Doctor, Rhodes Island operators and the mercenaries assembled at the command centre as they receive requests to defend various locations.
As expected, the operators did not view the mercenaries with trust. This does not affect the mercenaries one bit. Those distrustful gazes were way too common in their line of work.
Defend the area, prevent unnecessary damage to civilian structures and minimize casualties if possible.
"We are deploying the Volunteer corps at sector three with the mercenaries" The Doctor announced her plans to the group. "The defensive terrain and covers would provide excellent covers from enemy range."
"I opposed to the plan." The Undertaker walked forward. "We should be deployed at sector one."
Undertaker points to the map and swapped out one of the Elite team with the Volunteer corps.
Sector one was an open area, where little defensive structures or covers could be found.
"I oppose the idea" Nearl raised her hand. "It is way too dangerous for the volunteer corps to fight at this area. Our team should be the one handling it."
The other operators nodded their heads, it simply wasn't a good idea for the volunteer corps to be deployed on a likely high traffic area.
Ignoring their objections, Undertaker turned towards the Doctor. "What is your final decision?"
"Only deploying half of the active volunteer corps to the sector?" Sage prepared his gear and loaded some ration pack into his waist pouch.
"Berserker and the remaining operators will be on standby." Undertaker made sure to split the team equally. Three Snipers, two Guards, two Healer, one Specialist and one Defender.
"Alright." Sage began doing some stretches in front of his own team. "I am going to appoint the squad leader."
"Aren't you the squad leader?" One of the operators asked.
"Yes and no." Sage replied as he pinned a black tag on the Defender and tapped on his shoulder. "I am the one in charge with the main orders. However, in the heat of battle, you are the one responsible for the re position and withdraw any operators if needed."
"That is a lot of responsibilities, I'm not sure if I am experience enough to be the team leader." The Defender looked at the tag and back to Sage.
"Start learning now." Sage began pushing his team towards the deployment area while walking the opposite direction himself.
"Aren't you coming with us?"
"I have my own way to reach the spot." Sage waved at the team. "Prepare the defenses before I reached the sector."
[Roof – Rhodes Island]
A structure that looked like a gun barrel attached to the roof of the vehicle could be seen.
The structure was playfully dub the NIMBUS by the mercenaries without any explanations to the engineers that build it from the blueprints given.
Sage walked into the structure and prepared himself.
"I kind of miss the experience, getting launched by one of these things." Sage commented as he braced himself.
"All Teams, prepare for deployment." The communication devices lit up as the doors of the deployment zones opened.
"Green light! Green Light!"
Every team ran out towards their designated locations.
"Thank you for agreeing with my suggestion." Undertaker returned back to the command center.
"I'm taking a huge risk, the least you could do is explain."
"Do you know, in ancient times, armies would fight side by side in any battle. The strongest and the most experience would take the right wing, while the fresh and inexperience will take the left." Undertaker pulled out her own personal device.
"The strong will fight against the strong." Amiya continued, which led to a smile on Undertaker face.
"The Reunion, or at least someone in their chain of command, understood the need to change the way they have been fighting." Undertaker points to the screen as the operators took their positions. "They will use their weakest forces to attack section one, while their crack troops will attack section three."
"What would they gain from attacking the strongest defence position?" The Doctor asked.
"A point." Undertaker replied back with no emotion in her tone.
"What might that be?" Amiya questioned.
"Doctor, when you build your team of operatives, you chose them for their combat prowess and abilities to contribute to the battle situation." Undertaker controlled the angle and direction of the NIMBUS. "You smelt an indestructible shield, where the weak could hide behind the shield and believe they had a chance to fight back."
"….."
"So, what will happen if this indestructible shield began to show cracks or holes in it? Could it still be call indestructible? Can the weak looked at it with hopes in their eyes?"
Undertaker took a bite on the fresh apple that she took out from her pouch.
"Those cargoes, they aren't building materials, weapons or Lungmen dollars. They contain fresh food, given to villagers in need for these rations."
"How did you know so much?" Doctor asked, surprised by Undertaker knowledge.
"I have my ways." Undertaker pointed her thumb onto her temple.
[Section one – city]
The team leader barked his order as his team formed an arrowhead formation, with him leading from the front line.
Communication from the other teams told of heavy waves of Reunion soldiers.
However, on the section where the volunteer corps was guarding, only a pitiful amount of Originium slugs, soldiers, militant and D-4 rushing towards their position. This did not stop the operators from taking their enemies seriously.
"Crownslayer spotted. Approaching Section three."
Nearl's team was guarding that area, their last commination was assuring the Doctor they had it under control.
"Firing NIMBUS, three, two, one!"
"YAAAAAAAAAAWWHHOOOOOOOOOOO" Sage shouted in excitement as he went flying towards the sky, being launched like a cannonball.
"I !"
Unable to control the direction, Sage slammed against the tall building in a cloud of smoke dust.
Crownslayer looked upwards as small amount of debris lands on her hood. Her instinct immediately told her to move back a few steps.
"Have Arrived!" Sage slammed his staff down onto the road, missing Crownslayer by a step. The building that he crashed into began to fell, the debris blocking both of their exit.
"My name is Sage; I shall have the honour for this dance." Sage points his staff at Crownslayer while preparing his battle stance.