Vol. 4 Ch. 2 Ep. 20: Caerbannog's Cave 1

...The rabbit has walked into the snare.

FOX 1. Commencing operation. All units, maintain positions and report.

This is FOX 4. I just downed a drone near Alpha.

I was worried for a second they were going to charge in guns blazing... Glad Miyako's not a dummy.

They've been twiddling their thumbs since then though.

What's their play here?

Keep your eyes peeled, FOX 4. They might be rookies, but they're still SRT.

Copy.

I'm compromised after that shot. Will reposition and report.

This is FOX 3. Currently at point Lima. I'm covering the central elevator right now.

Their entrance is funneled by the guardrails, so I've got this choke point under control.

Even if they luck out and dodge a shot, they can't just ignore my shield and run through.

FOX 3. I've got a problem with what you said actually.

"Dodge a shot"? You think they're gonna dodge one of MY shots?

I trust you so much I'd run into the battlefield blindfolded if you had my back. But what if they try to burst?

I'd be less concerned if your gun had four barrels...

Huh... A quad-barrel rifle would actually make it a breeze, huh?

FOX 4, back up FOX 3. Pin those targets down.

They know Otogi is watching them now. I expect Miyako is trying to figure out how to circumvent her right now.

Worst case, they catch us off guard and find a way to avoid us altogether.

The crux of spec-ops is managing the unpredictable and capitalizing on our strategic advantages.

We have the upper hand right now. Given our positional and gear advantage, as long as we respond flexibly as the battle unfolds, our operation should be a success.

That's our Yukino.

Not like it's a surprise. No one plans an op better than our leader!

...It'll always be to hell and back again, for the FOX Squad.

Focus, everyone. It won't be much longer now.

FOX 2 reporting in. I've turned the remote control for the central elevator offline.

If it's offline, Moe can't hack it to control the elevator no matter what tricks she tries.

Am I overdoing it? I have a lot of faith in our juniors, but I don't know if they'd make it this far...

You're not. It's like I always say. Worst case scenario.

...

Yukino...

Do you really think they could do it? Beat us?

It's within the realm of possibility.

If they do push through FOX 2 to the center...

...rendezvous on ground level and await orders.

Huh? Should we regroup with you, FOX 1?

Even if we're compromised, we can back up and provide support from the rear...

No. If they take the operations room, we've failed.

If they push through, secure an escape route for a quick retreat.

I can see the logic, but...

Kurumi. I'm sure she has her reasons.

FOX 1, you can't be...

That was an order, Niko.

SRT doesn't question orders.

...Copy.

Our mission: Either retrieve or disarm the A.N.T.I.O.C.H. thermobaric warhead to prevent FOX Squad from detonating it.

The warhead is being held in the silo, but the detonation will be triggered from inside the operations room below.

To disarm the warhead, we need to take the operations room.

Easier said than done...

She's right. The operations room is deep within the silo, so the only way to access it is through the central elevator.

To make matters worse, it's all open air from here to the elevator. Otogi will have a field day.

I've already counted 13 good hiding spots... She could be anywhere.

Normally, we'd take out the sniper then proceed, but we don't have much time until the detonation.

So we'll have to take a full force assault. Don't give them a second to think.

Yukino has that battlefield managed down to the millimeter, so the only way we'll win is if we pressure them enough to make a mistake. We'll have to burst in hard and fast.

Anything else?

Yes, here. I would wager an enemy unit is stationed at point Lima.

RABBIT 2, neutralize that unit, secure the central elevator's controls.

RABBIT 3, hack the elevator as soon as you get the clear.

It'll be a snap.

What about me?

RABBIT 4...

Take cover here, on the outer stairs. Wait for RABBIT 2 to bait out the sniper's shot and triangulate their position.

I can do that no problem, but...

But won't Saki get hurt?

Hahaha! I'm your point woman, RABBIT 4! This is what I'm made for.

And look at this helmet and ballistic armor. Even if I do get hit, it'll be like being knocked by a feather!

O-Okay!

That's all fine and dandy, but what's our Plan B?

If Saki goes down, if I fail hacking the elevator, or if Miyu doesn't locate the sniper in time... What do we do?

There's no Plan B.

What? Why?

We don't need one. You are all members under my leadership, of the RABBIT Squad.

How would the fastest, strongest, and most dedicated special forces squad I've ever met lose?

So trust each other, and execute the site knowing that you'll succeed.

...Because I believe in every one of you.

Oh, geez, Miyako. Of all of your harebrained schemes, this one really takes the cake.

Did I not deliver it well? Oh no, the speech was too much, wasn't it?

Well, harebrained or not, my squad leader's given me an order.

RABBIT 2, copy that.

Moe, Miyu... Cover my six, will you?

Let's go!

Then... commence operation!

CHARGE!

...FOX 3. I do believe that's your junior running around like a chicken with its head cut off.

Hahaha! She's really just running out in the open knowing I'm here! She really is your mini-me.

...Even I wasn't that dumb as a freshman!

I've got eyes. Want me to give her a little lesson?

Hold off. FOX 1 said they were planning for you being here and how to handle you.

And I think I'd like to have a little talk with my junior, point woman to point woman.

Just watch my back, FOX 4.

Copy.

Huh, what a coincidence. Do you come here often?

...How many times have I told you? Keep a low profile in enemy territory. Information is your best weapon on the field, and you just handed it over to us.

Seems like you need a refresher course, Saki!

Because I was really going to sneak down this narrow hallway knowing you guys were watching every inch of it.

I'd rather take the fight against your .45 caliber pistol than Otogi's sniping.

Right, fine. You needed to close the distance one way or another.

But today, I'm our squad's shield. Let's see who the better point woman is, Saki.

Don't get caught off guard though!

...Your close combat improved quite a bit in a short time.

Smart move using the butt of your gun instead of pulling out a secondary while dodging threats.

Yeah... One of my old seniors taught that to me.

Write down all my lessons, did you? There never was anyone who could top you when it came to academics.

I'm a bit disappointed to be saying goodbye to such a promising protege.

That's fine, because you've disappointed me plenty.

How could you, Kurumi? The revival of SRT means nothing if it's built on the blood of the civilians we're supposed to protect!

...Tools don't question the user's intent.

You're in battle, focus! If you're going to point that gun at someone, you had better be ready to shoot it.

(I don't need to engage here... I'll keep my distance and have her use up as much ammo as I can.)

Hey, Saki! Look here please!

Cheese!

Seriously?!

You're too honest, Saki...

Every move, every stance, it's all textbook. You're too easy to read.

Some people's dispositions just aren't meant for this line of work.

I think you might just have the wrong impression of me.

Unfounded confidence doesn't suit you, Saki. What makes you think you could...

Ah. Your g-g-greenhorn sniper? That one's gonna save you all?

She'll get one lucky shot off, at most.

She might get me with that one shot, but Otogi'll locate and take her down faster than you can say 'rabbit.'

You seem to trust your squadmates a lot, huh?

Where are you going with this?

I wouldn't underestimate our sniper.

Sure, she's probably not going to win in a hand-to-hand fight. And to you she might look weak or timid, but she's the best damn sniper in Kivotos.

Hm... Now that I think about it, why hasn't Otogi given you any cover fire yet? That's not very like her...

I will say, Miyu did score first place in infiltration and stealth. Every. Single. Time.

...!

FOX 4, come in! FOX 4!

What's up? I'm just chilling.

You told me to hold my fire, didn't ya?

I had to confirm. For a second there, I thought...

Oh.

What was it you said again... Oh, yeah. If you're going to point that gun at someone, you had better be ready to shoot it.

Looks like FOX Squad's bonds aren't all that they're chalked up to be, huh?

FOX 3 is down.

Kurumi tries too hard to look good in front of the rabbits. It always backfires...

Welp. Guess I'm on clean up duty then!

Decoy drone deployed. ECCM prep, check. No sniper's sneaking up on this girl.

Now, then. Where's that crazy little point woman...

Hm... I haven't seen or heard anything about RABBIT's sniper in a while...

W-Well... I'm actually right here...

Wh-Wh-What the...

Since when? How?!

I...actually came up here to find a spot too...

But then I got here, and you were here f-first...

I was trying to figure out how to tell you I was here, but you seemed really focused...

It'd be one thing if you had snuck your way over here somehow... But you were just...standing behind me? And I didn't notice you?

Are you a ghost? Do you need someone to fulfill your last wish so you can move on or something?

I kind of fade into the background a lot... I'm sure one day even my squad mates won't notice if I'm there or not... They actually did once...in the middle of a mission...

But, well... Sometimes it's a good thing.

Sometimes, it lets me be useful to my squad mates. Like this...

I-I'm really sorry.

L-L-Let's talk about this!

...FOX 3 and 4 are down.

I didn't expect them to put up this much of a fight...

Taking the central elevator controls offline was the right call.

I can't get a signal...

Did... Did she turn the dang thing off?!

Heehee. Looks like it's out of service.

After all, a good operation plan expects the unexpected!

...Niko? You're behind this, aren't you?

You can sneak your way past any security system if you have the time to do it.

I figured the best defense would be to stop you before you could even try. Heehee.

That's just...crafty.

It's the only way down to the operations room, and you can't hack your way in for once.

What'll you do, Moe? The longer you dilly-dally here, the closer and closer Kaiser reinforcements get.

In other words, it's time for my darling underclassmen to go home.

So, you're saying it's a no-go electronically?

Heeheehee! You're not crafty enough, Niko. You tunnel visioned on my computer skills and forgot the rest of my file!

You can bluff all you want, Moe. There's no way for you to get through.

Busting through a stubborn door? Forcing its reinforced material to bend to my will?

Gives me a thrill just thinking about it... *pant* *pant*

I don't know what you're thinking, but the doors are fully electronic. There's no way you can punch through it with the power offline.

If something doesn't blow up the first time, blow it up again! And again! And again! Hahaha!

No way I can punch through? No way my little babies can blow up one little door?!

Let's begin! I have ten pounds of semtex...

Heeheehee. I've never set off that much semtex at once! It's time for a show!

Whoa, whoa, whoa! That's gonna blow more than the door!

It'll hit everything and everyone around it!

Meh, my team's tough. They'll deal.

You have to be bluffing. There's no way you would make such a risky maneuver here!

That's the most illogical...

*cough* *cough* Boom goes the dynamite!

That overshot opening the door by a bit...

'Obliterated' may be a better way to say it...

I did give her free reign, so I guess I should've seen that coming...

Well, if WE'RE surprised, imagine how the FOX Squad probably feels right now.

I guess Moe's utter need for chaos and destruction can have its benefits...

Are you really sassing the one who just single-handedly saved this mission.

I meant it in a good way, all right?

Seriously, good one.

You pulled through too, RABBIT 2.

Elevator's clear. I'm rappelling down to the control room!

Secure yourself to the cable and follow me!

Going in!