Chapter 7 - The Challenge [Part 2]

[00:01]

[15:00]

Having been in the simulation for 2 real time hours now, a new batch of re-enforcements drops in; meaning that there are now 80 more protectors. The conditions of the exercise were made to push the teams to complete the task as soon as possible, as the longer you were to wait, the harder it would become. Originally there were only 30, now there are 110.

Zulu has been inspecting the grounds from afar, as the headgear he wears has the ability to magnify things both close and afar. He has been checking to see how re-enforcements came in, how the protectors reported to one another, how they patrolled the area. Watching all this from afar he has created a battle plan, one that he has imagined repeatedly in his mind to find all the possible things that might go wrong when executing it. One that is normal to him, but unusual to all those that watch him. One that he will begin in 10 real time minutes.

For now though he was just watching and marvelling at the simulation. From the spectator stand of the battle field you could tell that the grounds were 100m by 100m and could be split in twenty-five 20 by 20 fields. One that he was in. In a non-activated field it was grey walls and grey ground, but upon activation the ground changed colour, the walls did to as well. It projected what you would see. Looking from above it looked fake, but from the ground it fooled the eye. Hence each seat in the stadium had a projector, for the spectator to see what the participate saw.

[10:00]

[09:59]

Upon first entering the space Zulu played with the simulation. He threw his knife at a tree and it stuck to it. He went to walk a slope and a slope was made. He moved to climb and a tree and he did. It all felt so real to him, as if it was made to imitate real life and yet he felt that it was off. He could not stain his uniform when he stepped into a puddle. He could not smudge dirt onto his face. There was no wind when the trees were shown to move and the ground was always solid, even if it was shown to be muddy.

There were limits to the simulation and these limits made him worry. He knew that he did not know what he could and could not do here. Whether he would be able to play the role of a lost civilian. Whether or not he would be shot on first sight. He did not have enough information and that was a problem. For now though, he assumed everything he could do in real life could be done in the simulation and he would continue to make his plans based on that assumption until proven wrong.

[05:01]

[05:00]

Taking one last long breath

[Commence operations]

Dropping down from the tree, jumping and swinging from branch to branch, he reaches the ground with not a sound. The exercise took place in somewhere much like a rainforest. There was one single building that seemed to be a one level, one room site. The Data chip to collect is said to be in there.

[04:28]

[04:27]

Staying low he was moving fast. Being on the clock he needed to get to the drop point quickly. After watching everything for 2 hours he had figured out the re-enforcement pattern. At this time there would be two dropping by air. He needed to get to one for his plan to work.

[03:36]

[03:35]

The re-enforcement dropped far from the targeted base and to him they seemed to be easy pickings. Falling by yourself, separated from your friends. The moment you hit the ground was the moment you were at your most venerable; that was the time he wanted to strike. That was time he was going to strike.

[02:04]

[02:03]

Still moving quickly, he didn’t have to care about being spotted, but he still moved low, and he still moved quietly. He was too far from anybody and to well covered, thanks to the naturel surroundings to actually need to try and stay in stealth. It wasn’t a conscious decision for him to do this though, it was pure habit.

[00:37]

[00:36]

Having reached his destination with 30 seconds to spare he was yet again in another tree. The location the protector would drop down to was an open flat space. Open enough for a parachute to not to caught on a tree, but also open enough for someone to drop down onto the protector. This was a fault of the simulation. The protectors always fell into the exact same spot.

[00:02]

[00:01]

Looking up, time ticked onwards and the next round of re-enforcements came in. 120 was the number now. Soon to be 119.

[Enemy distance 500m]

[Enemy distance 200m]

[Enemy distance 100m]

A parachute opens and the protector’s body does an upturn due to the force of the sudden air resistance. Zulu brings out a knife, a knife he was hoping he didn’t have to use. He needed a quiet, bloodless kill; but it didn’t hurt to be prepared for a bloody one.

[Enemy on the ground in 0:03]

[Enemy on the ground in 0:02]

Zulu jumps out of the tree. He was above the protector now and when he landed Zulu would be on him.

[Enemy on the ground]

“Shit” he swears passing through the protector as if he was nothing and crashing into the ground.

[Unpredicted outcome]

Rolling to his side he quickly gets back to his feet and throws his knife. Piercing the protector right in between the eyes and staying there for a second before dropping to the ground. The body of the protector evaporating into the air like it never existed, leaving a grenade, assault rifle and clip on the floor. Plan A evaporate with the body. He did not have enough information.

Sighing he picks up the grenade and assault rifle, leaving the clip. Even though he has never used the rifle before, they all operated the same. Turn off the safety, look down the sight and press the trigger.

Plan B will commence at night fall, between now and then he will figure out how to get the safety off, start laying explosives and kill the Protectors that drop here. 40 real time minutes till nightfall.

--------------

Alpha Unit

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Fiddling with the barrel of his sniper rifle Samuel is restless, a trait unusual for one so proficient with a long range weapon.

“Stop it” Lucy says to him “They’ll be back soon.”

“I know.” He replies now fiddling with the cartridge of the rifle “It’s been 55 minutes, do you think the Zulu’s done?”

“Probably…Maybe…I don’t know” she answers looking out for anybody that may approach them. “Just keep a look out at the base”

“I think he is done. He should have finished by now” playing with his bullet necklace “It’s a simulation. They’ll be no one after us and they won’t leave their set routes.”

Sighing, she drops her rifle “I know I shouldn’t listen to you” she says as she moves to lie down next to him “But they are running late”

Adjusting his scope “they were meant to be back before the third re-enforcement Protectors came in…think they were killed?”

*Rustle*

Rolling over and into a crouched position Lucy brings her rifle forward ready to fire.

“You guys are dead” Delia greets them “I thought I told you to stand guard.”

“Sorry” Lucy replies not even bothering to argue or trying to defend herself

“Let it go Delia” Samuel states “It’s just a simulation”

“If you weren’t so proficient with the sniper Samuel you would still be in training”

“Thank goodness I’m the best then”

“Matthew still hasn’t returned yet?”

“No” Lucy replies “Think he may have failed?”

“Failed in scouting? Him?” she asks rhetorically “No, he may have just been held up” shaking her head “Let’s give him another 20 minutes”

“That would mean that there would be another 50 units!” Samuel speaks up “We should just go in now!”

“The last time we did what you suggested…..” Lucy shivers at the memory “I’m never following your plans again”

“Hey that was a solid plan…I just didn’t think the sewage would get us at the end” he mumbles more to himself than anybody else

“Enough” Delia says “Are the Protectors moving as we thought they would?”

“Yes” Lucy answers “everything is going as we thought it would. It follows one of the most basic patterns”

“Our original plan of attack should work then. Even if there is going to be only three of us”

“Another drop of Protectors” Samuel says “That’s 70 Protectors on the field now”

*Rustle*

Delia immediate drops and rolls ending up behind Lucy who points herself at the direction of the noise

“Sorry for being so late” Matthew say upon arriving “Got stuck between the first and second ring.”

“Only half an hour late” Samuel says getting up from his prone position. “I’ll start heading off to my location.” Pausing for a second “is that plan still going ahead?”

“No” Matthew shakes his head “That position is compromised. We will enter from Delia’s suggested position.”

“I won’t have a full view of the complex though!”

“We will enter from Delia’s suggested position.”

“Yes sergeant.” Samuel fakes a salute, mocking him as it isn’t required for the rank he holds.

“Luce, you’ll be with me and Delia. We will need the three of us on the ground.”

“Aye sarge”