Author Notes:
More than 2:00 am in the morning... joy...
Welp, big thanks and salutation to Sergeant Devon Horn, who is the newest supporter of our Reich cause! Then, let's congratulate Private John Doe, who is now promoted to the rank of Captain! We expect more of your loyal support and enjoyment~!
Now, before I complete crash out due to lack of sleep, let me remind that the Monthly Recruitment Drive is still ongoing till the 22th, and that the next set of Nicolae's pictures, the last of my stock really, is up in the album.
Other than those, after the next GSS chapter, I will be spending some time working on a Compendium, or two, for both RM an GSS. It's about time I give or update the character list lol.
Peace, and good day to you all~!
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"Neophyte, Rampant 1, be advised, we're deploying Black Hornet. Over." Captain Justin says as his Fireteam navigates the quiet construction site.
Slightly behind him, a SOF soldier deploys a small, waterproof compartment that is magnetically attached to his right shoulder. As the compartment opens, it reveals two micro UAVs, each with two rotors and measuring approximately 16 × 2.5 cm. These UAVs, known as the Black Hornets, are deployed from the front line to fly into enemy territory, taking video and still images before returning to the operator. Thanks to the wonders of Belkan Engineering, the Black Hornet can easily fit into one's palm while still retaining powerful intelligence-gathering capability. It has three cameras: one looking forward, one straight down, and one pointing down at 45 degrees. All three are combined to create a hovering eye with a large field of view that has night vision and can transmit video or high-resolution still images via a digital data link. To power the small thing, a mana-electric setup is used to give it impressive endurance and power output over a traditional battery-powered system. The Black Hornet can quietly operate at its max speed of 28 km/h for one full hour before needing a recharge. Its compactness and stealth capability make it an indispensable tool for close-range scouting in confined locations. As such, it isn't a surprise when Rampant 1 has one deployed ahead of the unit. To verify the actual location of the Polanian HVT in the objective building, just the Barracuda UAV above isn't gonna cut it as it only offered a top-down view of the AO.
"This is Neophyte. Affirmative, Rampant 1, I will take control of the Hornet from here on out. I will keep you posted as we go but don't forget to take a peek at the live feed on your HUD. Over and out."
One of the Black Hornets turns on its rotors before it's disconnected from the magnetic docking clamp. Promptly, it starts lifting off and flying ahead of Rampant 1. The compartment that used to hold the Black Hornet closes and folds itself back into the SOF soldier's SPI suit. Neat as it was before and unobtrusive to the SOF soldier who was about to go up close and personal.
The airborne Hornet flies fast, skipping past the construction site and into the coastal area. Homing into the tallest building in the area, Zephyn controls the micro UAV to circle in search of the target's room. Soon enough, Zephyn identifies the HVT's location through a closed window with its curtain still open.
"Rampant 1, Neophyte. HVT remains asleep on his bed in Room 602 on the sixth floor, Northern face of the hotel. The secondary approach is guarded by a pair of sentries whereas the primary approach has a dozen fighters with a machine gun truck. Two enemy soldiers are smoking on the second-floor balcony on the Western side of the building. I can't visually identify any other guards inside the hotel, not unless I can find an open entryway. Over."
"Working off our briefing intel, we have anywhere from ten to fifteen soldiers and officers inside that hotel at all times." Rampant 1 comments as the Fireteam reaches a wooden barrier separating the construction site from the riverside boardwalk. "So there's around eight to thirteen combatants unaccounted for. Most probably they're sleeping in their assigned quarters, we'll clear them out when we need to. Be advised, we're walking the planks now. Over."
"Pick up the pace, Rampant 1. The two sentries by the boardwalk area aren't paying attention. Over." Zephyn controls the Black Hornet to show the two Polanian sentries busy themselves with small talk more than upholding guard duty.
"Affirmative, we're moving in. Over and out."
Nodding to his subordinates, Captain Justin has one of his men step through a hole in the barrier that is cut open by another SOF soldier. Justin and the rest follow through the hole, stepping onto a patch of well-kept grass that encloses this part of the boardwalk area. Moored to the boardwalks are a few sailing yachts and motored boats, clearly made for either tourism or fishing. The boardwalk is surprisingly underlit, with only a few yellow light bulbs dangling around the pier area, more to deter someone trying to steal the boats than to prevent infiltration along the boardwalk. Without any fanfare, Captain Justin and his men step away from the grass and onto the wooden planks. The wood would have made some noise if not for the noise cancellation features built into the armored boots of these SOF-specific SPI suits. It's another feature that tends to be overlooked when considering Belkan power armor.
Rampant 1 sticks to the shadow provided by the raised embarkment above the boardwalk. They traverse the planks uneventfully until they come across a small set of stairs made out of carved rocks. The point man of Rampant 1 takes to the stairs first, going slow and steady as he peers over the embarkment to see the two distracted sentries, chatting near the rear entrance of the Grano Hotel Solmarina. The two are looking away from the boardwalk area, giving Rampant 1 element plenty of room to maneuver. Operating his HUD, Captain Justin pulls on the surveillance feed provided by the Black Hornet and analyzes it for a brief moment. Then, he decides on a course of action that has the point man and his second-in-command of Rampant 1 cloaking themselves using yet another feature of their SOF suits. Unlike Ravens and Witches who can use camouflage spells as if they're second nature to them, a lot of SOF soldiers are incapable of using such taxing spells, if any at all. Their SOF SPI suits remedy that by having the camouflage function already built-in and run on the suits' energy.
Now that they're made nearly perfectly invisible to the naked, provided they don't make any sudden movement, the two SOF soldiers climb the stairs and onto the embankment. Splitting off into two directions to flank the back of these distracted sentries, they do so nice and slow, just in case one of these guys has good eyesight. To aid them, Captain Justin who is still hiding beneath the embarkment, crushes one of the structure's bricks. The sound he makes instinctively attracts the attention of the two sentries, forcing them to look to the boardwalk area. Yet, by then, the two invisible SOF soldiers are already to their sides and are slowly creeping toward them with their MP9 slung. Instead, these soldiers have their hands raised before...
CRACKCRACK
Standing behind the two sentries, the SOF soldiers unceremoniously snapped their necks before supporting their dead bodies and pulling them into a corner out of view... Which namely involves dumping them both into a large trash disposal box near the rear entrance of the hotel. Quiet convenience, if nothing else, and none the wiser until it'll be too late.
Now that the dirty deed is done, the two approach the rear entrance proper, and indeed, it's unlocked by the staff.
"This is Rampant 1, we're making entry." Justin reports as the point man slowly turns the door handle and softly pushes it inside.
Arriving at a lobby that is only well-lit by the front since no one seems to expect the rear entrance to be used, a classic mistake, Justin and his men immediately engage their active camouflage and very slowly and patiently make their way toward one of the rear staircase leading to the upper floor, thus bypassing the Polanian soldiers guarding the front lobby area. Of course, they only do so after closing the door they came in, gotta keep things as normal as possible when they still can.
Very peacefully, they follow the steps to the fourth floor. Things seem simple and speedy until one realizes that this set of stairs ends on the fourth floor. To ascend further, one needs to take the larger and more ornate stair in the middle of this floor. A fact that is quite ostentatiously annoying, when such a chokepoint tends to be defended by yet more sentries. And indeed, the staircase is guarded by four Polanian soldiers, with all of them playing cards by a cloth-covered table. With them all bunched up like that in a confined area, the trick they used to get into the hotel won't work. So, it's time to do this the old-fashioned way.
Still cloaked, Rampant 1 advances and round the corridor that leads to the large staircase. Their guns raised, Justin and his Fireteam fire at the card-playing guards, striking cleanly either in their heads or torsos. The two that got hit in the torsos can't even let out a scream when their heads are promptly perforated the next second for good measure. The bodies fall onto the floor, creating a small ruckus as the SOF members approach the stairs. Yet, as they walk past a room, a janitor's storage unit, footsteps come from inside, putting a halt to Rampant 1's steps. To avoid blowing their cover, Captain Justin activates the scanning feature of his helmet, only to see a single occupant behind the door. As the door opens, Justin rushes face to face with whoever's behind it, clasping his hand around the unknown's mouth and a pistol level at their heart. However, Justin's brain quickly catches up and alerts him that the unknown is but a servant of the hotel, a hapless maid who is at the right place but at the wrong time.
Mentally patting himself on the back for his trigger discipline, Captain Justin takes in the absolute terror on the woman's face as she takes stock of her situation. Threatened by a flickering presence and having seen the bloody corpses in front of her, it's no wonder that the maid is terrified and possibly traumatized. So, to save not just themselves but also herself, Justin decloaks himself, slowly, to not spook the maid. Bringing a hand to his helmet, the Captain makes a shushing gesture, signaling her not to make things worse than they already are. It's only when the maid nods repeatedly and shows no sign of resistance that Justin slowly removes the armored hand on her mouth and the pistol pressed against her heart. With a nod, Justin says in a mechanically modified tone.
"Leave, while you still can."
Gulping and clasping her hands together in gratefulness, the maid scampers away as she tries to fix her frightened expression. Turning around, Justin rejoins his Fireteam who had been pulling perimeter security while that was happening.
"Well, that's not great, not terrible." Zephyn comments. "Carry on, Rampant 1, but I suggest we double time just in case."
"Affirm, Neophyte." Justin replies, reassuming his invisibility cloak once more. "We'll be seeing ourselves out soon enough."
Putting the small hiccup behind them, the team climbs to the fifth and then the sixth floor, virtually unobstructed this time around. It's not until they lay their eyes on the hallway that starts with Room 600 that they see the next set of enemy soldiers. Two sentries standing by the door of Room 602 and another pair of patrol had just disappeared behind a corner. There are more bodyguards around than what intel gave them, but it's not uncommon for some numbers to be fudged. To clear a path forward and avoid being interrupted at a delicate moment, Rampant 1 splits once more, with the point man and XO taking off to eliminate the patrol on this floor. Justin and the last member of Rampant 1, on their part, wait for the footsteps to go away before peeking and sniping the two stationary sentries. Their brains burst perfectly, splattering red against an otherwise peerless white doorframe and walls. At the other end of the floor, a less bloody scene takes place as two more necks are snapped from behind. Simple, effective, and less waste to the environment. By the time the whole Fireteam regroups, Justin is already scanning Room 602 for any more surprises, if there's even any left.
Luckily, there's no one else other than Antosz, the HVT of the day. Rather than going all gung-ho and kicking doors and taking names loudly, Justin has a more magically capable member of his Fireteam cast a silencing spell on the door, just so he can bash it open without much of a bang. Magic is such a cheat in moments like this.
Moving past the guest area, the bathroom, and into the king-sized bed, Justin and the SOF soldiers lay their eyes on the sleeping figure with an eye mask. Without much of a fanfare, the Captain has his XO moves to verify... Which basically means silencing the man and punching him awake to get a good look at his ugly mug. The eye mask is gone to check the color of the HVT's irises alongside his facial features. Once that is done, the XO promptly smacks the guy unconscious before another SOF member works to fashion a diving helmet and a specially made captive extraction kit. The kit is a circular device that, when attached to the target's chest, seals them in a barrier that prevents internal movement while protecting the captive from external environmental influences. Meaning, they won't be affected by the cold of the Atlantic Ocean or some of its water pressure, nor can they struggle or even change their body posture.
After a gleaming purple film materializes around the HVT before fading out, the SOF member folds the man into a fetal position, as compact as possible, before hoisting him up to be strapped on the XO's back. And with that, the HVT is tightly secured with no chance of escaping his awaited trial in the future. To get him out, Justin nods in the direction of the balcony as the team steps out to it with the HVT in tow. They then recover the Black Hornet before they all jump out of the sixth floor in a stunning cohesive manner. Rather than free falling, however, they all ignite the micro thrusters of their SPI suits, gliding themselves over the embarkment and the boardwalks they came from. Once above the water, they lower their altitude before gently making contact with the water. Thus, as silently as they arrive, the SOF members disappear.
Only a singular witness has ever seen these soldiers, and she's now halfway across the town after throwing in the towel and resigning from her job.
Quite literally, she isn't paid enough to handle a SOF face-to-face.