Chapter 27: Operation Black Saturday
In Sector Bacardi, the war reparations are improving, fostering hope among weary inhabitants. Yet, as officers from the Allied nation of HFC commence drill training for new T.O.P Shoota recruits, troubling news emerges from Sector Foxtrot. Rebellions have erupted in the newly claimed territories of Nihon and the Oranje Royal family, with natives from Sumatra and various colonies in Sector Foxtrot rising against their conquerors.
In response, the GOC ruthlessly plans to eliminate the remaining generations of local communities in Sector Foxtrot. Team Delta 1-2, alongside formidable war fleets, is dispatched with grim intent. Despite the sector's diminutive community, decimated by the 2027-2028 genocide, brutality persists. Even minors are not spared from the executions.
The GOC claims they are merely "cleaning up." In reality, they are systematically removing inhabitants from both Sector Tango and Sector Foxtrot. This divide triggers tension within T.O.P Shoota ranks. Some wish to aid survivors, citing moral obligations; others stress the instability and precarious position of their own country.
Advisors recommend that the Reincarnator refrain from intervention due to the volatile nature of Foxtrot and Tango's circumstances. Agreeing cautiously, the Reincarnator orders defensive preparations along the coast, wary of potential GOC amphibious assaults, as intelligence suggests Fleet 453th is poised in the Caribbean, awaiting commands to strike Sector Bacardi once more.
The defense plan aims to bleed the GOC forces on the coast, inflicting severe casualties until retreat is inevitable. However, it's not enough to stave off the threat entirely. The advisors suggest a counter-invasion targeting western Sector Delta, with the strategic aim of capturing its port.
Constrained by resources, the Reincarnator faces logistical challenges. Limited to torpedo boats and subs that carry a modest 50 occupants, their capacity falls short. Gathering merely 3,000 military personnel across such vessels exposes inherent vulnerabilities. Sea mines pose additional threats if GOC opts to deploy them along coastal waters.
Meanwhile, my own mission unfolds. Dispatched by HFC, my task is to infiltrate a GOC outpost in the Republic of Malaya—my debut assignment. Equipped with an uncannily authentic fake ID card, crafted meticulously by HFC, I don a GOC uniform acquired through unknown means.
Upon arrival, the outpost is heavily guarded. As I progress through the line, tension mounts—blacklisted individuals face swift apprehension. When my turn arrives, the guard stamps my counterfeit documents, granting me entry into the city.
The city's beauty starkly contrasts with Bacardi's rubble. As I navigate the streets, a GOC soldier halts his motorcycle beside me.
"I don't remember seeing you around, mate. Are you new?"
"Yes, I'm a new recruit. Is there a problem?"
"Let me see your ID, mate."
I hand over the documents, bracing for his suspicion. His scrutiny drags. Instinctively, my hand rests upon a hidden knife, ready beneath my uniform.
His gaze shifts, but unexpectedly, he returns the ID. "Head to the training center, mate. You need formal induction as a GOC soldier before roaming freely."
With those words, he departs abruptly.
Continuing through narrow alleys, I reach an HFC hideout discreetly tucked away. A peer through the peephole greets me. "Password?"
Adopting a Korean accent, I respond, "Liberation of Asia is promised to everyone."
The door swings open to reveal Nihon agents, engulfed in smoke and camaraderie. My mission: locate Agent Koyuki, the operation's leading force.
Meanwhile, in Tokyo, Kiriyama, wearing an old, surprisingly fitting jacket, wanders bustling streets. En route through a familiar shortcut, she's approached by a would-be thief. Her frustrations give rise to defiance; she retaliates, leaving the assailant unrecognizable and lifelessly discarded in a trash bin.
Police stumble upon the gruesome find, but with mechanical detachment, notify dispatch and call for cleanup—a grim reminder of urban life's unforgiving edge.
To be continued...