Chapter 36 – The Frozen Land

The Helicopter landed further south than they had originally planned. Ursula and her team jumped out to secure the Command Post. Her radio clicked and Bryant's voice came through. "Okay, that sucks." The wind nearly drowned him out. "Looks like the Ringleader moves fast. A dozen of our Command Posts and landing zones have been taken. I'm pushing west now, I'll see what we can do." Ursula took some forms from SAR.

"SP 914 'Intruder'...looks like she's into some weird shit." Bryant snorted. "But, her power and leadership is something else. I'm also worried about how many troops she has."

"Don't be: we've faced worse odds. You've got the AR Team with you, and SAR too. They'll help ya." The wind on Bryant's end picked up. "Fun fun...storms rolling in. I'll keep pushing and hold the western pass, so get M16 and let's get the hell out of here."

"Agreed." Ursula ended the call and smiled. "Looks like we have a long fight ahead of us." SAR nodded.

"Yes ma'am. That's what it looks like." She gave a gentle smile. "I believe we can win this." She handed Ursula a thermos. "Here; something to keep you warm." Ursula took a sip.

"Thank you. Always thinking of everything, aren't you?" SAR adjusted her glasses.

"Thank you, ma'am. I am your adjutant, it is my job." Ursula giggled.

"Is it also your job to prepare my tea just so?" SAR turned and cleared her throat.

"O-of course! We can't have our Commander freezing." The doll gave a pitiful excuse. Ursula took another sip and nodded.

"I definitely won't be freezing now. Come on then, let's get the party started." She called a meeting inside the Command Post.

She pulled up a map of the mountain and gathered the combat teams. "Alright ladies, here is the plan:" she pointed to the west. "Team One, you will go here to the passage. Your goal is to cause a ruckus to get Sangvis interested in the passage. Once you get there, you'll meet up with Commander Bryant and hold there." She pointed to another Command Post. "Teams two and three will push here, and establish this as our forward base. Once we get there, we'll regroup and make a push on the Ringleader." The room got quiet.

SAR stepped forward and brought up Intruder's image. "This is our target. She is significantly stronger than any Ringleader we've faced, and a skilled tactician. Therefore, we are going to try something different," SAR brought out the detailed battleplan, "we know that the AR team can handle her, and we will let them do what they do best. Team two will advance with me and occupy Intruder long enough for Team three to reunite with M16. We will be getting support from Commander Bryant during this phase of the operation." The radio crackled as Bryant connected.

"Sorry I'm late. I caught the tail end of that. My team will protect the rear and assist in mop-up operations. Once we regroup with M16, the AR team can slot the Ringleader." The group nodded quietly. "We also have some mercenaries with us. Just stay out of their way, and they'll take care of the rest. Good luck and Godspeed. Over 'n out." The radio cracked again as he disconnected.

The show was about to begin. The snow dropped heavier, and the wind howled wildly as the dolls organized for the first push. "Extreme Conditions Systems are all functional. I predict only a five per-cent decrease of efficiency in the cold."

"Not bad, all things considered." Sangvis signals appeared on the map. "Targets spotted. Begin the operation." There was a large stretch of snow and rock separating them. The dolls split into their teams and rushed forward. Snow battered them and pushed them off course. Sangvis snipers shot down at them. Team one fired blindly at them and made a run towards the passage. As the distance increased, the Jaegers split off to follow them.

"Team one split off from the pack. SAR, push now!" Ursula handed over command of team one to Bryant and focused on leading the other teams. "Stay on the right side: there are fewer enemies."

"Yes ma'am."

"M4, your team will move towards the depot nearby. Hold that so we can resupply if we need to."

"Understood." The teams advanced. Smaller squads of SF troops began advancing towards M4's team. These all but ignored SAR's team. Instead, a new enemy approached SAR's team: a SF doll piloting a military-grade 'walker'. Long legs dug deep into the snow, and elevated them above Griffin dolls. Each stride covered triple the distance a Griffin doll could in this terrain. They were called 'Dragoons', and the name was appropriate. They stampeded forward, guns blazing, and began decimating the dolls in SAR's team.

SAR felt her foot give out as the snow underneath her shifted. A Dinergate launched from the snow and slammed into her side. Dozens more popped up around her team, smashing dummies to bits by brute force. "Commander, it's an ambush!" SAR cried out as the Dragoons started circling. The Dinergates tore through the dummies and the Dragoons destroyed what was left. MP5 cried out as she was dragged under the snow. "M9, now!"

The doll swatted at a Dinergate and pulled the pin off a grenade. She tossed it a good two or three feet away before it exploded in a flash of light. It blinded the enemy, halting their attack. M9 wiped away some tears, "Did I get 'em?"

"Yeah, now finish them off!" SAR and her team started by stomping as many of the smaller machines as they could before they reactivated.

"SAR," Ursula's voice was tense, "Aim for the knee joints of the Dragoons. They don't look stable enough to hold them up under fire." The dolls turned toward the remaining enemies. The joints were a difficult target. Several Dragoons regained enough sight to begin shooting again.

"Commander, we need to retreat!"

"You can't! We need to reclaim that base." SAR took a breath and resumed combat. Another doll pushed her out of the way, taking a shot from the enemy. The remaining Dragoons charged. The combined gunfire and stampede overwhelmed the Griffin team. SAR destroyed another one before her leg was severed at the knee. She destroyed another Dragoon. The last one rushed her. She tried to roll away, but didnt quite make it. Her other leg was mangled.

SAR cried out as she opened fire blindly. The machine buckled and pitched the rider. SAR drew her sidearm and shot until the doll stopped moving. She took shallow breaths and wiped the frozen tears from her face. Ursula's voice was barely audible over the damage warnings in her. "SAR! SAR, answer me!"

"Commander…"

"Oh thank God." There was fear in her voice. "I'm sorry, I made a really bad call there. I'm so sorry."

"It was an order, so don't apologize." The two were quiet for a time. "Commander, its cold out here. Can I get some help?"

"I already dispatched a rescue team. What a disaster...I hope Bryant is doing better."

The western pass was a mess. Not just the storm and crags, but the intensity of SF forces. Units and formations that Bryant hadn't expected swarmed down narrow passages that expert climbers would dare tread. Intruder, to her credit, had planned things well. She could not have planned on Bryant's stubbornness, however. Again and again he ordered devastating hit-and-run strikes on the enemy, slowly chipping down on their defenses with next to no effort.

MT-9 was proving to be a good choice. While she lacked the firepower, she made up for it with speed and an excessive amount of 'flash bang' grenades. Ursula's team arrived, further securing their position. The last wave of SF dolls were eliminated, and the Griffin dolls collapsed. MT-9 wiped her forehead and let out an exhausted cheer.

"Hey Commander; when is the next wave coming?" She said with a smile. Bryant looked down at the map.

"Not long...looks like Ursula kicked the hornet's nest." The door behind him opened and SKS came in. She was still wrapped up in her cape. She shivered and dusted some snow off her shoulder. He switched off the open channel. "You okay?" SKS shook her head and let out a shudder.

"It is very cold up there." She huddled near the miniature space heater Bryant had. "But, the path was cleared. No problem for me-" she sneezed and groaned. "They left radar range about a minute ago." Bryant thanked her and returned back to the open line.

"Everyone, report to your stations. Stay inside and warm up until the enemy arrives. Yulia, report."

"Only two of our dummies were lost. We are running low on rations, but ammo is fine. Uh...oh, and we've found an old helipad under the snow. OTs-12 had an idea to use it to set an ambush. Put some mines or something."

"No, bad idea. Try to limit the explosives for now. But, I'll put some dummies to work making IEDs." A buzz came from Bryant's earpiece.

"Kommandant. We are here, twenty minutes ahead of schedule." There was some commotion on the other end.

"It is quite efficient to have a human commander. Be sure to give him some special thanks, HK416."

"No." Bryant and 416 said in unison. UMP45 laughed.

"Anyway, we are getting to work now. This is likely 'goodbye', Commander. Thank you for your help." The call ended. Bryant looked outside. A dark figure stood on the horizon, barely visible through the snow. He leaned forward and saw dozens of other figures rise over the mountain, moving towards them. Bryant cursed.

"Ursula, change of plans. She's here."