Girl's Frontline: Wicked Animandum

You say [X] Nothing. Your silence is a sign of professionalism.

Silence stayed in the air for a good while and nothing seemed to want to penetrate it. Aside from the constant fighting outside, slightly muffled by the walls around you. The girls might've expected you to have questions, but seeing as you stayed silent this whole time they assumed you got the gist of it. Good way to seem reliable.

Looking over your weapon, you see that the reflex sight has not been tampered with, still set to your preferences. With a new magazine in it, 4 more stashed away in your pockets, and a quick check of the side-mounted tactical flashlight, it is pretty much the same as you remember it, meaning it might need some cleaning once you're safe and away. For now, it'll do its job to help you get out of here.

"... alright then, let's get going." M16 commanded, taking point. The other dolls were already in formation, preparing to go back to their natural habitat, the battlefield. M16, MP5 and you were in the front, with M1 Garand and FN-49 in the back. The Zenner network did not need to be online for you to know this is one of the most optimal formations for your current set-up, all of you seemed to agree without question. However, the lack of the Zenner network means you'll have to coordinate the old fashioned way, same as human special tasks groups used to do, using signs, signals and occasionally callouts. Nothing you can't do, you're all capable soldiers, by human standards at least.

It was a straightforward path out the building again, into another tight alleyway. Those are by far the safest places outside, assuming a Manticore isn't chasing you through it. Would be the second time today. And a quick look over your shoulder assures you this isn't going to be the second time. Best to be sure.

M16 halts, "This is the place." she says, giving you all a sign to provide cover. You comply, and she shoulders her rifle while moving to a large trash container. Nobody has been around to empty it for ages, but nobody was adding to the already large amount of trash within it. It's contents were also much older and smellier than they'd be in a still populated area. The rifle T-doll pushes it to the side, trying to do as little noise as possible, but there wasn't much one could do when the thing had no wheels. Beneath it was revealed to be a manhole. M16 crouched down to take the cover off, and the smell rose instantly. It visibly aged even worse than the trash.

"Jackpot."

"You can't be serious…"

"What? Worried about getting your feet wet?" M16 replied with joking intent, but M1 was too disgusted to take it the same way "Welp, nothing ventured, nothing gained. We enter one by one. It's dark in there, so stick close. Since none of you except Veresk were geared up for night operations, we're the only ones with flashlights. I'll be taking point at all times." she stood up, readying her weapon once more "Oh, and try not to trip."

"You mean-" before MP5 could finish her inquiry, M16 had already jumped into the dim concrete hole. There was a ladder, but it seems she didn't trust it's rusty appearance. After a short moment with a shocked SMG at your side you both hear a sploosh sound, signalling she must've landed safely.

"The water's a bit higher than last time, but it should be fine! C'mon!" she called from below, urging you to follow promptly. Your comrades were not all that enthusiastic though. Not the small MP5, not the capable M1 Garand, and not the worrisome FN-49. And the little SMG was next.

"Deep breaths… alright, I can do this… it's just… a sewer… to become stronger I must be able to do this…" she murmured, shivering, mentally preparing herself.

[ ] "It ain't that bad. Just try not to think of the flies, and rats, and bugs, and all those nasty little things living down there… including snakes. Oh, definitely snakes~" tease the small one.
[X] "You can do this MP5. We believe in you." resist teasing the small one.

After you words, whatever they were, you placed your hand on MP5's back, but no matter what that gesture was meant to entail, it ended up startling the little SMG, enough for her to jump off straight into the dark sewer hole like a brave trooper, yet with a face filled to the brim with horror.

"EEEEEK!"

Splash!

"EEEEEW! Grossgrossgroooss!"

"Keep it together MP5, it's barely up to your ankles."

"Commandeeeeer, help meeee!"

That didn't go as expected. Hearing her pleas and calls for help echoing out, you best give M16 a minute to calm her down before following. The two rifles behind you are grimacing at the sounds.

"M--M-M1? I'm not sure… I can…"

"... it doesn't seem like we have a choice here, 49."

"B-but… I'm carrying all the other dolls' equipment…"

"Hm, that's true… alright, I'll go down first, then your throw me the bag. I'll then give it back to you once you're down as well."

It's clear that was not the response 49 was hoping for, but she couldn't bring herself to say more at this point. Nobody is all too pleased with this situation, and hearing the protests below quiet down a little more, it seems it's your turn. Just looking down that hole could make one go dizzy. You may be a mess but that's no excuse for a woman to go spelunking in a sewer. Unfortunately, your excuse is that your survival depends on it.

You heard them say that the sewage reaches up to the ankles. You look down at your feet, checking if your [X] black leather, knee high combat boots with buckles are tight enough. You really hope that they'll survive the dip. If not, it shouldn't be too difficult to find replacements. If there's one thing humans had plenty of it's footwear.

So, with a deep breath, maybe even a prayer, you leap into the stinky darkness after them. The joints in your legs prepare for impact as you fall. The height is no problem, it's child's play actually. Being on the lighter side of T-doll construction helps. Your feet meet the ground with a splash, and you feel the freezing drops cling onto you on various spots from the impact. It really is uncomfortable, but the best it can get out of you is a shiver. You dodged bullets, some cold dirty water won't hold you down now. Even if it'd seeping in, sinking, soaking and… ugh, get a grip!

You look around to see a lot of dark, not much is visible beyond the small cone of light emanating from the opening above you. The sewer wasn't very large, it's not a big city it's built under to dispose the waste of. But it's big enough to traverse while standing up. You'd rather not look below you, the only description you need of what you're standing in currently is that it's very old sewage. So you focus your gaze ahead of you, where another cone of light resides, lightly blinding you.

"Took you long enough." commented M16, the light emanating from under the barrel of her gun "The path ahead is clear. We should get a move on."

Behind her, though it was difficult to see, MP5 was visibly shivering and doing her best not to look down. Clearly she wasn't just cold.

"Don't worry about her. She'll be fine once we're out of here. For now I suggest you move." you can only reply with a nod in agreement as you take some steps forward, ignoring the squishing noises every time your feet press into the filth, it's better than having the other girls land on top of you. This is a good time to turn on your own flashlight. It's about the same intensity as M16's, which is enough for your current conditions. You use it to look at the path ahead, which goes on for quite a while, to where you don't even know. You also get a better look at your fellow SMG, which wasn't as dirty as her screams would lead you to believe, though her height did bring her closer to what you'd all wish to avoid.

"Coming!"

Called down another comrade behind you from above, falling down shortly after. M1 Garand has joined up, just as displeased with her landing as you. This'll absolutely ruin her stockings…

"Ugh… 49? You can throw me the bag now."

"O-one second!"

The rifle waited patiently in the mud, though her patience was thinning. The tiny shadow above her head quickly grew larger, until she caught the bag of weaponry and gear with a grunt. "Phew, got it! You can come down now." she moved away from the entrance as she inspected it's contents, allowing FN-49 to drop in. Her reaction was similar to MP5's, only with more stuttering and more along the lines of…

"G-g-gross! T-this is… so gross! M-my shoes... are all ruined… sniff..."

"Come on, you wouldn't want FAL to see you like this now, would you?"

"N-no… sniff... you're right..."

M1 continued to check the bag's contents as she calmed FN down, well capable of splitting her focus.

"M-M1? I already checked it… thoroughly…"

"Newer hurts to be sure." she finished with a content hum, or as content as could be given the circumstances, handing the equipment back to her fellow rifle T-doll.

"Alright everyone. Once again, I'll take the lead. Veresk, behind me."

You comply, you all do, leaving the light of day behind for now. You all resume your previous squad formation, only you're switching places with the uncomfortable MP5 this time. The wet ground prevents you from moving as quickly as you were on the surface quietly, but at least the chance of encountering large amounts of Sangvis Ferri units down here is lower.

"This is… the grossest thing… I think I've ever done…" the SMG behind you complains.

"Can't say I'm accustomed to situations like these…" Garand agrees.

"M-me neither…" 49 joins the sulking.

"... what about you Miss Veresk?" she asks from behind you.

[ ] "Same."
[X] "I've been through worse."

"... and what about you Miss M16?" she asked the assault rifle before you.

"I mentioned I was here once before, right? The water admittedly wasn't as deep, but a sewer's a sewer. You could say I'm used to it at this point, dragging my feet through the mud."

"I can't imagine ever getting used to this…" she complained again, to which M16 replied sternly.

"You shouldn't be so afraid to get your hands dirty. Otherwise you'll never get anything done."

"I knooow, but-"

"We're T-dolls. When on mission, we do anything to fulfil our orders. It'd be funny to fail just because we wouldn't dig our noses through the dirt."

"Dig our noses through the… ew!" as the mental image seemed to frighten the small SMG, the rifle behind her felt like this is a good time to inquire about something she's been thinking about.

"Miss M16, may I ask where exactly you are leading us?"

"To rendezvous point B." she replied simply "The outside is too crowded for the original escape plan, I'm sure M4 is well aware of this and will await us there. This sewer system is pretty complex, we didn't map all of it last time I was here. We know of a couple exits, and this is one at the town's edge that we can use."

The further you venture, the more the sewer opens up, as you pass by junctions and holes alike, further from the day's light. The echoing gets deeper, and you grow fully reliant on the light provided by your flashlight. Your lead member has not slowed down a bit, keeping a regular pace as she guided you turn after turn. A quick look behind you confirmed that everyone's still there, as did their steps through the sewage, echoing.

Suddenly, M16 stops, and gestures for you to do the same. As you do, there's some bumping to be heard from behind you as some dolls weren't as perceptive, but they quiet down immediately. You all look forward, same as M16 does. She aims off into the dark. A second passes. Then 5 pass. Then 10, until finally…

BANG!

She lets loose a round, one that hit its target almost immediately with force only to be expected of an assault rifle like her. The flash was bright, almost blinding, but if there's one thing you're all used to it's gunfire. Shortly after something was heard falling into the water with a splash.

"Drones." M16 announces "Damn, and so close too."

She doesn't wait to explain before letting loose another volley of rounds, hitting more targets. She advances, and you follow, weapons raised.

"Those are just scouts. Reinforcements will be coming soon. We can't lead them to M4 and the others, or they'll cut off that escape route. We need to split up."

"Again?!" MP5 asked worriedly, and her concern was understandable. The other dolls shared it too.

"Someone needs to lead them away. A small group of two can work as a distraction and still be agile enough to escape, while the other larger group with the gear slips by unnoticed. And I know these sewers well enough to not get lost." M16 explains quickly.

"Y-you'll be leaving us?" FN-49 said with considerably more worry.

"... listen carefully." M16 said after a pause "Head straight, then left. Past the two T junctions, then right at the cross section. Keep going straight until you see a V section, then head left. There'll be a barrel in your way, just get over it and turn right at the nearest corner. Then just keep heading straight until you find them. Tell M4 I'll find another way out, and that they should proceed with things as planned. Got it?"

She stops and looks back, asking for your acknowledgement. Although with reluctance, it is not difficult for a T-doll to remember complex instructions, so you all nod. Including you, but as she looks directly at you…

"Veresk, you're with me."

The command is rather out of the blue, but it's understandable. Given the circumstances, you're better suited for enemy evasion than any of the others, just need to remember that Manticore as proof of that. And admittedly, you owe M16 one for saving your ass on multiple occasions in the last few minutes. You feel like there's no backing out of this even if you wanted to.

"... you'll also need a light." she pointed out, meaning one of you two will have to give one up for the other group. The two rifles and SMG look up to you both.

What do you say?
[X] "Ok, give them your flashlight. I'm more nimble, so I'll take point and draw enemy fire. You cover and guide me."
[ ] "Alright, I'll give them mine. You'll lead the way and I'll cover you."
[ ] "No, you can't make me do this. This is suicide! You ain't the boss of me."