Helmet tucked under his arm, Lariat strode through the armored door of the Senior Staff meeting room. Captain Flok—his superior in rank—, the recently promoted Captain Aida, Major Frida, and Lieutenant Sophia were already waiting for him.
He saluted with impeccable discipline, his jaw tight. Bringing bad news had become routine at these meetings. Behind the officers' table, the information monitor showed nothing but red indicators, as if the panel were bleeding... just like their hopes.
"Take a seat, Captain," Sophia said without looking up. "We already have your Aicom's report, but you know how this goes..."
Lariat moved to his place next to Captain Aida, who gave him a friendly smile. He sat down stiffly, feeling every muscle tense under the critical gaze of his superiors.
He had barely sat down when the power suddenly dropped. The lights went out. A couple of seconds of absolute silence passed before the room was plunged into gloom.
"Again..." Sophia muttered, putting a hand to her face. "Damn."
The lights flickered weakly. Finally, the emergency lights came on, bathing the room in a sick, orange glow.
"Give your report like this, Captain. Hopefully, the power will be back on soon."
"Aye, Lieutenant."
Lariat cleared his throat before beginning.
"Following Major Frida and Captain Flok's instructions, I led the Ariake squad to the point marked on the last incursion."
The lights flickered again. Everyone instinctively looked up. The monitor behind the lieutenant blinked briefly, projecting an incomplete image, before going dark again.
"Continue, please," Sophia ordered. Her neck and jaw had hardened. She tilted her head in a small spasm that lasted barely a second.
"We met strong resistance about ten kilometers from the objective. Aicom can provide the exact figures, but I estimate we faced at least two dozen type-one wolf beasts. Although we had the capacity to continue, I chose to order a retreat due to the possibility that we were approaching an active nest."
The power came back on. The lights suddenly flared to life and the virtual monitor unfolded behind Sophia, projecting the last fifty incursions. All records were marked in red. At the end of the list, a word mercilessly flickered:
FAILURE.
The emergency lights went out.
"Thank goodness that wasn't too long," Sophia said with a sigh before pressing a button on her terminal-wristband. "Aicom, estimate the probability of finding an enemy nest with the Ariake squad's data."
"Calculating, Lieutenant," the deep, metallic voice of her Aicom replied, filling the room. "Based on the radar and sensor data from all units in the Ariake squad and the battle's progression, the probability of encountering a type-one wolf beast nest is estimated at 77%. Furthermore, the probability of that nest being led by a type-Alpha beast is 90%."
Sophia bit her lower lip, saying nothing.
Captain Flok, a veteran seasoned by decades of service, seemed to take everything with an almost annoying calm. He raised his hand and, with the lieutenant's permission, spoke:
"A single squad won't be enough to reach the point. We've all tried..."
"Not all of us," Frida interrupted coldly.
Flok ignored her.
"...Almost all of us have tried. But none have managed to pass the ten-kilometer mark. Lariat made the right decision to fall back. Being surrounded by an active nest is certain death."
Sophia put a hand to her neck, massaging it slowly.
"We know, Captain... But how long have we been on this incursion? Aicom..."
"Two years, Lieutenant. Fifty-three failed attempts. No human casualties. The lost resources have been sent to your private terminal," the AI replied in her imperturbable tone.
"You heard it, and the screen behind me has been our witness for two years." Lieutenant Sophia massaged her neck with both hands. "The Joint Chiefs of Staff have started to doubt our division... and the General has a noose around my neck. I won't lie to you: I'm desperate."
Major Frida asked to speak while pushing her curls away from her face.
"With all due respect, Lieutenant... We must launch an attack with the entire division. It's the only option. I don't want to sound alarmist, but I heard a rumor that the Silver Wings Division is about to take the southern nest. The gossips say they found Vi-33 Victorius."
"Really?" Captain Aida asked, sitting up a bit in her seat, her eyes shining with surprise.
The lieutenant gave her a sideways glance.
"Calm down, Captain. What the other divisions do is not our problem. We have enough on our plate."
Lariat spoke without waiting for permission.
"This is the largest nest I've seen on record. Maybe even with our whole division, we won't be able to take it."
He activated his terminal-wristband.
"Aicom, with the data from the last incursion... can you estimate the number of units needed to take the nest?"
"Calculating, Captain..." the AI replied in a more natural voice than usual. "I estimate that at least three complete divisions would be necessary. Furthermore, the improvement of the antifreeze deposit system will be indispensable."
"Thank you, Aicom."
"You're welcome, Captain."
Everyone fell silent, looking at Lariat. Until Frida broke the tension.
"Are you planning to marry your AI like those failures?"
Aida let out a laugh, covering her mouth with her hand. Flok, on the other hand, looked at him with a mix of disapproval and resignation.
"Enough, let's not start that nonsense again," Sophia cut them off firmly. "And you, Lariat... get a grip. Being so friendly with your AI is... weird."
She cleared her throat before continuing.
"We will attack with the entire division. I'll try to get the 'Fiery Serpents' to support us. Although that wretched Flavia is going to make me pay for it dearly afterward..."
Flok intervened:
"Do you think the General will approve the operation?"
"If she wants this waste of resources and time to have any meaning, she has no other choice."
She stood up, serious.
"And remember: if I have a noose around my neck, so do you."
She walked toward the exit, but before crossing the door, she turned to Lariat:
"Tell the Chief Engineer to make the necessary adjustments. I heard you get along very well."
"As you command, Lieutenant."
Sophia gave him a sarcastic smile before leaving.
Only when her footsteps were lost in the hallway did Frida relax into her seat. She then put her boots on the table.
"Are you ready to wet your pants, rookie?"
Aida straightened up with dignity, a little flushed.
"I'm always ready, Major. I'll show you my worth."
Frida nudged the old Flok.
"Look at this kid... She thinks playing in the simulator is the same as the real thing. I can't wait to hear her scream in fear over the intercom."
The young captain gave her a sharp look.
"With your permission, Major. I have work to do."
She left with a firm step, without waiting for permission.
"You'll never change, Frida. Grow up," Flok said as he stood up with a slight groan. "We better get ready. I don't want to come back from this mission in a box."
"In a box? Do you really think we're going to recover your corpse, you smelly old man?" Frida retorted, laughing.
Flok ruffled her curly hair with a strong hand.
"Your jokes don't affect me anymore, kid."
Frida tried to get away, but the old man was still strong. She, though sharp-tongued, was thinner and shorter than the average for the Vulcanus forces.
"I'm your superior, you disgusting old man," the Major snapped.
"Look how I'm shaking," Flok replied before leaving. "Take care, Lariat."
"You too."
Lariat and Frida were left alone. In the background, the virtual screen continued to flicker with data from the failed missions.
"Want to go for a drink tonight?" the captain proposed.
"Are you paying?" Frida replied with a twisted smile.
Lariat stood up.
"Why do you ask if you never pay? Are you really my superior?"
Frida laughed unashamedly.
"It's part of my charm, Lariat. Giving your life meaning."
"Right... Let's go before I change my mind."
Frida got up with agility.
"Tonight I'll teach you to drink like a warrior. And not to socialize with artificial intelligences."
"Get over it, Frida. Aicom is more feminine than you."
Frida gave him a sharp elbow to the ribs.
"Insolent. I'm your superior."
They walked out of the room, joking, just as the lights flickered again, anticipating a new power dip.