Chapter 3: Yamsk 11
The transport Helicopter that Sousuke and Tessa had ridden flew away, and they visited the neighborhood with an ominous silence. The two Pave Mares and Kurz’s unit were standing by at a third site, five kilometers from the ruins, and would only pick up Tessa when she contacted them. The pilot of Gebo 6 had demanded that they wait in the area, but Tessa had quickly refused. If by some chance the enemy attacked, being hidden at a far away point would allow them to react easier.
The cold wind of the twilight fluttered and weeds shook with a weak whispering sound. The remaining echo of the helicopter’s downward air current echoed a delayed eerie shriek in the nearby pillar of the building.
“This way.”
Tessa, operating a digital map on a portable computer, started walking towards the Northwest direction. She was wearing training shoes, shorts, a thick sweat shirt, and a loose flight jacket. A bag filled with plastic explosives was hung over her shoulders, but she carried no gun. The place seemed like a place to have a picnic, but with the scenery of ruins it would not be enjoyable.
Sousuke wore a black pilot suit with a tactical vest on top. His weapons were a 5.56 mm caliber carbine gun with 6 reserve magazine, a hand grenade, a smoke bomb, and two incendiary grenades. He was also carrying as much C4 explosives as he could hold.
And also the usual Glock 19. After his near death experience in Namsak Lemon’s colleagues had picked it up. Although not an excellent pistol, he had grown attached to it because of using it for nearly two years.
“Where do we go from here?”
“To the Plant at the north side” she answered.
She looked at the distance of the road and quickly walked on with a pondering face. Sousuke fell silent and followed behind. Certainly there were no signs of the enemy, but he thought that it was unnatural to let him be the only guard. In order to have a sure escort, it would have been better to have the armed crew of the helicopter accompany her.
Seeing through Sousuke’s doubts, Tessa said, “Is it a mystery that I brought you along alone?”
“Yes.”
“The truth is I intended to come here alone. But if I were to choose someone, I think you would be the most competent.”
“Huh?”
“The secret of Whispered sleeps in here.”
Not minding Sousuke’s surprise, Tessa continued.
“You are the only person who uses the Laevatein. The one who created it was Miller-san, using the basic system of Al and the Arbalest. The one who created that Arbalest was a person called Bani Morauta. The one who directly rescued Miller-san was also you. I was also saved by you by a number of times. And the one whom you have to get back no matter what is Kaname-san. The one who has the most encounters with Whispered, even if you search the world, it would be you Sagara-san.”
If she said it that way, it might be so.
Although there was no positive proof, if Nami, who he had lived with him in Namsak, was one, that would be an additional plus in names. Leonard was also the same. He still didn’t fully understand, but he was also a Whispered. With that, in regards to those rare people with special abilities, he had a deep connection to six Whispered.
As usual, Sousuke didn’t fully understand the thing about Whispered. But coming all that way couldn’t be concluded as coincidence. He could feel some sort of destiny.
“I don’t know whether this is coincidence, or a special kind of fate. Even if I look at this, I believe in God. No matter in what shape, if God does exists, Sagara-san, in order to save us, you might be the savior that God had sent us.”
“That’s....”
A savior was no joking matter, Sousuke thought. It was certain that there was a strange coincidence, but he was only a soldier. He couldn’t do anything except to shoot bullets at a required place, he was only a man. He was unable to save Nami, and he didn’t know if he would be able to save Kaname.
However, to Sousuke on the ship’s deck, the girl named Miller had also said something similar.
Such words were no jest. She thanked him with regards to Siberia, while he said his thanks for her regarding Al and the Laevatein. Miller herself was generally recovered, and was working in cooperation with Hunter’s Information Department. Sousuke also had explained in summary his own condition.
And then, when she was about to leave, she said with a smile, “Although there is no basis for this, you may be the one who will save us—”
“It’s not that I’m putting pressure on you” Tessa said gently. “It’s just, that is the mysterious feeling that your strength makes. In an old Chinese proverb, there is a saying ‘Before God presents you with a great mission, that person shall be given great suffering to test his strength’. You have continued to suffer all your life. But, overcoming that suffering would cultivate that strength. It is the same as rebuking a useless girl like me. Even though you were living in the madness of the battlefield since you were small, why
have you not lost that gentle heart? There might be meaning in that. Possibly to ascertain our ruin--”
He was surprised at her words saying “useless girl like me”, but he still welcomed her perseverance of such a joke. He did not deny such impossible words, but only expressed it through impression.
“I don’t really understand.”
“Me too. But I am only telling Sagara-san all that I know. That was what I was thinking.”
Tessa stood to a halt, and turned around.
“That is the reason why I brought you here.”
Sousuke was hard pressed for a reply; she only smiled and headed forward. For a time there was only the sound of their footsteps and the sound of the wind.
When they came about the residential district, Sousuke immediately noticed the wreckage of an automobile in the road.
There were bullet holes.
There wasn’t only on that wreckage. If he looked carefully, there were smashed houses and building, and even the road surfaces had traces of bullet holes and explosions. There were also apparent traces of great conflagration.
There was battle in this city....?
The two of them were getting close to the North side of the abandoned secret city.
In that area were the remains of a large chemical plant. Rusted and complex structures intertwined close together. The residential district hung about a different eeriness. There were a number of extended pipes and chimneys that had fallen to a black shadow, and hollowed rows of silos and tanks. It had a sense of a corpse of an unknown giant creature that was long past dead.
“Captain. This city...”
“In the current Russia, there is no one who knows about this city. With coup d’état and civil war, the records are mostly lost. Even in my work, I managed to investigate the existence of this city but- there were no results. But recently, we managed to get a hint. It’s Miller-san. From her observations in the sealed up institution in Siberia, the name of a certain person came out. With the difficulty of that person’s circumstance and the results of Lemon’s investigation in the public documents in Moscow, we managed to ascertain the existence of this secret city, Yamsk 11.”
The chemical plant seemed to have been involved in battle.
The unnatural collapse of the silo was noticeable. Several tanks were lost from the base and considerable fragments of pipes and steel frames were rolling on the ground.
“Please be careful, Sagara-san” Tessa said. “This plant seems to be the center of the explosion. It’s not really harmful to the body, since it’s already been 17 years I think the effect would be little, but it will confuse the mind of those who approach.”
“The mind?”
“Yes. The experiments that were conducted here were extraordinarily special. Probably, there are facilities underground.”
Tessa operated the digital map and surveyed the panoramic view of the plant.
“Please be careful, Sagara-san” Tessa said. “This plant seems to be the center of the explosion. It’s not really harmful to the body, since it’s already been 17 years I think the effect would be little, but it will confuse the mind of those who approach.”
“P...please wait.”
Being attacked with an unexplainable ominous feeling, Sousuke interrupted her words.
“What’s the matter?”
“Just now, didn’t you just repeat what you said?”
“Aah”
With an appearance that was not especially surprised, Tessa nodded.
“Déjà vu, right? This is also one of the effects. Even before we landed Weber-san and the others said it. You felt it too, didn’t you?”
“I felt it.”
“Having everyone fall back away was also because of this. This might feel bad, but please endure it. If you preserve your will, usually it won’t happen. There are many occurrences of déjà vu being stupefied.”
Sousuke could feel a drop of sweat on his back. How could she be so composed?
“Then.... are you alright? This...”
“Yes. For us, this usually occurs. We usually don’t tell this to others, you won’t even notice it if you grew accustomed to it. Nevertheless for an ordinary person, they usually experience a light déjà vu right?”
Sensing the manner of Tessa’s speaking, the occurrence of such phenomenon was not frequent. Still, he possibly couldn’t get used to it.
“Let’s go. It is probably just ahead.”
Tessa, minding her feet, entered the plant.
“It might be better to talk about something possible. Did you notice the bullet holes?”
“Yes. Rifle shells, Cannons, RPG Explosions....it seems to have been a considerably flashy gunfight. Exactly what happened...”
“Probably. It’s the cause of the experiment” Tessa said, straddling a rolling pipe on the ground. “I think it was such a pitiful and disastrous occurrence. The residents of this secret city, their minds must have been contaminated by the experiment. Much
worse than this déjà vu, they were in a much more serious condition. When the confused guards started attacking, it must have escalated from then. There are no detailed records, and no people to give testimony, and we don’t know what happened....”
Tessa recited that with a heartbreaking voice. The confusion that occurred there must have been something unspeakable. Did those who lost their sanity commit limitless violence? There was no difference from true hell. Looking at the traces of battle, Sousuke could imagine that much.
“Exactly, what kinds of experiments were conducted here?”
“The Visheojaya Sphero experiments.”
“Visheojaya Sphero?”
“In English it would be ‘Omni Sphere’. ...although it’s a long story, please listen.”
Tessa made the introduction, and started the explanation as she walked.
“The Omni Sphere is a territory which was made by the mind of men. A world which cannot be touched or seen by the eyes. The Omni Sphere could not be observed by standard physical sensors. It is a totally different dimension from the usual recognized world we have. At the same time, the Omni Sphere mutually interferes with the material world. The chemical circuits that are passing though the brains of humans are able to access this Omni Sphere. The opposite is also affirmative.”
“I really don’t understand-”
Looking at Sousuke’s appearance of being not satisfied with the explanation, Tessa made a smile.
“I’m sorry. It must be too forward. Actually the general idea of the Omni Sphere originated from the past. It is the imaginative and philosophical implications. It may even be called the ‘spirit world’. In the Greek manner it would be the world of
‘Idea’. In the words of Jung it is close to the general idea of a ‘collective unconsciousness’.”
Suddenly speaking of the occult, Sousuke was bewildered. For Tessa, who led a modern war using the latest weapons, it was such an inappropriate topic. However, he did remember hearing of the Omni Sphere before. The de Danaan or the Arbalest, and now loaded into the Laevatein. Words that were related to the man-machine interface called TAROS. Surely TAROS was an abbreviation of “Transference And Reaction Omni Sphere”.
“In the distant past, there were many forms transcending the mental world. The Brain Quantum Theory and Complex System Science, and the development of a super large scale operation device, these were scientifically described, utilized and thought of by a genius. A person called Demitri Valov. He conveniently called that world ‘Domain that comprehends all (Omni Sphere)’. There was no article remaining concerning the Omni Sphere, but before the first half of the 1970s, the Soviet Science Academy was researching Telepathy and Future prediction.”
“Telepathy, you say.”
“The Philadelphia Experiment or the UFO of Area 51. There was a lot of dubious talk about those, right? Surely those talks were questionable, but the American-Soviet institution researching supernatural abilities itself were true. Mostly, the success of either was not achieved. Created from wanting the budget of the army and intelligence institution, there were many random researches made.”
He remembered what the pilot of Gebo 6 had said earlier, “soldiers going mad from the military research and so on and so forth” was another story. While living in Tokyo, Sousuke
remembered that such subjects were present in the TV programs that Kaname and the others watched.
“But, Professor Valov was different. While he contributed to the field of Nuclear Energy, Information Engineering, and Electrical Engineering, he was also a true researcher. Like the first Passive Stealth technology, the basic theory applied was thought out by him.”
Proceeding inside the plant, the footing worsened. The stairs of the sunken half floor were rotting away. Sousuke went down first and held out his hand for Tessa. Because she was slow, she jumped into the arms of Sousuke and safely landed.
“Thank you, Sagara-san.”
“No. Please be careful where you step. Because of the conflagration, everything is damaged.”
“Yes.”
Tessa took out her flashlight and then proceeded further inside the plant.
“I don’t know what circumstances made Professor Valov notice the existence of the Omni Sphere. Anyway, for some reason he was convinced of the existence. And with the success of a small scale experiment, he managed to get suitable results in the closing years of the 1970s. At that time, the appearance of Professor Valov’s name was extremely limited in official documents and scientific records. From an outsider’s view it may be seen as if he was an old researcher with his fortune declining, but it was natural to be interpreted that his research would be treated as an important secret for his country. He also seemed to have political strength inside the academy. And so to be able to press forward his research at once, this secret city was constructed....”
He was being attacked again by déjà vu. He noticed that he was listening to the talk about Professor Valov a number of times. Sousuke, shaking his head, asked her a question.
“Why was his research an important secret?”
“The value of using the Omni Sphere. There is a world that would not be restrained by time or space, and be able to move your own mind freely, being able to access our physical world at will, do you know what kind of possibilities there can be?”
“I can’t imagine so.”
While imagining, Sousuke could not understand half of what Tessa said. The explanation of difficult theories and numerical formulas, about time-space or mind, it was a difficult question for a realist like him.
“For example, an extremely high precision prediction can be made. When an enemy will attack with a nuclear missile. When would an important political leader of the enemy die? What would be the weather of the day of the planned attack? Earthquake or, that’s right, when would large scale solar activity occur? If you knew of an accident that the enemy did not know, how will you be able to win a war?”
“I see....”
“You can also use telepathy. Over an area of distance which ordinary communication is impossible, you could exchange a large amount of information. Contrary to that, peeping into the head of another person, and make suggestions to control him. Or if you could ‘hack’ into the head of the president of the United States or Secretary of National Defense, there would no longer be a need for wars. This could be controlled by the superpowers.”
“If these were possible-”
“It may be possible. Speaking in theory, it is possible, there are countless technical hurdles to be crossed. But if you make use
of the Omni Sphere, by no means are these pipedreams. Even the most important secret of a country would no longer be a mystery, right?”
“Eeh”
“There are still more. To be comparatively simple, making use of Omni Sphere is an interference technology that affects the physical world. It is a system that converts the image of the user into physical strength. This is already in practical use.”
“Do you mean the Lambda Driver?”
“That is correct. However, the name of that equipment is used as a masquerade. An ‘equipment that drives the Repulsion (Lambda Driver)’, or it can also be called ‘Hollow Cord Repulsion Field Generation Device’, what the device produces is not only repulsion. A device that amplifies the quasi physical phenomenon that was produced by the interference of the Omni Sphere. It’s original name is ‘Omni Sphere High Velocity Connection Interference Reactor’”
“‘Reactor’?”
“Yes. The general idea of it is of a reactor. Originally, the interference of the Omni Sphere in our physical world is weak. The behavioral effect is to the degree of a feeble molecule. From our habits, even without knowing ourselves, the Omni Sphere passes, affecting the surrounding substance and energy.”
“That is.... in other words, this is how I see it but, it moves the surrounding substance?”
“Yes. That itself is being done unconsciously by anyone. The significance of it is that everyone is an ESPer. However, those effects are not observable and minute, and anything happening could not be seen by the very eyes. What is unfortunate is that with strict experiments such phenomenon could not be observed or verified. If it were possible to isolate in a room the effects of the
outside environment, it might be possible to observe the Omni sphere’s interference reaction to the physical world. But making those observations are humans themselves using scientific and electrical machines, the surroundings will definitely have noise, if that noise was ordinarily measured-”
“I’m sorry Captain. I absolutely cannot understand....”
“Ah...I’m sorry. Anyway, it means that any humans have a small amount of Psychokinetic Power.”
“I see.”
Sousuke thought, even with a bad companion that made the blood in her head circulate, being able to be modest and kind enough to explain was one of her personal virtues.
“And then the ordinary occurrence of micro interference reaction, the Lambda Driver connectively amplifies this. The brain and the nervous system of the Human is like an engine that is produced by the Omni Sphere’s interference reaction. An AS loaded with a Lambda Driver increases the human’s enormous electrical energy that the human nervous system could not bear, which is not possible in the natural world- that is the reason for the drawing out of unusually strong interference reaction. Previously, it was said that the ‘Arbalest was another you’. That is the reason for that. It’s not like it will copy your personality, but the Arbalest or Laevatein traces the many sections of your nerve activity.”
“Ha....”
“Sagara-san, you were thinking ‘why aren’t aircrafts, tanks or battleships equipped with Lambda Drivers’ right?”
“I was. That way would be more efficient, right? No.... if that’s the case, then could it be....”
“That’s right. In order to operate the Lambda Driver, a unit that imitates the function of a human is required. Moreover the interference reaction of the physical world created from the Omni
Sphere, such catalyst will be subject to the extreme condition of humans, further more will become evident upon rational behavior. The peerless concentration of an experienced soldier, the circumstance produced from such mental state… in others words, something that is essential in battle. Therefore, the condition for a machine loaded with a Lambda Driver, is having a source of power with a high output, the characteristics of being able to survive when participating a dangerous battle, and a vehicle that imitates a human body.”
“In other words, an AS.”
“That’s right. Because it’s an AS, it is the ideal machine to load a Lambda Driver. Well then- with that, don’t you think that the existence of a weapon called AS itself is strange? Even though it is a humanoid from that would be inefficient in battle, why would the AS take a leading part in land combat? In such a circumstance, unexpectedly becoming the ideal weapon.”
Tessa was speaking in a manner implying that the AS was developed in order to load the Lambda Driver. After Sousuke escaped from North Korea, he remembered Kalinin saying that “these things should not exist”.
“Then....AS are practically useful in the battlefield.”
Surely for an AS, there were weaknesses that were not present in other weapons. It was easily discovered by the enemy at level ground, and could even be easily shot when vertically walking. The maintenance and production of such a complex system were not easy. Even then, the size of firearms and its armor fell short of a tank.
However, compensating for such weak points were advantages. If not, nobody would use an AS.
“That’s right. This is something similar to the saying ‘which came first, the chicken or the egg’, not a single person that exists in the world would be able to ascertain this.”
“..........?”
“I’ve seen it.”
While proceeding with their talk, the two of them moved further inside the plant.
From the cracks of the countless steel frames and plumbing the little illuminating shine of the orange skies would not reach that place. Without change there was a wide hall in the room, in the floor in front of them was the opening of a giant pit.
The diameter was close to 15 meters. The gaping wide pit continued deep underground. Cables, pipes, and maintenance scaffolds were surrounding the pit, on their opposite side was a solid rail installed.
The pit looked like a shaft of a giant elevator. The pallet that moved up and down had fallen down the shaft. If by chance one looked down at the hole, it was engulfed in darkness, with its depth indistinct.
“Will we be descending here?”
“Yes. The target facility is below this shaft- since it is deep underground.”
Of course the elevator had broken down. In the first place there was no electricity in the ruins. In the middle of the shaft an undependable scaffold and stairs were combined with the steel pipe, and then a rusted ladder was present. In order to get down you needed to use the stairs and ladder.
Nonetheless, it was a facility abandoned close to 18 years ago. There was intense deterioration. It had the danger of unexpectedly collapsing.
“Please wait. Can you wait outside?”
“What do you mean?”
“It is dangerous to go down from here. I will go explore myself. Captain please instruct me from up there.”
Even while having the tools for descent like rope and carabiner ready it would not be easy to go down in the pit. He would be able to go down by himself somehow, but Tessa was there. Without having any experience in climbing down… to begin with her athletic ability was, pardon the term, seriously undependable.
Such reasons Tessa could also understand. But she would not accept Sousuke’s proposal.
“I’m sorry. But for only this, I have to go. It may be difficult, but could you also take me down there?”
“But....”
“I won’t be much trouble as much as possible. If ever you think that there is danger I will give up and turn back. So please.”
“...I understand. However I will be the one to decide if it’s dangerous or not. Please quietly abide by this.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
The two of them put on their night vision goggles respectively, tying both of their bodies together, and descended into the shaft. They went down the stairs for the first few floors, but proceeding from there on, they couldn’t seem to use anything except for the ladder at the inner walls of the shaft.
“On my back....”
“Yes.”
Tessa was carried on his back; the rope firmly fixated her body. With her tender breast being glued to his back he felt unsteady.
“Please take care of me, Sagara-san.”
“You sound like you are enjoying this....”
“It must be your imagination. But if you meet Kaname-san, I will keep this a secret. fufu....”
Listening to her joke, Sousuke felt something reminiscent. It was during the short time Tessa was studying at Jindai High School, it was that innocent thought. At that time, she was being ridiculed by Kaname and Mao and had always smiled that way.
Being burdened by Tessa, he climbed down the ladder.
The shaft was suitably deep. After discerning that they had descended four floors, the bottom of the shaft was still further down.
At that time, there was a ringing sound in their mobile wireless radio. It was a communication from Kurz, who was standing by outside the secret city. With the influence of the terrain and structures, there was a terrible noise.
“This is Uruz 6. There’s a terrible weather.”
“What’s the matter?”
“There are a number of helicopters approaching from the West. I can confirm three units. It’s probably the enemy.”
“Dammit. It’s too many....”
♦ ♦ ♦
The three helicopters increased to six and Kurz cursed them inside his cockpit.
The said helicopters were flying behind the sun, and the passive sensor of the M9 had detected them late. When Kurz sighted them, the helicopters were already twelve kilometers away and approaching. And to reach the skies of the secret city, would only take about three minutes.
The second Pave Mare, in order to economize the fuel, landed on top of a small mountain forest, cutting his engine. When
they received the information from Kurz’s unit in Gebo 4, the pilot of Gebo 6 started up the APU (Assisted Power Unit) and prepared to start the engine.
No, this is bad, Kurz’s intuition informed him.
“Gebo 4 as well as 6, don’t start your engines.”
“Why, Uruz 6?”
“Those guys, they probably have ECS. That’s why we were late in detecting them. They probably also have ECCS, if we took off poorly we would be discovered. Just hide in the forest like that.”
If they took off then, there was a high chance that the enemy lookout helicopter would be able to detect them. The Pave Mare was not equipped with Anti aircraft weapons; they would be shoot down by the enemy attack.
“But, what do we do? We can’t be bound here like this” the pilot of Gebo 4 asked. Though objecting, at the moment he had suspended the operation of the engine.
“In the mean time we hide ourselves. One they land with peace of mind there will be an opening. Then, when I commence on them, that is the time you pick up Tessa and Sousuke.”
“hn...that’s right, I understand. But how are you sure if they are the enemy of not?”
“If the locality is Russian, then we would have detected them earlier. With such extravagant equipment coming to a remote place like this-”
“It’s Amalgam, dammit.”
“Nowadays they’re making me boil. Those lice.”
The two pilots cursed. Kurz’s own unit’s ECS changed from Radar Infra-red concealment mode to Invisibility mode. When the M9 was transparent, the scenery across its monitors turned to violet.
The six helicopters were still approaching. He called Sousuke again.
“As you heard, Uruz 7! Hurry and come back. Hide in the deserted houses at the Northwest at Point Echo.”
“Uruz 7 roger. But it will take time.”
“Anyway just hurry.”
♦ ♦ ♦
In the middle of the dark pit Sousuke confirmed the state of the rope and started to climb up.
“Captain. Let’s go back.”
“Wait...” Tessa said from his back, opening her mouth.
“We have to join Kurz and the others. It’s dangerous here.”
“That’s right, it can’t be helped....” she said regrettably.
It seemed that there was something important that was sleeping below the shaft.
But if they were slow, they would lose everything. The enemy infantry would be getting there soon. Sousuke could not protect Tessa alone. She knew that well, and so she didn’t say anything unreasonable.
The ladder was terribly rusted, and considerably not easy to climb quickly.
“Please hold on.”
“Yes.”
After saying that, the ladder that Sousuke was holding on to made a strange noise and fell. Right away both of his hands grabbed the hand rail, regaining his balance, but that time the base of the rail broke apart.
“Kyah....!”
Their bodies were thrown down. With the rope fixed at the mouth of the pit, they didn’t fall any further; the two of them were hanging in the darkness.
“Are you hurt?”
“I’m alright. I’m sorry.”
“Please don’t let go.”
Bracing both his legs on the surface wall, he reeled in the rope with the full strength of his body, discretely going up the shaft.
This is bad…
It would take about three minutes until they got out of the shaft. They might be surrounded by the enemy like that-
♦ ♦ ♦
“-Landing Zone (LZ) confirmed. Shall we descend?” the pilot of the transport helicopter informed Kalinin over the com.
“Don’t land yet. Wait until the search for the enemy in the surrounding area is finished.”
“Roger.”
The other four units and the transport helicopter that Kalinin was riding over Yamsk 11 were loosely circling. It was organized as four Mi-26 transport helicopters and two Mi-24 attack helicopters.
Although irregular, to land the six units, Kalinin had adopted the method he had used during his time in Afghanistan.
The transport helicopter loaded with AS and personnel would standby in a safe airspace at high altitude; the remaining one unit would be concealed in the distant mountains. And then the two units of Hind, with offensive and high mobility, would be patrolling the skies at 500 meters and 1500 meters.
Even if the guerrillas attacked with anti aircraft weapons, only the lowest altitude helicopter would get hit and they could immediately increase the violent attacks. Additionally, the hidden transport helicopter could be dispatched at any time and give pressure by deploying ground forces.
“The rumors of your firm methods seems to be true, Mister Kalium” Wilhelm Casper said over the wireless circuit.
He was a German sniper. Right then he was inside another transport helicopter, standing by in the Lambda Driver-equipped AS, Eligor.
“If you want to go sightseeing then do it another day. I want to quickly say goodbye to this boring place.”
“This is no sightseeing. You will sortie any moment, so stand by” Kalinin answered bluntly.
Such type of AS and airborne troops, the cooperation of attack helicopters, the regiment attached to Kalinin… that was called “Mouse Trap”. Wanting the cheese no matter what, the mouse would be caught between the metal fittings of the snapping spring. There was no way to escape.
Even the Afghanistan guerrillas known for their valor feared that technique which Kalinin had thought of.
Amalgam had customized the Russian-made heavy helicopter Mi-26 Halo and Mi-24 Hind with ECS and ECCS and loaded them with every kinds of sensor. If the opponents were the normal regular army, they could freely move about and deceive their eyes, no matter what kind of deceiving methods their opponents made they would be immediately discovered.
However, their enemy was not the expected regular army. It was them.
At the moment there were no signs of the enemy. The elaborate search for the enemy before landing was not overkill, no matter how many times it was done.
Then the voice of Leonard Testarossa sounded in the wireless circuit. He was riding with Chidori Kaname and the French spy in another Halo.
“I respect your prudence, Mister Kalium. I’m also in agreement with Mr. Casper’s opinion. It would be better to land quickly.”
“Can you tell me the reason?”
“That’s right.... but the reaction is about to appear.”
Leonard’s voice was full of mischief. Kalinin felt that he had heard that voice before. When was that? No, it was not from the past. On the contrary-
“--Mr. Casper’s opinion. It would be better to land quickly.”
“Can you tell me-”
Just now. There was a bizarre déjà vu, repeating the same words, he was replying to me.
“See. This town is special. The effects of the experiments still remain; if you were careless the feeling of time will be ambiguous. The passengers would be alright, but it would be trouble for the pilots.”
At that time, the Hind that was flying in a low-altitude slope and almost crashed into the chemical plant. The helicopter barely picked up its altitude, and made a sudden rise with maximum output.
The belly of the unit grazed the summit of the big silo rising from the plant; in the twilight large sparks were scattered.
“That condition” Leonard made a tedious voice.
The pilots of the Hind were surprised.
“Idiot, you’re gonna get hit!?”
“No, I’m sure I turned to the left. But then the unit was in the former position....”
“What are you talking about? You were in the same position as before—”
It seems that they were not aware of the nature of the déjà vu. Kalinin ordered the Hind to fly away above the plant and investigate the location where the transport helicopter would be landing. It would be better in a place outside the town. It seemed that it would be dangerous near the plant-
With that Casper communicated.
“The mountainous district three kilometers Northeast, can you see the terrace halfway up the mountain? Rocket missile or whatever. Attack the area of that mountain.”
“It’s possible, but why?”
“Just shoot and you’ll know” Casper answered with an obstinate hard laughter.
Kalinin no longer asked and ordered the pilot of the helicopter to do it.
♦ ♦ ♦
Right then, Sousuke, who was not yet away from the plant, was telling them of the helicopter’s state in the air. Then the sharp alarm inside the cockpit of the M9 sounded.
<Warning. 2 o’clock. Unguided Rockets (UGR). Multiple. Impact in 3, 2....>
“Wha...”
In an instant, Kurz thought about barely evading them. At that distance they would not hit-- that he judged.
Impact.
One shot was 30 meters from the M9. It hit the bare rock and then spread with a thunderous sound. The remaining shots exploded at more distant locations.
“......”
The flying earth and sand rained down on the M9, hitting the armor with a dry sound. Kurz’s unit didn’t stir from the shooting position. He saw the situation of the enemy through the smoke.
“Were you discovered?” Sousuke said from the wireless radio.
The two units of allied helicopters were still hiding in the mountain forest.
“No-”
There were no follow up attacks. He had not yet been seen by the enemy. That was just a test shot. Seeing the place he was hiding as stinky they had randomly fired the rocket. If he stayed there, they might let it go--
No, he couldn’t.
“I’ll be spotted somehow, before that I’m going commence on them. Gebo 4, 6. Prepare for takeoff!”
If it were an ordinary enemy, it would be unimaginable that an AS would be hiding in that mountain. With them attacking like that, they were no ordinary opponents. Then it would be useless to hide. Also the debris that landed on the shape of the M9, with the operational invisibility mode of the ECS it would be an unnatural sight for the naked eye. Anyhow, it would only be a matter of time before they were found out.
Master Mode On.
The precision alignment sensor of the 76mm Sniper cannon made a small roar. Distant Antiaircraft mode. Atmospheric
Temperature, humidity, wind speed data streaming, the ballistic calculation units were trembling with the numerical values.
“Uruz 6, it’s about the formation of the enemy’s helicopters—” Sousuke said, still climbing from inside the shaft. The noise was getting worst.
“Later.”
“Listen. It was a harsh method of the Russian Military of the Afghan. The leader of the enemy is Lt. Commander Kalinin.”
“Damn. That old man...”
He selected the target. Priority was on the target with the highest threat.
First would be the Hind.
The enemy units circled in the air. He pointed on the target box of M (Mike) 3.
He calculated the distance and velocity of the helicopter. [VALID AIM] was indicated on the screen.
You’re kidding. Those calculations are different.
The angle was difficult. The effects of the down current produced by the helicopter were corrected by intuition.
Up 2 millimeters. Left one millimeter.
That’s right, here it comes--
Discharge.
The flame of the shot turned the screen white. The 76mm shell with the super speed of sound would take some time before it hit the target. Roughly around three seconds.
Hit.
Taking in the high caliber shell, the enemy Hind was in pieces in an instant. The rotor rushing away, the unit was squashed- there was an explosion.
“Next...!”
The fragments of the enemy unit fell; there was no time to observe. Immediately the next shell was loaded and aimed at the other Hind.
That time it was a high altitude short distance. He corrected the ballistics.
Aim, fire- hit.
The tail of the attack helicopter was blown away. Without the torque control the unit went out of order, rotating. Going down from that altitude it fell on one part of the chemical plant. Two attack helicopters down. Now the allied helicopters could get away.
“Next...!”
The enemy had already accurately got hold of his position. He could bury one more unit, but the remaining three units would be hard to aim at.
One unit was already in between the secret city and was hiding in the hills beyond. The other units were currently diving from a high altitude. Far and fast. They couldn’t be aimed at. Another unit was flying at a low altitude, trying to hide in part of the plant. If he were to aim then, that would be it.
The nose diving helicopter had already disappeared on the ground, throwing an AS out from its opened hatch. Red armor. A developed Codarl type. It could be seen carrying a long sniper cannon. That red AS-
He could feel his heart palpitate.
Would he shoot it immediately after landing? No, it was useless. For an opponent equipped with a Lambda Driver that expected an attack from that direction, ordinary attacks would not be effective. But there were no more seconds left, there was certainty that he would shoot at Kurz.
Kurz made a prompt decision, and aimed at the transport helicopter hiding in the plant cluster.
The large helicopter Halo flew into the side of the silo and water tank, pylon intertwined with various pipes. Estimating the location, he aligned. He aimed carefully, but there was no time.
He fired. The shell in flight could be seen piercing the silo, but whether it hit the target or not was unknown.
A flaming discharge came from the ruins. Incoming.
The unit turned and made a jack knife maneuver. Carrying a rifle with a posture of looking up, with the strength of the back it made a short jump. In the area where the M9 was, the enemy’s shell pierced with a violent cloud of dust scattering.
“Tsk...!”
Controlling the posture he landed on two feet. There was an unforgiving successive shot from the enemy. He stooped his body and barely evaded. It was an absurdly accurate shot. Even with a custom firing control computer, at that distance, the impact point should have been a blur.
The possibility of shooting that far was not the ability of the unit. It was the technique of a human who had mastered the utmost limits of firing, experience, and intuition.
There was no mistake. It was ‘Him’.
“Damn Casper.”
♦ ♦ ♦
Kaname was looking at Lemon in the cabin of the transport helicopter. Suddenly there was a sound of an explosion from far away. She looked outside from the portside window. The attack helicopter that had been circling the ruins just then was scattered to pieces.
“Explosion....? Ah...!”
The unit shook and she was thrown out of the bed. She somehow clung on to the seat with all her might. Lemon’s body was fixed in the stretcher and seemed to be alright.
They were not crashing. With the warning from the enemy attack, the helicopter made a nose dive. The ruins that had looked small below gradually drew close.
“Snipe from enemy AS! We’re going to use the North side of the plant as a shield and hide!” the helicopter’s pilot shouted from the in-flight communications.
“Don’t. Don’t go near the plant. Get to a higher altitude” Leonard told the pilot from the cargo room. It was a calm voice.
“But, we will get hit like this! One unit is already down! From that distance- he’s an unbelievably skillful guy!”
“Go up to a higher altitude. If you do so you will surely be safe,” Leonard asserted.
“Why are you so definite!? I can’t, I’m hiding!”
The helicopter turned. Soon the giant pylons of the plant were within reach. They were hiding from the enemy’s line of sight.
“Fasten your belt, Kaname-san” a bedridden Lemon said with a pale face.
“I’m telling you this for your sake. If you go down from a high altitude it would in turn be dangerous—”
There was an impact, strange noises, and a flash from outside the window. The unit jerked in a slope. The warped parts echoed with a terrible sound inside of the unit.
What was happening, she did not know clearly. Did the enemy beyond the building shield shoot? Was this noise the sound of the drive shaft’s tail Rotor being heavily damage?
The pilot screamed from the in-flight communications.
“But, we will get hit like this! One unit is already down! From that distance—”
She didn’t know the meaning of it. The same words from before were repeated. The unit randomly shook, skidding in the skies of the plant at high speed then diving downward.
The pilot and co-pilot shouted.
“What’s happening, suddenly at this altitude—”
“I can’t, I’m hiding!.... no, what was that? Why is the damage…”
“Pull the stick, you idiot!”
“Help! I don’t understand. I should have sustained a serious injury.”
“What are you talking about!?”
“Why are we still flying? We should have already crashed.”
It was the voice of fear. The unit shook. The plant drew close. Like an elliptically intertwined iron plant. Floating in the middle of darkness was a ghastly form, steadily becoming bigger.
What did the rotor come in contact with?
The metal overhead tore apart; the atmosphere was messily torn up. It was like the screams of a ghost. Terrible impact made them swoop many times, bit by bit. The illumination in the cabin created by the sparks disappeared. There was total darkness. Her body drifted, pushing on the seat, and drifted again. The headset was plucked off from the head. She heard Lemon’s screams of pain.
The helicopter was swallowed up by the structures of the plant, steadily falling downward. That at least they somehow knew. How far were they going to drop? Inside the ruins, there might be no bottom-- that was what Kaname thought.
♦ ♦ ♦
“—s is Uruz 6! Engaging enemy AS—”
Kurz was reporting the situation through the wireless radio. Time to listen to the subject was something Sousuke certainly didn’t have. They were still in the middle of climbing the pit, when suddenly a giant helicopter was falling over their heads.
“Wha....”
The helicopter emitted small sparks, furthermore in the mouth of the pit— it was slowly falling from the huge stairwell. The unit was entangled with the warped pipes and steel frames of the plant.
The pipes were close to rope that the helicopter was hanging from. Losing to the weight of the helicopter, the structure was falling apart piece by piece.
It would fall into the pit— 10 seconds or 20 seconds. There was no time to hesitate.
“We getting down, Grab on!”
Informing Tessa, Sousuke fixed the reserved rope on the nearby metal frame with the carabiner, and kicked the wall.
It was no longer possible to ascend and get away. Using the rope he tried to drop down to the bottom of the pit since there was no other place to find shelter in the pit.
They fell two floors in one kick. Then another kick. He wanted to descend faster, but with the weight of two people it would be overdoing it.
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