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[HOTD] Chapter 75 – Military Base
🕑 Added 2025-05-15 13:15:29 +0000 UTCAfter a short exchange, we rode back into our vehicle, and followed the soldiers to their base. It was pretty surprising there were only 5 of them on a big vehicle like that, considering it was supposed to fit 10 or so people.
Our journey back to their base was quiet. Everyone seemed to relax a bit, feeling safer with the US soldiers around us.
The trip took a little over an hour and half, during which time I kept glancing around in caution.
Naturally, I didn't trust people I just met or didn't know. Those I knew from the game, I was cautious with them, and I had a hunch about their character. But those I never knew about were dangerous. They were unpredictable, especially because they might be connected with Umbrella in the future.
After driving up the steep slope of a mountain range, we arrived at an isolated military base built in the middle of a forest, surrounded by barbed wire fences and sandbags. 3 tents were erected outside the fence, and 3 guards stood guard at each corner.
There was a watchtower in each direction of the compass, with 4 armed guards patrolling around it. 2 machine guns were mounted on top of the tower. There were a couple of humvees parked next to the gate, along with an armored personnel carrier. All of them looked well-maintained.
However, the size was too small to call it a main base. It might be an outpost to protect a nearby main base or city.
The armored truck stopped right before entering the base and we also stopped. Sergeant Brown
exited the truck, headed towards me, and said, "This place isn't exactly safe yet but we're doing our best. So please leave all your weapons here, and don't make any sudden move."
He pointed at the tent outside, most probably the checkpoint.
Leaving our weapons? That meant we had to enter an unknown military base while being naked.
I couldn't risk it, so I countered, "I will enter alone and put the weapon in a humvee and have the others to stand guard. Is that acceptable?"
Sergeant Brown frowned and asked, "Is that necessary?"
"If I can get a guarantee of safety, I don't need to do that. However, I have been in some... situations before. Please understand my position too. Also, do you think they can be any danger to the US army?"
Sergeant Brown was silent for a few seconds. Then, he nodded and replied, "Alright. I'll talk with General Mason first."
With that said, Sergeant Brown walked inside, accompanied by Corporal Williams.
Private Clark was still in the truck, keeping an eye on us. He looked bored though, and I thought he might not be very good at his job.
Anyway, I was now left with the girls and two soldiers. The atmosphere between both parties was pretty tense, as we didn't trust each other yet.
"I wonder what this General Mason looks like..." Saya said softly. "Hopefully, someone who understands the importance of the sample. If he's only a bit like Papa, then that would be great."
I nodded in agreement.
We needed to be careful here.
After all, we weren't dealing with random people anymore. They were military and they had guns and authority.
A moment later, the sergeant returned, saying that we were cleared to go in.
So, I told the girls to wait with all our equipment inside the humvee except for Saeko's sword. She would be able to protect themselves in case of an emergency.
After that, I followed him into the base.
As soon as I entered the camp, I saw several men and women walking around, some wearing uniforms while others dressed in civilian clothing. There was even a young woman wearing full gear holding an M16 rifle.
There were also some soldiers in their uniforms, standing guard near certain areas or just lounging about. Most of them had rifles or pistols strapped to their belts. A few were smoking.
Some of these soldiers were quite tall, standing around 180 cm.
I prided myself for being tall with no one taller than me in Japan, but I had to accept that I wasn't the tallest in this world. Especially in the West.
We were walking towards a large tent where a general waited for us. Sergeant Brown told me what I shouldn't do and how I should greet the general.
Apparently, he wasn't very pleased to meet us. It wasn't unexpected, since I said that I brought an unknown virus sample, and even asked for a helicopter to Chicago, a city far away from Alaska.
We finally reached the general's office, and Sergeant Brown stopped me outside. "I will leave you alone, but remember not to act rudely."
"Please don't worry about that." I assured him with a smile.
After I answered, he opened the door and ushered me inside the tent. The first thing that caught my eye was the old, bald-headed man sitting at a table with several papers strewn across its surface.
He wore a uniform that bore the rank insignia of a general. He looked stern and intimidating.
"Come in." The old man beckoned me to come forward.
I approached his desk and looked around, wondering if I had to sit somewhere. But yeah, we were talking about military tents, so there was no seat at all. Just a bunch of papers and documents.
"I am Major General John Mason, commander of this base," He began, introducing himself. "What is your name and why are you here?" He said bluntly and in a very commanding voice, staring straight at me as he did so.
"Busujima Daiki, sir. I contacted the US army for shelter, bringing a virus sample with me. I need to bring this to Chicago to meet my contact, Minami Rika. Can you provide me with transportation there?" I replied respectfully, standing tall and proud.
The Major General was quiet for a few seconds. "Chicago? We haven't been in touch with them for 2 weeks. There is a big problem there."
"Problem? What problem?" I asked.
He raised an eyebrow at me and said, "Why should I answer that question? You're just a civilian. A Japanese, moreover. We have our secrets to keep."
He had a point there, so I said, "We know a lot of things. Maybe I can share that information if you tell me what is happening."
Hearing my answer, he narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
I could feel a tense silence between us, a thickening aura of hostility. If this was a movie, this would be where the suspenseful music would start playing.
So I continued, "Before arriving here, I found 2 Umbrella Corp's underground labs."
