Chapter 62:
Chapter 62:
Lina was shaken awake by one of Omega-7's operators, his hand nudging her shoulder lightly but firmly.
"Wake up," he said. "We're about to land."
Blinking the sleep from her eyes, she groggily nodded and rubbed her face, pulling herself upright in her seat. The deep rumble of the aircraft's engines filled the air, the faint tremor of turbulence signaling their descent. All around her, the other members of Omega-7 were already alert, checking their gear, fastening their helmets, and murmuring quietly among themselves.
As the plane's wheels screeched upon the runway, Colonel Mendoza's voice came through the team's comms, his tone authoritative and calm.
"Omega-7, single file behind me. We disembark before the tanks."
Lina quickly unfastened her seatbelt, following the rest of the squad as they stood and made their way to the rear of the aircraft. The massive hatch opened with a metallic hiss, revealing the sprawling naval base ahead of them, its runway a flurry of activity. Personnel—both military and civilian—rushed back and forth, coordinating vehicles, equipment, and supplies.
As they jogged down the ramp, Lina's eyes were immediately drawn to a large group of operators in standard MTF gear, the insignias unfamiliar to her.
"Who are they?" she muttered under her breath.
Lieutenant Kovacs, jogging beside her, glanced in their direction. "Those are from the German branch."
Lina felt a strange pang of recognition. Something about seeing them, operators from her homeland, stirred a sense of familiarity, though it was buried beneath layers of training and duty.
Their truck arrived a moment later, a hulking military vehicle with a grizzled driver who motioned for them to climb in. Lina hesitated for a second, looking around. Amidst the chaotic swirl of activity, she caught sight of several figures that stood out from the rest—men and women dressed in robes and armor. One of the Omega-7 operators muttered under his breath.
"Those must be from the Order of Light," he said with a hint of disdain.
Lina could see them clearly now: priests and knights, their presence almost otherworldly amidst the tactical gear and mechanized military might of the Foundation. Scattered among them were a few members of the French Gendastrerie, their blue uniforms a stark contrast against the drab olive and camouflage of the other forces.
As they piled into the truck, the engine roared to life, and the vehicle rumbled forward, carrying them across the busy tarmac. Lina glanced over at Lieutenant Kovacs, who was studying a large group of agents assembled near a massive hangar. French soldiers, MTF agents, and what appeared to be high-ranking officers were gathered around a large map of the region.
"They're preparing the strategy for the battle," Kovacs said, nodding toward the hangar. "Looks like we're not the only ones with skin in this game."
Lina's attention, however, was drawn to something else. A hush seemed to fall over the crowd as five figures walked into the hangar, their appearance so striking that it immediately silenced the ongoing discussions. Clad in sleek, futuristic armor, their movements were sharp, precise—almost mechanical.
Lina's heart skipped a beat. Resh-1. She remembered that they wanted to turn her into Swiss Cheese. They moved with an air of authority, their presence commanding the respect of every operator in the room.
As they approached the central map, one of them—clearly the leader—turned to address the assembled forces. His voice echoed through the hangar, distorted slightly by the helmet that obscured his features.
"Good evening, everyone. I am Black Eagle, commander of Resh-1, and I will serve as the direct link between your commanders and the leader of the Foundation for this joint operation. You will only need to remember one name: Black Eagle."
Lina noticed a few of the French officers furiously scribbling notes, some even snapping photos of the scene. Priests, knights, MTF agents, Resh-1—it was a gathering like none Lina had ever witnessed.
Then, a sharp voice cut through the murmurs. "Why can't we see the commander of this operation in person?" one of the French officers, a Lieutenant-Colonel, demanded, his voice brimming with indignation. "It's disrespectful to the representatives outside of your organization."
Black Eagle turned his helmeted head slowly toward the man, his voice chilling as he responded. "Not even your president has the authority to meet our leader in person. Do you think you, a mere Lieutenant-Colonel, have the right to bark ?" He paused, his voice dropping to a lethal growl. "Know your place, and keep your mouth shut."
The French officer's face flushed with anger, his hand instinctively moving toward his sidearm, but before he could act, Colonel Dumont of the Gendastrerie grabbed his arm, her eyes flashing with warning. She shook her head slightly, signaling him to stand down.
With a furious huff, the Lieutenant-Colonel reluctantly stepped back, his jaw clenched in frustration.
Lina watched the exchange in silence, her heart racing in her chest. The tension in the air was palpable, but there was also something deeply unsettling about the sheer scale of the forces being assembled here.
Black Eagle took a step forward, his voice resonating through the hangar. "I assume you've all received the general briefing on the unit positions, but now let me explain the strategic approach."
He let the silence settle as all eyes turned toward him, the tension palpable.
"Moments before the demons appear, a reconnaissance unit from the Foundation's Omega-7 Unit will overfly the area and deploy near the demon emergence zone. Their task will be to identify and eliminate the largest demons, and if possible, the commander of their army." Black Eagle's voice was sharp, commanding attention. "To achieve this, the recon unit will coordinate with artillery and the naval fleet stationed in the bay of Mont Saint-Michel to neutralize high-priority targets."
His gaze shifted slightly toward the group of priests and knights from the Order of Light. "Every modern unit," he said, with a pointed glance at the Order's members, "will be armed with silver ammunition, infused with Holy Water"
Lina felt a ripple of unease spread through the gathered soldiers, but Black Eagle continued without pause.
"The Foundation units, the Order of Light, and the Gendastrerie will hold the defensive line along the D275, while French army troops secure the surrounding areas. The order is clear: shoot on sight at any and all demonic entities."
The room remained quiet, absorbing the gravity of the upcoming battle.
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As the briefing concluded, Black Eagle gave a nod to the assembled commanders and leaders, signaling the end of the meeting. His voice, steady and authoritative, cut through the murmurs of the various representatives. "That's the strategy, ladies and gentlemen. Follow your orders to the letter, and we'll minimize losses." He cast a sharp glance around the room before continuing, "You've all been briefed on the battle positions. Now, carry out your tasks and prepare your units. Dismissed."
The room filled with the shuffling of chairs as people stood and exited, leaving behind only the highest-ranking officers, commanders, and a few chosen representatives for further coordination. Lina, feeling out of place among the group of military personnel and Foundation officers, hung back and lingered a bit longer.
A little unsure of where to go next, she drifted along the edge of the hangar, her mind clouded by the weight of everything that had been discussed. The complexity of the operation was daunting, and as she weaved her way through the buzzing activity, she couldn't help but feel like a small cog in a massive, unfamiliar machine.
Her wandering led her deeper into the base, past more groups of soldiers and agents, until she found herself in front of a large, imposing building. The doors were guarded by heavily armed personnel, and without realizing it, she had entered the command post area. As she stepped through the doors, the atmosphere changed dramatically.
"Hey, you!" A guard at the checkpoint called out sharply, making her flinch. He motioned for the other guards to come over. "What's your business here?"
Lina blinked, confused. "I—uh, I think I'm lost. I didn't mean to—"
"Lost, huh?" The guard didn't seem convinced, his eyes narrowing. "This is the command center. You can't just wander in here."
Before she could explain herself further, more guards closed in, pointing their weapons at her. The air grew heavy with suspicion, and Lina's heart began to race as they surrounded her.
"Looks like we've got ourselves a possible spy," one of them said, his voice dripping with suspicion.
Just as the situation escalated, the elevator doors across the hall slid open with a soft *ding*, and out stepped a tall figure in a tailored black suit. His presence was immediately commanding, and he was flanked by his usual squad of bodyguards. The Administrator.
Beside him, in stark contrast, was a woman clad in ornate knightly armor, her helmet tucked under her arm. Her eyes sparkled with a mixture of amusement and curiosity as they both surveyed the scene.
The Administrator's gaze fell on Lina, and he raised an eyebrow. "What's going on here?" he asked in a voice that was calm yet carried a subtle, authoritative undertone.
The chief of the checkpoint stepped forward and saluted. "Sir, this individual was found entering the command post area without clearance. We suspected she might be a spy or unauthorized personnel."
The Administrator's lips curled into a faint smile as he glanced from the guards to Lina, clearly amused by the misunderstanding. "At ease," he said with a slight chuckle. "She's no spy. This is Lina, a member of Omega-7. She is SCP-8888, to be exact."
The guards immediately lowered their weapons, though they still looked unsure. The armored woman standing next to the Administrator let out a soft laugh, her voice warm and teasing. "Mmm, I like this one. She's cute when she's lost."
Lina felt her face heat up in embarrassment, unsure how to respond. The Administrator waved a hand dismissively at the guards. "You can let her go now. She's with us."
The lead guard nodded hastily, stepping back and ordering the others to stand down. The tension in the air dissipated, though Lina still felt the weight of several eyes on her.
"And who's this?" the armored woman asked, stepping forward to get a closer look at Lina. "SCP-8888, you say? I've never heard of that one. "
Lina was unsure how to respond, still reeling from nearly being arrested. The Administrator, noticing her discomfort, smiled kindly and introduced the woman. "Lina, this is Elise, a high-ranking member of the Order of Light and one of our key allies in the upcoming battle."
Elise gave a slight bow, her armor clinking softly as she did. "It's a pleasure, truly. But tell me, Administrator—what's her ability?"
The Administrator's tone became more serious. "Lina carries the Seal of Ion. A cursed mark."
At this, Elise's playful demeanor faltered. Her eyes widened in surprise and concern. "The Seal of Ion?" she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. "That's… quite the burden to bear."
Lina glanced between them, unfamiliar with the term. "What does that mean?" she asked, her voice barely steady.
Elise sighed softly, her playful smile returning, though it lacked its previous warmth. "It means that you're incredibly lucky to have ended up with the Foundation instead of the Global Occult Coalition." She leaned in closer, lowering her voice to a near-whisper. "If they had found you first, you would have been tortured and executed. Slowly."
Lina's blood ran cold at the words, and she felt her knees weaken slightly. She had never heard of the Coalition but the thought of being captured and killed by them was enough to send a shiver down her spine.
The Administrator stepped in, sensing Lina's growing unease. "Enough of that," he said firmly. "We have preparations to make for tomorrow's battle. Lina, you're in good hands now." He motioned to one of his bodyguards, who immediately stepped forward. "Escort her back to the MTF zone."
The bodyguard gave a respectful nod and gestured for Lina to follow. She glanced back at Elise as they turned to leave, and the armored woman offered her a gentle smile and a playful wink.
As they walked away, Lina couldn't help but feel a mixture of relief and dread. She had barely escaped what could have been a terrible misunderstanding, but the revelations about her past and her power weighed heavily on her mind.
The day after tomorrow, the real battle will begin.
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