Warrant Falin paused at the laptop set on the table alongside all the other instruments. The data continued to flow into their USB which they had plugged into the computer.
"What the hell is all of this?"
They beckoned to Eve.
"Sergeant Glen. Come here and take a look."
Eve moved over to look over the BHISL warrant's shoulder. She barely got through the first couple lines of the file before she turned away, disgusted.
"Holy fuck," she breathed. "Well, that explains why they were so secretive about it."
The document read:
- - -
「 Formal Request for Field Testing of the MQ-107 High Capability & Capacity Apostle Drone 」
The MQ-107 High Capability & Capacity Apostle Drone (HCCAD) is a fixed wing multi-role UAV and has been in testing in our laboratories for the past 16 months (see index). Given its outstanding performance, we submit this formal request for the field testing and evaluation of this drone.
However, given its production and manufacturing process, we have seen fit to refer to HCCAD drones as entities.
Re: The HCCAD is our latest successful attempt at human bio-engineering. Several deceased aces have had their neurosystems recovered and preserved for analysis. Thanks to your unwavering support, it has been rendered possible to implant the brains and neurological systems of these pilots into the HCCAD.
To expedite the process for our purposes, we 'found' several other high-performing pilots to contribute their neural matter to this project.
This gives the drones sentience, however, a combination with circuitry and conventional electronic controls assures unwavering control and loyalty to their fleet commanders. The sheer piloting skills embedded within these drones have had amazing success so far in field testing, having scored a total of 9 air-to-air kills within the week that they have been deployed against Halcyon fighter aircraft alone.
Not a single drone has been lost.
Other statistics are as follows…
- - -
Warrant Falin composed themselves with frosty professionalism.
"This… certainly complicates things. The HCCAD must make it back at all costs. I'll make calls to TOC and COC[1]. Sergeant, watch over this laptop. Ensure that no one else sees this—we can't have even more emotions clouding this operation as is."
Eve stepped up to the laptop and clamshelled it before whipping it back around to face the dirt walls of the hangar so no one would see its contents.
She breathed in and out.
Of course those Asphodelian bastards would do something like this. In all honesty, I can't even see an end to this war at this point… is this how they keep on managing to beat us back? Do they not care about their own personnel? And… why didn't they have as many guards or even BAR operators if this drone is so important…?
The endless questions rolled through Eve's head like an endless flood.
She was saved by them, however, as Warrant Falin walked back. They snatched the laptop and placed it in their pack.
"Thanks for watching, Sergeant." The Warrant then called for a meeting, the twin respirators jutting out of their mask even more daunting in the gloom as they spoke. "SLs, come in."
As soon as they'd assembled, the Warrant immediately launched into a breakdown of their exfil.
"Our exfil will be at the edge of this field." Warrant Falin shared a location via ping on across their HUDs. "The drone comes first. We know that they'll have a hummingbird heli coming to grab it, so establish a strong perimeter around the field. In addition, please be extra aware during exfil. We were warned that BAR 41 was active in this area, but so far, we've only met 12. We don't know what they could possibly be doing. We have also recently received confirmation that luckily, they were able to arrange for a couple of phantom hawks for the exfil."
Warrant Falin glanced at the BAR R&D researchers they'd captured, who were ziptied, blinded, and gagged like hogs.
"Our immediate exfil plan is to leave the trenches completely. This location has been marked, and we have arti[2] and CAS[3] on standby. As soon as you've finished briefing your squads, I'll call it in. For both, ETA should be around five mikes. BHISL one to three will be with me and will create a distraction. Between us and the incoming airstrikes, they'll be forced to keep their heads low."
Their visor gleamed insidiously in the gloom. They're going to use smoke, gas, or both, Eve realized.
"During that time, withdraw back into the forest. As soon as you make it out, break out and spread out like usual and head to the clearing. Make sure to shake any tails you have. We'll meet you at the exfil point. Keep an eye out. Everyone's going home safe."
The SLs split and briefed their squads.
"Before I do anything, everyone get your nv[4] on now," the Warrant said quickly.
Eve and her team did so before the Warrant switched off the light in the hangar, plunging them into darkness.
Eve's white phosphorous night vision lit up her environment in shades of ghostly grey.
The squads waited for a few tense moments as Warrant Falin called in the strikes. Eventually, Warrant Falin nodded. "Five mikes out. Everyone get ready. BHISL one through three on me."
Eve gave a thumbs up and moved to her squad, giving them all a squeeze on the shoulder. "We've done this shit before. Look alive."
Eve counted the seconds passing before—
"Incoming. Let's move."
The SFCOM operators flowed out of the dugout via its two entrances, the BHISL squads taking the left alongside the captives, while the Seaward and TRACE operators took the right.
The Airborne, Royal Marine, and Engineering squads carrying parts of the drone were split equally between them all.
The night sky was still before it boiled over into pandemonium.
Artillery shells landed with harrowing screams followed by wallops. The shells precisely harassed the center of the trench system, allowing the operators to exfil around the edges.
Similarly, bombs sizzled in the air CAS roared overhead, the finned ordnance easily slicing through the thin canopy and detonating in concussive ruptures below.
Dirt and rock was tossed into the air in great gouts like geysers as screams of confusion erupted in the trenches.
During the chaos, Eve led the TRACE squad over the top of the trench.
As each operator climbed out of the trench, wedging handholds and feetholds through the piled sandbags, they fanned out behind local foliage, holding security for others to emerge.
As they did so, there were silent whumps and silent hisses as canisters of smoke and gas burst around the trench system at seemingly random places.
Eve heard gasps and yells for help as the gas descended amongst the trench like a fog of death.
The smoke shed thick walls, impenetrable to both the naked eye and sensors.
The BHISL certainly didn't mess around.
While their ethics were... questionable, Eve could understand their operating mindset. Use what's necessary to get the job done, and have everyone come home safely.
While the gas and smoke wouldn't be effective against those who had a mask, they masked the retreat of the operators remarkably well.
Soon, everyone from her squads had emerged from the trench, and Eve made a quick decision.
"TRACE squads one through three stay. Remainder, head to the exfil point. TRACE 4 SL IC[5]. We'll be right behind you."
She heard their footsteps faintly receding and spreading out behind her as the teams headed towards the exfil LZ, fading into the night and foliage like phantoms.
Eve waited for a moment before she spoke again. "Start bounding[6] back slowly before the gas and smoke clears—squad one keeping first. Keep low. We're trying to move out undetected, but never take your eyes off of the trench. If anyone's coming for us, put them down."
"Wilco."
"Wilco, Sergeant."
Eve and her team spread out with 15 feet between each of them in the forested area, now a couple meters hidden in the forest. She scanned the trenches. Luckily, no signs yet.
"TRACE 2, 3, ready."
That was the sign to move back.
"Moving," Eve replied. Her squad moved back under the cover of the two other TRACE teams watching their back. They paused where the other TRACE teams had moved back to.
"TRACE 1, ready."
Then it was the other TRACE teams' turns to move back.
They repeated this maneuver over and over again until they could no longer see the trench through the thick forest.
Eve slowed the teams for one more moment, scanning for threats in the dim moonglow before urging them to move once more. The formation took a winding path as Eve commed ahead.
"TRACE 4 SL, TRACE 1. We're coming back."
"Roger. Nothing of note from us so far. Proceeding to exfil point without incident."
"Roger. Keep me updated. TRACE 1 out."
- - -
They headed out into the Asphodelian forest and back towards Halcyon held territory.
Eve didn't let her guard down for a moment and proceeded with extreme caution. Even though they were moving through the forest at high speed, trying to catch up to the teams that they had sent back ahead, Eve was still on edge.
Not much strain had shown yet—though with all the possible threat areas moving through the forest at night, NVs and thermals or not, Eve was definitely beginning to feel the exhaustion sink in.
And that was precisely the moment Vian called over comms.
"Sergeant Glen, does your IFF locate any friendlies to our 9 o'clock?"
Eve glanced in the direction off of their formation's left wing. Nothing pinged, which meant no friendlies.
"No, why?"
"I think we've been tailed."
Klaxons sounded in Eve's head.
She radioed ahead to Warrant Falin and the TRACE teams heading towards the exfil point.
"All squads, this is TRACE 1. Be advised, TRACE 1 through 3 have possible hostiles tailing them. We'll be dropping off to shake them and engage if necessary."
She soon heard the response. It was short and clipped, coming from Warrant Falin.
"Roger, TRACE 1. Keep us updated. Good luck, and I'll see you on that helicopter."
"Thank you, Warrant. TRACE 1-3, let's move. We're heading to our 3 o'clock. Vian, keep me updated."
"Roger."
The entire formation of SFCOM operators peeled away from their previous path and wheeled towards their left, uncertain of the enemy tailing them.
However, Eve knew that they couldn't risk exposing the LZ.
They were going to do whatever it took to shake them.
[1] Chain of Command
[2] Artillery
[3] Close Air Support
[4] night vision
[5] Here, Eve's determining who's going to be in command as she, the first in command of the TRACE units, is going to stay behind. Here, she designated TRACE squad four's squad leader as in command, hence TRACE 4 SL IC.
[6] where a unit alternates movement between two teams while providing mutual security and support- I can't describe it well enough in words, so just search it up if you're curious :D