Agent Is Not Expendable

Meanwhile.

Two UH-60M special transport helicopters, emblazoned with the red and white Umbrella logo, flew rapidly eastward, unaffected by the harsh weather.

The closest Umbrella military base to Saskatchewan Province was the temporary camp in Athabasca, Alberta Province.

Following the incident on January 27th, the town of Athabasca was acquired by Umbrella and underwent expansion and renovation by their engineering teams.

The Remover Company, led by Major Mikhail Victor, was stationed there.

In response to Agent Sean Patrick's support request, the first and second squads of the Remover Company were dispatched.

Twelve Removers were equipped with the AAES individual combat system.

The commander for this operation was Major Mikhail Victor himself, leading the team.

Inside the cabin of the UH-60M;

Six UBCS, including Victor, were seated.

They remained silent.

Some were adjusting their AAES, while others were checking their firearms, ready to clear any obstacles.

Soon, the pilot in the front communicated via headset, "Major, estimated arrival at the target location in thirty seconds."

"Understood."

Upon hearing this, Victor stood up and pulled open the sliding door on the right.

"Whoosh—!" Snow and ice immediately surged in.

Looking down.

The target area became clearer, and the helicopter rapidly descended.

Upon reaching the landing zone in front of the mine entrance and dormitory building, the two helicopters hovered.

"Alright you brats, jump!"

"Yes, Major!"

At Victor's command, a group of Removers leaped from the cabin without the need for rappelling ropes.

"Thump, thump!"

Twelve UBCS, utilizing their mechanical exoskeletons, landed steadily on the snowy ground.

"Swish-swish—" The downdraft from the two UH-60Ms stirred up a small storm on the open field.

"Major, we will circle above and conduct a search. Enjoy your hunt. Over."

"Understood."

With the conversation concluded, the UH-60Ms ascended and moved away from the ground.

Finally, only the Removers, organized into squad units forming two circular defensive lines, remained on the field, vigilantly scanning their surroundings.

Victor then contacted Sean via Umbrella's public channel:

"Agent, this is the UBCS Remover Company. What is your situation? Please respond."

"Crackle... crackle..." All that came through the communication was static.

Victor's heart sank. It seemed the deployed agents had been wiped out again.

He no longer waited for a reply, gesturing towards the open dormitory door and commanding, "Squad One, enter and clear. Squad Two, remain here and provide support as needed."

"Understood!"

Suddenly.

"Bang! Bang!" (Intermittent gunfire)

"Roar—!" (Howling of a Containment Object.)

"Boom!" (Grenade explosion.)

Before the Removers could act, sounds of combat erupted from within the dormitory.

A weak voice from an agent also came through the communication channel: "Fire... it... afraid... uh..."

Someone was still alive?

Victor quickly ordered, "Switch to armor-piercing incendiary magazines, Squad One, follow me into the building!"

"Yes! Major!"

Victor and five Removers rushed into the first-floor lobby of the dormitory.

They found the area riddled with bullet holes and bloodstains, along with two Containment Objects that appeared to have died from burns, and...

the dismembered corpse of an agent.

The cold air blowing in from the lobby entrance had caused the fires to subside, and wisps of black smoke emanated from multiple areas.

The Support Soldiers and Breachers quickly moved forward to inspect and report.

Support Soldier: "Major, the dog tag identifies the deceased Agent as Andy Clement."

"Bang! Bang!"

The Breacher fired several more shots at the two Containment Objects that were no longer moving and said:

"Major, the two anomalous phenomena show no signs of life."

"Good."

Victor didn't let Squad One linger, and they continued to advance.

As they passed a room still engulfed in flames, they confirmed a pile of ash and residue belonging to a Containment Object inside.

When they reached the turn in the stairs, they found two more burning corpses.

It was vaguely discernible that one Agent had chosen to detonate incendiary devices and grenades, taking the Containment Object with them.

The dog tag was severely damaged, and the Agent's identity could not be confirmed.

Afterward, the Obstacle Clearers used the defensive capabilities of the AASE and pushed upward through the flames.

The platform behind the second-floor stairs.

Breacher: "There's a surviving Agent and a Containment Object!"

As the point man, the Breacher loudly alerted his teammates while quickly moving forward, providing cover for those behind him.

Six Obstacle Clearers aimed forward in a fan formation.

A Containment Object was kneeling on top of a dying Agent, gnawing on the Agent's meagerly remaining right arm.

Although the Agent was pinned to the ground, he did not give up resisting.

Instinctively, he held a dagger in his left hand, repeatedly stabbing the Containment Object's left side, muttering, "Fire... it... fears..."

"Roar!"

At this moment, the Containment Object also noticed the presence of the six Obstacle Clearers.

It launched a rapid surprise attack towards the Breacher, moving in a frog-like hop.

"Bang bang!" Uniform volleys of fire.

The six Obstacle Clearers shot off all four limbs of the Containment Object with armor-piercing incendiary rounds, teaching it what it meant to 'stay put.'

"Roar-roar-" The Containment Object let out howls of pain and fear.

Victor: "Machine Gunner, Rifleman!

(Pointing at the Containment Object) You two pack this trash up for me!

Support Soldier, check the Agent's injuries and use bio-foam to stop his bleeding!

The rest of you, search this entire building!"

Everyone: "Yes!"

Victor commanded over the comms: "Squad Two, search the vicinity and see if there are any more anomalous phenomena!

The technical department and reinforcements may be a while yet, so get to work before then!"

Squad Two: "Yes!"

In the following period, the Obstacle Clearers, with the cooperation of the arriving support troops and technical department, completely sealed off the Blackwood Mountain area.

After a large-scale search, a cave connected to the mine was discovered beneath the dormitory building.

There were a large number of human remains inside the cave.

The technical department pieced together the scattered remains and confirmed that there were eleven victims.

Armed personnel also discovered the remains of four high school students nearby, confirming that there were only five Containment Objects in the Blackwood Mountain area.

The sole surviving Agent was identified as Adam Gale.

Due to uncertainty about how the Containment Objects transform humans...

The four Containment Object corpses, the four high school student corpses, the two Agent corpses, Agent Adam Gale, and the surviving Containment Object that was 'packed up' were all escorted by the Obstacle Clearer Company to Containment Center One.

The researchers at the containment center were also unable to determine the method of infection or transformation of humans.

Therefore, the head of the containment center, Captain Auston Lance, made an exception and asked Number 049 to assist with the analysis.

The possibility of surviving Agent Adam Gale having no mutations has been finally confirmed.

Containment Center One has classified this type of Containment Object as Euclid and implemented corresponding precautionary measures.

This is the first time since the company's establishment that only Agents have been responsible for eliminating four Euclid Containment Objects.

The three Agents in the town of Deschambault Lake proved through their deeds that Agents are not expendable, but rather the backbone of the company.

The content analyzed with the assistance of Number 049 is pending unlock.