The next few days passed quickly. I met Lìca a few times during that, she doesn't seem too bad of a person.
Self obviously, Alicia made it through her surgery and had to stay still a few days so the wounds can be allowed to heal. But eventually, she was released. And even later, cleared for action.
You know what that means? It is time to start up our new squad!
“You know… even if you ignore me, I am stillll heeeree…”
…
Yeah. She still hasn’t disappeared… I am almost getting worried. On the other hand, my dreams have been considerably better. So that is nice.
Nevertheless. Onwards I go, with Alicia in tow.
To the Commission Hub meeting hall.
We had already signed up our new squad earlier in the week and had already picked our next job.
”Eliminate enemy force on X-09-262 Y-138-120”
Estimated foe: 10-15 Medium, 0-2 Heavies, 0-200 Lesser
Merit: 9 Profit: 185 Credits (squad bonus pay: 30%)
It is a fairly easy, standard job. So I decided on it as our first job. Gotta get used to the daily grind again and all.
Since we are doing this as a proper size squad, we don’t get any backup like in solo jobs. Instead it is just the 4 of us. For sake of safety, Samuel had switched his Walker’s sniper to a P66 rail-action. So that we can actually take on some Heavies.
So, our team build looks like as follows: Tolstoj and Alicia and I are our snipers. Samuel is our heavy. (Tolstoj has a shield too so I had him take care of Alicia)
...What?
‘Sounds like a really unbalanced squad’?
Well of course, we are all originally ‘sniper’ types after all...
So, after a warm meal, we took off.
The target enemy force was relatively near, which was good for us, since we did not yet had a scout type, making distance travel risky. We reached the target in a few hours.
The enemy horde was traversing cross-country style from place to place, we had caught it in a relatively open slightly hilly area with essentially no trees or structures to cover behind, 1 Heavy, 12 mediums. The Heavy was a Behemoth. Whereas majority of the Mediums were Berserkers. Mostly open land might suck if you were a normal sniper squad, but not us.
We decided to make a stand using a nearby hill as our point of attack.
Tolstoj took the first shot, which tore through a Berserker, felling it on the first try.
“Focus on their ranged units. Ignore the Berserkers until they get close. Samuel. Focus on the Heavy.”
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I instructed as I began shooting at the enemy ranged units. Soon enough, the enemy started shooting back. shots slamming into my shields and ricocheting to god knows where.
The enemy’s Medium guns were soon quieted, but the Berserkers kept shooting at us. Forcing us to stay light on our feet. The lessers were not much better. Soon the berserkers and Hound-types started to reach us. Hence we did a fast retreat down the hill we were on, to hide behind it from the enemy fire. Allowing us to focus on the close rangers.
You might expect our folk to be unused to close quarters. Being snipers and all.
You would be wrong.
I slam the blade of my bayonet into the head of an incoming Berserker, opening fire on the Hounds coming behind it at the same time, decapitating the Berserker, and turning the mutts into a flowers of blood sprays and lead.
Tolstoj who is next to me shot a Brute who was coming towards us as Alicia picked off the ones further away, Samuel is mostly standing back since a p66 is too strong for this, but vigorously joins any needed melee by using the rifle as an oversized mace, turning Hounds into meat paste.
...Trust me, we can handle close range...
Soon enough some of the enemy ranged Lessers started to climb over the hill as well, but by then we had mostly dealt with the close-range ones, making taking care of them easy enough.
It was not long though before the Heavy was seen climbing the very hill, but we had anticipated that happening.
“Samuel. Do it.”
*BOooom*
The explosives we had brought along and laid on the hilltop blew up. Taking down numerous Lessers that yet lived, and decimating the feet off of the behemoth. Its roars were exquisite, like the thunder of god. Honestly, what did you expect? That I just attacked them blindly? Hell no.
Samuel finished the near-dead Behemoth off with a few well placed shots from his P66, and after logging the encounter, our job was done.
“Good job boys. Good job.” I congratulated them as we took a break.
A dozen minutes later, we were in transit to Aurora once more.
After we eventually made our way back to Aurora, we convened in the lobby for a short moment before ending the day’s work.
“Good work guys. The job went well. But this is just the beginning, I have already chosen the next job. Meeting hall tomorrow at 8Am sharp. Got that?”
After getting their agreeing response I dispersed our group for the day. I also took Alicia’s and my pay for the job.
Then, I looked around and picked the next job for us. Scouting 2 adjacent areas. Nice and easy work. 40% squad bonus and 65 cred pay both.
What? I said that I had a job BEFORE choosing one? Yes.
...Your point?
“...Can you stop talking to your imaginary friend within your head when you have a hallucinator one that you neglect? ...I am lonely…”
… By the way, Lily has been sulking because I ignore her. It is kinda funny.
“Shut up Tin-head. I am not sulking!”
See? Funny.
“So, how’s the hand?” I ask alicia.
“Eh?... Its better, it doesn't hurt that much and moves right…” she responded.
“Good.” I just responded. After visiting engineering to make sure Hicks is doing his job (he was surprised :l), I took Alicia to have a meal. I was going to laze after that but Alicia asked me something.
“...Rest for the day again?...”
...huh? “yeah” I ask. Confused.
“...Sorry… It’s just… You never do anything else than work or rest…”
Why would I? ...I am confused.
“Why would I?”
“...Whatever, can we go to the firing range?”
“Sure.”
*Pov: Alicia*
I must protect Rasmus from that Lisa. After I got released from the hospital bed I found 2 spy cameras in Rasmus’ room, and she keeps trying to ‘Bump into’ him ‘accidentally’ on the streets. Those chocolates too… one package contained roofies and ecstasy in the chocolate You know??
Rasmus~ Rasmus~
...Luckily Rasmus was not too affected, but I ate one and was out for the day… that was dangerous~...
Rasmus~ He let me sleep on his couch for that night~
Since then I have taken to throwing away any chocolate before Rasmus eats them.
I must protect him.
He also needs to get along better with his squadmates~ Samuel is still intimidated by him and there is too little chatting going on between them.
Yeah. I have my work cut out for me. Work hard me!