The armored limo jolted violently, throwing Shin and Riku forward.
The interior lights flickered as the vehicle came to an abrupt halt. Their smooth ride back to Hano Medical University suddenly became one of danger. Everybody held their breath for a moment, except Shin who jumped into action.
"Status report!" Shin barked into his walkie-talkie, steadying himself against the seat.
The intercom crackled to life, the person's voice was tense. "Unidentified blockade ahead. Perimeter defenses are compromised. We're under attack."
Riku's eyes narrowed. "Looks like our relocation isn't going as smoothly as planned."
Outside, the convoy had come to a standstill. Armored trucks and escort vehicles formed a defensive perimeter around the limo. UW agents disembarked, weapons drawn, scanning the surroundings. The air was so tense that Shin felt like he might explode if he took a tiny step in the wrong direction.
Suddenly, a deafening explosion erupted near the front of the convoy. Flames and debris shot into the air as the lead vehicle was engulfed. The shockwave rocked the limo, and the sound of gunfire followed. Several screams could be heard over the gunfire.
"Ambush!" a UW agent shouted over the comms. "Multiple hostiles approaching from the treeline!"
Shin and Riku exchanged a glance. "Time to move," Shin said, reaching for the side door.
They emerged into chaos. UW agents were engaged in a firefight with a group of masked assailants clad in dark tactical gear. The attackers moved with precision, targeting the convoy's weak points. Shin caught a glimpse of an unknown symbol on one of the assailants shirts.
Rei and Misaki, having disembarked from their transport, joined the fray. Rei's sharpshooting skills took down several assailants, while Misaki provided cover for the UW agents. They were not only medical experts, but also trained to protect Shin. I will have to reward them later, Shin thought to himself as he and Riku carefully proceeded forward.
Yuna, protected by a group of researchers, worked to secure vital research data from the transport vehicles. "We can't let this fall into enemy hands!" she shouted.
Shin and Riku fought their way to the front of the convoy, coordinating with the UW agents to repel the attackers. Despite being outnumbered, their combined efforts began to turn the tide. The assailants may of outnumbered them, but the UW agents were more coordinated.
Suddenly, a new threat emerged. A large, heavily armored vehicle barreled through the treeline, heading straight for the convoy. Its mounted turret opened fire, forcing everyone to take cover.
"We need to disable that vehicle!" Riku shouted.
Shin nodded. "I'll flank it. Cover me."
Using the chaos as a distraction, Shin maneuvered through the battlefield, approaching the armored vehicle from the side. A UW sniper managed to kill the assailant manning the turret. This made it easy for Shin who climbed onto its hull, pried open a maintenance hatch, and tossed in a grenade. Moments later, the vehicle exploded, halting its advance.
With their heavy support destroyed, the attackers began to retreat. UW agents pursued them into the forest, ensuring they wouldn't regroup. As the dust settled, the convoy regrouped. Casualties were assessed, and the wounded received medical attention. Despite the ambush, the majority of the personnel and equipment remained intact.
Shin approached a UW agent. "Any idea who they were?"
The agent shook her head. "We couldn't identify the insignia from first glance. It's possible after careful review of som footage we captured we can trace them. They were well-trained. This wasn't a random attack from some random group. Someone probably leaked information about you. They might even be international."
Riku joined them. "Someone knew our route. We had a leak for sure."
Shin's expression hardened. "We need to get to Hano Medical University immediately. And we need to find out who's behind this. If we don't figure it out, we will continue to be in a lot of danger. I cannot afford to put anymore of our people in danger."
The convoy resumed its journey, now on high alert. As they approached the gates of Hano Medical University, a sense of unease settled over the group. The ambush had raised more questions than answers. They didn't know if they truly wanted to know the answers either.
Inside the university, preparations were underway to receive the incoming personnel. Security was heightened, and medical teams stood ready to assist the wounded. Thankfully, not too many people died, but it was still a sad sight to see.
As the convoy entered the campus, Shin and Riku couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of a larger conflict. The MK Virus, the hidden immune individuals, the secrecy of the UW branches, all pointed to a deeper conspiracy.
The most pressing question was, who betrayed them.
They would need to uncover the truth, and fast.
The future of humanity depended on it.