Amelie sat alongside her team in the temporary holding area, her head still covered by the gunny bag. Frustration gnawed at her as she longed for its removal.
"LTC, could you tell them to get this gunny bag off my head?" she called out, her voice tinged with annoyance.
LTC Ludwig's voice responded, "Sorry, I can't. You need to keep it on."
Amelie's brows furrowed, puzzled by the necessity. "And why is that?" she questioned, hoping for a satisfactory explanation.
Malik, standing nearby, interjected, his voice matter-of-fact. "They could hack your brain from the microchip in your head, you know that?"
Amelie smirked, her tone tinged with sarcasm. "You mean Aiko? That microchip?"
Malik shrugged casually. "Sure, whatever that microchip is called."
Amidst the conversation, a voice sounded from somewhere near Amelie. It was familiar yet unexpected.
"This is demoralizing," came the voice of Alessia, a member of Venator Taskforce from the TNP Branch in Italy.
Amelie's eyes widened as recognition dawned. "Alessia? Venator Taskforce? What happened to your branch?"
Alessia's voice held a hint of disappointment. "Eisenfust attacked our branch in Italy. We had to retreat here, and now, I find myself with a bag on my head."
Another voice chimed in, this time belonging to Camille, a member of Éclair.
"Indeed, we were taken down by the enemy quite easily," Camille lamented, her voice carrying a tinge of frustration.
Amelie couldn't help but feel a mix of disbelief and camaraderie. "Camille? How did Éclair end up here?"
The voice of Charlotte, from Shadowhawk Team, joined the conversation. "This bag really makes breathing a lot more difficult."
Amelie's eyes widened even further. "Shadowhawk Team as well? And Lucia from Espada Team?"
Lucia's voice chimed in with a hint of resignation. "And Espada Team, too."
Amelie's frustration grew, and she directed her question to LTC Ludwig. "Ludwig! What is all of this? Why are we all here, enduring these bags?"
LTC Ludwig's voice resonated with a calm authority. "Well, every operative we have needs to keep their heads covered. It's a precaution against potential brain hacking through the microchips. Remember, they are only issued to operatives."
Amelie realized the significance of his words. "And what about you, Ludwig? Why aren't you wearing one?"
LTC Ludwig's voice held a hint of reassurance. "I don't have any microchips in my brain. They are strictly reserved for operatives."
The conversation in the holding area continued, with the operatives grappling with the discomfort and uncertainty of their current situation. They were bound by a common experience, united in their determination to uncover the truth and navigate the challenges that lay ahead.
Sergeant Ahmad "Adeq" bin Hassan was perched atop the tower, diligently working on its installation. Meanwhile, Corporal Izzat stood below, shouting up at him impatiently.
"Izzat, bila lagi nak siapkan tower ni?" (Izzat, how much longer does it take to complete the tower?) Izzat bellowed, his voice carrying a hint of frustration.
Adeq's response was tinged with annoyance. "Aku dah try yang terbaik. Kalau ko nak merungut, kenapa ko sendiri tak pasang tower ni?" (I'm doing my best over here, damn it. If you want to complain, why don't you install the tower yourself?)
After a considerable amount of time and effort, Adeq finally managed to complete the installation and activate the tower. As the tower came to life, a wave of energy radiated from it, reaching the NawOps held in the nearby cell.
Adeq let out a satisfied sigh. "Ni baru siap, bro." (Finally done, bro.)
Izzat nodded in acknowledgment. "Okay lah, aku bagitau Malik pasal ni." (Alright, I'll inform Malik about this.)
Meanwhile, inside the holding cell, Malik received the notification that the tower had been successfully installed. A glimmer of hope flickered in his eyes as he relayed the news to the NawOps.
"Good news, everyone. You can take off the bags now," Malik announced, his voice laced with relief.
With anticipation, the NawOps watched as Malik approached and removed the gunny sacks that had concealed their heads for what seemed like an eternity. As their vision adjusted to the newfound freedom, they couldn't help but feel a sense of weakness and an unfamiliar sensation washing over them.
The Heads-Up Display (HUD) that had guided their actions and provided crucial information was now absent. They were left with the vision of the world as others saw it, a stark contrast to the augmented reality they had grown accustomed to.
Malik broke the silence, his tone offering a hint of respite. "How about we get a meal first? It's been a long day, and I'm sure you could all use a good meal."
They found themselves in an eating area, a temporary respite from the chaos they had experienced moments ago. The room was dimly lit, with a few tables scattered around and chairs that looked worn and uncomfortable. The air was thick with a mix of tension and exhaustion as the operatives settled into their seats, their bodies still recovering from the intense battle.
Amelie, her voice weary but determined, broke the silence that hung over the room. "So, where the hell are we now?" she asked, her eyes scanning the room as if searching for any familiar landmarks.
Enkoth, her face etched with exhaustion, leaned back in her chair and let out a sigh. "I think we're in a safe house," she replied. "Somewhere off the grid, away from prying eyes."
Andorra nodded in agreement, her eyes darting around as if analyzing the room for potential threats. "Yeah, seems like they brought us here to regroup and figure out our next move," she added, her voice filled with a mix of weariness and determination.
Ami, her voice filled with concern, chimed in, "What about Strikeforce and PhoCo Quick Response? Did they make it out okay?"
Stella, her face pale with exhaustion, shook her head. "I'm not sure," she admitted. "We got separated during the chaos. I hope they're alright."
Just then, the door swung open, and a group of operatives entered the room. Amelie recognized them as members of the Strikeforce group, Kelly, Madison, Rebecca, Veronica, and Katie. They looked just as tired and battle-worn as the NawOps operatives.
Kelly, her voice tinged with a mix of relief and frustration, greeted them, "Well, look who finally decided to join the party. Took you long enough."
Amelie smirked and shook her head. "You know us NawOps, always fashionably late," she replied, her voice laced with sarcasm.
Madison, her eyes filled with concern, approached their table. "What the hell happened out there?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly. "We've never seen the enemy forces like that before. It's like they knew our every move."
Amelie sighed and leaned forward, her voice heavy with frustration. "They've got new tech," she explained. "Advanced armor, weapons that can take a beating, and some kind of immobilizing device that rendered us helpless."
Veronica, her voice filled with determination, slammed her hand on the table. "Well, they picked the wrong group to mess with," she declared. "We'll find a way to beat them, mark my words."
As the conversation continued, the door swung open once again, revealing members of Venator, Eclair, and Shadowhawk teams. Alessia, Sofia, Camille, Charlotte, and their respective teammates entered the room, their faces worn but filled with a steely determination.
Alessia, her voice tinged with urgency, approached the table. "We've got to come up with a plan," she said. "They've dealt a significant blow to all of us, and we can't let them get away with it."
Amelie nodded in agreement, her gaze meeting Alessia's. "Agreed," she replied. "We need to gather as much intel as possible, find out who's behind this and why they targeted us."
LTC Ludwig, accompanied by Colonel David, Captain Thomas, and Nikki, entered the room, their presence commanding attention. Ludwig's voice rang out, filled with authority. "Alright, everyone, listen up," he said. "We're in a tough spot, but we're not out of this fight yet. We'll regroup, strategize, and find a way to turn the tide."
Amelie smirked at Kelly's remark and playfully rolled her eyes. "You know we couldn't resist keeping you guys waiting," she replied, her voice filled with good-natured banter.
Madison chuckled and shook her head. "Well, you definitely know how to make an entrance," she said, her tone lightening up a bit. "But seriously, what the hell happened out there? It was like a scene out of an action movie."
Amelie leaned back in her chair and shrugged. "I wish I knew," she replied. "But those guys had some serious firepower. I've never seen anything like it."
Veronica joined in, a mischievous grin on her face. "Maybe we should ask them where they got their fancy toys," she suggested, her voice filled with playful sarcasm.
The room erupted in laughter, as the tension began to dissipate. The operatives and high command exchanged stories, sharing their experiences and speculating about the enemy's capabilities. The conversation flowed freely, with a sense of camaraderie and trust between the teams.
As the operatives and high command chatted in the eating area, their attention was momentarily drawn to the entrance as a group of men walked in. Among them stood Adeq, a figure who had recently made an impression on the team.
Kelly couldn't help but smirk as she caught sight of Adeq. She leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms, and playfully called out to him. "Well, well, if it isn't the short figure who held back all those enemies," she remarked, her voice laced with teasing amusement.
Adeq turned towards Kelly, his expression a mix of mock offense and amusement. He held his hands up in protest, ready to defend his honor. "Hey now, I'm not short!" he retorted, a playful glint in his eyes. "I prefer to think of it as average height. The world just needs to adjust its standards."
LTC Ludwig, curious about their surroundings, took the opportunity to engage Adeq in conversation. He leaned in, his gaze focused on the new arrival. "You never told me what this place really is," he remarked, his tone conveying a sense of intrigue.
Adeq leaned against a nearby counter, a nonchalant expression on his face. "Ah, you see," he began, his voice tinged with a hint of mystery. "This is Der Strum hideout. We had to evacuate here when those Lumen Veritas attacked Schattenheim."
Madison, her curiosity piqued, chimed in, her tone filled with genuine interest. "So, these people here are part of Der Strum?" she asked, seeking clarification.
Adeq nodded, a wry smile playing on his lips. "Indeed, they are," he confirmed. "And let's just say they weren't exactly thrilled when you all inadvertently helped the enemies gain access to their base."
Enkoth, her voice filled with a mix of curiosity and a tinge of regret, interjected, her eyes narrowing as she directed her question at Adeq. "If that's the case, why did you still need us? Especially after what we've done?" she asked, her tone laced with a hint of skepticism.
Adeq opened his mouth to respond, but his voice was abruptly cut off by the arrival of another individual, Malik. He brought news of more guests, specifically a tank unit from TNP, known as the Thunderstrike Battalion artillery unit.
"We've got more guests from TNP. Some sort of a tank unit," Malik announced, his voice filled with urgency.
LTC Ludwig's eyes lit up with recognition as he connected the dots. "That must be the Thunderstrike Battalion artillery unit," he stated, his tone filled with certainty.
Without further ado, the operatives and high command welcomed the tank unit inside the room. Erik, Markus, Lukas, Dieter, and other men from the Thunderstrike Battalion stepped in, their presence emanating a sense of strength and experience.
The room buzzed with anticipation as the operatives and high command approached the Thunderstrike Battalion members. Informal chatter filled the air as introductions were made, and questions were exchanged. The conversation took on a slightly interrogative tone as the operatives sought to understand the capabilities and experiences of the tank unit.
"Listen up, everyone," Dieter began, his voice carrying a sense of urgency. "As Sergeant Erik and I ventured further into the crumbling building, we stumbled upon something that shook us to the core."
He paused, allowing the gravity of the situation to sink in, his eyes scanning the room, taking in the attentive faces of his comrades.
"What we found was evidence of a power beyond anything we could have imagined," Dieter continued, his voice gaining strength. "Krasnyj Medved, our number one rival, was annihilated. And it wasn't just a simple defeat—they were taken down with ruthless precision."
Murmurs of astonishment spread through the room, and Dieter raised his hand to signal for quiet.
"But here's the thing," Dieter continued, his voice steady. "It wasn't just the enemy's firepower that overwhelmed them. We discovered that Krasnyj Medved was being funded and armed by unknown enemies—manufacturers we've never even heard of before."
He gestured towards the camera on his hand, displaying images of the Precision Dynamics RZ-6 Precision Rifle and the Armatech Solutions PDX-10 Personal Defense Carbine.
"These weapons," Dieter stated, his voice filled with a mix of awe and concern, "are far beyond anything we've encountered. The precision, the advanced technology, it's like they were designed to eliminate any opposition."
"We delved further, and we found something even more disturbing," Dieter continued, his tone lowering to a more somber note. "There were recordings in the control room, capturing a meeting between the Krasnyj Medved leader and an unknown man."
He glanced towards Erik, who stood beside him, his expression mirroring the gravity of the situation.
"The conversation revealed that this unknown man offered advanced weaponry and support to Krasnyj Medved, only to be met with resistance," Dieter explained, his voice tinged with frustration. "They wanted more than just weapons—they wanted to spread their ideology, to shape the world in their image."
A collective murmur spread through the room, a mixture of disbelief and concern.
"But the unknown man wasn't willing to compromise," Dieter continued, his voice rising with determination. "He and his followers unleashed a devastating assault, wiping out the Krasnyj Medved leader and his forces. The power they displayed was overwhelming."
Adeq leaned against the wall, a concerned expression on his face, as Dieter addressed him with a sense of urgency. The room fell into a hushed silence, awaiting Adeq's response.
"Seems like Lumen Veritas had taken down another organization," Adeq remarked, his voice tinged with a mix of frustration and resignation.
Dieter's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Wait, you know these guys?" he asked, seeking clarification.
Adeq let out a sigh, his gaze shifting towards the floor momentarily before meeting Dieter's eyes. "Of course," he replied with a hint of weariness. "Lumen Veritas is a formidable force. They've been a thorn in our side for quite some time."
Dieter's expression hardened, a steely determination flickering in his eyes. "How do we stop them?" he asked, his voice filled with resolve.
Adeq raised a hand, his palm facing Dieter, signaling for patience. "Not so fast," he cautioned. "These guys just took down the TNP Headquarters. Der Strum will think of a way to solve the issue. For now, we need to focus on finding the survivors at the outskirts of Schattenheim Town."
Camille, eager to take action, interjected. "Well then, let's go there and provide assistance."
Adeq shook his head, his expression grim. "No, Camille. Didn't you hear what I just said? You barely escaped with your life when our own base was attacked. It's too dangerous for us to venture out right now."
LTC Ludwig, ever the pragmatist, chimed in. "But Amelie's team and the Strikeforce group have already left."
"WHAT?!" Adeq's eyes widened in disbelief, and he turned his gaze towards the direction where the team had been stationed moments ago. To his dismay, it was now empty.
Adeq's frustration reached its peak as he clenched his fists. "When will they learn? We can't just charge headfirst into danger without a solid plan!"