Borderlands: Apex Predator

Maxwell decided to follow the order and expanded the Robots tab. The blueprints were 50% cheaper compared to already-built counterparts.

(Robots) MRVN/Marvins: Mk. III Mobile Robotic Versatile Entity, also known simply as "Marvins"... 30[C]

(Robots) Drones: Cloak Drone, Maintenance Drone, Plasma Drone, Search Drone. 10[C]

Cloak Drone: Cloaking drones that provide tactical support, allowing users to become invisible for a short period. They are useful for avoiding enemy detection.

Maintenance Drone: Drones designed to perform repairs and maintenance on Titans and vehicles. They are essential for maintaining operational effectiveness in the field.

Plasma Drone: Equipped with plasma weapons, these drones can attack enemies while performing their support functions.

Search Drone: Reconnaissance drones that help locate enemies and provide real-time information about the battlefield.

(Robots) Tick: Small explosive robots that can infiltrate enemy areas. They are designed to approach targets and detonate, causing significant damage. 25[C]

(Robots) Spectre: Autonomous combat robots that conduct patrols and support combat forces. They are capable of performing reconnaissance and combat tasks, making them effective in combat situations. 50[C]

(Robots) ALEO/Automated Law Enforcement Officer: Robots designed for law enforcement, equipped with weapons and advanced technology. They can be used in security operations and crowd control. 55[C]

(Robots) Spyglass: Spyglass units handle logistics, navigation, deployment, and communication… 70[C] 

(Robots) Stalker: Combat robots that are more advanced than Spectres, with enhanced attack capabilities and tactical skills. Stalkers are much more resilient to damage and can pose a threat to inattentive Pilots, especially in numbers. 100[C] 

(Robots) Reaper: Reapers are heavy autonomous war machines, straddling the line between ultra-heavy Spectres and miniature Titans. They are fully automated, agile, relentless, well-armored and deadly anti-Titan units armed with rapid-fire launchers implanted in their forearms that fire Reaper Rockets. 300[C]

(Robots) Simulacrum: No matter how advanced AI gets, it can never match creativity and decision-making of humans... So let's put the mind of a human into a robot! While they bear superficial resemblance to the commonly-fielded BRD-01 Spectre, Simulacrum are instead human minds uploaded into robotic bodies. A simulacrum can be considered a form of transhumanism. 1500[C]

He considered it for a moment before a wicked smile grew on Maxwell's face.

How much would someone pay for virtual immortality?

Maxwell looked at all the options and chose the Simulacrum blueprint. A new tab opened, revealing all the models.

Of course, many civilians would hesitate to leave their flesh behind. But what about soldiers and mercenaries, constantly going in and out of firefights?

Knowing there's a backup of your mind, even after your body is destroyed, would be a bargaining chip that could help Maxwell create a fearsome army unlike anything the Borderlands universe had ever seen.

[Simulacrum/Male model (Blueprint) deposited]

Taking a quick look at the blueprint, Maxwell carefully stored it in his ECHO, planning to send a copy to Spyglass for backup in the ECHOnet servers and to research the materials needed to build Simulacrums.

Maxwell moved to the next tab. Medicine seemed less attractive, mostly featuring Silva Pharmaceuticals products like various Stims. The main product was the classic Stim, which boosted physical abilities, but there was also the legendary Fountain of Youth Stim that Torres Silva used to appear young.

Luckily, a few more scrolls down revealed more valuable items: devices for installing implants, the Advocates' Regeneration technology, and not least:

(Medicine) Voidwaker Tecnology: Device used to create the Voidwalker. Created by reverse engineering the Fold Weapon. 10000[C]

(Medicine) Project Wraith: Data and notes from the experiments, stimulations and triggers carried out on the test subject "Wraith". 800[C]

(Medicine) Project Alter: Data and notes from the experiments, stimulations and triggers carried out on the test subject "Alter". 800[C]

(Medicine) Project Oracle: Data and notes from the experiments, stimulations and triggers carried out on the test subject "Oracle". 800[C]

Maxwell didn't think twice before making his choice. He hesitated for a moment, but realized the best option was to take the already-built device. He only needed one and would never make more to avoid the risk of it being stolen. He planned to add a self-destruct mode in case it was ever taken.

He wouldn't use it on his soldiers. Voidwalker wasn't something to give just anyone. It could potentially rival or surpass the Sirens in the Borderlands universe.

[Voidwalker Tecnology deposited]

The machine has a futuristic, sleek design, resembling a large medical pod. It stands about 2.5 meters tall and 1.5 meters wide, with a smooth, oval-shaped exterior made from a dark, matte black alloy, giving it a cold, industrial appearance.

"I'll need to round up a few poor psychos as test subjects…" Maxwell made a mental note to capture some psychos before heading to Dead Island.

Finally moving to the last reward, the tab was quite large, and it would take time to decide what to choose.

(Vehicles) Zipline: Fast transport from point A to point B. Commonly used to transport cargo or pilots. 15[C]

(Vehicles) Tow: Industrial truck, towing cars, small aircraft and titans. 40[C]

(Vehicles) Forklift: Industrial truck, lift truck. 20[C]

(Vehicles) Trident: flying car, lightly armored troop transport vehicle. 30[C]

(Vehicles) Gremlin: Four-wheeled ground vehicle, lightly armored troop transport truck. 35[C]

(Vehicles) Samson: Six-wheeled ground vehicle, heavily armored troop transport, assault truck. 55[C]

(Vehicles) Gorilla Tank: It's a walking tank, with heavy artillery. 85[C]

(Vehicles) IMC Walker: It's a walking tank that can climb vertical and horizontal surfaces. sort cannon. 60[C]

(Vehicles) Paladin Tank: Heavy Infantry Vehicle, double-barrel main battle tanks. 99[C]

(Vehicles) Drop Pod: Orbital insertion pod. 10[C]

(Vehicles) Arcadia {Carrier type}: Transporting delicate cargo. No offensive capabilities. 100[C]

(Vehicles) Widow {Carrier type}: Used to retrieve Titans once they have been deployed and their battle has been fought. 90[C]

(Vehicles) Crow {Dropship and Carrier type}: A versatile dropship that can transport troops and equipment to the battlefield. Designed for quick insertion and extraction. 130[C]

(Vehicles) Hornet {Starfighter type}: Hornets are the ultimate small fighters for air and space superiority with their low production costs and great firepower. Hornets are both capable of regular flight in space and in-atmosphere, and are also capable of VTOL hovering for a short amount of time. 300[C]

(Vehicles) Birmingham {Starfighter type}: attack frigate and massive space cannon ordnance. 560[C]

(Vehicles) MCS Carter Braxton {Carrier and Battleship type}: Heavy artillery, transportation of Titans and small aircraft. Hyperdrive for planetary travel. 1920[C]

(Vehicles) Annapolis {Warship type}: Heavy artillery and nuclear weapons, Hyperdrive for planetary travel. 12260[C]

(Vehicles) Redeye {Warship/Motherbase type}: Self-sustainable vehicular spacecraft. Transportation of Titans and aircraft, and modular factory. 18310[C]

(Vehicles) IMS Draconis {Carrier type}: Armored ship for transporting delicate cargo with lightweight artillery. 180[C] 

(Vehicles) Goblin {Dropship and Carrier type}: A versatile dropship that can transport troops and equipment to the battlefield. Designed for quick insertion and extraction. 155[C]

(Vehicles) Phantom {Starfighter type}: Equipped with plasma cannons, guided missiles and a temporary camouflage system. 750[C]

(Vehicles) Bomber {Starfighter type}: Lightweight artillery with explosive ordnance for the destruction of buildings. 495[C]

(Vehicles) IMS Malta {Carrier and Battleship type}: Heavy artillery, transportation of Titans and small aircraft. Hyperdrive for planetary travel. 3190[C]

(Vehicles) IMS Colossus {Warship type}: Heavy artillery and nuclear weapons, Hyperdrive for planetary travel. 11750[C]

(Vehicles) IMS Odyssey {Warship/MotherBase}: Self-sustainable Vehicular spacecraft, Transportation of Titans and aircraft, and modular factory. 20630[C]

"Holy fucking shit!" Maxwell's eyes widened. "Warships with nuclear weapons? This could wipe out Pandora in minutes!"

Maxwell's heart raced, but a little disappointed, he could only choose one item.

"Being broke sucks." Sighing, Maxwell shook his head and closed the screen. He wasn't crazy enough to choose a city-sized ship inside a tiny room.

He straightened his uniform and gave the door a light push. As he stepped into the hallway, he spotted Spyglass, waiting for him, with no sign of Angel nearby.

"Spyglass, where's Angel?" Maxwell asked, frowning at her absence.

"She said she needed to step away momentarily but will return shortly, sir," Spyglass clarified. "However, I must say, you look... considerably younger."

Maxwell raised an eyebrow, confused. "Younger?"

Without hesitation, he activated his pilot helmet's visor, which allowed a reflective view. When the visor flashed his reflection, his eyes widened slightly. His face was incredibly youthful, the battle scars and fatigue of time gone. His hair was thick and vibrant, his skin smooth, with none of the wrinkles or marks from before. He looked like he was back in his twenties.

His fingers touched his face softly, as he finally grasped the meaning of "a better body" from the regeneration process. The vitality was undeniable. Maxwell couldn't help but smirk in surprise, but quickly composed himself. He had responsibilities, and Spyglass wouldn't handle everything alone.

Without further ado, he pulled out the blueprint for the Simulacrums from his ECHO and handed it to Spyglass.

"I want you to make a copy of this and store it as a backup on the ECHOnet servers. And another thing..." Maxwell paused, his mind now focused on the next step of his plans. "The Marvins should pick up the VoidTech technology that I acquired. We will take it to Dead Island. Make sure it is transported with total security."

Spyglass nodded. "It will be done, sir. I will arrange for the pickup immediately."

Not wanting to remain idle, Maxwell checked his equipment. It was a deeply ingrained habit, especially for someone with his history of intense combat. It wouldn't be pleasant to draw his weapon only to find it empty.

In the midst of his inspection, he noticed that his shield was broken due to the brutal confrontation with Steele's squad. Since then, he had been wandering without this crucial protection.

"I need to sort this out soon," he thought, knowing how vulnerable he was without a functional shield. A well-placed bullet to his skull would mean game over, with no restart.

After a while, Spyglass returned, his presence marked by precise footsteps and his robotic voice sounding calm and firm. "Everything is ready, sir. We can depart."

Maxwell nodded and headed for the Samson, the robust armored vehicle he would pilot. Spyglass and Tannis were already seated in the passenger seats, ready for the journey. The destination? T-Bone Junction. Although Crimson Fastness was their current base, it was clear that there was no Fast Travel system installed there, a security risk, and enemies would be instantly inside the base.

As Maxwell drove the Samson, flanked by five other Lancer vehicles driven by the Marvins, the convoy of six trucks made its way toward the Fast Travel. The vehicles were impressive, imposing, and as they passed through the city, a wave of panic began to spread among the citizens. Many looked at the Lancers in terror, assuming it was an attack by the Atlas Corporation.

However, upon realizing that the vehicles were moving with indifference, showing no signs of hostility, the people began to relax. Sighs of relief spread through the streets as the trucks finally disappeared into the characteristic particles of light of the Fast Travel, vanishing from the location and leaving the city at peace.