Chapter 6: Sieg-Type Mecha
In Keiko's imagination, she would've had bread and soup for breakfast—like what she saw in her favorite American TV series that she used to binge-watch to kill time on her mission's break.
Unexpectedly, the nurse came with a standard Japanese breakfast that she used to have back in her world: a bowl of rice, a bowl of miso soup, an omelet, a slice of fried salmon, and some fresh pickles and vegetables for side dishes.
She looked around at another ward and realized that she was the only one getting such special treatment when other patients could only be satisfied with the bread and soup in front of them.
'Maybe, I get lucky?'
She didn't dwell too much on the matter and then took the chopsticks, clasped her hand while uttering "Itadakimasu," and quickly dug in, emptying the bowl and plate in front of her as if she hadn't eaten for a week.
'Woah... That's good food you got there…'
"Gochisousama…"
She put the empty bowl and plate back on the tray neatly and put them on top of the table beside her bed.
When the nurse quickly collected the dishes and left, she got out of bed, put on her camouflage uniform and military boots, ready to go to the South Bunker to find Lieutenant Valentine.
As she walked out of the military tent, the other patients gave her a military salute, which she thought was a bit similar to the JSDF's military salute. She remembered it in her heart and returned the salute to everyone with a smile.
It was just that she felt a little pain when her injured left hand, which was wrapped in gypsum and bandage, was accidentally nudged off from her action, causing her to slightly frown.
Keiko opened the curtain, and as she just exited the tent, her attention was instantly attracted to the scene in front of her.
She was quickly drawn in by the hustle and bustle of military activity outside the tent, which was one of many green military tents that were erected on the large gravel-paved open space. There were more than a dozen tents, arranged neat and tidy in two rows, leaving a wide passage in the center.
Around her, many soldiers were wandering about. Most of them were uninjured soldiers, in groups of two or three people, and some were in large groups of ten people. They formed a solid formation and strutted in an orderly manner. She also saw some officers on the side shouting some commands.
But none of those sights had shocked her as much as what she saw at the end of the passage between the series of military tents. There, Keiko saw a batch of mecha stationed neatly in rows in the spacious field.
Snowy walked along the gravel passage with a long stride. Along the way, the soldiers didn't fail to notice her and hurriedly raised their hands to give a salute. Although she wanted nothing but to quickly arrive at her destination, she still returned their salutes politely one by one.
Finally, after ten minutes of incessant greeting, she finally reached where the mecha were lining up.
She lifted her head up to take a good look at the massive and wonderful war machine. Her eyes crawled around the magnificent steel body, exploring its nooks and crannies. Keiko couldn't help but be fascinated by its beauty.
It had a humanoid shape and was painted in a green camouflaged color that matched with the army's uniform. This beast had a lean build without many excessive parts, making it look robust but not bulky, which reminded her of a particular mecha from one of the anime she had watched in the past that had the same name as the station she was currently in.
The mecha was equipped with machine guns on both arms, a howitzer on its back, and a huge scabbard on its legs, with an electromagnetic mecha knife stored in the scabbard.
"Amazing..." Keiko couldn't help but mutter.
She was surrounded by many soldiers who shared her feelings and animatedly discussed them with their comrades. Their voices weren't a bit quiet, so Keiko couldn't help but eavesdrop on their conversation.
"This is the Sieg Mk. 1, right? When I'm promoted to the Mech Squadron, I'll drive one of these babies."
"Yeah, all of the new recruits had already started their training with their new mecha, I'm so envious…"
"Tsk, try to imagine battling those disgusting Zerg with these war machines. Although they are the most common and ordinary mecha used by the Federation, they still pack some punch! What a badass! "
"So, this mecha is called Sieg MK. 1." From their conversation, Keiko had deepened her understanding of common sense in this world.
She noticed a large number of soldiers, fully equipped with the same exoskeleton she wore yesterday, boarding the cabin in the direction of the cockpit within the mecha's chest.
Those mech soldiers confidently stepped inside the machine and connected their powered exoskeleton on their bodies to several sockets in the mecha cockpit, which was then followed by a series of "click" and "beep" sounds.
After their position was tightened and secured, the hatch closed down and a buzzing sound echoed. Soon after, a beam shone from the mecha's eyes, and within five seconds, the four-meter tall humanoid war stood up, exuding a powerful presence.
Keiko was itching to put her hand on one of those babies and immediately wanted to experience the feeling of driving it.
Alas, she was still injured and her mecha was also gone. Furthermore, she didn't seem to inherit any knowledge about how to control a mecha from her predecessor. So, she could only watch those mech soldiers depart for their mission begrudgingly and let out a disappointed sigh.
The squadron advanced in an orderly formation with a uniform step, which obviously was a result of a solid and strict regime of training and drilling, heading towards the surrounding primitive jungle.
The one in the forefront stood out from the rest of the formation. Compared to the common Sieg MK.1, its appearance looked more refined and the weapons it was equipped with were more advanced.
She deliberately searched for the mecha's information using the bracelet ID on her wrist. This mecha was the Sieg MK.2, a mech that only lieutenant-level personnel were authorized to use. Her lost mecha was of this type.
When the leading mecha crossed the base's gate, her ears caught a strange hissing sound that reminded her of the sound produced when releasing the air from her car's tire. From the sound it produced, it seemed that the mechanism of the gate was quite similar.
Talking about air, Keiko suddenly recalled the fact that the atmosphere in the surrounding nature was heavily polluted and full of radiation.
Although in the past they had been facing the same problem, it still couldn't be compared with the air quality of this era. Even India, the country dubbed as the country with the worst air quality, would throw a white towel in defeat.
To be able to survive in such precarious living conditions, humankind had no other choice but to produce clean air by themselves.
Whether it was the main federal cities that she hadn't yet seen or the Sleipnir base where she was now, it was covered by a dome-shaped air filter that was not only able to filter and purify air but also shield the city from radiation and maintain its relatively better living environment.
But unlike a dome made of solid material that she was familiar with, this "Air Dome" didn't seem to repel other natural phenomena like rain, snow, or drifting sand. Even birds could come and go freely.
Keiko couldn't help but wonder about the specific principle of this "Air Dome".
Sleipnir Base was located on a hill with relatively sparse vegetation, so when she looked up at the sky, there were no towering trees blocking her view. She could clearly see the gloomy sky, shrouded by brown-colored smog and sulphuric dust.
Although the volcanic ash that covered the sky had almost dissipated due to extreme climate change, there were always more dark clouds and rainy days than sunny days, and the average temperature of the entire world has been lowered by nearly ten degrees.
Therefore, although it was summer, the long-awaited warmth never came, only the chill did.
Keiko saw from a distance a large bunker on the slope to the south, connected to the base fortification.
That place should be her destination, and Lieutenant Valentine is waiting for her up there.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
BigMarch
BigMarch Please support my story by voting, if it occupies the first vote position in WPC#251 leader board I'll do a massive release (at least 3 chapters at once). And if it wins the challenge (either silver or gold) I'll do a super massive release (at least 5 chapters at once).
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