Chapter 113: Northern Reconnaissance – Departure (I)

The sound of engines broke the silence of a quiet morning deep in the southern roads outside Grefort City.

Three Guardian APCs slowly advanced; bright yellow fog lights pierced through the thin mist. The driver of the frontmost APC cautiously peeked.

Scratching the hull was one thing. Crashing it straight into the rail was another.

Beside the vehicle’s controls was a radar interface that showed a simple layout of the road. If Hans was here, he would realize that it looked too similar to his Radar map.

“Bastion One Actual, what’s the status up the front, over?”

A commanding voice cracked from the radio speaker at the far right of the vehicle. Bastion One’s commander picked it up.

“All’s clear, Overlord. Mist should be clearing out soon.”

“Careful on the approach,” Overlord, or rather, Hans himself, advised. “We’re close to the intersection.”

“Roger that, Overlord. Bastion One Actual, out.”

The radio went silent, replaced by the hum of the engine as it drove through the desolate asphalt. On the sides, vehicles were toppled in a haphazard way. Whoever did it had little regard for order.

The doors twisted into scrap, and the body frame bent to an alarming degree, as if the frame had been peeled open with force.

Patches of dried black liquid scattered on the ground. A mechanic could only imagine how much oil was wasted here.

But Bastion One didn’t care either. As long as the road was clear, the result was of no importance to them. Its large wheels rolled over the supposedly slippery road, ignoring any movement constraints.

From the open and clear view, the commander raised his hand and gestured. “Stop here.”

The road ahead stretched farther into the mist. On their right, a winding road appeared, its trail sneaking into the west.

A large sign stood left of the intersection, barely visible through the mist.

The sign that pointed south read: Silverpeak City (~60 KM).

The sign that pointed west read: Grefort City Bypass Road (~110 KM) / Ashbourne Capital City (~255 KM).

After reading the signs, Bastion One reached to the comms.

“All teams, this is Bastion One. We have reached the intersection. Road’s going to be bumpy after this. Take a slow right turn after me, over.”

The APC swerved slightly to the left before the driver quickly adjusted the steering wheel fully to the right.

The convoy followed without a hitch.

A humid atmosphere surrounded their advance. Tall trees stood behind the veil, shadowing the fuzzy sun.

Those who witnessed it felt spooked, their eyes retreating slightly from the view.

“Commander,” Bastion One’s driver spoke. “We should send Scouts and cover our approach. This place is too quiet.”

Bastion One reached to the radio and dialed in.

“Overlord, this is Bastion One. Requesting for Echo Squads to be deployed, over.”

The radio was silent for a while. Hans, on the other side, contemplated Bastion One’s request.

There should be a large conservatory park along this bypass road, he recalled from memory. Better be safe than sorry. This mist is obstructing us for a while now.

He furrowed his brows. He swiveled his head to the window; the fog seemed to have thickened out of nowhere.

At first, he thought it was simply just the morning dew doing its work. But now, this seemingly unending fog have started behaving unnaturally.

He changed the channel and spoke.

“All units, this Overlord. Halt the advance and wait for further orders.”

Hans turned to the back of the armored SUV.

“Matilda, Kross.”

Both responded at the same time.

“Yes, Commander!”

“You’re taking Echo One and Two,” Hans ordered. “You’re point and flank control.”

He zoomed the Radar map’s overlay. Scant amount of red dots flickered occasionally.

Some at the road sides. A few deeper into the fray.

“Visibility is trash. Bastion One cannot proceed until the advance is secure. Assume contact at any point.”

“Leave it to us, Commander.”

The armored SUV stopped. Its red tail light barely seen within the visual interference of the fog.

Two doors opened at the same time. From there, Matilda and Kross emerged.

Their boots touched the moist asphalt.

Matilda adjusted the sling across her shoulder and rolled her neck once, loosening tension.

Hans gulped at that sight, quickly turning his head away. A moment later, radio crackled as he sent dispatch to the two Echo squads.

Meanwhile, Kross stepped down beside Matilda, shutting the door with a controlled push.

The humid air clung to their visors.

Matilda pulled her HCMAR forward. The charging handle snapped back with a crisp metallic sound.

Shick.

Kross checked his magazine by feel, thumb pressing the baseplate before reseating it.

Click.

Both of them flicked their safety selectors down. The soft mechanical tick was barely audible beneath the idle engines.

Matilda crouched slightly and tightened the strap of her thigh holster.

Kross removed a small cloth from his pouch and wiped the condensation forming over his optic lens.

Their breathing slowed.

Matilda tapped the side of her helmet.

“Ready.”

Kross turned his head slightly toward the tree line, then nodded.

Neither of them looked at each other.

Once everything was ready, they raised their flashlights, beams cutting into the fog alongside their HCMAR muzzles.

Hans watched as their figures vanished in the mist.

“Matilda, Kross, Echo squads are waiting up front. Rendezvous with Dmitri and Adrian.”

“Roger that, Commander.”

The two passed several squads of Conscripts and Army Soldiers.

Leading them was Big Rhino who slowly swiveled its turret. If anything dared to come out of those woods, it would fire without hesitation.

Not far away from Big Rhino, beams of flashlights pointed at Matilda and Kross’s approach.

They stopped.

Matilda raised her flashlight and clicked the button in a rhythmic pattern.

“It’s the DASF,” a cold voice echoed, followed by footsteps thudding on the asphalt.

Dmitri’s figure appeared, like an ethereal immortal presenting itself to the world.

“Echo One reporting.”

“Codename Fairy,” Matilda lowered her flashlight and brushed past Dmitri. “I’ll be taking command. Overlord’s orders.”

She looked around and realized they were a squad lesser than expected. “Where’s Echo Two?”

“Up ahead, waiting for assembly.”

“Bar,” Matilda tilted. “Take their helm.”

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