The test site was a barren moon orbiting the gas giant Vyom-9—a desolate rock chosen for one reason: if something went wrong, no one would live to tell the tale.
Ashoka stood aboard the Shakti, flanked by Priya and Mira, staring at the weapon that could change everything.
The Kaal-Vajra.
It didn't look like much—just a sleek, black torpedo mounted with quantum nodes and a shimmering lattice of hybrid disruptors. But its power? If the science was right, it could cripple any hybrid tech within a hundred-kilometer radius—rendering their AI brains nothing more than scrap.
Priya's hands trembled slightly on the controls.
"Everything's charged. Once we fire, there's no pulling it back."
Ashoka's voice was calm, but his eyes burned.
"We move forward, or we die where we stand."
He turned to Mira.
"Status?"
"Target drone in position," she confirmed. On the screen, the drone—a salvaged hybrid warbot—floated lifelessly in the vacuum, powered by its eerie blue core.
Ashoka's lips pressed into a thin line.
"Fire."
A deep rumble echoed through the Shakti as the Kaal-Vajra launched, a streak of light against the dark. Seconds later, it detonated.
For a heartbeat, there was silence.
Then—the hybrid drone spasmed wildly. Sparks flew. Its glowing core dimmed, flickered, and then—total darkness.
Cheers erupted on the deck. Mira laughed, spinning around in disbelief.
"It worked! Full neutralization! No recovery signal!"
Ashoka allowed himself a rare smile, gripping Priya's shoulder.
"This is our spark. Now we build the fire."
But the victory was short-lived.
Hours later, as Ashoka debriefed with his council, an urgent message blared across the room.
"Unidentified fleet approaching—fast. Ten ships. Heavily armed."
Mira's face drained of color.
"Samar's response?"
Priya shook her head, eyes wide with fear.
"No… they're not human."
Ashoka's breath caught.
"Hybrids."
He slammed his fist onto the table.
"They were watching."
Sirens wailed as the Shakti prepared for battle, engineers rushing to load the next Kaal-Vajra prototype.
Ashoka stared out at the cold void, muscles tensed.
"We tested the weapon. Now it's time to wield it."
As the alien fleet grew larger on the screen—gleaming metal and blue fire—Ashoka whispered under his breath:
"This is just the beginning."