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Beyond Survival: Chapter 2
🕑 Added 2025-03-26 16:00:51 +0000 UTC“Alpha Squad. This is Central. Begin final check.”
Sergeant Major Lucas Mitchel, the leader of the Alpha Squad, looked at his men and nodded his head, indicating for them to start checking their equipment.
“All of you, give me a final check. Comms?”
“”””””””Check!”””””””””
“Exo-Rig integrity and charge?”
“”””””””Check!”””””””””
“Gauss Rifle?”
“”””””””Check!”””””””””
“Ammo Packs?”
“”””””””Check!”””””””””
“IAS status?”
“”””””””Check!”””””””””
“CCQ Equipment?”
“”””””””Check!”””””””””
“Side arms?”
“”””””””Check!”””””””””
With a satisfied nod, Mitchel used his IAS, the Infantry Augmentation System, implant to directly connect with the Control Room designated ‘Central’ that is directly overlooked by the General of the Marine Corps and the General of the US Army.
“Central. This is Alpha Squad. We have all clear on the final check.”
“Confirmed all clear on the final check. Initiating Gate system. Good luck, Sergeant Major Mitchel.”
Mitchel simply nodded towards the control room located above the massive opening they were in and turned back to his men.
“Alright, people, we have only one objective in this mission. Secure the LZ and clear out any hostile Flora or Fauna, if any of that exists on the other side. Once we are done with the primary objective, we are to give the all-clear to the Central and then wait until the eggheads come through with their equipment for the inspection of the LZ. Any questions?”
“””””””” No Sir!!””””””””
Mitchel nodded with satisfaction and sent a signal to the control room with the all-clear.
Within seconds, the massive ring-like structure spun to life as powerful spinning electromagnetic fields tore through the fabric of reality.
The Alpha Squad, the best of the Marine Corps Mechanized Infantry Division, waited patiently until the tear in reality stabilized, giving the nine men and women a clear view of the beautiful nature on the other side that filled them with nostalgia.
“Gate open. You are clear to proceed, Alpha Squad.”
“Acknowledged. Proceeding to the other side.”
With a ping from his IAS implant, he signaled his squad to follow as they cautiously moved into the portal with their Gauss Rifles held up in a sweep formation.
For a split second, their view and the sensory systems in their Exo-rigs distorted heavily before their feet touched soft grass on the other side and their sensors stabilized.
Mitchel did not need to turn around to hear the gasps of awe from his squad for he was no different from them.
It had been nearly twenty years since anyone had seen real nature, actual forests, and flora that did not rely on advanced technology to function.
However, their training instantly kicked in as they remembered their primary objective, making them start carefully sweeping the surroundings of the portal with their weapons trained forward and their sensors set to the maximum.
Radar did not pick up anything dangerous in the skies or around them, motion trackers were showing multiple contacts but the IAS was dismissing them as some kind of Fauna. Their instruments did not pick up any kind of radiation or harmful substances in the atmosphere. However, the concentration of Oxygen was slightly higher than what they were used to and the gravity was lower than on Earth by nearly 50%.
Mitchel looked to his men and women, all of whom gave him a negative on any contact or threat.
With a nod, Mitchel used his IAS to contact Central.
“Central, This is Alpha Squad. Transit success. LZ secure. Negative on any contact. Proceed with Phase 2. Repeat, All Clear for Phase 2.”
“Alpha Squad, this is Central. All Clear Acknowledged. Second Wave inbound.”
“Hey, Major Mitchel, do you think we will get some leave after this mission? Cause I’d like to spend some time here if those eggheads back home don’t mind.”
“Same!”
Mitchel felt his lips twitch in a suppressed smile at his men’s words as he slightly turned around while still keeping an eye on the motion sensors.
“Can it, Cooper. And Jackson, don’t encourage his behavior. If you two can behave in this mission, I’ll think about asking for that shore leave from the General.”
“Sweet! You are the best Major!”
“What did I just say?”
Mitchel shook his head as Corporal Mason Cooper cheered at the prospect of his wish being granted while Sophia Jackson gave a happy smile at her leader.
Despite his exasperation, Mitchel had the same idea as that of his squad.
After all, if this place was to be the new beginning for what remains of humanity, then it would make sense for him to angle his plan for leave as a preliminary scouting of this world.
With such plans in mind, the Sergeant Major continued watching the surroundings as a team of scientists walked through the portal with various scientific equipment.
Far away from the clearing in the forest where the humans were working, two strange beings were observing the humans and their portal.
Their unnaturally pale skin stood out in the forest, yet their clothes looked like they were made from the very leaves of the trees around them, allowing them to blend in easily.
Their long ears allowed them to easily hear the strange language being used by these newcomers to their forest, while their eyes allowed them to look at the people clearly despite the great distance between them.
The tall creatures that easily stood at six feet looked at each other before one of them started to speak in a language that sounded like they were singing.
“Go. Inform the Matriarch of what is going on here. Tell her that we have intruders in the Great Woods. While they clearly have no affiliation with the Greenies, they are not part of our race.”
“What about you? Sister.”
“I will keep an eye on them and make sure they don’t harm our forest while you get reinforcements.”
The creature nodded at her companion.
“May Sylvanya’s blessing be upon you, sister.”
“Same to you.”
With that, one of the creatures rushed off into the forest at impossible speeds, heading deep into the woods towards an unknown destination while the other creature continued looking at the humans with trepidation, praying to their goddess, Sylvanya, that they were not another enemy race that they would have to fight against.
