Austronesia Empire, Imperial Majapahit, New Guinea, Jayapura Mining Complex.
1st Year of the New Age, New Sabbath, 3rd Week, 3rd Month of Abraham.
Specialist Sergeant Simon Riley, leader of the elite task force known by many names, such as the Overwatch Unit, Hitmen Team, the Executioners, Team Epsilon, and now Omega-191, codenamed 'The Tempest Scions'.
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They had little time to rest after returning from Aquarius as their brief rest was cut short by the IDAC, who selected them to become the first task force dedicated to combating magic.
Due to their time in Aquarius, a place with more dangerous magicians than the rest of the Third Civilization Zone, had sharpened their skills far beyond those of other units. This hard-earned experience made them the prime candidates for the new initiative.
Right now, Riley checked his gear in the briefing room deep within a mountain base as his team gathered around, outfitted in modified armor and wielding a range of weapons, from mithril daggers, automatic shotguns, silenced AF-1 Magelock rifles, and the latest weapon from the Weapon Engineering Department, the AF-2 MageSpitter.
The AF-2 Magespitter was a specially designed rapid-fire assault carbine, boasted a stamped steel body and wooden grips. Its fire selector allowed for safe, single, or fully automatic fire. Weighing 3.3 kg unloaded, with a total length of one meter and a 45 cm barrel, it could hold 30 rounds of 8.5mm mithril-tipped ammunition in detachable scythe-patterned magazines. It had a muzzle velocity of 607 m/s, an effective range of 270 meters, and a rate of fire of 320 rounds per minute on full auto.
To enable the gas operated system to work properly, two gas tubes placed at the sides of the main barrel channeled the expanding gas from firing the cartridge against two Wind Runes were inserted at the front, the expanding gas than collides both the Wind Runes, creating a pocket of air, which created the much needed force for a gas blow back system.
To increase the efficiency of the gas trap style mechanism, a muzzle booster comes installed at the muzzle of the rifle barrel. It provided additional energy to 'boost' the energy provided by the recoiling gasses. This 'boost' provides higher rates of fire and more reliable operation of the gas operated system.
With the combined efforts of advanced technology and magic, along with the expertise of a select group of highly skilled elves, the Science Department had crafted a remarkable piece of equipment.
One example is this helmet with intricate runes that shimmer faintly when worn. The enchantment embedded within the helmet taps into the user's cognitive abilities, significantly enhancing their mental processing speed. This allows the wearer to think faster than any normal human, processing information in a fraction of a second, which makes them incredibly sharp in combat situations.
In addition to heightened cognitive speed, the enchantment also enhances the soldier's perception. Movements that would normally be too fast for the human eye to detect become easily clear and trackable, giving the wearer the ability to track fast-moving enemies, dodge projectiles, and react to threats with near-instant reflexes. This combination of enhanced thought and perception grants the soldier a distinct advantage in both tactical planning and direct combat, making the enchanted helmet a coveted piece of equipment on the battlefield. However, prolonged use of the helmet can strain the mind, requiring the wearer to rest frequently to avoid mental fatigue.
With this, the soldiers could react to something instead of getting speedblitz without a fight. But the problem is while their mind could react at incredible speeds, can their body avoid it?
That statement from one researcher made sense. Enhanced perception was one thing, but the physical limitations of the human body still posed a challenge.
Fortunately, they have a solution which lay in an extraordinary material.
Mithril.
As light as aluminum but stronger than steel, Mithril was found in abundance after the Empire's arrival in this New World. This discovery enabled the mass production of mithril-based equipment.
Its lightweight properties allowed soldiers to wear armor without being weighed down, offering maximum protection without sacrificing mobility. Mithril also had the unique ability to conduct and amplify magical energy, making it an ideal choice for the military's next innovation.
The MK-I Armor.
The MK-I Armor, a new modified armor made from mithril steel, which was designed to revolutionize modern warfare. Through both mechanical and magical enhancements, the armor increased a soldier's physical capabilities. Wearing it allowed even an average human to lift heavy objects, run faster, and jump higher, all while maintaining their endurance.
Thanks to the elves' mastery of enchantments, the armor could also self-repair minor damage, using mana crystals to mend cracks or breaks in the material. Additionally, the mithril would offer superior protection against both physical and magical attacks. It could absorb or deflect significant amounts of magical damage, making it perfect for combat against magic-wielding enemies.
The armor's enhancements granted soldiers increased strength, agility, and protection, which would significantly increase a soldier's battlefield performance. They could carry heavier weapons, move quickly across difficult terrain, and face enemies that would normally outmatch them.
By reducing physical strain, the suit allowed soldiers to fight longer and endure injuries that might otherwise incapacitate them. Its ability to absorb and dissipate magical energy also protected wearers from fatigue caused by magical attacks, especially in environments dense with magic.
Despite its overwhelming advantages, mastering the MK-I Armor required specialized training. Soldiers needed to learn how to control the armor's magical components and integrate it into their combat strategies alongside existing technology.
As Specialist Sergeant Simon Riley reflected on this technological marvel, he couldn't help but be amazed.
"If we were building this on Earth, it would take decades, maybe even a century, to create armor capable of reshaping modern warfare. But here, with magic, the elves' knowledge, and mithril's unique properties, it took the eggheads only a few months."
Then, there is Storage Magic Artifacts, such magical artifacts that even shocked the Austronesian Empire of not only for their strange magic but for their incredible incredible usefulness for the military.
These tools had the potential to solve logistical issues almost immediately if they were mass-produced as these artifacts could be used to store vast amounts of ammunition, food, medical supplies, and fuel in a pocket dimension.
For infantry soldiers, they could access these supplies instantly on the battlefield, reducing the need for supply convoys that are vulnerable to attack by enabling soldiers to access critical resources instantly on the battlefield.
With Storage Magic Artifacts, the soldiers would no longer need to carry heavy gear, and could store multiple weapons from rifles, grenades, even heavy weapons like rocket launchers, and switch between them instantly depending on the tactical situation. This would drastically allow them to complete missions more efficiently, faster, and with higher morale without the burden of heavy equipment.
These rings also offered versatility, allowing soldiers to carry specialized equipment like breaching tools, surveillance drones, or explosives without being weighed down.
Another unique property of these storage artifacts was that any items kept within the pocket dimension were frozen in time, an invaluable feature for preserving perishable supplies like food and prevent them from expiration.
Back in the present, Riley placed his customized AF-2 rifle into the pocket dimension of his Spatial Ring, alongside dozens of loaded magazines that is enough for a whole squad. The rifle was outfitted with a 2x red dot sight, a forward grip, a laser sighting device, and a silencer which is perfect for the mission ahead.
Standing nearby was another member of Omega-191, which is suprisingly Polites, who is now officially part of their team as their mage support. The inclusion of an elf in the modern military was a groundbreaking development, yet even the most racist member of the team seemed to have no objections. Remarkably, it appeared that Polites was getting along well with the rest of the unit.
The first elf to wear modern military gear, Polites carried a massive rune-reinforced ballistic shield made of Orichalcum, along with a double-barreled sawed-off shotgun stored in his Skill [Dimensional Storage]. His armored chest bore a crisscrossed bandolier of shotgun shells, ready for whatever the mission demanded.
"Officer on deck!" Riley barked and snapped to attention as the door swung open.
Colonel Ciaphas Cahyono, Master Sergeant Dice, and a First Lieutenant with Intelligence markings on his uniform strode in. The rest of the team of six humans and one elf immediately stopped all work and stood at attention.
"At ease," Ciaphas waved them down. He surveyed the team, fully equipped in their weapons and heavy armor. "All ready?" A nod of approval followed. "Alright, gather around."
The Lieutenant stepped forward and plugged a data stick into the room's display.
"By now, you guys surely could have guessed of some of what this mission," he began. "I'm First Lieutenant Tyler from Military Intelligence, and we'll be working closely moving forward." He gestured toward two points on the digital map projected onto the screen. "Primary Objective Alpha: eliminate the Necromancer."
The map zoomed in on a dark inky blob in the middle of a cluster of Orcs.
"A day ago, we managed to track down those green bastards and now knew where they are. But not only that, UAV reconnaissance picked up this anomaly at the same time," Tyler explained, highlighting the inky black blob. "Intel analyzed earlier footage and found similar anomalies at multiple attack sites." The screen shifted through various timestamps and locations, each showing the same dark figure surrounded by Orcs.
"We suspect that this fellow here is the boss of the Orcs," he pointed to an Orc significantly larger than the rest, without any adornments on his body and armor. "We've seen him several times at the rear of the formations, always near this dark blob." Another image appeared and shower a sharp clear shot of the giant Orc with the humanoid-shaped shadow trailing behind.
"Odysseus' assessment indicates the blob is some sort of anti-scrying spell, designed to prevent magical detection," Tyler continued. "We tested this with an elf's similar magic, and it produces the same blurry interference on our cameras and sensors. We're 100% certain this is our target."
Tyler laid out the mission objectives. "Eliminate Target Alpha. If possible, recover any intel or artifacts linked to the Necromancer for further study by Command. Secondary Objective Beta, if after eliminating the Primary Target and the undead remain operational, search and destroy possible magical anchors in the vicinity of these two locations."
The screen shifted to a top-down map of the forest, with highlighted zones. "Blue areas indicate suspected Orc activity," Tyler said, pointing to the zones. He then gestured toward a red-highlighted area. "This area has an 80% likelihood of being the Necromancer's living quarters. It's also the location of the mass graves from the New Guinea Highland Campaign."
"The Primary Target is expected to appear at these locations during specific times of the night, likely to oversee and command the undead forces." Tyler highlighted three more points on the map. "We want a clean kill here. Cut off the head, douse the body with salt, and burn it." His gaze swept across the Tempest Scions. "This is a high-priority target. No room for mistakes. Questions?"
"What kind of support are we getting?" Tavish asked. "Why not just hit the target with a missile strike?"
"Command doesn't want to leave it to chance," Tyler explained. "The target might have a barrier spell that could negate all forms of attack. If we attack now and fail, they would likely use that Teleportation Spell again and escape, so instead, we need boots on the ground to ensure the job is done right."
"You'll have priority UAV tasking and a single missile strike for emergencies," Colonel Ciaphas added, raising a hand to silence the team's protests. "I know, I asked for more support, but this is all we've been allocated."
"Don't forget that we are in shortage of missiles after the New Year Tragedy," Dice stated.
"The seven of us against ten thousand Orcs, an unknown number of undead and possible Transcendents, just to kill one Necromancer?" Price said sarcastically. "And all we get is one missile?"
"That's ridiculous," Belinski grumbled. "Are we a special force, a suicide squad, or a Kill Team?"
"Settle down!" Dice bellowed, glaring at the unhappy members of the team. "You are now the most elite among the elite task forces! Stop your whining!"
"I'll have a full battalion of soldiers, tanks, and armored vehicles on standby, with a Golden Eagle ready to extract you at a moment's notice," Ciaphas reassured them. "Command has their reasons for this arrangement. I am sure."
"Alright, quit complaining," Riley interrupted, cutting through the tension. "We'll find a way in and out without anyone knowing we were there. Isn't that exactly what we trained for?"
The team nodded in agreement. "If we're going in quiet, we'll need to adjust our loadouts," Riley continued. "Drop the shields, switch to silenced AF-2s, and pack extra explosives for distractions."
He turned back to the display, studying the map. "What about patrol routes and sentry locations?" he asked Tyler, who smiled.
"Ah, I was waiting for you to ask."