『 Date: July 7th, 2071

Location: Texas Military Base, Texas

Time: 20:54 CDT 』

After the intense battle between the Incarcecon forces and the Nevaly soldiers, the Texas Military Base had finally found a small moment of peace. The air was thick with the scent of antiseptic as medics darted around, tending to the wounds of the soldiers who had been injured in the fight. Some of the soldiers who had overused their Dractors were resting, finally giving their tired bodies and brains a well-deserved break.

Texas Military Base was a mammoth military facility, situated in the center of the Lone Star State. Used for military training and the research and development of new weapons, it was a vital center of operations for the Nevaly army.

In the aftermath of the skirmish, Slaine and his squad, 99 (Ninety-nine), were seated in a small shed within the complex. Their Dractors were undergoing maintenance before they headed back to the Dropper and then on to central command.

Colonel Taylor, standing before them with a few of his men who had been successfully treated, expressed his gratitude to the squad.

"Thank you very much, for your help!" (Colonel Taylor)

They all bowed their heads.

Slaine, who was engrossed in reading a book, remained silent and impassive while Vice-Captain, Raizel, spoke on their behalf, "You don't need to thank us, you guys fought equally well."

Elena, Slaine's colleague, nudged him and gestured towards the group.

In his typical stoic fashion, Slaine raised an eyebrow, silently asking what was going on.

"The soldiers are thanking us and the captain of the squad." She emphasized heavily on the 'captain'.

Slaine nodded and responded with a terse comment, "we were only doing our job."

He went back to his book, his face empty of expression, as the soldiers continued their expressions of gratitude.

Despite the tranquil atmosphere, the mood was still tense from the previous battle, and everyone knew that relaxation might be short-lived before their mission called them once more to the front lines.

Slaine closed his book with a deliberate snap, garnering the attention of everyone in the shed.

His cold gaze surveyed the room as he spoke in a harsh tone to the Colonel. "You should consider making a request to central command for reinforcements to better strengthen both the Texas Outpost and Military Base. If you want to survive that is."

The Colonel nodded slowly and opened his mouth to speak, but Slaine raised his hand, indicating that he wasn't done yet.

The soldiers looked on in shock as Slaine continued speaking, his voice laced with a coldness that made them uncomfortable.

"In times like these, there's no time for consideration, only swift action. The world isn't what it used to be. To survive, we need to be pragmatic." (Slaine)

Raizel, the Vice-Captain, grinned as he spoke up, "Also, if the Dominion had won today's battle, not only would they have disrupted our operations and gained control of military resources, but they would've garnered public support and expanded their territory. We can't let shit get worse."

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Colonel Taylor nodded, acknowledging the gravity of the situation.

Slaine stood up from where he was seated, and approached the Colonel, but his expression stayed the same.

"I'm not being disrespectful, Colonel," he said. "I'm just being honest."

He let that statement hang in the air for a moment.

"I don't really know how you guys run things here, but at least do it well."

"I suppose you're right," said Taylor.

"Raizel, any captives?" Slaine looked at Raizel from the corner of his eyes.

Raizel cleared her throat. "Sorry cap, no captives, just worm food."

Slaine's jaw tensed as he processed the information. "Understood," he said shortly.

One of the soldiers became angry and spoke out of turn, "You may have saved our lives, but you're still a Rankless. You shouldn't talk to an officer like that."

Geese, one of Slaine's squad members, bristled at the comment and spoke up, "Shut up, dickwad. The captain's just tryna help your sorry asses."

"Behave yourself!" (Velice)

Velice smacked the back of Geese's head, admonishing him for speaking out of turn, while Mankapon patted him on the back, a silent apology.

---

After Colonel Taylor had concluded his meeting with Squad 99, he ordered the recuperating soldiers to take a well-deserved rest.

Tents had been pitched for each squad member, with Velice and Geese sharing a tent due to their relationship status. Raizel had his own, while the captain's tent was notably larger than the others. The tents were located outside the military base, bustling with civilians who went about their daily lives even in the night.

Although there were hardly any proper clothes to wear, those that made do could be seen sporting the best they could.

The squad members, conversing amongst themselves, had stepped outside to take in the less-than-pleasant view. Mankapon was sleeping, as usual, while Katherine was on her own, still trying to find a way to fit in.

Slaine, engrossed in a book, was soon joined by Elena.

"Mhm... you know, you've been on the second chapter for over a month." She smiled.

"Well it's not a webnovel so," he continued reading.

Elena's face was etched with concern and yet, she smiled through it.

"You've been working hard these last few months, you should consider resting. You rarely sleep nowadays.."

Slaine nodded, "I'd love to do that, but we can't afford to be complacent. Incarcecon won't give us any respite."

Elena's smile faltered as she realized the harsh truth of his words. "Yeah, I guess you're right... the problem with them doesn't seem like it'll end anytime soon."

Slaine looked at her, "If anything, it's just getting started."

Elena's gaze fell on the civilians walking past them, and she replied, "Then, we'll prepare for the worst."

Meanwhile, Velice and Geese were talking animatedly, indulging in some much-needed quality time together.

Dexter stepped into his tent, grateful for the peace and quiet it afforded him.

He pulled out a picture of his little sister, running his fingers over her smiling face.

"I'll see you soon... Edna."

He missed her terribly and hoped to see her again someday.

Beyond the military base, the survivors tried to maintain some semblance of normalcy despite the desolation that surrounded them. The lack of proper clothes and the constant threat of Rebel attacks did little to dampen their spirits, and the sound of laughter could be heard amidst the tragedy.

A few minutes had passed, and the squad gathered together.

Elena appeared with a platter filled with fresh bread.

Velice followed behind her, carrying a bottle of wine.

Everyone gathered around the bonfire, eager to eat.

Suddenly, Dexter spoke up, "Who's going to wake Mankapon up?"

Geese chimed in, "It's a waste of time. Mankaponʼs as good as dead when he's sleeping."

Raizel nodded, agreeing with Geese. "When he's asleep, he's as dead as a rock."

Geese laughed loudly, but Velice interjected, "Not too different from your sleeping habits, Geese. You're the same."

Geese's face flushed with embarrassment. "Hey now, there's no need to make me look bad."

Everyone laughed, and Dexter adjusted his spectacles, the light from the bonfire bouncing off his lenses. He said, "For soldiers like you and Mankapon, being deep sleepers is part of the job."

Velice giggled, sipping her wine.

Geese frowned, clarifying, "I'm not always a deep sleeper. Sometimes I just sleep deeply, that's all."

The squad laughed harder, but Elena couldn't help but notice Slaine's silence. He was still engrossed in his book, not even acknowledging the silly conversation. When he finally looked up, Elena quickly shifted her gaze back to her friends.

Slaine went back to reading, seemingly uninterested in the group's antics.

Meanwhile, Katherine began to snort, trying to contain her laughter. When she realized everyone was looking at her, she panicked, hiding her face.

Geese teased her, "Looks like someone's finally opening up."

Dexter scoffed, "After a month of silence, I'm surprised she still knows how to laugh."

Velice came to Katherine's defense, saying, "That's not very nice, Dexter."

Soon after, the aroma of the bread filled the air, and everyone was eager to eat.

"Mmm, Elena, you never disappoint," Geese said as he eagerly grabbed a piece of bread.

"Cheers to the Colonel for this wine," Dexter raised the bottle. "This is some good stuff."

Velice chuckled. "I'm glad you like it. I was worried he might have kept the good stuff to himself."

Slaine remained quiet, immersed in his book. Elena walked over to him, offering a piece of bread. "Would you like one, Captain?"

Slaine glanced up and politely declined. "No, thank you, Elena. I appreciate the offer, though."

Elena's face fell. "Are you sure? The bread is still warm from the oven."

Slaine sighed softly and took the bread. "I'll eat it."

Elena beamed, feeling comforted by Slaine's kind gesture.

Just as they settled back down, Raizel noticed a boy running towards them, holding something wrapped in a bloody linen.

"Hey, you there. What's going on?" Raizel called out.

The boy slowed down, panting and out of breath.

Everyone had their eyes on the boy.

Amidst the comotion, Slaine calmly flipped the pages of his book, the sudden noise jarring the otherwise silent scene.

"So that's how chapter two ends," he said, his voice soft.