"Oh wow, here they go again. I didn’t even know this was a route."

"I’ve already uploaded that part as a shorts clip."

"Maybe we should start doing that too..."

The helicopter’s rotors sliced through the New York air, while the cockpit was filled with the persistent warning tones of missile lock-ons and the pilots yelling at each other over the cacophony. The minigun’s growl, Mjölnir’s booming shots, and the clinking of shells as they clattered around the floor painted a picture of chaos. Explosions from the 30mm chain gun and Hydra rocket pods shook the battlefield, accompanied by the thunder of the BMP-3’s cannon fire. And through it all, there were endless commands and screams, along with the roar of flames from the vehicles hit by rockets.

Perfect chaos.

The destruction and raw violence taking place in this huge amphitheater called New York captivated hundreds of thousands of viewers. But as always, not everyone watching could fully appreciate the spectacle.

"If we get all our editors and thumbnail artists to pitch in, maybe one of them could take her down? Then we can beg her to take it easy on the streams."

"They’d all have holes in their heads before they could last thirty seconds."

"Yeah...you’re right, huh?"

There are things that can be done and things that simply can’t. The editors were feeling this firsthand because, like their employer, they also played Dark Zone. They knew just how insane this new Incursion scenario was and had firsthand experience with its latest update. The word “Incursion” alone, meaning raid, hinted that it was endgame content, the kind where “if you don’t know, you’ll die.”

The scenario requires players to dive headfirst into combat repeatedly, figuring out objectives based on clues from ISO or other in-game hints, with the true outcome known only to Icarus International. If you end up on the true scenario path, where the map turns blood red, you know you’re in for the real deal.

───BUUUUUM!

Hundreds of 7.62mm rounds peppered the ground, sending up clouds of dust. It looked like something out of a movie, the helicopter weaving through the air, dodging fire while bursts of light flashed as enemies were taken down one by one.

A modified Blackhawk, manned by just two people, was obliterating two mechanized infantry battalions. Everyone knew the helicopter was doing the heavy lifting, but it was clear that without those two aboard, the chopper would’ve been shot down by MANPADS a long time ago.

As the gunfire finally quieted, their voices took over.

"Flares are depleted. We can’t make it halfway to Brooklyn if we go back along the same route. Returning to HQ. Requesting permission to land."

-[ISO: Permission granted. Nightstalker 1-1 and 1-2, and both operators, please board the Stealth Hawk at the adjacent heliport after landing. You’ve beaten them back enough for HQ to handle the rest.]

Only about seven minutes in the air.

But with an IED explosion and two mechanized battalions attacking within thirty seconds of takeoff, it felt like much longer. As the Blackhawk touched down, crew members rushed in to reload the minigun and flares. The pilots, Harmony, and Yujin quickly disembarked, heading over to the sleek, stealthy helicopter waiting nearby.

The Stealth Hawk, much sleeker than the combat Blackhawk, was equipped with camouflage technology. Inside, there were ammo boxes and anti-materiel rifles set up for additional support. As they took a breather, the chat exploded once more.

-Fact: Less than ten minutes into the mission and nothing overlaps with any other Dark Zone streamer’s gameplay. -Icarus really crafted this masterpiece LOL -It’s so well-made, but how is anyone supposed to play it LOL -Weren’t they supposed to crash land and get in a car for this part? -Witnessing history right here, folks. -Historic moment, totally insane LOL

"Not even ten minutes in, and it’s already brutal. Let’s hope we don’t crash this time."

"You said it out loud, so now we probably will."

"Ugh, well, if we do, I’m sure you’ll handle it somehow."

"What do you think I am?"

A harbinger of chaos, maybe? Before Harmony could answer, a flood of donations popped up, including some familiar names, adding to the noise.

<Luddite, Rubin, Waltz, SnakeTailEditor, and others have donated 100,000 KRW! Thank you so much!> -Help! We’re trapped by two slave drivers squeezing out content at record speed! SOS!

"Hey, get to work. What are you all doing? Yujin’s editors are already posting shorts. You know the deal. I just want results."

-Why do I feel like I’m hearing my weekend supervisor instead of Harmony? -Please stop! PTSD! -Weren’t they editors? Now they’re basically slaves LOL -Work-from-home downsides fully on display LOL

Amid the laughter and chaos, the helicopter doors shut, and ISO’s voice crackled in over the comms.

-[ISO: With the virus and enemy forces attacking, EADS, the Eastern Air Defense sector, has been decimated. The few remnants are regrouping under the 177th Fighter Wing in New Jersey, but current air defense capability is at less than 30% of pre-disaster levels.]

-[ISO: Almost all contact with the northern states is cut off, leaving New York on the front line. We should never have decommissioned the Montauk Air Base, damn it.]

-[ISO: Head to JFK Airport—now Kennedy Air Force Base—and assess the situation. Clear out any obstructions.]

The helicopter took off, flying into uncharted territory.

"Hey, have you heard? The Incursion true scenario’s been unlocked."

"What? No guides for the regular map yet, and the true scenario’s already out? Who’s doing it? Cerberus again?"

"No, it’s Yujin and Harmony."

"Oh wow."

Like gears in a machine, the Dark Zone players were now caught up in the chaos Yujin had triggered. For those who preferred PVE over PVP, this wasn’t just about battling other players; it was about tackling the vast AI-driven content and working with operators to solve complex challenges.

But today, on a mid-November day, the eyes of all Dark Zone PVE players were fixated on a single point.

-[ISO: Damn. Can someone tell me that wreckage isn’t John F. Kennedy Air Force Base? What the hell happened here?]

Thick black smoke rose from the ruins of the base, which looked like a natural disaster had torn through it. Hundreds of enemies were battling our allies on the runway.

The Dark Zone’s Incursion scenario flowed organically. The outcome of one skirmish would set the stage for the next. And now, the ruins of Kennedy Air Force Base lay before Yujin and Harmony. Everyone watching had expected it; no one had reached the base faster.

-[ISO: There are still friendly vital signs present. Get in there as quickly as possible and start gathering intel from the survivors.]

They took the mission seriously.

The base was vast, making it inefficient to walk through, but they had plenty of room to support from above. The stealth helicopter hovered silently, designed with minimal vibration and noise.

Harmony and Yujin took their positions, Harmony lying flat with the RSASS, and Yujin attaching a rifle to a mount. They aimed at distant targets, starting a one-sided beatdown.

The best part of any fight is having the upper hand, especially when the enemy can’t fight back.

They squeezed the triggers.

-[ISO: Good shot. Brings back memories of hunting boar from a chopper. Mind if I join?]

-[ISO: Bullseye. They’re running scared, but it’s far from over.]

-[ISO: Got a hit. Keep the pressure up. The more you suppress, the more breathing room we give our guys.]

It wasn’t over yet.

Harmony glanced at the anti-materiel rifles lined up and smirked. She looked at Yujin with a mischievous grin.

"Want to try these?"

"Absolutely."

-She’s loving this LOL -Look at Harmony’s eyes light up. -She’s been waiting for this LOL -These two have all the fun LOL -Please let me join!

They each grabbed an AS50, too long to fire prone, so they mounted the rifles in the chopper’s interior. Harmony then pulled out a futuristic ammo box labeled DARPA / EXACTO. She loaded the 10-round magazine with .50 BMG smart rounds, passing one to Yujin, and they got to work.

───BANG! BANG! BANG!

The rounds tore through the air at Mach 3, leaving bizarre trails before striking enemies and turning them into twisted polygons. Each shot claimed a life, and soon, Harmony joined in, doubling their firepower.

In just four minutes, the tide turned. With the enemy retreating under their relentless assault, the helicopter landed on the outskirts. Yujin and Harmony stepped out, their rifles hot and smoking, ready to assess the aftermath.

-[ISO: The runway itself looks intact, but the air defense systems and control room are in shambles. Get answers from the bodies or the wreckage. Your choice.]

-[ISO: Good luck.]

With sly smiles, they joined their allies, bathed in the glow of the setting sun, ready to take on whatever came next.