Before joining TF Amethyst, Sgt. Finneli was a squad leader in the US Army 18th Infantry Division. He underwent six tours of duty and three times almost lost his life due to enemy's fire. Initially, he intended to join Ground Combat Group.

However, he canceled it after finding out Logistic and Support Group had an empty slot for mechanics of heavy vehicles. A job that matched his hobby. Moreover, Logistic and Combat Group offered a preparation program for former US Military's personnel. Without hesitation, Sgt. Finneli applied for the slot.

And now, Sgt. Finneli casually sat on his bed, reading his favorite mystery novel while eight mechanics who shared sleeping quarters with him fast asleep on their beds. Lately, due to so many deployments, mechanics and other personnel in Logistic and Support Group had to follow a strict and tight maintenance schedule. Therefore, most of them would directly go to sleep after finishing their daily quota.

Then, without warning a long series of assault rifles' outburst was suddenly heard from the direction of guard post. Wasting no time, Sgt. Finneli grabbed his NVG and approached the window.

‘Jesus H. Christ!’

Sgt. Finneli gasped as hundreds of people armed with shortswords and double-curved bows entered the complex. They ran with steady steps, passing four MP's personnel who were lying on the ground next to the guard post.

Wasting no time, Sgt. Finneli alarmed his colleagues, “Wake up! We are under attack!”

At first, Sersan Finneli’s colleagues were angry. But in an instant their eyes widened as they heard that they were under attack.

“That fast?”

“How the fuck the attack already arrived?”

This afternoon, the entire element in Levsait and Raisat had received a warning about the possibility of an incoming tunnel attack. However, they did not expect that the attack would arrive a few hours later.

Without delay, two men immediately took initiative to alarm personnel in other rooms. Meanwhile, Sgt. Finneli and six other mechanics made a quick preparation to become the first responder. Fortunately, a little similar to the US Army, TF Amethyst also adopted a policy that in the Medium Operating Base and Forward Operating Camp, all personnel were permitted to carry individual weapons and equipment to their workplace, or keep it in their personal space. Armory was basically only used to store ammunition and provide regular maintenance.

This policy was adopted as experience showed that in the Medium Operating Base and Forward Operating Camp, versus contact could occur at any time without prior warning. Also, the individual weapon and equipment for supporting personnel was not much different compared to the one used by combat units.

Without taking off their pajamas, Sersan Finneli and his colleagues wore their tactical vest. Then, they grabbed their carbine, side arm, extra magazine, grenades, ammo can, combat knife, NVG, radio, and medic bag.

Fortunately, after the warning about the possibility of tunnel attack, Sergeant Finneli and several of his colleagues took the time to take additional ammunition from armory. And so, as long as they use it wisely, they would be able to hold their position for a while.

A moment later, Sersan Finneli led his colleagues ran to the first floor. They had to secure the only access to barrack as fast as possible. Fortunately, when they arrived the entry door was still tightly closed.

As he looked at the two-meters wide and eight-meters long corridor before him, Sgt. Finneli said, “This tunnel is a good choke point. We will hold them here."

“””Roger.”””

Hearing his colleagues replied with a slightly tense and nervous voice, Sergeant Finneli immediately added, “Trust me, don’t try to avoid death by using the easy way. The result will be more painful.”

Sersan Finneli’s colleagues didn’t reply, but they nodded in unison. The firing positions and turn were then distributed. A moment later, the sound of footsteps was rapidly approaching the entry door.

“Here they come. Be ready!” Sersan Finneli said as he shifted the safety lever on his carbine into a semi-auto.

Before long, a loud ‘Bang!’ was repeatedly heard as the attacker rammed the entry door. It was only made of wooden plank with a simple electric lock, so the entry door collapsed easily.

Dozens of people in black suits immediately flooded the corridor. They walked confidently with shortswords in their hand. Then, they saw four men at the end of the corridor. Two on the left and another pair on the right, one stood while the other one knelt. All of them hold a short and weirdly-shaped black stick.

After one glance, the leader of the swordsman immediately recognized the short stick. It was a dangerous weapon called an assault rifle. Realizing that the opposing side welcomed his unit with a deadly greeting, the leader of the swordsman immediately pointed his shortsword towards TF Amethyst's personnel.

“Attack!! Kill th---”

Bang! Bang! Bang! Ba-ba-babababannnngg!!!

Unfortunately, there was a distance that must be closed by the group of swordsmen, while TF Amethyst's personnel only needed to pull the trigger. Intense and well placed firing hit the group of swordmen in the corridor. In an instant, the leading swordsmen collapsed to the floor with bodies full of new holes, followed by swordsmen behind them and so on.

Some swordsmen tried to hide behind the reception table, but it was only made of wood. So their efforts were in vain. Out of 24 swordsmen who entered the corridor, only two managed to come out alive. The rest were killed or fatally wounded.

Seeing their comrades being slaughtered, some bowmen tried to retaliate. However, to fire an arrow they had to fully expose their bodies. As a consequence, they became an easy target for TF Amethyst's personnel. All bowmen who tried to fire an arrow into the corridor instantly got killed, without having a chance to fire a single arrow.

Even though the mechanics' marksmanship was not as good as regular infantry as they only had shooting practice once a week, at a distance below 20 meters they would not miss.

They swiftly eliminated every target who entered their line of sight. When there was a mechanic that had to change magazines, he would step back and other mechanics would replace him. In short, Sersan Finneli and his colleagues managed to kick out the uninvited guest.

Not long after that, some personnel in the barrack joined in with Sgt. Finneli and his colleagues. Wasting no time, they made a barricade to block the entry door.

—

Lt. Col. Harold's heart skipped a beat when he heard that a hostile element had entered Logistic and Support Area. Fortunately, this was not the first time he had a scenario hostile inside the wire. So he recovered almost in an instant.

Moreover, among Logistics and Support Group's personnel there were many who were ex-combatant. Also, Lt. Col. Harold could breathe a little relieved as Sgt. Finneli and some mechanics had taken the initiative to secure the only entry door to the barrack.

Wasting no time, Lt. Col. Harold gathered officers and other personnel. Then, while they organized a defensive measure and sent distress calls to command center, continuous gunshots were heard from first floor. A sign that versus contact has occurred. Fortunately, Sergeant Finneli and his colleagues managed to repel the uninvited guest.

After that, Lt. Col. Harold ordered so the light was turned off. Then, shooters who took position in the window and rooftop had a green to open fire on the uninvited guests. Some shooters were injured by arrows released by opposing bowmen. But overall, the shooters won the skirmish.

Logistic and Support Group's personnel indeed only had an average marksmanship. However, compared to a bowman they were superior in rate of fire and effective range. Moreover, after they saw some uninvited guests laughing while putting severed heads of Logistic and Support personnel they managed to kill into a row of spikes, the shooters opened fire as if there was no tomorrow. And so, in an instant the uninvited guests were running in all directions looking for cover.

By using his NVG, Lt. Col. Harold observed a corner, where a black suited man slightly poked his head from behind a wall. "Kinkaid, can we flank their position and ambush them?”

Master Armorer Kinkaid immediately replied, “It’s too risky, Sir. First, we are not a combat oriented unit. Second, we don’t know their exact number. This group could be just a scout."

"So we will only hold up here."

“Yes, we do.” Master Armorer Kinkaid paused for a moment before continuing, "Not all personnel in this barrack took extra ammo after receiving the warning this afternoon. Some even leave their weapons and equipment at their workplace."

“I see.”

Lt. Col. Harold then looked at the long and neat row of spikes near the guard post. Some spikes had been decorated with severed heads of kitchen's personnel, and not far away from it there were piles of fresh and severed heads of other personnel.

“Is there any survivor who respond to our call?”

“No, Sir. I’m afraid our guest had already hunted and killed every personnel outside this barracks."

“Are you sure?”

“Sir, I did the head count three times. They even kill serving girls in the pub and other civilian workers from Tuscan Region.”

“Damn! What a savage.”

This was the first time Lt. Col. Harold lost so many subordinates in a single versus contact. Moreover, his fallen subordinate received a very inhuman treatment. Unfortunately, it was not the worst part.

Slowly and carefully, hundreds of swordmen, bowmen, and spearmen entered the complex and regrouped with the men in black suits who took cover behind various buildings. A moment later, one of shooters on the rooftop radioed Lt. Col. Harold.

[Watchout 0-1 to Second Floor, do you copy?]

“I read you loud and clear Watchout 0-1, go ahead.”

[Sir… We have another incoming.]

Hearing the shooter reported with a slightly trembling voice, bad feeling immediately filled Lt. Col. Harold's heart. “Sergeant, what kind of hostile and how big?"

[Bowmen, spearmen, and swordsmen, a few thousand at least, Sir]

‘Fuck me!’ muttered Lt. Col. Harold as he turned his gaze to Master Armorer Kinkaid, "Send update to command center, their main unit just arrived."

*****