Now I shouldn't be excited over something like this. Because this is a life and death situation, just like when I was fighting Khione. But I can't help it. I need to make my very best in here although my strategy is just so-so. I mean, I only plan it out based on what the things that would get me a point in the game. So it's not, by any means, foolproof especially since this is real now. Those things might change (though I hope not).
As commanded, the students of the third- and fourth-years gather in the square. There are 4 classes of third- and fourth-year each, and there are 20 people each, so it's around 160 worth of cadets. There is a stage just in front of the Shell fountain, in the courtyard in the ground floor, and the headmaster, Clifford Huang, walks up to it with a mic in hand.
"Test, test, is this on? Okay. We have received a distress call from the police. The North Crystal Tower have been taken over by terrorist and they need our help to take it back. We have not yet received an update on the other three, but I've got info of suspicious individuals entering their surroundings. I'm sending over each third- and fourth-year to each tower. You must bring the civilians to safety and secure the terrorists." He said.
Some of the students expresses their contentment. "Yes, I know that the third-years are preparing for exam right now, I can see you're excited to ditch it as soon as you enter the courtyard." Some students laugh from the crowd.
"Which is why I have discussed with the teachers that this will be your 2nd exam." The crowd goes quiet and this time, the headmaster smiles. "Each of you will be scored based on your performance in dealing with such situations as a STARs cadet. Those of you who are caught ditching the area will receive punishment. Do not get killed."
The joyful atmosphere turns gloomy in an instant. Who would've thought they'll be assessed right on the field like this? Well, the Headmaster certainly doesn't give a damn.
Then teachers line up on the stage and the students are then separated into different groups.
There is the Tower Squad corresponding to each tower location namely North, East, South, and West. Each Tower Squad consists of two teams, Beta and Alpha, which is the third- and fourth-year class respectively. Since the A class of each year are consists of A score students, we are given the opportunity to deal with the bad guys directly in the North Tower.
Thankfully, I'm already in the A class with Rean, be it because of my outrageous luck or Terrence 'is' coded to be there. But it's good since the North Tower is where the fun is at.
"ALL OF YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO WORK TOGETHER. DO NOT SABOTAGE FELLOW CADETS FOR POINTS OR YOURS WILL BE DEDUCTED. DO ACCORDINGLY WITH THE TERRACE'S BYLAWS AND PRIORITIZE THE SURVIVORS. I REPEAT, NO CHEATING!!" Our teacher, Mr. Radcliffe, booms through the mic as the students enter the trucks.
Headmaster Huang bids us good luck, and we're off.
On the way, Natalie explains to us about the situation. She's also in the North Team and shares the command for both of our team.
The four Crystal Towers and its surrounding area are 'attacked' by 'terrorists' and most of the citizens are still held inside the area. The terrorists threaten to blow up the buildings and kill the citizens if they are disturbed. That is why the police asks the Terrace for help, hoping that we can infiltrate the place and rescue the citizens.
"There will be Rescue team that focuses on saving the citizens and helping them back to the rendezvous point, and the Go Team which focuses on clearing the path for the rescue. My team will set up a base that will serve as our rendezvous point. We will drop off at the residential area, from there, you will partner up with a senior. Remember, infiltrate and rescue. Got it?" She then lists our names and I, as expected, got the Rescue team.
"I know this is the first time for all of you third years, but chin up, you are not alone. The fourth-years are here to help you out. But still, some of you need to be in the front line." She glances at Rean when she said the last two words. Then she turns to us again. "Be brave, don't scream, and you'll be okay."
Well, that was some pep talk. But it manages to ease some tension in the truck. As expected of a star student. I wonder if I'm the one who says it, will the others act the same? Or they'll just follow their code?
The truck stops and the door is lowered. Like in the game, we arrive at the secluded part of the park in North District that is very close to the Tower. But in order to get there, we have to pass a residential area.
"Hey, gunner! You're going with me." A senior whose face I can recognize as a flat character said. I'm the only gunner of A class, so of course, he's talking to me. "Why did you bring a bag?"
I need to get rid of him once I work on the first phase of my plan. I don't know most of these flat characters' personality. He might not let me go, so I have to make him trust me. I smile and show him the rope hanging from the side of my backpack. "I brought rope!"
The guy frowns. "How do you have time to bring that? Never mind." He pulls an iron bat from his back. "I'm Jake. You follow me, you got that? How's your people skill?"
I take my gun from my holster. "Decent. Moms love me."
He shakes his head, not intending to understand whatever I mean. "Let's go."
Then he leads the way.
The others and I maneuver behind the trees and bushes. We found three kids crying behind bushes. They were trembling in fear and immediately told us about bad guys in their homes. Two of us escort them back and the rest of us continue. In just seconds, we enter the neighborhood and we could see the problem.
There are men wearing black hoodie and rabbit mask walking along the road with weapon in hand. Seven of them are patrolling while there are other two that are standing right in the middle of the street and seem to be fiddling with a device.
We take positions behind the houses and garbage cans before discussing our next step with our Arrows. Natalie had ordered us to sync our Arrow prior to reaching the area.
"What is that?" I can hear my classmate asked, referring to the device.
"It could be bomb." A senior said.
Wrong. That is a signal ward. It has a certain kind of Terra Gemma that is only used for secure connection. Simplified, it is an Incognito device that prevents us from contacting people outside of its barrier. It's not active yet, and it never was in the game.
I raise my gun and ask. "Kill shot?"
My classmates' responses are the classic 'Wtf'.
But the seniors are all chill and look at each other as if considering it. In the game, this is when the players have to make a choice. It doesn't matter what you choose because someone will shoot the terrorist anyway. But the decision worth one point, and I have to earn all the points in this event.
Since the seniors are taking too long, I take it into my own hands. I aim my gun and shoot the device. The gem in its center, which has no protection layer whatsoever, shatters the second my bullet hits it. A soft ding echoes and a small pop up appears a bit to my right.
01/27
27 is the number of maximum points the players can earn in this event. And I can say that I'm grateful for this little help Ozzie is giving me. Now I don't have to count the points by myself.
I immediately get back to the matter at hand because the terrorists are now alerted and looking for the source of the shot.
My classmates look at me with that face again, and not just them, the seniors are also looking at me. But with dead stares. I don't know why they're looking at me like that, but it makes me nervous. Weren't they all chill before?
"O-Oops… I was aiming at their hands…" I lied.
Some of them look like they want to strangle me, but the captain is quick to follow up.
"Subdue them!" Natalie commands.
We come out of our hiding and immediately take the terrorists down with sleeping gas. I didn't bother to shoot again because we easily outnumber them. And besides, the mission is not to kill. They are then tied up near the broken device with ropes from our truck. No way in hell I'm letting them take mine.
"This will be our base. Set up the tent!" Natalie commands the others before walking to the device. "Sheena come with me. We need to analyze what kind of device this is."
A girl from her team joins her while the others do their own assignments.
We are then divided from there point on. The Rescue team must secure the suburbs a little bit more while the Go Team, well, they must go to the Tower and do their thing.
I see Rean goes with the Go Team and secretly wish he would miss a few things for me to pick up later. Because I'm not playing as him, I'm playing as myself. I'm more likely to miss these points because he's the main character, but I also thought that Ozzie's system wouldn't be giving me this mission if there's nothing that can be changed.
"Hey, gunner! Don't dilly dally!" Jake slaps my back.
"Ah, sorry."
"Go and check the surroundings for civilians." He said.
"My pleasure, senior Jake." I take out my gun and turn around. 'Points, here I come!'