Chapter 167 – Updated Later
"So, around 90 years ago, both of us aren't exactly set on the sa path. Let's just say that we're enemies to each other. Our assignnt is to retrieve Mayor Heren from Ukraine border. Her place crashed while carrying classified container codenad 'Lobaev'. Rember this container, this will co up later," Lara said.
"And our assignnt is to retrieve Mayor Heren before the Russians found them and retrieve the classified container. This Lobaev was a container attached to a pylon in a Su-27SM3 fighter jet," Mcnamara said.
"Mrs. Heren is Arican, isn't she?" Del asked.
"Yes, but her alias is Zoya Orlova. Major Zoya Orlova to be exact," Lara comnted.
"Have you gotten the idea where we are coming from?" Mcnamara said.
More or less, he had an idea. One was working for Russian Federation while the other was working for United States. Both used to be enemies, but they worked together now. Still, it didn't explain how they ended up in there.
Still, it was safe to assu that one was from CIA Special Activities Division while the other was from FSB Spetsnaz. They were the field agents, judging from how they operated. Let's just listen to what they had to say.
"So, I will assu that you all t at the Ukraine border region. What happened then? You two broke inside of a firefight?" Del asked.
"Correct, they shot us and we shot back," Mcnamara said.
"Or vice versa," Lara comnted.
"Whatever, so, this Lobaev thing. It bursted open during the fire fight," Mcnamara said.
"And it created an energy field that teleported us all into this unknown place. When I said all of us, I ant all of us, the whole two squad got teleported into the sa place. Now, imagine this, you have twenty four people that were fighting to death previously and now just standing in the sa place in the middle of nowhere."
"I can only imagine," Del comnted. If he and Eric suddenly got teleported to nowhere, he would definitely end up in a fight against him. However, the situation might be much more conflict since it was between two countries that basically disliked each other.
"Yeah, Lara put the tip of her pistol to my skull around that ti," Mcnamara added.
"After you put your pistol on Grekov's head, of course, I'd do that," Lara said.
"So, what makes you two co into realization that this wasn't the ti to argue or fight each other?" Del asked.
"Automata, let's just say, a creature of unusual anatomy. Bunch of them ca in horde and we fought our ground together. They fought us with fireballs, electrical spear, but we managed to stand our ground. We don't even know where they were coming from. We weren't exactly landing on Ilbistirum terittory," Mcnamara said.
"Ah, so that's how you ended up in here, huh? After that, what did you two do?"
"After we ford a temporal truce, we realized that we were teleported into a place which you'd call an ancient site. Of course, it was another long battle, and miraclously, we suffer zero casualty. As a result, we have a partial control over the ancient site and uses it to our advantage for five years," Lara explained.
"Five years?"
"Yeah, we grew our crops there, we use ammunition scattered around the armory of the site and use the technology scattered around that site. That ancient site beca a joint self-sustainable base for both of us. Until…"
"Until what?"
"Until a ship approached our island," Mcnamara said.
"What kind of ship?"
"Airship."
"Ilbistirum Airship?"
"Correct."
"How did you all shoot it down? The last ti I tried to do that, I need a gunship to do that, and that's to deal a smaller one. What kind of weapon did you use to deal with it?" Del asked.
"We don't deal with it. The ancient site is equipped with a SAM site. So, the SAMs shot them all down and we captured those Ilbistirum people. Keep in mind though, Del, this is Ilbistirum before the revolution. Those soldiers were hungry soldiers and fighting just because they were told to fight, not because they really wanted to fight for their country," Mcnamara said.
"What did they do?"
"We put them inside of the prison, give them hot als three tis a day and a comfortable bed. Not long after that, they joined our ranks as maintenance staffs."
"Maintenance staffs? How many of them were available?" Del asked.
"Let's just say, enough. Maybe three or five survivors. There weren't too many of them since the aircraft crash was catastrophic. Nevertheless, they told us the existence about this godforsaken country and we ca here."
"Ah, how did you co here?"
"We salvage the parts of the airship that we can salvage and fly there. The airship didn't last too long of course, that thing was a piece of crap," Heren comnted. "It was not airworthy at all."
"I see. What did you do here?" Del asked.
"We started a revolution, long story short, we are basically the force that separated Ilbistirum in half. We just didn't like how the current status quo manages its military and its people. So, we brought a revolution, and it worked so well."
"Worked so well? You haven't taken half of the other territory as far as I'm concerned. Why do you say that you have successfully taken over Ilbistirum?" Del asked.
"Because military industrial complex simply works well. Look, Del, like it or not, this country is fueled by war. For every single tank destroyed, you need one more. To make a tank, you need a factory, a worked, an educated worker, and money. You created new jobs and new opportunities at the cost of peace, but you can't argue that this was the main cause of fast technological revolution in Ilbistirum."
"I… am speechless. Well, if that's for the best, I think I won't comnt, I guess?" Del wasn't sure how to react to that statent. But yeah, Ilbistirum had been growing pretty rapidly as far as he was concerned. "About the gas attack, were you aware of that?"
"We were aware of it. In fact, we warned the generals to be careful of it, but apparantely, the departnt of defense ignored our warning and forgot to supply the troops with gas mask," Mcnamara comnted.
"So, why would they employ incompetent generals?" Del asked.
"Politics? Or the fact that we recruit the competent military personnel to our ranks that all that were left were the incompetent one. Look, this war economy couldn't continue with competent generals."
"How so?"
"You might not believe it, but Ilbistirum Federation could steamroll the Ilbistirum Empire in less than two months, especially with our more advanced hardwares. We have to keep the money coming," Lara comnted.
"Ok, ok, I think that's more than enough for . So, what is your intention coming here? To recruit , or what?" Del asked.
"To recruit you, of course. We are interested in putting you into our ergency task force considering how you managed to pass the test and survive several encounters in your life. I'm talking about everything that you have done, including your experience outside of Ilbistirum," Mcnamara said.
"How long have you all stalked ?"
"Let's say, ever since I have a report of guns users outside of Ilbistirum? Cassandra might not know it, but you have been put under our microscope for a very long ti."
"Why would you need ? You can manufacture ammunitions on your own, can't you?"
"Ammunition? Yes. Guns? No. Planes? No. Helicopters? No. Cruise Missiles? I hope so, but no. The ancient site fabricator doesn't allow us to produce anything more than foods, comfort items, and other anities."
"Ah, you want to beco your arms dealer? Ok, I get it. Sure, I'll join your group, I ant, why not? Having an ally or two won't hurt, especially if your ally is the director of foreign intelligence."
"And internal security," Lara added.
"You're the director?" Del asked.
"No, I'm a vice director, Mikhail is the director."
"Where's he?" Del asked.
"In the base, waiting for you."
"Alright, shall we go there?" Mcnamara stood up from the desk he was sitting on and grabbed his M4. He looked at the watch on his hand. A hologram appeared from it and he disappeared into thin air.
"Where did he go?" Del asked. "Was that a teleportation device?"
"More or less?" Lara held Anna's hand and she looked at her watch. She and Anna disappeared into thin air.
The rest of them disappeared into thin air and all that was left was him and Heren. "C'mon, Del, let's get to our base, you'll love it there, I promise." She looked at her watch and they disappeared into thin air as well.
The trip was weird. He felt as if he was moving towards the darkness and he suddenly landed on top of a concrete floor. He then realized where he was. He was standing on a tarmac. "Welco to the base.." Heren greeted him.
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