”Where is your squad leader, Mouse!” Drill Sergeant Perry shouts to Chiara as she stands there at attention. Hikari and Mai are in the background maintaining their weapons as the drill sergeant had scolded them both for not having their rifles cleaned and lubed before returning to the training grounds.
”She’s injured outside of VR, but she’ll be back Drill Sergeant!”
”Hpmh. I should had known that was going to happen to Trackstar.” The drill sergeant noted to himself. “So you’re looking to get some additional training for a squad leader role? Or maybe perhaps you are interested in running the kill house course again?”
”Uh...something like that, Drill Sergeant.” Chiara replied with uncertainty.
The drill sergeant sighed and rubbed his own temple. “Alright then. I can provide you the radio frequency which could only be used if you end up being squad leader. This access is only granted if Trackstar is absent or is a casualty in the field. You’ll still keep your scouting equipment and abilities. There’s not much to being a squad leader other than some common sense leadership skills. Know your environment, your limitations, your objectives, and try not to get your squad wiped out.”
”That sounds simple enough, Drill Sergeant.”
”It’s simple in theory, Mouse. Not everyone could be a good squad leader. And certainly not someone who has shy tendencies as you are. I would try to do some side matches with your squad while you have the chance before your next tournament match. Otherwise, I cannot provide you any additional training for the squad leader role. That’s something you have to develop on your own.”
”I understand, Thank you, Drill Sergeant.”
”Oh and before I attend to some other matters…” The drill sergeant glances over at Hikari and Mai who had just finished cleaning their rifles and putting them back together after field stripping them. “Don’t neglect your weapon maintenance like those two clowns over there. If you’re going to lead your squad, you’ll need to implement discipline on them for any infractions. Make it clear that that they’ll follow your orders and preform at their very best. Understood?”
”Yes, Drill Sergeant!”
”Very well, I’ll be dismissed for now. Good luck, Mouse.” He salutes before walking off to his headquarters. Hikari and Mai follow up behind Chiara who looks back over her shoulder. “I suppose you heard what the drill sergeant said?”
”Kind of but I was too distracted by Hikari trying to put her AN-94 back together.” Mai smirks while pointing to Hikari. “What a complicated mess.”
”It wasn’t that difficult to field strip, Mai.” Hikari holds up her rifle inspecting her own work.
”Sure, whatever. Anyways, we need to get with Longhorn Squad and go find some matches.” Mai looks over to the kill house where Ramirez is standing at the watch tower with a timer. She witnesses Fio and Kimberly exiting out of the course together. “What’s their time, Rami?!” Mai calls from a distance.
”Thirty Seconds.” Ramirez checks his timer on his palm. “We’ve done this course numerous times at this point.”
”You’re going to lead Longhorn Squad without Tomio?!”
Ramirez gives Mai a thumbs up from the watch tower. “Yeah, you could say that.” He slides down the ladder from the watch tower to rejoin Fio and Kimberly before the three of them walk over to join the girls of Armadillo Squad.
”Drill Sergeant Perry had the wonderful idea of having our squads do some side matches to get some training. The extra dough of credits wouldn’t hurt either.” Mai remarks with a grin. “It beats running the kill house over and over again.”
”No kidding. It was getting boring for us anyways.” Fio mentions as she does a little spin with her P90. “My bullets are hungry for human targets. Are we going to face off each other again?”
”Well...I was actually thinking we should still try to work together as a team.” Chiara mentions with a shy voice in her tone. “But I’m not so sure if we can find another squad or team to go up against right now.”
”Maybe we can contact Glam or Kraken squad for a little rematch.” Mai suggests. “I think they would be down for that.”
”That won’t be necessary.” An unknown, low, and sultry voice interrupts their conversation which catches the attention of Armadillo and Longhorn Squad. Chiara’s eyes look over to their right side and sees a group of two distinctively armed squads. The squad on the left is dressed in some kind of fantasy inspired cosplay mixed with some tactical gear while the squad on the right is all dressed in black tactical uniforms. Something about them in particular seems very intimidating by their gothic appearance. Their squad leader in particular is dressed in an almost Victorian inspired outfit but she’s armed with a plate carrier, an AR rifle that is suppressed, and is wielding a bump helmet on her left arm which seems to have some kind of night vision goggles attached to them. Her squad members also have a similar aesthetic but also have industrial style respirators over their mouths.
”Unless my assistance here turned out to be incompetent…” The girl in black glares at the other team member’s squad leader, a blonde guy with a goofy looking hat and Type 56 AK style under folding rifle. “You both must be Armadillo Squad and Longhorn Squad. Where is….” She places her helmet on her head and looks at her rugged tablet device. “Trackstar and….Cowboy?” The girl has an utter look of disgust on her face. “Your squad leaders?”
”They are absent at the moment.” Kimberly answers with her arms crossed. “And...who the hell are you to ask?”
The squad on the left makes a line on their own as each member jumps in front of some imaginary line to some some strange pose before stating their names. “I’m Trisha!” A red headed girl with two holstered Jericho 941Rs and a Daewoo K2 mentions before the blonde guy introduces himself next. “I’m Kale Valorheart! Squad Leader!” He puts both of his arms on his hips with his AK rifle over his shoulder in a dramatic fashion before making way for his other squad members. “I’m Rena!” A girl with heavy armor and deep blue eyes poses with her MP7 and a bag of various grenades before the final member of the squad, a guy with light brown hair, steampunk goggles, a conical hat, and wielding an HK USP, Howa Type 89 and a Katana runs up behind with his arms behind his back. “And I’m Kaz, the ronin scout.” He says in a monotone voice as he bows so poorly, it almost make Hikari laugh at how embarrassing it all looks. “And we are JARPIG SQUAD!” All four of them pose together with their weapons as they introduce their squad.
”And they don’t give a shit about any of you!” The girl in black snaps at the other squad as they finish. Causing them to recoil in fear. “Why do you have to be so dramatically stupid and cringe with your squad?!” She shakes her head in disappointment before looking over to her adversaries ahead of her. “I am Asura. Squad leader of Vampire Squad. We’re both going up against you in the next tournament match. But I’m not here to make small talk or make any formalities. We have observed and studied your last match. I assume you’ve been doing the same for our squads too.”
”Um...well…” Fio chuckles as she rubs the back of her head as she looks at the girls of Armadillo Squad who shrug in response.”
”Wow...it’s worse than I thought.” Asura sighs heavily. “Alright, I’m just going to say it. You all are fucking terrible.”
”Yeah so?” Mai remarks angrily, offended, and glaring back. “That’s why we’re here to train in the first place. We didn’t need to hear that from the likes of you.”
”I’m telling you right now that neither of your squads are going to stand a chance against any of us. You barely managed to win your last match. That was all pure luck and negligence on the opposing team. You’re not going to get it easy from any of us so you might as well spare you future embarrassment and quit the tournament right now.”
”Sounds like you’re scared of us actually beating the shit out of both of your squads if you’re telling us to quit right now.”
”As if I would be scared by some little midget telling me off. Get real.”
”What did you call me?!” Mai snaps back furiously as she wields her SKS with the bayonet unfolded. “Come on Chiara. Let’s settle this with them now. I can’t stand these goth edge lords.”
”Mai….wait….I don’t know if….” Chiara nervously mutters before being interjected by Asura.
”You’re little friend might be onto something. Why not have a go at us in an informal match? It’ll be the only way you and your team will get a taste of what’s to come in the tournament. Assuming you don’t give up after we teach you all a lesson.”
Chiara is conflicted in her eyes. She looks over at Mai who looks like she can ponce on them at any moment. Hikari seems to nod at Chiara at the idea of having a match against JarPig and Vampire Squad. When she looks over at Longhorn Squad, she can see Fio and Kimberly are in agreement with Ramirez standing there with his arms crossed. “Ramirez, what do you think about this?” She asks quietly.
”We’re short of two members for both of our squads. We don’t stand a chance against them with our numbers as it is.” He opens his eyes and look over everyone. “We desperately need the training. Might as well use the opportunity to learn something about our foes, even if we don’t win this match. Are you sure you can lead your squad without Emi?”
”I….uh…” Chiara feels Mai’s and Hikari’s hands on her shoulder before she can answer as a sign of reassurance. “I’ll give it a try.”
”It’s settled then. Our squads will engage in combat.” Asura charges her AR 15 with a sly smirk on her lips. “We’ll keep the rules in the same vein as the upcoming tournament. No support, no vehicles, and pure CQB rules of engagement. You’re not going to have anything to save you or your team against us. But we’ll go easy on you this match. Just to prove a point.” She turns to address her squad mates. “It’s time to spill some blood. Get ready vampires.”
”It will be done, your highness!” her squad member chants together with her hands over their hearts as they bow their heads.
Asura then looks over to Kael and his JarPig Squad. “As for you, don’t bring me or my squad down to your level. You know what you have to do.”
”I won’t let you down my qu...uh...I mean Asura.” Kael chuckles flustered in his tone. His squad mates don’t look to content with his behavior.
”You and your simps are going down you psychotic bitch.” Mai barks at Asura. “Chiara, let’s kick their asses.”
”Ah….yeah….let’s….let’s do this, everyone.” everyone is teleported out of the training grounds as they are transported to a new battlefield.