They arrived at the Osprey a few minutes later where the Sergeant and another Private were waiting with a box of weapons. Steel saluted before joining them in standing around a holographic projector.
Then the rear door was closing and they were taking off. "Gather round, no need to take a seat, cadets. We are not having a rough landing." Then the hologram blinked on and an older man with a wrinkled face appeared in a green holographic light. "Captain Mendez. What mess are we flying into?"
"Sergent Cornwall, sorry to ask this when you are so short staffed but I need the Desert Dogs for a clearing operation. Latest scans indicate the Kitinol have adapted and are preparing a full assault against our current base on the continent we control. I need you and your squad to establish a new base quietly while we evacuate the old base." The old captain voiced out, his voice croaky from a lifetime of smoking.
"Understood Captain, we will clear the LZ and scout the designated area. Just get me the dogs I leased to Bird's Nest when you can." The Sergeant's response caused the Captain to laugh before he hung up. "Okay, Private Hand. Run our new Cadets through gun safety. Private Dave, get armed and ready." The Sergeant began by grabbing a rifle and magazines for the gun.
"Okay cadets, listen close. While on the Osprey or other transport, entering a combat zone you are allowed to prepare your weapons. That means loading your pistol with a magazine, it has three modes." The private instructed, with Steel being the first to pull his Pyre-21 and putting in a magazine. "Safety, Semi-auto, and single shot. When you are not firing your gun or cleaning it you should have it holstered and in safety." He then pulled a rifle from his back, "Next up are the standard issue rifles, meet the VE-15 Assault Rifle. You will be getting familiar with this rifle. It too has a safety and automatic setting. Keep in mind your ammo consumption and rate of fire." He then stashed his rifle and pulled out a knife. "But we are staying quiet for this operation, so get used to using the knife that came with your armor kit."
Steel picked up a rifle and looked it over before he set it to safety before loading a magazine and stashing it on his back where it magnetically connected to the armor. He then put two additional magazines in spots where his armor had spots. He was fully armed and armored, they were approaching their landing zone and it was not a drill or simulation.
He could feel his heartbeat accelerate and could feel the senior officers staring at them, Waiting for something, then he understood and took deep breaths. Each one was audible and the other two realized and followed his lead, breathing to calm themselves.
There was a hum from the Sergeant. They all felt as the planet's gravity began pulling them. They arrived in the atmosphere. Then the feeling of acceleration as the Osprey flew. Private Hand secured the boxes and armaments that were in the bay just as the rear door opened up.
"Welcome to the Desert Dogs of the Border of Downfall. Stationed at the Kitinol Offensive, but more importantly on the continent of G3 of Planet Waterswan-2." The Sergeant yelled as the desert and beige rock structures and dunes passed by underneath. "You heard the Captain, we have the grand privilege of securing an all new site for a base. This will likely be the most excitement you will see during this deployment." He explained as he stepped near to the offboarding ramp.
"Desert Dogs, this is your pilot speaking." A silky smooth female voice spoke. "We are going to your destination via low orbit, through canyons. We are expecting a smooth ride, but be prepared for jostling and jerking as we move through the canyons and avoid terrain."
There was a chuckle from Private Hand, "that means hold onto something. Our pilot is one of the best out there, but as you might be able to tell she has a voice on her that gets her in trouble. Used to pilot a Hawk before the captain got annoyed with her behavior."
Steel only nodded as he grabbed an arm bar. Holding himself steady as the ship began swaying, like it was dancing as the visual of the canyon as they passed through. The pilot was doing her own dance with the planet, if he was not feeling his stomach getting jostled he would think it was beautiful.
But it appeared that his expression gave it away to the Sergeant, "hahaha! Cadet Steel is feeling airsick. This is a first, never had a junior officer go green from airsickness rather than panic." There was chuckling and laughter from the other soldiers.
Steel frowned, "with all due respect sir. I blame the pilot, this swaying is making me sick. I am just fine under normal flight and operations." He complained as he tried to ignore the bile that was threatening to rise.
His words caused more laughter, "get used to it kid. This is nothing compared to a combat drop." Private Dave cut in.
"Understood sir." As the ship danced Steel felt the sickness begin to disappear and frowned, it seems the Sergeant was as equally confused until Steel had a thought. Then with another he pulled up his System information.
Compatibility Rating: S
Talent: Enhanced Perception
He had broken through all of his stat limits. It probably happened when he turned seventeen. But even more surprising was his compatibility rating.
He had heard it was possible for the rating level to change between ages sixteen and twenty-one. But he had never heard of an S rating. He would have to send a message to someone with a secure line when he got a chance. But it was clear what the benefit was. His stats would rapidly increase.
"My health stat has increased, sir." Steel answered the Sergeant's unasked question.
He grunted, "hell of a jump. But now the other cadets are starting to look green. The privates will look after them at the drop zone. While they do that you and I will scout the area. You train in stealth and scouting?"
"Yes, sir. Trained in both." Steel asserted as he felt the Osprey begin to slow down. "Are we looking for anything in particular or just window shopping?"
"Hahaha! Good response, we are window shopping." The Osprey then began to lower, "but keep in mind that we kill the small things and avoid anything bigger than yourself."
"Understood, sir." Steel kept his rifle on his back and followed the Sergeant by jumping out of the Osprey. Landing on the ground they ran towards a natural rock wall that surrounded the clearing. For a base it would act as a natural maze but it would also mean they were corning themselves.
But that was not for him to question, if this location was chosen then there was a reason. He followed the Sarge as they quickly moved to the wall. Pulling out his knife to be at the ready instead of a gun.
As they arrived at the wall the Sarge made two quick signals. One that said climb and another that motioned up. Steel nodded and quickly hoisted himself up the wall as the sarge covered the lower area. Once he was up he was looking around the area. There were a few bugs bigger than his boot but they looked asleep with their body retracted under their shells.
He looked down and made the signal for the enemy and signaled for him to move quietly. He then focused on the sleeping enemies while checking the area below them. Then as the sarge was moving quietly he saw something in the distance. If he did not know any better he might have thought he was seeing things.
A large figure in the distance, that he thought was a large rock formation, slowly moved. He stared for only a moment before continuing his rotational observation. When the sarge arrived it was with a raspy breath upon seeing the bugs he motioned making the signals for execution and quietly.
Steel nodded and walked to the closest shelled bug and flipped it over only to be surprised at the empty shell. He looked over to see the sarge just as mystified as he looked in a similar empty shell. Steel walked over and flipped another one. The same thing, an empty shell.
He looked to the sarge who tapped his helmet and broadcast to the rest of the squad, "Desert Dogs, check your surroundings we just found several empty shells. I am thinking they evolved to something bigger." As he spoke Steel saw it again, but this time it was a different rock formation that was moving. He blinked as he listened and felt the ground with his hand. That was definitely something moving. It appeared the Sarge could sense it too, he looked around and saw Steel nod in the direction of a moving rock.
The sarge stood straight up and Steel joined him. "Sir… is that?"
"This is Sergeant Cornwall to the Border of Downfall, please respond." The sergeant called out on the channel.
"Sergeant Cornwall, this is Captain Mendez, is something wrong?" the captain sounded surprised.
"Yes, sir. We have titans, at least two, possibly more. They disguised themselves as rock formations. There is likely other evolved Kitinol we have plenty of empty small shells down here." The Sergeant answered, getting a flurry of curses in another language in response.
"Apologies Sergeant, you and the Desert Dogs will have to assess the situation while we fire down pods and other instruments to do a deep surface scan. If we missed something in this area from our regular scans it means something is wrong with this region. But your original orders stand, you are to establish a new base in the area. Now you can change its location but keep in mind your new opponents as you move it." The Captain answered as yelling could be heard in the background.
"Understood sir, Desert Dogs we are moving to the top of the walls. Just move up here for now. Cadet Steel and I will find a proper base location." He then disconnected and motioned for Steel to join him.
Steel walked along with him as they walked atop the natural rock formations, glancing down into the maze of between the formations. "Sir, why were the titan's not noticed before?"
"No clue, likely something we did not notice was here before. We likely would have never noticed if it was not for the need to establish a new base. But I am sure that is not the only question you have. You have a question about your system?" The sergeant asked as they hopped across a gap of a land bridge between two rock formations.
"Yes sir, my rating increased but I have never seen this level of rating. There was no mention of an 'S' level rating. The highest is A and the lowest is F, with nothing beyond it." He spoke with confusion at his own rating level.
There was a chuckle from the Sergeant, "no surprise there. The existence of an S rating is classified to the highest level. I only know about it because of a stint in the intelligence sector. There are only a handful of them, each one is an exceptional combatant with no known upper limit. With that being said, do not bring it up to anyone else."
"Like I said it is classified, I will shoot a message to an associate of mine in the intelligence community. But until then you will have to operate without knowledge on what that rating means." The Sergeant explained before stopping and looking around. "This looks like a big enough plateau. Scout the perimeter while I scan the rock composition."