Chapter 7

Under the dark veil of the night, we slowly marched towards the base. We quietly evade any patrols we came across, trying to avoid fire fighting as much as possible. Well there are multiple close calls but we somehow managed to reach the base. We cut the concertina wire that is blocking our path and with that our way inside the base is open.

"Okay, just as we planned. Move."

Everyone began to split and go to their respective targets.

We quickly move to the main building located in the middle of the base but it's not as easy as you can imagine. I quickly gave order to stop moving and not long after that multiple Imperials walked not far from us.

'Well that was a close call. Alright, from here we take a left turn and...'

As we turn on the corner, one of the Imperial soldiers is currently walking right in front of us.

'SHIT! If I shoot him it will alert the whole base but we aren't prepared for it yet.'

As I stuck on what to do, suddenly a dark ebony hair filled my view. The soldier is unable to cry for reinforcement as the knife lodges deeply into his neck. Blood sprayed out, covering both me and the ebony haired soldier.

"Thanks Yuina."

"No worries Sergeant, just doing my job."

Yuina just nodded towards me with her expressionless face. Usually most androids were fitted with emotions emulators to help express emotions. They were given this to help humanize the androids, making them more accepted into the society as a whole. But Yuina's emulator has some coding errors making her unable to express emotions. To repair it, she needs to be factory reset which is no different to death for an android. So I just let it be.

With her, it's really hard to know what she is always thinking but at least I knew that she won't stab me in the back... Maybe?

Aside from that one guy, we managed to safely arrive at the building in the center. Surrounded by enemies on all sides really makes me nervous, one wrong move and I would turn into swiss cheese.

"How's the door Yuina?"

"We almost got in... Got it."

The lock door opens to a long silent and creepy hallway. Rio leads the way inside and we walk in a single file, we turn left and see the door to the security room. Rio looks at the door for a few moments.

"Multiple people inside, around 4 people."

"Very well, any chance for us to take them out quietly?"

Yuina put her hand on my shoulder.

"Let me do it sir."

She heads to the door and slowly picks the lock. She then put her rifle on her side, pulling out throwing knives. She then quickly pushed the door open. Before the soldiers can react two knives already lodge deep inside two soldiers right on their necks causing them to bleed profusely. She then basically jumps towards the other soldiers and knee them to the face. In quick succession she pulled out her combat knife and rushed to the last soldier. He tried to grab his but a tad bit slow as the knife slashed his carotid artery. He struggles for a few moments and finally drops limp on the ground.

"Yuina did you install an enhanced cqc program?"

"Yes sir. I'm sorry for not informing you sir."

"No, I'm not upset at all, just surprised to see it. When did you get it installed?"

"Right after the last mission. I feel powerless when we fight against the vampires last time. So I get it installed to give us a fighting chance. But I'm still trying to get used to it."

"Looks like I will need to rely on you a bit more in the future."

Yuina just nodded her head while collecting back her knives.

All of us start sifting through all of their documents to find where they kept the Valkyries.

"Sarge, looks like we got a hit."

I quickly walk towards Rio as she shows me the documents.

"Looks like they kept them at the upper level, at the end of the left wing. Good work Rio, alright team let's move. Ruri and Io, both of you stay here and open the cell at my signal."

""Yes sir!""

We hasten our move towards the holding cells. This large complex with hundreds of prison cells, filled to the brim with prisoners. They must be civilians from the Imperial's territory. Their appearance is quite pitiful, most of them look malnourished and some of them even lose their limbs. As much as I want to save them, unfortunately I can't. So I just focus on the mission.

I can finally see the thick steel door but it was guarded by multiple imperial soldiers. Looks like they really don't want their lab rats to escape.

"Whiskey, Ronda are the explosive ready?"

"Yes, sir. Waiting for your orders."

"Tori, Rena what about you?"

"We're also ready."

"Very well, light them up."

—BOOOMMMM!!!

I can feel the violent vibration shaking the building, causing me to almost fall. The soldiers guarding the door realized something wrong quickly left their post to investigate. Not long after the deafening sound of the alarm starts to blare.

"Ruri opened the door."

"Yes Sir!"

—CLANK!

—GRUUU....

The large steel door slowly opens revealing the Valkyries tied up with steel chains. The heroine Valkyrie, Ilya, slowly opens her eyes and looks up towards us.

"... Is this a dream?"

"Nope, we are busting you out. Rio, cut them off. Tina how's their situation, Did they have any injuries?"

As Rio cut their chains, Tina began to scan and run small diagnostics.

"Well aside from feeling weak from lack of nutrition, they're okay."

"Hey, Valkyrie, can you walk?"

"... Yes, I think I can."

Ilya tried to stand on her feet but she quickly fell back to the ground. Ah looks like we don't have much of a choice.

"Sorry about this."

I quickly carry the weakened Ilya into my arms. I basically give her a princess carry. She's pretty light, I thought with all that augmentation she was going to weigh a tonne.

"Hey... What are you...doing, put me...down..."

"Nope we don't have that much time, we need to move now before the soldiers return. Io, Ruri we will meet both of you at the entrance."

"Yes sir, we are moving now."

All of us quickly run to rendezvous with Ruri and Io, but the path is not smooth.

"Shit, multiple Imperials in front. Open fire!"

—TATATATA!!!

Some of the soldiers got hit and fell but there were still some that managed to take cover and return fire. I put Ilya back on the ground and grab my rifle on the side.

"Wait for a bit, okay."

It's not much of a problem, so this won't take too long.

***

I messed up. I never thought that something like this would happen to me. To be caught by the enemies is the worst shame that can happen to me.

My family comes from a military background. My father is the head of the Military Intelligence Department in the Ministry of Defense. Two of my brothers serve in the military. Just like my father and brothers, I want to follow in their footsteps and join the military. But my father who is quite overprotective at first uses his connections to send me to a safer position such as a logistic officer. At first I wanted to refuse the position but my father said either take this position or don't join the military. In the end I take the position.

But I'm far from giving up. So I secretly volunteered for the Valkyries project. When I was accepted I quickly headed to the Valkyries training base before my father could interfere. The procedure to be a Valkyries is a painful experience. Multiple surgeries to enhance physical capabilities and some cybernetic implants for faster reflexes, using Valkyries specialized equipment and many more. Only after surgery I found out that this procedure has a 50% chance of death.

Now I finally got a chance to prove to my father that I am more than capable of fighting for the Federation. But now I can't even feel that way anymore, got captured by the enemies and needed to be rescued. How humiliating.

"Rio! Cover me I'm going in!"

—TATATATA!!!

Gunshots rang, multiple soldiers tried their best to protect me. Looking at them, fighting the hardest they can to protect me makes me ashamed of myself for looking down on them before.

"...Thank you."

"We are still not out of the fire yet, save your thanks after we get out of here."

The guy then carried me again in his arm and I could feel his warmth wrapping around my body. I gripped his shirt as if refusing to let it go while my heart beat a bit faster than usual.