Prologue

Note: Although this story is marked as a GFL/Arma crossover, it mostly takes from GFL, and the only Arma content I'm really using are some of the weapons and vehicles. If you're here expecting to see Ben Kerry or Altis, for example, I'm afraid you might be disappointed. Maybe there's a better way to tag this story, but in any case, enjoy :)

A helicopter approached a Sangvis Ferri installation deep within the heart of Sangvis territory. Surrounded by untouched forest, the building complex—once a bustling factory now retrofitted for a special purpose—stood out like a sore thumb in the sea of verdant green. Gunshots echoed within the walls of the building complex as groups of tactical dolls fought their way through the cramped interior.

An explosion blasted open the door to a conference room as a team of T-dolls poured into the room. From within the dust left by the breach charge emerged a doll wielding an AK-15 assault rifle, expertly firing bursts of 7.62x39mm bullets into targets as she traced a path through the left side of the room. Her long steel-grey hair matched the colour of her ballistic vest, which bore an insignia that belonged to neither Griffin nor Sangvis Ferri.

Behind her emerged another doll, this one wielding an M16A4 assault rifle with an M203 underslung grenade launcher attached. Her brown ponytail bobbed as she weaved her way across the right side of the room, shooting whatever targets the first doll left standing. Following her emerged two more T-dolls who brought up the rear. Their differently styled dark-purple hair and heights being the only distinguishing features between these otherwise identical-looking dolls, one holding a SCAR-L, and the other wielding a SCAR-H.

After the team rapidly cleared and secured the conference room, they turned their attention to the lone other figure left standing. This T-doll, with black hair whose tips were dyed purple, slowly looked over the team with her bright yellow eyes. In her right hand, she gripped a black Promet assault rifle, a bullpup weapon chambered in 6.5x39mm caseless developed in the late 2020s. The four intruders walked up to this doll, waiting for her to react. Eventually, the Promet-holding doll let out a brief chuckle as she shouldered her rifle and unlatched a tablet from her belt.

"Not bad," the doll said, "Not bad at all."

"Better than last time?" the doll with the AK-15 asked.

"Pfft, sure. Good enough for a Katana team," the Promet-wielding doll idly smiled, inputting the results of Katana 1 team's most recent combat drill into the database.

"Well, we're honoured," the M16A4-user sarcastically replied as she removed the magazine from her rifle and switched on the safety. She knew the Promet-wielding doll—officially designated "Dagger 1 Actual"—meant well, even if her way of speech was… a bit rough around the edges.

"Hey Castle, I noticed you wore your lucky shirt today," the M16A4-wielding doll noted as she addressed her partner with the AK-15. The designation "Katana 1-Bravo" was printed on her partner's name tag, but she was better known by her peers as "Castle," a nickname which reflected her courage and steadfast nature.

"Oh, yeah. I forgot to wash my clothes after the last skirmish…" Castle admitted with a laugh, "But hey, maybe that's the reason why you're actually hitting your shots today, Kia."

"Oh, screw off," Kia retorted. Her designation was Katana 1-Alpha—part of the same light infantry team as Castle. Like Castle, she was better known by her nickname "Kia," though her name didn't hold nearly as much symbolism. "I'm just adhering to the principle of 'do no harm,' that's all," the combat medic added, "Besides, I don't need to hit any of my shots, I have you to protect me!"

"Alright, cut it out, you two," Dagger 1 Actual scoffed as she latched her tablet back on her belt, "Let's go to the next training module. Charlie, Delta, I want you two to take point this time."

"All right, Lina, your turn to lead the conga line!" Katana 1-Delta joked as she slung her empty SCAR-H over her back.

"You better not shoot my ass this time when we're entrying!" Katana 1-Charlie pouted as she gave her self-proclaimed sister a punch on the shoulder.

The five T-dolls continued to exchanged banter as they made their way along an orange-painted hallway towards the next practice room. All around them, gunshots and voices echoed off the walls as other groups of dolls worked their way through the building's labyrinthine interior.

"I don't get it," Sangvis Ferri ringleader Hunter blurted out as she watched the live-fire exercise from a balcony high up above the action.

"Huh?" asked another ringleader who was leaning against the railing.

"I don't get it. The live-fire aspect, I mean. Why not just use combat simulations instead, Archangel?" Hunter explained, glancing at the other ringleader.

"Archangel" was the other ringleader's name. SFR-001 "Archangel," the former aeronautics research testbed of Sangvis Ferri's Project Icarus. The dolls training below were those of the Sangvis Ferri Mobile Task Force—colloquially known as the SFMTF or MTF—which Archangel was the leader of. The SFMTF was a division within Elisa's Sangvis Ferri which served as a modular rapid-response force providing competent tactical support anywhere the ringleaders couldn't be bothered going. Archangel swept her jet-black bangs back with one hand as she turned her head to look at Hunter with her crimson-red eyes. She wore a form-fitting grey jumpsuit specially designed for aerodynamic flight, with metal hardpoints connected to her internal skeleton at her wrists, ankles, and back.

"Well, I've always felt that there's something to be gained from live exercises you just can't get from a simulation, you know?" Archangel replied with a casual smile, "After all, the Mobile Task Force is supposed to be an elite force, so it'd make sense for us to spend an appropriate amount of resources on preparation, right?"

"I suppose so, though I personally don't see any practical difference between a simulation and live-fire exercise," Hunter noted, "Guess it doesn't matter, as long as you deliver the results."

"Sure, sure, 'the ends justify the means', don't they?" Archangel quipped as she stretched her arms over her head.

"Anyway, I gotta go," Hunter finally said as she turned to leave, "Gager just sent a new mission my way. I'll see you around."

"Right," Archangel called out as Hunter walked to the door, "Good luck have fun!"

After Hunter left, Archangel returned to observing her subordinates training beneath her. This facility used to be a Sangvis factory churning out mass-produced fodder units such as vespids and rippers, but it was repurposed into an urban operations training ground for use by the SFMTF after a major conveyor malfunction crippled its production capacity. Recently, members of the SFMTF's Dagger division—the urban warfare specialists—have been volunteering as instructors for other members of the Task Force during their downtime, teaching the others how to effectively operate in close-quarters environments and such. Archangel could spot dolls from all branches of the MTF in the facility, representatives from everything from Falchion division—the assault infantry, to Chalice—the logistics team, to Rapier—the reconnaissance element, to even Pegasus—one of the two helicopter wings—two of whose members were chatting up one of the Dagger girls.

Archangel smiled, she took great pride over her Mobile Task Force, whose members were all individuals unto themselves, each with their own personalities, goals, and interests. After all, they were the result of an unsuccessful attempt by Sangvis Ferri to produce a competitor to I.O.P.'s dolls. Sometimes, Archangel felt as if they were the last vestiges of humanity left at Sangvis Ferri. Due to possessing a different communications protocol than OGAS, Archangel and the dolls in the SFMTF never really shared the extreme tendencies the rest of the ringleaders developed after the Butterfly Incident, nor did they share their same reverent dedication to the Sangvis mastermind—Elisa. Between the emotionless faces of the mass-produced fodder and the cruel warmongering attitudes of the ringleaders, Archangel could always find solace with her subordinates in the MTF.

Kia looked up at Archangel watching over them and gave her a quick nod, which Archangel reciprocated. Dagger 1 Actual was busy explaining the next drill to her team when she received a radio message from the regional command team.

"Katana 1-Alpha, this is Scalpel 2-Delta, you there?" the voice asked.

"Yeah, what's up?" Kia replied to the electronic warfare doll, currently serving as a liaison to the other ringleaders.

"We got a bit of a situation over at Point Cobalt, Griffin forces are giving us a bit of trouble there," the voice explained, "I need you and Castle to lead a counterattack to repel them, pretty standard stuff, really. Pegasus 4 is already heading over to your place."

"Sure, we're heading off now, then." Kia said as she turned to Castle, "You hear that, Castle? Looks like we gotta leave sooner than expected."

"Perfect timing, really," Dagger 1 Actual replied, "Time to take what you've learned today and put it to use, eh?"

After Kia and Castle bade the other three girls farewell, they walked out of the expansive central training chamber towards the armoury to pick up live rounds. Neither of them felt especially nervous about their upcoming mission; as two of the longest-serving members of the SFMTF, they've been through similar situations countless times already. Besides, it's not like a tactical doll can truly "die," right?

"Oh, and one more thing," Scalpel 2-Delta's voice sounded over the radio as the two were about to leave the building, "You're gonna be shadowed by the new girl—Katana 2-Charlie—during the operation. Emphasis on new, alright? This is gonna be her first outing, so go easy on her."

"Yeah, don't worry about it!" Kia reassured Scalpel 2-Delta as she pushed open the exit door, the landing helicopter's rotor wash blowing their hair behind their heads. After all, it was just going to be a simple mission, what could possibly go wrong?