About three hundred meters southeast of the mining company's stockpile yard lay a stretch of low hills. Their slopes were gentle, little more than a series of rolling ridges, but the hollows and gullies between them were deep enough to make perfect hiding places for troops.
And there they were.
Just as dawn was beginning to break, five green-skinned players clad in red CMC Powered Combat Suits crept into the area. The right shoulder plates of their armor bore the markings "Black Cat-076" through "Black Cat-080."
"!!"
Immediately afterward, the captain, "Your Most Sincere Listener," raised a clenched fist to signal his team to halt and stay alert. After listening carefully for a moment, he spoke through the guild's private combat channel:
"Commander!"
"This is Squad Fifteen. We have arrived at the designated ambush position. Awaiting instructions!"
Almost instantly, the voice of the Black Cat Knights' commander came through the guild channel in the five warriors' CMC Powered Combat Suit headsets:
"Received!"
"Hold position up ahead and await further orders from the commander!"
"Over!"
Hearing that, Your Most Sincere Listener, the captain, plopped down on the ground, letting the rear armor of his CMC Powered Combat Suit slam against the gravel with a dull clank. He then opened the bulletproof glass visor and faceplate, taking a deep breath of the strange-smelling fresh air of the wasteland.
"All right, everyone, stand by!"
"Damn!"
"We finally made it!"
"Marching over a hundred kilometers in this armor is downright murderous!"
While signaling for his teammates to relax, he could not help but start complaining himself.
Then, he lowered his head and took out a can of military drink from the tactical pouch at his waist. With his thick fingers wrapped in armored gloves, he clumsily hooked the pull tab and yanked hard.
Pshht!