Vreta was as ready as he was ever going to be. Eti as well gathered up the other four members of her team. Now that they did not have power to be concerned about, she could bring in her fireteam at its full strength. Whatever might happen, Vreta did feel more comfortable having them present to help. From his understanding, the Humans already had their own security present in the simulation, but they could act as a force multiplier if the Cradle creatures they encountered before showed themselves again. 

The Green Room had already been prepared with the Rothians’ harnesses, so there were no more delays. It was at least more comfortable than trying to use a setup sized for a Human; he doubted soldiers like Eti would even be able to fit on the table of a Human’s harness. Comfort aside, using their own designs was also the only way they could be sure they could keep the designs of their technology secure. 

[hr]

From Vreta’s perspective, leaving reality came suddenly as soon as the harnesses were initiated. The transition was smoother into the Cradle than it had been for the Object on Rothia, though they had the benefit of centuries of Human refinement on that process. Even once they resolved the language issue, there were some minor differences in the Object’s processes that could make such transitions a bit jarring. Still, even if he had been feeling worse, Vreta would have pushed himself through regardless. 

Now that they were in the simulation, only Vreta’s size set him apart from the Rothian soldiers around him. They had all been given full suits of powered armor and military-grade infantry weapons. It wasn’t the first time Vreta had worn this armor even in recent memory, but it still felt strange to him to have cause to use it. One thing he was sure of was that it felt amazing just to move around in the suit, particularly with how it could assist movement. For proper soldiers, its shield emitters could link with energy shield implants in the soldier’s own body to further enhance its defensive properties. Vreta lacked such implants, though the suit’s defenses were still more than formidable on their own. Once Rhia linked in with the suit’s systems, its silver-colored plating could become like a second skin to him to eliminate any potential detriments to agility or dexterity. 

The location to which the team had transited was the city of New Antioch, though it hardly felt like a city any longer. The buildings still stood, mostly as they had been left, but without its former inhabitants, it was more like a town of ghosts. Vreta still vividly remembered the attack he had suffered during his last visit to the city, and how suddenly it had all happened. It was like a switch was flipped, and the creatures were all around them. For now, though, the only beings around them on their arrival were the Human soldiers. The transit station at which they had arrived was now more of a military checkpoint, with fortifications in all directions and more than enough soldiers to guard them.