A cassette deck plays some glam rock over the air in a M939 Truck driven by two female commanders. A group of armed soldiers ride in the back, wielding weapons of a mixed variety including M3 Grease Guns, M16A2s, M249s, and other small arms. Behind their truck, a M1A1 Abrams Tank cruises behind after departing from a transport ship by the docks. A soldier with a tanker’s helmet peeks out from the hatch while signaling to his driver to keep their pace so that they don’t accidentally ram into their squad leader’s transportation truck. As they are about to depart from the docks, they pass by two M198 howitzers which are being setup by some soldiers clad in the same M81 Woodland camo as the girl’s squad. The brunette girl riding shotgun with a ponytail wields a XM177 by her side. It’s small and compact compared to her sister’s M16A2GL variant and is fitted with a vintage Colt optic on the carry handle. Despite her squad wielding classic American weapons of the late 20th century. Her optic is engraved with “Made in Japan” on the side. Her sister, another brunette with a wavy 80s hairstyle stuffed under a black beanie, has a M9 pistol made by Pietro Beretta which she had swapped to after carrying a Colt 1911 Series 80 from her time being in Flamingo Squad. Her expression is cool and collected, compared to her twin sister who looks like she could jump out from her seat and start charging head on.
“Can we hurry this up, Sis? I’m ready to show our adversaries what we got!”
“Bernadette, we’re going to take this the smart way.” Her sister reassures her as their convoy comes to a halt. The soldiers in the back disembark and get onto the tank as it rides off in a separate direction in a crossroad. “There’s a time and place for door kicking, but this battlefield isn’t one of them. We’ll be using our logistics and fire support to our advantage. We have no clue how our adversaries are going to fight, so it’s better if we throw our heavy munitions first.”
“Tch. You’re no fun, Sis.” The girl with the ponytail pulls out a map from a compartment on the side of her seat. “I can’t believe we’re just going to camp out by the hillside and watch everything unfold. Why can’t we fight like you did in Flamingo Squad?”
“Because, being reckless like that isn’t viable, Sis.” She sighs as they pull up on a hill. “It’s your first time in a battle. I know it’s difficult to comprehend but sometimes, it’s more advantageous to take a cautious approach. This is a military simulation. Even I have to remind myself.”
“So our AI squadmates are heading for the logging camp? Is it just going to be the two of us assaulting the village, Cheyenne?”
“Not right away, Bernadette. We’re going to hold our position and unleash our heavy ordinance while Zander’s mercenaries tag alongside our disposable troops and Abrams at the logging camp. Once they receive their beatings, we’ll squeeze them out like toothpaste.” Cheyenne smiles gently at her sister as she hands her a pair of binoculars. “I’ll give you the honors of calling artillery.”
“Oh Sis, you know I always love a good fireworks show!” Bernadette says gleefully.
"What a beautiful place for our first match!" Kimberly comments while placing some ammo cans onto the back of a transport truck with the help of Ramirez who is organizing all of their supplies for their operation.
"It’s a shame I can’t seem to get away from stacking boxes, even in VR.” Ramirez says in a dry humorous tone. As he pushes some boxes into the back of the transport truck.
"You’re always such a downer, Rami.” Kimberly chuckles as she lifts another crate up to Ramirez. “What’s with all these ammo crates anyways?”
“It’s a last resort. Something to hopefully change the tide if everything goes down to shit.”
"“Do you really think we’re going to waste all our ammo so quickly?”
“We better not.”
Meanwhile, Tomio and Fio are overlooking their rugged Tablet alongside Emi at a small airstrip sounded by dense woodlands and a little log cabin by the side. They are discussing an approach to their advancement. "We're going to have plenty of discrete coverage from enemy UAVs assuming they use any." Tomio points out as he marks the forested areas on the tablet.
"The roads are going to split into two pathways, one leading up to a small village on the northern road and a logging camp on the south road, right after a civilian gas station. Do you have any preferences, Emi?"
"Hm..I think the girls and I will take the road south. We can secure the longing camp and set up defensive positions, protecting our southern flank. I can split my squad into two so that someone can patrol the center forest area between the village in the north and the logging camp in the south." Emi traces her route in a blue path and then splits another path from the logging camp. "That way, we can deny a point of entry from a parallel here, assuming you hold onto the village. Do we have any idea where the enemy squads might attack from?"
"Tomio looks over at the map on the tablet. "It should be obvious that they are coming from the opposite end of the map. This is not a very complex area for a battlefield. I have to assume they start somewhere on the docks west." He highlights an entire area close to the sea on the west. "What did you pick for your reinforcement perk? I am going with artillery strike just in case we run into any armor."
"I am going with AI parachute infantry." Emi explained to Tomio further. "In case we take any significant losses, I don't want to be outnumbered in a firefight."
Tomio can see Emi is a little concerned from her serious tone and look on her face. "I am sure we'll do just fine Emi. Oh and try not to stress out too much, this is just a simulation after all.
"Hm? Me? Stress?" Emi laughs nervously. "Oh...no no no...I don't think I'll worry, Tomio."
"You're going to do just fine. If there's any trouble, call us on our radio channel and we'll figure out something if we have to. Our objective is simple. Deny the enemy access to our airstrip, eliminate the enemy if we can't beat them into a surrender, and watch out for some of the civilians roaming around. I can already see Hikari and Chiara are getting along with one over there." Tomio smirks and points over to the cabin where Chiara and Hikari are talking to a young guy selling some wool beanies, hand-knit headgear, and trapper hats.
"I love how cute this beanie looks." Hikari gushes as she buys a black and red knitted beanie from the salesman at the cabin.
"It's one of the finest Swedish caps for a fine lady such as yourself. It looks very good on you, Japanese girl." The young Swedish NPC salesman suggests as he brings out more hats for Chiara to look through.
"Aw thank you! It's perfect. And we get to keep these, after the match?"
"Of course. Anything you buy on the battlefield or elsewhere will go into your inventory. These fine headwears are exclusive to this battlefield and nowhere else."
"I have to get one too Hikari...Oh...how about this one?" Chiara picks out a Viking style ladies fur cap. "It kind of looks like a Crockett cap without the tail. I love it."
"A fine choice there. It'll keep your head warm and comfortable. Would you like to buy it?"
"I would be crazy not to let this one slip by." Chiara notes as she transfers some credits to the NPC.
"Hey! Try not to waste all of your credits on cosmetics you two!" Emi snaps out to Chiara and Hikari. "We're here to fight Kraken and Glam Squad, not to do some shopping. We're about to depart soon so make sure you both are all geared up."
"Aw..." Hikari and Chiara both sigh as they return to Emi with their new hats. "Uh...where's Mai?" Hikari asks Emi.
"Mai said she's bringing some transportation we can use. Speaking of which, I see them coming."
The girls look over from the trees as Mai pulls up on the airstrip and drives down towards the group in a UTV ultralight off-roader. Emi can see it can seat up to four passengers which is just enough for her and her squad mates. The passenger seat next to the driver hosts a Kulspruta 58 Light Machine Gun which is mounted towards the front with a ammunition belt. "Fio paid for the machinegun. We owe her one." Mai mentions once she disembarks from the passenger side.
"Nah, don't worry about it, Armadillo Squad." Fio casually flaps her hand. "It was basically spare change expenses anyways. "It'll give you a fighting chance."
"We appreciate it, Fio, Thank you." Emi places her hand on her heart and nods her head. "Will your squad be alright in your transport van?"
"We'll be okay. We aren't going to use the van for anything once we are in the village. We're going to fortify inside the buildings and store our ammunition boxes somewhere once we're there."
"I see. Well then, now that everyone is here, we can begin our operation once we are given the go ahead right?"
"Our heads up display will let us know when the battle can commence. We can't leave spawn until the enemy teams are ready. It seems like they are still in the planning stage like we are, so we just have to wait."
"So does that give us time to buy more..."
"No Hikari." Emi answers sternly.
"Don't tell me she bought those cosmetic gimmicks?" Mai glares at Hikari and also at Chiara and crosses her arms. "Fancy headwear holds no tactical advantage whatsoever."
"But the cosmetics are limited time, Mai." Chiara caresses her own fluffy hat.
"So?" Mai shakes her head in disappointment.
"Look alive everyone, the enemy team is ready. The match will officially start in 10 seconds. Let's do this." The girls of Armadillo Squad get into the UTV with Emi as the driver, Mai as the gunner, and Hikari and Chiara riding in the back seat. Tomio and his squad get on board their transport truck and start the engine. Their heads up display has a countdown from 10 to 0 indicating when the match will start. When the countdown reaches 0, the message "Weapons Hot, get ready for combat!" flashes before their eyes and the two squads drive off into their planned routes. Emi's UTV bounces around on the rural gravel road as they drive into a wooded area south of where Tomio and his squad will be driving towards.
While Emi is driving to her destination, she receives a call from Fio over the radio. "How's the ride so far Emi?"
"I honestly wish we could race on this thing. We're about to approach the gas station, we'll be at that longing camp in no time."
"Nice. So far we haven't seen the enemy yet, Everything is going according to Tomio and your plan."
"Copy that Fio!" Emi finishes the call as she focuses her attention back on the road. Mai starts whistling a childhood melody that she recalls which gets on Hikari nerves.
"You shouldn't try to do that Mai, you're not very good at it."
"Say what? Do you have a better idea to pass the time while we're on our road trip?" Mai scoffs from the front passenger seat. "Please tell me your million dollar idea Miss Spends-A-Lot!"
"Mai. Please stay focused on that MG. We're not driving to Tomio's. We're going into a war zone." Emi scolds Mai. "I swear, I feel like a mom with you both bickering while I'm driving."
"As far I know, the enemy is on another planet. It'll be a while before we even see them." Mai puts her hands on the machine gun and pretends to mow down combatants with it while they drive. "Pew....pew....pew....man, wouldn't it be so cool if we could, like, drive all the way to their base and just drive circles around them while I gun them down?"
"Mai! You knew better than any of us that it won't play out that way!" Hikari interjected while she looked out at the vast forest they drove by.
"Maybe they should make these maps a lot smaller." Mai points the MG towards the horizon and sighs heavily "Hey Emi, what are we calling our operation anyways?"
"Do we have to come up with one, Mai?" Hikari asks.
"Of course we do. Duh! It'll make us more legit that way."
"Alright then. How about Operation: Mai's a cheapskate who won't let me buy some cosmetics?" Hikari suggested, taking a jab at Mai's Ego.
"I'm a what?!" Hikari laughs at Mai's expense.
"Tomio already suggested Operation Nordic Wind. So that's what we are going by. But the operation name can change if things get better or worse." Emi noted feeling a bit uneasy about how mundane this trip is so far on the UTV. "At least that's what he told me."
"Ugh...might as well call it Operation: Swedish Honeymoon with Tomio." Mai mutters under her breath.
"Don't make me press on these brakes, Mai!" Emi responds incredibly annoyed and flustered.
After a few minutes, the UTV slowly comes to a stop at the girl's first destination. It's an area clear of trees for the moment, a single gas station with two pumps at most where Emi pulls over near. The girls dismount, ready their weapons and search the area. Emi aims her M4A1, using the UTV as cover as she scans around the surrounding tree lines while Mai stays seated with her machine gun. Hikari and Chiara search around the gas station on the exterior and the interior. All of the contents inside the gas station are cleared and look like they haven't been stocked in ages. It's in a bad state of repair as the interior ceilings have rain water dripping from the roof onto the floor, some glass windows are broken in, and yet there's no sign of the enemy anywhere.
"The gas station is clear!" Hikari calls over the radio.
"I'm not seeing anyone else around either." Emi notifies over the radio. "Tomio, are you at the village yet?"
"Not yet. We haven't run into any of the squads yet. I just hope they haven't reached the village before we do. You should head towards the logging camp as soon as you can."
"Copy that, we'll be heading out. Stay safe, Tomio."
"You too, Emi. Stay frosty. I'm not sure what the enemy has in store for us."
"We'll be ready for them. You can count on that." Emi ends her communications with Tomio. "Alright girls, we have to keep moving." She gets back into the UTV with Mai.
"Shouldn't we construct some defenses around this perimeter beforehand?" Mai suggests to Emi as she starts the engine. "I gotta do some sapping, Emi."
"We are already wasting time by stopping here. We need to secure the logging camp so we can set up our defenses there. Chiara! Hikari! Let's go!" Chiara and Hikari run from the gas station and get on board the UTV before Emi presses her foot on the gas. They drive into another area of dense forest which will lead them into the longing camp.
Several minutes have gone by and as Emi drives, she relies on Chiara to keep track of their location on the map. "We're almost there Emi. We'll be approaching the camp very soon."
"Thanks Chiara...uh...hang on a second." Emi puts the UTV to a stop. in the middle of the road.
"Hey Emi...what's going on?" Hikari looks confused at Emi for stopping so soon.
"Shhh....be quiet." Mai whispers harshly to Hikari. “I think Emi spotted something...everyone dismount."
Emi gets off the driver seat and moves towards the right of the road into the tree line as she advances forward, carefully and quietly. She lowers her rifle so that it slings over her plate carrier while grabbing a pair of binoculars from her backpack. She takes cover behind a thick tree, her feet careful not to rustle the dead leaves engulfing her boots on the ground as her eyes peek through the binoculars. "It's not looking good, girls. The logging camp has company."
Emi hands over the binoculars to Mai who looks through them. She can see the logging camp is being patrolled by soldiers wearing woodland camouflage fatigues, gas masks, and PASGT Helmets.
"That must be Glam Squad. Damn. That equipment look incredibly vintage." Mai comments while looking through the binoculars before handing them to Hikari.
"That's rich coming from you, Mai." Hikari whispered sarcastically from behind as she observes too.
"What are we going to do, Emi?" Chiara asks while looking through her own binoculars.
"It doesn't seem they have spotted us. We might be able to achieve the element of surprise. Let me just check on Tomio first." Emi puts her binoculars down and pulls out her handheld radio.
"Tomio, we got company. The enemy is occupying the logging camp, there's about three of them from Glam Squad."
"That can't be good. Are you sure you're capable of taking them on? We're at the village already and we still haven't seen any signs of the enemy.
"It's only three of them and four of us. I think we can out flank them and overpower them. It has to be worth a try."
"If that's what you think, just stay on your toes. It appears they aren't being aggressive."
"Understood." Emi then directs her orders to her squad. "Listen up girls. They don't know we are close by. We can still get them through the element of surprise. Mai, use that fragmentation warhead and eliminate that machine gunner. Hikari, you watch her back in case they open fire on you. Chiara, you're with me. We're going to flank them from the side. We'll use the forest to conceal our movements, but we won't attack until you take out that MG with your rocket, Mai. Are we all onboard?"
Hikari, Mai, and Chiara nod in unison. "Yes, Emi."
"Confidence. I like that." Emi smiles from cheek to cheek. "Let's show them how Armadillo Squad fights."
Emi and Chiara split up from Mai and Hikari, heading east. Mai grabs a fragmentation rocket from her RPG bag and loads the warhead into her RPG-7. "Hikari, try not to stand behind me this time."
"Ha! I'm not making that mistake again." Hikari moves away from Mai and hides behind a fallen tree trunk large enough to provide cover on Mai’s right side while she rests her AN-94 over the edge so that she can get a clear view of the enemy through her sights.
On your signal Emi..." Mai aims her RPG and adjusts for 100 meters as she directs her red dot sight over the machine gunner positioned behind the sandbags.
"Let them have it, Mai!!!" Emi shouts over the radio.