"See? Veresk agrees."
"Heh, nothing like two superiors having the same risky idea… fine. But please don't go starting fights, ok?"
The group returns into formation once more, JS05 taking lead with the scout SPP-1 at her side. The first line was scouting and spotting, the second was attack and defense, and you all were ready to switch the order of the two at a moment's notice. So you proceeded deeper into the forest, where the comfort of the Zener network slowly disappeared. Communication was now a vocal matter, the rifle made it clear.
"Of course. Don't wanna attract the ringleader and give her a face full of front bumper too, huh?"
"Oh please, I'm not stupid enough to try that again. Unless... my pitiful squad leader gets herself caught again."
Another jab like that coming from the shotgun. What is with her today? Perhaps she's grown accustomed to how restless the week has been, the recent few days at the base maybe having cooled her nerves a bit. That, or she replenished her sugar stash to "acceptable levels." Either way, it wouldn't be like you to just quietly take it.
[ ] "Of course, how else would I get you to crash full force into a ringleader?"
[ ] "How about I drive this time? Gonna take that cute snake on a ride."
[ ] "I don't think a rusty jeep and cute shotgun will be enough this time."
[X] "I have a different strategy this time… you're gonna love it." ;3
[ ] Write-in
"Cut the chatter, they could've set up sensors. Only talk when necessary, ok?"
It was time to properly prepare, not just body but mind too. All cheeky conversations cease, everyone begins to focus on their surroundings. The forest is thick here, many leaves and branches between you and the sunlight. Good cover, but a hindrance too. Almost everything about the environment is either a two-sided sword or a shield. Both sides are affected the same way, the only thing that matters is positioning and resourcefulness. And so far you've got both. Speaking of positioning, should the trees and elements not shield you enough, you've got a trusty shotgun at your side.
"Trusty she is indeed, Alpha. It is good to rely on your allies."
Agreed Beta. It seems you were thinking to hard again, and your mind buddies couldn't help but butt in. Gamma put in her two cents too.
"I dunno chief. You should have a backup plan. Like, one that doesn't include hiding behind AA-12. She's been your go-to tactic for almost every OP till now, learn a little independence."
Like a pair of attention hungry critics or eager advisors, they flocked your action and current thoughts with views of their own, one canceling out the other in a neutrality that can be useful at times. They continue, moving to your most recent decision.
"Oh, and good choice scouting further ahead. I'm sure Groza will be pleased with your performance. Just puff your chest up and maybe you'll be appointed squad leader next time!"
"As if she had anything puff up. If she did, it'll deflate once she gets stung by the consequence of this choice. Seriously chief, is this not enough? You wanna earn a medal or something? Sorry, but we won't be part of G&K for long enough to get one."
That last statement has dug deeper than the rest of Gamma's stance. Not like you're not being reminded of it at every waking moment. You were once told that everybody has a secret, but you severely doubt the girls around you would hide something that'd rival yours. Same goes for the shadow of consequences it'll cast. Sooner or later, you'll have to brace.
"We'll deal with that when it comes, right?" says Beta warmly "You're a capable, resourceful T-doll. You'll come out on top, I believe in it."
"Whatever. Back to background processes… remember what's what Chief. Or you can kiss that sugar addict goodbye. If you don't die by then, that is."
And so she "left" as is the best word to describe it, the virtual dummy returning its functions to the main power, going back to the sidelines so to speak.
"AA-12 is a sweet and dear companion… you are wise to trust her. Hold onto that trust." spoke the remaining voice. This caused you to figuratively raise an eyebrow, as the statement and tone seemed a little off, even if you've only reacquainted with Beta for a short time. She has caught up on your curiosity "Oh my, that sounded a little like Kappa, didn't it? Perhaps the absence of the others is leading us to partially adapt the missing roles like the one before us… or maybe I'm evolving? Curious indeed… what do you believe Alpha?" shortly after asking, the program chuckled, realizing the silly nature of her question "Of course… your answer would dictate mine. Ah… such is the way of us advisory dummies. So static, yet never still, ever-changing…"
"Detecting movement. Stay frosty squad."
Out of your internal debate you were pulled like out of a dream, your attention brought to the slight change in scenery. There was a light rustling further ahead, almost unnoticeable, but enough to ring your scouts' alarm bells. You all take cover behind trees and bushes, observing the disturbance coming closer.
"It seems you've got work to get back to. Go get 'em, Alpha."
With Beta leaving too, your focus on the outside is 100% restored. You lay silent as a mouse, back pressed against a woody crust, feet against the grassy ground. Your allies lie all the same, listening out of the incoming danger. Sangvis, or a rare animal? Those are the two most probable scenarios, and one's much more likely than the other. And one more moment of waiting confirms your calculations. Sangvis infantry, not drones but a pair of Vespids, making their way through the bushes and branches with little subtlety. They may fight well, but terrain traversal is set for efficiency and speed, with little regard to keep quiet unless specific instructed for an ambush. Their unsuspecting heads in view, JS05 raises her finger, signaling everyone to hold fire. Let them pass, that is her plan. Risky, but you comply. Leaves and sticks crunching under their feet, they make a very near miss of your position, seemingly not having caught any wind of you. Even after they had left your field of vision you still wait, playing it safe at least. Finally, JS05 raises her hand. It's time to move.
"I've got a bad feeling about this."
"..."
--- later in the mission ---
"You just had to say it, didn't you Specter?!"
"What?! What'd I do now?!"
"Just keep running!"
Not a completely baseless accusation. The mission was going well, until now of course. While carefully avoiding patrols thanks for the rifle's foresight and the handgun's sense, you have reached a small clearing overlooking grounds used by Sangvis Ferri as an outpost. It was a most ideal vantage point serving great for data gathering. The enemy had repurposed what looked like an old tennis field, neighbored by a small storage building and a few riot walls. It looked a little remote, but JS05 pointed out that you were getting nearer to the larger settlements of Area S06, so someone must've had it built here long ago to get away from the noise, as humans sometimes say. There was a road leading up to it after all, unlike the tiny house you have discovered yesterday. Sangvis must've thought its flat, even surface could be of use, setting up Jaguar units as stationary mortars. You saw this back in Area S09, thinking it was more Hunter's strategy. Ouroboros mentioned being her superior, meaning it could be borrowed tactics. You can also spot antennae and a satellite on the roof of the building, likely this area's signal bouncer. If it wasn't there you could relay the location and status of this enemy encampment back to base straight away, but alas, you'll have to get out of the jamming field first. It's a shame, were you able to call for the other squad for backup, an assault could be made right now in broad daylight. You are unsure of what Groza would think...
You were pretty sure about what she'd think now though. Just as you were about to depart with the collected data, you witnessed one of the installed Jaguars fire a shell. It was very sudden and without warning, the target of said shell a mystery, though barely a moment passed before SPP-1 screamed for everyone to run. You bolted off, the fast ones running ahead, the slightly slower shotgun sprinting with her shields covering her back, as you felt the head and shrapnel of the close explosion graze your skin. You did not stop running, dashing the way you came deeper into the woods. JS05 was calling for everyone to stick together but haul ass, knowing the patrols you've passed will be alerted and impossible to sneak past now.
And so you are here, ducking, dodging and weaving around trees and bullets alike, hoping the mortar cannons won't be able to get a lock on your position through the thick trees if you keep moving. Your companions are keeping up so far, especially Specter M4, living up to her role as an SMG type and displaying quick reflexes and bouncy movements. Uncomfortably bouncy… SPP-1 was lacking a bit behind, and odd sight for a handgun type, as their agility sometimes even surpasses than of an SMG, though she's a special case built for special purpose, and the current environment is just a bit too dry for her. JS05 and AA-12 were the last, though their positions were highly understandable, their weight working against them. But with the shotgun utilizing her armour, and the rifle still being agile enough to evade attacks, they should be fine for now.
A patrol intercepts your course, opening fire. The frontline SMG duo returns said fire, being a little too quick for the SF robots to handle. You take a few out as you dash, taking more precise shots than Specter's wasteful spraying, though it's a deadly duality as she draws their fire more, allowing you to better aim your shots. You don't stop running even as you pass the remaining units, allowing them to continue firing at you as it exposes their back to the rest of your squad. The shattering of metal bodies is all the confirmation you need of on-foot shotgun roadkill, meaning the patrol was eliminated and your retreat was uninterrupted.
Suddenly, an explosion went off only a few meters off the side of your position. A miss, but a close one. The enemy is either miscalculating or guessing, which depends on who's doing the calculations. It better not be the local Ringleader… unless you get out of this, then you can laugh about her targeting skills.
Time seems to shorten as you cover more and more ground, running far past the point of no returning gunfire. JS05 tells everyone to keep going, saying it's not safe until you're out of the mortar's range. You don't know yourself what its range is, but arguing with a sniper T-doll about distance would be a short battle, like this one if you stop just to think about it.
"Have we lost them yet?!"
"No idea, just keep going!"
"Are we even going the right way?!"
"Yes we…. Shit, where are we going?!"
"Damn… let's find a covered spot to stop and reassess the situation."
Finding a particularly big tree surrounded by more forest fauna, you slow down to a halt and brace yourself as time slows with you. SMGs like you and Specter are well ventilated and conditioned, so that was comparable to a jog for you. The shotgun though is breathless, leaning against a tree to cool off, with the help of more sugar of course. The rifle didn't seem that well either, but she forced herself through the exhaustion.
"Alright… huff… SPP-1, do you remember which way…- look out!"
The handgun was about to answer when the rushed warning reached her ears, though of what she did not realize. Look out for what? Where? Behind? It was too late when she realized it was above. Something that escaped the notice of all of you, a Sangvis units hiding in the branches of the trees, now dropping down to pounce on the unguarded T-doll. The opponent is a different unit type you haven't seen before, featuring blue hair, a visor, and two combat knives sharp enough to be a big danger to T-dolls. The short handgun was wrestling for control over the much taller doll now pinning her to the ground, but her proficiency is agility, not strength, and her defiance is slowly veining. With the fastest reaction time, you and Specter rush to intervene. But you discover the attacker is fast as well.
With quick movements, she suddenly ceases her struggle against handgun and throws one of her knives at Specter, and the other at you, and then proceeds to place her unarmed hands on SPP-1's neck and squeeze. Perhaps it hoped to cause enough damage to buy time and kill your main scout before you shoot it to bits, but it seems to have underestimated your agility as well. You can dodge bullets, a flying knife is little trouble. To avoid being impaled, you…
[ ] Evade the blade.
[X] Catch the blade.
[ ] Deflect the blade.
[ ] Write-in
Either way, you are surprised when you see the hostile already full of holes from the other side, Specter's barrel smoking. The Sangvis unit flops dead on top of the poor handgun, and the two of you rush to get it off of her. JS05 did so too. The body was moved to reveal a very frightened expression, stains of red coolant on her face. You carefully get her up, her expression unchanging.
"SPP, are you alright?"
Asks the rifle, trying to shake the short T-doll out of her trance. Shakily she answers.
"I-I… think I broke a rib…"
"We'll get that patched up. C'mon, let's get out of here before more arrive."
Giving her a hand to stand upright, she seems to regain her balance, but stays slightly hunched over likely due to her damage. She raises her hands to feel around her neck, which was under a lot of pressure just moments ago. AA-12 steps closer as well, looking at the deceased unit.
"Brutes… this is a highly advanced unit. We need to haul ass before more arrive."
She said this with a certain undertone of disgust. As you look closer at the unit, it is apparent it was meant for close quarters combat and melee, which very well explains the shotgun's disdain for this particular combat series. You can tell it's an advanced model though as she said… maybe useful to a degree too…
[X] Scavenge the brute.
- [X] Take its knives.
- [X] Take its footwear.
- [ ] Take its visor.
- [ ] Write-in
[ ] Don't take anything.
