1417

 

Tiss cautiously jabbed her rifle at the Vespid sprawled on the dried grass, which remained still. While she was poking the prone Sangvis, she glanced at Skorpion. Skorpion, sensing the look, responded. She said a few words, then turned her attention towards the corpse. She gave it a brief look-over, then shook her head.

 

Tiss withdrew her rifle and looked at Sten. Sten, vigilant beside MG5 by the wall corner overlooking the street, responded to her. After ending their brief conversation, Sten froze for a moment, then shouted at Tiss.   

 

416 stopped rewiring the door console and glanced at them both. She spoke to them, then returned to her work.

 

Skorpion pointed at the petrified Guard by the bench and spoke aloud. 416 glanced at the motionless Sangvis, then nodded at Sten. Sten nodded back, drew away from her post and crept towards the Guard. Once she reached it, she tugged at its ponytail. 

 

Sten hopped back; the Guard had toppled. Its pistol fell from under its chin, its coolant poured and pooled on the dirt, grass and cement. 416 looked at the stiffening Sten, then at the fallen Guard, before shaking her head.

 

Winking blue blip entering from the south. False finger tapped on the headset. “Command to Team HK416. VIP’s arriving in five minutes. How much longer?” 

 

416 pressed on her earpiece. The headset crackled. “Three minutes. One-and-a-half if I’m not distracted.”

 

Infernal beeps and flashing green lights, coming from the holo-communicator. The false leg whined, the false fingers tapped on the touchpad. Projector lit up; a stern visage rose from its depths. 

 

“Commander Yilmaz.”

 

Helianthus’ stern gaze turned towards Washington. She gave him a curt nod. “Commander Washington.” Her gaze met the false eyes. “I’m expecting good news.” Tone harsh, yet thick with said expectation.

 

Inhaled. Exhaled. 

 

Settling dust in the East District. Delta Three’s rubble buried FMG-9.

 

Unconscious Ingram connected to a whirring machine with flashing screens.

 

FAL stared upwards at the ceiling, her hindquarters stiff and unresponsive. 

 

‘How fares Papasha?’ Sudaev must have wondered. The thought distracted her from the wound on her ribs.

 

BAR bemoaned her punctured shoulder and lost machine gun. 

 

The throat groaned, the lungs contracted. “We have taken casualties.”

 

Helianthus’ stern visage was unaffected by the ill news. “Yet, the operation is a success, is it not?” Her tone was harsh, uncaring.

 

Pulse quickened, fists clenched. “Hunter is still at large.” 

 

She arched her brow. “Surveillance feeds indicate otherwise.”

 

“We have not encountered Hunter. No body to show, no confirmation of her demise.” 

 

“Commander Washington?” she inquired, without breaking eye contact.

 

“I’m with him,” Washington replied calmly. “Having seen Hunter’s tactical capability, I’m inclined to agree with his assessment. This absence of Sangvis activity may be a trap. Moreover, we have determined the presence of an unknown third party. I suggest delaying ingress of the construction team.”

 

“Did you ascertain the nature of this third party?”

 

“No,” replied the parched throat.

 

Helianthus’ hard gaze did not waver. She glanced at her pocket watch then closed its cover. “We are adhering to the plan.” Voice biting like a cold draft. “You have until fifteen-thirty to confirm Hunter’s demise. If you encounter this ‘third party’ again, you will inform me about it immediately. Helianthus, out.”

 

The holoprojector’s light faded; her projection melted away. 

 

“Team M4A1 to Command.” Fists unclenched. The blue blip stopped a hundred and fifty metres away from the objective. “We have arrived at Beta One.”

 

“Team HK416 to Command.” 416 backed away from the control panel. “Door’s unlocked. We are ready to breach.” 

 

M4 left Siskin 1 and strode towards the concrete block. Upon reaching the halfway point, she slung her rifle onto her shoulder and raised her hands. 

​

​

​

1240

​

“Hunter contacted you using AR-15’s communicator?” 

 

Skorpion, her eye fixed upon M4, nibbled on her ration pack. M4 knitted her brow, pursed her lips and nodded. “Yes, Commander. She must have. Our private channel is encrypted. She can only access it through a linked device.” 

 

False eyes fell upon the East District. Delta Three...Telecoms Building. Flattened rubble, smothered in still-settling dust. Sudaev did excellent work.

 

“Yet, she was able to eavesdrop on your conversation in Delta Three.”

 

“Are you certain she doesn’t already possess your encryption key?” 416’s emerald glare bore into M4. Skorpion turned her gaze towards her.

 

M4 held her breath for a moment, then shook her head. “I...don’t think so?” she replied.

 

416’s eyes narrowed. “Is that a question or an answer?” she asked critically.

 

Skorpion opened her mouth. 

 

“Hey, 416! That’s rude!” Sop II had intersected between M4 and 416. Her pale cheeks were flushed, her lips curled into a feral snarl. 

 

Skorpion closed her mouth, opened, then closed it again. She slipped her pack’s mouth between her teeth and resumed nibbling. Her cheeks swelled a little with each grinding motion, to a point.

 

“It’s okay, Sop II.” M4 placed her hand on Sop II’s shoulder. She then looked 416 hard in the eye. “It’s an answer. No, I don’t think Hunter has our encryption key.” 

 

416 folded her arms, barely hiding her contempt behind her chilly expression. “Oh? Is that so?”

 

“Is so!” Sop II interrupted. She tore her communicator from her strap. “AR-15 told me to tinker with the switch.” She pointed at the switch. “Squeeze this hard the first time to prime it! Squeeze it again, then…” Skorpion winced, Sop II’s had emitted a sharp cry. “BAM!” She then threw her arms wide and flapped them vigorously. “Big signal!” 

 

416 lightly touched her temple and shook her head. “AR-15 must be mad to entrust this Kriegshund with such delicate work,” she muttered.

 

M4 stepped forward, putting herself between 416 from Sop II. Staring 416 in her eyes, she started, “Sop II has always been handy with machinery and electronics. I firmly believe the modifications are good, especially with AR-15 providing instructions.”

 

“You think I did a good job?” Sop II exclaimed. Giddy little puppy-like hops. “You like my work?”

 

M4 planted her palm on top Sop II’s head and gave her a rub. Sop II emitted a soft whine as she swayed along. M4 smiled warmly, briefly, before turning her gaze towards 416. Her eyes hardened. “Yes, I think you did a good job, Sop II,” she replied firmly.

 

Sop II wore a happy smile.

 

“Hunter seized the communicator,” the throat rumbled, “which AR-15 primed, to contact you. By doing so, she revealed her position...” The false finger pointed at the blinking waypoint on the Tactical Map. “...here. Beta One, the City Hall.” False eyes fell on M4. “Does this correlate with her instructions on where to meet her?”

 

M4 shook her head, “No, she did not provide a meeting venue.”

 

“Meaning, Hunter detected that signal,” said 416, while looking towards M4, “and she expected M4 to meet her at the signal source.”

 

“Reeks of a trap,” SVD, leaning towards the Tactical Map, uttered suddenly. “A plaza in front of City Hall, ringed by prefabs, yet no red blips, none at all? She’s planning to spring the same ambush as in Delta Three.” 

 

“When did she contact you, M4?”

 

M4 blinked, then looked aside. “I think...eleven-forty-five?”

 

“When the siege was underway.” Sigh exhaled. “She thought her victory assured and attempted to pressure M4 into giving herself up in exchange for both AR-15’s and our safety.”

 

“You think so too, Kommandir?” SVD, eyes still fixed onto the Tactical Map, straightened herself and rubbed her chin. She nodded conclusively. “Da, if Hunter is as diligent as I, she too would conclude M4’s will too weak to endure the two blows.”

 

“The two blows. You meant Delta Three and the Base Camp.” 

 

SVD nodded again. “Da, Kommandir.”

 

“Are you calling M4 a coward?” Sop II pumped her fists like a pugilist.

 

“Isn’t she?” 416 folded her arms, cocked her head and sneered.

 

Fists clenched. Diaphragms strained, throat slightly clenched, holding back the tempest. “416.”

 

416 blinked. Trepidation crept in her softened gaze. 

 

“Your criticisms and insults are not helpful. Settle your grievances with M4 after the operation.”

 

Skorpion thrust her fist into the air and cried her reprimand, “No fighting in the war room!” 

 

416, twitching, shot an irritated glare at M4. Her lips trembled. “Yes, Commander,” she replied, with a compliant bow. 

 

“M4, contact Hunter.” 

 

M4 blinked. “Commander?”

 

“Hunter demanded your surrender when she had the advantage. Her fortunes had reversed since then. She may have relocated herself and her hostage after the siege’s end.”

 

M4 nodded as she drew her communicator. “I understand. I’m calling her now.” 

 

Sop II drew close to her. She regarded the device with a predatory gaze. 

 

No red blips on the Tactical Map. No blockades, no concentration of forces. 416 had turned her attention away from her rival and towards the holographic projection.

 

“Can dormant dummies see or hear anything? Receive or transmit any signals?”

 

416 blinked, then met the false eyes. She blinked again then shook her head. “Nein, Commander. All dormant dummies are put in standby mode. Only the essential functions are powered. They can only receive activation signals.”

 

“You are thinking Hunter’s setting another trap?”

 

Blinked. Skorpion, still seated, tilted her head.

 

SVD rolled her eyes. “What a silly question you are asking.” She directed her silver gaze towards Beta One. “A crippled deer bawling in a clearing surrounded by trees and not a single okhotnik in sight. What else could this be?”

 

Skorpion’s head rested on her other shoulder. “But don’t you think this is too obvious a trap?” Her torso swayed left, her head followed its direction. “I mean, Hunter knows we are coming, right?” Right sway, right head-tilt. “She knows we already expected a trap, right?”

 

SVD opened her mouth, then closed them again. Holding her chin, she looked aside towards the map. 

 

“Maybe the Sangvis wiped themselves out, just like earlier?” Skorpion added.

 

“Neither Hunter nor AR-15 picked up the call.”

 

Blinked. M4 clasped her communicator to her strap. 

 

‘Wiped themselves out’. Vespids and Rippers shot at the Guards, the Guards retaliated in kind. Jaegers crushed by shields. They turned on each other as soon as the Jaegers loosed a volley upon Sop II. 

 

“Something on my face?” Sop II inquired, head slightly cocked. 

 

“They turned on each other the moment you were fired upon.”

 

Sop II showed her palms and waved them about. “I didn’t do anything.” She paused, then shook her palms more vigorously. “Other than ‘boom boom’ and ‘bang bang bang’, I didn’t do anything!” 

 

“I don’t think it’s AR-15 either,” M4 started. “She’s not an e-war unit, none of us are.”

 

“416…” G11 stirred. She flipped around, revealing her slovenly visage. “Do you think…?”

 

“Nein,” 416 replied flatly.

 

“You know an e-war unit, Sarge?” Skorpion spoke out. She was leaning forward, her crumpled ration pack hanging below her knee, trying to catch 416’s eyes. 

 

416 tch’ed aside. “Ja, but I’ve never...huh...” She looked aside and held her chin. A moment later, she shook her head and answered, “Nein. If she could do it, she would have already done it during those times...”

 

False eyes fell on Washington. Lips frowning, brow furrowed, his once-sweeping gaze fixed onto 416 but he looked to be staring through her. 

 

“...Commander Washington?”

 

“No,” he spoke suddenly. “I have never seen or heard of any e-war T-Doll capable of a battalion-wide hack.” A brief pause. His dark eyes flitted for a moment. “Not under Grifon’s employ at least. None that I know of. Whoever did this, it isn’t one of ours.”

 

“No e-war unit could do it.”

 

Dusty breeze subsided, sunlight dimmed. 416 frowned. Her emerald gaze pierced through the azure projection towards the tent’s flap.

 

“To turn the Sangvis units on each other, the e-war doll will need to access their command network, hack into their neural clouds and scramble their IFF signals. The computing power required means that it would be difficult to perform it on a small squad of Sangvis dolls, let alone an entire battalion of them.”

 

G11 tucked her left arm under her and precariously raised herself. Skorpion stood up slightly and knitted her brow.

 

“However, the Sangvis forces turned on each other en-masse, almost simultaneously. No e-war doll to date has the computing power required to achieve this. Not to mention intruding into the Sangvis command net in the first place? Nobody has even cracked their encryption algorithm yet, let alone figure out their command protocols.”

 

“Oi, David!” Skorpion greeted aloud. She was wearing an impish grin. “Were you waiting outside the entire time?” 

 

“Of course not.” David, leaning lightly against the support pole, chuckled. He raised his fingertips to his forehead and flicked his bangs. “I was just passing by,” he said with a smile.

 

“Woah...” G11 shuddered. “He’s even creepier than usual.”

 

“Your timing is too perfect, though,” Skorpion pointed out. She folded her arms and cocked her head over her right shoulder. “I mean, you came in right after we started talking about the Sangvis fighting each other.”

 

“I-It’s true!” David’s smile wavered. “I-I was just passing by!” He looked away for a moment. There was a glimpse of fading sparkle in those dark eyes.

 

416 sighed. There was a certain irritableness in her exhalation. 

 

“...416?”

 

416, her brows still knitted, turned her gaze towards the false eyes. She sighed, half irritated and half weary, and replied. “He accosted G11 twice. Once in Hevhj, and again last night.”

 

Skorpion had left her seat. Joined by Tiss and Sop II, all grinning childishly, she walked up to David and heckled him. 

 

“He sought to look into G11’s neural cloud.”

 

“I heard that!” David exclaimed. His cheeks were reddening, as he slowly retreated from the swaying T-Dolls. “I thought I could, you know, fix her narcolepsy.” Flagging confidence, rising desperation in his tone. 

 

416 sighed again and grumbled aloud, “Not even Deele can do it, and he’s the best technician we have.”

 

“Well, that’s the problem…” Skorpion, Tiss and Sop II had started circling him. Fidgeting, David looked away. “... I-isn’t it? He’s a mechanic. Mechanics d-don’t know all that much about software!”

 

416 trembled agitatedly. Her twitching fingers curled. “Deele is a technician!” she insisted.

 

“David, you are really twitchy,” Skorpion commented as she traipsed closer towards the trembling auxiliary guardsman. 

 

“Twitchy, twitchy,” Tiss uttered in a teasing, sing-song manner.

 

“S-shut it!” David snapped. The sun lit his back.

 

“Sop II!” Sop II closed her mouth. M4, frowning, folded her arms. “Don’t trouble him. Come back!” 

 

Sop II sulkily slinked away.

 

“Is what he said true?” 

 

416 blinked, then looked aside and grasped her chin. A twitch over her left eye. “Maybe, but it doesn’t explain…” she mumbled.

 

“I’ll have you know I was in the Signals Corps!” David cried with evident desperation, “I don’t mean just handling the communications bit, I did jamming and counter-jamming...you know, electronic warfare!” 

 

“So you are actually a hacker too?” Skorpion quipped, taken aback. 

 

“Typing code under the midnight lamp, midnight lamp,” Tiss, still swaying, said with a sing-song.

 

“H-how did you…” David’s jaw dropped. He blinked, his jaw slowly closed. His eyes widened. He pointed at Tiss and exclaimed, “The noise in the ventilation ducts last night, that was you?” 

 

“Leave David alone.” 

 

The T-Dolls skedaddled, giggling amongst themselves. Skorpion circled and stopped beside the false leg while Tiss hid behind SVD, SV-98 and Nagant.

 

Inhaled. Exhaled.

 

“You were in Signals?”

 

David’s eyes widened, then narrowed, though he could not hide the sparkles. He straightened himself and saluted. “Yes, Commander. I was in Signals.”

 

“How is Signals conducted in this country?”

 

“I was actually from the DDR, so my knowledge might not apply that much to our current company...” his utterance trailed, then regained its vigour, “Sir! With T-Dolls becoming more prevalent in the battlefield, the scope of the Signals Corp’s responsibility was also expanded to include electronic warfare.”

 

“Before that role was rendered defunct,” Commander Washington said suddenly. “Your role was taken over by e-war T-Dolls, wasn’t it?”

 

David blinked and stared at Washington. He scratched his cheek, then stuttered, “W-well...Yes, Commander Washington.” He straightened himself and hardened his gaze. “That is correct, although we still perform it in the absence of or in tandem with any e-war dolls in the force. Just with more limited goals in mind.”

 

“The same with the Hellenic Armed Forces.” Washington exhaled and nodded. “I believe he is correct about the capabilities of e-war T-Dolls.” 

 

“...I see.”

 

“Were you reading off a script?” Skorpion, having leaned aside, quipped. She was, again, smirking.

 

“S-Shut it!” David snapped. His posture had stiffened, his cheeks flushed. 

 

“Skorpion, that is enough.” 

 

Skorpion stepped back. She folded her arms behind her head as she turned around to return to her seat. Her cheeks were puffed, though they did not redden. “Yes, Cetin.” She hummed something puerile as she sank on the metal chair. 

 

“You too, Tiss.” 

 

Tiss stopped grinning and disappeared behind her chosen crowd. She then emerged to peek at David, then hid again a second later. SVD glanced at her disapprovingly before returning her attention to the Tactical Map. Nagant, frowning, elbowed Tiss on her behalf. 

 

416 continued to glare at David. He met her gaze, shuddered and quickly broke eye contact. 

 

“David.” He jumped slightly. “Can this hack be performed against us?”

 

He stared blankly, blinked, widened his eyes, narrowed them, then uttered, “Ahem. Let me think…” He furrowed his brow and mumbled. “Yes. Yes. I think whoever did this will have an easier time hacking IOP dolls, using the same process. I mean...there are already cracker software for the Zenner network on the black market.”

 

The command tent fell abruptly silent. “How do you know this?” 416 asked, suddenly, sceptically, agitatedly. It appeared as though her hair was standing. 

 

“U-uh…” He blinked, “...I...I wouldn't. Anyway! You shouldn't worry too much about the Zenner!” He shifted his gaze away from her piercing gaze. “IOP patches out vulnerabilities in the Zenner network weekly. Sometimes twice a week. It’s just that Zenner’s been around for almost a decade now, so people had the time to study it.”

 

“And how did you know if these software work?” 416 inquired insistently. Her shoulders had stiffened.

 

“Well…” David scratched his chin. “I tried out one of them a few days ago...took over FNC’s dummy while it was still connected to her…”

 

“Mary!” Washington half-shouted, aghast. FNC, nibbling on her chocolate, looking thoroughly unperturbed, replied, “He gave me three packets of Kit-Kats.” 

 

“I can’t maintain control for more than five seconds before the in-built security system booted me out of the network, but considering what happened to the Sangvis…”

 

“Then the culprit can easily do unto us what he or she did unto Hunter.” Sigh exhaled. “What is your solution to this predicament? Can you protect our dolls from such an attack?”

 

“Unless you are willing to let me run a botnet farm with a hundred mainframe dolls…” David shook his head, “No. None of our equipment has the computational capability to counter such a hack.”

 

“Your suggestion?”

 

David exhaled in relief. “Turn off the Zenner Network,” he answered. “But that means no dummies, and all communications will have to be done via more traditional means. Like radio.”

 

No dummies.

 

FMG-9’s corpse laid buried under the rubble and the falling dust.

 

AR-15 waited in a dark room, constrained and helpless. Hunter stared at the communicator, her trigger finger looming over her pistol. 

 

M4, expression lit by an azure glow. Hoping yet not daring to hope.

 

Inhaled. Exhaled.

 

David awaited a response.

 

“Can you get us that radio?”

 

He nodded frantically. “I can set up a radio network.”

 

“Four echelons. How long will that take?”

 

“With what we have and connecting to the auxiliary radio network…” David lifted his hand, fingers spread. He gradually folded them. “Thirty minutes. I can do it in thirty minutes.”

 

“Get it done.” 

 

David saluted and hurried out of the tent.

 

“Our objectives are to locate Hunter and AR-15, eliminate the ringleader and rescue the hostage.” False eyes fell on Beta One, blinking on the Tactical Map. “I am making the assumption there is an unknown third party of dubious motivation and unknown capability operating in this subsector. You will turn off your Zenner network and use David’s radio for communication.”

 

“Commander,” 416 inquired. Her calmness belied her veiled concern. “Without the Zenner network, we will not be able to use our dummies.” 

 

FMG-9 buried under the rubble and falling dust. Ingram connected to whirring machines, still as a corpse.

 

The pulse had quickened, the heart had sunk.  

 

“I understand. However, AR-15 may be short of time, and this is our best chance to end Hunter’s threat and dominion over the subsector.”

 

“What should we do if we encounter this ‘third party’?

 

“Evade if at all possible.”

 

Sop II smiled blankly. She tilted her head, mimicking Skorpion. “Commander?”

 

“Whoever this third party is, he or she has vested in interest in Sop II’s safety.” M4 blinked and glanced at Sop II. “Perhaps he or she will extend the same courtesy to M4 and AR-15.”

 

“You believe this ‘third party’ to be an ally?” Washington remarked. 

 

The head shook. “I am uncertain. I only know he or she has a vested interest in the wellbeing of Sop II and, perhaps, M4 and AR-15. I will not ascribe deeds to allegiances until I can ascertain motives.”

 

Clearing north of Beta One, designated Beta Three. Raised the false finger, pointed at it, as close to an L-block’s tip as possible. 

 

False eyes met Washington’s gaze. “Washington, I need Buzzard 2.”

 

Washington smiled. “So, that fourth echelon radio is for us?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“At your disposal.” He bowed. “I expect you planned on taking the circuitous route?”

 

“Yes.” The head nodded. “I need Siskin 2 to transport Team HK416 and Team SVD to Beta Three. Approach via the East District.”

 

Picked up the Command Tablet, tapped on the screen.

 

SVD blinked. Her expression was severe. “Team SVD will consist of SVD, SV-98, Nagant, FNC and Papasha.”

 

416 was calm, though there was a slight furrow on her brow. “Team HK416, 416, Tiss, MG5, Sten and MP40.”

 

“Time for my important mission debut?”

 

Nagant elbowed Tiss again. Tiss snickered in response.

 

416’s frown deepened. “I will not be taking G11?” 

 

G11 raised herself slightly out of her sleeping bag. She was groggy, barely attentive.

 

“No. We cannot afford any delays. G11 will slow you down.”

 

416 sighed but nodded in agreement. “Ja, Commander. I understand.” 

 

A twitch upon her brow. G11 had discretely pumped her fist before falling back into her sleeping bag.

 

“Once you have landed, you will follow this path towards Beta One.” The false finger pointed at Beta Three, then traced a line along the L-blocks. Near continuous, interrupted by side-roads. “Travel inside the prefabs. Team SVD will go first. SVD.”

 

The sniper stood in attention. “Da, Kommandir?”

 

“You, Nagant and SV-98 will scout ahead, watch for Sangvis lookouts. I believe you know where to look?”

 

SVD glanced at the map and nodded. “Da.” She smirked, “Who do you think I am?” 

 

More taps on the Command Tablet.

 

“FNC and Papasha will remain behind no further than twenty meters. Cover your rear. Retreat towards them should you be engaged by the enemy, then hold position until Team HK416 reinforces you. Papasha.”

 

Papasha jumped slightly. She blinked and stuttered, “K-Kommandir?”

 

“Prep your demolition charges, plant them in the prefabs. You will collapse them to cover the retreat, if necessary.”

 

She nodded. “Ura!” She thrust her fist upwards. 

 

“Hey, Papasha.” Skorpion thrust her fist towards the roof. “More spirit!”

 

“URAAAAA!” Papasha pumped her fist with increased vigour.

 

“Prepare more demolition charges for Team HK416. They may be needed to create alternative entrances.” 

 

False eyes fell on SVD. “If you detect any lookouts, withdraw and look for an alternate path in the vicinity. If none can be found, contact me, and I will find us another way. If all is clear…” Sight shifted towards 416, “Team HK416 will advance to the next prefab or cover and provide overwatch. Then you will move ahead of them. Repeat this until you reach the objective.”

 

“Hey, Cetin!” Skorpion raised her hand. “Why not send me instead of MP40?”

 

“Now is not the moment of vengeance, Skorpion.”

 

“No, I mean, Sarge is going to fight Hunter, right?” she pointed out. “I think I’m a better fit than MP40 for this job.”

 

“Are you questioning the Kommandant’s orders?” MP40 asked sternly.

 

“Well, who did you think had to keep up with Ingram the past year?” Skorpion retorted. “Can you keep up with her?”

 

MP40 pursed her lips and frowned.

 

Tapped on the Command Tablet. “Fine. Skorpion, you take MP40’s place.”

 

She raised her arms in celebration.

 

Another tap on the Command Tablet. Confirmed the Echelon compositions. 

 

False eyes turned towards the Tactical Map. “Once you arrive, reconnoitre the building. Look for a side entrance.” False finger landed on the park east of Beta One. “Be doubly vigilant here. After you have located the side entrance, contact me.”

 

M4 stared at the map with furrowed brows.

 

“M4.”

 

She blinked. 

 

“Once the side entrance is located and secured, you board Siskin 1 with Sop II, M14 and MG4. Disembark at the West Plaza. Alone. Make yourself visible.”

 

“Commander!” Sop II cried. A snarl. Alarmed, accusing. “You are putting M4 in danger!”

 

“Hunter will not attack M4 right away. She will think M4 is surrendering to her.” Attention returned to M4. “You will support this notion by raising your hands as you approach Beta One. Siskin 1 will return airborne after you disembark. Go inside, determine the location of Hunter and AR-15, then signal Team HK416 to breach and engage Hunter. Team SVD.”

 

“Da, Kommandir.”

 

“Move to the plaza once the attack begins. Take out any Sangvis you can find. Prioritise on the Jaegers. Siskin 1 will provide support. Once the plaza is clear…”

 

M4 bit her lower lip.

 

“M4 and Team HK416 will drive Hunter there. If Team SVD cannot take control of the plaza in time, then…”

 

“You want us to draw Hunter into the prefabs between Beta One and Beta Three and detonate the charges?” M4 asked, with clarity in her eyes.

 

“That or draw her to the East Park. Evade and evacuate, then suppress Hunter. Keep her there. Skorpion?”

 

“Yes?” Skorpion stood in attention. 

 

“Light that park ablaze.”

 

She grinned enthusiastically. She took a step forward and showed the back of her hand. “Good luck, remember?” she reminded.

 

We bumped our forearms together. The present company looked upon us, stupefied. 

 

“I was told this brings good fortune.” 

​

​

​

1430

​

“M4 to Command.”

 

Five minutes passed. M4, hands raised, remained still before the ascending steps.

 

“No response from Hunter. Your orders?” 

 

Rustling leaves, sunlight glinting off teeth-like shards.

 

“Command to Siskin 1. What did you see?”

 

The dust shifted, enveloping M4’s ankles. Leaves and twigs lifted, higher and higher, drawn into the approaching vortex.

 

“We’ve made three rounds,” Nicholai reported. “Dead Jaegers on the roof. M14 reported having seen nothing behind the windows.”

 

416 and her team by the back door, their weapons readied. Skorpion glanced at the fallen Guard by the mouldy bench, its coolant soaking the dried dust and serpentine foliage. 

 

M4, still below the concrete steps, stared at the gaping jaws lined with crystalline shards, awaiting instructions.

 

“Command to M4. Enter the building, stop in the lobby.” 

 

“M4 copy. Out.”

 

Petrified legs uprooted from the greying pavement. Dust and debris unsettled by feet firmly planted on the bottommost step. Black hair swayed, rifle bobbed and shuddered. A Jaeger splayed on the steps, facing the sky. Its coolant had exploded out of its ruptured back and snapped spine.

 

The feed darkened, then lit up again. 

 

Dim lights danced upon graphite panels and tattered banners. Shards, hanging precariously overhead like Damocles blades, clinked against each other, rattled by the silent breeze.

 

“M4 to Command,” the headset sounded again. “I have arrived in the lobby. It is vacant.” 

 

Vacant, save for the Sangvis strewn all over the pavement.

 

“Command to M4. Check the bodies.”

 

With her rifle lifted, she crept towards the closest body. Her eyes swept her surroundings, her painstaking steps avoiding any puddles or metallic debris painstakingly. She reached the corpse and found it to be that of a Vespid’s, its pale visage half-hidden behind its dented visor. The skin on its chest had burned and boiled away, revealing the punctured carapace underneath, with its edge charred and melted through.  

 

“M4 to Command,” M4 started. “It’s dead. Killed with energy weapons.” She stood up and looked about, towards a Guard buried under its shield, towards the two Rippers entangled with each other. She then looked up towards the mezzanine. 

 

Her torso rose and fell. She touched her headset. Her voice cracked, “The lobby smells like burned plastic and metal, and I’m not detecting any movement. I think…” She paused. Her torso rose and fell. “...I think they are all dead.” 

 

“Command to M4. Understood. Hold your position.”

 

Sigh exhaled. Team HK416 still awaited instructions. 

 

“I’m having Team HK416 join you. Command to Team HK416.”

 

“Yes, Commander?” 416 replied coolly. 

 

“Open the door. Quietly.”

 

416 lifted her fingers off her earpiece and tapped on Sten’s shoulder. A brief conversation, punctuated with nods. Sten moved behind 416, her motion like the folding of a pamphlet’s page. 416 then spoke to Skorpion, who nodded in affirmation and placed her palm on the door handle. 

 

416 hovered her gun over Skorpion’s knuckles. One second...two...three...Skorpion turned the handle, and 416 slid her rifle-barrel through the gap. 

 

Four seconds passed, 416 pressed her shoulder against the door, her barrel-tip nibbled by the leaking dark. Six seconds, Skorpion, a weapon holstered, bit down on her incendiary’s pin. Eight seconds, door half-ajar, the abyss swallowed 416’s gun-barrel. Ten seconds, she shoved her door open and stared into the void. Eleven seconds, twelve, she lowered her swaying rifle and pressed on her earpiece.

 

“Team HK416 to Command. The corridor is empty.”

 

“Command to Team HK416. Cut through the building towards the lobby and link up with M4. Watch your six, examine every room. M4 reported all Sangvis dead, but this could be a ruse.”

 

Darkness engulfed the feed as it followed Team HK416 into the corridor. Illumination flared, then dimmed as the micro-drone’s optics compensated for the sudden brightness. Flashlights crept, swayed, swung up and down, alert for hidden threats.

 

No hidden foes hanging on the ceiling, no wicked devices waiting to be sprung.

 

Empty corridor, stretching along.

 

Swaying flashlights stopped. Two doors ahead, one left, one right. 

 

416 and Skorpion took the right door, Tiss and Sten took the left, MG5 on overwatch. The submachine-gunners gripped the handles, the riflewomen stacked behind them with their weapons at the ready.

 

One…

 

Two…

 

Three…

 

They breached.

 

416 and Skorpion transitioned into their room smoothly. “Team HK416 to Command,” 416 said calmly. Even-toned, bereft of panic and anxiety.

 

One Guard sprawled mere inches away from the door. Its torso’s carapace and skin had melted, its shield scorched and dented. Another Guard, half-visible behind the door, slumped on its shoulder. It had lost its shield-arm. 

 

“Two Guards by the door, several Rippers, all KIA. No hostiles in sight.”

 

Burned, shattered remains of cubicle walls and furniture. Some of their fragments still alight, their embers gnawing away at the carpet below. Others quenched by coolant, leaking and pouring from the Rippers sprawled and splayed among the carnage.

 

“...What about Tiss and Sten?”

 

“Their door is stuck.”

 

Door further down the room, half-concealed behind the layers of metal and plastic partitions. One half hanging on its hinges, another shattered and scattered along the carpeted floor. 

 

“Command to Team HK416. See that door directly in front of you?”

 

416’s light cast a long, grasping shadow onto the door. “Ja, Commander.”

 

“Examine it.” 

 

416 walked over the Guard while Skorpion split from her. The submachine-gunner leapt over an obstacle on her way to the left wall. 416’s flashlight swerved left and right as she crept amongst the dust and debris. 

 

A Ripper laid amongst the ruins of a partition. Its torso, ran through by a twisted metal stake, still smoked. Its killer, another Ripper, sprawled face-down on the narrow corridor. Its skull was missing, punctured and melted through. Tangled molten wires and burned plastic spilt out of the mortal wound. 

 

Another cubicle, another Ripper body. Sprawled, slumped, twisted and broken. Beheaded, bisected, dismembered. Bodies lying atop toppled chairs, broke through the desk, pierced by innumerable splinters and stationery.  

 

The flashlight turned left, illuminating the hanging, creaking door ahead. Its pieces were scattered all over, emanating from a deceased Guard, lying flat on its shield. 

 

The light crawled towards the fallen Sangvis, illuminating the hole in its spine. Gloved hands entered the luminant radii. 416 snapped her gun towards Skorpion, who shot up with her hands up. 416 shrugged her shoulders and aimed at the wall behind the shattered door, while Skorpion approached the Guard again. 

 

Skorpion tugged and tugged, yet the Guard wouldn’t budge. She signalled at 416, who, still training her rifle at the door, squatted down and grabbed it by its other wrist. Another tug, two, the Guard fell off its shield. With great exertion, they dragged the Guard away from the door. 

 

Skorpion then went for its shield and found it pristine. 416 gave her a tap, jolting her from her daze. She grabbed the slab, then winced as it scruffed the carpet, exposing the cement beneath. It must have emitted an uncomfortable, ear-piercing scrape. 

 

After clearing the obstruction, 416 took her position to the left of the door. Still taking aim, she leaned slightly to her right, then swiftly swept to the right side of the door. She held for a moment before crossing the threshold, with Skorpion close behind.

 

“Team HK416 to Command.”

 

The corridor was strewn with fallen Ripper bodies, each bearing mortal wounds. The walls themselves were pitted and scorched. 

 

“More bodies. Checking their condition.”

 

The two slowly made their way towards Tiss, Sten and MG5’s position, carefully stepping over the corpses. 

 

One Ripper slumped against the pitted wall; itself shredded, unrecognisable components oozed from its belly and chest. Another, bisected, had its fingers dug into the carpet, its gun aimed at its adversary ahead. Its hindquarters trailed behind it, dragged along by taut wires drenched in coolant.

 

Said adversary was a barely discernible pile of twisted metal and polymer, melted and fused by concentrated fire.

 

416 and Skorpion passed the hallway leading to the lobby and found fallen Guards blocking the path. Molten spine, missing skulls, perforated carapaces. They all laid atop their shields, drenched in their coolant. It seemed they were all shot in the back by their Ripper compatriots, slaughtered before they could respond. 

 

Shields facing the corner, their rear teeming with Rippers. Guards in front of the office doors, Tiss and Sten blocked off from their room. 

 

Hunter must have anticipated an infiltration from the rear entrance. She had the office doors obstructed, to channel the echelons towards the phalanx. Upon their arrival, she would raise the gates and flood the corridor in Rippers, to crush the infiltrators between a crashing tide of particle bolts and a bulwark of steel.  

 

Instead, her executors laid in ruins, destroyed by their own hands.

 

This carnage was beheld previously, outside, when the echelons trekked their way here. Pitted walls, rusting vehicles scorched by energy weapons fire, cracked streets strewn with corpses and splattered in coolant. 

 

The ‘third party’ had struck here as well.

 

Could Hunter too have fallen to this unknown meddler?

 

“Command to Team SVD, reposition at the West Plaza. Command to Team HK416 and M4, rally at the elevator.”

​

​

​

1520

​

Skorpion, 416 and MG5 by the left door, Sten, Tiss and M4 by the right. After a count of three, they ingressed into their respective rooms. Flashlights swept the cubicles, spreading out to three directions. Lights trickled through tattered blinds in 416’s office, casting shuddering stripes onto the partitions and wall. 

 

416 swept her gun about, lighting up the cubicles and their occupants: Rippers, Vespids, Guards, all in various states of ruin. Once she reached the windows, she tore down its blinds. The flooding sunlight overwhelmed the feed. 

 

416’s silhouette resurfaced as the incandescence dimmed. She raised her gun towards the window, held the flashlight on its barrel and clicked it thrice.  

 

SVD shook Nagant’s shoulder, shaking her out of her stupor. Nagant blinked once, twice, then shot up to her feet, only for SVD to drag her down again. SVD tapped her knuckles against Nagant’s head. Nagant, pouting, raised her flashlight just over her cover and clicked it thrice.

 

416, seeing the reply flashes, turned her weapon away from the window and resumed her sweep. 

 

“Deadline’s closing, Yilmaz,” announced Washington, from behind the steel chair. “Might want to speed things up.”

 

The watch read ’15:20’. 

 

M4 and Team HK416 linked up in the corridor.

 

“Team HK416 to Command. West outer office clear.”

 

“M4 to Command. West inner office clear.”

 

“Command to All. Acknowledged. Out.”

 

416 and M4 removed their fingers from their earpiece and headset respectively, then nodded at the T-Dolls behind them. They filed northwards.

 

“Do you truly believe there is a threat?” Washington inquired. “We’ve gone through three floors and only found destroyed Sangvis dolls.”

 

“I made these assumptions in Delta Three, Washington.” 

 

Washington held his breath. 

 

The T-Dolls stacked by the doors into the northern rooms. Skorpion, 416 and MG5 by the left door, Sten, Tiss and M4 by the right. After a count of three, they ingressed into their respective rooms. Flashlights spread out to three directions.

 

“FMG-9, Ingram, FAL, Sudaev, Sturmgewehr, BAR, they all paid the price for my mistake. I will not repeat it here, especially knowing what threats lurk within the AO.”

 

Washington exhaled and breathed again. “Speculated threats, Yilmaz. You heard David. E-war of this nature is beyond the capabilities of T-Dolls. Whoever this ‘third party’ is, it’s most likely a task force specialised for this task, and the equipment they used would be inside a vehicle or several—vehicles with easily identified antennas. A convoy like that would not be easy to hide. We didn’t see anything like that in or around the AO.”

 

Jammed roads concentrated to the south. Cars, buses, trucks, mostly cars. Barriers breached, curbs drove over...several crashes. Not nearly as many as expected. Late, hasty evacuation. 

 

Ran out of time.

 

“Perhaps the vehicles are camouflaged off-road…”

 

Dust-shrouded East District, orderly West District. L-blocks, lack of a basement. Large yards. 

 

“...or hidden within the ruins. They may have wanted M4, Sop II and AR-15 to gather in one place. Capture them all in one fell swoop.” 

 

“I feel this is unlikely.” Washington sipped on his drink. “If this is their intention, they would have sprung that trap an hour ago. The lobby was the optimal spot for it, and they had plenty of time to set it up. That signal M4 described wasn’t exactly subtle.”

 

“Then this is Hunter’s ruse.”

 

“That sounds too big of a gamble for Hunter,” Washington suggested. “Sacrificing a few minions here and there to set up ambushes is one thing, but her entire army?” 

 

“Then she must be confident she could triumph on her own.” 

 

Washington frowned, though he said not a word.

 

“You did see the records, did you not?”

 

“We all did, Yilmaz. We likely saw the same footage and feeds. Regardless, a gamble like this?”

 

He sipped on his drink.

 

Skorpion leaned forward and poked at a Guard. She backed away abruptly; the Guard had toppled onto the cubicle partition in front of it, then crashed into the desk. 

 

“Doesn’t sound like her. Far as I see it, she’s pragmatic. Shrewd. She doesn’t put herself directly in harm’s way. Lets her minions do most of the heavy lifting, while she sticks to cover and utilises hit-and-run tactics. Sacrificing her entire army doesn’t look like her MO.”

 

M4 advanced towards the door further ahead, shining her flashlight into the cubicles she passed. More Sangvis, all in various states of ruin. 

 

“She still almost annihilated my echelons despite the heavy losses she incurred and costly sacrifices she made.”

 

416 and MG5 continued their slow crawl towards the next door. Skorpion, realising she had lagged, left the toppled Guard and quickened her pace. 

 

“I think you overestimated Hunter,” Washington replied. He supped on his thermos cap. “And I think you are selling yourself short. You did bounce back from the setback in Delta Three…”

 

“At the cost of FMG-9, Ingram, Sudaev, Sturmgewehr, FAL and BAR.” 

 

416 turned to scowl at Skorpion. Skorpion stopped, pouted, and turned her flashlight towards the cubicles flanking her. 

 

“My plan carried a tremendous amount of risk.”

 

416, MG5 and Skorpion gathered by the door. At a count of three, they egressed out of the office and linked up with M4, Sten and Tiss.

 

“Team HK416 to Command. North outer office clear.”

 

“M4 to Command. North inner office clear.”

 

“Command to All. Acknowledged. Out.”

 

The T-Dolls filed towards the eastern offices. They gathered by the doors, then, at a count of three, ingressed into their respective rooms. Flashlights swept the cubicles, spreading out to three directions. 

 

“These are excellent T-Dolls, Washington. They made the plan work. Yet, Hunter is a wily foe. She almost got us twice.”

 

Washington took another sip, then fastened the cap onto the thermos. 

 

“I won’t abandon caution at the vice director’s convenience.”

 

Washington exhaled. “It seems you are harbouring some misconceptions about Helianthus. Helianthus didn’t give us a deadline out of malice. She was watching the UAV feeds the entire time. She witnessed the Sangvis infighting in both Novum Sambir and around our Base Camp. She is confident the situation had been rectified.”

 

Firm tone, insincere glint absent in his eyes. He wasn’t being sycophantic. 

 

Infernal beeping from the holo-communicator. The watch read ‘15:35’. 

 

“I’ll talk to her,” Washington offered. “See if I can get us an extension.” 

 

Azure glow intensified, the holo-communicator’s light joined with the Tactical Map’s. Rustling to the right. David, by the tent’s wall, looked towards the source of the glow. “Commander Washington,” greeted Helianthus, unaware of his attention. David looked away, towards his hastily assembled radio consoles. “I trust Commander Yilmaz has completed his sweep?”

 

“M4 to Command. East inner office clear,” the headset sounded. The T-Dolls had gathered in front of the stairwell, by the dead elevators.  “Team HK416 to Command. Alles klar. We are progressing to the fifth floor.”

 

“Command to All. Acknowledged. Proceed.” 

 

“We still have one floor left,” Washington’s tone was even, yet diplomatic. Straight posture, hands clasped behind his back, footing secured. He wasn’t grovelling. “We request for a thirty minutes extension,” he asked firmly.

 

Helianthus, frowning sternly, opened her mouth.

 

“Commander!” 416 exclaimed in the headset. Her tone was urgent. She had ran up the stairs and turned a corner. “M4 has taken off!”

 

M4 ran along the fifth floor’s corridor, then abruptly stopped by a corner. She shone her flashlight at the wall to her right. More bullet holes, coolant smearing the floor and wall. She swung her rifle to her left. A body sprawled on its back, on a pool of false blood.

 

“Command to M4. Report.”

 

Pale green eyes, wide with shock. Bullet holes punctured its skull, tore through its right cheekbone. M4 swept her flashlight along the length of the still body. More bullet wounds, on the chest, sides, arms...Two handguns, one still clutched tightly in its grip. 

 

Hunter.

 

“This was AR-15’s work,” M4 breathed. 

 

The light shone at the back of Hunter’s right knee, which was bent at unnatural angles. The leg seemed twisted.

 

“416 to Command! We’ve caught up!” 

 

416 grasped M4’s right shoulder and spun her around. Before she could say a word, M4 swung her rifle up, smacking 416’s arm aside. 

 

Smear on the wall, crimson drops on the floor leading several paces west. 

 

M4 ran again.

 

“Command to Team HK416. Follow, but don’t apprehend.”

 

M4 turned right and crashed through the door. She spun to her left, swinging her weapon up, and stared into a gun-barrel. 

 

She sighed and lowered her gun. The assailant followed suit. 

 

The assailant recoiled, M4 had caught her in an embrace. Team HK416 burst through the door and aimed their weapons at them. 416 shouted. M4 released her quarry, turned around, and spoke to other present Dolls. They slowly lowered their guns.

 

M4 pressed on her headset. “M4 to All. We found her. We found AR-15.”