Chapter 9:

Missing children

PFC. Takahiro Tazaki landed with a soft grunt. He quickly took off the chute, folded the cloth neatly before tucking it in the bag.

He took off the respirator mask and lifted his balaclava up, concealing half of his face. He slung his HK417 forward, making sure a round was chambered before he wandered off to search for his teammates.

The designated marksman jogged lightly through the dark forest, like a spectre of the forest. The SFG operators blended in the environment perfectly. Good for them, he figured, at least they have the element of surprise.

Several seconds later he managed to regroup with the rest of the squad. "Chaplain" sat in the middle of the circle, displaying a small map with only a small dim red light as a light source.

"Tazaki, Amari, you'll take the left flank by the ridge." He instructed with a quiet but authoritative voice. "Sakuma, Miyoshi and Jitsui will take the right flank by the small treelines. Odagiri, Hatano and Kaminaga will take care of the power located at the East of the caverns. Fukumoto and I will handle the barracks at the North." The 1st lieutenant looked up at his men. They all nodded silently. "Let's go."

The team dispersed swiftly and moved stealthily to their designated positions. The small sniper fireteam made it at the top of the ridge of a small hill in a full minute, having an overview of the camp's front entrance. Hidden behind the foliages, they silently propped their weapon's bipods on the soft ground, pulling down their NVGs before they took aim, waiting for the order to strike. At the corner of his eye, Tazaki can see Odagiri's team slowly approaching the camp's fenced perimeter. They dropped on the ground and crawled up the last few meters close to the fence, Hatano prepped up his bolt cutter. Amari nudged him lightly and pointed with his head at the treelines to their right, observing Sakuma's team proned below the bushes with their weapons held up, ready to charge once the order is given.

A soft buzz came from his headset. Tazaki pressed on the button located on the left headpiece.

"Status." Demanded Yuuki.

"Assault team, ready." Announced Sakuma.

"Breach team, ready." Reported Odagiri.

"Sniper team, ready." He replied.

"Support team, ready." Stated Yuuki. "I have news that the Rangers are in the AO and awaiting for us to strike. On my mark." He instructed.

Lightly ajusting his aim at Odagiri's direction, Tazaki spotted a Commandramon coming towards his teammates. He gently placed his index on the trigger, ready to pull at a moment's notice.

"I'll take care of the guard tower." Informed with a whisper Amari.

"Go."

On cue, the two marksmen opened fire, the rifles jerked up a little followed by a muffled gunfire. In a blink of an eye, the bullet went through the target's helmet, the force made his head jerk roughly to the side. Dropping in a heap, the breach team quickly started to cut through the metal fence.

"Two hostiles on the tower at my 11." Amari informed.

At the guard tower were a Troopmon and a Pumpmon, surveying the camp beneath them lazily. The marksmen silently took a target, Tazaki had his sights set on the living pumpkin digimon. He waited several seconds before firing two shots. The bullets flew swiftly and quietly in the dead of night. A bullet struck the digimon easily through its fabric-like torso, the other went to the head, exploding in a orange gore as bits of pumpkin splattered on the tower's glass window.

The Troopmon fell shortly after, a gaping hole at its left eye as blood poured out, indicating that it had the same fate as the other digimon.

"Assassin 2-1, this is Assassin 4-1, the entrance is clear, you may proceed." Informed Tazaki at the assault fireteam.

"Ryokai. Moving."

Below his reticule's field of view, he can see the assault team jogging at the entrance gates, kicked them open and started to sweep the barracks in the entrance. From the windows of the barracks, he can see bright flashes, indicating the use of flashbang grenades. Moments later, the team got out unscathe and proceeded to the next one.

"This is Assassin 3-1, we've secured the generators and will be cutting the power off in 2 mikes. Over."

"Roga. To all Assassins, hold your grounds until the Rangers arrive." Instructed Yuuki.

"Looks like we're on guard duty now." Commented Amari with a sly smirk.

Somewhere in a dim lit room in a cave.

"Um... I spy with my little eyes the colour... orange."

Both Sora and T.K looked around the room for the specific colour announced by Taichi. After a few seconds, T.K stood up from his spot and answered proudly:

"It's Agumon!" Metionning the digimon sleeping next to Gabumon against the room's door.

"Damn it, I was going to ask that." Said Yamato as it was his turn to give a clue. "I spy with my little eyes..."

Outside of camp 105, near the cave's entrance.

"This is Hunter 2-1, all hostiles at the entrance have been neutralized. What's your status, Assassin 1-1?" Asked silently sergeant Foley.

"The guards have been neutralized, we're cutting the power... now." Replied the team leader of the JSDF Special Forces Group and on cue, the power outside and inside the camp was cut off.

"Roger that, thanks for the help." The Ranger NCO said before he turned around to face his team.

"Listen up, we've got a few couple of hostiles to take care of in the caves and we've got 20 minutes before the evac comes here. Let's make this quick and silent. Time to use your NVGs, men." He informed them before using his radio. "Overlord, this is Sergeant Foley. We're entering the cave in a minute, expect some loss of communication, how copy?"

"Solid copy, Hunter 2-1. Good luck and get those VIPs out safe and sound."

"You heard the man, let's move out. Allen and Ramirez take point." He ordered as he loads another mag in his SCAR-H and puts on his nightvision goggles.

PV2. James Ramirez slowly opened the cave's entrance door and walked in silently with PFC. Joseph Allen beside him, soon followed by the rest of the Hunter team as they moved on cautiously. Through his NVGs, Ramirez could see the multiple laser dots of his fellow Rangers as they looked around to find the VIPs. He then heard a couple of voices coming down from the corridor they were in. He raised his fist up, signaling the rest of the team to hold position. He took aim through the holographic sight of his silenced M4A1 and waited for one the imperials to pop out. Two Commandramon turned towards their direction with their flashlights on. He fired a short burst at one of them, killing it swiftly and quietly and the other was shot by Allen before it could react. Once it was clear, they continued to move on, taking out silently any imperials they come across.

Back to the dim lit room.

"Was it 'darkness' that you were about to ask?" Asked sarcastically Gabumon.

"Uh? Did someone turned the lights off? Asked Agumon as he wakes up slowly, confused of the sudden darkness.

"I think the power ran off or maybe it was cut off." Considered stoically Yamato.

"Damn, and I was having so much fun." Grumbled his younger brother.

"Well, I guess we're playing the 'waiting game' now." Tai said with a small chuckle.

"Did you have to?" Groaned Yamato.

They all waited a few minutes in the dark and in silence before they all heard some yells and small explosions outside of their room. It sounded as if there was a commotion just next to them. They all rushed towards the door to get a better hearing at the other side of the door. They could hear some of the guards crying in agony while others yell for help or barking out orders. The ceiling shook as one of the guards probably launched an attack at their unknown aggressors. Soon, a small explosion erupted as the guards screamed in pain in response.

"My eyes! I can't see!" Yelled a guard.

"What?!" Shouted another.

But a second later, they heard nothing but bodies dropping on the floors. They then heard multiple footsteps approaching their door before they all backed out with their digimon partners in front of them ready to protect them. The aggressors tried a few times the door knob before resolving in pounding the door. The door bursts open violently as they were blinded by various sources of light and the silent room filled with shouts of the supposed aggressors.

10 minutes ago.

After taking out the fourth Commandramon they've encountered, Ramirez cautiously and silently moved on, leading the 12 men Ranger team. Beside him was Allen, who was being as cautious as him. With his vision completely dark green, he still has a hard time to get use to it, eventhough he had extensive use of his goggles during training. Suddenly, they heard someone barking out orders right around the corner at the end of the hall. He took cover, his back to the wall, and side steppeded until he was near the corner. Carefully peeking out, he spotted a Sealsdramon, two Troopmon and a Guardromon looking around their surroundings like blind people, except for the Sealsdramon.

Ramirez looked back at his teammates and informed them the hostile presences through hand signals. Responding back was Foley, who ordered Cpl. Mendoza to throw a frag grenade. The corporal took out the grenade, pulled the pin and hurled it around the corner. The hand grenade bounced off the wall and rolled right between the imperials. The Sealsdramon looked down and was about to scream before it detonated, killing three imperials and sent the Guardromon on the ground, his front armour dented and damaged. Ramirez and Allen sprung out of the corner and opened fire at the digimon, emptying their magazine on the heavily armoured digimon.

Once he was dealt with, they moved up to the door next to them. Just as Allen was about to kick it open, bullets bursted out from the otherside, peppering the door and almost hitting Allen. Shouting was heard on the otherside, Foley prepared a flashbang. He tossed it in the other hallway. The flashbang bursted brightly, deafening and blinding the imperials. Ramirez leaned to his right, spotting the four blinded imperials, and with the help of the laser, shot them twice on the chest to each of them. Their bodies dropped heavily before slowly turning into data particles.

Moving in to clear the hallway, Allen noticed another door and signaled Ramirez to prepare a breach and clear. They turned on the flashlight at the side of their handguard and prepared for the breach.

"U.S. Army!" Warned Ramirez and Allen as they entered the room after they kicked the door down.

Their flashlights blinded the occupants of the room. They noticed that there were humans and digimon in the room, all of them covering their eyes or raising their arms in the air with eyes closed.

Ramirez lowered his rifle and stepped towards one of the humans. He was a young teen, probably 19 years old or younger, spiky brown hair and a pair of light grey goggles around his neck, wearing a tattered white dress shirt, dusted black pants and sneakers. Ramirez took out a picture of the VIPs and compared the teen to the VIP.

"Are you Taichi Yagami?" He asked out loud in fluent japanese.

The teen simply nodded before he lend a hand out while the other covered his eyes, still a little bit dazed by the flashlights.

"Nice to meet you..." He greeted jokingly with a smirk on his face.

Ramirez laughed and shook the boy's hand happily. "Don't you worry, we're americans, we'll get you and your friends out of here." He informed him in japanese. "Sergeant Foley! We've got the VIPs!" He shouted back in english.

Soon after, the Rangers escorted the humans and their digimon partners outside of the cave as the evac helicopters arrived in time. The JSDF SFG then took the VIPs and led them to the Chinook before the rest of the rescue team got on board the other Chinook.

In the helicopter, while his friends where being taken care of by the JSDF, Taichi looked at the american soldier who rescued him and his friends. He lend out his hand at the soldier, who looked at him with a confused face when he shook his hand a second time.

"I want to thank you for rescuing us. It has been awhile that we've seen another human being, though I prefer a more friendly appearance..." He said with smile plastered on his face.

"No need to thank us, kid. We're soldiers, it's our duty." Stated Ramirez happily in japanese.

"Oh that reminds me. How do you speak japanese so well?" Taichi asked.

The Ranger rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.

"Anime and manga. That's where I learned my japanese. I guess you can call me an otaku." He replied with an embarrassed smile.

They both laughed and soon talked again during the trip back to FOB Ginza.

Meanwhile with the Delta force rescue team, callsign "Tombstone", at the "Red District" of Monodramonville.

The 8 men team were being pinned down inside a local tavern, where the VIPs were being held by a local mercenary company. Ironically, that tavern was being under attack by a local gang mob. Tombstone and the hostages were being caught in a crossfire.

Mimi, Joe, Gomamon and Palmon hid behind the bar while the U.S. Special Forces stocked tables and chairs along the entrance door and windows for cover.

Staff Sergeant "Frost" and Corporal "Gator" were on the 2nd floor, taking out as much digimon as they possibly can. Frost loaded another magazine in his HK417 DMR before being called out by 1st Lt. "Reaper". He ran down the stairs and doved on the ground as an energy beam went through one of the windows and impacted in the restrooms behind him.

"Listen up! Evac is going to be here in a minute, Frost and Trojan will escort the VIPs through the back exit door , we will provide cover fire from here. Tell Gator to set up the C4 here."

"We're going to blow up this place?" Asked Cpl. "Hitman".

"That's right, Corporal. We're sending this place and those fuckers outside to hell." He replied with a satisfying smile, knowing that his men would also agree to this course of action.

On cue, Tombstone team could here the rotors of two BlackHawk helicopters, arriving at the LZ shortly.

"Fuck! Incoming!" Yelled out PFC. Trojan as a missile flew towards them and erupted on the second floor.

The building shook violently and dust covered the entire first floor. Moments later, Gator went down clumsily with his bag of C4 while holding on an injury on his face, his helmet was torn up in half.

"The...uh...C4 are okay, sir." The operator reported while looking around disoriented.

He was basically a mess compared to the other operators. His uniform and tactical vest were peppered and burnt. He was covered in blood and ash as he suffered from his injuries.

The lieutenant walked to him and talked to him softly while setting him next a wall and told him take a rest for awhile. The bloodied soldier reluctantly obliged and slumped down against the wall, his eyes slowly drooping out of exhaustion. Reaper took the bag and tossed it at Hitman.

"You'll do the honours." He said, hinting the corporal to set the explosives. "Preacher and Archer, give us some cover. Frost and Trojan, help me out with evacuating the civvies and Gator."

The men nodded and went to their task. As Hitman sets up the demolitions in some places, Spc. Preacher and Cpl. Archer fired bursts of 7.62mm rounds and launching 40mm grenades respectively.

Meanwhile, Frost led the civilians through the backdoor while Trojan and Reaper helped Gator to walk out.

One of the civilians, the tall teenager, probably 18 or 19 years old, wearing a pair of glasses, a white dress shirt with a light green tie, gray pants and black shoes, all covered in dust; looked over at Gator with a worried face before he spoke up to Frost.

"Shouldn't he need immediate medical attention?" He asked with an accented english.

"Don't worry, he may beaten up but this is nothing compared to his previous injuries. He's tough and one lucky basterd." Replied Frost with a confident smile behind his black balaclava.

Joe gazed at Gator for a second before leaving the building with Frost and the others. Wind started to kick up as the helicopters hovered a few feet above the ground. Frost hurried the civilians to go on board the transport helo. He then crouched down with his weapon drawn up, surveying the perimeter as Trojan and Reaper placed Gator in the BlackHawk. Reaper ordered the two operators to get in the helicopter with the VIPs while the others will take the second one. Once everyone was on board the first transport, it slowly flew upwards. Soon later, the rest of Tombstone team went in the second helo quickly, avoiding projectiles, energy beams and other attacks as they began to hover out of the perimeter. A minute later, Hitman detonated the C4, a fiery explosion erupted within the tavern as it engulfed the misfortuned ones in a blazing show of fire and debris scattering around itself.

"Overlord, this is Tombstone 1-1, the civilians had been successfully evacuated, all fine and healthy however we have an operator who needs medical attention real soon, how copy?" Reported Reaper through the radio.

"Solid copy, Tombstone. Get yourselves some chow and some rest once you arrive at the FOB, you've earned it." Announced Overlord.

Frost took off his tactical helmet, goggles and balaclava. Breathing in the fresh air, he felt for the first time in a long time relax as he stares in admiration the sunrise behind the multiple grassy plains and lush forests of the DigiWorld. Eventhough he just went through an intense mission, the adredaline that used to take hours to fade away during the ops back on Earth, vanished in seconds once he lay his eyes on the environment around him in this world, the beautiful landscapes made him feel relax and at peace, as if all the chaos he'd been through was just a terrible nightmare.

"I hope we can stay here for awhile..." He murmured softly, wondering if maybe for once peace may actually be real and not some optimistic idea.

Author's Note: Sorry for the little late update but the good news is that now I'm on holiday, which means I can focus more on the story and maybe post 2 chapters per week. Yay! Or maybe not for some of you...

I'm actually quite surprise that some people actually favourite and/or follow the story and to them I want to say a BIG Thank you! Really, I appreciate it alot and it gives me some morale boost to keep up with the story.

So thank you to everyone who took their time (or maybe not, I dunno...) to read this. Feel free to review, I'm open to all criticism.