Chapter 38: THE FINAL TEST
(Antarctica 1, Antarctica, April 2134)
"What the hell?" Sean's mind went blank upon hearing Franz's words.
To put into perspective what they are facing, the 38th Group Army consists of the following:
4 heavy combined arms brigade, 1 medium combined arms brigade, 1 light combined arms brigade, 1 artillery brigade, 1 air-defence brigade,1 army aviation brigade and 1 logistics brigade. They are armed to the teeth with tanks, armoured vehicles, self-propelled and AI-assisted artillery, helicopters, drones and war robots.
There is also a Special Recon brigade under each Group Army. Such brigades are part of the units that form UNSSD's Tier 2 Special Operations.
To put it simply, a Group Army is designed to be a merciless killing machine.
As for the 814th Fighter Brigade, it is the unit that Artemis 7 "Vasily", the "star of Earth", is assigned to.
It's a given that the cadets are screwed big time.
Just then, a group of operators marched into the clearing. All of them have the shoulder patch of the UNSSD Special Operations Command, signalling that they are Tier 1 operators. The first group of 12 caught the attention of the cadets.
"Oh my god…" muttered Albert, recognising their unit insignia.
"It's f***ing Squad Artemis," said Clara, looking at UNSSD's most elite unit in admiration.
Sean looked at his siblings marching in, not sure how to feel.
Artemis 1 "Aya" led them in formation, giving off bossy vibes befitting of an Empress, a stark contrast to her usual "motherly-like" self. "That's the infamous Ice Empress," quipped Karl, saying Aya's moniker for her ruthlessness on the battlefield.
"Instructors Nanami-San and Maia are from Squad Artemis???" exclaimed Ariel in surprise finding Nanami and Maia in the formation.
Artemis 3 "Nanami" waved at the cadets with a playful grin. Artemis 11 "Maia" kept her smug face.
Sean found Artemis 2 "Frederica" looking about, scanning the cadets. He immediately hid himself behind Louis, not wanting his old partner to find him.
Artemis 4 "Meari" and Artemis 5 "Cameron", the other sniper duo in the squad, do not give a damn about the cadets, They are more interested in getting massages once the drill is done.
Artemis 6 "Liu Zhong" marched forward robotically, holding tightly onto his QJY-201 general purpose machine gun, really enforcing the stereotype of Squad Artemis being "living robots".
Artemis 7 "Vasily" is the only one among them smiling sincerely.
Artemis 8 "Walter" did not even look at the cadets, busy chatting away with Artemis 10 "Ethan".
Artemis 12 "Electra" and Artemis 13 "Atsumi" tried to join in on Walter's conversation.
"It's a pity that they are 2 men short," commented Vera.
Louis nodded. "One KIA while the other is at god knows where," he said, ironically not realising that Artemis 9 "Sean" is right behind him, and had been training alongside them for 4 months.
A holographic map popped up in front of the cadets. Franz started making references to it.
"You guys are role-playing as hostile forces. Your objective is to find a key installation of the 38th Group Army. Afterwards, guide ground-attack aircraft from the 211th Fighter Brigade to bomb them, and evacuate to the evacuation zone which is already labelled on the map in your Exo-suits."
"Doesn't sound too bad," thought Sean, "it's a typical operation for special forces."
Herbert handed the cadets a MRE each. "This is all of the food you have!" yelled Herbert. "If you want to eat anything else, you will have to DIY!"
"Also, the GPS and long-range communication devices in your Exo-suits had been disabled! All you can rely on are compasses and individual radios!"
"The evacuation zone closes 2 days from now, so good luck trying to figure out what day it is when the Sun does not rise here!" joked Franz.
Sean looked at the thin bag of MRE in his hand, sighing. This is barely enough for today's breakfast.
"One more thing," said Franz. "Our intake quota this year, is 28! We will also close the evacuation zone once we have 28 cadets!"
The cadets looked at each other, gulping. 46 of them are to be eliminated.
"95.4% washout rate," thought Albert after a quick mental sum.
"That being said," added Bryan in the screen. "All of you are still friendlies to each other based on the rules, keep that in mind."
Franz crossed his arms, "Now! we have medical drones and helicopters on 24h standby too! Once you feel like quitting or is in a life-threatening situation kindly pull your yellow smoke dispensers! You will be eliminated of course."
"Confident? " asked Xiao Tian, wrapping up.
"WE PROMISE TO COMPLETE THE MISSION!" yelled Clara. The other cadets followed her lead.
"We wish you all the best!" said Bryan. The instructors and soldiers in the clearing all saluted the cadets.
(2 hours later)
The cadets sat in logistics trucks, all dressed in Exo-suits in snow camouflage. They are being transported into the "warzone".
"Only 28 cadets out of 1000 plus cadets," muttered Ariel. "The odds are stacked badly against us."
"This is why the 9 of us are in this together," smiled Vera.
The trucks stopped, and the cadets stepped out, alert.
Just as they were going to move, a whirring caught their attention, and the next thing they knew, a 155mm smart howitzer shell came flying at them. It is designed to target the radiation signals of equipment, making it ideal to take out vehicles, and personnel with large amounts of electronics on them, such as Exo-suits.
The shells landed, taking out many cadets.
"TAKE COVER!" yelled Sean, the cadets split up, hiding in holes and ditches in the ice, securing themselves to the surface with ascension cables if needed, avoiding the shells raining down on them and exploding.
The explosions sent huge shock waves and loud booms all over the place, instantly heating up the frozen Antarctica weather around them. Even though the Exo-suits have built-in noise cancellation and shock dampeners, the cadets are still in severe discomfort, some on the verge of being shell-shocked.
They crouched in their ditch, activating the shielding to prevent their radiation signals from being picked up, intending to wait out the bombardment and then move on.
Fortunately, just as they had planned, the bombardment stopped. Sean raised his head from his hole, looking about at the smoking ice and the shallow, blackened craters left behind by the shells.
"Clear," he said. The cadets had all been bombed senseless and are shell-shocked.
The cadets moved alertly, finding a secluded spot that they can hide to regroup in.
Some of the cadets opened their MREs to eat. Erika and a few other cadets deployed their MANPADs, connecting them to an automated turret with AI-targeting system, forming a basic platoon level air-defence.
Just as the cadets are about to settle in, their anti-air missiles activated, firing and shooting down a recon drone, which fell from the sky, smashing into a million pieces as it crashed into the ground.
Sean's eyes widened in horror.
"WE NEED TO MOVE, NOW!" he roared, knowing their position is going to be exposed. The cadets immediately packed up, moving off.
"Judging from the speed of the data chain, by now the other recon drones in the area would have sent the coordinates of our camp to the stealth drone bombers, as well as sending our radar configuration data to the AEW aircraft which will then relay these information to other units," thought Sean as they moved rapidly on the frozen wasteland.
"Hence, an ARM missile will be eagerly charging at us with its arms open like a wife running to welcome her husband who had left on a long business trip..." thought Sean. A loud explosion erupted behind him.
A cluster of ARM missiles obliterated their camp. If they had been one second slower to evacuate, they will all be trying again next year.
The cadets ran, not wanting to be hit by the follow-up shots.
They are right, for among a few rocks far away from them, Aya and Squad Artemis are illuminating the moving cadets using lasers.
(In the air)
Vasily looked at the data chain uploaded into his SU-700 fighter in fighter-bomber configuration.
"Got them," he radioed his wingman.
"Gold 1 copy," replied Captain Harriet Ling, looking at the HUD of her F-130EX fighter. She is the leader of Gold Squad.
"Laser-guided," she said, looking at the target coordinates being sent live into the their cockpits "This means that there are operators near the cadets now, probably your siblings?"
Vasily laughed.
"Gold Squad remain in surveillance, Gold 1 and 2 move to attack, over," she ordered.
"Copy that," said the rest of her squad.
Vasily and Harriet broke off, flying towards the cadets. The night lights of their aircraft blinking brightly in the dark sky.
Once they are in range, they opened their weapon bays, selecting laser-guided missiles, following Squad Artemis' laser guidance.
"Rifle," both announced the brevity code for firing air-surface munitions, firing.
(On the ground)
4 missiles exploded around the cadets, eliminating some and forcing the rest to take cover.
To make things worse, a mechanized infantry company have arrived to ambush them. The cadets are caught in a 2 way cross fire as the armoured vehicles and soldiers, and Squad Artemis fired at them.
"IT'S TOO HOT IN HERE! FALL BACK!" yelled Clara.
The cadets immediately launched smoke grenades from their Exo-suits. Seizing their chance as the white smoke blurred them, the cadets immediately bolted, heading for the direction of the ice hills behind them, splitting up.
(10 minutes later)
Aya looked at the eliminated cadets being rounded up.
"Zone B-10 ambush completed," she radioed.
"How many eliminated?" asked Franz on the other side.
"How many?" Aya asked, shouting at Walter allying the numbers. He formed a 20 using his fingers.
"20," reported Aya.
Franz laughed. "Counting the 11 taken out by the howitzers, it's barely midday and close to half of the 74 cadets are gone."
"Keep pursuing," he finished.
"Copy," said Aya. She boarded one of the 3 air-dropped light all terrain vehicles assigned to Squad Artemis. These vehicles are unarmoured, but they are equipped with MANPADs, smart mortars and ATGMs. Such light, quick reacting vehicles with excellent load bearing capabilities and decent firepower are a favourite among Special Forces operators.
Aya noticed a Special Recon soldier rudely pushing an eliminated cadet. She generated a snow ball, throwing it at his head.
"HEY YOU OVER THERE!" she snapped. "BE GENTLE WITH THEM!"
The annoyed soldier turned around, his annoyance instantly fading when seeing the Ice Empress' glare.
Aya unloaded her custom built AR-style rifle, checking the magazine capacity. It consists of a L119A2 upper and a T91 lower, using a 4x optic with canted red dot sights.
Frederica is not in a mood to check her equipment. Her mind is in a mess. "Where's Sean?" she thought. She had not found him among the cadets at the clearing.
"Did he get eliminated?"
"Is he in danger?"
"Or...does he simply not want to see me?"
The last thought almost brought her to the point of tears, which she quickly suppressed.
"Achoo!" Sean sneezed. He, Karl, Clara, Eddie and Erika are hiding in an ice cave. During their retreat, Ariel, Louis, Albert and Vera got separated from them.
As evident by the friendly forces marker on his HUD, the 5 of them are the only cadets within a 3km radius.
Eddie's stomach growled. Due to the haste of their retreat, almost all of the cadets had dropped their MREs. Sean is among the few who did not, as he had not opened it to eat.
Consequently, all of the comrades are starving now. Sean is starving too, but he decided that he will save his MRE.
He noticed Clara eating something in a corner, using her combat dagger as cutlery.
"What's that?" asked Eddie, having also noticed it, eagerly coming over, only for him to almost vomit in disgust.
Clara had killed a penguin, and is eating it raw, as setting up a fire now will instantly expose their position in the form of light in the darkness, and the infrared signature will be detected by recon drones.
Seeing the horrified expression of her peers, Clara chuckled. "Relax, I gave it a quick one."
Sean gulped, raw penguin meat is not something he will eat considering its place in the Antarctica food chain.
The rest of the cadets shared his worries, with the exception of Karl, who had already drawn and sanitized his dagger.
He sliced off a piece, eating it, grimacing. After swallowing it, he turned to his peers.
"If you don't eat, you are 100% excluded from the 28," he said, taking another bite. "And I want to be 1 out of 28."
Hearing his words, Erika immediately ran over, taking a slice of penguin meat and wolfing it down. Despite being disgusted, she continued taking bites.
Sean sighed. "F*** this," he said, taking his dagger and heading over, while Eddie remained unwilling.
Sean looked at the bloody and fatty piece of meat on his dagger. He gulped. It is ironic that someone who can eat bugs is repulsed by raw penguin meat. He closed his eyes, eating it.
He retched at the horrible taste. It tasted like an odiferous duck dipped in blood and liver oil.
"Want one?" he asked, handing Eddie one slice.
Eddie grabbed it, hesitating, then dropping it into his mouth, swallowing it painfully.
"You gotta chew, you know?" said Erika.
Eddie nodded, painfully eating another piece.
After having a disgusting brunch, they prepared to leave, Eddie however, feels extremely uncomfortable from his disgust, unwilling to walk.
Sean put down his assault backpack, "Perhaps something sour can help," he said, digging for his MRE. "I got the tomato seafood stew."
Hearing his words, Eddie's eyes lit up, crawling over to Sean. "For real?" he exclaimed.
"Yeah, go ahead," said Clara sarcastically. "Eat his only reserve."
Eddie paused, instantly withdrawing back, realising what he is doing.
"I am joking," said Eddie, uncomfortably pushing himself up with his Ultimax 100 light machine gun.
"Are you moving or not? If you want to quit kindly pull your yellow smoke dispenser," said Karl.
Eddie pointed to his dispenser. "I'd rather eat it," he snapped. "Let's go!" he exclaimed.
Very soon they came into contact with another group of cadets. Their leader, a Captain, told them that they had intercepted a transmission signal from the 38th Group Army and managed to find the coordinates of their command base. He invited Sean's group to join them for the strike, and evacuate together.
The group of 15 climbed up an ice hill to figure out their position on their maps. Once confirming their route, they headed forward, using their compasses to guide them.
After an arduous trek, the 15 arrived at an ice hill, crouching down to hide, camouflaging themselves among thick ice.
The cadets looked at the camp below them, bustling with activity.
"It looks fake..." muttered Eddie. "There aren't even modular barracks! Just tents!"
"They want us to think this is fake, so they put the real one here," sneered the Captain.
"Fire a few shots, and we will find out," mused Erika.
The Captain nodded. "We do need to get closer anyway, here is not ideal for laser guidance."
"Move quickly—" the Captain's orders are interrupted by Sean.
"What if they want us to believe that they will put the real base in a fake base?" asked Sean.
"You said you guys cracked their communications, I think it's probably a trap now that I look at this base," said Sean, recounting his time as a Tier 1 operator and the tricks they like to use.
"Are you questioning the orders of a Captain, Master Sergeant First Class?" retorted Karl.
The Captain glared at Sean. "Follow your orders, soldier."
Sean stopped him again. "I suggest we—"
The annoyed Captain stopped Sean, reprimanding him. "Where's your discipline?!"
Seeing their tense attitude, Karl moved over.
"No need to frustrate yourself with this insignificant NCO," he mused, trying to calm the Captain down. "We need to be confident in our skills as officers, don't you agree?"
The Captain concurred, tapping Karl's Lieutenant rank plates.
"How about," suggested Karl, "I take my group of 5 and support you all from the perimeter?"
The Captain nodded. "If I were you, I will quit," he said to Sean, and he led his group of 10 forward.
It did not take long for a signal flare to pop out from the "command base" below. Armoured vehicles and tanks converged to the area.
"Yikes..." muttered Erika, realising that Sean is right.
"GG well-played! I told you it's fake," said Eddie.
"Our Special forces have successfully sneaked into the enemy's trap!" he continued sarcastically. "Our great Captain just led his men on a trip to the martyr graves!"
In the "base", the Captain's men are quickly surronded. He tried to put up a resistance, only for a crisp sniper shot to eliminate him.
"Tango down," said Frederica, cycling the bolt of her CS/LR-35 sniper rifle.
Aya walked up to the Captain, tearing off his number plate. "Sorry comrade, you are eliminated."
Squad Artemis then eliminated the cadet there, not giving them any chance to retaliate.
"Just as you intended?" asked Clara, realising that Karl had goaded them to their "deaths".
Karl grinned. "The lesser the competition, the better."
Sean felt a shiver down his spine at Karl's manipulations.
"Show's over, let's go," he said.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
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