"Black flares?"
She can't believe it. Those flares only meant one thing, all out war. But war? How can there be a war in the middle of all of this? They don't have time to think about it, as the two sprinted out of the house. But Lane suddenly grabbed Al to the parking lot just round the corner.
"One of my cars is here..." she said. And with the garage key, she opened the gate and run towards a stunning grey Lexus LF-30. "That's one sexy car," Al whistled, clearly impressed, "But ain't super cars going to attract those undead?" "This LF-30 is electric car, it produces almost next to nothing sound and still has the same power as any other sports cars," she explained as she start the engine.
"The Lexus in McKenzie is yours too, right?" Al asked. "Yeah. My LC is what I usually use, but this baby has its own charm..." she grinned stepping on the gas, "Hey Charlie."
"Charlie code 1004 activate. Good morning Ms. Adelheid how can I be of service?" the car spoke. It's so creepy how lifelike its voice is.
"Send a signal to HQ-CZ, ready OCR-G4 entrance..." Lane instructed as she effortlessly counterflowed and avoid the cars all while in top speed. And sure enough, they didn't take Avenue 6 but rather the other road that is parallel to it, Old Consular Rd,.
She took a sharp turn and straight to an underground parking. Until she found the spot she's looking for and as soon as it stopped there the floor sunk to another floor below, revealing a tunnel. Once she drove forward it elevated back again. It's a kilometer tunnel but the end of it was unexpected, it was the side of Ground 4.
"Did you notice," she said. It was rhetorical.
"There were no undead in that 4km strip..." she said slamming the breaks just in front of Colozo Holdings. Looking around, she noticed no one seems to be around. Suspicion grew as she alighted the car, walking towards the entrance of the building. Her pace quicken, Al following close as they fly across the moving escalator one floor at a time. When they reached the 35th floor, Ian was there along several other people.
"What happened?" Lane shouted walking towards Ian. "The South Gate broke. We contained the immediate perimeter around it. LA Brigade, Squad 1-5 and 1-4 are on sight, making sure none of the swarm could get pass the barrier," explained.
'1-5? 1-4?' Lane thought for a bit, trying to recall who are the members of those squads. And as she realized, her hands slammed against the table hard.
"What are you thinking?!? Sending Kurt and Trixie's squad? You know very well other squads would have a lower mortality rate!" her eyes are so furious, her gaze could burn anyone.
"It just happens they are complete with commander and all. I would send 3-15 but their commander just came back," he coolly replied.
"Then why not choose a more experienced team? Vif's? Juro's? No one is dispensable in the 20 people you sent to hell," she hissed and is about to take off to South Gate.
"Would you relax? Juro is there and Vif's, Delta's snipers are also helping," his voice clear that made her stop her tracks.
"Besides I need you here. This is more important," for rare occasion, Ian's voice contained a hidden pressure, making even Lane submit.
"What is more important than the breach? Something connected with the Rho Execs?" she asked gesturing to the five people with them in the room. She did her best to maintain a neutral expression despite the stiffening pressure surrounding her.
The Rho Execs are the family elders, they are the one who choose the 10 most outstanding members who will form the governing council of Dix Dirigeants d'Élite. It doesn't matter if this 10 are the highest ranking officer or just a mere lackey as long as their prowess is enough to be deemed the very best by the Rho Execs. It just so happens in a organization like this prowess and skill demands respect so by default Dix Dirigeants d'Élite are likely the top of the food chain.
"Leanna. We heard you shot one of your subordinates..." one of the elders spoke.
"Oh that? Yes, 9 months ago before I handed the Delta Squad to Vif. Why is he a potential replacement of myself?" she calmly said.
"Don't be stupid. It's still too early for Johann to be near your level but still..." another spoke.
"You were not there, so don't voice your opinion regarding what I should have or what I shouldn't have done. I was still his superior then and as Delta's commander as well as Lady 4, he needed to be taught a lesson..." Lane rebutted.
"So tell me why are you really here?"
"The breach in the wall isn't an accident. It's a warning," one of the elders said.
"When the horde are already by the gates, a barrier destroyed South Gate," another added.
"Deliberate huh? And you people have a clue who is the person behind all of this? If you're asking for us to investigate you're a little late, no? Ian already gave his orders. We are just waiting for Freuer and his team," Lane asked, crossing her arms under her chest.
"By the time 5th arrives, McKenzie would be in ruins," the first elder said, his voice stern and unbacking.
"With all due respect O' great family elders but the governing of the organization falls under us 10 and of course the Colozo Family, please don't trouble yourself with these matters," Lane spoke. Her words might be polite on the surface but she's basically saying fck off you old bstrd.
"Hmmp. If things go awry don't go begging us!" the first elder stumped as he lead the way out and towards the rooftop.
"They took the noisy chopper here, how considerate," Lane turned her attention to Ian who is unusually quiet. He looks loss in thoughts.
"They were being busybodies but they do have a point," Lane said making her way out, Al following close behind. He had kept silent all the while, as he felt he has no place to speak earlier.
"Which squads?" Ian called out.
Without looking back, she yelled. "3-15 and 3-14, Imperial Mall."
The current combatant structure of McKenzie is still temporary but the final version would be likely 90% similar. This structure is different from Vraizen structure as not all combatants are members of Vraizen but as this whole nightmare persist this structure will prevail. Ian Lou Colozo is the Chief Commander of McKenzie point reporting directly to his father, Louie Colozo. McKenzie is divided into 2 brigades. The first Brigade is under Gen. Lane Adelheid the other would most likely be Juro as Vif taking other task. Each Brigade has 3 Battalions. The first is under Comm. Dianne Frost and the second is under Comm.Johann Vera, the third is under Lane and her proxy commander Lt Col. Shiro Niju. Each battalion has 15 squads. Brigades uses their General's initials as identification. The first digit stands for which Battalion and the second digits are the squad number. So LA 3-15 meant, Squad 15 of 3rd Battallion under 1st Brigade.
As much as she wanted to go check on the status in South Gate, Lane have to trust in Juro. She is not only a Brigade General but also a squad commander of her personal troopes. So not long an announcement was made. "Members of Squad 3-14, Lt Col. Shiro Niju and Squad 3-15, Gen. Lane Adelheid report Training Ground 3 Lounge immediately."
5 minutes sharp. All 20 members of 3-14 and 3-15 had arrived. Though confused they lined up neatly in rows of 5. Leanna standing in front beside her was a man with silvery white hair and copper colored eyes, Lt Col. Shiro Niju a former captain of Colozo family guards.
"In an hour we will leave for a mission..." she begun to speak about the strategy, the things they would need. They have until 5 in the afternoon to complete everything with a mere 20 people to boot plus their 2 respective commanding officers. The first order is to pair up 2:1, 2 people from 3-14 and 1 from 3-15, they would be the first group. the people from 3-14 are to guard and protect the person from 3-15 who would mount to various carts resources, like food, water, clothing etc. The remaining 5 is tasked to destroy all stairs save the one ramp where shopping carts pass, so that if hordes of the undead are present within, the route would be reduced thus their movements become more predictable.
The first group must clear each floor from the ground up. The more loots the better and at exactly 5 in the afternoon a chopper would land at the helipad of Imperial mall to collect the supplies as well as transport the squadrons.
"Do we detonate the stairs or do we use a jackhammer? Either way it would attract the undead," one of the 5 in charge of the detour asked.
"Detonation is the best but none of you have the skills to arrange the bombs in ways it will not completely destroy the area..." Lane said.
"You would be using hydraulic jack hammers this is your route," Shiro Niju explained handling them the floor plan of Imperial mall, "Both Gen. Lane and I would place the per each spot before you guys finish each point. So it's continuous, we will also serve as human artillery for you five."
"The first group is larger in numbers because of this and the fact we may not be near enough to provide support. However we will do our best, we will communicate using this radio pods," Lane gestured to ths wireless headsets on the table. "Everything you needed would be given after this briefing. Proceed to weaponry chamber upstairs meet us in front of Ground 4 in exactly 900. Dismiss," the silver haired colonel said.
The two officers made their exit, courtly discussing some minute details regarding their plan later. As they did, a particular blue eyed blonde popped in the middle of them.
"Comm. Refroidir," Niju stoically greeted.
"Vif! How was it? Why wasn't my squad dispatched earlier you could have lead them? Or why wasn't yours or Juro's?" Lane was exasperated clearly distressed at what had happened. From the moment she arrived, she haven't had any idea what happened in South Gate. Blindly trusting and hoping for the best isn't her strong suit.
"Relax, we've finished already. I was ready to use my Special Missions Squad but Ian thought having 1-4 and 1-5 experience real battle is good for the learning curve with lesser losses. I cannot exactly disobey his direct orders so I just sent Delta's snipers as precaution. Aside from handling and undead stampede injuries there were zero fatalities," Vif reported his boyish grin are like blooming flowers. But Lane knows, this man is far from happy despite the outcome.
"Niju kindly prepare the two Lincolns," Lane instructed. Shiro Niju saluted and made his way to the array of vehicles and prepare the two SUVs.
"I met with the Rho Execs while the whole hell has happened..." she breathed pinching the space between her brows.
"I heard," Vif replied. He can imagine how much of an Armageddon that meeting was.
"By the way, I have files with Alfred. Code 001 Omicron do look into it later. The facts are still not complete until then it's between you and me," she muttered. Code 001 Omicron is the highest confidentiality level information only for the members of Dix D'rigeants not even the Colozo family knows. It's a need to know basis and even so, details are omitted to particular ears to preserve security. The next level would be Code 020 Zeta were information is limited to senior executives alongside Dix. The last confidentiality level is Code 300 Gamma, information is lockdown in a particular squad or company or battalion.
"Alright, I'll retrieve it after I get you back later. 1700 correct?" he replied. To use 001 Omicron despite the situation just what exactly are in those files. They bid their farewells after a few reminders. Lane begun to prepare. Unlike yesterday this time she would be bringing her short sword this time alongside a pair of semiautomatic Glock. A longer paracord is also part of to bring list. Ditching the box of nails on her shoulder, she placed her two daggers there instead as her legs are occupied by the two custom Glocks. She also braided her brown locks in place. She removed her contact lenses first and rested her eyes for 20 minutes before putting on a fresh pair, this time they are purple, her olive colored eyes completely hidden beneath. Of course she didn't forget to secure the pods in her ears.
Perks of being so high up the food chain, her shoes is still as fashionable as it gets. Black Suede ankle boots with chunky heels and cute silver buckles, yes not your standard combat boots that everyone needs to wear.
When Shiro saw her he begun his report. "I've already checked their supplies, they are complete."
Lane nodded, "3-15 with me."
All 10 members entered the modified black Lincoln in the front.
"3-14 with me," Shiro said the other 10 rode the second black Lincoln. The two officers are the ones who would be driving so when everything seems to be in a place, they hit the accelerator and made a sharp turn to the tunnel in the side of Ground 4. They would be taking the Old Consular Rd. through OCR-G4. Imperial Mall is 10km away, so this drive would only be for a few minutes.
"We don't know what would be waiting for us there but let's enjoy this shopping spree. I trust you 20, you're not exactly Delta but you are part of my Brigade and my battalion on top of that. You are 3-14 and 3-15 don't forget that," Lane spoke through the radio pods.
"We are under direct orders and supervision of Lady 4, how can we fail?" Shiro smirked hearing this. 3-15 are personally handpicked by Lane the 10 people here had undergone the same intensity if not more as the trainee captains under Lane's supervision. 3-14 are in the same boat. This two squads are the General's and 3rd Battalion Proxy Commander personal squads. These two's is only third to Lane's Delta Squadron and Vif's Special Missions Squad in all of McKenzie. To be part of 3-14 and 3-15, is proof of their capabilities. This is only a reminder.
Not long the two squads arrived at the location. "Alright into the Lions' Den," Shiro uttered.
And as quickly as they arrived the two groups moved out. They looked confident.
"And we're hungry for some lions..."