Chapter 2 Part 3 Nightfall Getaway
Rescue Convoy Roadrunner, Task Force Alpha
Point Hotel, Chernobog
1907hrs, ETA 0 Minutes.
The convoy finally reached the rally point designated Point Hotel. The vehicles began to slow down and then stopped at the right intersection of road heading to the stern of the mobile city Chernoborg. Soldiers began to dismounts from their respective vehicles and immediately moved around the convoy for perimeter check.
" Spread out and secure those corners. I want a clean perimeter and no distractions." Bullseye ordered the men disembarking the transports.
Puzzled by the actions of the soldiers, someone asked one of them that preparing to disembark and joining his comrades.
" Excuse me sir, why are we stopping now?" the voice asked.
The said infantry turned his head to the source and saw a silver-white haired Ursus student, presumably by her school uniform attire. Her long hair were tied to a bun to prevent distraction and currently carrying a duffle bag waiting to be answered by the soldier before her.
Hitman Lead wanted to answer but he then hold off his intent. He recognized the tone and way she spoke of him. It was not disrespectful or anything insulting but the way she talks and the way she carried herself revealed as of someone that has regularly met influential figures or possibly, a member of nobility herself.
The most interesting thing he noticed was the pair of heterochromia eyes, vibrant red and blue respectively increased her natural beauty and posture of a proper lady.
He stopped his analysis and replied. " Miss…" then realized he did not know her name.
" Natalya, Natalya Rostova" She introduced herself.
" Miss Natalya, we had to conduct inspections on vehicles we're using. Just to make sure they not damaged by the previous attack. "
" Oh…..Then how about the Reunion? They should be nearby, right?" The white haired Ursus asked again.
He shakes his head " No worries about that miss. These areas are already safe for a pit stop." He then pointed his thumb at the nearest building near them. " It may seem like it, but these buildings are already abandoned and secured by our security teams."
He then continued to pick up few rifle magazines from the ammo box and put them respectively in his empty ammo pouch. His actions may be common but not the the girl he was currently talking with.
The girl noticed that the bullets were different from what she had saw during her time before the fall. She had the past interactions with individuals, especially bodyguards that has been using guns in their line of work, primarily handguns. Her interest with ranged weaponry made her has some limited knowledge about firearms especially those were in the market.
' Strange, these rounds are different from what I know about firearms' her heart whispers, interested with what she just observed.
The Originum-etched rounds should be marked with obsidian color to signify the observers they are legitimate rounds and for safety of others that maintaining them. These soldiers on the other hand used steel colored tips as their munitions. Plus, the recent battle in the school compound made her hard to acknowledge what ammo they use as they are carrying rifles, automatic ones at that especially when she tried her best not to be another casualty in the field. This rare moment peaked her interest as now she could see up close on what they were using for their firearms.
' What rounds they-wait, don't be distracted Nat. You must focus and warn them first. Then after this mess you focus on THAT' Her mind responded to the change of topic at hand.
Realizing she had been distracted for a while, she regain back her composure and tried to inform her supposed protector about potential threats they are facing if they stop here.
" But they-" She then interrupted by the one before her.
"We know. This is their turf." He nodded, he turned his head to the horizon. " Especially when they controls the main node of the city."
Hitman Lead proceed with his gear check again. He raised his carbine slightly to the rear, pointing them down away from others. Then, he pulled the charging handle and tilt his carbine slightly to inspect if there is a round ready in the chamber. Satisfied with his inspection, he switched the safety and again focus on the girl.
" We are going to get out of here. Don't you guys worry much. Right now there are things need to be done." he said.
The soldier readies his carbine at low ready and walked for the exit. As he walked to the front of the bus another voice interrupt.
" Then what about them?"
He paused and turned to the source of the voice. One thing he recognized was the face of the interloper.
Sonya, the black-red haired Ursus proclaimed to be the leader of USSG. The very group of students his squad had saved from the school. She sat at the very back of the bus, fuming with something at front of her.
She has the stature of a middle school girl, but rebellious aura of a school gang mixed with her maturity of an adult really made her stand out among her peers and even with the seniors in the bus. The sharp blue eyes of her bored through him demanding a straightforward answer for her question .
" They?" he asked knowing what she had meant but playing ignorant for now.
" You know what I mean. Those Reunion you captured, damn it!" Infuriated that he was playing with her.
He turned his body around and faced her. The black visor discreetly challenged her for what they are going to clash on.
" What about them?" he deadpanned.
"They're those white masked bastards! What do you mean 'what about them'?!" her patience began to dissipate.
"They're the one who made this mess. Why wasting time capturing them?" She asked again, now clearly agitated with the presence of Reunion POWs that currently resided on the truck at front of the bus.
Immobilized and stripped off from any weapons and armors that could be used, they sat on the truck's floor with their hands and legs tied together with durable plastic speed cuffs. Evidences of bloodstains and mud stuck on their attire. Defeated, they silently stayed on the truck with their own violations, presumably not to agitate the soldiers before them.
Their wounds were covered with bandages and field gauze by medical units of the task force. Even defeated and disgraced, the POWs did not even took off their masks. Cracks formed on the their masks' surfaces edging to break down yet they held firm to their physical form.
During the battle, medics had to restrain wounded Reunion troops carried from the front. One such scene nearly caused fatality to the medical officer when he was tackled down by his patient as he attempted to remove the white mask to ease the treatment on the subject. Fortunately, some volunteers present immediately aided him and the revolting patient had to be subdued with a dose of tranquilizer.
These sudden outburst from the POW made the medical units administrate another small dosage of antidepressants on them to reduce their aggressiveness and prevent future violent tendencies against their healers during treatment.
The case was immediately reported to command as there are likelihood of mass-indoctrination within Reunion ranks. Reports of any psychological behaviors of the captured individuals were prioritized and observed by medical units within the convoy. Security elements were also enhanced for further protection.
Hitman knew there were grudges and retributions the survivors wanted towards the new captives but he must prevent them from any attempt of aggression towards them.
The moment rage took over reasons, even a child could do anything unthinkable to the extreme. He must put down this kind of reasoning down and fast.
"They are Prisoners of War. As much you hate them for what they had done to you and others, young lady. They are still our captives, our responsibility and ours only." Hitman replied, pressed on his words on her.
Straight and direct. He established his authority in the bus for security reason. The last thing he want right now are the survivors attempting to lynch the prisoners taken from the battle.
Sonya want to dispute his explanation but then silenced by the looks of her friends and some soldiers in the bus. She looked sideways and scoffed at the reply, yet even she knows if she pressed on further this may escalate to new problems. Problems they cannot afford to have right now.
Satisfied with her compliance he again talked to her. "Rest for a while kid. This stop just for a few minutes. Chill up and wait here. Do not get out of your vehicle as we are assessing the damage on the convoy. After this, then we can get out of here."
"Yeah…." she replied.
" Anyone else want to add?" Hitman looked around.
Everyone shake their heads, having none against his command.
"Good. Cuz here comes our new guests." He looked outside on the left side of the bus. "Looks like I don't even need to get out after all." He bemused with the scene before him.
Everyone followed his action and turned to the direction he was looking at.
There were new guests. The possible allies now moving to their position, as the soldiers outside the bus did not engage them with their guns.
The group of 8 men immediately moved into the perimeter established by the security elements, two of them were carrying something large on their backs.
Interestingly, these men are very different from their saviors. Their choice of attire are the contrast of the others. They also noticed that these particular group covered their bodies with bush-like cloak around them concealing their forms, presumably ghillie suits. Their heads were covered with hoods shadowed their facial features instead of combat helmets worn by most of the men around the convoy and their guns were very peculiar compared to the latter.
Slim, sturdier and possibly more powerful as the size of the rifle magazines spoke for themselves.
A brief exchange observed between Bullseye and the possible leader of the new group. Moments later, they separated into teams of two. Four teams began to move to their positions as ordered by Bullseye with their rifles ready except for the ones carrying the large sacks. Two teams at the front of the convoy and other two entered the rear.
Both men that carried the large bags moved to the bus they currently resides in. The contents was unknown as the night fall upon the region. Street lights that survived the storm flickered on through out the road. Even street signs went on at few parts of the area visually present for them to see.
These newcomers entered the bus and proceed to dump their cargoes onto the available seats next to them.
Rada wants to greet them personally but then immediately paused and took another good look on the new cargoes with them.
"Are those sacks moving?" She asked trying to be sure that she is not hallucinating.
A blue haired girl with glasses, presumably her friend wanted to chastise her on the ridiculous question and then something unexpected happened before them, the large sacks really began to wiggle on their own.
The blue haired Ursus froze and looked at the newcomers again. Silenced with the unusual event, her eyes gave the question.
'What in the world inside those sacks?'
Unperturbed by the surprising incident, one of the ghillied up soldiers answered her by loosening the ropes on top of the sacks and dragged them down revealing the contents, or in this case persons.
A pair of Lupo women, a brunette and black hair ones shown with their hands and legs tied up and mouths taped. Their clothes are very different from any civilian in their group and were pretty clean too, considering that they are survivors of a destroyed city for nearly a month. They struggled for a while trying to let loose the bindings and then stopped, realized that every pair of eyes in the bus were watching them.
The moment of awkward silence fell on the passengers. Even the relatively now cheerful Rada and the noble lady, Natalya gawked at what they saw.
"Who-"
"Reporters" one of the hooded men replied. "Long story short, these guys were the one broadcasting the signal from the drone. Badger ordered us to bag them up and bring them with us."
Concerned with the two tied up Lupo women, Rada and Natalya carefully tear the tapes off their mouth and unwind the bindings on them.
" Phuahh…..Whats wrong with you guys?! Do you had to tie us up like these?" the brown haired one glared at the soldiers and then looked at Rada. " Thank you honey." She expressed her gratitude towards the young Ursus.
" You're welcome." she cheerfully replied.
The black haired one did not voice her displeasure but then her eyes just glared annoyingly to the men responsible for their situation. One of them was aware of the glare aiming at them and shrugged his shoulders conveying 'what can I do, my boss ordered me to do it'. She just shook her head with that pansy reply and just sat down, trying to be comfortable with their new captors.
"Reporters? In this city? How do you even passed the gateways?" The blue one asked.
The woman tried to explain but Hitman cut in the conversation. "Wait, everyone take heed and listen up. You may have Q&As later. Now, we need to move."
"Strap up and get ready." He looked on his wristwatch. " We're about to move out."
Just as he said so, the radio buzzed " This is Bullseye to all security teams, load up into your sections. We are Oscar Mike. I say again, we are Oscar Mike. Over." Bullseye ordered his men in the radios.
The soldiers outside returned back to their vehicles. Any signs of previous activities were deliberately removed to reduce possibility of anyone tailing them. Food, refreshments, anything of life that connected to the convoy were picked and stashed into the waste bins inside the vehicles.
The night continued on with the roars of trucks and other transports engines started to move along the road.
Minutes became tens of minutes, the passengers including two reporters tried to be comfortable inside the bus. The bindings were loosed but the tension with their abductors were still there. Uncomfortable with the silence, one of them tried to be the ice breaker of the group.
"So….Where we're going to next?" She asked to the commanding officer in the bus.
Hitman glanced at her while attending the radio transmission between section leaders. He looked back again and then answered her question.
"Anywhere but here." He then continued. "Especially when your drone just nearly gave them our positions, live."
Offended with his accusation, she replied. "Hey, there's a small war happening here and we were nearby. Of course we want to get some piece of the scoop." She rebutted. Her arms crossed, annoyed with the soldier before her.
" And how's that gone to ya, lady? That footage alone were watched worldwide in a mere hour." Hitman glared at her.
Melinda wanted to reply back but then cut off by him.
He continued " Melinda Sawyer, reporter and Lucia Delfina, cameraman of G-News, first worked together on the field four years ago as battlefield correspondents. Miss Sawyer, you previously worked as a journalist for Columbian Westar News Network then transferred to G-News due to reasons while Miss Delfina here worked as a freelancer before accepted to work not just as a cameraman but also drone technician for G-News."
"Am I wrong or do I need to read more of your dossier?"
She stopped and glanced at her partner next to her. The dark haired one shook her head as if not agreeing with what her partner shared to her.
"Lady, I know you want to do your job as journalist but what you and your partner did not only cost us our operations but also our lives, we had three KIAs and five WIAs in this ops. The Reunion now knows not only our presence in this city but they also learned about our capabilities and formations. We're lucky that they stopped attacking us. If not…" he paused not wanting to share what will happen if they failed here.
The students and civilians inside the bus downcast when heard what he shared of the reality of this ops should they failed to get out. Things are now moving on smoothly without interference but any moment would escalate real quick if they are not prepared for it.
Hitman felt the dispirited passengers. They barely got out of the school and now still stuck in the mobile city. For them, its like out of the lion's den and into tiger's maws. As long they still in this accursed city, they will not be safe. The Reunion would make sure of that after they helped the defenders fight off their attacking forces.
He silently continued his observations on the surrounding. Its painful, yes. But at least they have help. God know how many civilians still trapped in Chernobog and all that in this convoy are just handful of them, barely a dent to those they had to left behind.
The more he thought about that particular matter, more he became agitated with the Reunion and Ursus Empire. They were the oppressed folks, even now there are still news of lynching by the populace towards the Infected communities. Chernobog were the worst of them.
Reports of manhunts and even public executions were committed in this mobile city. Infected Terrans hunted down as if they were sports. Homes broken and even torched down by the city's inhabitants. Children abandoned and left abused by those who participate in the 'cleansing'. Shit just go on and on with what Ursus Empire did to their Infected.
If there was GLA presence in Terra, Lord knows this empire would be the best breeding ground for their terror cells to play in. Bribes, blackmails, sabotage and even assassinations would be the best course for them to rise in this decaying empire. The nearest comparison would be Reunion movement itself. Those hardware they captured from the dead and prisoners are literal goldmine for intelligence and RnD team. At least they now know a bit what military technology level in Terra.
Exosuits, jammer, jetpacks and even Originum arts weapons. Better put in some stealth cloaks and energy shields in that list too. These armaments are mind boggling for what they know about Reunion and Terran militaries. Its a possibility that these high tech stuff came from fallen UE armories in Chernobog, now they must be prepared to fight a faction which is a Russian parody of mixed GLA and ECA techs in them.
He glanced again at the students at the back of the bus. Rada, the young Ursus girl they had met first in the school happily enjoying the sweets given by one of his men. The blue haired one was sitting at her side of the corner reading a small book with the noble lady tending her fellow student with bandages from medical pack provided from the ambulance.
Finally, the one at the far back of the bus, Sonya, currently glaring at him with fiery glare. Probably thinking on how to maul him or something. Better leave that girl alone for a while to loose the steam.
What kind of wars these people fought with especially when a civilian girl like Rada easily brought in a substantially big vault door as her shield without any complications. Heck, he even saw Sonya cut down a rubble or two by herself with a fire axe when aiding them in previous battle.
After this mission, He would suggest Badger to give all out for any future ops. This kind of technological and ideological discrepancy are staggering even for an officer like him. There are too many unknowns and he hated fighting without any intel for them to learn about.
Right now they must be prepared for the worst. If the inhabitants of this world were this loose of their own sentient rights laws especially about the Infected, then what about the Players they had to recover in this desolate world?
Such thoughts shuddered his back. The threat level just increased according to their previous engagement and their first engagement with the local militias nearly cost all their lives.
Lets hope this one passed through smoothly.