Chapter 3: "Assault on the Complex"
The mist rose gently around the abandoned industrial complex, casting a sinister atmosphere. The few remaining buildings stood tall, surrounded by dilapidated walls, their crumbling structures casting eerie shadows under the flickering tactical lights. The place reeked of danger, but for the members of Mobile Task Force Delta-4 "Safari Time," it was just another day on the job.
The team commander, "Watcher," a veteran with a sharp gaze and a face marked by years of perilous missions, inspected the complex through his night vision binoculars. The dense forest surrounding them barely concealed the telltale signs of SCP-939, those formidable creatures lurking within.
"Deploy," he ordered in a calm but firm voice.
Delta-4, consisting of thirty elite members, moved with military precision in a dispersed formation. Their state-of-the-art equipment included custom assault rifles, SCP-adapted ammunition, and combat suits reinforced against anomalous threats. Each member was an expert, trained for this type of mission where failure was not an option.
The initial reconnaissance teams, led by "Hawk" and "Raptor," stealthily maneuvered through the trees and ruined buildings. Hawk scanned the surroundings with his thermal scope.
"No movement detected so far," he whispered into his mic.
"Keep advancing," Watcher replied, monitoring the screens of his portable command station.
They had barely crossed the perimeter of the complex when one of the creatures surfaced. SCP-939, with its crimson skin and reptilian form, leaped out of the shadows, its jaws wide open, ready to tear. But Delta-4 was too well-prepared. In a fraction of a second, the team took position, their rifles unleashing a precise burst of armor-piercing rounds.
The creature fell heavily to the ground before it could attack.
"Contact at ten o'clock," announced Watcher, raising his rifle to scan the area.
More creatures appeared, emerging from the derelict buildings and dark corners of the complex. The members of Delta-4 reacted instantly. Gunfire erupted into the night, the flashes of bullets briefly illuminating the battlefield. Despite their agility, the SCP-939 were quickly neutralized, unable to match the lethal efficiency of the MTF.
"Sector A cleared," reported Hawk, gesturing towards a secured warehouse.
Delta-4 moved like a well-oiled machine, ensuring every corner of the complex was cleared with precision. Their formation allowed them to cover every angle, and any creatures attempting to ambush them were swiftly eliminated.
Meanwhile, outside the complex, another Delta-4 team progressed silently, hugging the outer walls while checking the entrances. They advanced cautiously, using vegetation and obstacles for cover. It was then that they spotted a group of men in tactical uniforms crouched near an entrance.
It was the GIGN, still in the midst of a hasty retreat from the SCP-939. Taking advantage of their mimicry abilities, the creatures harassed the French operators, using familiar voices to sow confusion among them. Disorganized gunfire erupted as the gendarmes tried to contain the threat, but the assault was too fierce, and their numbers dwindled rapidly.
"Visual contact on armed units," reported a Delta-4 operator. "Looks like they're engaged with SCPs."
Watcher frowned under his helmet, fully aware of the critical situation. He raised his hand to signal a halt and then ordered over the radio:
"Bravo Team, cover them. We're bringing them out alive."
Delta-4 discreetly entered the fight, their surgical shots neutralizing the SCP-939 stalking the GIGN members. Within minutes, the creatures were down, leaving the gendarmes breathless, traumatized but alive.
One of the GIGN operators, still in shock, suddenly saw the Delta-4 operators advancing toward him. Their impeccable appearance and advanced gear indicated they didn't belong to any force he recognized.
Watcher approached them, his face still concealed under his tactical mask.
"Commander of Delta-4," he said in a calm voice. "You're out of your jurisdiction here, but we'll get you out. Follow our orders, and you'll survive."
Dupont, confused but too exhausted to argue, nodded. He knew they had no choice but to follow these mysterious soldiers.
Meanwhile, Watcher connected to his radio and made a report.
"Overlord, this is Watcher. Complex partially secured. SCP-939 confirmed. Multiple successful engagements. We have GIGN survivors. Three confirmed losses on their side."
Before his screen, Léonard listened intently to the commander's voice in his gaming headset.
[Ding! Connection established with MTF Delta-4.]
He swallowed hard, his heart pounding. What he was experiencing surpassed anything he had imagined.
"This is Overlord," Léonard responded, his voice slightly trembling. "Copy that, Watcher. Priority is securing the civilians and eliminating the SCPs. Continue operations, and stay alert."
On the ground, Delta-4 continued their relentless mission. They had come to neutralize a threat, and they wouldn't stop until every SCP-939 in this complex was eliminated. For Léonard, this was a first step into a world where he was no longer just a spectator but a decisive player.
As the communication cut off, Léonard remained fixed on his screen, watching the units' progress. What had begun as a macabre role-playing game was now taking on very real dimensions. He could no longer afford to doubt. Lives depended on his decisions.
Delta-4, meanwhile, pressed forward methodically through the complex, ignoring fatigue, tracking the remaining SCP-939 hiding deep within the ruins. Soon, the complex would be secured, and a new phase of the mission could begin.
The members of Delta-4 advanced confidently through the industrial complex's corridors, methodically closing in on their targets. The SCP-939, invisible to most humans under such low-light conditions, were not safe from Delta-4's advanced equipment. Their progress was almost military, each member knowing exactly what to do and when.
Watcher observed the area with cold concentration. His orders were clear and precise, conveyed by gestures or short instructions into his mic. The SCP-939 were merely obstacles to eliminate, anomalies to contain.
As Delta-4 finished clearing a group of SCP-939 in a dilapidated hall, a voice interrupted their perfect calm. It was Sergeant Mathieu Dupont, one of the few GIGN survivors. He emerged from his hiding spot with the remaining part of his reduced team, his face still marked by the horror of what they had just faced.
"Who are you?" Dupont asked, catching his breath. "What were those... things? And why did you... know how to fight them?"
Watcher, firmly gripping his weapon, turned to the sergeant with an inscrutable look. He showed no emotion, his posture indicating strict discipline.
"That's classified, Sergeant," Watcher replied in a calm but firm voice. "You don't need to know who we are. We're here to contain the situation. Nothing more."
Dupont furrowed his brow, frustrated by the lack of information. "Classified? Are you joking? My men died in there!"
Watcher held his gaze without wavering. "We all have missions, Sergeant. Ours is to neutralize the threat."
Dupont shook his head, visibly irritated, but he understood he wouldn't get anything more out of these mysterious soldiers. His team remained silent as well, perplexed, wondering who these individuals were and how they could face these creatures as if they'd encountered them many times before.
As Watcher was about to end the exchange and continue the mission, a voice in his earpiece interrupted the moment.
"Overlord, this is Watcher. We've made contact with survivors. Local forces. No additional intervention required at this time."
Administrator Léonard, who was following everything through his system's interface, quickly responded. "Copy that, Watcher. Have you detected anything else?"
Watcher glanced around and then turned to one of his teammates, who indicated an opening towards the back of the complex.
"We heard gunfire coming from inside the structure, but for now, the threat seems contained in this sector. However, we spotted an entrance leading to a cave in the building's basement. Several of the entities appear to have taken refuge there. We're preparing to explore it."
Léonard watched the screen with slight hesitation. "Stay vigilant. Don't take any unnecessary risks."
"Copy that, Overlord."
Watcher turned back to Dupont and the remaining GIGN survivors. "We're going to pursue the creatures into the cave. Stay here, out of harm's way."
Dupont gritted his teeth but nodded. They were exhausted, unarmed, and clearly out of their element in the face of what they had just fought. They had no choice but to let Delta-4 continue their mission.
Watcher signaled his team to prepare, and silently, the members of Delta-4 approached the dark cave entrance. The atmosphere was tense. The beams of their flashlights revealed the first damp, sinister rock walls.
The men of Delta-4 slowly disappeared into the darkness, ready to confront whatever lay within.