Arknights: Starsfall I

Chapter 3

"Clearing out the Woods"

Private James Ramirez

1st Battalion - 75th Ranger Regiment, now supplemented by the 3 BCTs of the 2nd Marine Division

October 31st, 2055

Outside of Liberty Hall park, Philadelphia

"Alright, we are here," The tank commander of Buffalo 1 called out, Hunter 2-1 dismounting as quickly as they could, for soon after, the M1A3 began to leave, and instead, a LAV-25 was going to support their push into the park. "Alright listen up!" Came Foley, "according to early intel about the area, it seems like the entirety of the park is Ground Zero. As such, all units, put on your CRBN equipment and get ready for insertion!"

Ramirez gets the gas mask and puts it on, loading his M5 again. Turning to Foley and the rest of his team, he flashes a thumbs up, "All good Sarge!" Foley patted him on the arm, "Then let's go." With that, much of the Marines and Hunter 2-1 began their push into the tree line, passing by the abandoned cop cars of the First wave.

Turning around, the group began to push into the tree line, being slow and careful. A few marines scouts were up ahead, scanning the area and watching the trees. "This section is clear... push up," Foley announced, 2 marines staying behind to guard the zone.

A few hooded assaulters began to come out, all of them armed with swords. They were screaming something that Ramirez couldn't put his finger on. However, what he did hear as a constant was "Reunion!"

A marine saw them coming and he pulled up his M27 IAR, "Are you guys kidding me? Smoke those gagglefucks!" Say no more. His M5 and the M27 of the marine rang out, sending bullets into their heads and bodies. As they flopped to the ground, Ramirez goes up to one of their bodies and observes them, noticing a lot of black crystals on their body.

This feels weird man... Ramirez silently thought, Being deployed to Philadelphia and for what..? Because some weird magic shit is happening?

A marine stepped by an abnormally large tree, lightly scraping against it.

That was a mistake for him, for soon, and unexpectedly, an axe came swinging down on his head. Foley and Ramirez backed up immediately, "It came from the big tree, light it up!" Soon, the tree shifted, revealing a chuckling, humanoid in tree camouflage heavy armor. He let out a roar as his axe goes and slams another Marine.

The marine that was hit let out a loud cry of pain, just before a storm of bullets began to shoot at the hostile. Stepping out, and stomping on the Marine's head, silencing him by sending him unconscious. Before the big man could do any more damage, his armor began to get pinged before being rapidly penetrated. Ramirez and Foley looked in the direction of their savior. The LAV-25 that was supporting them was shooting from a spot it had perched itself in, surrounding marine squads yelling as they began to push in.

The LAV-25 began to pierce through the forest, its 25mm Autocannon firing off loud, authoritative shots. The LAV-25 seemed to be using its HE-I belt in part because the Liberty hall is in the area and they do not want to accidently a damage it severely.

Meanwhile, another squad of marines began to enter the forest. Sending AT-4s into the Heavy armored foe, the HEAT weapon easily penetrates him and probably turned his insides into mush.

Soon, the armored man fell down, marines going over with their rifles to ensure that he was done and out of the fight. "Big fucker is done for! Push up!" A marine yelled out, Foley checking Ramirez and the rest of Hunter 2-1 to ensure that nobody was hurt.

"Ramirez! You're on me. Dunn! Take Carmen and Jonathon." Foley began to direct Ramirez through the forest, marines and the sounds of HMMVs roaring through the forest. The 2 split into different groups, Ramirez flagging the entirety of the tree line with his gun. "I got no eyes on Tangos, push up to Liberty hall!" he radioed to the entirety of the team, he and his unit slowly pushing forward.

"Crossbows?!" came a Marine, his voice laced with confusion, opening fire in a direction, Ramirez and Foley turned their goggles on and saw where he was pointing via his PEQ-10's laser. "What the fuck?!" He then got an arrow to his knee, "Aw fuck, CORPSMAN! I'VE BEEN HIT!"

"Ramirez! Take out those crossbowmen!" Foley couldn't hide the confusion in his voice as he said the order. Ramirez looked at where the laser used to be, before sending M203s towards the general directions.

Yells of terror and panic was his only tell that there truly was enemies over there. In response, he followed it up with a spray of .30-06. "Ramirez!" Foley called again, "Get your asses over in this direction, we got hostiles to burn!" Ramirez quickly rushed over, loading an M203. "I got an HE 40 Mike-Mike ready."

"Can't use it! Look what's up ahead!" Ramirez took a look for himself and groaned, "Fucking Liberty Hall itself!" The building, which seemed to have been vandalized quite a bit by these freaks, stood there, still proudly. "Get yourself in there and start manually cleaning the place up!" Ramirez groaned, looking at the LAV-25 and opening its back.

"Hey! You guys got any spare CQC Equipment that I can-" a shield, a Mossberg shotgun with Armor-piercing rounds, and plenty of flashbangs was sent his way. "Thanks!" He called back, taking the shield and loading the shotgun, "Ready, Foley!"

"Go go go! You're in front, Ramirez!" Ramirez held the shield out, looking through the ballistic glass. In his right hand, he had the Mossberg out and ready. Slowly, he began to lead himself and Foley into the building. As they opened the door, Ramirez and Foley began to enter. Ramirez having the shotgun's receiver peeking around the shield. "Enemy forward!" Foley yelled, causing Ramirez to slam a shotgun round into an enemy soldier.

However, as they pushed more inward, Ramirez suddenly felt an instinct in where all of this equipment wasn't necessary as Marines began to come in from all over.

Just as they cleared the last room, Ramriez looked at Foley who shrugged, "Damn, looks like we swept up most of them outside in the city."

"Fuck man..." Ramirez sits down and wipes his head, "I grabbed all of this for nothing?"

"Probably, sorry," Foley admitted, sitting down as well, before going to take a sip from his flask. After doing so, Foley tapped his headset, "This is Hunter 2-1, Liberty Hall has been re-secured."

"Solid Copy, Hunter 2-1, have you and your forces rest up."

"Copy," Foley said again, exhaustion leaving him, "Over and out."

Ramirez sighed, laying back, as more Marines began to flood in, "Damn... hell of a way to start Halloween..." the rest of the unit coming over to join them, still wondering what in the name of god just happened.