bookpower Chapter 9: | 009 | Northern Plateau
Chapter 9: | 009 | Northern Plateau
"Set up a defense perimeter!" 2nd Lieutenant Campbell ordered after hopping out of the Black Hawk. He looked at their surroundings with a scrutinizing gaze. Meanwhile, the marines swiftly scattered into their respective positions.
Following the Marines were the expeditionary research teams. They stepped out of the transport helicopters with grace and observed the rough terrain of the northern plateau.
They held their briefcases tightly in their fingers and slowly placed them on the ground. Afterward, they slowly took out vital and sensitive equipment for the resource deposit inspections.
Some marines took out various crates and rapidly constructed a temporary tent for command and control along with communication.
They also dispersed barbed wire fences in the defensive perimeter for extra defense.
The Black Hawks turned their rotors off and the pilots calmly waited for the entirety of the operation to end. It was still morning, and the day had just begun for the task force personnel.
"Sir, the COC Tent has been built!" A marine reported with a salute. Campbell nodded at the guy and walked towards the spoken tent.
Inside it were various old communication hardware that could be easily abandoned during an emergency evacuation.
A communication officer was operating the hardware and immediately turned it on. Buzzes resounded throughout the tent as Campbell coolly waited to hear the high command.
After a couple of seconds, a voice escaped the communication hardware.
*2nd Lieutenant Campbell, congratulations on your successful landing and construction of the temporary COC tent. As said before, the limit of this operation is five hours.*
*After that, results must be given and the task force must return to the port. Be careful of any dangers that might tread in your area. Our personnel haven't finished sketching a topographic map of the island.*
*Apaches are ready to support when called upon. Bravo Task Force has also successfully landed in the eastern grassland. Good luck in your operation, 2nd Lieutenant.*
It was the Fleet Admiral's voice, and he reminded the 2nd Lieutenant of the mission along with the warnings he had given the platoon leader.
"Affirmative, Fleet Admiral Shepherd. The area is currently secured and fences have been set up. The apex of the northern plateau seemed to be empty of anything, but the marines will maintain our vigilance."
2nd Lieutenant Campbell reported while his bluish irises pointed at the beautiful scenery of the vast evergreen forest of the island. Beauty always hides its venom.
One must not be blinded by it.
"Sir Campbell, the resource deposit inspection has begun." A research personnel stood before the tent and relayed the true beginning of the operation.
Campbell turned to look at the research personnel and nodded in understanding. But he also asked an important question to the researcher.
"How long will the inspection take?" The operation had five hours as its limit. They needed to complete it within this duration for the mission to be concluded a success.
The research personnel thought about it for some time and soon answered the 2nd Lieutenant with confidence.
"It should take 3 hours at most for a complete inspection. Of course, this is under the assumption of no complexities during the period of the inspection."
"If complexities do appear, an hour might be added to the time scale."
While the research personnel was confident, he mustn't ignore the truth. They trusted their capabilities as researchers, but the world was as complex as it was simple.
"I see... Thank you for your service. The Marines and I will be defending this position until the inspection is completed." The 2nd Lieutenant said with a smile.
The research personnel merely nodded and took off to do his own job. Campbell was left alone in the tent, thinking about what should be done if certain circumstances emerged.
It only took a second for him to return back. Campbell turned his gaze towards the communication operator and questioned.
"What just happened?"
"Communication was interrupted from the other side, Sir. It seems that something must have happened for the Fleet Admiral to promptly break the transmission." The communication operator explained.
A couple of minutes later, the voice of the Fleet Admiral escaped the grasp of the hardware.
*2nd Lieutenant Campbell, are you there?*
"This is 2nd Lieutenant Campbell, Fleet Admiral. Did something happen?" Campbell questioned whether a problem might have emerged in the command center.
*An assault just occurred on the Bravo Task Force, 2nd Lieutenant. The situation in the eastern grassland is compromised. According to their reports, a herd of gigantic scaled-skin boars charged at them out of nowhere.*
*It wouldn't be problematic if they were normal wild pigs, but sadly, they were far from normal.*
*The assailants are the same size as a pick-up truck, making them problematic. It's also been proven that they love sponging bullets. Only grenade launchers, 50-caliber guns, and anti-tank launchers could take them down with ease.*
*Fortunately though, the Bravo Task Force managed to retreat with reliable data. No deaths occurred, but some were slightly injured in the encounter.*
*After deliberation, we have concluded that Apaches will be sent to support your Exfil. Have the Black Hawks get their rotors running and immediately leave the area.*
*Apache's estimated time should be five minutes.*
*Take care, 2nd Lieutenant Campbell, Out.*
The news given by the Fleet Admiral made Campbell astounded. But he quickly regained his bearing and furrowed his eyebrows.
Local wildlife on this island were stranger than they had previously thought. To think there would be giant wild boars with scaled skins.
"Relay the orders of the Fleet Admiral. I want us to Exfil in three minutes!" Campbell ordered the communication operator to relay the orders.
Their situation was bad, especially with the confirmed existence of alien wildlife.
"Understood, Sir." The communication operator nodded and scattered the orders throughout the Alpha Task Force.
With the news of the rapid Exfil, the marines swiftly fortified the defensive positions even more while the expeditionary research personnel worked on the clock to take back their sensitive and expensive equipment to their briefcases.
They didn't know why they were being withdrawn so quickly, but something bad must have happened in the operation.
Both the research and military personnel were in no rank or status to question the orders of the 2nd Lieutenant. Especially when such orders came from the Fleet Admiral.
However, things could only become even more complicated.
After all, in the outskirts of the northern plateau, a predator stalked the Alpha Task Force with its predatory gaze. It hid amongst the dead bushes of the plateau's base. However...
There was no way it could escape from the scrutinizing gaze of the Marines.
*Bang!*
And so, it began.
The play of the hunt and the hunted.