An Eventful Demonstration
Griffin is quietly cursing himself that his squad got selected for this job. I can only take some comfort in knowing my squad isn’t the only one several others from the 104th got selected regardless I’m not looking forward to being in front of all those cameras and people. I’m in my set of PSALMS (Passive Skeleton Armor Limited Mobility Systems) like it sounds like it’s got a passive skeleton to take the weight of the armor and backpack and at least in the 104th we get micro rockets for boosts but it’s very much still a work in progress.
We are trained to operate without needing the LMS so if it runs out or fails we aren’t fucked. We are also not allowed to use the passive skeleton until the last week of basic we have to carry all our gear the old-fashioned way. I have to tell you there is not a signal better way to get shredded than carrying 200 pounds of armor and supplies across the Arctic. I enter and see my squad waiting, everyone but Brick is in similar armor to mine but Brick has SPAG (Semi Powered Armor Gatling) due to his role.
Joining us is a combat engineer squad and a dedicated anti-armor squad. Those guys are insane. they have Gauss rifles and a reactor in their backpack to power it. Personally, I couldn’t strap one on. The T-Rex leads a group of reporters here along with lord Spero who’s going on about how no known infantry rifle from the other nations could penetrate our hard plating because of the alloy. Then to no real surprise, Tanya yells “I request a volunteer” After maybe 3 seconds I step forward as a good squad leader.
“Good now go stand by that marked spot and smile” she readies an AK47 and once I take a deep breath and nod she fires a short burst into my chest armor making me only take a step back as I feel the bullets hit. I’ll probably be bruised but oh well. “As you can see it’s only scratched the paint” I get a nod that I can fall back in line as the reporters murmur. “Next how about a hopefully longer demonstration, I’ll require two squads one for inside the house and the other to breach it” she pauses “staff sergeant griffin your squad will breach while staff sergeant Bailil will defend, you each have fifteen minutes to prepare once Bailils squad enters the house” everyone involved gets practice rounds and everything is double checked before the fifteen starts.
We don’t get a floor plan like the defenders so we don’t know the interior layout but we come up with a basic plan. Brick will opt for the ballistic shield, it’s basically a huge slab of alloy, and a pistol. Rabbit gets a shotgun and loads up on breaching charges. Me and Snorble use short barrel rifles I also have a shotgun just in case while Snorble has a dedicated grenade launcher because you never know. Wraith has his marksman rifle and a pistol. We all load up on a ton of flashes and frags.
The frags are essentially paint grenades that trigger a medical lock of one’s armor as a whole, unlike the local lock the training rounds cause. I’m satisfied that we’ll be ready and I take our last few minutes to review our enemy. I realize what Tanya has done once I see Bailil's squad is listed as an engineer meaning they all have SPAE(engineer) armor. “This is going to be interesting guys” I'm hoping the rumors I heard are true, those being the engineer helmets don't react to flashbangs like ours do, otherwise this is going to be brutal. Well, more brutal.
Our times up and we pick a wall. We briefly discussed going through a door or even a quiet entry but our odds felt lower doing that, this way we should have a better chance. It also looks more dramatic. Rabbit plants the charge and Brick gets ready to be the first in followed by me and Snorble flanking and checking left and right immediately so we don't get shot in the back.
We get a three-second count before the wall explodes in. We move in and discover a slight problem. It's a hallway. They know we are inside so we have to move. “Push right Snorble wraith watch our ass” me and rabbit flank Brick as we push to the right. We almost reach the first room when we start taking fire from said room. I give a silent prayer that sim rounds won't and can't go through the shield so we are basically free to hide behind it and take aimed shots of our own. After a few seconds, I realize something, whoever is aiming is just laying into the shield.
I get a bad feeling so I ready a grenade and toss it. Red paint fills the room and the shooting keeps going. “They have a remote turret stay behind the shield and watch our back I'm sure they will try to get behind us” Almost on cue two targets appear at the far end of the hallway but unfortunately wraith is watching and dropped them “Two came from behind dropped them” ironically he opens up a little when in the field.
Me and brick push into the room giving me a chance to slip behind the turret that's still shooting the shield. Whoever is controlling this had no idea… my thought stops as I see the controls on the ground and the trigger taped down. “We need to move faster before they get really creative”
“You're buying me a drink after this” Brick says knowing he'll have to run with the shield. “Make sure to space out we don't need a single trap to get us all” After receiving nods I wave us out of the room. Two down three to go. Thirty seconds later twin blasts from the walls explode taking out wraith and brick.
I dive down and prop up bricks shield for cover and check behind us. Nothing. I check our front. Nothing. We aren't taking fire so I slowly check the walls and nothing. “They are fully locked up. Too bad we don't have any EOD equipment. Well have to risk going without any” I stand up and do a final check before I take some grenades off Brick. “Let's go” I take point and lead us through the building taking random turns on instinct.
After five or so minutes we arrive at some reinforced doors “Rabbit what are our options” he takes a second to inspect the door and its panel before answering “I could blow it maybe but I think it would be possible to kill the locks and have the option to go in quiet” I look at the door a little closer then respond “kill the locks then we’ll flood it with flashes and frags through a crack then we’ll kick it open and clear it” they nod and Rabbit gets to work
. Shortly after I hear a very faint Shunk should of the lock sliding out of place. We wait a moment before we slowly and gently crack open the door then once we have enough room to get the frags and flashes in we start tossing them, several of each just to be sure, then I push the door in, and rabbit and Snorble push in together and get lit up, it sounds like it’s just one, I roll around and grab Snorble by his rear caller and hold him up as a shield “sorry man I’ll buy you top shelf” I say as he gets painted.
I close the distance then the second I hear a clack I drop Snorble and tap my mobility systems to dive closing the last of the distance. I pull a flash and drop it a second later my visor polarizes for a second to protect my vision without hindering my vision but to my surprise, this last guy is unfazed “fuck” he’s getting ready to grapple me so I drop down and with the help of the thrusters I slide between his legs in his wide stance pop up behind him and climb on his back using his shin armor as steps I get him into a choke hold and squeeze.
The rules for hand-to-hand combat in training are a bit more vague than regular combat but the basics is if someone taps out they are considered dead. I feel hands grab me and throw me up over him. I keep my grip enough to use the last of my thruster fuel and my weight to counter his attack into a full-on throw into a wall, never mind I dislocated and relocated my shoulders to do it. As he hits the wall I hear a buzzer and sit down.
We won. That’s when the guy I threw gets up and walks over to help me up “That was impressive how do you feel” I recognize that voice it’s Bear what’s he doing here. “Bear!!” “I have to say your squad should have lost this was a little rigged so the fact you still won is truly impressive” shocked i ask “Wait rigged? Because your here” he chuckles “That and they had cameras of the entire facility to watch you and you still evaded them” I stand there a bit shocked then some medics come in and plant me in a chair and Bear turns to leave “so can I count this as a win against you” chuckling he says “sure just don’t get a big head”
I walk into the training center with brigadier general Tanya Rex and the numerous reporters. I start by explaining how due to the infantry-level armor of the other nations is severely lacking their ammo is even more subpar meaning that they can’t penetrate our infantry’s hard armor due to its T+ alloy. Now it’s time for practice rather than theory so I turn it over to Tanya who immediately calls for a volunteer and then shoots his chest a few times. Just scratched paint.
Next the main event, was to select a squad of Tanya’s choice to assault and a squad that I modified to defend. I put Bear one of my sentinels in this squad though not as the leader I’m curious to see how the defending leader will use him. We also gave them a good defense point and pre-prepared traps.
I watch with interest as Griffin adjusts his load out to the squad he’s facing. Once they start they breach the side wall into a hallway. They move behind their shield and clear the first room having their rear guard drop two. Then the traps are triggered taking out the two most problematic or so Bailil thought as Griffin avoids both the traps and the patrol he had moving around, eventually he just consolidates his men in the main room shortly before Griffin arives outside.
I was half expecting him to blow it open and use its momentum but he threw in frags and flashes first. This would have worked if Bear wasn’t there because he was unfazed and lit up the two that went through. Then to everyone’s surprise Griffin used his fallen friend as a shield then he went in to fist fight Bear. The twist ending of Bear getting thrown instead of Griffin was more impressive than surprising.
I turn to the reporters as they are allowed to ask questions now instead of quietly commentate “Is he allowed to use his subordinate as a shield” Tanya is about to answer when I motion that I will “Normally no but as this was a scenario just for fun we allow a little leeway to allow for a little experimentation ” I get another wave of questions but we have a busy day “if you have more questions pertaining to this scenario ask the participants only if they agree though, next up we have our ground vehicles though unfortunately we will it have a demonstration with them” I lead our group off to the motor pool as the two squads from the demonstration test and get cleaned up.
Meanwhile, while an emergency NATO conference is called America has sent several special forces squads to investigate Antarctica. In space, the first-ever space mining vessel is racing towards the asteroid belt in secret.
An Eventful Demonstration
Griffin is quietly cursing himself that his squad got selected for this job. I can only take some comfort in knowing my squad isn’t the only one several others from the 104th got selected regardless I’m not looking forward to being in front of all those cameras and people. I’m in my set of PSALMS (Passive Skeleton Armor Limited Mobility Systems) like it sounds like it’s got a passive skeleton to take the weight of the armor and backpack and at least in the 104th we get micro rockets for boosts but it’s very much still a work in progress.
We are trained to operate without needing the LMS so if it runs out or fails we aren’t fucked. We are also not allowed to use the passive skeleton until the last week of basic we have to carry all our gear the old-fashioned way. I have to tell you there is not a signal better way to get shredded than carrying 200 pounds of armor and supplies across the Arctic. I enter and see my squad waiting, everyone but Brick is in similar armor to mine but Brick has SPAG (Semi Powered Armor Gatling) due to his role.
Joining us is a combat engineer squad and a dedicated anti-armor squad. Those guys are insane. they have Gauss rifles and a reactor in their backpack to power it. Personally, I couldn’t strap one on. The T-Rex leads a group of reporters here along with lord Spero who’s going on about how no known infantry rifle from the other nations could penetrate our hard plating because of the alloy. Then to no real surprise, Tanya yells “I request a volunteer” After maybe 3 seconds I step forward as a good squad leader.
“Good now go stand by that marked spot and smile” she readies an AK47 and once I take a deep breath and nod she fires a short burst into my chest armor making me only take a step back as I feel the bullets hit. I’ll probably be bruised but oh well. “As you can see it’s only scratched the paint” I get a nod that I can fall back in line as the reporters murmur. “Next how about a hopefully longer demonstration, I’ll require two squads one for inside the house and the other to breach it” she pauses “staff sergeant griffin your squad will breach while staff sergeant Bailil will defend, you each have fifteen minutes to prepare once Bailils squad enters the house” everyone involved gets practice rounds and everything is double checked before the fifteen starts.
We don’t get a floor plan like the defenders so we don’t know the interior layout but we come up with a basic plan. Brick will opt for the ballistic shield, it’s basically a huge slab of alloy, and a pistol. Rabbit gets a shotgun and loads up on breaching charges. Me and Snorble use short barrel rifles I also have a shotgun just in case while Snorble has a dedicated grenade launcher because you never know. Wraith has his marksman rifle and a pistol. We all load up on a ton of flashes and frags.
The frags are essentially paint grenades that trigger a medical lock of one’s armor as a whole, unlike the local lock the training rounds cause. I’m satisfied that we’ll be ready and I take our last few minutes to review our enemy. I realize what Tanya has done once I see Bailil's squad is listed as an engineer meaning they all have SPAE(engineer) armor. “This is going to be interesting guys” I'm hoping the rumors I heard are true, those being the engineer helmets don't react to flashbangs like ours do, otherwise this is going to be brutal. Well, more brutal.
Our times up and we pick a wall. We briefly discussed going through a door or even a quiet entry but our odds felt lower doing that, this way we should have a better chance. It also looks more dramatic. Rabbit plants the charge and Brick gets ready to be the first in followed by me and Snorble flanking and checking left and right immediately so we don't get shot in the back.
We get a three-second count before the wall explodes in. We move in and discover a slight problem. It's a hallway. They know we are inside so we have to move. “Push right Snorble wraith watch our ass” me and rabbit flank Brick as we push to the right. We almost reach the first room when we start taking fire from said room. I give a silent prayer that sim rounds won't and can't go through the shield so we are basically free to hide behind it and take aimed shots of our own. After a few seconds, I realize something, whoever is aiming is just laying into the shield.
I get a bad feeling so I ready a grenade and toss it. Red paint fills the room and the shooting keeps going. “They have a remote turret stay behind the shield and watch our back I'm sure they will try to get behind us” Almost on cue two targets appear at the far end of the hallway but unfortunately wraith is watching and dropped them “Two came from behind dropped them” ironically he opens up a little when in the field.
Me and brick push into the room giving me a chance to slip behind the turret that's still shooting the shield. Whoever is controlling this had no idea… my thought stops as I see the controls on the ground and the trigger taped down. “We need to move faster before they get really creative”
“You're buying me a drink after this” Brick says knowing he'll have to run with the shield. “Make sure to space out we don't need a single trap to get us all” After receiving nods I wave us out of the room. Two down three to go. Thirty seconds later twin blasts from the walls explode taking out wraith and brick.
I dive down and prop up bricks shield for cover and check behind us. Nothing. I check our front. Nothing. We aren't taking fire so I slowly check the walls and nothing. “They are fully locked up. Too bad we don't have any EOD equipment. Well have to risk going without any” I stand up and do a final check before I take some grenades off Brick. “Let's go” I take point and lead us through the building taking random turns on instinct.
After five or so minutes we arrive at some reinforced doors “Rabbit what are our options” he takes a second to inspect the door and its panel before answering “I could blow it maybe but I think it would be possible to kill the locks and have the option to go in quiet” I look at the door a little closer then respond “kill the locks then we’ll flood it with flashes and frags through a crack then we’ll kick it open and clear it” they nod and Rabbit gets to work
. Shortly after I hear a very faint Shunk should of the lock sliding out of place. We wait a moment before we slowly and gently crack open the door then once we have enough room to get the frags and flashes in we start tossing them, several of each just to be sure, then I push the door in, and rabbit and Snorble push in together and get lit up, it sounds like it’s just one, I roll around and grab Snorble by his rear caller and hold him up as a shield “sorry man I’ll buy you top shelf” I say as he gets painted.
I close the distance then the second I hear a clack I drop Snorble and tap my mobility systems to dive closing the last of the distance. I pull a flash and drop it a second later my visor polarizes for a second to protect my vision without hindering my vision but to my surprise, this last guy is unfazed “fuck” he’s getting ready to grapple me so I drop down and with the help of the thrusters I slide between his legs in his wide stance pop up behind him and climb on his back using his shin armor as steps I get him into a choke hold and squeeze.
The rules for hand-to-hand combat in training are a bit more vague than regular combat but the basics is if someone taps out they are considered dead. I feel hands grab me and throw me up over him. I keep my grip enough to use the last of my thruster fuel and my weight to counter his attack into a full-on throw into a wall, never mind I dislocated and relocated my shoulders to do it. As he hits the wall I hear a buzzer and sit down.
We won. That’s when the guy I threw gets up and walks over to help me up “That was impressive how do you feel” I recognize that voice it’s Bear what’s he doing here. “Bear!!” “I have to say your squad should have lost this was a little rigged so the fact you still won is truly impressive” shocked i ask “Wait rigged? Because your here” he chuckles “That and they had cameras of the entire facility to watch you and you still evaded them” I stand there a bit shocked then some medics come in and plant me in a chair and Bear turns to leave “so can I count this as a win against you” chuckling he says “sure just don’t get a big head”
I walk into the training center with brigadier general Tanya Rex and the numerous reporters. I start by explaining how due to the infantry-level armor of the other nations is severely lacking their ammo is even more subpar meaning that they can’t penetrate our infantry’s hard armor due to its T+ alloy. Now it’s time for practice rather than theory so I turn it over to Tanya who immediately calls for a volunteer and then shoots his chest a few times. Just scratched paint.
Next the main event, was to select a squad of Tanya’s choice to assault and a squad that I modified to defend. I put Bear one of my sentinels in this squad though not as the leader I’m curious to see how the defending leader will use him. We also gave them a good defense point and pre-prepared traps.
I watch with interest as Griffin adjusts his load out to the squad he’s facing. Once they start they breach the side wall into a hallway. They move behind their shield and clear the first room having their rear guard drop two. Then the traps are triggered taking out the two most problematic or so Bailil thought as Griffin avoids both the traps and the patrol he had moving around, eventually he just consolidates his men in the main room shortly before Griffin arives outside.
I was half expecting him to blow it open and use its momentum but he threw in frags and flashes first. This would have worked if Bear wasn’t there because he was unfazed and lit up the two that went through. Then to everyone’s surprise Griffin used his fallen friend as a shield then he went in to fist fight Bear. The twist ending of Bear getting thrown instead of Griffin was more impressive than surprising.
I turn to the reporters as they are allowed to ask questions now instead of quietly commentate “Is he allowed to use his subordinate as a shield” Tanya is about to answer when I motion that I will “Normally no but as this was a scenario just for fun we allow a little leeway to allow for a little experimentation ” I get another wave of questions but we have a busy day “if you have more questions pertaining to this scenario ask the participants only if they agree though, next up we have our ground vehicles though unfortunately we will it have a demonstration with them” I lead our group off to the motor pool as the two squads from the demonstration test and get cleaned up.
Meanwhile, while an emergency NATO conference is called America has sent several special forces squads to investigate Antarctica. In space, the first-ever space mining vessel is racing towards the asteroid belt in secret.
