As the men began to contemplate their plan, Axel, who had a knack for simulating strategies in his mind, quickly devised one. However, he recalled what had happened during their atmospheric entry, an insect had crawled onto one of his team members, and at the checkpoint, that member had been discovered to be already replaced by an impostor. With a flash of ruthlessness, he gave the order.
"Everyone strip right now! Drop your weapons on the left, your armor on the right, everyone that's done line up in the middle. We'll conduct an inspection immediately."
Upon hearing this, the squad leaders were stunned. They had verified their men almost every day, but seeing Axel's face, indicating he would not take a no for an answer, they all complied. As the spearhead of the military, they had a vague understanding that Axel was their superior. One by one, they began to unequip their gear, even Winter 01, who had been checked earlier, stripped off his clothes. The squad leaders were a little hesitant, but seeing Winter 01 taking the lead, they chose to follow suit, fully aware that this small delay might be a lifesaver in the event that someone had truly been replaced. Some team members were also unfamiliar with this type of scenario, so they could only sigh and comply with the orders given.
The brandy, now about to fulfill its purpose, was being used as a disinfectant for the operation. While it might not be as effective as rubbing alcohol, it was the only available option for maintaining a hygienic procedure. Doubts crept into the minds of some men from other teams, but they remained silent, their eyes glued to Team Comet as they began to pierce the sides of the squad leaders with precision. The organ checks followed, moving from the heart to the lungs and then down to the intestines and stomach. The process was excruciating, but the squad leaders understood the necessity of ensuring no impostors were among them. Complaints simmered beneath the surface, but they were quelled by the gravity of the moment.
Once the squad leaders were verified, they donned their gear and initiated checks on their own men. Noticing some lacked proper medical skills, Axel and his team stepped in, ensuring the procedure ran smoothly. Tensions mounted, and just as the atmosphere threatened to crack, a desperate cry broke through.
"I… I… I'm scared! Captain, you have to help me!" A member from team Bombardier voiced his fears, panic evident in his pleading eyes.
As Tamaki prepared to plunge his knife into the man's side, a grotesque entity revealed itself. The operative from the opposing team was none other than a Chrysalica, a creature resembling a mass of worms, with eyes that resemble flies scattered among its tentacles. In an instant, Bombardier 01 transformed his Winston into a longsword, cleaving the malevolent creature in half. Before the shock of the moment could settle, two more operatives darted forward one from team Summer and team Spring, only to meet the swift blades of Rainy 01 and Autumn 01, who dispatched them in a flurry of steel.
The unarmed men stood frozen, their blood turning cold as terror coursed through their veins. Half of the operatives, unaware of such horrors, couldn't help but feel a shudder run down their spines. Meanwhile, those who were in the know broke out in cold sweats. They looked at their weapons on the floor as if gazing at a lover, vowing to cherish their weapons with every heartbeat, even in the next life.
Axel and his team also underwent the inspection, knowing it was a necessity. After ensuring everything was verified, he looked at the men with a questioning yet authoritative tone.
"Are there any questions?" he asked, noting the doubtful gazes they had directed at him and his team before the procedure began.
The operatives couldn't help shaking their heads like the tail of a dog excited to see its cherished owner. Seeing this, Axel knew he had gained some semblance of trust from these men. After a while, once all the wounds were bandaged, he glanced at the six squad leaders, ready to discuss the next course of action.
He then pointed to the entry point they had come from and called on Tamaki, who was well-known for his vivid descriptions, to recount the horrors they had witnessed. After a few minutes, the squad leaders couldn't help but grind their teeth, their eyes blazing with fury. The soldiers who overheard the conversation felt their rage deepen as they realized that these creatures were truly spawns of hell. They even dared to make playthings of their fellow men and women.
"Eyes sharp!" Axel then pointed toward the location of another exit they had found that led to the river. He took into account that the area might be guarded, as operatives could be hiding underwater. They may need to launch a full assault for that exit to be used as a checkpoint. The third exit was on the seventh floor, leading up Sainte-Catherine Hill, which was very close to where their team needed to be.
Spring 01 then synchronized the team with hand signals, establishing a defensive perimeter. He turned to his fellow operatives, offering a succinct briefing of their mission.
"Our objective is clear, we are to extract Arcanists trapped on the fifteenth floor, enslaved as laborers. Our rally point is at this hill, and we have the option to move with you. These survivors can wield arcane, so the steep exit will pose no hindrance to us."
"We have a secondary objective. We are tasked to neutralize a facility within the compound. Classified details cannot be shared at this time." Bombardier 01 stated, adding critical intel as he pointed decisively to a marked section of the second floor on the map. The other squad leaders nodded, each understanding that their deployment would be crucial to the operation's success.
"There's an exit near the facility leading directly to the Le Gros-Horloge clock," he continued. "However, intelligence suggests it's heavily fortified. We'll avoid that route and instead recommend demolishing this area to create a diversion. We can accompany you as backup, however, we may not meet your timetable."
Axel analyzed the contributions, mentally simulating various operational scenarios. He turned to the remaining team leaders from Winter, Summer, Autumn, Desert, and Rainy, seeking their strategic input. The teams affirmed their commitment to support Team Comet in the mission's execution. This alleviated some of Axel's tension, although the necessity for overwhelming firepower on a rescue operation puzzled him.
The team settled on using the eleventh floor once everyone completed their objectives. Tamaki had noted that the ship was sizable enough to accommodate hundreds, ensuring their exit would not raise suspicion. With a force of fifty-six well-trained operatives, they were confident in their ability to break through if confronted. Stealth remained their priority, but they were armed and ready to engage should the situation demand it.
"Look alive, men! Eyes on the clock! Let's move out!"
Like a well-oiled machine, the Bombardier team split up, while the six teams headed toward the twelfth floor. What they found was an array of equipment sufficient to outfit an entire brigade. This gear appeared to be what the lizardmen were using, suggesting a common manufacturer. They now had a clear picture in their minds, the operatives were planning to turn Rouen into their stronghold for spreading the plague.
The team quickly grabbed some leather armor and suited up, each even bringing a pair of extra leather body armor as Axel suggested. Once they were finished, they encountered several guards from the Huechromixix operatives, who they swiftly eliminated. One guard attempted to flee but was shot down by Wong.
As they descended the stairs, the terrain began to steepen. They estimated their downward altitude to be about two hundred meters, which alarmed and puzzled them. How could such an intricate tunnel system go undiscovered? As they continued down, the surroundings changed dramatically from rugged stone caves to ornate tiles that illuminated the tunnel. The tiles vaguely resembled the stained glass commonly found in cathedrals. The leaders of each squad exchanged glances, wariness flashing in their eyes.
Further down, they spotted a stone door guarded by two lizardmen. These creatures were similar to the ones who had deceived the Marshal. However, before they could react, two bolts struck them in the eyes while the other teams swarmed in, hacking them down with their swords. Unable to hide the bodies, the men quickly shoved them into a corner as if they were merely sleeping. They then used the spare leather armor they had looted to cover the corpses a precaution specifically designed for scenarios like this.
Axel, a bomb specialist and combat engineer, had participated in multiple demolition operations throughout his career. Although he might not look the part, his expertise was undeniable. He and the other demolition experts analyzed the structural integrity of their target, conducted a terrain analysis, and determined the amount of explosives needed for the mission.
After careful consideration, they devised a plan utilizing the bomb provided by Berg. Axel explained the bomb's specifications to his fellow combat engineers, detailing his strategy for breaching the door without completely demolishing it. He reasoned that if they opened the door entirely, they would risk being immediately surrounded by backup forces coming from above ground. Instead, by creating a breach just large enough for their team to fit through, they could minimize the threat from enemies on the other side.
In this way, if hostile forces were indeed present on the other side, they wouldn't be overwhelmed by a flood of attackers. Furthermore, he anticipated that any reinforcements moving through the destroyed door would be hindered, as they would have to squeeze through the narrow gap left after the initial breach.
Axel was also mindful of the risks they faced, knowing that getting trapped could lead to disastrous consequences. He planned for a second breach upon their exit to fully destroy the door, however if the forces from above-ground proved overwhelming, they will need to find another escape route.
After hearing Axel's plan, the team of experienced combat engineer, were convinced of its viability. The team was then re-deployed to gather the lizardmen corpses, which were now considered valuable resources. The bodies of the Huechromixix operatives were exceptionally durable and tough, and using them would help dampen the impact of the blast, allowing it to focus and create a small hole.
Axel was surprised to discover that the bomb even came with instructions for detonation, which involved igniting it using just the friction against the wall.
[Mission Duration: 03:14:07 – Currently Ongoing]
[France Time – 21:15]