From Russia with love (pre-mission event)

[srwu_npc]

[1]
Welcome to the ц-04 Frontline Supply Base. It's on Kamchatka, which means the surroundings are very cold, very Russian, and possibly BETA-infested. Why are you here?

Argos Flight is going to test an anti-BETA weapon in this inhospitable environment, and parts of Unity Group were dispatched too, in case something goes wrong.


"Unity Group. I am Lt Colonel Fikatsia Latrova, commander of the 211 Batallion Zhar. When the railgun test begins, it will be my Battalion's duty to lure the BETA in and keep them at bay while the weapon is being fired."

Say hello to the woman in charge? Or perhaps her subordinates - eishi of Batallion Zhar look young on average, and very unhappy to see you here. Several spit and leave at your sight (not while Latrova is watching of course), others mutter between themselves in Russian. Not the warmest of greetings.

[2]
That's for foreigners, but what about other Russians?

Batallion Zhar treats them no better. As a matter of fact, Inia and Cryska, the Scarlet Twins, are right there!

And they are being accosted by over a dozen of local pilots, who surround them, nasty intents clear from their expressions.


"Stay back! I will bleed dry the first dog who tries to... ugh!"

"Cryska!"

Worst time ever for the older of the two to suffer from a psychic headache.

[3 - mostly for Yuuya]
Day after the enjoyment from prompts above, it's time to proceed with the test!


"This is the EML-99X Electromagnetic Induction Launcher." Yui presents the anti-BETA railgun to Yuuya.

"Should something happen... I am not saying it will, but if something bad happens, abandon the weapon and retreat to safety, do you understand? Make sure it's destroyed, so no one can steal it and copy the design."

It seems she doesn't trust the hosts much...

Soon enough, first signs of BETA are detected and Zhar is dispatched to box them in. Everything proceeds as planned and the weapon is ready to fire, but...


"..."

"Something's wrong!"

Comments

[tiger_ken]

Considering I'm technically in the same boat here, and have been many other times, yes.

[Ken keeps his hands in his pockets, suppressing various memories for the purposes of restraint.]

Just wish they could realise I have about as much room in the decision making as they do.

[srwu_npc2]

"No. Unless you were on run for all your life, saw a lot of your friends and family devoured by aliens and after thinking you finally made it to safety - the government forcibly conscripted you into fighting even more BETA... then you were not in the same boat as typical 211 Batallion soldier."

"It is not my intent to guilt trip you. But understand that after what they have been through, trusting outsiders is difficult."

[tiger_ken]

Its not exactly the same, no. But I've lost friends and allies, parts of my extended family are out to kill me, and I've had to fight multiple alien invasions at this point, not just the one. I do this partly because I've got little else going for me.

[He shrugs though, probably showing he's a bit more used to it than others might be.]

And you know, I'm not gonna get a chance to use the fancy railgun either. I'm just here to keep the group - and its idiot - who will be from dying.

[srwu_npc2]

"I know. But there is no time to explain to every single soldier of the batallion."

"They understand not to cause trouble, but don't force them to like you."

[tiger_ken]

So long as they don't force me to hate them either, I'll probably manage. Like I said, I work with this one idiot...

[Ken rubs the back of his neck, sighing.]

Still... conscripted to fight the BETA? I get some countries are desperate, especially if they've got the Kaiju to deal with too, but still...

[srwu_npc2]

"BETA are a dangerous enemy. My soldiers die by the dozens in every operation - and that still counts as a success."

"Russia is not going to make its own people go and die fighting an enemy who is without end in numbers. Not when it has refugees from other countries to recruit and put on the front line. That's the 211 Batallion Zhar."

[tiger_ken]

Refugees?!

[And that flipped a switch, even if Ken realises he has to switch it back, at least for now. Keep himself from getting too mad, especially when as he's already noted, the people here likely don't make many of the decisions themselves.]

That's... despicable. Utterly despicable.

[srwu_npc2]

"Yes. Russia agreed to take them in, but in exchange for asylum they were pressed into military service against BETA. Rather, that was the previous generation - older relatives of current Batallion Zhar soldiers. When they died, they were replaced by their children and younger siblings when they grew old enough."

[tiger_ken]

Because they were someone else's citizens, instead of Russia's own... So much for the ESUN's big dream.

[Ken turns to look at the Batallion soldiers, now with more than a bit of guilt on his mind.]

And if the war against the BETA was won, somehow - just as a hypothetical - then... what happens to them?

[Ken suspected he wasn't going to like the answer.]

[srwu_npc2]

"I did not think about that. Winning war against BETA? I did not consider this to happen during my lifetime."

Latrova crosses her arms, thinking about this seriously.

"If I am still alive when it happens, I would probably get a medal, because I am a 'pure' Russian. My men? They would be told to go home without much ceremony. By home I mean the countries they came from, since there no longer would be any threat of BETA there."

[tiger_ken]

And their actual homes there are already destroyed and abandoned for who knows how long now...

[Ken at least could maybe return to the household, once he was able and secure enough to keep himself safe. But these guys...]

...I'll keep it in mind.

[srwu_npc2]

"Don't pity my subordinates. But don't forget about their circumstances, that's all I ask."

"If you remember, then you have my thanks."