BR-BRAA-BRAARR-BRAAAAARRRRRR!!!

Almost at the same time, six glass windows on Geko-01's bridge were suddenly broke into pieces. Followed by Lieutenant Kidd's team who swiftly landed on the floor. Wasting no time, Lieutenant Kidd’s team then pulled their Scorpion Evo, shifted the safety lever into three-round burst, and secure their sector.

“Down to the floor, hand on the back, or you will have new holes on the chest."

Lieutenant Kidd tried his best to give a serious warning. However, words were not enough most of the time. Two officers in the bridge couldn’t help but followed their combat instinct.

As soon as they saw six men in black clothes and black headcover landed inside the bridge, they immediately drew their shortsword, and then moved towards Lieutenant Kidd with a swift steps.

BA-BABANG! BA-BABANG!

Without a warning, a frogmen gave the two officers a three-round burst on the chest. As the result, the two officers tumbled to the floor on their second step.

At the same time, four guards entered the bridges. Two from the main door and two from a small door in the left corner. However, two frogmen already expected their arrival.

B-BA-BANG! BA-BABANG! BA-BABABANG!!

Before the incoming guards had a chance to understand the situation, a series of quick but well controlled three-round burst welcomed them in the chest first. And so, the incoming guards fell to the floor and arrived in after life. The two frogmen then casually walked to each door, locking it, and stood guard next to it.

“Well,” Lieutenant Kidd looked at the remaining bridge’s personnel as he continued. “Gentlemen, listen carefully, your life is not our main objective, but I will not reluctant to take it if you don’t know how to cherish it. Do you understand?”

“”””Yes,”””” some of the bridge’s personnel replied weakly, while some others firmly nodded their head a few times.

“Good. Now, down to the floor, hand on the back, please.”

This time, the bridge's personnel immediately got down to the floor as if their life was depended on it. Well, to be frank, their life was really depended on it.

Wasting no time, two frogmen processed the bridge's personnel. Cable tie on their wrist and ankle, black duct tape on their mouth, and black bag on their head. Only three people escaped the special treatment. The captain, the navigator, and the crystal communication’s operator.

Lieutenant Kidd deeply looked at the three before saying, “Mr. Captain, Mr. Navigator and Mr. Crystal, you can go back to your station and wait for further instruction.

However, please refrain your self from any action that will give my men a good reason to add new holes on your body.”

“”Y-yes, Sir,”” Mr. Navigator and Mr. Crystal replied with a slightly shaking voice, while Mr. Captain silently returned to his command seat.

In less than five minutes, Lieutenant Kidd’s team managed to bag the whole bridge. They were not only one minute earlier than the schedule, but also secured the essential personnel to operate Geko-01. It was a satisfying result. However, the mission was far from finished.

Wasting no time, Lieutenant Kidd pressed PTT button in his left chest. “Second to Top, do you copy?”

[Loud and clear, go ahead, Second.]

“Bridge is secure, I say again, bridge is secure.]

[Any casualty?]

“Negative.”

[Copy, we will coming down in second.]

“Roger.”

---

Overall, Captain Kasino's team was staying in the bridge's rooftop for only 12 minutes. However, in those fairly short time, the opposing side's bowmen managed to score 2-4 arrow hits on each frogmen. Fortunately, there were no fatality even if the wounds would greatly affect the frogmen combat effectiveness.

And now, after their wounds were treated, the wounded frogmen sat in one corner while leisurely munching chocolate bar or drinking energy drink, as if they were on a picnic.

At the same time, Captain Kasino and Lieutenant Kidd observed the situation on the deck from one of the window.

“Well, this ship is surely a lively place,” Captain Kasino calmly said as hundreds of hostiled from the fourth cruiser started to board on Geko-01’s deck.

“Yeah,” Lieutenant Kidd then turned his gaze to Captain Kasino’s team, and looked at two frogmen with four arrow wounds as he continued, “Their mobility and reaction time will go downhill.”

“It seems so.”

“Top, how about you hand over the next objective to second team. My team is still fresh and fit.”

“Well, your team will get it if my team fail. As for now, let’s stick to the plan.”

“Roger.”

Silence then enveloped the two frogmen’s officers, until finally Captain Kasino received a radio calling from Sergeant Muller.

[Fourth to Top, do you read me?]

“I read you, Fourth, go ahead.]

[Top, we are in position, but hostile are rapidly building their numbers up, right in our tail. It’s only a matter of time before they pressing forward with everything they have.]

“Copy, give me 50 second, if after that my team fail to arrived at the designated position, you can breach the war strategy room.”

“Randu, Fourth over and out.”

Wasting no time, Captain Kasino’s team then make a quick preparation. Each frogmen ensured their magazine and grenade pouches were fully filled. Then, they took position in a single line next to the small door in the left corner.

Behind the small door was a stair which directly connected to the war strategy room’s side door, and intel from IDG suggested that the stair was heavily guarded. However, Captain Kasino’s team did not show any hesitation. Wasting no time, they started the sequence for dynamic entry.

“Ready?” asked one of rearguards to the pointmen in low voice.

“Set," whispered the pointment.

Wasting no time, Captain Kasino then ordered, “Execute, execute, execute!!”

The rear guard immediately opened the small door, the pointmen then stepped in with steady steps, followed by three strikers, and two read guards. A second later, gun fires were started to be heard continuesly for about twenty second. Then, it was a total silence.

---

When he heard that some hostiles suddenly landed on the bridge’s rooftop and then conducted a massacre, the first thing that popped up in Prince Portho’s mind was, ‘What are they up to?’

Their number too little to take over Geko-01. Moreover, they landed on a position that gave them a great advantage for their weapon, but sealed their movement. And as bowmen immediately engaged them, it was only a matter of time before these hostiles getting wiped out.

‘Or are they just a diversion?’

As Prince Portho tried to consider the most possible scenario, a staff officer suddenly reported, “Your Highness, Ser Duke, our guest just breaching the bridge.”

Question mark instantly filled Prince Portho's forehead to the brim, as the bridge were located five meters under it's rooftop and there was no stair to connect the two places.

"How did they do that?"

Before the staff officer replied, Duke Fogel asked him a second question first, “Did they make a hole on the roof?"

“No, they use a thin rope to go down and enter the bridge through the window. Our bowmen did not expect this move, so they failed to intercept it."

As he frowned, Duke Fogel asked, “They using a thin rope to go down?”

“Yes, Ser Duke, and our personnel reported that they are really good at it. Their movement are swift and precise.”

“Is that so? Did TF Amethyst recruit circus performers and turned them into combatants?”

As the staff officer fell silent because he didn't know how to answer, Prince Portho said, “Uncle, it seems like we still underestimate TF Amethyst’s offensive capability.”

“Yes, we do,” Duke Fogel openly admitted, and then he continued in a serious tone, “Moreover, it's possible that the target of this small but highly-trained unit is you.”

Without delay, the staff officer immediately suggested, “Ser Duke, maybe we should evacuate Prince Portho before it’s too late.”

“No!” Prince Portho firlmy said. “Let’s bait them to come over here. No matter how well trained these people or how deadly their weapon, in a tight space our combatan will be able to outnumber and suppress them.”

“This is also a good chance to show TF Amethyst that we have enough gut to welcome their elite unit,” Duke Fogel firmly stated his agreement.

As two highest leader in Battle Group B had made their final decision, in the end the staff officer couldn’t say anything other than carried out the order. And turned out, it was a fatal mistake. As twenty minutes later, the uninvited guest had managed to slaughter their way and arrived before the war strategy room's door.

‘How in the world did these bastards do it in a such short time?’ muttered Prince Portho as he nervously looked at the main door and side door alternately.

The two doors to the war strategy room were heavily barred using tables, huge cabinet, and other furnitures. Even so, Prince Portho could not get rid of the bad feeling that tightly gripped his heart.

Then, suddenly, for whatever the reason, the uninvited guesses decided to make some contact.

Knock-knock! Knock knock knock!!

As gentle knocks were heard from the main door, every Makai Royal Guard in war strategy room immediately tighten their grip on their shortsword or crossbow.

“Hello, good night, anybody home?”

. . .

“Don’t be shy, we have cookies, please open the door.”

. . .

“Prince Portho, Duke Fogel, we know you are inside. Just surrender nicely, We aren't coming to rape you or such."

After snorting in anger, Duke Fogel immediately shouted a reply, “Shut the hell up, just come in and get us if you have the guts.”

Actually, Duke Fogel’s reply helped the frogmen to predict his location, and they didn’t waste it.

“As you wish, Buddy.”

. . .

“Please stay back, we don’t want you to get hurt accidentaly.”

. . .

“Ready? Three, two, one…”

BOOOOM!!

As every single one of people in the war strategy room focused their attention to the main door, the side door suddenly exploded. The small door and the heavy furnitures which blocked it, in an instant turned into wood chips and wood dust that blasted into the room. Then, six men in black clothes and black head cover entered the war strategy room. Their steps were steady while their hands firmly directed their weapon to anyone they considered targets to be eliminated.

Bang bang! Ba-bang! Ba-babababang!!!

Prince Portho could not see what had happened as wood dust accidentally entered his eyes. He could only hear continues loud ‘Bang!’ that made his heart repeatedly skipped for a few beat.

And when he finally able to see again, he was immediately greeted by dead bodies thay laid motionlessly on top of puddle of blood. The only people who still breathing and stood in their place were the one who didn’t drew their weapon.

Then, one of the men in black clothes opened his head cover as he walked to him. As he stood before him, the men said, "Kasino, Captain of TF Amethyst Frogmen Platoon. Prince Portho, let's have a nice talk."

*****

Side Note:

Randu: Received AND Understood