-2: 66
Although it had taken a while to get to the 5th Weapons Depot on foot, since we had a jeep and a clear shot back due to the Raptures avoiding us, it only took a few days to return to the Outpost.
But when we did...
"Wow." I slowly parked the jeep outside the recycling facility and took a look around. "A lot happened here, huh?"
The Outpost, once an abandoned and run-down fortress that was routinely attacked by Raptures and barely on the verge of operation...
Now it was a complete and sprawling metropolis. Ten kilometers of lively activity.
It was all Nikkes though. Still, that meant it was filled with beautiful women, which made it pretty much every man's wet dream...
Not me though.
At least, not really.
I was currently experience firsthand what it was like to have the affection AND attention of multiple competent, beautiful, and doting women. And I was drowning in it, sooo hard pass.
"Commander!" A mass-produced Soldier EG Nikke jogged over, her crimson hair fluttering behind her. "We finally meet again!"
"Huh? Oh! You're the one who was guarding the elevator, right?" I turned off the car and hopped out. "Nice to see you again. Guess you got reassigned here?"
"Yes! Happy to be of service!" She glanced at the trailer and said, "Should I get some of my friends to help unload?"
"If you don't mind. Just move it to the recycling center."
"Understood!" The Soldier EG model pulled out her phone and started making some calls.
Since that was the case, I picked up Marian, sweeping her up in a bridal carry.
Marian giggled. "Do I finally get me time, Commander?"
"Mmhm." I kissed her cheek and then looked at the others. "You're dismissed, guys. Feel free to relax or do whatever. Ah, but stay out of the Ark for now, will you?"
Laplace and Drake stumbled out of the jeep, leaning on each other.
Laplace sighed. "I'm going to go check in with Maxwell... then sleep..."
Drake nodded. "I think even a villain needs some proper rest... See ya..."
With that, the two members of Matis walked off.
I watched them go and then glanced at Rapi. "Uh... Do you think they're fine?"
Rapi chuckled. "They got to have fun and didn't have anyone nag them for their antics the entire time. I think they'll be fine, Commander."
Rose hopped off the trailer and stretched. "This place seems peaceful... I'll be off then."
"Sure thing, Rose. Oh, Rapi. Could you get Rose a phone?"
"Of course, Commander."
Rose smiled at Rapi. "Ah, yes. A phone would be useful to keep in contact. It's been quite some time since I used one, however..."
"I'll teach you."
Like that, Rapi and Rose left.
That just left Suri.
She looked at me and shooed me away. "Go spoil Mari already, you villain. I'll keep an eye on things here to make sure it's packed away properly. Just remember to spoil Anis later too."
"Got it. And you're a good friend to her, Suri."
Suri snorted. "Friend? To Anis?" A strange expression crossed her face and she shook her head. "No, we can't be friends. But we're good coworkers, and we can be concerned about each other, right? Now, get."
Marian reached up and kissed me. "Mmhm. Take me away, Commander. You owe me a few days of 'cuddles.'"
I chuckled. "Fine, fine. Let's get going, Love."
===
[Brave Squad Group Chat]
Rose: Hello everyone. My name is Rose. I've recently been recruited by the commander. A pleasure to meet you.
Anis: COMMANDER?!
Rapi: It's okay, Anis. Rose is fine with the minimum.
Rose: ;) No worries. I don't plan on stealing the commander from anyone.
Suri: She's fine, Anis.
Nami: Oh! @everyone Anis and I will be busy for a while. We're going to throw a concert to cheer up the Ark!
Neon: CONCERT?! WHEN?!
Endless: Is now the time for such an event?
Anis: Riss! We haven't even told the commander yet!
Suri: ...Riss?
Nami: A-Ah. Yes. It's... me. Yoyo, right?
Suri: ...Ah. I guess I wasn't the only one who got lucky. Should've known.
Nami: ...
Rapi: Let's not make the chat too heavy.
Neon: Yeah! Firepower away!
Neon: Oh! Speaking of firepower, I got an upgrade! Now I'm overspecced~
Rapi: What?
[Red Hood has joined the chat]
Red Hood: Yo! I finally figured out how to log in!
Rose: Oh, another member of the team? Hello, I'm Rose.
Red Hood: Rose? Wait a sec- Aren't you Scarlet's older sister?!
Rose: Pardon?
Red Hood: You even react the same!
Rapi: Wait. Red Hood, you mean Rose is...?
Red Hood: What, you didn't realize it? Don't you have my memories?
Rose: I am... extraordinarily lost...
Anis: Okay, time out. First, @Rapi how did the mission go?
Rapi: Mission success. We reclaimed the 5th Weapons Depot.
Neon: Oooooh! Does that mean we can make MORE firepower!?
Rapi: ...Yes. We reclaimed quite a few crates of Goddessium and various equipment.
Anis: CRATES of Goddessium?
Suri: Yeah. We've got... Well, the girls have counted 9000 crystals so far and we're not even halfway through. That's not including all the Goddessium we left at the site.
Anis: Holy cow!
Neon: Holy pig!
Nami: Oh my!
Red Hood: :whistle: That's more than even we saw back in the day. Betcha that's enough to make us all sorts of cool things, huh?
Endless: Affirmative. That amount would be sufficient to make another frame of my caliber.
Anis: THAT STRONG?!
[Sophia has joined the chat]
Sophia: Mine. That Goddessium is going straight to my research.
Rose: And who's this? My name is Rose. You are?
Sophia: Goddess of wisdom, developed by Creator.
Rose: ?
Anis: Ugh. She's an AI that Commander made from scratch or something. Scary smart.
Endless: I am superior.
Sophia: For now.
Endless: You are Sophia. I am Endless. The difference is stark.
Sophia: Well, I'm Stark Enterprise.
Endless: ???
Sophia: XD
Neon: Endy, fighting!
Rapi: Can we please focus...?
Anis: Where is Commander anyway?
Suri: Pampering Mari. She was pretty sick on the way back. Nauseous and everything.
Anis: Ooh. Maybe she has PTSD from the airship crashing.
Rapi: It's possible. Or it's commander's driving...
Suri: Our commander DOES love to speed...
Neon: Wait, Anis! What was that about a concert?
Anis: Oh yeah! I'm taking a personal leave for a bit. Could you tell the commander I'll be in the Ark for a while?
Rapi: That reminds me. Anis. Commander said to avoid the Ark for a while.
Anis: Huh? Why?
Sophia: If you're going to the Ark, stay inside Tetra Line's controlled territory and go in groups. In fact, have Endless escort you.
Endless: Agreed. I shall convene with Eternity to have her escort as well.
Anis: What's the big deal?
Rapi: Anis. We have permanently reclaimed a structure and an area roughly 50 km in diameter around the 5th Weapons Depot. We have also set up various outposts and a makeshift road along the way. Consider the implications.
Anis: ...No way. Really? You mean...?
Neon: Humanity's winning back the surface, Baby!
Endless: (^_^)
Rose: That's a strange thing to think about... I hadn't even considered that fact.
Laplace: Hahaha! Yes! Due to the heroic efforts, we have permanently secured a foothold for humanity!
Drake: You mean due to our Villainous efforts! Kyahahaha!
Maxwell: Could you two be serious for once? Also, what's this I see about reclaiming a weapons depot?
Rapi: ...Alright. I'm sending everyone the proper briefing. It'll be easier than repeating information here and flooding the chat.
Rapi: Sent. Please check your mail.
Rapi: That aside... Neon. What was that about an upgrade?
Neon: OH RIGHT! I'm now NOVA Neon! I can shoot plasma from my hands! And I'm invincible!
Rapi: ...What?
Red Hood: Oh yeah, she's legit, Rapi. We threw all sorts of stuff at her.
Neon: I can crush Raptures with my barehands!
Rapi: ...Just what have you all been up to? And Red Hood, please stop attempting to blend in with slang...
Hana: Well, I've been playing this fun game called Doki Doki Literature Club. The student council president DOES look a lot like me. I can see why Commander called me Monika.
Neon: *gasp* HANA! You're alive?!
Hana: Of course I'm alive. I've just been in my room since we're not busy. That, and organizing things since Nami left for the Ark.
Nami: T_T
Nami: Sorry Hana...
Rapi: @Rose Welcome to the Brave Squad...
Rose: Hahaha. I'm enjoying it. Thank you. Glad to be here everyone.