Hooray, free time! And my brain for once decided to get up and not become a lazy boner. Granted that this is a short one, but the chaos that is my life didn't stop because it doesn't have a brake :(

Now, the reviews:

GyroJapster

Watch and see, mate

Auditor

1) They kind of need to eat and drink, considering the game has a dorm function and the anime clearly shows all three
2) Go back and read chapter 2 for that matter.
3) I admit that I kind of mixed things up since I have my own preference from the two shows. Like, I'm more into AL side when it comes to lore and gameplay mechanics, but more into the KC side when it comes to the Kansen's rigging and how it functions.

Russia

18th August 201X

Site-45, [REDACTED]

07:35 Local Time

SCPS Arkhangelsk

"Six men, arch formation." Arkhangelsk's tactical mind informed. "2:1 ratio, outnumbered and outgunned."

Her eyes expertly scanned her opposition.

"Three HK-416s, one UMP-45, one M4A1 with M203, and one Benelli M4. Torso and head adequately protected by vest rigs and helmets, shotgun wielder wears more. Weapons are suppressed discounting the Benelli. Mounted goggles, either night or thermal"

"Three riflemen, a medic, a grenadier (possibly their squad leader), and a close-quarter specialist. CQB squad, good for close and mid-range…"

Arkhangelsk then glanced down at her hostage's armament.

"M4A1," her eyes move to the pistol she currently holding. "Quite modern, Western made. Could be the Glock series"

"I say again, identify yourself, now" Her tone is stern, yet powerful.

"Know what they're doing, professionals… The Insurgency…"

The group didn't respond, nor did their combat stance and aim falter. Even her hostage didn't resist, only mirroring Arkhangelsk's movement. Dr. Rose was relatively safe behind her, while her two escorts flanked her sides as the two drew their respective firearms. Arkhangelsk spares a glance at Dr. Limburgh who is currently safe and sound inside the observation room, though his expression betrays the motion of safety and instead reflects panic.

Arkhangelsk didn't activate her rigging, fearing the notion of provocation towards the enemy. Suddenly, her internal radio managed to intercept a radio communication.

[Lights out in ten, get ready]

Arkhangelsk eyes flared up as she quickly manifested her rigging, earning the ire of her enemy as they promptly opened fire while her escorts were protected behind her massive extensions. And just in time too, because not a moment later the lights went out, plunging the room into darkness safe for the muzzle flash

Luckily for her, Arkhangelsk has an onboard radar. Thus being blind doesn't really hinder her much since she can just "hear" them.

Smirking, she breaks her hostage's neck with ease as she lets her shot down range alongside her escorts. Already three dots disappeared from her imaginary screen as the remaining member tried to flank them. Not a cha-

The grenadier let a grenade loose!

"Brace!" The shipwoman shouted as she shoved the two behind her while the extensions positioned themselves as an impromptu shield.

Unfortunately, the grenade wasn't a HE. Instead, it seems to be something akin to a flashbang, evident by the loud bang and blinding light.

"Arrgh!"

For some seconds Arkhangelsk tried to get her bearing back, only for her to stare at the shotgunner aiming their Benelli towards her.

"Blya-"

Arkhangelsk couldn't finish her word as a 12-gauge buckshot crashed into her chest, knocking the wind out of her and throwing her around a meter before falling on the ground. Albeit a close-range 12-gauge killed anyone in an instant while shrugging their armor, all Arkhangelsk could feel was as if someone hit her with a sledgehammer.

A very fucking powerful sledgehammer.

After a while on the ground just writhing in pain Arkhangelsk groaned and checked her rigging. The short answer would be not good. Thanks to her unceremonious fall the rigging took most of the brunt, causing dents and fractures all over the place. Some of her outer weaponry, such as her CIWS and AA batteries, were smushed into broken parts thanks to it. Overall, the rigging is now nothing more than a giant piece of metal.

Still, that doesn't stop her from fighting back, especially when her escorts are getting pinned down behind a counter and Dr. Rose is calling out to her.

Nothing will stop Arkhangelsk from fighting back, not even death.

Therefore Arkhangelsk desummoned her rigging and rose back to her feet before dashing toward the impostors with a speed impossible for her to achieve. Seeing that their adversary literally shrugging off a 12-gauge the shotgunner tries their second chance, but can't when Arkhangelsk just rushes them and pins them to the ground.

Without a pause, Arkhangelsk lifts her right fist before sending it down to their chest. Her engine propelled the punch so much that it dented through the armor and their chest, no doubt killing them instantly from it. Pulling out her fist Arkhangelsk picked the M4 with her right while she used the shotgunner corpse as a shield on her left, causing bullets to hit the poor soldier's body instead of hers. Arkhangelsk paid no mind as she kept strolling on to where the last two were covering when the grenadier aimed their grenade launcher at her once again, her eyes flared up before throwing her meatshield at them and dashing forward with the M4 in her hands.

The gamble pays off.

Her meatshield crashed into the two impostors as the grenadier shot hit the ceiling and collapsed parts of it, but that deters nothing on Arkhangelsk as she pinned the grenadier under her foot. First shot, the round hit them in the chest and broke the vest. Unfortunately, the grenadier was still writhing in pain as the round failed to kill, so Arkhangelsk changed that with the next shot. The third shot, this time aimed at the medic, crashes into their head and leaves nothing but bloodied and mangled meat under the helmet.

And with that, the firefight ceased. Just in time too, because then the lights turned on again.

"I-Is it…over yet?..." The voice of Dr. Rose enters Arkhangelsk's ear.

"I think so," Arkhangelsk grimaced. "But this site is now compromised. We need to move ASAP"

Her escorts nodded along as both of them exited their cover alongside Dr. Rose and approached her.

"Aye. If those wankers managed to infiltrate then God knows how many of 'em in here." One of them commented as he reloaded his AR.

"Dr. Rose, may you kindly open the door of the observation room?" Arkhangelsk takes a slight glance at the room. "Because if I'm correct, the system would undergo a reset and-"

"Need a keycard to be opened in case of emergency. Yes, I know that. Now if you'll excuse me" The British doctor then makes her way to the room while Victor can only watch and do nothing.

"Alright, now we need to find a way out. But first, names."

"Alex Thorpe. Callsign Nomad" The one with the AR introduced himself.

"Daniel Fletcher. Callsign Falken" The other man, who is carrying a DMR, replied.

Arkhangelsk eyed the weapon for a while as she raised her brow, occasionally glancing at Falken for quite some time.

"A DMR? In this kind of environment?"

"Don't fret, ma'am. I've been with this baby since I first joined, and so far nothing bad happened with her in my hands" Falken reasoned as he cradled the modern-looking M14.

Arkhangelsk shrugs.

"Sure, as long as you do your job then I paid no mind. Now, plan." Arkhangelsk glanced at Thorpe. "Nomad, you and I will lead the way while Falken will guard the rear. We'll keep tight formation while in the Hallway, but spread slightly when on open ground, Sounds good?"

"How about you keep the flanks clear with that shotgun of yours?" Nomad eyed the Benelli as his eyes met with Arkhangelsk's. "Can't have those people surprising us from the sides, right?"

"I suppose so…" Arkhangelsk nodded. "Next, nearest exit."

"Southwest exit. Only around three hundred meters from here." Nomad offered.

"And crossing the Euclid class containment chambers, as well as the heaviest automated checkpoints in this place" Falken objected while glaring at him. "We need at least a fireteam to punch through that, and you know it"

"Then what other option would you suggest?"

"The North gate. It's only another three hundred meters longer but it's relatively safer."

"Safer?! Does a place with open ground and numerous flanks all over the place sound safe to you?!"

"Meaning that we can dodge them easily and not get cramped in a tight hallway. Besides, I do not prefer to fight in a CQB"

"That's because you have a DMR, a weapon clearly unsuitable for that kind of engagement. Fuck, why didn't you change it for something with a closer range earlier ?"

Arkhangelsk tuned out the two arguments as she scavenged the shotgunner's body for more ammo. While she was doing that, her internal radio managed to intercept some channels.

[…Bravo-3 to Sector-9…]

[…049 had breached out of the containment. I repeat…]

[…Fall back Zulu-5. Don't push too far…]

{Sounds like a mess, isn't it?} a voice suddenly appeared inside her head. A voice…his voice… {…Glad that you still recognize me, Arkhangelsk…} The voice…smiled?

"But…how? You're dead…alongside your crew…and me…" Arkhangelsk replied in her thought.

{And yet here you're…alive and well…} The voice replied as his smile remained present before his…form materialized inside her mind. Inside her consciousness. {Surprise?}

"That would be an understatement, sir. But my question remains. How?"

{Frankly, I don't know either. What I know is that I regained consciousness around a minute ago, just before you obliterated those poor Chaos members.} He chuckled {Never thought you had that one in you. But then again, you've been slamming dangers all around the world for a decade without a care. I shouldn't be surprised there.}

Arkhangelsk snickered.

"And the last time I remembered you're not a dick. Or is it because of your death and the explosion that you've changed?" Her former captain playfully winced

{Oohh… That's a low blow, Arkhangelsk. A very low blow…Anyway, what are you going to do now?}

"…You won't guide me, sir?"

{You're your own woman now, Arkhangelsk. You have the controls, I'm here just as an advisor of sorts. But remember. Actions-}

"-have consequences. I know, I know…" And with that he signed off, clearing Arkhangelsk's mind with her thought again.

With a sigh, she finished her scavenging and weighed her options.

On one hand, a faster with risky and narrow route. On the other, a farther route with open ground and relative safety. Both have their pros and cons, and the only way to judge it is to experience it.

The dilemma of free choice, and now Arkhangelsk faces her first obstacle.