Howa Howa (Jeez...All the list plan is going to be a pain in the ass. NATO have no problem with procedures, but the natives would be the troublemaker. I hope it doesn't end up in disaster. Keep in mind, Mysterium is not Earth. These people never experienced modern society and concept of living. Teaching a primitive to be like Earth would take sometime. Traditional can't be change in one day. If we let Russia or China do this jobs. The only answer to this people is Communism. I know it sounds like another dictatorship. But if you want to control them, you need to set some examples.): *Spoiler Warning* It backfires majorly. I envision big ethnic/nationalistic fueled protests and riots, like what happened in Ireland during the 70s. Won't go into details because I still have to write it out, but this plan ain't gonna work because creating an entire city (And effectively nation) is not a job that a military organization should be in charge of. But that's for later on in this same act, we'll get into it maybe another ten or fifteen chapters in.
Just A Question (I may not be in the military but don't the US give all of it's branches gas masks? I would have assumed as soon as the first gas dragon attacks happen everyone would have treated it as a gas attack and put on their gas masks whenever the dragons attack. Not saying I hate your story, in fact I kinda like it, I just question as to why these gas dragons are such a big threat…): I'd say the reason NATO didn't adapt sooner to the gas dragon attacks was that they were going into Mysterium expecting it to be the same as Falmart, in fact, they thought initially that the portal would lead to Falmart, and since there was no recorded instance of a gas dragon there NATO High Command hadn't really thought of it. After the first battle at Ithaca, NATO learns that these dragons very well do exist and in the battle of Minerva and the 2nd battle of Ithaca, they equipped their soldiers accordingly. But during the first initial contact, the soldiers weren't carrying these masks on the person because they had no idea that these renaissance/ early-modern peoples could effectively weaponize gas. Again, that's just them not expecting such an event, they had the masks on standby but it would take them a while to retrieve them and put them on.
Gunwolf .45 (Well this story turn out well, I like the pace of how is this going. There is more background hear of the complications of Earth Society meeting an alien Society and I like this it reminds me of Stargate, well the gate anime didn't bring this up, I like how you wrote this. Now, about NATO's plan for mysterium, I know for a fact got it will be difficult but hopefully earth born human ability to be flexible in any situation would help out and that the military an earth governments will be prepared for any possible dangers down the road but you also might want to tone down the NATO Allied casualties, because I don't want to know on those Vietnam War type like protest back home, I mean it was bad for the government to hide what happened when the iscariot attacked, they should be a little more open but the media needs to tone down the whole ship because even though they like to inform the people the sometimes Twisted truth and the people in Earth need to know that the iscariotes are responsible for so many sentient rights violations that would their slave trade probably makes our version of the slave trade look a little bit tame not to insult anybody, and when is Ithaca decides to open dialogues with Nora did should also think about any possible hostile factions against the peace because his situations in Fargo right now gives me October and French Revolution vibes and this could get a lot more bloody than that so they need to have plans for possibly protecting and and if necessary rescuing Nora and any of the reformist before the Red Faction decides that heads need to roll and since Nora is more popular with the common people get their support too. Ithaca needs everything contingency plan from now to possibly in the next four hundred years before Fargo makes the October Revolution look more like a civil disturbance. Oh and I bought the thing about Ithaca soldiers and human natives being banned of having any form of physical relationships, you only said human natives, never said anything about Demi humans ( ͡ ͜ʖ ͡) ( ͡ ͜ʖ ͡ )(time go Captain Kirk on the furry natives ;-) ;-) ;-) . P.S. if you noticed my lack of using commas or other things in my sentences that's because I'm using the speech-to-text microphone because I'm too lazy to write it down. Double P.S. try to have NATO more involved with the reformist party but make sure you have a contingency plan to exfil if s*** hits the fan in Fargo.): Thanks for the review man. So this is a story where legit, everything is gonna go wrong in the future. So Vive La Revolution! Heads are gonna start flying with the national razor. I'd tell you more but i'm sure you know where this story is heading.
The Treaty of Mutual Friendship (Jefferson-Ellis Agreement)
Acting governments: The Falkland Commonwealth (And all colonies/dominions of the Falkland Empire) and the NATO Alliance
This treaty formally declares the NATO Alliance and the Falkish Commonwealth as mutual friends in diplomatic relations. Our hatred of a common enemy, and the sharing of common ethos, has united us in brotherhood and friendship.
Formally, the Ithacan-Falkland treaty states that the Falkland Empire shall recognize NATO presence in the Ithacan area. The Falkland Empire shall send instructors and educators to Ithaca, in order to teach NATO soldiers about the world around them. In return, engineers, scientists, and military drill instructors from NATO's homeworld shall be sent to the Falkland Isles, to help spur industrialization efforts in the region.
The Falkland Empire will establish an overseas trade network, with merchant ships sailing to the ports of Ithaca to trade commodities, mutually benefitting both Empires in the process. Material goods will be sent on these ships going both ways, as it's too dangerous to do so on the continent.
NATO is now obligated to provide military assistance to the Falkland Empire, in a time of war, and vice-versa. Though, the Falkland Empire wishes to remain neutral in the current Ithacan-Iscariot War.
Realizing the Ithacan need to facilitate the growth of its city, Falkish personnel will be shipped to Ithaca to oversee the development of the city. Aria/Mysterium crop seeds will be imported and Falkland farmers will be sent to start growing crops. NATO agrees to compensate the Commonwealth in a mutual exchange. NATO shall also teach the Commonwealth about Earth and Earth's society.
This treaty hopes to create closer connections between Ithaca and The Commonwealth, guaranteeing perpetual peace between the nations.
"No I'm telling you, I've got this!" Flint told Bubba.
"You sure?"
"Yeah, just make the beat. Make the beat."
"Aight," Bubba started clapping his hands in a beat with a constant rhythm and cadence. Quick, but not too fast. Flint started bobbing his head.
"Ay, look," Flint took the cigarette out his mouth, bopping along to the rhythm, "Riding in a coupe. Then I brought a monkey!"
"Ay."
"I want a girl with an ass that's chunky."
"Ha."
"Goddamn what Imma do with this monkey? I don't even have money for a monkey."
"Okay."
"Goddamn, I still have a monkey. From Madagascar-"
"What the hell are you two doing?" Hezekiah asked the two as he walked over towards them.
"uhh, rapping," Flint told Hezekiah.
"You wanna rap something? Wrap up this break, we've got orders!" Hezekiah told him, motioning for the both of them to follow. Quickly Bubba and Flint got up to their feet.
"High Command is always telling us to do shit, when are we gonna get some R&R?" Flint whined.
"You signed up for the Marine Corps Flint, what can I tell you? Besides, the radio has been flooded with talk coming from the higher-ups," Hezekiah turned to the two men, checking if they were following him or not. As they walked he kept explaining, "Command has been talking about 'a third option' whatever that means. And they want Baker Company to be at the head of the operation."
"What operation? Last I checked we were on the defensive, and our plans were reactionary," Bubba asked.
"Things changed. The Pentagon drafted up something new, they want a quick and swift victory over the Iscariots. They call it Operation Angel, we're leading the charge in objective Citadel," Hezekiah said, jogging up a flight of stairs and brushing past the doors leading into the Castle.
"What does that mean?" Flint asked.
"I'm not too sure, all I know is that it has the entirety of Baker Company of the Offensive. A few guys from the CIA came down to help us out."
"Spec-Ops? The hell do they want with us? We're grunts on the frontline!"
"Hell if I'd know, Flint. I'm telling you, Angel-Citadel is huge. High Command has most of the operation under wraps but I'm sure we'll find out what is really going on by sometime next week. They are saying that if Angel succeeds, we'll get to end the war and go back home."
"So… best behavior?" Bubba asked the Staff Sergeant. Hezekiah chuckled.
"Better than that. And I expect nothing less," Hezekiah opened another set of doors, leading into a room full of other soldiers. The rest of Misfit, Filo, and another soldier were gathered around a table. Jefferson was there too, haven flown in back from the diplomatic conference in Ithaca (Now, NATO got a diplomatic representative so he could just focus on the military campaign).
"Hezekiah and company, come in, gather 'round," Jefferson told them. When the three soldiers came close, Jefferson let them in on what was going on, "Kovic, this is Hezekiah, Bubba, and Flint," The older man nodded, "Hezekiah, I want you to be familiar with Kovic."
"Special-Operations," Kovic extended a hand that Hezekiah took in his own and shook. The various patches on his army uniform let Hezekiah know that this guy was experienced, "Deployed in Bosnia as part of a security detail in the 90s. Three tours as the lead of NATO Ground Operations in Iraq."
"I see you were in Korea too," Bubba asked Kovic, noting a patch of the Korean flag and peninsula on Kovic's shoulder.
"In charge of the main assault on Pyongyang. Glad to see another soldier here who fought there!" Kovic put on a faint smile.
"Mhm," Bubba murmured.
"With introductions out of the way, I want you all to know why we're here. Misfit, you've been charged with escorting Kovic and Filo during this operation. You're going to be picking up and meeting with a few VIPS, and bringing them to a city in Iscariot territory. The city of Astchester."
"Astchester?"
"Details aren't specific right now," Jefferson told Hezekiah, "What we do know is that you'll be meeting with a member of an Iscariot political party. Hopefully, the new Queen in charge of operations there will begin talks to end the war, and we feel we could use this member as a gateway to the Queen."
Jefferson gave him a large manila folder, sheets of printed paper within, "All of this is what you'll need for Angel-Citadel. You'll drive to Astchester following the instructions laid out, and from there… Kovic will direct you."
"Aye sir, we won't let you down."
"Good. Kovic, Filo?" The two turned to him, "If you'll be so kind as to lead Misfit to our first VIP?"
"With pleasure, follow me," Filo said, leading them on to their first objective.
"…Even though our nation may be entering its darkest hours, and despite the loss of a figure we all respected and revered, we will continue strong! We will fight! We will fight them as long as it takes to protect our empire! We will avenge the death of our king…"
The crowd cheered, fists raised in the air, holding both the crimson flag of the Iscariot Empire and the icy blue-black-and white of the Planinia Family. Joined together in unison.
"To do that, we must change the old order! We won't let this tragic loss hold our great nation back! We are entering a new age! Liberty! Fraternity! Equality! These words will rule the order of this new age, built upon reform and progressive ideals!"
More cheering, especially now from the lower class.
The message was clear to them. 'Out with the old, In with the new', a message that was comforting to those that had clambered for a change in order. For a new chance to start over in life, to ascend above their iron chains of poverty and servitude. And most importantly, a chance to fight back. The stagnant Empire had been humiliated against the Ithacans, Nora would lead them. To victory, to bring back the glory of the Empire.
Igraine wasn't so happy, though for now… she was silent. She couldn't act now, it'd be too shocking. For now, she would have to wait until Nora could make one critical mistake. That mistake, she would use to put her plan into motion. That mistake might come years from now, but Igraine didn't care. It had to happen, or else…
The Red Faction had been quietly growing, gaining support among members of the military, aristocracy, and elite. The death of King Fredrick had screwed almost everything up, but Igraine wouldn't let that slow her down. To preserve the dignity of the Empire was priority number one, and the only way she could do that was if she played her card right. For now, the people loved Nora. That meant the Red Faction couldn't attempt to oppose the Reformation, even if they had the full backing of the military. Instead, they'd have to settle for stifling the Reformation, being a pain in Nora's side until she either gave in or until she dropped the ball.
Order, Integrity, Nationalism. Those were the words Igraine loved to hear more than anything else. Without order, the entire nation would crumble in on itself. For years the Empire had gotten itself into costly and destructive wars, had its economy run into the ground time and time again, all while being run by fools. Decadence had rendered the Iscariot people weak, overconfidence had rendered the military inept, blunders and miscalculations have taken massive bites out of Iscariot prestige. Decay was the only word left to describe what was happening to the Empire. Nora, in Igraine's eyes, would only exacerbate this decay, until the nation was nothing but a shell of its former self during the time of the greatest Kings and Queens.
The war was taking a toll on Iscariot morale, that much was obvious. Nobody really knew exactly how many soldiers had died on the frontlines, but for once it highlighted what should've been obvious a long time ago. The Empire was not invincible, it was not untouchable, it was not above defeat. Now the alien filth from Earth was pouring in to subjugate the Empire. The thought scared the Iscariot citizens, being servants unto a master from another world. They would rather die, each and every one of them, than let that fate befall them.
And Igraine knew just how to save them all.
Inside the Nexus of the Crystal Palace
The large glass dome that the Nexus occupied had been covered tonight. Aside from the mages hard at work sending and receiving messages through the beacons, there was a room off to the side. Away from the red glow of the Ekron stones, and listening ears of the mages themselves.
"Excuse my lateness, I was held up by a few errands I had to run, let us begin!" Said Ann, the last general to enter the room. He carefully closed the door behind him, sealing the room off from the rest of the Nexus. Inside were the other high generals of the Empire. Igraine, Wendover, and Perceval.
"Right, now that we are all here…" Wendover started, "Our new Queen has summoned us all together, to decide the future of the war."
"It's futile," said Perceval, "Three lost battles and we have yet to gain anything from it! If the Queen were wise, she would surrender!"
"Surrender isn't an option, Perceval!" Igraine told him.
"She's right," Wendover was a bit startled to find himself actually agreeing with Igraine for once, but… she was, "We have to defend what we hold dear. And that's our country and her people! Needless to say, we've got to fight back-"
"It's foolish, Wendover! Between us and them, we are just a roadblock! They have more soldiers, resources, and technology! Hell, they tore us apart like a pack of wolves!"
"I never thought you were such a defeatist," Wendover told him.
"It's not defeatism, it's just reality! If we want to win, we'd need to pull a miracle out from under the carpet! This is not a problem we can solve by just closing our eyes and wishing upon a lucky star!" The bear told them.
The other three generals thought for a moment, Perceval wasn't wrong. It'd be a momentous challenge to defeat the Ithacans…
"Perhaps what we need is to change the objective we are fighting for?" Ann said aloud.
"What do you mean by that?" Asked Igraine.
Ann paced around the room, to get his thoughts out, "Well… we are trying to defeat the Ithacans, and we know for certain, that task is close to impossible, right?"
"Right…"
"So, how about we settle? What we need right now, is time! We might not be able to push the Ithacans back to their world, but we can keep them off our backs until we can recover!" Ann looked around the room, surveying the faces of the other animals.
"Why would they want to settle with us?" Igraine asked, "The brutes have the advantage! If they sense weakness, they'll plow straight through us."
"You are all forgetting one important thing. We are the natives here! We know this terrain like the back of our hand, if they launch an offensive, we could easily defeat them!" Ann argued, "I'm certain that the Ithacan generalship can smell blood. No doubt, they'll launch a counter-offensive within the month!"
"Ann's right," said Wendover, nodding his head in approval, "We can slow them down. To a crawl. Perceval, I'm sure you remember Kisda? Right?"
The bear thought back in time, "Kisda? Yes, I do. Very well. That jungle was a nightmare!"
"The King sent you off with a huge army to try and bring the jungle under our control. And your forces-"
"Were annihilated, I know. The warriors there were smart!" Perceval said, getting a bit frustrated, "They would hide! Attacking my large army, forcing me to split my forces and defeating the small sub-units! It was a mess! I still have terrible nightmares about it, that and the mosquitos…" He told them.
Perceval wondered for a second why Wendover was giving him a strange look, it was a look of encouragement almost. But when Perceval realized what Wendover was getting at, he understood, "Oooh," it hit him like a ton of bricks.
"Exactly! A force that is at numerical or technological disadvantage must resort to guerilla tactics! Defeat-in-detail, this is battlefield tactics 101!"
"Throwing large armies at the Ithacans isn't working, we break their armies up and have them go on the offensive. All we have to do…" Ann said, "Is wait."
Igraine thought about it, "I see," she said, shifting about to a more comfortable position in her seat.
"So far each of our battles has been fought on the offensive. We'll lure them into the heart of the continent, into our territory. Right into our traps, and our armies will spring into action, like a cobra coiled and ready to strike," Perceval said, "We might not be able to pull off a major victory, we might even lose most of the battles. But we'll give them so much hell, they'll have no choice but to slow down. Perhaps even call for a truce?"
"Is it a plan then?"
"Aye, get the maps out. We'll start drawing this out…"
Astchester (Axester in the Falkland Native language)
Population: 510,000 (Humans, reptillians, insectoids), 5,000 (Demi-humans)
Allegiance: The Iscariot Empire
Type: Major City
'My Dearest Cathy Freud,
I'm sure you understand what must be done in order for our plan to achieve success. I know it may seem counter-intuitive at first, but I assure you that I've thought everything through. I have tasked you with continuing to spread your reformist ideas in Astchester. But this time, you've been tasked with forming the Iscariot Reformation Committee. The IRC shall be the militant wing of the Reformation Party. More importantly, a counter to what I perceive is an ever-present threatof a Red Faction counter-rebellion. This may sound strange but at the moment, the safety of the Royalty is paramount. We must arm the citizens in order to deter Igraine and the Red Faction from taking any drastic action.
And to also remind you, Yuri should be arriving there shortly after your arrival. Be ready to receive her and the Ithacan guards that may accompany her. I direly hope this war with the Ithacans concludes in a quick and resolute matter, but unfortunately, it seems we still have months of fighting left before either side gives up. Even with Nora currently reigning, she has no intention of surrender, and given the current situation, neither do the Ithacans. Undertaking this current mission is enough to have either of us hung for treason, meeting with NATO soldiers if we are detected. But we must if we wish to keep the Red Faction in check and defend the Monarchy. I understand how backward that may seem at the moment, but you have to trust me.
The way you go about doing so is up to you. Andrew, Wendover, and the rest of the Reformist Party are unaware of this undertaking. For now, this entire operation is secret. Do what you must in order to arm the people of Astchester.
'To arms citizens. Form your battalions. Let the battle cry of Freedom lead us to victory. Let liberty guide us to the truth. Let equality free our hearts and souls. To arms citizens. Form your battalions. '
Liberty, Equality, Fraternity. These values we must uphold to create a new order, a new world, a new age. May they save the Queen, and our nation.
From,
Perceval'
Cathy put the letter down, chuckling to herself slightly, shaking her head even. She folded the paper and stowed it away in one of her coat pockets.
'Perceval wishes to protect the Monarchy? Either Perceval has lost his mind, or this we truly are living in trying times,' Cathy thought to herself. She could tell he was getting paranoid. While it was true that the Red Faction was gaining strength, it wasn't any good reason to start arming citizens into a guard. Right?
'Right?' she asked herself, in her own head. She sat back in the seat of the horse-pulled carriage. Alone for this one, not many people traveled from Fargo to Astchester. There wasn't much of a reason to do so. Out of all the cities in the empire, Astchester was the poorest and the most downtrodden. Neglected by the Imperial Throne for decades. A festering sore on the Empire, ready to burst at any moment. It was here, that she was to be assigned…
And it was here, she was to meet a few special people. Under the table negotiations, on behalf of her empire and her people. The Queen couldn't hope to do all the work herself, if the safety of the nation was to be secured for the future, Cathy would have to talk to the enemy themselves…
After passing the border into Astchester, and entering into the straight city blocks, the carriage stopped.
"Your destination, madam!" The coachman informed her. Cathy paid the fare in depleted Ekron, the standard currency in the Empire. The black stones were small, and cold to the touch. Haven lost their red glow from years of use. Depleted Ekron still had its value, though it was no longer capable of casting magical spells. If Cathy was correct, an Ekra Dragon farm was around here, though she'd have to look for it.
Stepping out into the city was almost delightful. The cab had let her go in the posh part of town, where the plantation owners and business leaders lived. The business she attended was not in this part of the city. She'd have to walk the distance there, all the way to the city central…
After about an hour of walking, the Astchester took on a different look and demeanor. It was no longer the active and bright city that the wealthy lived in, but now it was run down. Depressed even. The buildings seemed to crumble around her, dust piles of brick and stones lay on the sidewalk. Ivy strangled the structures of the buildings they grew upon, blocking out windows.
Even the people here were depressed, hiding under their coats, walking fast and quick. The people here were different, they were Human.
This was one of the few cities where humans, reptilians, and insects were allowed to live free. Without the risk of being shackled into slavery, and sent to work in the fields. But the Empire invested no significant amount of time or resources into improving the lives of the people that resided in this ghetto, all the people here were good for were working in the coal and iron mines that Astchester was rich with. As long as the production quota was met, there was no reason for the Empire to care.
Old symbols of Falkland Colonialism remained, statues of humans, elves, and reptiles stood in a few places. Cathy noted a few flags of the old 'Dominion of Axester' lying around. Not too long ago, this used to be another Falkish dominion. A colony united with the rest of the dominions in the Commonwealth. But it was lost to the Iscariots after the Falkland War. This was the city that the Empire had its eyes on, the resources surrounding its territory was enough to justify the long and brutal campaign in King Rupert's eyes.
She had lost her father in that war, growing up as a young rabbit with nobody but her mother. Raised amongst what the crown considered 'the filth' of the Empire. It was enough to make Cathy a reformist. And speaking of…
She turned the block and found her base of operations. Another inconspicuous looking building, hidden among all the others around it. A flag of the Empire on one side of the door and the flag of the Planinia Reformation on the other were the only things there to distinguish this from all the other buildings in the city.
This was the place. History would be made here, given all goes according to plan. Cathy closed her eyes, wondering what the Ithacans would be like. She wondered if Yuri was with them and if she was treated well. She thought of almost everything that could go wrong...
She'd just have to wait for them to arrive.
A patrol of armored vehicles moved through the forest of the southern continent. Four boxers carrying soldiers within. Their objective was the Huntsmen hive that had been harassing the Juno base and the village it oversaw, tasked with exterminating the buggers that crawled within. The trees and plants around them were in bloom, leaf buds starting to open up, peppering the forest in light green. Driving through it would've been great if Hazard Squad had windows to see outside. Unfortunately for them, the Boxer did not have any.
"My arse is fucking numb," Cato said, shifting around for the millionth time. The whole ride was uncomfortable, the Boxer they rode inside of crossed extreme terrain, going over the rough and jagged dirt and pebbles of the forest, over small creeks and streams, shaking and rocking back and forth the whole time. It was enough to make even the most experienced passenger road sick.
"I'm with you on that one, mate," Sherman said, holding the MTPS' gas mask in his hands. His face looked a bit flustered, like he might puke soon.
Eden turned his head to face his other squadmate, Scott. He had fallen asleep through the whole ride. Somehow. His head dangled ahead over his body, moving and shaking whenever the truck did. He was knocked out, cold.
"Did Scotty fucking die?" Sherman looked at him, trying to distract himself from his own misery.
"Nah, he's gotta be faking it. Look at his neck!" Cato pointed out, laughing almost, "The fucker looks like he got pinned in half-nelson!"
"Eden, wake the poor bastard up, our destination isn't too far off now," Sherman ordered. Eden put his gloved hand on Scott's shoulder, pushing him.
"Oi! Scotty! Wake up, mate! C'mon, wake up!" Eden said to him. Scott's head slowly rose up, immediately his hand went to the back of his neck. Obviously in a bit of pain.
Scott groaned and mumbled as he awoke, "Mhm, fuck…" he mumbled as he massaged his neck.
"That's it dream warrior, rise and shine."
"Man, I had a weird dream," Scott said, about to ramble on, "I was in a pub by myself. Drinking a vanilla milkshake. There was a union jack hanging on the wall. And I was watching the Hull City game against Chelsea…" Scott whispered.
"Here we go," Cato rolled his eyes.
"You think that means something?" Scott asked.
"Nah, Scott. You're just a fucking Hull fan, that's all."
"You don't hear me talking shit about Arsena-"
The radio buzzed to life, interrupting the two before they got into a heated debate. Sherman picked the radio up, listening in.
[Golf 1] "Golf Actual to Oracle six, we've got movement in the trees. Not sure if it's wildlife or if it's our objective. Looks like the buggers, how copy?"
[Oracle 6] "*Static*"
"Radio is shit out here. We're a kilometer away from Juno in the middle of the forest," Sherman informed them, "There won't be a strong signal until we get out of these brambles."
"Why are we going in first? They should've sent in the flyboys out here to take care of the Buggers, not fucking mechanized infantry!" Cato argued.
"They did, and the RAF found absolutely nothing. They are hunting oversized ants, it's not like they could just carpet bomb the place and leave. Besides, there are a whole bunch of villages nearby, if they carpet-bombed the forest with napalm, the fires would probably burn their village down, and command doesn't want to risk that!"
"This is dodgy as fuck, reeeeal sketchy."
Eden could feel himself become anxious, restless almost. His heart pounded. His forehead felt cold. He couldn't sit still…
"Eden, relax mate. We're gonna be alright," Scott put a hand on Eden's shoulder, "Were SBS, they don't call us 'Hazard' for nothing."
"T-thanks."
[Golf 1] "This Golf Actual to Oracle Six, do you read? Over?"
[Oracle 6] "Neg- *Static*- Say agai-*Static*"
[Golf 1] "This is Golf Actual to-"
The sound of one of the vehicles opening fire on a target permeated through the walls of the truck. The Boxer Hazard was in swerved to avoid something, though nobody could see what was going on. Sherman especially didn't look so good.
"Oh fuck! We've been ambushed!"
"By who?"
"I don't fucking know! The buggers, maybe!"
Eden quickly put the helmet and gas mask components of the MTPS on. Better safe than sorry. His vision again turned into an augmented reality of sorts. The vital signs monitor showed his heart was racing, and Eden definitely felt it. He felt powerless to try and stop whatever was going on. He couldn't even see.
[Golf 1] "Fuck! We've walked right into Huntsmen territory, we're being engaged! Buggers are trying to fucking swarm us!"
Eden could hear banging coming from outside, like nails hitting the metal sides of the vehicle. But there were so many assaulting the vehicle from all sides. Hazard, after donning the components of their MTPS, looked around in shock. Trying to piece together what exactly the situation was.
"ROOOAR!"
A deep, brassy roar came from outside. The sound of a giant beast, several times the size of the Boxer.
And then it hit, another strong vibration shook the vehicle. But slowly, it began to tilt more and more.
"Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuuuuuc-"
The boxer fell on its side, stuck. Cato and Sherman who were seated on the opposite side were thrown face-first towards Eden and Scott. The vehicle still being continually assaulted by whatever creature it was that had flipped them. Eden could only feel his vision darken as his head banged straight against the wall.
He blacked out. Sherman throwing up was the last thing he saw…