Chapter 08 - Engage, Side B

Roughly 25 minutes earlier.

“Move out, I’ll be on comms the whole time!” Halford shouted.

Alice, Iris and the rest of the squad ran out the side door. Looking back, the two of them saw the awkward salute that Eric was giving them. Alice smiled and Iris let out a hearty laugh.

“He never can be serious, can he?”

“No, he can’t .” Alice answered. “But we wouldn’t have it any other way, would we?”

“Of course not, there’s a reason we keep following his ass around. But for right now, I’m following your ass, give us orders squad lead!”

Iris smacked Alice on the butt as she pushed her forward to give guidance to the rest of the squad. They were currently behind the next hangar over from the one they just left. A squad of 6 trainees, including Iris, were kneeling before Alice awaiting orders. She gulped and her forehead started to sweat as she tapped her fingers on her sniper rifle. A large explosion shook the ground and Alice from her daze. She wiped away the sweat and her face changed to one full of conviction.

“Alright troops, Eric will handle the tanks. We need to move to labs and secure the location. Under no circumstance must we let enemies infiltrate that location.” Alice said, bringing up a small tablet projecting a holographic map. “Normally it’d be a 15 minute sprint, but with these suits we can make it less than 5. Iris, you’re the fastest, get there as fast as possible, but only deliver reconnaissance, do not engage unless at least two other members are with you or ordered otherwise.”

Iris nodded and gave a loud affirmation. Another explosion rocked the hangar they were hiding behind.

“We need to move. Double time, go, go!” Alice shouted.

The squad immediately took off, sprinting beyond human speeds. Their steps kicked up dirt and rubble as the team headed for the laboratory. Alice was briefed quickly by Halford while everyone was suiting up and getting armed that labs are the most likely target. Since then, she was developing battle plans in her head, trying to figure out the best course of action. As they ran, she was playing out scenarios in her head of possible outcomes, but they all hinged on one key factor; where the enemy troops were coming from. Just then, she saw a flash in the air and looked up.

“Hold! Enemies en route! Eyes up!” Alice shouted. “Can anyone predict their landing spot?”

A group of enemy soldiers were doing a HALO insertion, being trailed by yellow smoke. Iris stopped and watched them carefully as she tried to predict their movement and target. She smirked, flashing a toothy grin.

“Keep heading to labs! They’re going to land on the building next to it!” Iris shouted over comms as she already made a substantial lead from the rest of the squad.

“You heard her, move out!”

More explosions echoed from behind them as they continued their advance. A small worry eroded its way into Alice’s head as she thought about the fight Eric was in. She needed to make this operation quick and efficient in order to make it back in time. She sprinted forward with increased determination, her run becoming a clean stride as she caught up with the rest of her squad.

“Enemies sighted. As Iris said, they’re landing on the building next to the lab.” Said one of the troops.

“There’s four on top and I saw two drop to the rear of the lab. What’s the plan?” Iris said over comms.

“Iris, I trust you to take the two on your own. I’m going to fall back and get some altitude to see the roof. The rest of you, make your way up the south building, fast. I need you up there before they decide to act. Go.”

Alice gave the orders and the squad moved out instantly. Iris, already at the building headed around back on the far side to avoid the rooftop enemies. The rest of the squad headed to a building across from the lab as Alice fell back and climbed a fire escape ladder on another. She dove into position and took aim across and could clearly see the intruding enemies on the roof. They were clad in what looked like metal padding with helmets that fully covered their face in a black-tinted protective glass. It did not look as advanced as the exosuits the academy cadets wore and seemed to be simply protective, not strength augmenting. She relayed this information to her team as she zeroed in her scope on one of the enemies.

“Squad lead, we’re in position. Enemy has not spotted us. Give us the go.” A squad member whispered through comms.

“I have the two in my sights, too. They’re planting something on the side of the building. Give the order or I’m going in three.” Iris whispered.

“All teams, you are green. I’m taking first shot on rooftop, follow after.” Iris commanded.

Iris took a deep breath as her crosshair rested on the head of the enemy soldier at the back of the pack. Her heartbeat echoed in her ears as she slowly moved her finger to the trigger of her rifle. She slowly let out her breath as she squeezed the trigger. The sniper rifle shot out with an electric hum that was much quieter than the explosive shot she did in the hangar days before. The neon blue bullet spiraled in the air with a trail of blue following it. The shot made perfect contact with the enemy's head and passed right on through as if there was nothing resisting its path. There was barely a blood splatter as the shot instantly cauterized the large hole it made, dropping her target in an instant. The remaining three members of the hostile squad turned around in confusion, comically looking at the body then at each other, then across to where the shot came from. Before they could fire back, they were lit up and shot at by the team on the building across from them.

“Rooftop tangoes down, what’s your status Iris?” Alice asked over comms.

“All clear. One down, the other in custody for interrogation. We’ll secure this spot, get back to Eric.” Iris responded.

Alice eyes widened as she felt her mind was read by Iris. She knew she couldn’t run in time and instead looked for the highest point she could get to; the main school building for their studies. It was less than 500 meters from her location and if she jumped from rooftops, it would take no time for her to get there. She latched her gun to her back and tightened the strap as she took a leap of faith to hop to the next building, then to a hanger, and another, repeating her leaps until she managed to arrive just before the school. With incredible speed fueled by determination and panic, she climbed up the side of the school using every small protrusion and nook on the building as a rung to climb. She finally got to the top and again dove into a resting sniper position, unlatching her gun in a swift motion.

“Alice in position, I have eyes on-”

Alice froze as she looked through her scope and saw the enemy mech coming out of the blooming capsule. She looked above it and saw Eric in the Yatogami, his eyes half closed and the mech falling out the air. Her eyes show open and her pupils shrank as she panicked from the sight.

“No... no. No, no, no, no, no, no.... No!” Alice whispered to herself.

“Alice! I can’t see what’s going on, but don’t panic! Remember weapons testing?! You can help!” Iris shouted over comms, gunfire being heard in the background.

“I-iris? Are you alright, what’s your sitrep?!”

“Yoake, focus on Valtor. I’m assisting Redgrof, more paratroops dropped in but we have it handled. It’s up to you, Laura tells me he’s critical and unresponsive right now. She’s piloting the Yatogami remotely to keep it airborne, but that’s all she can do.”

“But how-”

“Weapons testing! Gah!”

“Iris?!”

Alice’s eyes were shaking in panic, unable to focus on what to do. The answer was obvious, but her mind was being pulled in several different directions she couldn’t see the solution. Tears stared to well in her eyes as she stared through the scope at Eric. She looked back down at the mech and saw as its arms lit up with a bright yellow light, readying to shoot. Alice took in a sharp breath as she felt like she had been hit hard in the chest, but instead of losing focus, her gaze narrowed. In one quick, swift motion, she got up on one knee and held her rifle tight to her shoulder and placed her finger on the sensor above the trigger. Her gun started to hum and all the lines on it filled with the blue neon light. The moment the light converged onto the singular point just above the trigger, Alice took in another deep breath, and exhaled slowly as she pulled the trigger. The gun fired a torrent of blue energy from the barrel, expanding outward the longer it traveled. Alice held down the trigger, fighting against the immense recoil, bracing herself as best she could. The lights from her suit were slowly dimming the longer she held down the trigger, but Alice was fixated one thing alone; the mech that was in her crosshair.

The blue beam made contact with the mech and an ear-piercing scratching of metal on metal screeched out. The beam eviscerated the top of the mech and, as the beam got bigger, the arms and legs were soon vaporized with it. Even after the mech was utterly obliterated, Alice still held down the trigger and didn’t stop until the gun finally stopped firing. The beam dissipated with a hiss and all the lights on Alice’s suit and gun were completely dark. With another sharp breath and an even greater pain to her chest, Alice finally let go of the gun and collapsed, coughing and gripping her chest. She cried out as an overwhelming sensation of pain erupted all over her body.

“E-eric, are you... s-safe?” Alice whimpered out before passing out.