In reality, he sent Vertigo to take care of his parents, along with a newly created Invisible Variant. Vertigo had gotten a better glimpse at these guys from the infrared scanner. Since it was night, the 15 men who were waiting at the borders between Austria and Italy for Robin's parents who just spent some quality time at Prato alla Drava Winnebach. This was a very beautiful place and Robin's parents loved it.
Instead of informing Robin of its discovery, Vertigo simply signaled to the four Ghost corps, including the female guide, that they had 'visitors'. Getting the signal from Vertigo they went into alert mode.
The guide parked the car at a small restaurant.
"I apologize, but I may need to ask you to excuse me for a while." The guide said after parking the car. The border was around 2 kilometers out and according to the information dumped by Vertigo, they were a kilometer out.
"No no. You do your thing. We will just watch TV while you are gone." Robin's dad seemed a little taken aback, as he had assumed the aide needed to use the restroom. He had a positive experience with the assistant because she was accommodating, polite, and helpful. She also acted as a translator. Even Robin's mother was impressed by her professionalism and complimented her.
While the guide went inside the restaurant and emerged from the rear door, where the other three men were waiting for him, his parents turned on the TV and enjoyed watching some series. Since there was nothing but a river rushing by at the restaurant's rear, the alley was deserted and dark. When the sun comes out, this is one of the most gorgeous spots, but they weren't here to see it tonight.
Instead, they came to carry out executions! Vertigo in its invisible mode flew down and beamed them to the ship where they had their equipment. The four-man squad was armed with suppressing laser weapons and given an additional gear.
The javelins!
After Robin brought out a javelin for Myrene, he gave many to the army. Vertigo would lead the operation, protecting Robin's parents while the other four dealt with the 15 men.
"Three Ranger Javelins and one Interceptor. Heat visions are activated in your suit. Explosive devices are strictly prohibited. Your elemental abilities are fine to use, but no explosives are permitted. You don't need elaborate preparations because these are regular guys. Make sure no one gets away." Plans were drawn up by Vertigo.
They didn't require any outside assistance to complete this minor task, but Vertigo assigned it anyway. Everyone was very happy about this. They were eager to put the javelin suits, which they knew had been supplied by the Supreme Commander, to the test on the battleground. They finally had an opportunity.
All 4 of them entered the javelins. The guide took the interceptor while the other three took the rangers. Actually unleashing the Ghost Corps was already an overkill. They would only learn hopelessness from the javelins.
Vertigo floated over the patch of forest and the 4 Ghost Corps flew out.
"Alpha one going north."
"Alpha two going south."
"Alpha three going east."
"Omega going west."
Due to their landing site's distance from the road, motorists did not see the swarm of tiny lights that appeared out of nowhere and landed in the woods. Even so, that didn't mean the 15 guys hiding in the woods weren't aware of it. Most of them had been night vision goggles and thus few of them saw a bright light coming out from the sky.
"What is that?" - Agent 1.
"I don't know. A drone maybe." Agent 2.
"How is that possible? There is nobody around. We have taken care of the people around this area." Agent 1.
"Maybe some one from the restaurant that the targets have stopped." Agent 2.
"In any case, maintain vigilance..." Agent 3. Agent 3 couldn't even finish his statement before his entire body began to itch terribly. He felt as though he had been mildly gratinated all over. But the sensation lasted only a moment before he realized the skin on his outstretched palm was melting. At first, only the epidermis remained, then the tiny muscles, and finally, the bones. He knew instantly that it wasn't just his hand; his entire body was confronted with the same sensation.
"What the..."
"The fuck..."
"No...."
At the same instant, all three of them let out a shriek that lasted only a second before their brains and hearts melted and they died. This was a ranged acid attack from the interceptor javelin. This javelin was agile, fast and much stealthy than the others. It just unleashed a ranged venom attack, which, like an acid assault, douses the area in venom.
Their screams were heard by other 4 three men small teams nearby and their signals going out meant that one small team just got wiped out.
"We are under attack." The leader of the mission said in his comms and started lookin around only to see a tall android shaped machine with red glowing eyes looking at him. The red glow was especially striking because he hadn't yet put on the night vision goggles.
Ahead of the leader's completion of his sentence or raising of his weapon, the machine struck him in the head, and the force of that blow alone smashed everything in its path. The blood flew everywhere and landed on the other two people's expensive military uniforms. After a brief period of shock, the other two snapped out of it and began firing silenced assault rifles at the mysterious machine.
The bullets made a metal clinking sound and just fell out.
"Shit."
The ranger javelin took one glance at the couple and launched a mini grenade in their direction. When the other two saw the throwable object, they assumed it was a grenade and moved forward to capture it and throw it back, but as soon as the agent caught the grenade, he froze, and the other guy did the same.
This was a freezing grenade exclusively made for the javelins.
"Idiots. How do these dummies make it through basic training?" Alpha 2 muttered and started walking in a different direction, presumably to eliminate the other tiny groups. The four-person squad only needed five minutes to defeat the fifteen-man opposition. The 15 men on the team were annihilated by laser cannons, ice, venom, and, in the case of one squad, a strong electrical discharge from the interceptor.
The work was so well done that one team considered making a break for it as they watched the signals go out one by one. They weren't even sure who were attacking and all they heard on the radio was
"Monsters!"
Interceptor came to stop them flying to them before attacking melee and each move was charged with high electrical discharge. With the final squad eliminated. The four javelins took flight once more and landed in the grass behind the eatery. They were lifted by Vertigo's beam.
"Good job team."
"It was so easy. I miss killing the aliens."
"According to the rumors, we will soon go to space. Maybe we can get some action with these javelins."
"Can't wait man."
"I am going back. Thanks Vertigo for the help."
Vertigo said to the guide, "It's our duty to serve and protect our Commander," before releasing her. In a matter of seconds, she was behind the wheel again.
"Is everything alright ma'am?" The tour leader probed.
"Of course, do you have a bad stomach? You want to stop here for more time?"
"No.. No.. I am fine. Just a poor nature's call." She answered, her cheeks slightly reddened. The guide sped away again on the highway, on to Austria.
--
David, waiting for the positive news, paced up and down his room, from left to right. Because of their anonymity training, he was unable to get in touch with them, and David had already dispatched all of the family spies to round up Robin's parents. But there was a catch; if things went awry, David's phone would receive the final images. Only the agent's death would make this possible. It's the same for Lydia. If she perished, the footage from a hidden camera would be transmitted to David.
Because of this, David was aware that Lydia was still living, but he had no idea how or why she had survived. There was only a one-time satellite transmission and no GPS tracker. Within the span of five minutes, he received film clips seemingly out of nowhere.
Even though he realized something had gone wrong with the mission after watching the first clip, he was still holding out hope until he saw the video of the first death.
--
Read 24 chapters ahead on my p@treon.com/thelightedghost