Signas stood in the centre of the room, just by looking everyone working there could tell he was furious. He turned towards Alia and she quickly looked away and began typing away at the terminal she was using. Although no one stated what she was up to, Signas had her working to mask their transmission signal from the maverick forces so this way he to speak directly to every active rookie hunter without fear of mavericks listening in. He waited, angrily looking over at how long this was taking. Finally she gave him the thumbs up and he spoke:

“Everyone, it has come to my attention that the maverick forces are planning a massive attack. Our intelligence has indicated that a large maverick force has been gathering in space. Apparently the mavericks have been hiding on the moon and teleporting to Earth in small groups to avoid detection. We need every available hunter to return to base and prepare for the massive enemy wave.” Signas paused to let that sink in for a second before he continued.

“You will be split into 3 groups. Each group will then ambush them at one of the three points. The primary goal here is to use hit and run tactics to cut their numbers down before they reach our base. Unfortunately due to the high numbers we won't be able to stop them all so they will reach Hunter HQ. Once they do get close, all three groups will converge and concentrate firepower at them. So for now, cease all non-essential operations and report to Hunter HQ.”

Signas stood at the front of the room as hunters filed in. X took a position by Signas's left side and Zero on Signas's right. A few of the other top level commanders behind them. X watched nervously as other hunters stood in front of them. Behind all of them was a massive screen on the wall that was currently displaying just the Hunter's logo, but evidently would be used in the briefing.

Once they settled in, the screen switch to a map and Signas began his speech: “Hunters, as you can see on the map the maverick forces have mobilised. We need 3 teams to cut them down and reconverge at the main base to concentrate our firepower.”

Signas pointed up to a point on the map, it highlighted in orange while he spoke: “The first cut off point they're expected to pass through is the City bridge. If you can force some to divert off or stop them from crossing it will increase the time we have to get other elements into position while also cutting down their force.”

Signas pointed to another position on the map, which highlighted itself in yellow: “The second cut off point is the factory district, just to the south east of the bridge. Intelligence indicates that they're headed there to pick up more weapons and some robot rides they had assembled there. Disrupt them as much as possible and we won't have to worry about as much heavy artillery.”

Signas moved his arm again, tracing the expected path until he reached the final area which highlighted in red: “The third cut off point is just before the base… It's an old sewerage processing plant that's no longer in use. The water was shut off so they're going to use it to enter the sewers and attack Hunter HQ from below. Find a way to cut some of them off, so we'll have less to deal with.”

Signas stopped and let that all sink in before resuming. “Hunters, HQ depends on this and so do the lives of countless civilian reploids and civilian people.”

Once Signas finished he turned to X and Zero, just barely audible, those closest could hear signas say: “X and Zero… Hurry to their base. They'd never expect you to show up there. And at this point they'd be most vulnerable. Axl will meet you there for back up. Do some scouting and take out any mavericks you encounter, if you find their leader try and take him out as well. ” After Signas finished talking X and Zero left the room to warp away to complete their mission.

Hunters scrambled out of HQ to make their way to their designated positions. Once they arrived at their positions they could see some mavericks making their way along the bridge. The hunters open fired and launched some grenades which disabled some of the smaller mechaniloids. Though others pushed their way forward, ignoring the scrapped ones that had been in front of them. The sound of buster fire echoed softly and flashes of light could be seen as Hunters began their attack. Other hunters darted around launching their special attacks to discourage mechaniloids from progressing. Some were injured and exploded, others were knocked off into the water below.

From far in the back, a large war ship appeared. It's cloaking function turned off in order to attack. And then another appeared, and then yet another. Several of the hunters, who were able to fly, began to attack the warships to keep them from raining fire down onto the ground forces.

Soon large explosions lit up the sky. The heavily armed aircraft were in attack positions and were firing away, shooting indiscriminately. Some of the more unfortunate mavericks were blasted away, further reducing the maverick's army, but the massive air ships lumbering presence (with their superior firepower) more than made up for the casualties they sustained.

Then a stray missile hit the sewer plant and destroyed it. The hunters watched in awe as their plan fell apart and they suddenly realised that the mavericks never intended to go covertly. That this whole time this was to be a massacre… and the hunters had played directly into it by dividing their forces up to play guerilla tactics.

Then armored Troop Transport Units (ttu's) rolled in and deployed their maverick forces. Once again the maverick army expanded and the hunters struggled to keep up with the expanding maverick army, especially since the hunters's forces had been divided.

Signas stood at the top of HQ and out on the roof overlooking the scene before him. He shook his head in sadness that he had been tricked so easily. Over the comm the hunters heard him say:
“All active hunters on front lines, retreat to behind HQ” Once he said that he pressed a button on his arm. Unbeknownst to him, Alia burst through the door on the roof.

Signas shook his head while he muttered to himself:
“For the good of the Hunters, I have to do this.” he said as he pressed the button a second time to accept the activation.

Suddenly the sky started to light up, huge lightning bolts arced through the sky as something extremely powerful began to prepare.

Alia rushed forward to Signas.
“Signas… What have you done?” Alia asked quickly.
“I have doomed us Alia.” Signas started.
“It was the only way… I used the pulse matter-anti matter destroyer cannon mounted on the space platform Helios.”
Gasping at what she heard, Alia quickly raced down the steps back into hunter HQ to begin preparations.

Signas looked back down at the devastation unfolding before him, then back to the lightning charged sky, the beam was set to impact soon.

Hunters kept fighting and pushing back while they retreated. The maverick forces pushing them back closer towards Hunter HQ. A few hunters looked up and noticed lighting bolts arcing about ominously in the sky.

Finally most of the hunters made it back to HQ and had taken up positions behind HQ as instructed.

The cannon finished charging and loosed a massive beam onto the area. It cut a swath of destruction through the enemy fleet that was floating overhead. Powerful explosions were heard as the beam sliced through several warships and caused them to explode. Several other warships nearby exploded in part to the beam's power as well as the warships's explosion damaging them sufficiently too. As the beam began it's descent it hit the corner of Maverick Hunter HQ and vaporized Signas in the process.

A blue flash of light foretold of X's arrival. He looked up in time to see the slowly descending beam on it's way. Without a word to anyone, he leapt underneath it and absorbed all the energy he could muster in that short amount of time and launched a counter beam.

The 2 beams met and X's appeared to be holding the massive beam from space off for a few more seconds. Which allowed the others more time to retreat back to behind HQ where they'd be safe from the impact. Even the maverick forces ran given the extra time. X turned his head to see both sides flee, he smiled a little.

Zero appeared on the building across the street.
“X, even now you protect everyone. Even when this move could have removed most of the maverick forces. I'm sorry friend. I'm sorry I couldn't be here sooner to help you.” Zero said quietly as he kneeled down and covered his head with his hands.

The beam from the space cannon's power was much greater and longer lasting than X's power. And so finally the beam overwhelmed X's capabilities and slammed into the Earth with a resounding crash. There were a few mavericks that never made it out of the impact zone in time along with a few seasoned hunters as well. The beam exploded in the area (partly due to underground fuel mains which the beam had hit, but also partly due to the beam itself), dispersing it's energy and wrecking everything in the immediate area with a blinding flash of light. After the loud crash of the beam hitting and the resulting explosion, a deafening silence filled the area.

With this, Hunter HQ was crippled and the maverick forces were poised to defeat the Hunters. And the mavericks knew it. They began to amass and prepare to return. This time however, among them the leader of the maverick army was present… Pyro Cerberus.

Though the Hunters didn't care right then that the mavericks were amassing. They were largely concerned with finding who had survived.

Alia came out of what was left of the base. She was sobbing as she saw the remains of X. She moved forward to get a closer look and the hunters moved out of her way. She kneeled down beside the fallen hunter and stroked what was left of X's face. X's damaged body though didn't hold up and promptly burst into pieces and the wind carried them away. Alia's sobs were echoed by the thunder.

Then Zero appeared and motioned another hunter, the hunter quickly went over to Alia. Zero watched as Alia was lead away. Their eyes met and both saw the tears in the other's eyes. Zero walked towards the crater where the blast impacted, and X had tried to fight it off. Zero saw a small piece of blue metal that had been caught by the wind in front of him, he reached out and grabbed the former piece of X. He turned to the rest of the hunters, still clutching the piece of his best friend's armour.

“Listen up.” Zero began.
“Today marks a new history in the maverick wars. Today we lost both a great commander and one of our greatest warriors… One who fought for truth, justice and everlasting peace. Today we witnessed his sacrifice so we could continue on in his place. He saved us so we could carry on his dreams and his hopes. Signas also sacrificed himself to save us. It is true he fired the weapon… But in doing so he crushed quite a few of the mavericks. Their huge fleet was cut apart by the cannon. Though Signas knew as he fired it he would only get 1 shot. As we speak, the cannon is falling from the sky… self-destructing. Signas as his final act set it so only pieces of it would land on Area Zero, the location of the previous space station crash, Eurasia. This way no other group. Not maverick, nor hunter, may use that terrible weapon again. ” Zero paused after he said this.

“The casualties from this move have been numerous and great for both sides. For us our losses include X, Signas and 30 other veteran hunters. Luckily X's sacrifice allowed us to account for all the rookies, all the hq staff, and a good portion of the surrounding area's people. We have confirmed reports of 7 dead maverick generals leaving 4 active, also we have reports of 5 wrecked air fleets, 3 mech platoons and a host of minor mavericks and mechaloids. Once we finish here, I suggest everyone rests up because this fight isn't over yet. The mavericks will be back. But for now be wary, there may still be maverick threats around. Particularly the maverick general Pyro Cerebrus… the leader of this attack, may still be around.” Zero finished his speech and walked into the base, to go comfort Alia.

Many of the hunters turned to go back into the base. Leaving a few rookies alone outside to go over what had just happened.

Pyro Cerebrus stood atop his lumbering air craft.
“Turn it around this instant” he barked to the pilot.
“But sir” the pilot began.
“I don't care what the orders are. I'm going back to finish the job.” Pyro Cerebrus yelled, cutting the pilot off in the process. The pilot obliged and maneuvered the large ship around to return to Hunter HQ.

A few short minutes later, the ship was in firing range.
“Sir, shall I give the order to open fire?” The second in command asked.
“No. I want to face them by myself so I can see what they truely are capable of. Open the hatches and let me out. After that you are free to leave.” Responded Pyro Cerebrus.
“Bu-bu-but sir, we can't leave…” The pilot began “You can and you will. Those are your orders” Pyro Cerebrus remarked, cutting him off again.

The pilot opened the hatches as he was commanded and Pyro Cerebrus leaped out. He landed nearby the crater that the cannon had blasted. Hunters were still out side and reacted quickly to his presence. A few ran inside and the rest engaged him in combat.