Soldier ? - Send reinforsment, we are under heavy fire here! Tell the team alpha to go! I repeat! The bait worked! Send reinforsment, we are under heavy fire! Tell the team alpha to hurry the hell up!
Bullets kept flying. Now the ambush were going two ways. Suzev man were stuck between URNC soldiers and Duval's hunters. Few rocks and cars riddled with bullet holes were the only things that they could use for cover.
This was a huge sandvitch. Harry and Sam's teams were like a bread, Suzev man were stuck on both sides of a road, like a lettuce, and Soldiers were stuck in a middle of a road.
Despite small numbers, they kept delivering proper and organized fight to the others sides of a conflict. Showdown went brutal, as everyone started loosing ground to eachother. One soldier took a deep breath, aiming just slightly above a rock. he didn't cared avout bullets flying around, he kept looking at a single spot. And as someones head appeared above the rock, he pulled a trigger. Just like that, Harry lost another of his man.
Soldier A - Where the hell is Alpha?
Sergeant - Should be here any moment! In a meanwhile, keep shooting!
Soldier B - Sergeant! Engineer is ready! Just give the command!
Sergeant - Wait for Alpha to arrive! Then let the dogs out!
Soldier B - Yes sir!
Suddenly, a loud noise of a artilery shot rang out throughout a whole battlefield. A rockt started flying from east side of a road, from a Suzev team position. And it hit one of a robots that were advancing from west side. Explosion sent group of Sam's robots flying around in pieces.
Despite the cold air, it was suddenly very hot out there. Unstable ground were shaking and some pieces of a road started sliding down. Unfortunatly for soldiers, one of a cars fell down just slightly. But that was enought for a sniper from Harry's team to take a clean shot at a Sergeant. Bullet went flying, piercing first layer of armor and almost went through a second plate, bones of ribcage managed to hold the rest of a bullet impact... Albeit a few cracks did appeared.
Soldier A - Sergeant!
One of a soldiers pulled sergeant away from the car to another car. Sergeant were breathing rapidly and painfully. He was trying to say something or scream, but he couldn't.
Soldier B - Damn it... Sergeant hit! To hell with it.
One of the soldiers grabbed the radio and pressed the button.
Soldier B - Let the dogs out!
Engineer - But sergeant said...Soldier B - Sergeant is hit! If you won't let them out, we are all going to die here in this hole! Come on! Do something!
Engineer - Ugh... Ok... Fine, just give me a sec.
The battle continued for another few moments. Someone from Suzev man threw a grenade at a Harry's robots. Just as grenade left his hand, that man recived two shots through his chest, but the grenade went flying none the less and landed right between two robots. And now Harry were left without robots. Only team of six man and himself.
Then a truck on a convoy opened up. Roof of a truck opened like an origami and revealed three robots that looked like dogs... Giant dogs with miniguns and rocket launchers.
Harry - Oh sh...
A rain of bullets rained down in every direction. Harry hurried to jump into cover. Sam dropped everything and started running to his car. Harry started runnning too, on his way he pulled out his radio.
Harry - Fall back! Fall back! Everyone! Retreat!
In a matter of a few seconds, 'Dogs' closed in to Suzev team position. And Suzev man were wiped out nearly in an instant. Both Harry and Sam's teams rushed back, reaching for a car and driving away. And at this very moment, Harry saw two helicopters closing in on a ambush spot. Once last of Harry's man managed to get inside the car, he pushed the pedal to the metal and drived deep into the yellow zone forest.
On the other side of a road. Sam started driving as soon as he got inside. On his way, he stopped just for a moment to pickup anyone who he could, and then drived away. Leaving one of his man behind. Edjher... There were one more car to drive away. He managed to get it running, but...
Edjher - Come on, Come on! NO!
As he was about to drive away, his car was pushed and started rolling down the hill untill it fell on a low ground. Once he came to his sences, he saw a metal face of a 'dog'
Edjher - Good doggie!
=== ST HL-646 ===
Radio (Voice 1) - Alpha, do you see them?
Radio (Voice 2) - This is Alpha, we have lost contact on target. They went into the tunnels, but dropped the car behind them. They shouldn't go far. We will get in chase by foot. Over!
Radio (Voice 1) - Roger that. Check in on 10 minutes delay. Team Bait and team Hound are taking over and moving back to HQ.
In a shabby little booth. Kilmure kept listening at a conversation over the radio, all while Andre kept looking through shelfs in case somethings interesting is hidden among books filled with instructions to operate the tower. For some reason, the news from the radio were telling a familiar picture for a familiar situation. But so far it sounded like a well done operation.
Andre - So... They did a good job. Killed one team of enemies and chasing for another team.
Kilmure - Yes they did... I don't like the sound of this.
Just as Kilmure said that. His comunicator started ringing. And it was a familiar contact, so he quickly accepted the call.
Terminal (Harry) - Kilmure... Things went bad. You won't beleve me how much.
Kilmure - Let me guess... All of you were ambushed, you barely managed to escape. Then you had to drop your car behind and now you are hiding in some tunnels god knows where?
Terminal (Harry) - Ah... Did you were spying on us all this time?Kilmure - No... I heard through URNC radio. But since i am on it, what the hell happened there?
Slowly... Kilmure facepalmed and shaked his head in denial. That was indeed them.
Terminal (Harry) - Well, if you know everything. Maybe you can help us out a little? We are kind of low on people, ammo, we are chased and our only car was busted.
Kilmure - Yeah... Sure... It's always me who has to cover up for idiots like you and Sam... Speaking of Sam, what happened to him? I haven't heard anything about him through the radio.
Terminal (Harry) - I don't know. The moment things went bad, he just hoped in a car and drived away.
Kilmure - Lucky bastard... Ok... Sent over your coordinates.
Terminal (Harry) - Yeah, gimme a second.Andre - NO! DON'T SEND COORDINATES!
Suddenly, Andre yelled through a whole room. And turned volume on radio a little higher.
Radio (Voice 3) - ... alking with someone. We can't identify the source. Give us a second and we will have an internal feed on their communication! Over!
Radio (Voice 1) - Thunder, this is Alpha! Can you repeat? We having a bad signal over here, over!
Radio (Voice 3) - Alpha, this is Thunder! I repeat. We are detecting the unknown signal comming from your area. It looks like the target is talking with someone. We can't identify the source. Give us a second and we will have an internal feed on their communication! Over! Wait... Team Alpha we have a feed on their communication. Sending translation over to you, Over!
Terminal (Harry) - Argh! Bloody Hell!Radio (Harry) - Argh! Bloody Hell!
And after that, Harry dropped the call. For a few moments radio feed was silent.
Radio (Voice 1) - Well, that was informative! *ha-ha*... *Ahem* Thunder, this is Alpha! Is that the whole feed? Because it sounds like they are scared like a little girls!
Radio (Voice 3) - *ha-ha* Alpha, this is Thunder. Yeah... That was everything we cound get from that feed. But be carefull. It might be that they called for backup. Just in case, team Hound Two! Drop the search party and assist team Alpha. It might be that your targets are trying to join together.
Radio (Voice 4) - Rodger that! Hound Two is moving to Alpha position. ETA eight minutes, over!
After that. Radio went siletn for a whole minute. Kilmure were just sutting there and noding into the nothingness. It seems they had to make a plan without coordinating with Harry.
Andre - I don't know about you, but i don't think we can support them without putting ourselves at risk... I mean, we tried so hard to stay low profile. If we showup... You know...
Kilmure - Yeah, i know Andre... I know! We need to come up with a plan...
That was a puzzle fore sure. Stay low profile and provide escape for Harry team. Given that they don't know their location, just approximate position on a map. Then Kilmure's head slowly turned to look at Blaze who were making new mixes with her portable chemistry kit.
Kilmure - Blaze! How the hell does your 'Magnifying glass trick' works?
Andre - Ah hell... Here we go again!
Not wanting to walk, Kilmure yelled from the booth to the outside. Blaze were confused for a second, but then stopped doing her mix and walked inside the booth.
Blaze - Oh? You wan't me to do something?
Kilmure - Yeah... How does that trick of yours even work? Can you send or attract ELIDs to a specific location, and how far enough we must be for that?
Blaze - Well... It depends on a wind. Where do you want to send ELIDs?
Kilmure - Oh... I already feel like i am going to regret this... But listen closely!
=== Strangers ===
A gusts of dust were still high in the air, when black car stopped in a middle of a street, right in front of giant doll, who were aiming her gun at a driver... Aiming her gun at Zed!
Zed - Oh... That's a good welcome party!
Takker - I have never seen here around here. That gang never had any dolls!
Zed - *Sigh* Figures. Alright, sit tight, i will do the talking!
The unknown doll didn't said a word while Zed walked out of the car with her hands in the air. The whole place looked like a fresh batlefield. Empty shell casings were loudly scattering under Zed's feet. Somewhere behind the unknown doll, were a pit that still were letting out dark smoke.
Zed - Hello... I see that you hade a hard time here. What happened here?
Unknown Doll - Don't know. We just got here an hour ago. What are you doing here?
Zed - Well, I was looking to talk with some folk over here. But i guess we were a little late to the party huh? Tell me, did they had any money on them? Because they have stole quite a big bag from me and my client. Was hoping to get it back.
Unknown Doll - No. This whole place were like this before we arrived here. But you are free to look around. Doubt you will find anything here tho...
Unknown Man - NITA! I think i found something!
A young man with a fluffy, short ginger hair walked out of a half-burnt building. Despite him wearing a gasmask, he started coughing and even took of his gas mask for a few moment to cough, and then put on his gas mask back on. Only did then, he noticed the guests.
Unknown Man - Oh! Are they the one we were supposed to make deal with?
Zed - Yeah! We came here to make a deal!
The unknown doll, whoes name apparently was Nita, shook her head for a moment before lowering her gun. Then turning to an unknown man.
Nita - What is it?
Unknown Man - There is a trapped man in a basement. I can't clear the way because it is still burning and smoking. Can you clear it up while he is still alive?
Nita - Sure thing!
Before heading inside the doll threw last look at Zed.
Unknown Man - So... I guess the deal is still on?
The man came closer. Zed knocked on a window of a car, and then Takker walked out while putting on a gas mask. He nearly dropped while trying to walk closer to unknown man.
Zed - Well, go on! Talk your deal!
Takker - Ugh... Hello? I don't think i had any prior deals with you?
Unknown Man - No, we didn't! I came here to make a deal with a gang that lived here... But i am not one of them. What was your deal about?
As Takker kept looking around and the news hit him, he suddenly felt a little down.
Takker - We were supposed to trade a drugs for money. Do you have them?
Unknown Man - No... We were supposed to escort some bastard inside the Lviv and get paid for it.
Takker - Oh damn it!
Zed - Wait, wait, wait! How the hell is this even a thing? You mean you don't have any money here?
Unknown Man - I don't! As i said, we were supposed to start an escort mission here. And who the hell are we going to escort now that this whole place were riddled with corpses?
Just as he told that, a loud, pained scream pierced the air. Nita pulled out a man from half-burnt house. Man was covered in burns and one of his arms were missing, and it looked like his wound were burnt, and because of that he didn't bleed much. But now trapped in a pained state.
Nita - I manage to get him out, but...
The burnt man kept screaming for a while, untill Nita placed him on a ground, leaning agains the wall of burnt house. There, he started to calm down a little, but he kept grunting. Unknown man and Takker could't bear the sight of such mess, so they turned away and decided to have conversation little futher. Meanwhile Zed came closet to a burnt man.
Nita - How are you?
The doll asked once the man sounded like he could talk.
Burnt Man - How the hell do i look. *cough* I am in pain. *tkha-gha*
Zed - What happened here? Where is the money? Where is the VIP?
Despite the terrible sight, Zed came closer and even crouched to be on a same eye level as a burnt man. She kept looking in his eyes while he was talking. Nita was confused, on one of a questions, but stayd silent, to let Zed go with a talking.
Burnt Man - When that agent *urgh* came here with money. *tha* suddenly we were attaked... *ha* i just saw uniform... *tffs* Red and black... They took your VIP... And the money!... *arh* They had some sort of eagle... *tfm* they had tank with them... *ughs* That's all...
The man were struggling to stay conscious, let alone to talk... But he kept answering...
Zed - Do you know where they went?
Burnt Man - Sough... *egh* They went south...
After answering, the man managed to turn his head to the side and look at the street and a smoking pit. The sight made his eyes wide, but soon he returned to grunting from pain.
Burnt Man - I guess *hah* you were the ones, who were *uhm* supposed to take that agent and switch for drugs? *ghe-he* Then you should hurry.
Zed - Thank you... Anything else?
Burnt Man - Yeah... *khm* can you end this pain... *ght* Please?
Zed - Sure...
Without any other words, Zed pulled out Lupara and shot the poor man in a head. Blood splatered on a wall, on a ground, on Zed and even fell on Nita's boots. And finaly, Zed stood up.
Nita - At least he told everything he could.
Zed - That he did... That he did...
Few moments latter Takker and Unknown man rushed to the sound of a shot.
Unknown Man - What happened? *looks at a corpse* Why did you killed him? We could've figure out what he knows! We could've find out who did all this.
Zed - And how long would it took you to take courage and ask him all this? Untill he passed out or died from shock? Or untill you were just comfortable enough to ask dying man a few simple questions? If you have questions ask them! And i got all the answers i wanted!
Despite the annoyance of unknown man, Zed went to her car and took a driver seat.
Unknown Man - Hey, wait! What did he said?Takker - No! Don't leave me here!
As Takker was about to open the door, Zed pushed a button to lock the door.
Zed - Stay here, i will get the money and the VIP agent back here!
But before Zed could drive backwards, Nita knocked on a window. After thinking for a quite a long while, Zed did opened the door for Nita to take a seat at front passanger seat.
Unknown Man - Hey! What's the meaning of this? NITA! What did he told?
Nita - Stay here! We will get everyone and everything back! You would only hinder us! Or would you like to return empty handed?
The man were about to shout something angry, but managed to hold back.
Unknown Man - Fine... Be carefull out there! | Nita - I will!
Finaly, Nita took a seat and Zed started driving. With a little back an forth, the car managed turn on the other side of the steet and moving to the directon of sough.
Nita - Why did you asked him my question? | Zed - Why you didn't?
Despite a simple question, Nita didn't found an answer to give.