CO Office, 4th Floor Main Building, Harley Quinn MOA.

2334, 28 Jan 2025

From one of the windows in his office, Gen. O'Neil watched a convoy of trucks pass the main gate, while inwardly he was thinking of the night drop led by Captain Stark.

If the jump went well, MCG's personnel would assess whether the selected location was sufficient to be used as a Forward Operation Camp or a new location must be sought.

If the location was adequate then the next process could be started. Sending Tamir Air Defense System that would provide air cover, a company of light infantry that would secure the area, followed by MCG's personnel along with materials and equipment they needed. As for heavy equipment that could not be deployed from Hercules, it would be sent by land.

After the FOC was established and the area around it was under control, MCG's personnel would build South High Road to the south as well as to the north, and meet with MCG personnel who start working from Harley Quinn.

‘The results should have been obtained by now.’

General O'Neil muttered while Vex walked into the room and went straight to him.

"The jump in the south was a success without personnel or material losses. If there is no correction from MCG's personnel the next stage will begin in three hours."

"Finally we are at a starting point." A faint smile crossed General O'Neil's lips before he continued, "Vex, some units want to start their initial activities. Will the Ground Combat Group and Aviation Combat Group be able to respond to their requests?"

"Which unit and to what extent they will conduct it?"

"Nature Environment Group and Mobile Construction Group want to conduct a survey in the Southeast Triangle. The Agriculture Development Group wants to start planting Nouel. While Intelligence & Diplomacy Group wants to start relationships with nearest Regions."

Vex immediately massaged his forehead. TF Amethyst had no shortage of personnel, as all the personnel needed had already arrived on Harley Quinn. Unfortunately, not all assets had arrived.

After a deep breath, Vex said, "We can provide escort for NEG and MCG, ADG can plant Nouel with a radius up to 5 km from South High Road. As for IDG, we should wait until South High Road and the Foc's protecting it are ready. As a relationship always comes with a potential conflict. "

"We'll arrange it according to your suggestion then."

"Understood."

Vex then returned to the Main Operations Control Room.

---

Main Operations Control Room, 3rd Floor Main Building, Harley Quinn MOA.

0920, 31 Jan 2025

Vex was busy studying the route proposed by NEG and MCG when, Lt. Colonel Julius, one of senior officers in the Operations Control Room approached him.

"Sir, you may be interested in examining it."

As Vex looked at the main screen where a group of horsemen herded some people, Lt. Colonel Julius continued.

"Reaper caught their movement thirty minutes ago. Fifty horsemen entered a settlement 9 km west of the OPL. They killed some and then herded the rest to northwest.

According to IDG's officer they are skilled riders, but there is no attribute that indicates they are a cavalry unit from a nearby region."

Vex was pensive for a moment before asking, "Is there any indication they will move to OPL?"

"No, there isn’t."

After he heard Lt. Colonel Julius' answer, Vex immediately nodded in relief. "Then ignore them. We are not a peacekeeping force."

"Sir, in the last month they have captured hundreds of villagers in the west of OPL. We can send a small team to eliminate them, so why don't we do it?"

Vex casually answered, "We're in the middle of a resource-consuming operation. It's best not to attract attention."

"... Sir?"

"Lieutenant Colonel Julius, our presence is still unknown because no one is willing to approach Desolate Land's entrance. This situation must be maintained until we are ready to face those who are interested in exploiting our presence."

"Sir." Lt. Colonel Julius gave a small nod before returning to his desk with lowered head.

Vex then sighed silently while checking his watch. 'Ten minutes before Old Man O'Neil takes my place. Then I can go to ACG HQ to coordinate the logistical support for the team who will visit Southeast Triangle.'

As Vex went back to studying the map before him, the display on the main screen was replaced by the construction activities of FOC South 860.

—

Meadow 1 km west of OPL W115

1147, 31 Jan 2025

"A little more, once we enter the woodland before Desolate Land, we no longer have to worry about Black Eagle which might appear at any time."

Reem then smiled at Rui, her younger brother who was only 8 years old while tightening her grip.

This morning Reem, Rui, and a dozen other kids were playing hide and seek on the outskirts of the village when Mountain Bandits attacked. Without blinking their eyes, they killed elderly and toddlers before herding the remaining villagers to northwest.

Reem's parents and other villagers were refugees who escaped from choking taxes, never-ending forced labor, negative sentiments from the majority, or other reasons that made them unable to seek protection from local authorities.

Therefore, from an early age the villagers teached their children how to survive in the woods, and where to go if disaster strikes their village.

'After arriving at the woodland we must immediately build a foxhole, with a door as small as possible to prevent Gray Wolf from entering.

Tomorrow afternoon, we will return to the village to collect supplies and equipment that were left behind by Mountain Bandits, then stay in the forest for a while. As for the next few weeks Mountain Bandits will occasionally come to check the village.’

It was a tragic occurrence, for a 12-year-old girl had to lead a dozen younger children and to keep them alive under the threat of dangerous wildlife. Unfortunately, that's the truth.

Actually, Reem was trembling and scared inside. But she realized that if she gave up, the hopes of her brother and the other children to survive would be dashed.

'Don't give up and be strong.'

Reem repeatedly tried to strengthen her resolve, but tears in the end poured down from her eyes.

"Big Sis, don't cry, we will help.”

Rui tried to strengthen his sister who was starting to sob, followed by the other children who got closer to Reem. Because right now, she was the only one who could lead them.

"I know, don't worry we'll be fine."

Reem wiped her tears, then tried to smile at dozens of children around her.

Reem and other children finally arrived at the edge of the woodland, and almost screamed when a man in green clothes covered in twigs and weeds suddenly rose to stand in front of them.

"Kid, this place is very dangerous and not a place to play. Hurry back to your home."

With a tone as friendly as possible, the man reminded dozens of children who tried to cross the Outer Protection Line guarded by his team. But the children in front of him were silent, then some of them began to sob.

Meanwhile, Reem was stunned for a moment before saying, "Mountain Bandits came to our village, killed the elderly and toddlers, then took our parents and other villagers away. Some of them would hide in the village at least until tomorrow morning to wait for villagers who might return from their journey. So we can’t go back now."

"..."

The man in green clothes was speechless. In the protocol he received, there was no procedure that could be used as a guide for the current situation.

"Uncle, let us stay in this forest for a while. We will not disturb you."

'Fuck! Why did a situation like this arise when I was on duty? If I call in Command Center, they won't bother and ask me to just kick these poor kids out.' The man in green clothes frowned before asking, "Do you know how to survive in the forest? Trust me, it is not easy even for adults.”

"We do." Seeing a glimmer of hope, Reem immediately nodded before explaining,

"Since we were four years old we have been taught how to survive in the woods."

"Sarge, they're not going to survive here." Suddenly, another man in green clothes rose to his feet not far from where Reem and the other children were.

However, Reem did not have time to feel the shock in her heart. She was already drowning in worry that she and the other children would be kicked out.

If she was not allowed to live in the woodland before the Desolate Land, then she no longer knew where to go with the other children.

"Uncle, we will succeed, believe me, we beg you."

Reem tried to explain further, but the two men in front of her shook their heads slowly before taking a deep breath.

Reem instantly panicked, then started sobbing with the other children.

—

Ward A2, 1st Floor Medic Quarter, Harley Quinn MOA

1256, 31 Jan 2025

"Whoaaah..."

"So sweet and delicious."

"These must be the milk and biscuits that the nobles enjoy."

Reem and a dozen other children enjoyed the warm milk and biscuits handed out by Medic Quarter's officers, and were constantly amazed.

Previously, they were invited to ride a four-wheeled iron carriage. The carriage has two doors at the front and one large door at the back. Two seats at the front and two long chairs at the back facing each other.

On either side of the iron carriage were three small, very clear windows. Strangely, even though there was no horse to pull it, the iron carriage could move very fast.

Reem and other children had the impression, "Riding the strange iron carriage turned out to be very fun."

After passing through the woodland, they came to a smooth and long road that ended up in an area filled with various giant buildings.

Other than some very tall buildings, there were also semi-circular buildings that extend backward, or buildings with roofs but without walls where objects shaped like an arrowhead in white, gray, and with a hint of black were lined up neatly.

There was also a long path where the object shaped like an arrowhead shot out and made a loud sound, then lifted and climbed into the sky.

Reem and the other kids repeatedly rubbed their eyes, and only stopped and were sure there was nothing wrong with their vision after the other three big arrowheads also flew up into the sky.

"U-uwawa... the arrowheads flew without flapping their wings."

In addition, they also saw a row of objects with a shape similar to a cart or dragonfly with four long stalks above it.

While Reem was trying to understand what place she had just entered, the other kids suddenly screamed hysterically.

"Look look. . . the cart can fly too!"

At the same time, they came across an iron carriage that was bigger than the iron carriage they were on.

'They must be the messengers of gods who live in the heavens, and the tallest building on the easternmost side is their main shrine.' Reem murmured while nodding her head.

Reem also remembered that the two iron carriage riders were dumbfounded when they met them for the first time. But only for a moment, before they attentively helped the children onto the iron carriage and with broken accents reminded the children to hold on firmly.

The man in green who they met for the first time also muttered non-stop 'Everything will be fine. Everything will be alright…' with a trembling voice while his face was pale.

Initially, Reem and the other children were worried whether they would be okay if they followed the uncle. But their worries evaporated as soon as they arrived at the building known as Medic Quarter.

The men and women in Medic Quarter looked at them dumbfounded at first, but only for a moment before they took the children to a room where dozens of beds neatly lined up, and everything was all white, from mattresses, blankets, pillows, tables, floors, ceiling, to the wall.

The men and women who were called paramedics place their hands on Reem's and other children's wrists before writing something on a small board, then place something in the children's mouths and stick small metal circles to their chests before returning to writing on the small board.

The paramedics were very friendly and could speak fluently. Although there were still traces of accents that indicate they were not locals.

Reem braced herself to approach a female paramedic who seemed to hold the highest position. If she remembered correctly, the young woman was called "El-tee."

"Miss El-tee, we can work if we are allowed to live here. We are still children, but we are very strong and diligent."

Miss El-tee was dumbfounded for a while before nodding and smiling. "Okay, but for now you should eat and rest so your bodies recover as quickly as possible."

Reem nodded firmly and was relieved that the strangers they met didn't seem like bad people. They also allowed her and the other children to show that they could be of use. So they could temporarily stay in the shrine of the divine messengers.

*****