Vol. 4 Ch. 2 Ep. 4: An Unexpected Reunion

RABBIT 1, reporting. The time is 1625 hours.

We followed the GPS signal RABBIT 3 sent us to pinpoint the location of the suspect who infiltrated Point Sierra. Confirming arrival at the site.

It is currently raining at Point Romeo, the drop-off point, and visibility is down to about 500 meters. All units, please exercise caution.

Um, th-this is RABBIT 4... Thankfully, the weather's kinda making it so nobody's around here right now...

No hidden enemies... We're not in immediate danger of ambush... And I'm in a good position if anything happens...

Copy that. RABBIT 2, please report.

RABBIT 2 here. I've cut the circuits. The alarm sensors are down for the count...for now, at least.

But, you know...

Is there a problem, RABBIT 2?

Not exactly a problem, but...does this building look kinda familiar to anyone else?

Did you shock yourself cutting the circuits? We've never had an operation here before, dummy.

That's not what I meant! It's like...the layout? I don't know, the structure feels familiar.

It's kinda like the indoor warfare range at the SRT Training Facility, isn't it? Three floors and entrances... And when I was reviewing the blueprints Moe gave us, I thought the maze-like layout inside seemed familiar.

Heehee. It actually is kinda familiar, isn't it? Although, someone would've started shooting at us by now if it was a training exercise.

P-Please don't jinx it...but I do feel better knowing we've kinda done this before.

That's right. Since we're familiar with the terrain, it'll be easier for us to predict and adapt throughout encounters.

But buildings with this layout are usually easier to defend. Back in our mock battles, the defenders usually had the upper hand, so I'm kinda nervous...

Hah! Big, bad, "We're elite agents of SRT" Saki is scared? C'mon!

Who cares what kinda defense or weapons they have? We'll just do what we always do. Easy peezy.

Ugh, to think I had to be cheered up by you. Fine! Fine! If PMC's elites armed to the tooth can't beat us, who can?

A-And I'll be watching your backs...!

We just have to work together. RABBIT 2, everyone. To positions! Let's go!

Breaching.

I've secured our entry path!

RABBIT 1, taking the building!

Site A clear.

Site B clear!

Continuing to site C!

(This is strange. We're deep into their territory now, and they still haven't made contact. Are they being cautious of us?)

(I haven't made any mistakes so far... I'm staying aware of potential movement or traps, but it still feels like I'm missing something...)

This is RABBIT 2. RABBIT 1, we've run into a barricade we can't breach. Do you want us to break through it?

No. Avoid giving away your position at all costs. Find a way around, if you can.

Understood. Going to start moving towards the center aisle.

Continuing–

Augh...!

Hello? Was that a gunshot?!

RABBIT 2, report in. Saki!

I can't get through... Did she lose her communicator?

RABBIT 4, requesting an update on the situation. RABBIT 3, our GPS doesn't seem to be...

I'm jammed... No signals coming in or out.

(We're all cut off from each other... I won't be able to rely on any back-up.)

(The enemy was in perfect sync... Ambush the point, jam communications, and isolate each member all at once, before anyone knows what happened...)

(It was a simple and straightforward plan, but nearly impossible to execute... The amount of coordination that would have been required, and in complete silence at that. I need to tread carefully.)

(That doesn't matter right now though. To start, I have to rescue Saki...)

(Augh... Ambush?! I didn't notice them close in at all!)

...

(Think, Miyako. The passageway is too narrow for my primary weapon to be useful...)

(Close combat isn't my specialty, but I'm still an SRT agent.)

(Upset my opponent's center of gravity...Take advantage when they lose balance–)

Foxtrot...

(A flash grenade? This close?!)

...1.5 seconds. Reactions are slow. You took too long to reorient after the explosion and flash.

You moved exactly per the CQB manual, but the real world doesn't follow your textbooks. Your movements are too predictable. You should have taken the initiative and rushed me.

Ugh...!

Stop moving. I might accidentally break your arm.

You're no ordinary soldier. Who are you?

Does who I am change anything? You went into this operation thinking, "I'm SRT. I can handle whatever might lie ahead of us," didn't you? Lazy. Undisciplined. Always assume the worst case scenario.

Even the best, most experienced veteran can be taken out by a stray bullet on a battlefield.

Courageous warriors don't live long here. A good special forces soldier conducts themselves with cowardice. Or you'll end up dead.

Wait. I know that voice... I-It can't be.

It's been quite some time, Squad Leader Tsukiyuki Miyako.

You look well.

Yukino?!