Love Hina Fan Fiction ❯ Love and War ❯ Chapter 4 ( Chapter 4 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: Spartan429 
Anime/Manga: Love Hina Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Comedy / Adventure / Action | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 07.02.2007 | Updated On: 07.03.2007 | Pages: 3 | Words: 3.8K | Visits: 492 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: Love Hina Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Comedy / Adventure / Action | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 07.02.2007 | Updated On: 07.03.2007 | Pages: 3 | Words: 3.8K | Visits: 492 | Status: Work In Progress
"abc"-speech
"abc"-speech over radio/TV
abc-thought
"abc"-English speech
Location: Somewhere in Hinata City.
Status: Chopper down, crew dead.
Alert Level: Defcon 1
Steven was surrounded by total darkness. He tried to get up, but found his entire body pinned down. He yelled out, but there was no response. The darkness was starting to seep into him, sucking the life from his limbs. It was getting harder to breath. He couldn’t think clearly.
“Gunny!”
A voice penetrated through the inky darkness. It was very familiar.
“Gunny! Hold on!”
The world suddenly filled with light, and fresh air flowed into his lungs. The pressure on his limbs was relieved. He looked up to see Kid, Brooks, and Harland standing over him.
“Are you okay, sir?” Brooks asked.
“Yeah, I think so,” he replied. “Did the pilot make it?”
“No. KIA, the cockpit was completely destroyed,” Harland said, pointing to the wreckage. The cockpit had been crushed, and the pilot’s body was so trashed you couldn’t tell what it was.
“Crap. I guess we better get going. We have to hold off the PLA's recon until reinforcements arrive, in,” he checked his watch, “Twenty-two minutes.”
The team headed for the alley’s entrance. They ran out into the street towards a parked bus. It would provide excellent cover. While Kid covered the entrance, Steven pulled out a small GPS computer, about twice the size of a video Ipod. He pulled up several pictures of deployed PLA troops.
“Okay,” he said. “These satellite photos show that the PLA is concentrating its artillery on the business district. Their recon, light armor, and backup artillery units are systematically paving the way for the heavy infantry units by advancing through the entire residential district, which straddles the hot springs. Over here,” he pointed to a highlighted structure, “is an inn called Hinata Sou. The main building is three stories tall, has a perimeter fence, and is located on an elevated hill, providing an excellent view of the surrounding landscape. This is the perfect place to fall back to if things get too hot. Right now, a group of PLA troops is heading right down this street, and we are in the best possible position to execute an ambush. Brooks, you and Harland will strike using this bus for cover. Harland, if you have any of your special ‘chili powder’ with you, lay some charges along the street's side. Me and Kid will head to the roof of the sporting goods store across the street and pick troops off from their. As soon as they start gunning for you guys, head for the inn, me and Kid will join you shortly. Any questions?” he looked into their emotionless, battle hardened faces. “Good, let’s do this.”
A quick check to see if the coast was clear, then Steven and Kid headed into the store across the street. Harland started laying down his special det-packs along the street, while Brooks got his machine gun comfortably rested on one of the bus windows. A few minutes later, Steven and Kid were on the roof with their rifles ready.
“Okay guys, this is our big moment,” Steven said. “This is what you’ve been trained for, so make me proud.” He paused to look at the computer. “The recon patrol is thirty seconds from our position, good luck everybody.”
It was the longest thirty seconds in the world. It was dead quiet, the only sound coming from the computer’s blips. Brooks lit a cigarette and inhaled deeply. Kid checked his rifle and helmet, while Steven’s mind went through multiple scenarios and outcomes of the battle that lay ahead. In the distance, figures moved along the street.
“Harland, give me a count,” Steven whispered into his comm.
Down in the bus, Harland peered through his binoculars.
“Looks like…two Type 85III main battle tanks up front, twenty five infantry following in a tight block, followed by a YW534 APC, thirty infantry behind that, and…” he paused. “Two PLZ34 Self-Propelled Howitzers. Jesus, I thought you said that their recon and light armor was coming this way, not a whole fucking platoon.”
“Listen up guys,” Steven said into the comm. “The howitzers are our primary targets. Harland, I want you to fire those det-packs as soon as the howitzers are within range. By the way, did you fill the packs with fire or shrapnel?”
“Both,” Harland replied. “I used steel fragments and napalm.”
“Perfect.”
The PLA unit was now about ten meters from the packs. Steven prayed that Harland had completely hidden them, if one of those troops caught a glance of those packs, they were screwed. Fortunately, they didn’t seem to notice anything, which was bad news for them. The tanks and infantry passed, then the APC, then the next block of infantry. The howitzers were almost there…
“Firing packs!” Harland thumbed the detonator switch.
The det-pack were originally designed to clear obstacles and make holes in walls for swift infiltration. They were filled with C-4 plastic explosives. These det-packs, however, were filled Harland’s special explosive mix, which he called “chili powder.” Surrounding that was a mixture of napalm and jagged steel fragments. When those packs went off, the chili powder sent the napalm and shrapnel out at twenty-five thousand feet per second. The napalm heated frags penetrated the howitzers’ armor, and the nearby troops were cut down and burned. The APC’s tracks were busted, rendering it immobile, and caused the passengers to crawl out of the wreckage. But it didn’t stop there. The air around the howitzers suddenly burst into intense flames, completely crippling them and finishing off the infantry block nearby. When all was said and done, the two tanks and twenty-five infantry were the only ones left.
“Holy fucking shit!” Steven yelled. “What the hell did you put into those det-packs!? That wasn’t chili powder!”
“It was my secret hot sauce,” Harland chuckled. “After the packs are set off, it turns into a gaseous fuel air explosive. I spent three months perfecting it, but enough about that, we have some stragglers.”
“I hear ya. Everybody open fire!” Steven started firing single round shots, aiming for their heads. Kid was still a bit raw, so he was firing three-round bursts. Brooks was being his trigger happy self, hosing the exposed troops mercilessly. One of the tanks was starting to turn its turret towards the bus. It was going to put a shell right through it. Harland appeared in one of the bus’s windows, with his LAAW launcher aimed at the tank. The rocket came flying out with a fwoosh, and impacted right where the turret was joined to the body. The force of the blast sent the turret flying into the air while the tank’s body was engulfed in flames as its gas tank was punctured.
“Gunny, the remaining infantry has been eliminated. All that’s left is the tank. He’s all yours,” Harland said. “Me and Brooks are pulling back to the inn.”
“Okay, we’ll meet you there,” Steven replied. “Kid, take out that tank’s tracks.”
“Will do.”
Kid leaned over the edge of the for a good shot. The tank was trying hopelessly to get passed an abandoned semi. Kid raised his rifle and triggered the M203 grenade launcher.
Foomp!
The 40mm grenade soared through the air, making a graceful arc before impacting on the tank’s left track. The track was shattered, and disconnected, eliminating all the forward momentum on the tank’s left side. It went into an irreversible left turn, and crashed through the sporting goods store’s front display window.
“He’s out,” Kid said.
“Let’s go down there and make sure,” Steven said.
They both ran down the flight of stairs from the roof to the ground, and into the store itself. The tank was covered by all sorts of sports merchandise, and the guys inside were trying to force the hatch open. Their screams of rage could be heard as they smashed open the hatch and attempted to climb out.
“Take ‘em out!”
Steven and Kid both fired at the troops. Their bodies jerked violently as the bullets ripped through them, and the lifeless corpses tumbled over the side of the tank and onto the ground.
“Good, now we let’s get the hell out of here. If anybody radioed in, their artillery will be bombarding this position.”
They both ran out of the store and down the street. The inn was only nine hundred meters or so from their position, so they arrived at the bottom of the steps in relatively little time.
“Brooks, Harland, what’s your current position?” Steven asked over the comm.
“We are positioned on the roof of the inn,” Harland replied. “We have a clear view from here. It looks like the main body of the PLA’s recon unit is on the way towards our position, and they are coming en masse. I suggest that you get here right away.”
“Copy that. We are double time to the rendezvous. Out,” Steven said. “Let’s go Kid. We are pressed for time.”
They started running up the stairs as fast as they could. They made it a quarter of the way up when their legs started aching, and they were halfway up when they had to bend over and try to catch their breath.
“Why the hell -gasp- didn’t recruit training have a course -gasp- for climbing up stairs?” Kid gasped.
“Because they had no idea -gasp- that we would be using a hotel -gasp- as a fallback point. And we didn’t know that -gasp- the Japanese people seem to -gasp- have a thing for building hotels -gasp- on top of goddamn mountains.”
“Uh, guys. Where the hell are you?” Harland’s voice blasted over the comm. “The recon unit is about one hundred meters from the inn, and you’re still not here!”
“Don’t worry!” Steven wheezed in reply. He and Kid once again started running up the stairs. “We’ll be there, you can be sure of that.”
“They’re acting like nothing is wrong, I guess nobody from the convoy we busted managed to get to their radio,” Brooks spoke over the comm. “But they are getting too close for comfort, and it now looks like--what the hell!?”
“Brooks, are you there? What’s going on?”
“You’re not going to believe this! Weapon emplacements just appeared all along the roof’s edge and started firing on the PLA troops!”
“What?” Steven was lost, until a pair of guns appeared at the top of the steps. “Sweet! Now we have a major advantage!”
“Ah, shit! Maybe not. Some bastard just took out the turret that was covering the back entrance. Me and Harland are too busy holding them off from the west. You’ll have to pick them off from inside.”
“Copy that. We are now entering the ground floor.”
Steven and Kid approached the hole in the front wall. Steven let Kid take point. They entered into a small lobby, where a pile of suitcases lay in the middle of the floor.
“Damn. The poor bastards never had the chance,” Steven said, looking at the luggage with a sad look. Kid’s eyes were glowing like small fires, his face was twisted into one of intense emotional pain. It was no surprise to Steven. This was Kid’s first real combat operation, and seeing that innocent lives didn’t make it is enough to send even the most battle hardened Marine into a state of grief.
“I’ll take the ground floor and basement,” he said with a hint of rage in his voice.
“Right. I’ll take the second floor and meet with Harland and Brooks on the roof. Be careful, Kid,” Steven replied.
He ran over to the stairs at the end of the lobby and ran up. Kid went down the short hall to the left, and was about to make a right into the next hallway when a bullet whizzed by his face. He planted himself against the wall and peeked around the corner. A pair of PLA infantrymen were at the end of the hallway where it branched off in two directions. They had AK-47s and were sloppily unloading their weapons onto his position. But a confined, narrow hallway was a dangerous place to be when it came to bullets, sloppy shooters or not. He pulled his head back and gripped his rifle tightly. He was only going to get one shot at this. He ran around the corner and opened fire.
Date: May 1, 2007; 0937 hours (Military Time)
Location: Bomb shelter under Hinata Sou.
Status: Lockdown
Alert Level: Defcon 1
“Hey guys, two more just showed up!” Su yelled wildly. Everybody ran over to the monitors and watched intently. Two Marines were walking into the lobby, surveying the pile of luggage. One of them started speaking, and the translator converted it into Japanese.
“Damn. The poor bastards never had the chance,” the one on the left said.
“I’ll take the ground floor and the basement,” the one on the right said.
“Right. I’ll take the second floor and meet with Harland and Brooks on the roof. Be careful, Kid,” the one on the left replied. He headed up the stairs as the other went down the hall. He was suddenly attacked by to soldiers, who sent a hail of bullets towards him. He ran around the corner and returned fire, scoring two headshots and taking the soldiers out instantly in a cloud of blood. He continued down the hall and out of the camera’s line of sight. Su was about to switch to another camera, when Motoko spoke.
“What is that sound?”
Everybody looked at her, confused. But they heard it too. It was a faint beeping sound, coming from the bomb shelter’s door. Su turned another camera on and a look of horror came on her face.
“The Chinese are placing explosive charges on the door!” she screamed out. “Take cover!”
Kitsune started flipping the cots over on their sides, creating a makeshift wall. Su ran over to a weapons locker and pulled out a rail gun. The rest of the girls were crouched behind the wall of cots, and Su stood behind them, priming her weapon.
“I just want to say,” Naru cried out, tears flowing freely, “you’ve all been the best friends a girl could ask for.”
The door flew inward in a flash of fire and smoke. It hit the ground, and troops immediately started to swarm in. Su thumbed the trigger, and the rail gun spewed out bullets at fifty rounds per second. One by one, a pile of PLA corpses, that resembled swiss cheese, formed in the doorway. They didn’t even have a chance to return fire, as the lightning fast bullets riddled their bodies.
“Come and get some!” Su laughed maniacally. She was so busy filling the doorway with hot lead, that she didn’t notice the white and gray canister that rolled into the room. With a bang, the canister burst into a ball of intense white light. Everybody covered their eyes in pain as the light rendered them temporarily blind. Su dropped the gun and fell to her knees.
“Aagh! Flash-Bang grenades!” she screamed in frustration.
The troops that were behind the protective doorframe ran into the room. Two soldiers worked together to force the girls into the corner of the room, and another one ran up to Su. He grabbed her by the scruff of her neck and threw into the corner with the others. She crashed into Motoko and fell onto the floor, swirly-eyed. Motoko was seething with rage.
“You bastard! How dare you harm a young girl!” she pulled out her sword and jumped for the soldier. He brought up his AK and started to fire wildly. Motoko blocked all of his shots with her sword without breaking a sweat.
“Ha! Do you really think that your pitiful weapon can harm me?” Motoko sneered.
Crack!
A jagged line appeared along the flat of the blade, right above the hilt. It spread to both edges in a split second, and the blade fell to the ground, completely separated from the hilt. Motoko’s whole world shattered in front of her. All she managed to do was whisper, “No…”
Wham!
The soldier drove the butt of his rifle into the back of Motoko’s head. She fell forward and landed in a crumpled heap on the floor. She didn’t move.
“Motoko!” Naru screamed.
The soldier dragged Motoko’s body to the corner and then went to guard the door. The girls examined Motoko’s head. There was a large gash at the base of the skull, and it was bleeding heavily.
“Oh God. Please don’t die, Motoko,” Kitsune cried.
Shinobu was too far gone. Tears flowed out like Niagara Falls. She was inconsolable. Kanako embraced her in an effort to help, but nothing would work.
“We’re gonna die, aren’t we?” Sarah sobbed.
Foomp!
Boom!
A cloud of smoke filled the doorway. A mutilated corpse that had once been a Chinese soldier flew into the room and landed like a rag doll. The two remaining soldiers positioned themselves to the sides of the door and started to blindly fire their rifles into the darkness of the outside room. They spent their entire clips and reloaded. Thinking that no one could possibly survive such a barrage of lead, they inched closer to the doorway, suspecting nothing.
Pow!
The soldier on the left doubled over in pain as a fist flattened his gut. The soldier on the right fired his AK at the fist’s owner, a figure concealed by the dark lighting, but missed and put a bullet through his comrade’s chest. The figure knocked the rifle to the ground and performed a spinning heel kick. His boot collided with the soldier’s temple, and he fell to the floor.
The figure stepped into the light. It was the Marine that the girls had seen on the monitor. He wore the Marine Corp’s tell-tale sand colored urban combat suit. He had heavy boots, and loosely held his rifle out in front of him. His face was obscured by his helmet’s HUD visor.
“Is everyone okay?” he asked in perfect Japanese. His voice sounded vaguely familiar.
“Y-yeah, we are, b-but our friend is hurt bad,” Naru whimpered.
The man bent over and examined Motoko’s head wound. He muttered something and took out a first aid kit. He proceeded to clean and dress the wound, while he spoke into the comm in rapid English.
“Gunny, the ground floor and the basement are secured. There are nine civilians in the basement, and one of them is badly hurt with a head wound. Request support.”
“Negative, Kid. We have our hands full keeping the PLA from advancing. You’re on your own.”
“Behind you!” Naru cried out.
A PLA infantry squad had appeared in the doorway, their rifles raised at the ready. Kid raised his own, flicked the safety/fire-mode switch to “auto,” and proceeded to gun them down. Two of the five troops were immediately killed, and the other three took cover behind the doorframe. Kid got behind one of the cots and ducked as the troops started taking potshots at him. Bits of filling flew out of the mattress as the bullets tore through it. Kid raised his rifle over the cot’s edge and started blind firing. He got a lucky shot and caught one of the soldier’s unguarded side. The two others stopped to reload, and Kid saw his opening. He vaulted over the cot and ran over, emptying his clip into the man on the left. The man fell, Kid dropped the spent rifle, and proceeded to engage the remaining soldier in hand to hand combat. The guy threw his unloaded AK at Kid, who ducked under it and was met by the man’s fist, a cheap shot to say the least. Kid’s jaw was hit head on, jerking his head violently to the side, and causing the buckle on his helmet’s strap to detach. His helmet flew off his head without the strap, and allowed everybody to get an unobstructed view of his face. The familiarities of his face struck home.
“Keitaro?”
"abc"-speech over radio/TV
abc-thought
"abc"-English speech
---------------------
Date: May 1, 2007; 0928 hours (Military Time)Location: Somewhere in Hinata City.
Status: Chopper down, crew dead.
Alert Level: Defcon 1
Steven was surrounded by total darkness. He tried to get up, but found his entire body pinned down. He yelled out, but there was no response. The darkness was starting to seep into him, sucking the life from his limbs. It was getting harder to breath. He couldn’t think clearly.
“Gunny!”
A voice penetrated through the inky darkness. It was very familiar.
“Gunny! Hold on!”
The world suddenly filled with light, and fresh air flowed into his lungs. The pressure on his limbs was relieved. He looked up to see Kid, Brooks, and Harland standing over him.
“Are you okay, sir?” Brooks asked.
“Yeah, I think so,” he replied. “Did the pilot make it?”
“No. KIA, the cockpit was completely destroyed,” Harland said, pointing to the wreckage. The cockpit had been crushed, and the pilot’s body was so trashed you couldn’t tell what it was.
“Crap. I guess we better get going. We have to hold off the PLA's recon until reinforcements arrive, in,” he checked his watch, “Twenty-two minutes.”
The team headed for the alley’s entrance. They ran out into the street towards a parked bus. It would provide excellent cover. While Kid covered the entrance, Steven pulled out a small GPS computer, about twice the size of a video Ipod. He pulled up several pictures of deployed PLA troops.
“Okay,” he said. “These satellite photos show that the PLA is concentrating its artillery on the business district. Their recon, light armor, and backup artillery units are systematically paving the way for the heavy infantry units by advancing through the entire residential district, which straddles the hot springs. Over here,” he pointed to a highlighted structure, “is an inn called Hinata Sou. The main building is three stories tall, has a perimeter fence, and is located on an elevated hill, providing an excellent view of the surrounding landscape. This is the perfect place to fall back to if things get too hot. Right now, a group of PLA troops is heading right down this street, and we are in the best possible position to execute an ambush. Brooks, you and Harland will strike using this bus for cover. Harland, if you have any of your special ‘chili powder’ with you, lay some charges along the street's side. Me and Kid will head to the roof of the sporting goods store across the street and pick troops off from their. As soon as they start gunning for you guys, head for the inn, me and Kid will join you shortly. Any questions?” he looked into their emotionless, battle hardened faces. “Good, let’s do this.”
A quick check to see if the coast was clear, then Steven and Kid headed into the store across the street. Harland started laying down his special det-packs along the street, while Brooks got his machine gun comfortably rested on one of the bus windows. A few minutes later, Steven and Kid were on the roof with their rifles ready.
“Okay guys, this is our big moment,” Steven said. “This is what you’ve been trained for, so make me proud.” He paused to look at the computer. “The recon patrol is thirty seconds from our position, good luck everybody.”
It was the longest thirty seconds in the world. It was dead quiet, the only sound coming from the computer’s blips. Brooks lit a cigarette and inhaled deeply. Kid checked his rifle and helmet, while Steven’s mind went through multiple scenarios and outcomes of the battle that lay ahead. In the distance, figures moved along the street.
“Harland, give me a count,” Steven whispered into his comm.
Down in the bus, Harland peered through his binoculars.
“Looks like…two Type 85III main battle tanks up front, twenty five infantry following in a tight block, followed by a YW534 APC, thirty infantry behind that, and…” he paused. “Two PLZ34 Self-Propelled Howitzers. Jesus, I thought you said that their recon and light armor was coming this way, not a whole fucking platoon.”
“Listen up guys,” Steven said into the comm. “The howitzers are our primary targets. Harland, I want you to fire those det-packs as soon as the howitzers are within range. By the way, did you fill the packs with fire or shrapnel?”
“Both,” Harland replied. “I used steel fragments and napalm.”
“Perfect.”
The PLA unit was now about ten meters from the packs. Steven prayed that Harland had completely hidden them, if one of those troops caught a glance of those packs, they were screwed. Fortunately, they didn’t seem to notice anything, which was bad news for them. The tanks and infantry passed, then the APC, then the next block of infantry. The howitzers were almost there…
“Firing packs!” Harland thumbed the detonator switch.
The det-pack were originally designed to clear obstacles and make holes in walls for swift infiltration. They were filled with C-4 plastic explosives. These det-packs, however, were filled Harland’s special explosive mix, which he called “chili powder.” Surrounding that was a mixture of napalm and jagged steel fragments. When those packs went off, the chili powder sent the napalm and shrapnel out at twenty-five thousand feet per second. The napalm heated frags penetrated the howitzers’ armor, and the nearby troops were cut down and burned. The APC’s tracks were busted, rendering it immobile, and caused the passengers to crawl out of the wreckage. But it didn’t stop there. The air around the howitzers suddenly burst into intense flames, completely crippling them and finishing off the infantry block nearby. When all was said and done, the two tanks and twenty-five infantry were the only ones left.
“Holy fucking shit!” Steven yelled. “What the hell did you put into those det-packs!? That wasn’t chili powder!”
“It was my secret hot sauce,” Harland chuckled. “After the packs are set off, it turns into a gaseous fuel air explosive. I spent three months perfecting it, but enough about that, we have some stragglers.”
“I hear ya. Everybody open fire!” Steven started firing single round shots, aiming for their heads. Kid was still a bit raw, so he was firing three-round bursts. Brooks was being his trigger happy self, hosing the exposed troops mercilessly. One of the tanks was starting to turn its turret towards the bus. It was going to put a shell right through it. Harland appeared in one of the bus’s windows, with his LAAW launcher aimed at the tank. The rocket came flying out with a fwoosh, and impacted right where the turret was joined to the body. The force of the blast sent the turret flying into the air while the tank’s body was engulfed in flames as its gas tank was punctured.
“Gunny, the remaining infantry has been eliminated. All that’s left is the tank. He’s all yours,” Harland said. “Me and Brooks are pulling back to the inn.”
“Okay, we’ll meet you there,” Steven replied. “Kid, take out that tank’s tracks.”
“Will do.”
Kid leaned over the edge of the for a good shot. The tank was trying hopelessly to get passed an abandoned semi. Kid raised his rifle and triggered the M203 grenade launcher.
Foomp!
The 40mm grenade soared through the air, making a graceful arc before impacting on the tank’s left track. The track was shattered, and disconnected, eliminating all the forward momentum on the tank’s left side. It went into an irreversible left turn, and crashed through the sporting goods store’s front display window.
“He’s out,” Kid said.
“Let’s go down there and make sure,” Steven said.
They both ran down the flight of stairs from the roof to the ground, and into the store itself. The tank was covered by all sorts of sports merchandise, and the guys inside were trying to force the hatch open. Their screams of rage could be heard as they smashed open the hatch and attempted to climb out.
“Take ‘em out!”
Steven and Kid both fired at the troops. Their bodies jerked violently as the bullets ripped through them, and the lifeless corpses tumbled over the side of the tank and onto the ground.
“Good, now we let’s get the hell out of here. If anybody radioed in, their artillery will be bombarding this position.”
They both ran out of the store and down the street. The inn was only nine hundred meters or so from their position, so they arrived at the bottom of the steps in relatively little time.
“Brooks, Harland, what’s your current position?” Steven asked over the comm.
“We are positioned on the roof of the inn,” Harland replied. “We have a clear view from here. It looks like the main body of the PLA’s recon unit is on the way towards our position, and they are coming en masse. I suggest that you get here right away.”
“Copy that. We are double time to the rendezvous. Out,” Steven said. “Let’s go Kid. We are pressed for time.”
They started running up the stairs as fast as they could. They made it a quarter of the way up when their legs started aching, and they were halfway up when they had to bend over and try to catch their breath.
“Why the hell -gasp- didn’t recruit training have a course -gasp- for climbing up stairs?” Kid gasped.
“Because they had no idea -gasp- that we would be using a hotel -gasp- as a fallback point. And we didn’t know that -gasp- the Japanese people seem to -gasp- have a thing for building hotels -gasp- on top of goddamn mountains.”
“Uh, guys. Where the hell are you?” Harland’s voice blasted over the comm. “The recon unit is about one hundred meters from the inn, and you’re still not here!”
“Don’t worry!” Steven wheezed in reply. He and Kid once again started running up the stairs. “We’ll be there, you can be sure of that.”
“They’re acting like nothing is wrong, I guess nobody from the convoy we busted managed to get to their radio,” Brooks spoke over the comm. “But they are getting too close for comfort, and it now looks like--what the hell!?”
“Brooks, are you there? What’s going on?”
“You’re not going to believe this! Weapon emplacements just appeared all along the roof’s edge and started firing on the PLA troops!”
“What?” Steven was lost, until a pair of guns appeared at the top of the steps. “Sweet! Now we have a major advantage!”
“Ah, shit! Maybe not. Some bastard just took out the turret that was covering the back entrance. Me and Harland are too busy holding them off from the west. You’ll have to pick them off from inside.”
“Copy that. We are now entering the ground floor.”
Steven and Kid approached the hole in the front wall. Steven let Kid take point. They entered into a small lobby, where a pile of suitcases lay in the middle of the floor.
“Damn. The poor bastards never had the chance,” Steven said, looking at the luggage with a sad look. Kid’s eyes were glowing like small fires, his face was twisted into one of intense emotional pain. It was no surprise to Steven. This was Kid’s first real combat operation, and seeing that innocent lives didn’t make it is enough to send even the most battle hardened Marine into a state of grief.
“I’ll take the ground floor and basement,” he said with a hint of rage in his voice.
“Right. I’ll take the second floor and meet with Harland and Brooks on the roof. Be careful, Kid,” Steven replied.
He ran over to the stairs at the end of the lobby and ran up. Kid went down the short hall to the left, and was about to make a right into the next hallway when a bullet whizzed by his face. He planted himself against the wall and peeked around the corner. A pair of PLA infantrymen were at the end of the hallway where it branched off in two directions. They had AK-47s and were sloppily unloading their weapons onto his position. But a confined, narrow hallway was a dangerous place to be when it came to bullets, sloppy shooters or not. He pulled his head back and gripped his rifle tightly. He was only going to get one shot at this. He ran around the corner and opened fire.
Date: May 1, 2007; 0937 hours (Military Time)
Location: Bomb shelter under Hinata Sou.
Status: Lockdown
Alert Level: Defcon 1
“Hey guys, two more just showed up!” Su yelled wildly. Everybody ran over to the monitors and watched intently. Two Marines were walking into the lobby, surveying the pile of luggage. One of them started speaking, and the translator converted it into Japanese.
“Damn. The poor bastards never had the chance,” the one on the left said.
“I’ll take the ground floor and the basement,” the one on the right said.
“Right. I’ll take the second floor and meet with Harland and Brooks on the roof. Be careful, Kid,” the one on the left replied. He headed up the stairs as the other went down the hall. He was suddenly attacked by to soldiers, who sent a hail of bullets towards him. He ran around the corner and returned fire, scoring two headshots and taking the soldiers out instantly in a cloud of blood. He continued down the hall and out of the camera’s line of sight. Su was about to switch to another camera, when Motoko spoke.
“What is that sound?”
Everybody looked at her, confused. But they heard it too. It was a faint beeping sound, coming from the bomb shelter’s door. Su turned another camera on and a look of horror came on her face.
“The Chinese are placing explosive charges on the door!” she screamed out. “Take cover!”
Kitsune started flipping the cots over on their sides, creating a makeshift wall. Su ran over to a weapons locker and pulled out a rail gun. The rest of the girls were crouched behind the wall of cots, and Su stood behind them, priming her weapon.
“I just want to say,” Naru cried out, tears flowing freely, “you’ve all been the best friends a girl could ask for.”
The door flew inward in a flash of fire and smoke. It hit the ground, and troops immediately started to swarm in. Su thumbed the trigger, and the rail gun spewed out bullets at fifty rounds per second. One by one, a pile of PLA corpses, that resembled swiss cheese, formed in the doorway. They didn’t even have a chance to return fire, as the lightning fast bullets riddled their bodies.
“Come and get some!” Su laughed maniacally. She was so busy filling the doorway with hot lead, that she didn’t notice the white and gray canister that rolled into the room. With a bang, the canister burst into a ball of intense white light. Everybody covered their eyes in pain as the light rendered them temporarily blind. Su dropped the gun and fell to her knees.
“Aagh! Flash-Bang grenades!” she screamed in frustration.
The troops that were behind the protective doorframe ran into the room. Two soldiers worked together to force the girls into the corner of the room, and another one ran up to Su. He grabbed her by the scruff of her neck and threw into the corner with the others. She crashed into Motoko and fell onto the floor, swirly-eyed. Motoko was seething with rage.
“You bastard! How dare you harm a young girl!” she pulled out her sword and jumped for the soldier. He brought up his AK and started to fire wildly. Motoko blocked all of his shots with her sword without breaking a sweat.
“Ha! Do you really think that your pitiful weapon can harm me?” Motoko sneered.
Crack!
A jagged line appeared along the flat of the blade, right above the hilt. It spread to both edges in a split second, and the blade fell to the ground, completely separated from the hilt. Motoko’s whole world shattered in front of her. All she managed to do was whisper, “No…”
Wham!
The soldier drove the butt of his rifle into the back of Motoko’s head. She fell forward and landed in a crumpled heap on the floor. She didn’t move.
“Motoko!” Naru screamed.
The soldier dragged Motoko’s body to the corner and then went to guard the door. The girls examined Motoko’s head. There was a large gash at the base of the skull, and it was bleeding heavily.
“Oh God. Please don’t die, Motoko,” Kitsune cried.
Shinobu was too far gone. Tears flowed out like Niagara Falls. She was inconsolable. Kanako embraced her in an effort to help, but nothing would work.
“We’re gonna die, aren’t we?” Sarah sobbed.
Foomp!
Boom!
A cloud of smoke filled the doorway. A mutilated corpse that had once been a Chinese soldier flew into the room and landed like a rag doll. The two remaining soldiers positioned themselves to the sides of the door and started to blindly fire their rifles into the darkness of the outside room. They spent their entire clips and reloaded. Thinking that no one could possibly survive such a barrage of lead, they inched closer to the doorway, suspecting nothing.
Pow!
The soldier on the left doubled over in pain as a fist flattened his gut. The soldier on the right fired his AK at the fist’s owner, a figure concealed by the dark lighting, but missed and put a bullet through his comrade’s chest. The figure knocked the rifle to the ground and performed a spinning heel kick. His boot collided with the soldier’s temple, and he fell to the floor.
The figure stepped into the light. It was the Marine that the girls had seen on the monitor. He wore the Marine Corp’s tell-tale sand colored urban combat suit. He had heavy boots, and loosely held his rifle out in front of him. His face was obscured by his helmet’s HUD visor.
“Is everyone okay?” he asked in perfect Japanese. His voice sounded vaguely familiar.
“Y-yeah, we are, b-but our friend is hurt bad,” Naru whimpered.
The man bent over and examined Motoko’s head wound. He muttered something and took out a first aid kit. He proceeded to clean and dress the wound, while he spoke into the comm in rapid English.
“Gunny, the ground floor and the basement are secured. There are nine civilians in the basement, and one of them is badly hurt with a head wound. Request support.”
“Negative, Kid. We have our hands full keeping the PLA from advancing. You’re on your own.”
“Behind you!” Naru cried out.
A PLA infantry squad had appeared in the doorway, their rifles raised at the ready. Kid raised his own, flicked the safety/fire-mode switch to “auto,” and proceeded to gun them down. Two of the five troops were immediately killed, and the other three took cover behind the doorframe. Kid got behind one of the cots and ducked as the troops started taking potshots at him. Bits of filling flew out of the mattress as the bullets tore through it. Kid raised his rifle over the cot’s edge and started blind firing. He got a lucky shot and caught one of the soldier’s unguarded side. The two others stopped to reload, and Kid saw his opening. He vaulted over the cot and ran over, emptying his clip into the man on the left. The man fell, Kid dropped the spent rifle, and proceeded to engage the remaining soldier in hand to hand combat. The guy threw his unloaded AK at Kid, who ducked under it and was met by the man’s fist, a cheap shot to say the least. Kid’s jaw was hit head on, jerking his head violently to the side, and causing the buckle on his helmet’s strap to detach. His helmet flew off his head without the strap, and allowed everybody to get an unobstructed view of his face. The familiarities of his face struck home.
“Keitaro?”