As he flashed into a waiting room, Mark was the last person needed to complete the fireteam. This time, he was by himself. The rest of the pilots seemed to be on a party, but before he could read their game ID, they all flashed out to the map of the operation.
Looking around him, he saw snow everywhere. The rock formation in the distance confirmed his location. Knimir Five, a frozen planet. While the other pilots were cheering on the open Channel, Mark was lost in his memories. This planet was the site of one of the worst battles in his past life.
While the planet itself is uninhabitable, underneath the surface lies a treasure trove of resources and exotic materials. It was one of the places the kingdom wanted to secure. The Lishean Commonwealth was forced to fight tooth and nail to keep this lifeless planet.
The other pilots were elated; the conditions were perfect for laser weapons. Cold weather kept the heat emissions in check. Mark shook off his bad mood for the moment. Instead, he looked around to see the mechs from the fireteam.
The first mech he spotted was a light harasser armed with two high-quality pistols. After analyzing the machine, Mark deduced it was an A-grade mech. It was painted in a loud magenta color with green accents. These kinds of details were common amongst the combat role; one of the harasser's functions was to serve as a distraction. While the enemy was focused on it, the rest of the team would attack from the flanks. The game ID at the top read 'Willie the Wonka.'
The next mech was a non-standard role known as a Skirmisher. Unofficially, pilots tend to call this a bully mech. These types of machines were engineered to fight in the thick of battle. They possessed both ranged and melee attacks, with thick armor plates that increased their durability. However, they tend to be slow, hulking mechs bordering the heavy side of the medium classification. The game ID on top was 'Zuzu the fire Bender.'
Standing next to the bully mech, there was a black machine. Mark had to focus to see the details. The mech was slim and fast, but more than that, its heat emissions were low. It was also quiet; the thing was making a minimal sound as it paced around. This mech's role was that of an assassin.
These machines were given to elite pilots and sent after key personnel on the battlefield. With minimal durability, they relied on stealth and agility to neutralize targets. The game ID above the machine reads 'Swarley the Ladies Man.'
Before Mark could take a look at the two other mechs, the operation information was presented. His eyes drifted towards the objectives. Total Recall stirred in his mind as he skipped over the details.
Operation: Raid on the Underground Mine.
Site: Knimir Five, The Frozen Wastes
Objectives:
1. Find and infiltrate the underground mine.
2. Secure a route for the main assault force. At least one mine entrance must remain operational.
3. Secure or destroy the enemy supplies. (Bonus available for secured caches)
4. Eliminate the commander of the enemy force.
Optional:
5. Eliminate the subcommanders of the enemy force.
In his past life, Mark had actually fought a similar operation. However, instead of attacking, he was part of the defending force. His face grimaced as he recalled the details of the engagement. The young man let out a complaint. "Sometimes I hate Total Recall."
A message came through the open comm-channel. "Are you the Marked Guardian creator of the McCain Reaper?"
Mark looked at the machine that sent the message. It was a blue McCain Reaper in a hero mech configuration. The game ID at the top read 'Elven Warrior Deedlit.' He answered the pilot's question. "Yes, I am, what of it?"
The blue Reaper turns and addresses the mech behind it, "Athena, I told you it was him; he is even piloting a version 2 Reaper."
From behind another female voice came. "I never doubted you, Deedlit. I just thought it would be rude to just jump him out of the blue."
Mark laid his eyes on the last mech of the group. The mech she was using looked like a converted rifleman model. The machine had more armored plates than usual and a backpack module that seemed to work as a sensor suite. Mark did not recognize the model, but this was not strange. There were hundreds of thousands of mech models in the Lishean Commonwealth alone.
The Game ID read "Pride of Athena". Mark resolved to ask about her mech. "I am not familiar with your mech, but it looks interesting. Can you tell me the model?"
The female pilot answered his question. "This mech is called The Mathews Special. It's a variant of the Mathews Rifleman, which is not a well-known mech."
Mark made a mental note to check the model later. With his curiosity satiated, he shifted his focus towards the operation. The young man turned to see the rest of the mechs listening to his conversation and asked, "Anyone else played this mission before?"
Willie and Zuzu answered by raising the right hand of their respective mechs. This gesture let Mark know that they were still in school. The pilots were probably still teens, about the same age as his body. Pilots on the third level were usually around this age.
Apart from his memories in real life, the young man had played this operation a few times. "If I remember correctly, there are 4 different mine shafts that serve as entry points. A subcommander guards each of them."
Deedlit inquired about his plan of action while sending Mark a party request. "What do you have in mind, Guardian?"
The young man accepted the party request and gathered his thoughts. He addressed Athena next. "Athena, do you think you can send me the latest sensor readings you got?"
The female pilot was puzzled at first. "Wait, how did you know I had a sensor suite?" After thinking for a moment, she seemed to have realized something. "Never mind, I'll send you what I've got."
With the latest sensor data, Mark formed a plan in his mind. He decided to split the group. "Swarley and Willie, I want you to go in the direction towards the south of the Frozen Wastes. There are two caches in the way. Capture them if you can."
The two pilots look at their respective H.U.D., intrigued by his idea. They seemed to be grasping the plan of action Mark had in mind. Swarley deduced the role he would play in this Idea. A manly voice came through the comm-channel. "You want me to infiltrate the mine shaft to the south while you create a distraction on another gate?"
Willie was not far behind. After Swarley realized his role, he saw the pieces fall into place. A high-pitched male voice followed after Swarley. "You want me to serve as a decoy while Swarley takes the difficult mechs out."
Mark confirmed their deductions. "That is right." He then turns to the rest. "We will create a distraction by attacking the shaft on the west side. We need to be as loud as we can. That way, the subcommanders will move towards our direction, leaving a small force behind. Can I count on you for that, Zuzu?"
The brutish mech used its right fist to punch against the palm of its left hand. This gesture showed that Zuzu was ready and itching for a fight. "You can count on me." The tone of his youthful voice sounded eager.
Following Mark's plan of action, the team split. Four mechs moved west while the other two headed south. Nearly fifteen minutes have passed since the operation began. The team to the south had already reached their destination after grabbing the two caches Mark mentioned.
Meanwhile, the other team saw their destination in the distance. It was the entrance to the west shaft. There was a small fort covering the entrance.
Since they were closer than before, Athena's sensor suite had a clear layout of the enemy. The female pilot relayed the information to the rest of the party. "There are nine heat signatures. Four are medium-sized mechs, another four are light machines, and there seems to be one larger than the others, but it is not big enough to be a heavy mech."
Mark pondered for a moment, analyzing the information. "The larger heat signature is the subcommander. We were expecting this. I think our best plan of action is to make a pass at the fort and eliminate the turrets. After that, luring the enemy out is our best bet. What do you think?" He tried his best to make his words sound like suggestions. After all, he was a guest in the group.
Both Athena and Deedlit agreed, Zuzu remained silent; he was just itching to let loose. Athena added a suggestion of her own. "Guardian, I think you and Deedlit should go do a pass at the gun emplacement. Zuzu and I can join the fight once you have drawn the enemy out of the wall."
Deedlit spoke with a hint of excitement in her voice. "Let's go do this. Where do you want to move the enemy mechs?"
Athena calculated the maneuver using information from her sensor suite. She then added the speed of the slowest mech, which was Zuzu's machine. Finally, she sent the meeting point coordinates to Mark and the others. With their planning and preparations done, they all started to move.
Mark and Deedlit rushed forward. Once they were within the sensor range, the gun emplacement began firing. Both Reapers evaded. Mark found the movements of his Reaper to be fluid and responsive. So far, he was satisfied with the performance.
Deedlit fired upon the structures. The charged shot of her Laser Sting tore through the closest gun emplacement with ease, leaving behind a smoldering heap. A few steps behind, Mark took out the second and third turrets with the Warren rifle, demonstrating tremendous accuracy.
As they began to fall back, Deedlit fired her heavy gun once again, neutralizing the last of the gun emplacements. As planned, both mechs disengaged and fell back. Behind them, the gate to the fort opened. The enemy mechs emerged and began pursuing Deedlit and Mark.
A few hundred meters away, Zuzu and Athena waited in anticipation. It was all going according to plan. The lighter mechs were gaining on the two McCain Reapers, but Mark and Deedlit would reach the rendezvous site before then. As they came into view, Athena took position and aimed her rifle. For his part, Zuzu prepared for a sprint. While his machine was big and bulky, it could sprint short distances to reach his targets.
At the very last moment, a stream of laser fire came from the fort. The attack was directed at Athena's mech. Luckily, the female pilot managed to dodge at the very last moment. She had noticed the power of the subcomander unit fluctuating.
Zuzu managed to jump on two of the light mechs. The weight of his mech crushed one. Grabbing the other by both arms, he pulled the light mech apart. The other pilots of the party almost felt sorry for the light mech, ...almost.
A heat emission from the fort began to fluctuate. It was apparent that the subcommander was supporting the enemy force from the fort. The members of the fire team were now in a bad spot to face focused fire; they were on an open field.
Noticing this, Athena made a few suggestions to help everyone. "We have to put the enemy units between ourselves and the fort. Don't give the subcommander a clear shot.
Deedlit changed course; she rushed to engage the enemy before the subcomander at the fort could target her. Mark did the same. Zuzu grabbed the other two light mechs and raised them in front of his machine to form a shield. Meanwhile, he was shooting at the medium mechs using the shoulder-mounted turrets. Athena ducked behind a small hill for cover; she was too far from the enemy mechs to follow Mark's suggestion.
The powerful shot flashed from the fort once more. This time, it fired at Deedlit. The pilot of the blue McCain Reaper managed to use an enemy mech as cover. She finished the wounded machine using her sword.
After the subcommander fired, Athena took advantage of the power-up time of the enemy sniper to provide support. She managed to finish a wounded machine that was engaging Mark. Unfortunately, by doing so, she unintentionally left Mark wide open.
Mark reacted immediately. More by training than by instinct, he started zigzagging as he closed the distance to the fort. The others watched as He dodged one of the subcommander's shots with ease. Soon, Deedlit and Athena started doing the same after eliminating the last two medium Mechs. Zuzu walked with his improvised shield in front of him.
Once against the wall, Mark was out of the sub-commander's view. The young man had to wait for another shot. He had noticed a delay between attacks, and he resolved to use it. Once the 3-second cooldown was in effect, he could enter the fort and hunt that sniper.
The awaited shot flared above the wall. This time it was directed at Zuzu. The shot cut through the light mech and hit the bully mech on the shoulder. His laser turret, mounted there, was destroyed. The pilot of the bully mech fell into rage and started running for the fort.
Athena screamed at the enraged Zuzu. "Remember to zigzag, you big oaf!"
A second shot came after the bully mech. This time, Zuzu used the other light mech as cover and managed to block all damage. Yet the pilot was still on his rampage.
Deedlit screamed. "Snap out of it, Zuzu!"
From the fort, the light of the sniper rifle about to shoot could be seen. Suddenly, an explosion erupted from the position of the sniper. On the map, Athena watched as the heat emissions of the sub-commander began to fade. Mark had succeeded in launching a sneak attack on the unprotected sniper.
The group gathered on the fort near the entrance to the shaft. However, Athena saw a significant number of heat sources on the other side of the tunnel. There were too many for them.
Mark relived a moment from his past. During the defence of the mine, the kingdom forces managed to infiltrate one of the shafts. The commander in charge decided to collapse the tunnel to kill all of the kingdom's forces.
Mark and a group of soldiers opposed the idea. Many of their fellow Lisheans and friends were still fighting. However, as a confirmation of the order came from the higher officers, he fell to his knees as the tunnel collapsed, killing friends and foes alike. Thanks to Total Recall, he was forced to relive the moment in vivid detail.
With his mech, the young man interfaced with the fort's computer and gave the command to blow the tunnel. The enemy this time was nothing more than data in a simulation. Yet, the turmoil in his mind felt so real. The rest of the team noticed his dark mood. They decided not to inquire; after all, they had just met him not one hour ago.
Soon after the notification came. Swarley and Willie managed to kill the boss. The operation was over. Mark's mood had sour completly. While the team invited him on another operation, he decline giving an excuse. After accepting their friend's request, he flashed out and disconnected from A.M.S.
Back in his room, Mark decided to take a stroll to clear his mind. He had not thought about Knimir Five for a long time. Yet the moment he saw the snow, the memories surfaced like the pain of an old wound.