Freedom Fighters
Part Three: Advancing Warfare
The sun set on New York City, inflaming the sky. The DRF of New York broke into mission groups of 100 a block away from the Wraith Research and Experimental Technology Facility. One Group, headed by Mimi, Izzy, Kazu, and Joe, was going to attempt to find the data and blueprints for the energy weaponry, which had been designated Arc Chargers. Two Group, under Matt, Ryo, Tai, TK, and Davis, was charged with acquiring any components and working models of the Arc Chargers. Three Group was commanded by Sora, Rika, Kari, and Crystal and was supposed to eliminate all opposition. Kigan and Sarlin stayed at the Hideaway and the nearest forward base (designated RETF1) respectively with the remaining ten-score troops split between them. One Group came in on the top floor, Two Group came in on ground level, and Three Group entered on the thirteenth floor, halfway between them. One Group found little resistance at first and reached their destination- a twenty-fourth floor terminal in a research lab containing the needed information. As it was uploading to the Warnet via Izzy's PPC several dozen guards charged in at the team. The DRF set up a defensive ring around the terminal. The firefight that broke out killed many DRF operatives before the threat was neutralized. Mimi and Joe, taken by surprise, were unable to find cover in time and were cut down in the crossfire. The upload complete, Izzy grabbed his PPC in a daze and left under escort, mumbling, "It happened again… It happened again…"
Two Group was by far the luckiest group, because of the lax security to the lower levels. Minor injuries were sustained, but nothing serious occurred. None of the few guards expected to actually be attacked. They took the 25 Arc Chargers (which looked like a miniature MagnaAngemon's wrist-sword) and returned to RETF1. They weapons lacked a portable power source. So, a long and slow experimentation process began.
"No, you're doing it wrong. The batteries go in the other way!" Tai exclaimed exasperatedly.
"I know what I'm doing! I don't think you've ever worked with miniature fusion reactors either." Davis shot back.
"And besides, they aren't batteries, Tai," Matt corrected him.
"Matt, kindly shut up, we're trying to turn this on here." Tai retorted. TK sighed at his friend's antics. Over in a corner Ryo was working with his D-arc and PPC. TK wondered what he was doing that was so important at this time. "Hey, Ryo, what're you doing over there?"
"Trying to fix this. It keeps blinking like Cyberdramon were trying to use card energy."
"Oh."
"Wait! What did you just say?" Matt gazed at Ryo intently.
"I said its acting like its trying to transmit power to Cyberdramon."
"Point it at the Arc Chargers and activate it."
"Why?"
"Just do it!" Matt yelled impatiently.
"Fine, geez." He pointed it at the Arc Chargers and pressed a button on its front. A Light shot from it and flew into each Arc Charger, spurring them into life. Tai picked up the humming mechanism, strapped it to the back of his wrist and squeezed the trigger at the target they had earlier set up for such a purpose. A purple-green disk cut through the target and the wall like they were jello. "Awesome!" Davis hurried to see how far the shot went.
Meanwhile, Three Group hadn't been doing so well in their extermination attempt. They had been pinned by enemy forces in an enormous room filled with pillars like redwoods that served no apparent purpose. Probably for cornering resistance fighters, Sora thought cynically just as her PPC comm. beeped with a young mans voice on it.
"Help! Anybody… waylaid… Wraiths… hiding… only a matter of time…help us!" most of the words of the distress signal were blocked by static, but Sora got the gist. She returned the call.
"Sora here of the Digital Resistance Fighters of New York. What's your position and status?"
"Chicago, Illinois. A few dozen of us in the Chicago Resistance Corps are still alive. Assistance would be appreciated. How soon can you get here?"
"Few hours"
"Good. I think we can keep running 'till then. Later Takenouchi."
"Wait! Who are you, and how do you know my last name?"
"Anthony. I'm another DigiDestined. I was at the battle with MaloMyotismon and the sealing of the Chicago gate. I recalled your name from those events. But enough chitchat. Get over here, a.s.a.p. please!"
"Got it." Sora commed Crystal, "We need that Special Ops group you've been training, and as many hover transports as it takes to get them to Chicago."
"Chicago?"
"Another resistance group, the CRC, is on the run from Wraiths. A DigiDestined seems to be useful. They would be a useful asset."
"Alright. I'll comm. Sarlin, she'll take them there to help. The Arc Charges I've been told we have will be given to them." At that moment, One Group, led solely by Kazu, burst into the pillar room behind the Wraith soldiery's blockade, raining fire upon them. They turned to fight the new threat, but Three Group set upon them from behind. They were decimated in the crossfire. "Took you long enough!" Rika complained to Kazu, "Hey, I could have left you there!" Both groups hurried to RETF1, where the two-dozen special operatives had just left.
Anthony and Sarlin walked into the Hideaway tired and bedraggled, but Sarlin was grinning stupidly for some reason. Crystal paid it no mind as she started the briefing of the DRF commanders.
"Okay, we've got our Arc Chargers and blueprints and are working on production right now. Obviously there are more resistance groups out there, as proven by the existence of Anthony here and the CRC. It seems that the overwhelming majority of freedom fighters are DigiDestined for some reason, according to the calls I've sent out. There has been talk of unification. I proposed a global DRF made from all the various groups. I've already had thousands of signers of the alliance agreement and you'll all be allowed to sign it after the meeting. It resides on the Warnet, which has been connected with all other similar networks and extended to those without such connections…" The meeting continued, but something was brewing just under the surface. Something was itching to set its plans in motion…
To be continued in Part Four: Our Own War…
