Tasteless

Tenth Entry - Evidence Review - FNC's Neural Cloud (Part I)

January 23, 2063 - Dawn

Echelon 8 - Deployment Helicopter

En Route to Area AW3-4E

The sun was starting to break out to the east of the snow-capped mountains that morning as our helicopter flew low over enemy territory. I watched the scene through the windows of the helicopter doors to try and keep myself occupied, but I simply couldn't sit still.

How long has it been since I last wielded my gun? I didn't need my weapon for Logistics missions - and our weapons are taken from us as soon as we return back to base, after all.

The combat experience that I've racked up from the times when I was on the frontlines was still stored in my neural cloud, of course, but doubt and fear still brewed in my mechanical heart.

After all, Echelon 8 was deploying to AW3-4E by itself that early morning - and the T-Dolls that I was deploying with were all greenhorns. There was an M3, an IDW, an M1911 and an MP40. All of them were level-1 two-star dolls who had no combat experience whatsoever.

Those four girls knew that I was a level-100, three-star doll with a full suite of dummy links and months of combat experience under my belt. Because of that, the girls must have been intimidated by me. Aside from our formal introductions, the five of us haven't spoken at all and the helicopter cabin was silent.

I don't blame them, really. I would have felt the same way if I was suddenly assigned to a frontline mission out of the blue.

However, the girls were all looking at me throughout the trip. Did they want something?

While I was wondering what to do, MP40 stood up to face me. She was a German submachine gun doll with short, blond hair crowned with a black forage cap. Her eyes were vibrant honey brown ones that were filled with admiration and made her stand out quite well from the others.

"G-guten morgen, FNC-senpai." The doll greeted with a flustered face as she tried to shore up a more professional presence, "I-I'm MP40 - a newcomer to this station. The other girls are new too, so we're still getting used to things… but we've heard about you and the victories you've won."

MP40 then extended her hand to me and continued,

"We all just wanted to say that we look forward to working with a veteran like you!"

The other dolls were hiding behind MP40's small frame, but all three of them nodded in agreement with the German SMG.

My own heart wasn't quite at ease, but I did my best to wear a smile for the girls. I then shook MP40's hand and replied,

"I don't know how much you'd be able to learn from me, but I'm happy to fight alongside you all too!"

MP40 seemed to be amazed by what I said. She froze in place at first as I shook her hand, but the junior German thawed quickly and became excited.

Now that the ice was broken, MP40 ushered the other girls closer to me and she started bombarding me with questions that had been on their minds. They asked me about what it was like to have dummy links, and what it was like to undergo skill training for 24 hours straight. All of them wanted to hear more about our adjutant, Springfield-oneesama, as well as the girls of Echelon 1.

Not knowing what else to do, I humored the girls and answered all of their questions as best as I could. As I did so, the uneasiness that I had when I first stepped into the helicopter started petering out.

MP40's bright and responsible demeanor surely helped raise my spirits - and the German SMG doll had the qualities of a good leader. The other girls in this team seemed to follow her lead and she was quite brave - much braver than myself when I was still a refugee.

So, while I was answering this girl's rapid fire questions, I laid a hand on her shoulder and offered,

"MP40-chan. Would you like to be my protege?"

The junior German doll's eyes shimmered with delight. She then laid her right, black-gloved hand over her hand and graciously accepted,

"It would be an honor, FNC-senpai!"

…

The helicopter approached at our designated LZ and began its descent. That was our cue for an equipment check, I told the girls, so we started inspecting our weapons, ammunition and rations. Since most of the two-stars were SMGs, MP40 dutifully guided them through that process.

That gave me time to head into the cargo hold to pick up my personal equipment. Apparently, the Commander allocated some equipment for me for this mission, so I wondered just what I'd get.

Back in the day, when Echelon 8 was a frontline team, we made do with a mix of two-star and three-star equipment. They were usually surplus goods from our suppliers' production or hand-me-downs from the upper echelons - but we made good use of them.

Honestly, those were the sorts of things that I was expecting to see again. However, when I opened the trunk with my name and serial number in the cargo hold, I gasped.

"These are… sacre bleu!"

EOT 508 holographic sights. APCR High-Velocity ammunition, chambered in 5.56x45mm. IOP-X4 Exoskeleton. These were premium, five-star equipment!

Taking a closer look, I saw that they were fully calibrated and enhanced. Then, in the midst of this weapons cache, I found a great treasure.

A premium chocolate bar!

It was the same kind that Springfield-oneesama gave me on the day we first met. Ah, that brings back memories.

There was a note attached to the bar too.

"A special gift for a special girl. From Elias."

Perhaps the Commander isn't such a bad person after all! I'll write about it when I get back home.

Area AW3-4E Mountains

Far-Western Heliport

I equipped all of the five-star equipment prepared for me as the helicopter descended onto the LZ. Once we touched down, I joined the girls in the cabin and then led them out onto the snowy hills of AW3-4E.

When we got out, my four dummy links were already there at the LZ and standing in attention. All four of them were equipped with the same five-star equipment that the Commander prepared for me and were obediently waiting for orders from me.

My, even though I've had dummy links for a while - I still can't get used to them and their blank, expressionless stares. That was something that I told MP40 and the girls when they asked me about dummy links. It was a scary reminder that, at the end of the day, I was still a Tactical Doll with a duty to serve Griffon.

Anyways, I assembled the girls in my squad and my dummy links at the LZ while our deployment helicopter returned back to base. It was at that time that my earpiece buzzed and I heard the Commander's voice.

"FNC. This is the Commander. Can you hear me?"

I pressed onto the earpiece and replied,

"Loud and clear, Commander. Thanks for the equipment - and the chocolate!"

"No worries, FNC! I'm asking so much from you after all, so this is the least I can do."

The Commander's voice then pivoted and became warm as he reminisced,

"When Spring rescued you back in S09, I knew that there was something special about you. You're destined for great things - which is why I am entrusting this mission to you."

A shy smile grew on my lips as the commander showered me with praise. What a smooth talker! I can tell why Springfield-oneesama fell for him.

Yet, at the same time, the gravity of the situation wasn't lost in his tone.

We were here to avenge Springfield-oneesama.

The Commander and I care about her very much.

So, after the short spell of pleasantries, the Commander shifted gears again and got down to business.

"Listen to me carefully, FNC. This mission is incredibly delicate, so I'll talk with you directly over a secondary line for OPSEC. I've also granted you access to a Command module linked with your exoskeleton."

OPSEC, the Commander said. Operational Security… and a Command module, just like Springfield-oneesama's...

That meant that this mission was the station's top priority - and I would be the one calling the shots!

Gosh, I never thought I'd have all this responsibility!

"The purpose of this exercise is to find a way to complete Operation Arctic Warfare as quickly and efficiently as we possibly can.." The Commander explained over the radio,"That's why I want you to trust me. Follow my instructions to the letter. We will succeed - as long as you never stop firing at the enemy. No matter what happens."

"No matter what happens?"

What did the Commander mean by that?

"That's right. Don't worry about your ammunition. I'll make sure you're resupplied regularly - and that you'll be well fed. I'll also provide you with everything you need to win - so, keep shooting."

"... understood Commander. I'll unleash hell!"

"That's the spirit, FNC. Now - prepare yourself and your… team. Your mission is about to begin."

As soon as the Commander gave us the green light, I deployed Echelon 8 on its first mission.

The five of us, along with my four dummy links, climbed uphill from the LZ and secured a vantage point in a forest of evergreens. From there, we had a clear view of the Western half of the map and easily got a lay of the land.

Equipped with binoculars, the girls and I charted the movements of the SF mobile units and then marked the locations of the treacherous Jupiter Cannon emplacements on the Western half of the map.

I compiled my team's findings and prepared a battle plan with Echelons 1 through 6 in mind. It was a lengthy plan that would have taken many turns to complete, but every battle that we fought would have been to our advantage.

Everyone would be able to come home to the Command Post.

It was efficient.

No lives would be lost if we follow that plan

Moreover, we would be able to encircle, hack and destroy every single Jupiter Cannon emplacement in that run. The precious 'Red Envelopes' that the Commander told me about would be ours!

So, with that in mind, I proudly transmitted the battle plan to the Commander to see what he thought about it.

After a few moments of silence, the Commander responded apologetically over the radio,

"FNC. I looked at the plan you sent me just now… but this simply won't do. You were in Logistics up until yesterday, so you have to remember just how stretched our stockpiles already are. If we spend that many turns on this map with six or seven full echelons for a day or two - let alone a month, our station's gonna starve to death!"

A sharp pain struck my heart when I heard this. How could I forget about our rations?

But still… if we want to break through the Western half of the map quickly, then the only way to do so would be…

No…

Don't tell me… was that what the Commander was planning to do?

"Judging by your silence, FNC, you've figured out the most efficient way to go about this mission." The Commander's voice reached me through the radio, but I noticed a peculiar change in tone, "If we can secure the closest heliport, then we wouldn't need a very long supply line. The turns we save can be the difference between life and death for our station - and we will be able to collect Red Envelopes as we please from there."

"B-but…" I tried to argue, "that means we would have… we would have to fight Jupiter Cannons head-on!"

"That's right - and a brilliant echelon leader, armed with the best equipment that G&K can provide, can do just that. Efficiently."

My mechanical heart skipped a beat. I wanted to avenge Springfield-oneesama, but fighting a Jupiter Cannon on the frontlines wasn't something I was prepared to do.

However, the Commander spoke from out of the blue.

"I have a confession to make, FNC. This is for your ears only - got it? Springfield is my beloved, but she simply does not have what it takes to fight Jupiter Cannons head on… but you are special, FNC. If it's you leading the charge, I know you can win."

"Commander… I don't know where this faith in me is coming from, but attacking a Jupiter Cannon emplacement is a reckless move! It's practically suicide!"

"Not with the sort of equipment you have, FNC. You'll come out of it alive - as long as you keep shooting, just like you promised me."

"But, Commander…!"

Before I could continue, the Commander interrupted me with a heavy, disappointed sigh.

"FNC. Are you serious about avenging Springfield or not? The station is counting on you too - in case you've forgotten! I gave you the very best equipment I could get my hands on hoping that you would lead us to victory… hoping that you would achieve something great. Tell me - FNC. Was I wrong about you?."

The sharp pang of pain in my heart grew stronger. It was like a knife that was being twisted in me with every word the Commander spoke. Sweat formed on my brow in spite of the frigid cold as I hastily answered,

"O-of course I'm serious! I owe Springfield-oneesama my life! I would do anything for her!"

"Well - then why won't you do what needs to be done?"

"T-that's because…"

I stopped myself halfway. I didn't have any more excuses - so the Commander continued,

"Listen, FNC. In an ideal world, your battle plan would have been perfect. However, our situation is far from perfect - and we are only at day one! Springfield cares deeply about the girls of our station. She would want nothing more than a swift, decisive end to this Operation."

"S-Springfield-oneesama does…?"

"Yes. You can ask her that when she gets out of the Repair Bay. That is how Springfield thinks… and now, you have the chance to find that way forward for us. Do what I ask of you and we will shorten our deployment. We'll only have to struggle in this frozen wasteland for a few days - not a whole damn month!"

The Commander's passion spilled out from his voice as he spoke.

Listening to him made my mechanical heart beat against my chest. I remembered the sorry state that Springfield-oneesama and M14 and WA-chan were in when they returned from their deployment.

I don't want them to have to dive into hell over and over for a whole month like this.

I want to fight for them.

I want to avenge them.

As a G&K Tactical Doll, I have sworn to serve the Commander and follow his orders. My very core was programmed to be loyal to him as soon as I joined this station.

But I had to be sure that this was the right path.

So, I asked the Commander earnestly,

"How sure are you that attacking those cannons won't be a suicide mission for me?"

The Commander paused. Then, he answered confidently,

"I'm willing to bet my life on it, FNC. You will come out of that battle completely unscathed. I promise you."

I held a hand over my chest and gave his words some thought. Doubts still lingered in my heart, but I had to make a decision.

I pressed on my earpiece and replied,

"... okay Commander. What are your orders?"

Helipad 1 (Objective A)

Woodland Approach

Thick, dark clouds rolled through the horizon of Area AW that morning as a violent snowstorm brewed in the heavens. Those clouds cast heavy shadows over me, the girls and the Jupiter Cannons that we were tasked to destroy.

In the midst of our huddle, MP40 turned to me with grave concern and asked,

"FNC-senpai… are you sure about this?"

The other girls nodded in agreement with my new protege, so I reassured them.

"These are the Commander's orders - but I will be leading you in battle. Everyone here has their own special skills, talents and weapons that we can use to win this fight… so we may be able to pull this off. Just stick to the plan, and…"

MP40 tilted her head curiously, puzzled by the pause,

"And what, FNC-senpai?"

I lowered my head as I echoed the Commander's words,

"Don't stop shooting."

The four two-star dolls gave me sharp salutes and then prepared themselves for the attack. I brought out my tablet device to check my time.

0859 hours.

My eyes watched the seconds tick away on the screen. Then, at the turn of the hour, I gave the command,

"Echelon 8 - it's time to get work done!"

…

At my signal, the girls and I burst from out of our evergreen wall and charged at the Jupiter Cannons guarding the helipad clearing. As soon as we did, the siege artillery pieces detected our presence and aimed their primary guns at us like clockwork.

The cannons fired their first barrage and we fanned out in the snow, stretching out our formation as far as we possibly could. All the while, I coordinated with the girls through my earpiece,

"We've got to close the distance as quickly as possible until we can start shooting back. IDW - use your skill and take point!"

The cat-like British submachine gun happily replied back over the radio,

"Okay! It's my turn now, nya~!"

…

~Cover Focus - Lv. 1~

…

IDW sprinted ahead of us as she activated her skill and started to draw the fire of the three cannons. Artillery shells crashed into the snow and burst around IDW as she evaded them with impressive agility.

I saw her zig-zagging on her way down the hill, rolling forward and twirling around like a whirling dervish - grinning confidently all the way.

Her efforts allowed me and my dummy links to take position at our maximum range and finally shoot back at the Jupiter Cannons. MP40, on the other hand, led the rest of the girls further ahead of me where they dug in and started shooting as well.

My dolls and I focused fire on one of the cannons and unloaded accurate bursts of APCR shots on it. Then, I activated my own skill to boost the damage I dealt.

…

~Firepower Focus - Lv. 10~

…

Paired with the top-tier equipment that I got from the Commander, my shots whittled away at the armored targets and I eventually managed to destroy one of them!

However…

I celebrated too soon.

As IDW was drawing closer to the remaining cannons, the Jupiters unleashed their secondary weapons. They were 25mm chain guns with disappearing mounts that snapped upward, aimed at the cat-like doll and then promptly tracked her movements with forward-looking infrared sensors.

Then, a chaotic order of gunfire mercilessly flew at IDW. The attack patterns of the chain guns were erratic and unpredictable, rendering what agility the untrained IDW had completely useless.

Barely two seconds passed before a 25mm shot struck IDW's leg. A second hit followed in quick succession - then a third.

Those three hits cut through IDW's synthetic skin, shattered the mechanical frame beneath it and tore her right leg clean off. Blood and oil splattered against the white snow as the greenhorn British doll fell face first into the snow.

From where I stood, I only caught a glimpse of the profile of IDW's face in that harrowing moment.

There was a look of surprise - disbelief - etched on her face that quickly soured into despair.

At the back of her mind, she must have been counting down the seconds to anticipate when the next artillery shell would hit - and she knew that both remaining cannons had just finished reloading.

Bitter tears started forming at the sides of her eyes, but IDW didn't even get the chance to shed them.

The Jupiters fired another salvo - and IDW disappeared in a ball of flame.

When the flame cleared, the British SMG doll's corpse was sprawled out in a fiery crater. Her synthetic skin was blackened by flame and the mechanical frame beneath it was warped beyond recognition.

One of the shells tore through her torso while the other decapitated her - leaving no trace of the energetic IDW's face.

Then, without missing a beat, the Jupiter Cannons turned their attention to us.

A dull pain soon struck my mechanical heart as I came to a realization.

The Commander's projections were off - way off.

We were all going to die here, weren't we!?

While our situation was weighing down on my, however, I heard MP40's voice.

It was a ferocious, unyielding roar.

"PROTECT FNC-SENPAI AT ALL COSTS!"

The German submachine gun then opened fire on the Jupiter Cannons and the other dolls followed suit.

M3 and M1911 steeled themselves and took defensive positions in front of me. They fired their uncalibrated weapons at the cannons to draw their attention.

MP40, on the other hand, took out an incendiary grenade from her pack. She then turned to me and shouted,

"FNC-senpai! Keep shooting!"

It was only then that I realized that my trigger finger was frozen in place - and that my magazine was empty.

My dummy links were still shooting and reloading autonomously and managed to heavily damage a second cannon, but for me…

Time seemed to be slowing down.

Despair was taking root in my heart… but MP40 urged again,

"FNC-SENPAI!"

MP40's cry snapped me out of my daze. I quickly reloaded a fresh magazine of APCR shots while MP40 threw her grenade at the weakened Jupiter cannon.

The grenade burst and lit the cannon on fire. My dummy links and I rained tungsten-tipped lead as quickly as our guns could accurately fire.

However, our efforts simply weren't enough.

It was too little… too late.

M3 was mowed down by the chain guns - and M1911 followed soon after.

The both of them were likewise blasted by artillery shells that mercilessly found their mark.

MP40 and I managed to destroy the second cannon - but the third simply refused to fall.

The seconds ticked away and MP40 felt the cannon's sensors tracking her.

MP40's namesake weapon ran out of ammo, but the German doll didn't bother to reload. She tossed her weapon aside and spread her arms out wide - shielding me from the last Jupiter Cannon's infrared gaze.

Seeing her like this reminded me of Executioner as she stared down Springfield-oneesama.

Just like that ringleader, MP40 was facing death...

And yet, when I heard MP40's voice on the radio…

"Senpai… I'm afraid…"

That was the last thing that MP40 said before the flames consumed her.

"MP40!"

I gripped my weapon tightly while tears streaked from my bloodshot eyes down my cheeks. I lined my sights at the Jupiter Cannon's hull, held down my trigger and screamed like a wild beast.

"ARGHHHH!"

Moments later, after the dust settled, only I and my dummy links were still left standing. Four smouldering craters - graves of the other girls of Echelon 8 - crackled with dying flames… while my dummy links stood there emotionlessly.

My weapon slipped from my hands and I fell down to my knees in the snow.

A charred black forage cap rested on the snow before me. Inside of it, I saw the 'miracle' that the Commander spoke so fondly of - stained with oil and blood.

A red envelope.

I picked up the cap and the envelope inside of it and held it close to my chest. Then, I cried out at the top of my lungs and wept.

…

A minute or so must have passed since the battle concluded, but it somehow didn't register for me at all.

Howling winds blew a flurry of snow all around me and soon covered the fiery craters with sheets of white. Those winds threatened to pull the forage cap away from my hands, but I held on tight.

I wasn't going to let go.

MP40 left an impression on me - as short as our time together may have been - but I wasn't going to let go.

So, in the midst of the winter storm, I found a deathly calm. All the while, my dummy links stood guard - detached and unmoved.

That silence was soon broken by the Commander's voice in my earpiece,

"Excellent work, FNC. The Jupiter Cannons are confirmed to be destroyed - and the heliport is secure."

"... excellent work…?" I challenged, pressing down on my earpiece with boiling fury, "Excellent work!? This was a massacre, Commander! You promised me that we would all get out of this unscathed!"

"I believe you misunderstood me, FNC. I said that 'you' were going to come out of this unscathed. You and your dummy links are all in full health! It wasn't an S-rank victory - god, no - but we got the Red Envelope didn't we? It's already been credited to our station's account!"

"That's… not right… we're going to need Quick Repair contracts for these girls!"

"We don't have any more Quick Repair contracts to spare, FNC… you already saw it for yourself, right? Plus - even if we had some, I wouldn't authorize you to use it for these girls. There's hardly anything left of them…"

"But Commander…!"

"We're leaving them, FNC. They're too far gone."

"... too far… gone…"

"That's right. So, rather than wasting the manpower and spare parts we have - we're discarding those teammates of yours."

"... what!?"

"You know how disassembly works, right? We take the weapons module of the T-Doll, return them into civilian service and HQ credits us some resources for our trouble. It's not a whole lot, but every bit helps."

A faint chime then sounded in my earpiece and the Commander continued,

"There we go. Twelve of each resource for MP40, M3, M1911 and IDW. It's a shame that we can't release them into civilian service… but busted dolls don't exactly contribute to society, so why bother?"

Cruel…

How incredibly cruel…

Why was this monster the one in charge of our station?

How could Springfield-oneesama marry such a monster?

Why did I believe this monster's words!?

I reached for my earpiece again with a trembling hand and accused,

"C-commander… you're violating G&K protocol. If HQ hears about this…"

"If HQ hears about this…" the Commander interrupted me immediately, "they will also hear about the doll who led those poor, poor dolls into battle and used them as meat shields to survive a bitter battle unscathed."

"That's absurd! Those were your orders, Commander!"

"True - but you were the one with the Command module in this mission. You and I share this responsibility - equally. Drag me into hell, and hell will take you too. I may very well get executed for this - but so will you, FNC."

The Commander's calm malice silenced me… and the blood and oil that stained MP40's forage cap started rubbing off on my white blouse. My grip on the cap loosened, and the mischievous winds of Area AW finally snatched that cap from my hands.

I rose up to try and catch the flying cap, but the winds blew it far away - too far for me to ever hope to reach. A sense of emptiness then carved out my very core, hollowed-out by the Commander's words,

"I never once lied to you, FNC. I gave you these orders for the sake of the station. I told you that I would do everything I can to avenge Springfield - and that you have the potential to achieve something great. You can hate me as much as you want. I don't care. However, your hands are already stained with blood, so wouldn't it be more beneficial to fight for the greater good?"

I lowered my head and closed my eyes as I weakly asked,

"Do I… even have a choice…?"

"Of course you do. We could keep this working relationship of ours - or I'll go and find someone else capable of doing what needs to be done. I can think of a few candidates - G36, perhaps. Ribeyrolles always wanted to serve on the front too. Ah! How about M14? The so-called 'War Goddess'."

… M14?

No…

NO!

I gritted my teeth when I heard her name. For a brief moment, I imagined a tearful M14 taking MP40's place in the line of fire… I couldn't bear it! So I pressed down on my earpiece and roared,

"CASSE-TOI, FILS DE PUTE! DON'T YOU DARE LAY A HAND ON M14! I'm not gonna let you hurt any one else either, you monster!"

There was a devilish chuckle at the other end of the line, followed by a nonchalant tone,

"Excellent! We have an agreement, then! I look forward to working with you, FNC… the girls of the station - Springfield… M14… they will all owe you a big one. They might not know it, but they're counting on you… and so do your new friends."

New friends? What the hell was he talking about?

As I was about to ask, the snowstorm started to clear and I saw the Echelon 8 helicopter approaching the captured helipad.

I didn't ask for an extraction helicopter, did I?

I shielded my eyes from the gusts of wind from the helicopter blades as the helicopter descended. Then, the helicopter doors opened to the side with a hydraulic hiss.

Four T-Dolls marched out of the helicopter and then stood in attention before me and my dummy links. All of them were level 1 two-star dolls… they were refugees that our station rescued as well. These girls were different model dolls from the first batch - save for one.

Another MP40 unit.

Just like the last one, this MP40 approached me with an eager smile and greeted me with a salute.

"Good morning, FNC-senpai! It's a pleasure to finally meet you!"

This doll had no memories of the last MP40's demise… so this was the first time she was meeting me. That reality shattered my mechanical heart.

I wanted to tell this new doll to go back into the helicopter and to go back home… but a malicious commander would be waiting for her and her friends when they arrive there.

Putting these girls through hell was the lesser evil.

Swift deaths are less painful than prolonged suffering.

In that regard, fighting Jupiter Cannons head on… was efficient.

And that was exactly what the Commander wanted these dolls to do.

He wanted them to die so that I may live…

Then, they will be replaced with fresh meat.

Whatever bright luster that remained in my eyes faded away while I steeled my mechanical heart as best as I could.

And yet, I forced myself to smile as I laid my bloodstained hands on MP40's shoulder and asked her with a sugary voice,

"Will you be my protege?"

To Be Continued