Black Stone Alpha team stepped out of the stargate on a planet that was covered by mountains and snow. Snow was falling, a fog and wind were striking when the team arrived. Hopefully, Alpha had planned appropriate outfit.
The Alpha members were holding a HK416 equipped with a bipod, a foregrip, and a telescopic sight.
Sakai observed the area around the gate. "I'm surprised the gate isn't guarded!" he had to shout because of the wind.
Enedan responded, "Seriously, who would be insane to have the idea to come here?! Captain, we're really walking through that?!"
"I'm afraid we don't have other option, Enedan!"
The officer spotted a mountain that was higher than the others, at two kilometers in front of them.
"It's over there!" Carter shouted, gesturing to the mountain of interest, and started the march.
Later, Maryanne was going ahead, followed by Philip walking side by side with Akira, then, Enedan. Bernard was bringing up the rear. The intensity of the snowfall had decreased, the wind had stopped, and the visibility was much better.
While they were progressing in the snow, Enedan questioned the plan, "Guys, I don't want to be pessimistic, but what if Kalahan's not here? What if her garrison's not as moderate as her and kills us?"
Rousseau replied with conviction behind her, "They won't."
"How can you be so sure?" Enedan queried, turning to Rousseau while walking.
"We're worth a lot. They won't take that risk, unless they want to lose their status, or worse. They'll do it only if Kalahan orders so."
"Well, let's hope Kalahan doesn't choose that option." Enedan said with a grimace.
Maryanne suddenly stopped and raised her left hand, to make everyone stop and keep silence. Carter raised her rifle, so did immediately Rousseau. The rest of the group imitated them, but it was already too late.
A group of male and female warriors stepped out from the snow, circling Alpha. A heavy white cloak was protecting the warriors from the cold and helping them to hide in the environment. Underneath the cloak, a specific outfit for battlefields: a chestplate, and other plates to protect upper arms and legs. The protections were covering dark brown clothes adapted to cold weather. A helmet completed the ensemble.
The soldiers had a dagger tied to a belt, a holster on the thigh. They also had an electronic device as big as a smartphone tied to the right or left forearm. The soldiers were using staff weapons, but the crocodile working for Kalahan had made her wishes come true. A few of the soldiers were holding shorter staff weapons. Less heavy, more practical, the weapon could be carried on the shoulder thanks to a strap, the same way Black Stone Alpha would carry their HK416. A few other soldiers were holding a weapon that looked like a rifle in some ways, with a strap, too.
The section leader, recognizable thanks to his helmet that was a bit different from his companions', ordered to Maryanne's team, "Relinquish your weapons or you shall perish."
Enedan turned to Rousseau, to mutter, "What did you just say?"
The team didn't move. Everyone was waiting for Maryanne's instructions. The captain, seeing her team and she weren't in position to negotiate because a dozen of staff weapons were aimed at them, notified with a nod her colleagues to relinquish their weapons.
Once her rifle on the snow, Carter declared to the section leader, "We're not here to fight. We need to talk to governor Kalahan."
"Who do you think you are to make such a request?" the section leader scornfully replied, coming to Carter.
"Black Stone Alpha." Carter indicated, with no stress.
The Praelistian group leader was surprised. Had it been other people, the leader would have not paid attention and thrown them in a cell or kill them right away. But they weren't any ordinary people, as the patch on their upper arms confirmed.
They were the famous Black Stone Alpha team. The leader knew it was an important event he had to report immediately to his superiors.