Chapter 84: Lock and Load
Naturally, Sophia was not pleased by Rina’s words, as even an emotionless person could be provoked by Rina’s tone, which was extremely piercing. Rina was the type of person whose laughter was shrill and mocking, causing even the calmest to become filled with fury.
Still, she prioritized the task her father gave her and decided not to get into hostilities with Kaizer’s sister. This forbearance made Rina adopt a bored expression, realizing that she likely wouldn’t be able to easily provoke this girl.
"Alright, enough of that. You have met your squad, so it’s time for you all to deploy, as we are on the clock. Lock and load!" Commander Briggs interrupted them before they could become distracted.
The squad moved silently, grabbing their items and supplies before heading toward the hangar under the guidance of the adjutants on the base. The military aircraft waiting for them was a sleek, black VTOL transport that looked like the stealth plane from the X-Men, of which Kaizer couldn’t recall the name.
The ground crew in dark uniforms ran final checks, their voices sharp over the radio as they cleared the runway for takeoff.
Kaizer climbed up first, stepping into the dimly lit interior of the plane, noting that the inside was tight but well-equipped with rows of seats lining the walls, racks of weapons secured in place, and red overhead lighting casting long shadows.
Maria and Julia took seats near the front, strapping in with casual ease, while Sophia sat stiffly near the middle, arms crossed and lips curled into a frown. Rina, as expected, dropped into the seat next to Kaizer, stretching her arms over her head in a lazy manner.
Commander Briggs stood at the entrance of the plane, not boarding along with them as he gave them a firm nod. "Your drop point is just outside the city of Al-Rafid. Once you’re in, follow mission parameters. As for extraction, you’ll handle that yourselves as you have the means to return."
Kaizer gave a brief nod in return. "Understood."
With a final scan of the group with his sharp eyes, Commander Briggs stepped back, and the VTOL’s doors sealed shut. The engines roared with nearly invisible waves of force as the aircraft lifted off, pushing them slightly against their seats.
Through the small windows on the plane that were invisible from the outside, the group could see the base shrink beneath them rapidly, becoming just another fixture on the land below.