SS1 9.3 – End of the Hunt
Without many words I rolled down my favorite double-size sleeping bag on the HMVs’ rear floor. Ariel and Kara would take the first watch, so I will sleep first. The two silently sat on top of dashboard. Ariel had gloomy face. It seemed the butchering ritual we saw earlier had reminded her of W 0-1. I didn’t know how to console her, so I said nothing.
As for Kara, she fixed her clear gaze on me. At first, I planned to sleep right away, but then I decided to ask her.
“Do you have something you want to talk with me?”
“Mhm,” Kara gave me a small nod.
“What is it?”
“Do you plan to form a hunting team?”
I gave Ariel a glance before replying, “I don’t know if I can form a proper hunting team, but at least I want to get another team member who can drive and shoot.”
“If you have the means to attain it, what formation you will use to maximize Orbiter 69 and Dild 101 body count?”
“Three vehicles, three man each.” I calmly said. “This formation will enable 4-hours rotation of sleeping, lookout duty, and remote hunting. That’s about 11-12 hours of night hunting while we can also have proper night rest.”
“…”
“The formation will also enable me to deploy two hunting teams working together, while another team provide aerial recon and close air support.”
Kara lightly nodded before asking me another question. “Do you mind to have several demi-humans in your team?”
“Nope.”
“What about having female D-rank in your team?”
“For your information,” I casually said. “I come from armed forces with tons of female service member. Fighting side by side with female combatant is not new thing for me.”
“What about having female superior officer?”
“My last superior officer is female actually.” As my former boss’ grumpy face popped up in my mind I added, “She has nasty personality, but she is really good at getting her hands on things or budget we needs. When someone throws shitshow at my platoon, she also always stands up for us.
Her nasty personality does stress me out, but her leadership is solid. I don’t mind taking order from her or following her into combat.”
After a light nod Kara said, “It seems your country tries to maximize combat potential from its citizen.”
“We have no choice after all.”
“Why? Does your country in a war?” Kara curiously asked me.
“Well, my country has only around 10 million people,” I casually explained. “While there are more than a billion people who openly or covertly, tries to cancel our existence as a country. Some even belief that hatred, violence, and lethal means against my folk are acceptable and receive encouragement.”
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
“…”
“That’s why for the last few decades, we are always in an edge and have to always maintain readiness and capacity to face full-scale war.”
“I know how it feels, being outnumbered and always in an edge,” Kara said in low voice. “It sucks.”
“But at the same time, the pressure keeps pushing us to become better, stronger, smarter, and richer nation. We are a country that its future is being shape by threat to our survival, and so far we do really well.
As long as we don’t act based on lies, delusion, or overreached ambition, our future will remains bright and no one can threat our survival without putting their own survival in the greater risk.”
“I see.”
“Anything else?”
“No.”
“Do you want to join my team?”
“No, my family won’t let me.”
“I see.” After a smile I said, “Well, come here, I will tell you a secret.”
“Why do I need to come over to you?” Kara curiously said. “Just tell me already.”
“If you don’t come here, I won’t tell you.”
After pondering for a moment, Kara got up and came over to me. With a smile I welcomed her, and then I hugged her and took her into my sleeping bag.
“If you don’t get enough sleep, your short leg won’t grow.”
“Liar,” Kara protested.
“I’m not,” I said while maintaining my hug and zipped in my sleeping bag.
“Liar Berg,” Kara vexingly said. “Let me go. I have lookout duty with Big Sis Ariel.”
“Kara, it is fine.” Ariel lightly smiled at us before adding, “I can carry the lookout duty on my own, and Berg is correct. You need lot of sleep.”
“See,” I happily said. “You need lot of sleep.”
Kara said nothing, but she was puffing her left cheek. I immediately kissed her in the forehead before reposition myself so we could comfortably sleep.
Actually, I only wanted to tease Kara and let her go as soon as she tried to free herself. However, I guessed I couldn’t do that anymore. So, I just continued hugging her. Not to mention, a moment later she already fell asleep like a small log.
---
In the early morning, I woke up to take my turn for lookout duty. Ariel then went to sleep and she chose to use my sleeping bag. As for Kara, she still slept like a log. When Ariel replaced me to hug her, she unconsciously grabbed her hand and took it to her chest.
After looking at the two for a moment, I then made a coffee to accompany me carried out lookout duty. Later, other than getting additional team member, I would install EO/IR Ball on HMV’s skeletal roof. It would make lookout duty became easier.
As for now, I would just rely on my eyes. I sat on top of HMV’s dashboard while scanning the area every a few minutes. Like any lookout duty I had so far, it was long, boring, and cold, but in the end I saw sun rose in the east. It meant I did my job well and survived the night.
I waited until the sun fully showed its round body before taking a pen and a small note. Then, I made calculation for last night hunt.
//Cost:
3 flight hours x 1 Orbiter 69: 700 mollar
97 x Dildo 101 / Blindfold 22: 194.000 mollar
Kill:
4 x Wargs: 60.000 mollar
46 x Minotaur: 460.000 mollar
57 x Orcs: 11.400 mollar
68 x Goblins: 3.400 mollar
Net:
340.100 mollar//
The net I got couldn’t even cover the cost to build a single Orbiter 69. I also still have to share it with Kara, but it’s still good harvest. It was better than the reward from shutting down a new small nest. The risk was also lower and it took only three hours to finish the hunt.
Of course, we wouldn’t always produce such result. The monsters would soon get used to combo Orbiter 69 and Dildo 101 it and found a way to degrade their effectiveness. However, I would also make my own adjustment and developed better means. War was a game of cat and mouse after all.
Then, I heard a movement from HMV’s rear section. When I checked it, I found Kara had woke up and sat up, looking at me with her sleepy eyes.
After a smile I said to her, “Good morning.”
“…”
Kara said nothing. She just continued looking at me with her sleeping eyes. Then, she turned her gaze to Ariel’s sleeping face before went back to the sleeping back and hugged Ariel. Well, I guessed she really needed lots of sleep.
I then went with my plan to buy ingredients for today breakfast. There was a high chance today breakfast was the last time I and Ariel could have a meal together with Kara. Therefore, before we returning to Karmen and said our goodbye, I wanted to cook something simple but nice for her. A comfort food that would make her felt at home and remembered me and Ariel as a family.
*****