Rescue Operation (1)
A day before the rescue operation. It was the final rest period for the soldiers and their commanders. Tomorrow, they would have to return to the surface. I watched through the cameras as the troops trained on operating combat walkers and gunships. Contrary to my expectations, their proficiency was surprisingly solid. The reason was simple: many of them had already piloted walkers and gunships before. Some had lost their bases or airfields to the enemy. Others had barely escaped when their machines broke down, only to be forced into infantry roles. Now that they were reclaiming their original specialties, they seemed almost relieved.
Only one day remained until the operation began. Even if the Ark’s state-of-the-art VR training facility couldn’t make them experts overnight, it would at least ensure they wouldn’t become liabilities. The camera feed shifted next to the armory. Soldiers lined up in long rows to exchange their old combat uniforms for new ones bearing the insignia of Ark No. 17. Beside the armory stood the training ground, where those who had received their fresh uniforms now donned reinforced exoskeletons and sparred or moved lightly to acclimate themselves to the new gear.
“Not bad…”
Their training level exceeded expectations. Unexpected, yes, but surprises of this kind were always welcome. I sipped my coffee as I considered it. If more positive developments like this kept occurring, things would be ideal. The bitter taste scraped down my throat, sharpening my thoughts. I set the cup down and directed the camera toward the entrance.
A convoy of massive trucks stood waiting in formation.
> Transport trucks positioned at the Ark’s main entrance. Fuel tanks full. All systems nominal.
“Hah. Let’s see how many we can actually save with this.”
The monsters fed on humans. They could be killed, but their numbers were overwhelming. In the end, the world had fallen. Fortunately, the Arks had been designed to withstand such threats, yet no one knew how many still fulfilled their original purpose. Ark No. 17 had been constructed in the earliest phase; its technology was cutting-edge, but it had never been built with inter-Ark coordination in mind. Rumor had it that starting from Ark No. 101, systems capable of long-range communication had been installed, but without the means to reach them, confirmation was impossible.
“We’re dangerously short on information. Access to the government database would be ideal.”
The Arks’ sheer size made them easy to spot with the naked eye, but actually reaching their contents was another matter. The government had deliberately withheld their exact locations from the public, fearing that military assets inside might fall into the hands of extremist groups or hostile forces. In the 21st century, such secrecy would have been impossible. This was the 22nd. On a planet dotted with skyscrapers exceeding three kilometers in height, a structure only 1.7 kilometers tall drew little attention. In hindsight, that very anonymity was probably what had allowed me to reach the Ark alive.
“What’s the situation with the monsters outside?”
> Urban zones remain densely populated. Numbers near the Ark are low due to lack of prey.
“Hmm…”
The Ark’s AI projected a holographic map centered on the facility across the office floor. Monster density decreased the closer one got to the Ark, but the city itself was so thick with red markers that the map became nearly unreadable.
“Horrific.”
They were still living creatures. Eventually they would starve, but with numbers like these, even if they turned on one another, it would take a hundred years. The Ark’s military force of barely four thousand could never hope to face that many in open battle. Of course, this operation wasn’t a full-scale war, so the burden was lighter, yet the sheer scale remained beyond imagination.
*
One day later, the rescue operation finally commenced. Today’s objective was the evacuation of refugees from the western shelter. Thousands of soldiers in reinforced exoskeletons stared at the entrance with eyes full of killing intent. The sight was deeply imposing.
“1st Regiment. All units combat-ready!”
“2nd Regiment. All units combat-ready!”
“3rd Air Squadron. Fire support standing by.”
“4th Armored Battalion. All vehicles operational.”
Reports streamed in from every unit. Once I confirmed that all personnel were prepared, I brought my mouth to the speaker. I hadn’t prepared a speech in advance, but as their commander, it would have been strange not to offer at least a few words of encouragement. I opened my mouth and addressed the soldiers whose faces filled the camera feeds.
“From this moment, you will once again step onto the surface and face the monsters. Many casualties will occur in the process. We may even fail to complete the mission. But all of you have sworn an oath—to protect the people with your bodies and your hearts. I believe in your courage. I believe in your resolve. I believe in your fighting spirit. Now it is time to fulfill your duty.”
A metallic clank echoed as the soldiers turned their eyes forward again. The thick blast doors of the entrance remained sealed. Then the warning alarms blared.
> Entrance opening. All personnel, stand clear.
The massive doors began to part once more—this time to let us out.
> Main entrance opening.
With a heavy mechanical groan, the doors slowly retracted. Through the widening gap, the world outside looked nothing like it had days ago. A week earlier, the ground had been covered in deep grass and tangled vegetation. Now only a barren wasteland greeted the thousands of soldiers—an empty, lifeless expanse that seemed to welcome them to hell itself.
“Move out, you bastards!”
The heavy trucks rumbled to life, their engines roaring as they began to roll forward. Infantry and walkers formed a protective cordon around them, advancing through the entrance. At the same moment, the outer walls of the Ark’s surface-level skyscraper split open, and dozens of gunships lifted off, rotors thundering across the sky.
“3rd Air Squadron commencing aggressive reconnaissance.”
Once the gunships cleared the structure, the walls sealed shut again. The ground forces finished exiting, and the entrance began to close behind them.
> Closing entrance.
With the Ark fully sealed, the ground column turned westward and began its slow advance. The rescue operation had begun.
From the highest point of the Ark, I watched the soldiers—men who had risen from the lowest depths—move across the holographic map as blue dots.
> At current speed, arrival at the urban zone in approximately two hours.
A countdown timer appeared in the corner of the hologram. Its ominous ticking was enough to sharpen my focus.
“Contact. Engaging.”
With the transmission, a red dot flared and vanished. The brief relief lasted only seconds. Dozens more red markers surged toward the cluster of blue dots.
“They’re coming!”
“Pour it on! Protect the trucks!”
Red markers continued to disappear as they approached. For now, the ground forces’ firepower was overwhelming the monsters. But as the column pressed forward, even greater numbers blocked their path. Soon, 40mm autocannons were no longer enough.
“Fire support commencing. Watch for friendly fire.”
Gunships armed with rockets and autocannons unleashed a merciless barrage on the monsters pouring from the ground. The creatures, previously fixated on the soldiers below, began to fall in droves. Yet the moment anti-air variants appeared and turned their fire skyward, the close air support was forced to break off. The gunships twisted and dove to evade the incoming flak.
The monsters’ anti-air fire was slow but devastating. The heavily laden gunships had to fight desperately to thread through the thickening curtain of projectiles. Fortunately, the sheer number of gunships allowed a few to maintain intermittent fire support, enabling the ground forces to weather the assault and reach the city outskirts on schedule.
“Entering the urban zone now.”
“Nearest shelter located 550 meters ahead. Proceed.”
At last, the ground forces crossed into the monster-infested city and began advancing toward the first shelter.