#dark engine

Once Fuse found out that Earth could actually fight back against fusion matter using imaginary energy (IE), while he was still confident that he'd win in the end, he knew he'd have to work a little harder for that victory. The creation of the Dark Engine was one method to further his advantage. It serves as a biotechnological weapon, a "giant, mechanical terrafuser" that pumps out more fusion matter than a normal terrafuser can naturally. It also can emit large amounts of fusion matter in a gaseous form, as evidenced by the haze that surrounds the machine.

While Fuse has had to experiment with tactics in past conquests, such as using fusion seedlings and soil contaminants to damage things like nanotechnology, IE is something that he's rarely faced before that does actually scare him: With it, humans can not only stop the spread of fusion matter, but destroy it. There have been rare cases where he's had to give up on taking over certain planets, but those were stalemates. Prior to reaching Earth, he's never faced someone who can genuinely fight back. As a result, the Dark Engine is pretty new technology. We see this evidenced in the fact that, in later missions of the game, the Dark Engine is still said to be in mid-construction. For all the advantages he has at his disposal, Fuse was not ready to make this machine at the start of the war.

Nevertheless, there are a couple reasons why the construction has gone so swifty. First off is simply the location: Steam Alley is a place that focuses on industrialization, close to energy plants, the ever-innovative Tech Square, and the massive spaceport that is Offworld Plaza. There's also plenty of heavy equipment nearby, like those left behind from the construction of Morbucks Towers. Secondly is the sheer number of fusions with technological know-how that can work on the project. Fuse's army has everything they need available to them and the genius to put those things to use.

Like when we talked about fusion spawns, it’s not a terrafuser alone that causes the spread of fusion matter. Even one with mechanical enhancements like the Dark Engine is still stationary, requiring monsters to spread fusion matter at a rapid pace across a wide area and help defend itself. The mission “Dark Engine Days (Part 1 of 4)” supports this by requiring us to stop fusion monsters in order to slow construction efforts. Attention on enemy combatants means less focus on ensuring that the Dark Engine is running properly--better yet, this constant string of attacks can damage the machine. Sadly, this also means that it is heavily guarded at all times. Fusion Hoss Delgado is one of the biggest threats there.    

The most looming threat though isn’t the monsters or any fusion, but rather the fusion matter gas. Concentrated amounts of it pollute the air and, without the right equipment or a nano with the antidote ability, the body is pretty much guaranteed to be infected by it even though the effects won’t be immediate. We see this potential danger covered in the “Dark Engine Days” and “Bet on Ben” mission arcs. Outside, you might be able to withstand the gas, but inside, you’re practically swimming in a poisonous smog.