[IC] Noble Arms - The ASEAN War, Second Thread

[Letter Bee]

Mission Four - Knives in Phnom Penh

Diamond Island Convention and Exhibition Center, The City of Phnom Penh - 11/11/2022 06:22 UTC+7, which is 7:22, UTC+8

Cristina had brought down several waves of Iranian-manufactured and covertly imported Shahed Drones before collapsing. Still, it was clear that the Cambodian Pro-ASEAN Rebels were sitting ducks where they were now. So Dara Chea, standing beside Nico, stated, "We're going to have to evacuate the Convention Center anyway; leave the Chinese delegation behind. In the meantime, we have two choices; the Cambodian Grendemaire - Military Police - have their HQ in the south part of the city, which remains loyal to the assholes in the Government, and the Government Buildings themselves are in the northern part - Would you care to suggest a target?"

---

As the helicopters led by Sam arrived at the scene, bringing reinforcements and the prospect of evacuation, Myron would radio their new member and give his orders, "Specialist Sewojo - You've arrived at last! Begin evacuating important diplomatic personnel first; ASEAN and foreign observers only - Leave the Chinese and Russians behind. Also, the Cambodian forces surrounding this building have defected to our side; do not fire on them as long as that is the case."

Roberto, meanwhile, had managed to get to Cristina's location somehow and dragged her inside the building, where Myron and him could guarantee her safety. Then, news arrived that there was heavy fighting in the West of the city, where more forces were joining the Cambodian Rebels and fighting the Cambodian Government's loyalists. There was bloody combat in the East too, but the Government was flying in Russian and Venezuelan mercenaries to aid them in restoring order, meaning that the pro-ASEAN forces there were tied down and unable to help their allies.

Now, the Cambodian Government was ordering a large force to cross the bridges east of Diamond Island; Tanks, Infantry, and APCs, all supported by artillery.

The violence had not ended yet; if anything, it was accelerating.

---

The Cambodian Elite Troopers had incapacitated most of Task Force Obsidian but were now being attacked by members of their Regular Infantry who had decided to be loyal to ASEAN. Marta's counterattack then hit and punched out the last of the foes - Lieutenant Channery Chea herself, who slumped to the floor without any ceremony, just a soft 'thud'.

To spell it out clearly: Cambodian Elite Troopers bad, Regular Infantry (some of them) good. Nico's courage outside had gotten some of the Cambodians to side with them again. But now, with Nil heavily wounded, Henri catatonic, and Aoi disappearing for a while, it was clear that it was going to be a hard choice to stay and fight or join the evacuation.

And, as the rumble of vehicles and artillery was heard from the east, it was clear that they had to make a decision soon before it was made for them. All the while Noel Alonso, their leader, had disappeared, along with their portal maker, Callie.

They also had to mourn Qinghse's death.

@Gerlando@QJT@Amidatelion@Digmata@Chiro@Creative Chaos@PrinceAlbert

[Amidatelion]

Sister Marta Rocha

Diamond Island Convention and Exhibition Center, The City of Phnom Penh - 11/11/2022

Marta shuffles off the ground slowly, her once-pristine habit riddled with bloodstains and bullet holes. Her messy cowl reveals a few stray locks of honey hue, which do nothing to obscure her bloodshot eyes and tear-streaked face.

Typically, the Sister would try her best to present a more dignified image, but it's clear to everyone else that her last stunt pushed her conviction to its ragged limits.

"...Is... is anyone hurt... ?"

She clings to her armored fist and looks to the east, where the sound of rumbling artillery draws closer.

"I-I don't want to do that... ever again. Let's get out of here."

[DammitVictor]

(Written in collaboration with @Letter Bee)

Berto tucked his face into the crook of his elbow as he touched Archie’s Lever to the hinges of the door, welding them into solid pieces of metal.

”We’re going to have to rejoin the fighting eventually, but let’s pick the time and place ourselves. And let the rest of our team worry about how they’re going to rescue the kids outside. Right now, our priority’s gotta be the people who are already inside the building, and getting them out of the building.”

Myron nodded and said, “You’re right, Berto. Damn it; I’m supposed to be experienced in espionage; how can I not have seen this coming?”

Either way, the man stood guard over Cristina, even as he asked Berto, “So, you dragged Volunteer Bernardino in? If so, that’s good, because I just received a call; Noel is missing - Presumed MIA.”

”You saw this coming. We planned for it. Crissy’s alive because you were prepared for this and you made sure I was. We keep her alive, we save everyone we can– lock down the birds in the hand before we start looking for birds in the bush. This is your plan, Boss; I’m just out here trying to prove you right.”

Berto moved on to welding the metal in the doorframe together. ”You wanna bring me some of those desks, Sir? Hilarious as it would be to hold this door when the soldiers start crawling through it, I want to be long gone by then.”

Myron nodded and dragged one of the desks to the door, before conjuring up his shield and saying, “Let me amend that plan you have.”

And in six seconds, he conjured up a sheet of thick metal, probably a portion of a prefabricated bunker, and said to Berto, “You can use this.”

”Perfect. What’s our next move?” Berto nailed the sheet into the doorway, Archie’s Lever ringing out like a gunshot a couple of times per second. He paused for a moment to admire his work, and let the ringing in his ears die down. ”Sorry about that, Boss. What’s our next move?”

Myron spoke, “We link up with Marta, Henri, Nil and Aoi - By the way, how did you find Cristina?”

Berto winces. It’s not his turn with Archie’s Lever, not yet– but it’d better be soon if he was going to be much help after this. Better not to let Myron see his shirt until they had time for Berto to take a break. ”Wasn’t easy!” He put a hand inside his jacket and felt the hot, wet stain spreading on his shirt. ”I had a hunch where she’d be. And another hunch. Just kept following them until I found a trail of dead bastards, and I followed it until I found a bunch of live bastards.”

He forgets himself for a moment, and makes a voila/BOOM gesture with his bloodied hands.

”Wouldn’t you know it, Boss, that’s right where I found her.”

Myron nodded at that and said, “I see. So she wound up killing a bunch of people who were going to defect to our side, but haven’t done so yet… This is bad, but also an understandable mistake. Either way, shall we start going to where the others are, now?”

”Well… you know what we call people who haven’t defected to our side yet, right? They didn’t look too friendly when I caught up to them. They can…” Berto gasped. ”They can surrender later. I’ll be happy to debrief them for you… Boss.” Berto sat down on the floor.

”Gonna need a moment here. Didn’t have much time for first aid on the way back.”

Glancing back at Berto, Myron asked, “Do you need first aid? We can’t have you dying on my watch.”

They were wasting time; Noel and Callie were gone, and Qingshe was dead or ‘dead’. Task Force Obsidian was at its weakest point ever and they had to live.

”Little bit of morphine and a stapler, I can help you carry Crissy until we’ve got time to breathe. After that, I’m gonna need a whole-ass medic and you’re probably gonna have to bribe them if you don’t want me forced to sit the rest of this one out. Reyes has a gambling problem if you can find her.”

Myron twitched as he said, “Not necessary; Marta is also a healer and our primary one. Now I hope she’s all right…”

He pushed on, further into the building. He needed to join up with the rest of the group now!

Nodding silently, Berto stripped off his ruined shirt and jacket, tore open a trauma pack, got into the morphine. He squeezed out half the standard dose, sighed audibly, and squeezed out half of the remainder before injecting himself. He took a couple of deep breaths… sighed again, and then started stapling gauze pads directly to his ribs with Archie’s Lever. When he was satisfied with his… well, satisfied, he slipped one of Cristina’s arms over his shoulders and followed Myron once more unto the breach.