Chapter 98 - Operation Cherry Blossom Part 2 End

(The challenge only valid untill the end of the day. But eh. I consider it still valid. Here you go.)

"Tch! This is endless!" Adam growled after encountering another ambush when turning into a corner.

He lifted the greatsword up horizontally to his right and it quickly turned black from his Armament Haki coating it along with the hands of his TSF.

*Slash!*

Wind bellowed and dust kicked up when he unleashed a horizontal slash. A slash made out of high pressure wind cleaved through the BETA ambush and split their body into two.

<Let's go!> Adam ordered in a hurry after he wiped out the ambush.

He is urgently trying to reach the Valkyrie Unit. The reason? After Unit 00 and the rest of Valkyrie Unit is knocking on the gate into the Core chamber, the elimination priority switches from him to Unit 00 and Susano-O II.

Along that, ten minutes ago, Captain Isumi sent a distress signal asking for reinforcement. The long distance transmission is being jammed in this hive so all he knows is that they might be in big danger. He cannot allow any of the main cast to die.

Briefly glance at the minimap on his HUD, Adam is just a few corners away from the core chamber's entrance.

<More enemy contact!> Winter suddenly shouted.

Adam pulled his attention back to the monitor display and saw big hordes of BETA. This isn't an ambush with just how many of them coming from all other tunnels. They all try to squeeze into a tunnel leading to the core chamber's entrance where Valkyrie Unit was.

<Your order?> Winter asked first instead of immediately engaging in battle.

<I will collapse the other tunnels to stop their advance. The rest of you try breakthrough horde and assist Valkyrie Unit on side.>

<Yes! > Everyone replied before they sped off into the horde with Winter as the spearhead while Tina and Alice followed closely behind her as they flew through the horde.

Meanwhile Adam did as he said a moment ago. He collapsed the ceiling of the other tunnels to stop the BETA advance.

Suddenly, he received a transmission from Agent.

"Agent? What's the matter?" Adam asked after seeing her stoic face as usual which means nothing out of the ordinary happened and she is just giving an update.

"The allies fighting on other hive areas couldn't distract the BETA any longer and they are swarming into this area. The ground force is losing ground and suffering massive casualties. We are incapable of stopping the BETA horde any longer. Soon those BETA will pour into the hive." Agent answered.

"How much time do we have?" Adam inquired with a frown.

"The barrier could hold for 15 more minutes at most. Exceeding that, the Orbital Fortress will be in danger because of the hundreds of new Laser-Class BETA strains."

"I will try to wrap up over here immediately. But in case I am late, lift the Orbital Fortress back to space. We will escape on our own." Adam ordered an Agent nod before the transmission was cut off.

Adam sighed and looked at his Aura reserve hanging around 27% and regenerating 1% every three seconds. As much as he wanted to use his Haki infused slash to wipe everything out, he would run out of Aura first before he could achieve that.

He lifted the greatsword up and let it rest on his shoulder before he turned on the thruster to fly into the otherside. With the tunnel that the BETA swarming in were blocked, the size of the horde shrink down significantly but he doubts the collapsed tunnel will stop them. At most it would only delay them for a while.

Once Adam reached the entrance, he saw everyone still defending the area while someone was trying to get the gate open.

<Captain Isumi. There is a change of plan.> Adam suddenly said when he connected his transmission to the leader of Valkyrie Unit.

<Change of plan?> She inquired suspiciously.

<Yes. We are running out of time. I will open the gate myself. Shirogane Takeru and Unit 00 must be ready to shoot down core immediately.>

<How are you going to bre—>

Before she could finish her question, Adam already smashed the haki infused greatsword directly at the entrance.

Adam grit his teeth because the gate is so fucking hard. The unprotected parts of his TSF arms like the joint's are immediately damaged but nothing he can't fix with his ability. It took a few attacks but the gate soon crumbled and revealed a tunnel before the core room on the other side of another gate.

<Everyone move into the gate! We will hold line over there!> Captain Isumi ordered it because the gate is smaller and can be used as a choke point.

Adam rested for a moment for his Aura to regenerate back. He stands on the other gate inside the smaller tunnel and connects a transmission to Susano-O II.

<Uh… anything I can help?> Takeru asked.

<Yes. Listen carefully. I will soon break this gate too. want you to charge the Susano-O II cannon and ready fire moment gate.> Adam said as he remembered the Superordinate thing can shoot tentacles that suck out energy from Susano-O II.

<Alright! I got it!> Takeru replied and immediately started charging the particle cannon much to the confusion of others until Adam explained to Captain Isumi.

Then, after two minutes of rest. Adam breaks down the last gate before he quickly flies away to hide behind Susano-O II because it's about to shoot the particle cannon.

Takeru warns everyone he is about to shoot. Then the cannon on the chest of Susano-O II shot out a small white beam that pierced through the hole on the inner gate and hit the core but it didn't immediately destroy it. But this wasn't the end as moments later, the cannon reached max firing output and the beam size increased by a few times and swallowed everything in blinding white light.

After the white light dissipates, all that is left is a gash of straight line where the beam passes through. It destroyed the core and punched through the wall in the back.

<We… succeed. We won!> Takeru announced, which caused almost everyone to cheer with joy.

<Calm down everyone. The mission will not end until we return back to HQ. Let's go!> Captain Isumi said to prevent them from becoming lax because they are still deep inside the enemy base with BETA crawling around and wanting nothing more than tearing them apart.

With that, they proceed with their retreat. Takeru shoots the particle cannon again 45° facing up to punch a hole directly up. The tunnel he made is big enough to even let Susano-O II to pass. Then they escorted Susano-O II out and returned to the Orbital Fortress.

Also, since the core of Hive 01 had been destroyed. The BETA became less aggressive and most decided to retreat instead of continuing fighting. Those that stayed to fight were easily taken care of by the Orbital Fortress and the rest of UN and IJA units.

Just as they were cleaning up the battle, multiple objects suddenly drop above the Orbital Fortress.

"This… Orbital Divers. Why are they here after the battle is already concluded?" Commander Radhabinod was suspicious but because they were allied units, he couldn't do much about them other than to give warnings.

"Those are F-22A Raptor, sir. Also, there are more incoming from above" A staff officer informed.

The screen display shows hundreds of Orbital Divers dropping in the area and even on the platform of the Orbital Fortress.

<This is Major Smith of the 12th Foreign Task Force. Surrender immediately and hand over criminal named, Adam White.>

Commander Radhabinod immediately understands what is happening. As he expected, he immediately received a phone call from UNSC, the security council or his superior. His orders were to cooperate and arrest the criminal, Adam White who stole classified military secrets from the US.

"Those greedy bastards!" Commander Radhabinod cracked the phone with his grip and dropped it to the ground.

He isn't stupid. He knows that the moment he shows any sign of hostility, all the life of his subordinates on the Orbital Fortress is sealed. After all, besides Adam, Agent also have full control of the Teleportation function and can teleport anyone at will. She can easily lock up everyone or throw them out of the Orbital Fortress and free fall to death.

"From your reaction, I can assume you disagree with the order from your superior?" Agent who stood next to the vacant seat belonging to Adam, asked with a tone devoid of friendliness and hospitality unlike a few moments ago.

Commander Radhabinod is stuck in a dilemma. If he follows the order, everyone on the Orbital Fortress will be the sacrifice for the greed of US leaders and the nations that supported the US. If he doesn't, he and everyone will be labeled as traitors and killed when they return. There is no clear way out.

"Decide your answer immediately or I will decide it myself." Agent said with sharpness in her voice.

"We… I disagree with their order." Commander Radhabinod made his decisive decision and chose to sacrifice himself.

"You made an excellent choice." Agent said and her eyes briefly flashes red.

Suddenly, chaos spread through the ranks of the US TSF units.

<What's happening!>

<The TSF is moving on their o—*Bang!* *Bang!* *Bzzt*>

<This! Our system is infected by a virus!>

The open comms show the panic and fear that swiftly spread amongst the US Pilots. TSF was originally made to counter BETA. Even the Anti-TSF F-22A Raptor isn't made with the possibility of virus in mind since it was never something that could be a threat. Naturally, Agent could easily seize control of those TSF and while amplified by the processing power of the Orbital main computer, she could easily hack all the F-22 that dared to appear.

The scream of terror and the sound of their gruesome death filled the open comms channel.

Commander Radhabinod felt relieved that he made the right choice. He would not condemn the life of tens of thousands that believed in him for the greed of his leadership even if it's beneficial to the world in the long run to secure and learn the technology that Adam possesses.

———

Adam was happy to finally get done with this shitty contract and return home.

"Haah… Submit the mission… and done!" Adam exited the hive and stood on the ground looking at the evening sky with a sense of relief.

<Let's go home, guys.> Adam said and everyone agreed. They want a good long rest after this intense and grueling battle that lasted a whole day.

<Yeah! >

<Oh! I can't wait to taste Miss Jeanne's food at the cafeteria again.>

<Haha. Is food all you can think about, Tama?">

<Ah!! I want to soak in the hot bath after this!>

<... >

<... >

Listening to the chatter while cruising around the base to return to the Orbital Fortress. Adam suddenly received a notification regarding an Emergency Task.

Shocked and surprised, Adam felt fearful to open. The bad feelings are intensifying and he is afraid it's another operation he has to participate in. But when he did read it. All he remembers is the color red flashing in his vision.

When he woke up, he was in the medical room. Resting on a bed in a patient gown with Siegfried peeling an apple for him on the side while all five Alices fell asleep on the side of the bed.

"Ah, you wake up just on time, Master. Want a slice?" Siegfried offered the meticulously carved out apple bunnies to him on a small plate and a toothpick stabbed on one of the apple slices.

"Thanks." Adam replied as he could feel his stomach protesting in hunger after seeing the apple. He quickly devoured it but still felt hungry.

'No! I should ask what happened to me.' Adam said in his mind as he could feel like a piece of his memories were missing.

"Sieg—"

"I can explain. Don't worry, Master." Siegfried said and continued peeling and slicing the apple that magically appears until Adam is full.

Siegfried explained that Adam suddenly became enraged that day when he is enroute back to the Orbital Fortress. He went crazy and wrecked all the F-22A Raptor which Agent had purposely captured before he flew with his TSF alone to massacre everyone responsible for the order. Killing more than 80% of the world leaders, high ranking politicians and military officers in the process.

After that, Adam's rampage ended and he was recovered by Winter who followed him. When he recovered, the UN and IJA people were sent back to Japan and the Orbital Fortress activated the invisibility field and hid till the present.

"So, that happened…" Adam sighed and honestly felt no remorse about it.

If given chance, he wouldn't let those fucks die off that easily for trying to covet what belong to him and most importantly, harm his family. He would torture them to death. Make them think they can escape with death only to resurrect them and torture them again and again until they are nothing but a lifeless husk.

"Masterrr…?" One Alice wakes up and rubs her eyes due to the noise. But then she realized Adam actually woke up.

"Master!" The other four suddenly jolted awake and jumped on Adam, all hugging him why crying.

"What's the matter? Why did all of you cry?" Adam cooed while petting their heads. Adam wishes he has extra three arms so he can pet all of them.

"Master is very scary! We are sorry. We don't want the Master to be angry." They all answered while having goosebumps.

Can T-Dolls even experience goosebumps?

Anyway, Adam said it's not them he is angry about and he could never get angry at them when they look that adorable. Then he comforts them while they all gradually fall asleep on him. He could only sigh with a smile while caressing their heads as they fell asleep.

Siegfried excused himself soon after and said he would inform everyone else about him waking up.

—————