Chapter 4 : Operation Evening Stroll

1530 hrs, Operation Evening Stroll Commences

At precisely 1530 hours, Operation Evening Stroll began. The mission was undertaken by Team 417, composed of myself, Ruger Schmitt, Maya, Uni, Chris, and Filin. Our objective was to monitor Warfoe activity in Sector 15 and investigate a distress signal originating from the area.

I reclined in one of the six seats in the helicopter—three facing the tail and three facing forward. My seat faced the rear, and to my right sat Maya, inspecting her assault rifle. The seat beside her remained empty. Across from me were Chris, Filin, and Uni, each appearing calm and composed.

"Does anyone know what kind of helicopter this is?" I asked.

"The UTH-37 Night Owl, a military transport helicopter introduced in 2043. Jointly developed by DWF and IPMC, it features two main rotors and a Mark III engine for exceptional speed. Its design and sound-dampening materials minimize noise and turbulence, allowing for near-silent operation. The UTH-37 can carry up to 15 personnel, including a pilot, co-pilot, two gunners—positioned on either side—and up to 11 passengers," Uni replied swiftly, her tone brimming with enthusiasm.

Once again, I found myself amazed by Uni’s extensive knowledge of military technology. She was like a walking encyclopedia of modern warfare.

Turning to the window on my left, I observed the desolate landscape below: crumbling, abandoned buildings and cracked roads scarred by time. Beyond the city ruins stretched a barren expanse of blackened grass—a wasteland where nothing thrived, the soil tainted by years of nuclear contamination. Though radiation levels had diminished over time, they remained hazardous to humans.

The rhythmic hum of the helicopter’s rotors—dub-dub-dub-dub—filled the cabin. The journey from Fenris to Sector 15 would take roughly 45 minutes at our current speed.

To pass the time, I reviewed my gear: rifle magazines, a tactical flashlight, a compass, a bayonet, and my primary weapon, the FR-20 assault rifle, resting firmly in my grip.

Had I remembered to bring my sidearm?

I reached for the holster on my right hip, retrieving a sleek silver-and-black pistol. Ejecting the magazine, I checked the ammunition.

"CAPTAIN, YOU CARRY A PISTOL TOO?" Chris’s voice boomed across the cabin.

"Of course. You never know when your main weapon might fail. Having a backup is essential. And Chris, keep your voice down; the rotor noise doesn’t interfere with conversation that much," I retorted.

"Can I see it, Captain?"

"Huh? What for?"

"I just want to take a look," she said eagerly.

After ensuring the chamber was clear and removing the single round inside, I tossed the pistol to Chris.

"Whoa! What kind of pistol is this, Captain?"

"My name."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"You asked what kind of pistol it is, didn’t you?"

"Yeah, so why did you say it’s your name?" Chris looked puzzled, examining the pistol closely for clues.

"Check the grip, near the trigger guard," I prompted.

Chris rotated the pistol to inspect the spot I mentioned. In doing so, she accidentally aimed the barrel at Filin, who flinched and scolded him.

"Chris! Never point a weapon at your teammate!" Filin barked.

"But it’s unloaded! See? The chamber’s empty!" Chris protested.

"That doesn’t matter! It’s still dangerous. There could always be a round you didn’t notice."

Chastened, Chris lowered the pistol.

"The pistol is a Ruger SR9. My first name is Ruger, isn’t it?"

"Ruger SR9?! So, your name comes from this pistol?!" Chris exclaimed, a mix of astonishment and delight on her face.

"Are you sure it is your name, Captain?"

"Yea. My father did," I explained. "He named me after this pistol. When I was born, he used it to save my mother from enemy soldiers who had invaded our home. The pistol protected both of us, so he decided to name me after it."

"I never imagined your name had such an incredible story behind it," Maya remarked softly.

"That’s amazing!" Chris returned the pistol, handling it with newfound respect.

"Naming a child after a gun. Ridiculous," Uni muttered.

"Uni, that’s not something you should say..." Maya chided gently.

I wasn’t offended. It was true—my father’s decision was odd. But he had been the best father I could have asked for. He trained me relentlessly, taught me everything about weapons, and ultimately gave his life so I could survive.

"Captain, we’re approaching the Landing Zone," the pilot informed me through the comms.

"One minute to arrival! Check your gear!" a gunner shouted from the right-side door.

I reloaded my pistol, chambered a round, and holstered it before instructing the team to ready their weapons.

Tightening my gloves, I switched my rifle’s fire mode from Safe to Semi-Automatic.

"Captain, why set it to semi-auto? Isn’t full-auto better? We’ve got plenty of ammo back at base," Chris asked.

"Let me teach you something," I replied, activating the team’s comms to ensure everyone could hear.

"Never assume you have enough ammo on a mission. The enemy out there vastly outnumbers us. Conserve your ammunition and make every shot count. Don’t waste bullets on blind, emotional firing—it achieves nothing."

"Twenty seconds!"

I glanced at my watch—16:25. A night battle seemed inevitable, and I disliked fighting in the dark.

"L.Z. clear! Repeat, Landing Zone clear!" the gunner confirmed as the helicopter hovered.

"A soldier with more bullets than their enemy is the soldier who wins the battle," I said, chambering a round into my rifle with a sharp click.

"Deploy the ropes!"

The gunners on either side of the helicopter released the ropes. Maya and I would descend through the left door, while Chris, Uni, and Filin would take the right.

"First on the rope!"

Gripping the rope tightly, I steadied my breath, readying myself for the descent.

"Go! Good luck!"

I leaped from the helicopter, sliding down the rope as the operation officially began.

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"Birds-1, Drop complete. Returning to base."

The helicopter, having completed the deployment of Team 417, transmitted its final message and swiftly headed back to headquarters.

We landed in an open area littered with scattered stone debris. To the north, I could see collapsed structures—most likely Sector 15. Julia had informed us that we were dropped approximately 300 meters from Sector 15’s entrance.

"Chris, take cover behind the rocks on the left and watch for enemy movement. Uni, secure the right flank. Filin, position yourself behind the wrecked car for cover. Maya, stay close to me."

I promptly issued orders to the team to assume defensive positions while switching the communication channel to connect with Julia, who was stationed in the Tactical Control Room.

"Team 417 to TCR-25. Julia, can you hear me? We’ve reached the Landing Point. Over."

The radio crackled briefly before a voice came through, steady and clear.

"Team 417, this is TCR-25. Loud and clear. I'll be with you for the next few hours. Proceed to Point Alpha."

I closed the communication and gestured for Maya to approach.

"Did you receive the data I sent you?"

She glanced at her wrist device, bringing up the mission map marked with our checkpoints.

"Yes, Captain. We're ready to proceed."

"Good. This is Captain Ruger to Team. Radio check."

"Chris here, loud and clear, Captain."

"Uni reporting in. I can hear you."

"Loud and clear, Captain. No enemy presence within 300 meters," Filin confirmed.

"I'm here too, Captain," Maya added.

It seemed all channels were connected. We needed to move toward Point Alpha without delay. The clock read 16:35, and I aimed to complete this mission swiftly to avoid a night confrontation.

"TCR-25. Julia. We’ve arrived at Point Alpha."

"Any contact with Warfoe?"

"None so far. Over."

"Understood. Proceed to Point Beta."

We had trekked about 15 minutes from the drop site to the city’s entrance. The terrain was eerily silent, with no sign of enemy activity—just a few animals darting across the outskirts.

As we entered Sector 15, the streets were choked with the wreckage of rusted, abandoned vehicles—overturned, scattered, or burned. It painted a grim picture of a city that was once alive, now decaying under moss-covered buildings, shattered windows, and crumbling walls. Debris fell unpredictably, keeping us on edge for potential ambushes or hazards.

"Team 417. TCR-25. We're halfway to Point Beta. It’s unnervingly quiet—no enemy signs."

"Copy that. Stay vigilant and report any enemy contacts."

"Roger."

The communication ended as I checked my watch—it was now 17:15. The stillness of the city was unsettling, save for the occasional flutter of birds overhead, keeping the team alert.

Point Beta was just 100 meters away, located at a crossroads ahead. As we advanced, Uni broke the silence on the team channel.

"I heard from Julia that you've fought alone for a long time, Captain. How many Warfoes have you taken down?"

"Eyes on the path, Uni," I snapped.

"Aww, Captain, you're too serious... A little conversation during a mission won’t hurt, right?" Chris chimed in, clearly amused.

I had assigned them to lead the way due to their expertise in close-quarters combat as Stormtroopers. Maya, the Assaulter and second-in-command, stayed in the middle, a few meters behind them. Filin, our sniper, took the rear-right position to provide overwatch, while I remained near Filin, slightly to her left.

"Not many," I replied. "I never kept count. My life has mostly been about running and surviving. Killing them was just...opportunity."

"Like a lone wolf, huh?" Uni quipped.

A wolf. I didn’t deserve that title. Even the weapons I used were scavenged from fallen enemies. But her words reminded me of something.

"Speaking of which, our resistance group’s name, Fenris—did you know it's based on a mythological wolf?"

"Fenris? We had no idea," Filin admitted.

"Really? Isn’t that right, Uni?"

Apparently, none of them knew the origin of the name. I decided to explain.

"Yes, Fenris—or Fenrir—is the name of a colossal wolf from mythology."

"In a way, you've fought like wolves—coordinated, relentless as a pack. You scout, call for reinforcements, and bring down the enemy together. But as for me? You could call me a lone wolf—a solitary predator in this vast world."

Before the conversation could continue, Maya raised her hand, signaling enemy contact.

"Captain, enemy spotted—bearing twelve o’clock, 300 meters. They’re closing in."

"Chris, take cover behind the wall to the left. Uni, move to the overturned vehicle on the right. Maya, stay low where you are. Filin, ready your rifle and keep an eye on the enemy."

"Yes, Captain," they acknowledged.

Quickly, everyone moved to their assigned positions. Chris sprinted toward a crumbled wall on the left sidewalk, while Uni took cover behind a flipped car, peeking out cautiously. Maya crouched behind a yellow taxi, and I dashed toward her position.

"Filin, can you identify the enemy type?"

"Two Stinger attack drones, four Wolfhound combat units, and one Raven humanoid—patrol team," Filin reported.

"Hold your fire. Wait until they're within 100 meters. I’ll contact Julia for confirmation. Secure the perimeter."

Based on Filin's observations, the enemy was in sight: a Warfoe Patrol Squad consisting of 2 Stinger units, 4 Wolfhounds, and 1 Raven. Engaging them would be risky given their numbers and our distance. I would only order an attack when they closed in to 120-100 meters.

"Team 417, this is 417. 417 to TCR-25. Julia, we’ve reached Point Beta and made contact with the enemy."

"Can you provide detailed information about the enemy?"

Peering from my hiding spot, I used my rifle scope to observe the enemy, then reported back to Julia.

"Patrol Squad. 2 Stinger units, 4 Wolfhounds, and 1 Raven."

"Understood. Your report is received. Engage the enemy immediately and stay cautious."

"Roger that. 417 out."

Julia had given the order to attack. I asked Filin for an updated scouting report. The enemy was now 150 meters away and nearing the crossroads.

"Alright, team. We are 500 meters from Point Charlie to the northwest. Julia has ordered us to engage the Warfoe Patrol Squad. Prepare your weapons but wait for my command."

The team was in position, ready to ambush the advancing enemy. They scanned the road ahead while we readied ourselves to strike.

"Enemy at 115 meters. Requesting permission to fire," Filin said over the team channel.

"Filin, target the Raven unit. Uni and Chris, focus on the Stingers. Maya and I will take down the Wolfhounds."

This was it.

"EVERYONE, OPEN FIRE!"

Filin immediately fired her sniper rifle at my command. I emerged from behind a bright yellow taxi, using its body as cover while aiming at a Wolfhound weaving through the street.

Filin's shot missed the enemy’s critical point but struck the Raven’s arm, severing it and limiting its ability to fire with one hand. Meanwhile, Uni and Chris shot at the Stingers from cover, attacking the machine-gun-equipped drones.

*BANG! BANG! BANG!*

Three shots were enough to disable a Wolfhound, the bullets hitting its core. I shifted focus to another Wolfhound, which was moving fast on Uni, who was reloading.

"One Stinger down!"

"Chris! There's a Wolfhound near you!" Maya shouted.

Maya successfully took down a Wolfhound, but as she aimed at another, her weapon jammed, and the machine slipped past Chris, who was startled by its rapid movement.

"Chris!!!"

*CRASH!*

The Wolfhound was obliterated by Filin's sniper shot, saving Chris from the enemy’s attack. Without Filin’s sharp reflexes, Chris would’ve been down.

"Maya! Calm down when you shoot! Aim steadily!"

"Y-Yes, Captain…" I reprimanded Maya for her panic-induced shooting, which nearly got Chris injured. She had been firing too erratically, missing her targets.

"Captain, I can’t get a clear shot at the Raven. It’s hiding behind concrete," Filin reported.

The remaining enemies were one Wolfhound, a Stinger targeting Uni, and the Raven taking cover.

"Filin, keep suppressing the Raven. Chris, move to the right and assist Uni. Maya, take down the drone. Uni, muster your courage and shoot!"

"I’ll flank left to deal with the Raven."

I sprinted left amidst enemy fire, stopping behind another car. Waiting for Maya and Chris to divert the enemy’s attention, I dashed toward Chris’s previous cover—a scorched tram 50 meters away. Meanwhile, Uni peeked out to fire at the drone.

"Filin, if you run out of bullets, don’t reload. Wait for my signal."

"Huh? Why, Captain? I can still support the team from here."

"Follow my orders. Do not reload until I say so. Understood?"

"Understood, Captain."

Switching my magazine for a full one, I heard Chris confirm the Wolfhound’s takedown.

"Good work. Now finish off that drone, Uni!"

With the Wolfhound down, I continued advancing toward the Raven's hiding spot. As I moved, the Stinger noticed me, its machine gun swiveling in my direction.

Drrrttt!!!

Before it could fire, a burst from Uni’s UMP45 destroyed the drone mid-air.

"Cease fire, everyone. Take cover. Filin, maintain focus on the Raven."

All enemy units were neutralized except for the cowardly Raven, which had been hiding throughout the battle. I carefully moved forward, crouching behind a waist-high concrete barrier.

"Filin, reload your weapon now."

Hearing Filin reload, the Raven mistook it as an opening and revealed itself to attack. Unnoticed, I stood 10 meters away, aiming clearly at its head.

BANG!

The shot struck the Raven squarely in the head, ending its advance. The machine’s inability to hear footsteps or react instinctively had sealed its fate.

"Team, status report."

"Two Stingers down, four Wolfhounds confirmed destroyed, and the Raven eliminated. No casualties on our side," Maya reported.

"Good work, team. Patrol Squad neutralized. Point Beta, clear."

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I reported the encounter to Julia, confirming our success without casualties. We proceeded toward Point Charlie to investigate a distress signal 500 meters southwest of Point Beta.

The sun was setting, and although it was only 17:45, the sky was already dark, a reminder of the chaotic world we now lived in.

"Chris, why are you limping? Were you hit?"

Observing Chris dragging her left leg, I pulled him aside to inspect her injury. She tried to brush it off, but I noticed blood oozing from a small hole in her left calf.

"You’re shot. Stay still while I remove the bullet."

Using emergency surgical tools, I carefully extracted the bullet lodged in her mechanical leg. Chris winced in pain despite being partly machine.

"Stop squirming. Even machines feel pain, huh?"

With the bullet removed and her leg bandaged, I adjusted the team’s formation to accommodate Chris’s injury. We continued toward the distress signal, arriving at a derelict ten-story apartment with part of its structure collapsed from an aircraft wing embedded in its side.

"What’s the plan, Captain?" Uni asked as we entered the abandoned lobby.

We stepped into the apartment lobby, eerily empty. A reception desk stood in the center, its computer and monitor sparking intermittently with electricity. It seemed this apartment had been abandoned not too long ago.

"Kill the rogue robots and locate the distress signal," I instructed.

"Sounds convincing," Filin replied sarcastically.

"Alright, team. Head for the stairs. The signal is coming from the third floor of this apartment building. Move, move, move!"

We hurried to the stairs located on the left side of the lobby, climbing up to the second floor. I carried Chris, injured and leaning heavily on me, while Uni and Maya moved cautiously, scanning for any enemies on the second floor.

"Clear. No signs of hostiles," Uni reported.

"Filin, stay with Chris. Maya, cover this area and wait for my signal. Uni, you're with me."

I directed Filin to take care of Chris while Maya kept watch over them on the second floor. The eastern staircase leading to the third floor was blocked by rubble, forcing us to use the emergency stairs on the west side of the building.

Uni and I advanced cautiously toward a damaged door. We took positions on either side—Uni on the right, me on the left—keeping an eye on the northern direction before entering.

"Uni, two Stingers and one Raven. The Raven is near a table, one Stinger is approaching the door, and the other is by the window."

I relayed the enemy positions to Uni. They were just five meters away, stationed in a room with a partially collapsed left wall.

"You take out the Stinger near the door and take cover behind the sofa to the right. I'll sprint to the collapsed wall on the left and deal with the Stinger by the window before engaging the Raven. Got it?"

"Understood."

"Alright, no hesitation like earlier. Be bold. Go now!"

Uni spun into the room, quickly surveying the area. Her sharp eyes locked onto the hovering drone just two meters ahead. She fired immediately, taking it down before diving behind a nearby sofa for cover.

I dashed to the crumbled wall ahead. The remaining Stinger and Raven spotted us and opened fire. Ducking behind the wall, I aimed my rifle at the Stinger targeting Uni, squeezing the trigger to fire five precise shots. The bullets struck its rotors, sending it crashing to the ground.

Meanwhile, the Raven ducked behind a table and returned fire. I switched my FR-20 rifle to full-auto mode—its range was now close enough for suppressive fire.

"Uni, advance to the front wall! I'll cover you!" I shouted.

She nodded and leapt over the sofa while I unleashed a hail of bullets at the table shielding the Raven. Moving right, I positioned myself closer to Uni's new cover.

"Uni, see the sofa ahead of the table? Slide into cover behind it!"

"What?! Isn't that too dangerous, Captain?!"

"Trust your captain! Now, move!"

Grumbling under her breath, she complied, sprinting and sliding into cover behind the sofa near the table. I fired at a holographic display behind the table, shattering it into shards. The flying debris disoriented the Raven, forcing it to stand and retaliate, its sensors likely impaired.

"Uni! Take the shot now!"

Uni rose from her position, unleashing a burst of fire that tore into the Raven’s core. It exploded, but she ducked back behind the sofa just in time to avoid the shrapnel.

"Well done. Hold this position. I'll secure the third floor!"

I sprinted up the stairs, rifle at the ready, carefully clearing the area.

"Clear!" I shouted.

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We reached the third floor, where the distress signal originated. In front of me stood a closed door. The signal's coordinates pinpointed its source to this very room.

"It's coming from here," Maya said.

"We need to open the door first."

Uni struggled with the door handle, grunting with effort. "Why is this so difficult... Ugh..."

I inspected the lock. A small hole in the lock mechanism caught my attention. It had been tampered with, the system visibly damaged. The door wasn’t locked but deliberately sabotaged and resecured. Whoever—or whatever—did this set a trap. Forcing it open would trigger something.

"UNI! GET BACK—"

CRACK!

Too late! The door gave way. Without hesitation, I lunged, tackling Uni away from the door to the right side.

BOOM!

A deafening explosion tore through the air. The door had been rigged with an explosive device. I realized too late—this distress signal was bait set by the Warfoe to lure us into a trap.

"Are you okay, Uni?"

I helped her up after the forceful shove, ignoring the sharp sting from cuts on my face and neck. Thankfully, the rest of the team was far enough from the blast radius to avoid injury.

"Captain... You're bleeding—your face and neck..."

"It's nothing. We still have to find the source of the distress signal. Damn those Warfoe..."

"Chris, Filin, Uni, stay outside. Maya, you're with me."

Maya and I entered the room, now filled with dust and debris from the explosion. Inside, we found a small chamber littered with unfamiliar documents.

"Damn it... DAMN IT ALL!"

I slammed my fist against the wall. A lifeless figure sat slumped in front of a desk, a deep slash wound carved across its chest. The desk was equipped with radio gear, complete with a microphone and headset.

"This is... bzzztt... requesting... bzzztt... help... please... save... bzzztt..."

The transmission was a desperate SOS from a resistance group in Sector 15. The documents scattered around detailed the group’s activities. They had fought valiantly but were slaughtered before we arrived.

"Proceeding with scanning... Scanning complete."

Behind me, a bright blue light moved over the fallen figure. Maya held a device resembling a pistol, pointed at the body.

"What are you—"

"I'm scanning the victim to provide Julia with a full report," she explained.

I nodded, understanding. We had to report this to Julia.

Emerging from the room, I faced the others. "Nothing but documents. The resistance is gone. Damn it..."

Chris tried to console me. "I'm sorry, Captain. Truly."

I contacted Julia, reporting everything we found, including Maya's scan. Julia analyzed the data swiftly, concluding:

"The slash wound was inflicted by a Photon Blade. No doubt, a Warfoe humanoid, a Sabre, is active in Sector 15. It’s no longer safe."

"Then let me hunt down this Sabre! I’ll—"

"With your current team and condition? Chris is injured, and others are lightly wounded. Don’t take unnecessary risks," she snapped.

"But I’m still capable—"

"Captain Ruger, I said no. The mission is over. I’m dispatching a helicopter to extract you. Proceed to the designated L.Z. immediately."

Damn it! Those Warfoe... Damn them all...

I thought gaining strength would let me save others. I thought I could avenge those we lost. Yet now...

These hands... can kill, but they cannot save anyone.