by Collin Earl
*****
One hundred and fifty meters in the air, a stealth hover transport descended rapidly into Air Space Zamar, the air traffic designation located right above Academy City 676. The aircraft was completely invisible to the naked eye and was untraceable to most forms of electronic detection. Really, the only thing that this craft had to worry about was the Gamma Star Detection Platform, but the UWC almost never patrolled this far inland. They had the advantage for now. The Assault Captain of the elite Móguǐ unit spoke to his men in Mandarin.
"Intel says that the package has been identified. We infiltrate, pick it up, and exfil. You are to keep casualties low, but kill anyone – man, woman, or child – who sees you. There is no room for error. If you see weaponry beyond C class, do not engage if you can avoid it. The suit's energy field won't last against A or B class weaponry. Have Light Shivs ready for close quarters. Do not discharge without prior approval. Is that understood?"
"Yes sir!" came back the reply.
The Assault Captain gave his men a reassuring smile. "We take it back today, brothers. Our long period of dishonor is almost at an end. The advance squad is already on the ground and the landing area is secure. Any questions?"
"No sir."
"Good. Code phrase only until we know what we are dealing with. Our man on the ground says that the area is crawling with MESA. If they call in their S&D force, it could become complicated."
Explosions, one right after another, caused the transport to shake slightly.
"Did you hear that sir?" said one of the soldiers from the back.
The Assault Captain put his hand out to steady himself. "Isolate the location."
The soldier turned back to a free-floating monitor. "Sir, both explosions came from the school. Energy weaponry detected."
"I see." The Captain pulled out a medium size bottle and passed it around to each of his men. Each poured a small amount of the contents into different containers.
Once the bottle made it back to him, the Assault Captain held it up. "To victory, gentlemen."
They all drank.