Zombies (Air Studios)/Story

There is one story in Air Studios' Zombies mode, the **Dark Aether Saga**, that began in a SOI Studios game, *ShooterofIO 1: Modern Ops*, and is expected to continue in Air Studio's 2024 installment. Please note that the story is ever-changing based on information introduced in each new map.

## Dark Aether Saga

### Dark Aether Shards

On July 16th, 2023, Victor Shari orchestrates a high-stakes operation in Urkinstan, an obscure town seemingly lost to time and geography. Urkinstan harbors a grim secret: it is the site of a clandestine prison, constructed in the 1970s, whose purpose has remained a mystery until now. Victor, accompanied by his resourceful accomplice Jackson, instigates a chaotic shootout with the local police force. Their bullets and bravado sow confusion as they navigate through narrow alleyways and abandoned hallways in the heart of the town.

Their target: a hidden wall they had painstakingly identified through prior research. With the precision of seasoned criminals, they demolish the wall, revealing the long-concealed prison. The sight that greets them is horrifying, yet intriguing—six lifeless bodies lay in a row, each with an expression of torment frozen on their faces. But the most shocking discovery lies in a well-protected vault within the prison: four tubes containing shards of an enigmatic material known as Dark Aether.

Gripped by a mix of awe and apprehension, Victor carefully places the tubes containing the Dark Aether Shards into a specialized, portable case. The pair then prepare to make their hasty retreat. However, as they exit the hidden chamber, they realize that the odds have turned against them. The local police force has gained the upper hand in the ongoing skirmish and has inflicted heavy casualties on Victor and Jackson's crew. To make matters worse, Victor sustains a gunshot wound to his leg, hampering their escape.

In a desperate bid to tilt the scales, Victor opens the portable case and, with a flick of his wrist, tosses one of the Dark Aether Shards high into the air. Jackson takes the wheel of their getaway car, and they accelerate, tires screeching against the asphalt. The moment the Dark Aether Shard crashes back to Earth, it detonates in a spectacular explosion.

Approximately seventeen seconds later, the battlefield undergoes an unspeakable transformation. Previously deceased soldiers stir to life with an unnatural vigor, while those who had been alive only moments before clutch their heads in agony, their eyes shifting to an unsettling yellow hue. Maddened and transformed, they turn on each other with feral intensity. They have become something less than human, something horrifying—Zombies.

Amidst this apocalyptic backdrop, Victor leans back in the car seat, his face lit by the eerie glow emanating from the remaining Dark Aether Shards. With a grim smile, he turns to Jackson and declares, "We've just discovered a new weapon—one that promises to redefine the future of warfare."

And so, in that chilling moment, the duo speed away from Urkinstan, leaving behind not just a town, but a world forever altered by the malevolent power they have unleashed.

### Operation Z

On a covert aircraft streaking through the night sky, John Price, Soap MacTavish, and Sergei Ravenov convene in an atmosphere fraught with tension and purpose. The interior of the plane is dimly lit, casting long shadows over maps, weapons, and intelligence files scattered across a makeshift table. Price, a grizzled veteran with eyes that have seen too much, breaks the silence.

"Gentlemen, we've got a job to do, and it's unlike any we've ever faced," he begins, setting the tone for the gravity of the mission. "We've got an undead horde on the move, and it's threatening to spread like wildfire across the globe. We can't afford to let that happen."

Soap, his face marked by a combination of youthful vigor and battle-worn maturity, nods solemnly. He has been designated as the co-leader for the operation, a role he accepts with the understanding that this mission is far from conventional warfare. His sharp instincts and unparalleled combat skills are going to be tested in unimaginable ways.

"Sergei," Price continues, turning his attention to Ravenov, "you've had firsthand experience dealing with this kind of anomaly. You're the best man to lead this operation."

Ravenov, a Russian operative with a grizzled appearance that masks an astute intellect, nods in acknowledgment. His past dealings with similar outbreaks of undead forces have prepared him, albeit grimly, for the task at hand. "I understand the risks and the enormity of what we are up against," he says, his voice tinged with a Slavic accent. "Rest assured, we will stop this threat, no matter what it takes."

The aircraft descends, its landing gear making contact with an undisclosed airstrip in a remote location. The back hatch of the plane opens, revealing an arsenal of advanced weaponry—firearms, explosives, and even some experimental tech that could be the key to stopping the undead menace. But, among the armaments, are vials of a classified serum and what appear to be blueprints for deploying an electromagnetic pulse (EMP). These are just contingencies, but they underline the seriousness of what they are about to undertake.

As they disembark, Price takes a moment to lock eyes with each of his comrades. "We're not just fighting for ourselves, or our countries. We're fighting for humanity," he emphasizes. "This is our Alamo, our last stand. Failure isn't an option."

Soap and Ravenov acknowledge the weight of his words, each man fully aware that the mission ahead is a pivot upon which the fate of the world might turn. As they load up their gear and make their final preparations, the air around them thickens with a palpable sense of urgency. The trio sets out, stepping into an uncertain landscape where nightmares roam free, but where heroes are forged in the crucible of unimaginable challenges.

Thus, with each man in his respective role—Ravenov as the experienced leader, Soap as the capable co-leader, and Price as the seasoned warrior and moral compass—they venture into the abyss, united in their resolve to halt the undead apocalypse that threatens to engulf the world.