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Suddenly, the ground began to shake. Icon looked to the source, and was no prepared for what he saw. Aside from dozens of transport trucks, a number of gigantic mech battle suits made their way toward the heroes, along with a flock of sleek black choppers. Before Icon, or any of the other gathered heroes could react, the approaching forces opened fire. Buildings shook as the artillery rained down on Sherman Square, however, much to the surprise of the heroes gathered together, not a single shell touched them. 

Instead, the heroes found themselves within a strange bubble which glowed a cobalt blue. Icon looked around the group and found the source, the teal skinned woman who had introduced herself as Flux was standing with her arms outstretched with her palms facing up, with that same cobalt energy emanating from her hands.  As the opening volley subsided, Flux lowered the shield. The group of heroes stood there in the center of Sherman Square as the forces of the Hounds of Humanity advanced on them.

“That’s not something you see everyday.” Radiance said with a mix of anxiety and astonishment in her voice.
“Unless you’re us.” Lyger retorted. “Even then, I’ve never seen anything like this.” 

[color=C0C0C0]“I have.”[/color] Iron Knight said grimly. [color=C0C0C0]“That’s S.T.R.I.K.E tech.”[/color]

[b] “Are you sure?”[/b] Icon asked.

[color=C0C0C0]“I Helped design it. Yeah, I’m sure.”[/color] Iron Knight confirmed.

“Guys, we should probably do something, they’re still coming.” Slipstream said nervously. Though she had fought the Hounds numerous times in recent weeks, she had never seen anything quite like this.

[b] “ Alright folks, it’s time to go to work.[/b]” Icon said as he leapt from the ground and made a direct line for one of the mechs just as the Hounds renewed their attack. 

As he approached the mech, it opened fire on him, however the rounds from the mini guns that protruded from the body of the mech bounced off of him harmlessly. Icon slammed into the mechanized terror, however, instead of crumpling the monstrosity as he had expected, his entire body was suddenly wracked with pain as the walking tank’s electrified defense system kicked in, hitting the hero with more voltage than that of a massive bolt of lightning. The sudden shock knocked Icon from the sky and sent him crashing into the pavement below. 

He lay there dazed for a moment as the mech stood over him. Suddenly, it lifted its massive mechanical leg as if it were about to stomp on an insect. Icon rolled out of the way just as the massive foot came crashing down where he had been just a split second before, fracturing the pavement. He came up to one knee as the foot went up again, preparing to stomp on the hero. However, Icon unleashed a large optical blast that incinerated the leg before it could stomp downward again. Then a blue energy began to crackle around his fist as he soared upward and landed a solid right hook on the body of the unstable mech. The impact of the punch knocked the mech sideways, and sent it crashing into another of the advancing mechs, knocking them both to the ground. 

[b] “Right…that wasn’t so hard.”[/b] Icon said as the remaining forces advanced undeterred into the Square.