"Our momentary commander… there is nothing for me, but to follow her orders."
M82A1 gazed forward at Ots-12, sister to the doll in question. It seems she was successful in her secret approach, and AA-12 is throwing a bit of a tantrum right now. The AR doll is merely smiling that dreamy smile again.
"Sisters know each other well, something that's usually true for humans too. She always knows where Tiss is hiding, though perhaps she's not keeping any secrets from her at all. You are likely wondering why she was absent this morning. The answer is simple really… as her sister deducted, she was asleep."
"..."
"... I see you are confused, that is understandable. She manages the entire base in the commander's absence after all, sleeping in on the job would be rather unbecoming were it anyone else. But miss Groza carries out her work at night, the rising sun being her twilight moon. It is highly suitable for an outpost that focuses primarily on night operations. Do not be fooled, Ots-14 is an elite through and through, and I will follow her every will and order… for as long as this body of mine functions."
She spoke with audible devotion, almost as if she was talking about the commander and not just the doll that stood in his place. That got you thinking though…
"What about the human commander?"
"The human commander? I think… no, I apologize, you'll have to find those answers for yourself."
Fair enough, you thought to yourself. She has already offered quite a bit of information, and that completely free of charge. And she seemed honest, oddly so. Her devotion to her superiors seemed odd, even for a T-doll. You'd ask about it, but you already exhausted your questions for today, she will not give you any more useful information. A mysterious rifle type indeed…
"Look! A squirrel!"
"Looked… more like a bird to me."
"Could be a secret spy drone."
"C'mon, I bet it was a squirrel. Go check it out!"
"Me? I'm not going to climb a tree, I'm a shotgun type!"
"Not even for a piece of candy?"
"..."
The conversation of the trio before you resurfaces on your perception as you all halt, their gazes aimed at a particularly tall tree. You yourself cannot spot what's so extraordinary about this one, it's secret likely hidden within its leaves, but the dolls before you seem set on pulling back the curtains. And you know AA-12, if she won't do it for one piece of candy, she'll do it for two.
"Your friend appears easily swayed…" comments the rifle beside you "Her satisfaction comes so easily, yet in limited supply. At least she knows exactly what she desires… but so do those around her. How reminiscent…"
What will you do?
[X] Climb the tree yourself.
[ ] Shoot into the sky, scaring away the animal.
[ ] Stand by and watch.
[ ] Write-in
--- later ---
"Taking point. Cover me, Grey Leaf."
"Roger."
"Lilac Prowler, are you in position?"
"Lilac Prowler and Bright Star here, in position and awaiting signal, Yew Tree."
"Angel Beam, your line of fire?"
"Am overlooking both teams' positions, ready to provide cover."
"Be ready for breach. 3, 2, 1…"
With great force, the shotgun before you kicked down the door, and the two of you entered the room utilizing quick breach tactics, her taking the left side while you take the right side. The swinging door caused a wave of air to spread throughout the room, picking up the layer of dust on the ground. It hindered your sigh very little, your eyes immediately scanning your angle of vision. No hostiles. No friendlies. No neutrals. Just… stuff…
"Room clear. Nothing of interest."
"Roger that Lilac Prowler. No hostile activity here either. Angel Beam?"
"Not picking up any irregularities. The area is clear of sensors."
"Affirmative. Secret breach and clear operations successful. Good work everyone."
After one last look over the room for good measure, you finally lower the barrel of your gun, rerouting priorities from enemy scanning to less immediately consequential things like ambient observation. The small hut looks just as small from inside as on the outside. It seemed so out of place and remote, you figured it must be used for some Sangvis Ferri activity and decided to breach it with proper care. While this little hut was made of proper concrete walls, there was a shack beside it made out of wood, and you split into pairs of two to investigate each, the fifth providing cover from a distance. Turns out both were mostly empty.
The one room hut you were in right now only had an old looking bed, a stool with a half filled ashtray, and a small furnace. A small window was covered by a blanket, and AA-12 pulled it to the side to let some light in. The two of your look around the room, this time not looking for enemies but observing this odd small living space.
"Looks kinda cozy… a little small though. Think someone actually lived here?"
[ ] "Maybe someone poor."
[X] "Seems more like an escape spot."
[ ] "Some people prefer to be alone I guess."
[ ] "If they had something to hide..."
[ ] Write-in
"Humans sure are odd…"
AA-12 opened the old furnace only to find black emptiness inside. You walk to the stool, inspecting the ashtray and sticking your fingers into its contents. The ash was cold and powdery, old and definitely not recent. There are no signs of anyone having been here in a long time.
"At least the bed looks comfy… anything on your end, Ots-12?"
"Secret codenames."
"Hm? Oh, shit, right… um, Yew Tree?"
"Nothing here but some large stacks of wood… was hoping to find something secret within, but it seems to just be another waster hiding spot."
"Y-you made the stacks collapse and nearly crush me!"
"Sangvis Ferri has yet again failed to make proper use of the local structures. G&K will not. Marking the location for future use in secret operations."
"Will you keep the endangerment of your squadmates a secret too?!"
For the next few moments the network chatter was reduced to an angry PSG-1 and an ignorant Ots-12, a conversation you rather didn't devote all of your perceptive prowess to listening to. Instead you sat down on the bed to rest your legs a little, soon joined by the shotgun. At the moment she didn't seem to mind your presence, either because she got stuck with you or because she's trying to be nice. She actually seemed rather focused on the task until now. She reached into her pocket for another lollipop and plopped it into her mouth, sighing. It's somewhat funny, how while someone used to sit here smoking a cigarette for relief, she's replicating a similar effect with mere sugar stuck on a stick. At least it's healthier.
"Hey, Heather?"
"Yeah?"
"What do you think the Commander will think of this?"
"... think of what?"
"... you know… your mission."
"..."
[ ] "G&K isn't as accommodating to dolls as you think…"
[ ] "I'm hoping it won't come to that, until I'm done at least."
[ ] "Maybe he'll be as understanding as Groza was."
[X] "He'd tell HQ, they'd investigate, separate us, and probably rip out and format my memories."
[ ] "I'm not sure…"
[ ] Write-in
"Hey, comrades, are you getting cozy already? There is no time for secret breaks, we have still a lot of territory to clear."
"Let me guess… more trees to climb?"
"Correct, Grey Leaf."
Forcing a rather abrupt end to your conversation, you comply and stand up, making your way out of the small room. The lock may be broken by AA-12 still attempts to close it. Outside you meet the watchful gaze of M82A1, and you're soon joined by the squad leader and PSG-1. Your companion then asked.
"So, where to now?"
Ots-12 was quick to respond.
"Same direction, just a few more clicks. However, we'll take a slight detour through the pine forest, use the shadows and tall grass to pass in secret."
To that, PSG-1 responded with protest.
"With respect Tiss, it'd be much easier and faster to just cut through the plain in the middle. Trust your scout every once in a while, I spotted no enemies so there probably are none."
"Expect the unexpected, that goes double for you and M249."
"Hey, I'm not that lazy. AA-12, you agree with me right?"
"Me? Um, well… going through the plain would be simpler…"
The rifle T-doll has shamelessly pulled your companion onto her side, but the AR type did not seem impressed. And instead of simply using her authority to dismiss her protests, she played along and got someone to support her plan.
"M82A1?"
"I am with commander all the way."
With two on each side, it falls to you to become the tie breaker. The two look down at you expectantly, each expecting you to vote for them. It may affect your relations with the two even, first day impressions matter after all. What do you choose?
[ ] Shorter but more exposed path.
[X] Longer but more covered path.
--- later ---
"And that is our report on the secret scouting operation."
"Very good Echelon 1."
Benelli lay down the datapad she was holding, displaying a map of the map you took, marking points of interest and possible enemy sightings, though there were very few of those. You didn't venture deep into enemy territory, but it was just patrol duty. A mid-day walk around the edges of contested territory, all in preparation of the incoming night operations.
"These readings are more than sufficient. Comparing them to the data from Echelon 2, enemy presence has dropped to optimal levels. Tonight's operation will assure us a gain in territory, and perhaps enemy intel as well."
"Enemy intel?" asks an intrigued Ots-12 "What did your echelon find?"
"While following the river upstream, SPP-1 stumbled across electronic waste that had likely been disposed off in the water by Sangvis Ferri. It suggested an enemy encampment further up the stream, and that'll be out target. Chances of obtaining valuable intel are high."
"Enemy secrets… this operations is growing to be an exciting one." the AR type chuckles to herself, the rest of the team simply standing by and listening in the command room. PSG-1 also seems a little pleased by the news, while M82A1 looked indifferent to the situation, listening like an obedient soldier. But AA-12 had to hold back a groan, hiding any sort of protest. The shotgun in charge started typing into the datapad again, already working with the information provided by your echelon to formulate a battle plan.
"Of course, we'll require Commander Ots-14's approval of the operation and its details, but until then I shall create template for her to consider, and encrypt it too… in the meantime, you will be assigned to base duty. Supplies are to be checked, sorted and accounted for, safety protocols diagnosed and tested, caches cleared and debugged. Should any difficulties be recorded, report to me. Dismissed."
As the dolls residing within the room leave one after another, you too are about to exit the command center when the shotgun calls out to you.
"Veresk, a moment of your time, please? I would like to discuss a strategy…"
Not seeing any harm, and having to obey her command to keep your cover from being blown, you turn around and approach the shotgun once more. AA-12 leaves, as she was not called forth and doesn't seem to want anything to do with the situation anyway.
"You and your companion, AA-12, are both frontline role combatants according to the battle data at my disposal. However, I am well aware of the inaccuracies such data might contain, and the variety in SMG type T-dolls that can present itself. Therefore I ask, do you believe to be better suited for the first line of attack, or the second?"
[ ] First line of attack (offense/defense)
[X] Second line of attack (offense/support)
