Chapter 116: Hostage Rescue
Irantu sat rigidly in the dimly lit cabin of the V-22 Osprey, the soft hum of the aircraft's engines a steady backdrop to the tension filling the space. His eyes moved methodically over his squad, Nanku, Munru, and Onru, each of them sitting motionless, their faces obscured by sleek, futuristic helmets. Their postures were as disciplined as their expressions were unreadable, their cold gazes fixed on some indeterminate point ahead. The hum of the engines and the faint rattle of gear shifting in its straps were the only sounds breaking the silence.
Irantu's augmented senses picked up every subtle detail: the measured breaths of his squad, the rhythmic thrum of the Osprey's rotors, and the faint whir of the advanced cybernetics embedded in their bodies. They were a cohesive unit, a single entity composed of four unyielding parts, crafted to endure and execute without hesitation.
To his right, Serano, the commander of Xi-13 "Sequeres Nos", studied the live feed from a drone hovering over their target, the Labyrinth of Shadows. The glow of the tablet's screen reflected off Serano's stern features as his fingers flicked across the display, replaying the same images repeatedly. His sharp eyes scanned every corner of the dark, twisted structure displayed on the screen. The tension in his shoulders was palpable, a stark contrast to the unshaken composure of Irantu and his squad.
Irantu's gaze lingered on Serano for a moment. The commander's focus was absolute, his mind clearly working through contingencies for the mission ahead. Irantu could see the fine lines of stress etched into his face, something that no helmet or armor could conceal.
Breaking the silence, Serano muttered, almost to himself, "Multiple layers of defense… sentries on every level… no clear line of sight for extraction except if we clean up the courtyard"
Irantu's voice, deep and calm, cut through the drone of the aircraft.
"The mission is not impossible, Commander. Adaptability will see us through."
Serano glanced at Irantu, the tension in his expression softening slightly as he nodded.
"Easy for you to say. You and your squad are built for this. The rest of us don't come back from mistakes."
Nanku, sitting to Irantu's left, spoke for the first time, her voice a monotone that carried a faint mechanical undertone.
"Mistakes are not tolerated. Nor are they necessary."
Munru and Onru exchanged brief glances but said nothing, their silence speaking volumes. They were ready. They always were.
The cabin lights dimmed briefly as the Osprey hit a patch of turbulence, and the operators of Xi-13 adjusted their grips on their weapons. Irantu turned his attention back to his squad.
"This mission is paramount. The lives of the hostages depend on precision. There is no room for error."
He looked back to Serano, his tone softening slightly.
"Trust in the team. Trust in the plan."
Serano exhaled and returned to his screen.
"We'll see."
The Osprey began to descend, the faint outline of the Labyrinth of Shadows coming into view through the small portholes.
The air was cold and biting as the rear ramp of the Osprey groaned open, revealing the black void of the night outside. The towering structure of the Labyrinth of Shadows loomed in the distance, illuminated only by faint torchlight and the eerie glow of magical crystals embedded in its walls. Irantu stood at the edge of the ramp, his stance unshaken, his augmented eyes scanning the courtyard below through the blue/white hue of his night vision.
The Osprey hovered soundlessly, its engines modified to dampen the roar that would normally announce its presence. At seventy meters above the ground, the swirling winds tugged at Irantu's armor, but he remained motionless, calculating. Below, the courtyard was alive with movement, guards patrolled in pairs, their torches casting long, flickering shadows.
Irantu turned to glance at his squad behind him, their silhouettes framed by the faint glow of the aircraft interior. Nanku, Munru, and Onru stood ready, weapons secured but hands poised for action. He shifted his gaze to Serano, who was watching intently from behind the operators of Xi-13, his expression a mix of tension and resolve.
"As planned," Irantu said, his voice steady, almost indifferent. "We'll clear the way for you. Rendezvous after the objective is secure."
Serano nodded, his grip tightening on his rifle. "Good luck out there."
Without another word, Irantu turned back to the open ramp. The moment stretched for a heartbeat before he stepped forward and leaped into the void, his body cutting through the night like a silent shadow. Behind him, Nanku, Munru, and Onru followed in perfect succession, their synchronized movements betraying their machine-like precision.
The impact was deafening.
Irantu hit the ground first, the advanced shock absorbers in his legs dispersing the force of the fall with a heavy thud that cracked the stone beneath him. Nanku, Munru, and Onru landed in unison, creating a web of fissures in the courtyard floor. The sound reverberated through the still night, causing the nearby guards to halt in their tracks.
Shouts erupted as the guards turned toward the disturbance, their torches raised high in an attempt to pierce the darkness. Their movements were frantic, their eyes straining to see through the shroud of night. More footsteps echoed as additional guards joined them, weapons drawn, advancing cautiously toward the source of the noise.
Nanku's voice was a soft murmur in Irantu's comms. "Orders?"
Irantu's response was as calm as it was absolute.
"Kill them all. Do not let them raise the alarm."
The squad moved as one.
Nanku's plasma gauntlet ignited, the brilliant blue glow illuminating her form for a split second before she plunged her fist into the first approaching guard. The man barely had time to scream as his chest caved in, the energy tearing through him and searing his armor to slag.
Munru and Onru flanked the group of guards, their movements swift and predatory. Onru's Energy Blade hummed to life, its edge shimmering with a strange, almost otherworldly light. She sliced through two guards in one fluid motion, their bodies crumpling to the ground as blood pooled beneath them. Munru, wielding his Resonance Disruptor, sent out a concussive wave that shattered weapons and bones alike, throwing a group of guards against the stone walls with bone-crushing force.
Irantu strode forward, methodical in his actions. A guard lunged at him with a spear, but Irantu caught it effortlessly, snapping the weapon in two before driving the broken shaft into the man's throat. Another guard swung a sword at him, but the blade glanced harmlessly off Irantu's heat-resistant plating. Without hesitation, Irantu grabbed the guard by the helmet and slammed him into the ground, the man's skull shattering like glass.
Panic began to spread among the remaining guards as they realized they were outmatched. Shouts for reinforcements turned to cries of terror as the squad continued their brutal onslaught. Nanku moved with cold efficiency, breaking necks and crushing ribs with every strike. Munru's suppressive fire cut down those who tried to retreat, while Onru darted through the chaos, her blade leaving a trail of death in her wake.
Within moments, the courtyard was silent once more, the bodies of the guards strewn across the bloodstained stone. Irantu surveyed the carnage, his expression hidden beneath his helmet but his stance betraying no hint of emotion.
"Area clear," he said into his comms.
Nanku approached him, her gauntlet dimming as she deactivated it. "No alarms. The path is secure."
Irantu nodded, his gaze shifting to the castle entrance. "Good. Move to the next phase. We have a prison to breach."
The squad disappeared into the shadows, their footsteps leaving behind only the echoes of death.
The interior of the Shadow Labyrinth was as oppressive as its exterior. Narrow, dimly lit corridors stretched endlessly, illuminated sporadically by flickering wall-mounted torches and crystals embedded in the black stone. The air was heavy, saturated with moisture and the acrid smell of rusted metal. The walls, carved from a slick, dark stone, occasionally reflected the torchlight, creating shifting shadows that almost seemed alive.
Irantu led the way, his footsteps silent on the stone floor despite the heavy armor encasing his body. Behind him, Nanku, Munru, and Onru moved in formation, each covering a different angle, their weapons at the ready to neutralize any threat. Their helmets, equipped with advanced vision systems, scanned every corner, revealing heat signatures, structural weak points, and distant movement through the gloom.
Ahead, two guards rounded a corner, their chainmail clinking faintly in the silence. Before they could react, Irantu gestured subtly, and Onru stepped forward, firing a silent projectile that struck the first guard in the throat. The man collapsed with a gurgled cry as Nanku rushed forward, snapping the neck of the second guard before he could raise an alarm. The team moved on without missing a beat, their precision and lethality absolute.
As they advanced deeper into the labyrinth, the environment became more complex. Staircases spiraled downward into deeper chambers, and corridors split unpredictably. Irantu's integrated mapping system updated in real-time, charting the maze and highlighting potential threats.
At the next junction, Munru paused, his visor displaying multiple heat signatures down the corridor. A group of guards was stationed at a checkpoint, chatting idly, unaware of the intruders. Irantu raised a hand, signaling for a coordinated takedown.
Munru took the lead, deploying a flash grenade that rolled silently into the group before detonating in a blinding burst of light. The guards screamed, shielding their eyes as the Samsara Squad moved in. Irantu's energy blade hummed faintly as it sliced through chainmail and flesh, cutting down two guards in one swift motion. Nanku fired precise shots from her plasma disruption gauntlet, disintegrating another two. Munru and Onru finished the remaining guards with brutal efficiency, leaving the checkpoint silent once more.
The squad continued, leaving behind a trail of bodies. Blood pooled on the black stone floors, seeping into the cracks and staining the labyrinth's eerie glow. No alarms sounded, the guards never had the chance.
As they neared their objective, the corridors widened, leading to a massive set of reinforced doors engraved with intricate, ancient runes. Irantu gestured for the team to halt, his visor scanning the door. Suddenly, a cacophony of noise erupted from the other side. The sounds of shouting, heavy footsteps, and the clanging of weapons filled the air, muffled but unmistakable.
Irantu held up a fist, signaling the squad to prepare. Nanku checked her gauntlet's charge, Munru adjusted his weapon, and Onru positioned herself near the wall, ready to ambush. Irantu stared at the door, his expression impassive behind his helmet, as the team braced for whatever lay beyond.
Suddenly, Irantu's augmented fist slammed into the door with devastating force and it exploded into a rain of molten shards. The iron gave way like paper, scattering across the cavernous room beyond. The squad moved in unison, stepping through the thick haze of smoke and dust into the heart of the prison.
The chamber was massive, divided into multiple levels connected by rickety staircases and crisscrossing walkways. Cells lined every wall, their iron bars casting jagged shadows in the dim light. At the center stood a tall, fortified watchtower, its upper levels bristling with archers and thaumaturgists wielding glowing staves. The explosion had drawn the attention of everyone in the room. Guards yelled orders, thaumaturgists began chanting incantations, and prisoners screamed in fear or excitement.
Munru's visor flickered as he scanned the room. "Three hundred sixty-seven guards across the floor," he reported coolly. "Thirty-three in the tower."
Irantu didn't hesitate. "Onru, take the tower. Munru, flank left. Nanku, flank right. I'll take the center. Action."
The squad sprang into motion. Onru moved with inhuman speed, sprinting toward the tower, her plasma disruption gauntlets charging with a faint hum. Munru veered left, his energy blade gleaming under the dim light, while Nanku darted right, her incendiary cannon roaring to life.
Irantu advanced straight ahead, his eyes locked on the group of guards forming a defensive line in his path. They raised their shields and braced for impact, but Irantu was already upon them. His energy blade cut through the first two shields with ease, sending the guards behind them sprawling. He followed up with a crushing punch to the nearest guard, the force of the blow caving in the man's chest.
Bolts of magical energy streaked through the air, fired by thaumaturgists stationed on the upper levels. Irantu barely flinched as one struck his shoulder, the blast dissipating harmlessly against his armor's counter-thaumaturgical warding. He raised his arm-mounted cannon and fired a concentrated burst of energy, obliterating the thaumaturgist who had fired at him and sending fragments of the walkway raining down on the guards below.
From his left, Munru engaged a group of heavily armed guards. His movements were fluid and deliberate, each strike of his energy blade disarming and dismembering his opponents with surgical precision. A thaumaturgist attempted to cast a spell from behind, but Munru was faster. He threw a banishment grenade, its energy disrupting the spell and knocking the thaumaturgist unconscious.
Nanku faced a larger force on the right flank. She moved like a force of nature, her incendiary cannon unleashing streams of liquid fire that engulfed entire squads of guards. Screams echoed through the chamber as the flames spread, consuming everything in their path. She ducked under a swinging halberd, her plasma gauntlet crushing the attacker's skull in retaliation.
Above them, Onru reached the base of the central tower. Her adaptive camouflage system flickered as she darted up the side, avoiding the hail of arrows and magical blasts aimed at her. Reaching the first level, she activated her resonance disruptor, the shockwave sending guards and thaumaturgists flying from the walkways. She continued her ascent, leaving a trail of destruction in her wake.
Irantu pressed forward, his blade cleaving through another squad of guards. Bolts of fire and ice rained down from above, but he moved with relentless purpose, evading the attacks or absorbing their impacts with his reinforced plating. A guard lunged at him with a spear, only for Irantu to catch the weapon mid-thrust and snap it in two before delivering a fatal blow.
The battle was chaos. The air was thick with the smell of blood and burning flesh, the screams of dying guards mingling with the chants of thaumaturgists and the roar of weapons. Cells burst open as stray attacks struck their locks, and prisoners either fled or joined the fray in a desperate bid for freedom.
Suddenly, a deep rumble echoed through the chamber. The ground beneath their feet shook violently, sending guards and prisoners alike stumbling. Dust and debris fell from the ceiling, and the walls of the chamber groaned as if under immense pressure. Irantu steadied himself, his visor scanning for the source of the tremor.
"Report," he barked through the comms.
Munru's voice came through, calm but urgent. "EVE concentration detected."
From above, Onru added, "The tremors are localized. Something is happening deeper within the structure."
Irantu's gaze shifted toward the far end of the chamber, where a massive, heavily reinforced door loomed. The tremors seemed to be emanating from beyond it. For the first time, a flicker of uncertainty crossed his mind.
"Nanku, Munru, regroup," he ordered. "Onru, maintain overwatch. We move to investigate."
As the squad regrouped at the base of the tower, the tremors grew stronger.
It intensified as Irantu, Nanku, and Munru cautiously approached the massive door. Every step brought a growing sense of tension, the vibrations underfoot making even their reinforced boots struggle for balance. Irantu's visor flared with alerts as his scanners detected a large, fast-moving object heading directly for the door.
"Brace!" he shouted, grabbing Nanku and Munru by their armor. With a single powerful leap, he propelled the three of them backward, landing more than ten meters away as the door shattered in an explosive eruption of stone and metal.
A massive fist punched through the debris, composed of jagged rock, glowing faintly with an inner red light. Dust and smoke billowed out, obscuring the figure behind it. Irantu's visor highlighted the emerging form, data streaming across his display.
"A golem," he murmured, the words heavy with recognition.
The creature stepped forward, its colossal frame shaking the ground with every movement. Towering over the squad, the golem was made entirely of stone and metal, its surface etched with glowing runes that pulsed rhythmically. A faint aura of magical energy radiated from its core, and deep within its head, Irantu's scanner identified a single enchanted parchment, the source of its power.
"Priority target identified," Irantu commanded. "Engage and eliminate."
The golem roared, the sound reverberating through the chamber like an avalanche. It swung its massive arm, the fist crashing down with enough force to crater the floor where the squad had been standing moments before.
Nanku reacted first, firing a salvo from her arm-mounted incendiary cannon. Streams of liquid fire engulfed the golem's torso, the intense heat causing the stone to crack and hiss. The creature staggered but quickly recovered, its runes flaring as the damaged sections began to repair themselves.
"Regenerative properties confirmed," Munru noted, dodging another swipe from the golem's fist. He darted in close, his energy blade slicing into the creature's leg. The blade's anti-thaumaturgical properties disrupted the runes etched into the stone, temporarily halting its regeneration in that area.
Onru, stationed above on the remnants of the central tower, unleashed her plasma disruption gauntlets. Beams of concentrated energy lanced through the air, striking the golem's shoulders and head. Chunks of stone exploded outward, but the creature barely faltered, its massive frame continuing to press forward.
Irantu moved with calculated precision, using his enhanced speed to evade the golem's attacks while assessing its weaknesses. "Target the runes. Focus fire to overwhelm its regeneration."
The squad responded in unison. Nanku fired another burst of incendiary rounds, aiming for the glowing symbols on the golem's chest. Munru leapt onto the creature's back, his energy blade carving a path through the intricate network of runes. Onru provided suppressive fire, her plasma bolts targeting the joints to limit its mobility.
The golem roared again, slamming its fists into the ground. The resulting shockwave sent the squad flying, cracks spreading across the floor like spiderwebs. Irantu landed on his feet, quickly recalibrating his stance. He activated his graviton anchor, the device emitting a localized field that stabilized his movements despite the tremors.
"Stay mobile," he ordered. "It's adapting."
As the golem charged forward, Irantu activated his plasma disruption gauntlet, his fist glowing with a blinding blue light. He leapt onto the creature's arm and ran up its length, delivering a devastating punch to its chest. The impact created a crater in the stone, temporarily disabling several runes.
Munru took the opportunity to throw a banishment grenade into the exposed cavity. The explosion of magical energy disrupted the golem's core, causing it to stumble and fall to one knee.
Nanku seized the moment, deploying her hellgate point defense system. A barrage of micro-rockets erupted from her armor, slamming into the golem's back and head. The explosions shattered large sections of stone, but the runes flared again, and the creature began to repair itself.
"It's regenerating faster!" Onru called out, her voice calm despite the urgency.
Irantu's visor highlighted the parchment deep within the golem's head. "That's the key," he said. "We need to destroy the core."
The squad coordinated their efforts for a decisive strike. Onru leapt from her perch, landing on the golem's head with precision. Her plasma gauntlets glowed brightly as she delivered a series of punches, cracking the stone and exposing the core.
Munru and Nanku flanked the creature, their combined firepower targeting its legs to immobilize it. The golem roared in defiance, but its movements grew sluggish as the damage took its toll.
"Now!" Irantu commanded.
Onru delivered a final, earth-shattering punch to the golem's head, creating a massive opening. Munru and Nanku followed suit, their blows striking with inconceivable force, further destabilizing the structure.
With the core fully exposed, Irantu leapt high into the air, his arm cannon charging to maximum capacity. As he descended, he aimed directly for the enchanted parchment glowing within the golem's head. His fist struck with a thunderous impact, obliterating the core in a blinding explosion of light and energy.
The runes flickered and died, and the golem's body began to crumble. Its massive frame collapsed piece by piece, the glowing aura fading into nothingness. Dust and debris filled the chamber as the creature fell silent, its immense power extinguished.
Irantu landed amidst the rubble, his squad regrouping around him. He scanned the remains of the golem, confirming its destruction.
"Target neutralized," he reported. "Move forward."
Suddenly, the ground shook as more towering golems materialized, their forms emerging from swirling arcs of blue thaumaturgical energy. Each new construct was as massive and imposing as the first, their glowing runes pulsing with ominous power. The chamber seemed to tremble under their combined weight, the air thick with the hum of raw magic.
Irantu stood at the forefront, his fists clenched and his visor highlighting the threats before them. He activated his comms with a calm yet firm tone.
"Samsara Squad to Overwatch. We are currently blocked. Multiple golems obstructing our path. Progress is impossible. We believe the type-blue responsible for their summoning is in a chamber directly ahead."
A brief pause crackled through the line before Overwatch's voice responded.
"Overwatch to Samsara Squad. Is extraction of the targets possible without neutralizing the golems?"
Irantu glanced at the advancing constructs and the narrow pathways around them. "Negative."
There was another tense moment of silence before Overwatch returned.
"Acknowledged. Hold your current position and engage. Delay the golems and their summoner. Beta-777 is moving to flank and neutralize the caster. Overwatch out."
Irantu deactivated the comms and turned to face his squad. Nanku, Munru, and Onru stood ready, their postures unwavering despite the overwhelming odds.
"You heard the orders," Irantu said, his voice resolute. "Action."
Without hesitation, the Samsara Squad launched forward, their movements precise and deadly as they charged headlong into the advancing horde of golems.
---
Several dozen meters above the prison, in the courtyard, numerous Foundation operators were disembarking from the Ospreys, securing the area. The prison trembled violently, with frequent shocks being felt from the courtyard. According to radio communications, things were heating up for the Samsara Squad.
Serano scanned the surroundings as his MTF secured the perimeter. Then his attention turned to a team of Beta-777 "Hecate Spear" operators, who seemed to be fixated on the ground below. Serano approached them and addressed one of the operatives: "Is there a problem, Sergeant Aiko?"
The sergeant turned to him and replied, "Yes, there's a significant concentration of Aspect Radiation below us. It's impossible to ignore."
Serano felt the ground tremble more intensely with each passing moment. Suddenly, a voice came through on the radio:
"Overwatch to Witch Team, Samsara Squad has encountered complications with a type-blue and cannot neutralize it. Locate and neutralize the target immediately."
Aiko responded swiftly, "Understood. We've locked onto the type-blue's position. Moving in to engage. Over."
She turned to her team, her expression steely. "Alright, we're heading directly for the target."
One of the operatives raised his hand hesitantly. Aiko acknowledged him. "Yes?"
The operator asked, "Ma'am, how are we supposed to get to the chamber? It looks like the only route is caught in the chaos between Samsara Squad and the golems."
Aiko's lips curled into a confident smirk. "If there's no path, we'll create one ourselves."
She murmured an incantation under her breath, her hands glowing faintly. Suddenly, the ground beneath them erupted, forming a large, jagged crater. Without hesitation, Aiko barked, "Jump!"
She leaped into the opening, her team following close behind. As they descended, Aiko whispered another spell, summoning a cushion of wind that caught them and softened their landing. They touched down in a massive chamber, the air thick with magic and the faint hum of energy reverberating around them.
In the center of the room stood a man resembling a noble, his opulent clothing stained with dark energies. He was in a posture of prayer, surrounded by a glowing magical circle etched into the floor. Slowly, he turned to face them, his eyes radiating malevolence.
Aiko's eyes narrowed as she took in the figure. The noble's lips curled into a sneer, and with a voice dripping with disdain, he spoke. The translation device received and translated into their ears, in a metallic voice: "You dare attack my prison? You filthy intruders have no idea the wrath you've invited. None of you will leave here alive."
The noble's sneer widened as the glow of his magical circle intensified, filling the chamber with an oppressive energy. Aiko's team fanned out instinctively, their weapons aimed at the noble as their sergeant stepped forward.
"Take him down," Aiko commanded, her voice sharp and unwavering.
The noble raised a hand, and with a guttural chant, the air around him seemed to ripple. A wave of black and green energy exploded outward, forcing the team to dive for cover as chunks of stone and debris rained down.
"Shields up!" Aiko barked, weaving her own counterspell. A glowing barrier of azure energy surrounded her team, deflecting the remnants of the magical blast.
The noble laughed, his voice echoing ominously through their translator. "You think your tricks will save you? You are destined to die!"
He unleashed a barrage of spectral tendrils, each one lashing out toward the operators with lethal precision. One operative deflected a tendril with an enchanted shield, while another fired a burst of bullets, the rounds embedding harmlessly in the magical barrier surrounding the noble.
"Ma'am, his shield's too strong!" one of the operators shouted, dodging another attack.
Aiko grimaced, her eyes scanning the glowing circle beneath the noble's feet. "It's anchored to his ritual! We need to disrupt it."
She chanted a quick incantation, her hands sparking with white-hot energy as she hurled a bolt of lightning at the circle. The noble countered with a wave of his hand, redirecting the lightning into the wall, which exploded in a shower of debris.
"Focus fire!" Aiko yelled. The operators unleashed a coordinated assault of bullets and enchanted rounds, aiming to overwhelm the shield. The noble staggered slightly under the assault but quickly recovered, casting another wave of destructive energy that shattered their formation.
"Sergeant, we're running out of time!" an operator called out, reloading his weapon as the noble began summoning a massive orb of crackling energy above his head.
Aiko's eyes darted to the belt of grenades on her side, her mind racing. "Cover me!" she ordered, pulling out a specialized Foundation-grade thaumaturgical disruptor grenade.
"On your six!" another operative warned, firing at tendrils attempting to ensnare Aiko. She charged forward, weaving through the chaos as her team laid down suppressive fire.
The noble's orb of energy began to expand, the chamber trembling under its growing power. "Fools! You cannot stop me!" he bellowed.
Aiko reached the edge of the glowing circle, the disruptor grenade primed in her hand. "We'll see about that!" she shouted, hurling the grenade directly at the center of the circle.
The grenade detonated with a piercing hum, unleashing a wave of destabilizing energy that collapsed the noble's shield and shattered his magical circle. He stumbled backward, his orb of energy dissipating as his defenses crumbled.
"Now!" Aiko roared.
Her team wasted no time, unleashing a relentless hail of bullets and enchanted rounds. The noble cried out, his body jerking violently as he was riddled with gunfire. Blood and energy sprayed from his collapsing form, his defiance fading into a gurgled whisper.
As the final shot echoed through the chamber, the noble slumped to the ground, lifeless. The room fell silent, save for the distant rumbling of the prison still under siege.
Aiko approached the corpse, her expression hard. She gave it a final, calculated glance before muttering, "Not so powerful now, are you?"
She turned to her team, who were catching their breaths amidst the debris. "Good work. Overwatch, Witch Team reporting: the target is neutralized."
"Copy that, Witch Team. Regroup with Samsara Squad, find the hostages and prepare for extraction."
Aiko nodded, surveying the room one last time. "Alright, let's finish this and get the hell out of here."
Aiko turned toward the door behind her and saw the Samsara Squad emerging. One of them was dragging a terrified guard by the collar. Irantu addressed her, his voice steady: "The hostages are one floor below. The stairs are over there," he said, pointing in a direction. "Let's move."
The Samsara Squad and Witch Team headed down the staircase together. They entered a long corridor lined with cells on both sides. Irantu approached one of the cells, gripping the bars and twisting them open. Inside, several men, women, and children huddled against the far wall, their clothing filthy and tattered.
Irantu stepped forward, grabbing one of the men by the head and forcing him to look up. The man stared back, paralyzed by fear. Irantu spoke: "Alan Dexter, 32 years old, passenger C13. Identity confirmed."
Suddenly, the man's expression changed. He froze, his eyes wide with recognition as he heard Irantu speak in English. "Are you here to save us?" he asked, his voice trembling.
All the other prisoners turned their attention toward the operators, their faces filled with hope.
Irantu replied, his voice unwavering: "We're from Earth too. We've come to bring you home."
There was a moment of silence before, all at once, the prisoners rushed toward Irantu and some of Witch Team's operators. Onru nearly drew her weapon, but Irantu gestured for her to stand down.
The captives clung to the operators desperately, crying tears of relief and gratitude as they thanked the mysterious soldiers who had come to their rescue.
Irantu's expression remained impassive as he murmured: "It's time to go."
Aiko activated her communications: "Witch Team to Overwatch. Hostages secured. Beginning extraction."
Overwatch responded promptly: "Acknowledged. Proceed with extraction. Out."
They led the hostages out of the cells and escorted them to the surface. The captives were ushered into the waiting Ospreys, their fear finally beginning to ebb as they realized they were safe.
As the Ospreys lifted off, leaving the ruined prison behind, Aiko glanced out the window. The nighttime landscape was visible through her goggles, the faint glow of the distant moonlight giving her a rare moment of calm. She sighed, her voice quiet but heavy with exhaustion: "今はただ飲んで酔っ払いたいだけです." (Right now I just want to drink and get drunk.)