Empire."
He looked back at Caden.
"But this?" Ian gestured to the massive restrained beast behind them. "This is different."
A small smirk crossed his face.
"You'll still help shape the Guardians."
Then his tone sharpened just a bit.
"But now, you're stepping up."
Renn gave a slight nod. "Elite level."
Ian turned and started walking.
"Come on," he said over his shoulder. "I'll introduce you to the team."