Hm, it seems we are more or less the last people to arrive I dare say.

The people in the meeting hall number around 40. I have worked with most of them before, but there are a few new faces. Twins are there but Aaron seems to have bolted I think. There are also other folk, like Nestor and the Agasha sisters and the “Red-rose” squad. I think I also saw Arthur and Boris, as well as Mr. Greenwish.

All in all, many of the people I wanted to make a squad with in the past. But did not dare to ask. Well, I tried to ask Arthur, but he ran away after I asked to talk with him privately in a shady alleyway...

The Commission Hub executive arrived to the hall and began telling us the job details.

In event types like this there is no meet and greet, too many people after all. So instead, all the job coordination is carried out by the Commission Hub. All the members need to do is believe that the Commission Hub will treat them well.

So without further ado, the executive began filling us in on the details.

The beast lord we are going against goes by the name of Neuro, leading a horde of 1000-2000 or so Old Beasts of varying type and size. The “threat estimation” was that about 60% are most likely Lessers. Apparently “Neuro” was considered above-average in threat level due to its erratic manner of choosing targets.

Sometimes taking Arcologies, other times just taking an outpost outside it and then leaving. Sometimes attacking aggressively other times very carefully. There was no clear behavior model. Like a really neurotic person. His name fits.

The problem with beast lords is their strategic sense. A normal Old Beast, no matter how intelligent, is still just a beast. They don't understand the battlefield.

But a beast lord is a whole different creature. They are like me, OLD Old Beasts. Beasts who served in the original military of the old government, often as officers. They understand the battlefield on a whole new scale. It is safe to say that they most likely have more know-how about the art of war than the people gathered here in the Meeting-hall.

These people might know how to fight sure. But how to wage war? Heh, their parents weren't even born back when a “military” and “wars” were still a thing.

Nevertheless. What we have for our advantage is that whilst they have only one good general. We have forty meh-quality generals, but many dumm heads combined should be able to take on a good one.

Why am I rambling about all of this? Because the executive is long winded and boring. He even began his monologue from listing Neuro’s past transgressions for 15 minutes. I am not interested.

To cut the long monologue short, he informed us that he would post a job notice for all Weapons in the Commission Hub due to the formidable size of the opponent later today and since we were the most experienced in Old-Beast hunting of the whole bunch, he wanted us to be the command chain and squad leaders of the organized force of the Commission Hub.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

The security force of the Arcology would maintain order within the Arcology and help evacuate if the horde is determined unstoppable.

Aside from them we were also told that depending on luck, we might get reinforcements from Írota but most likely by the time they would reach us we would be up our necks in lead and teeth.

After explaining all of this, he began distributing our jobs.

The Twins ended up being in the joint-leadership of the artillery unit, the Agasha twins would separately lead a frontline unit each, etc.

I was given charge of our Mobile Fire-support squad armed with sniper rifles and tough shields. The idea was that our squad would be able to take more risky vantage points than our regular snipers and allow for more daring tactics.

At this point, looking at all the responsibility they are putting on me I am starting to

feel like my window to escape is quickly closing…

...Seems like whether or not I want it. I am more or less committed to the task now.

If it isn't obvious, these folk are intent on stopping the horde before it reaches the Arcology. I suppose they don’t want to let the Arcology come under fire. The repairs would take forever.

After that, the meeting continued for a few more hours, chains of commands were agreed upon, individual prestiges were argued of, the usual stuff.

We would meet our individual units and depart tomorrow, that means today I have to get Alicia some upgrades, or she won’t survive.

That being said, I dont have the money… *Snifle*

...I suppose it is time to assess our options once more.

1. Rent Alicia: this option would solve the problem, but I have worked really hard to get her loyalty and I would rather not lose it, also there might be bruising or similar harm that might reduce her combat effectiveness.

2. Donate Alicia’s blood: we already went through this one before as well.

3. Donate Alicia’s organs: ...maybe if we can get artificial ones on the house (real child organs are rare). That one is a maybe.

4. Take a loan: I already have a loan, they won’t give me more T.T

5. … I can't come up with one.

...Based on this list, option 3 seems like the only viable solution...

So, I began heading for the Pharmatics Group main building. (Obviously I did not tell  Alicia why we were heading there.)

But as we stepped through the door into the Pharmatics Hub I realized.

‘Oh wait. I could just sell my spare aug-repair set can't I?’

‘...But we already came this far…’

I took a look at the unknowing Alicia.

‘...Ah fuck it, best keep her in peak condition. ‘

I bought some vitamins for Alicia as an excuse to why we visited and left the Pharmatics Hub.

Selling the spare repair-set was easy enough and soon we headed back to the Walker hangars of the Commission Hub with a spare 130 credits. (‘It’s not that much’ you say? Well sorry for not being able to afford a better repair-set!)

The price was enough though for a basic flat shield for Alicia’s Drone, it isn’t amazing, but it will make do.

The war will supply whatever else we need.

I also informed Lee about what was coming and he promised to join the field-repairs squad to help the coming battle. Heh, at least he is somewhat reliable.

After ensuring Alicia would qualify for my squad (and hopefully not die), I decided that we would spend the rest of the day on the firing range, Alicia needs to be ready.

I won’t let my squadmate die this quickly.

...Never again.

*Pov: Alicia*

Rasmus heard me sneeze earlier today so he bought me vitamins…

...I feel bad making him worry, he seems to already have his hands full…

I spent the rest of the day on the firing range… ...A squirrel would be cute...