2022-06-24 12:05:25As soon as we approach the exit, a thick, black wall of smoke covers us. The planes above us are burning the field with fire. There are scattered remains of the planes shot down with the SAM turret, but the number is nothing compared to the army of planes on top of us.
- Mirai, what do we do?
- Open the arsenal and summon a Gas Mask. I will summon a Frost Gun to cool down our path, then we find higher ground.
We run through the thick layers of smoke. The cold beams of the Frost Gun help to extinguish the fire and cool down the temperature a lot, but it still feels hot. After we get out of the smoke, there is a forest in front of us to hide in, and we manage to get away from the bombardment, as well as reach the cliff. We get a clearer view.
- The SAM turret is very durable, but we need a counterattack plan. Yuusha, trigger the EMP device.
- Yes. - I take the EMP device out and activate it.
An electromagnetic pulse pierces the sky. The planes in the sky start to lose direction, and some of them are falling. Intruders emerge from the planes, holding weapons. Mirai takes out a plasma sniper rifle.
- Yuusha, you deal with the Intruders on the ground. I would be dealing with the flying units.
- Got it. Please send a signal if I need to retreat.
I hold my gun tightly, and I track the way back to the battlefield. Finding a good corner, I sneakily shoot down the Intruders one by one. Not long after I can kill some of them, the other Intruders notice me. About sixty eyes glare at me. Full of vengeance. My chest is full of laser-red dots.
Just when I think my life will end in the first mission, a missile coming from above flies past me. I can feel the heat, as vividly as my first-ever trial. The next moment, everything in front of me is blown up, and small pieces of dust, sand and rock shoot up in every direction, covering the field with smoke again. My spectacle vision lights up again.
- Yuusha, use your gun to kill the Intruders up close. They are technically immune to normal physical damage.
- Roger that.
I dash out of the hidden corner and approach the confused Intruders. I quickly take their lives with my last few loads in the magazine and retreat.
- Good job, Yuusha. The field is clear. We will retreat before further reinforcements arrive.
Utilising the time frame we secure from clearing their first wave of reinforcements, we have safely reached the plane, and we fly back.
- It will be another fifteen minutes, so I will just briefly summarize what we got for today's training mission. Firstly, we manage to identify more towers that we do not know existed before, and we will deal with them later. Some of them are in very remote places, such as this island, while some are in places that you would never be able to imagine...
And we get back home, not having any major injuries. Just a bit of scratch from the flying rock fragments, but I can treat it easily.
__________________
2050, Counter-Extraterrestrial Association Headquarters, New York City
- Lieutenant Colonel, an anomaly was detected at 26 degrees North, 142 degrees East, near the Ogasawara Islands area. Recently, our satellites near the region receive mysterious signals, and now all of them seem to suffer from an EMP attack, and temporarily stop working.
- Noted, Sergeant. Deploy Units 1 and 2 from sub-division 1, Asia branch to investigate the area. Concentrate offensive satellites Unit J1 to these regions in case things go bad. We have been tracking this entity for quite a long time already. Do not let anything escape!
This is the atmosphere of the Counter-Extraterrestrial Association, CEA, a government-funded multi-national association that has been protecting the well-being of humanity against foreign threats. Their headquarter majestically sits in the centre of the prosperous New York City, continually sending satellites, planes and signals across many more branches around the world. The office is a huge room, filled with all kinds of cutting-edge devices and control panels. Every minute, the clock keeps ticking, and officers run around, continue collecting more vital information, as if their lives depend on it. Literally, the fate of humanity also depends on them.
Lieutenant Colonel walks around the room, smoking a piece of cigarette, a satisfied smile on his face. He takes out a communication tablet, sending information regarding the traces of Intruders to other branches. Working nearly twenty years as a top member of CEA, he is full of experience, solving mystery after mystery. And this may be his next one.
- Everyone! Continue to work! Your blood, sweat and tears will pay off when we return the alien threats to their pitiful nest!
- Sir, yes, sir!
___________________________
- Yuusha, I have collated every piece of information into the Codex. You can read them anytime. By the way, dinner is ready. Just come down once you finish with your work.
- Mirai, sometimes, I just feel like you fulfil my life. With you here, I don't even feel like needing a girlfriend...
- Say one more word and this kitchen knife will be friends with your pitiful skull forever. - Mirai holds a kitchen knife in her right hand.
I should have programmed a "sense of humour" file and inserted it into her hard drive.
The evening is strangely peaceful. The carpet of moonlight covers every corner of the metropolitan city, lighting everything. The streets are so empty, that you hear the sounds of the evening breeze. I finish my work, shut down my laptop and have the dinner that Mirai has prepared for me. A plate with classic white rice, with some slices of finely cooked pork and a bowl of vegetable soup using the pork broth, simple but tasty. My past self is surely lamenting his unlucky life before receiving this package.
Following my perceptually sumptuous dinner, I have a good bath, just to get caught in Mirai's lessons about the Intruders' profile and the usage of items in the arsenal after it.
- Now, Yuusha. It is time that we seriously need to learn. Sit down.
Mirai waves her left hand, closing every door and window in my living room. The light dims to a somewhat dark yellow colour. The hologram of various types of Intruders is projected clearly from my three-dimensional television screen. Out of nowhere, she summons a long stick, as if she is a teacher. She points it at the hologram.
- Intruders are classified into many classes and ranks. Classes decide how they function, and ranks decide their power. This one, which you fought earlier, belongs to the Physical class and Soldier rank, which simply means that they do not have any special abilities besides hand combat and simple weapon wielding. However, they may outnumber you in real combat, so do not let yourself fall into that obvious trap. Any questions?
- Yes, ma'am. I have a question.
- Yes, Yuusha. What is your question?
- When is our break time?
Swoosh!
A metal stick flits past my forehead, and I can feel my skin burning from how fast the stick is moving in the air. It hits a ceramic plate full of fruit on it, and the moment the stick makes the impact with the plate, the clangorous cracking sound of ceramic covers the entire room.
- Again, any questions?
- No... ma'am...
- Ok, now, let me introduce to you different classes of Intruders. Physical class does physical damage, no abilities. The engineer class uses advanced technology to wield heavy mechanical weapons, which also have various abilities, but are focused on attacking. Engineer and Physical class will directly fight on the battlefield.
- Oh, noted.
- The technologist class assists the Engineer class with remote air assaults such as satellites and missiles. They are also in charge of maintaining weapons and devices. The scientist class works in headquarters, and they are responsible for utilising resources extracted from Earth and developing weapons. They can only do brain work, so if you manage to approach close to them, they stand virtually no chance.
- Yes.
- Lastly, the Commander class. This one Intruder controls the Intruder army on Earth, and contacts with other branches or the higher entities, which we have no clue about. They seem to have every stat abnormally high, so the only edge we have over them is caution.
My last few working neurons are begging for mercy, counting down before self-destructing themselves. As if I can survive this long to beat each of them.
- Ok, now, let's move on to the...
- Can we stop here? I need some time to digest this new information. - This time, I genuinely ask her to stop.
I hear a yawn from Mirai. Although being a robot, I see the apparent disappointment on her face. The screen turns off, and all windows and doors open.
- Haizz... This time I acknowledge that you are exhausted already, so get your sleep. We will continue the lesson tomorrow. - Mirai says and walks towards the charger stand.
I make sure that Mirai has received the power supply from the stand, and then I go straight to the bedroom. It has been very long since I graduated from my university, and taking lessons for a cause is still a pain.
The lights are off, and I finally get to bed, exhausted. Maybe I am exaggerating things. Is this brain work supposed to drain so much of my energy? No point thinking about it, anyway.
Previous Chapter
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A Backpack, a Gun and a Codex Author's Notes
Hi. This is Masunori_M_D, and welcome to A Backpack, a Gun and a Codex, a science fiction novel. Other elements are included, but it will revolve around science fiction as its main theme. Before I talk about anything, thanks for reading my novel, although it is just one or two chapters. As an amateur author, I sincerely value your reads, as the reception would help me improve my novel. For now, the first few chapters may be a bit boring. However, the story would (hopefully) be more interesting after about ten chapters. Let me guide you through our content until now. 'A Backpack, a Gun and a Codex' has a total of four arcs, named Training, Escape, You and I, To Where it All Begins, and Showdown. As of now, we are in our first arc of the novel. In this Training arc, we would have sub-arcs, which include the following sub-arcs. The content of the future arcs will be reviewed in the future. I) Training (100 + 7 chapters) 1) Introduction (11 chapters)
A Backpack, a Gun and a Codex Chapter 10 - Arctic Tactic (part 3)
2050, It is mid-November. The festive atmosphere of another Christmas has taken over every nook and cranny of metropolitan New York City. Roads are lit with a light blue colour, resembling snowflakes. Every corner, there are sounds of the bells jingling and the sound of excited people, talking to each other while holding big boxes of presents. The sense of business can be felt even more than a month before the real festival, as people rush to buy goods before prices start to spike. In the centre of the city, the headquarters of the Counter-Extraterrestrial Association sits majestically like a king. In the office room, Lieutenant Colonel is sitting behind the big screen, watching every dot moving on the digital world map. Numerous abnormal activities have been detected recently, mostly in remote areas, and there have been countless times that he and his comrades have received sudden calls at midnight because something has been found. The burden is not only on him but also thousand
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Chapter 109 - Project Tomorrow (part 8)
- Have you received their money?- Yes, but ultimately, they agreed on half the maximum prize. It was a huge compromise on our side, but better than nothing. The money was wire-transferred into my decoy bank account this morning. A few days have passed since the filming of the game show. I was told to do nothing, as Mirai would handle the negotiation. Details of how they met up are intentionally omitted when I ask her, but she agrees to disclose how the negotiation progresses. Nobody knew the exact location of the room, but it represented the interrogation room, except nobody was having the edge. As per Mirai's request, they only brought three people. In the middle of the room, there was only a poorly maintained wooden table, with two chairs on opposite sides: Mirai on one side, and the main negotiator on the other side with two standing guards. The room was small, and the only source of light was a loosely hanging lamp. Their negotiator initiated the conversat
Chapter 108 - Project Tomorrow (part 7)
With an abrupt gunshot, the screen that streams everything happening in the studio loses signal. Ali's face distorts and darkens: given how the strict protocols have kept the upper hand for him and the production crew, the incident is a surprise. He tries to contact the surrounding staff for help, but the electromagnetic interference system imposed on this room renders all his attempts futile. - I knew it! You have been the mastermind behind this scheme all along. Now we can legally arrest you for fraud...- I am pretty sure this is one of your operation blunders that resulted in a technical failure. On top of that, you have no grounds to frame me, and given how you said that everything I have to go through here is backed by the government, I wonder how this narrative would develop in case we see each other again in court.- Nonsense! As if somebody will trust the word of an ordinary person.- But how would you, the perpetrator, prove that whatev
Chapter 107 - Project Tomorrow (part 6)
So the production team does not stop at heightened security.- You don't seem surprised at all.- I know the production team will go all out to protect the hefty sum of a billion pounds. It is just a matter of time before you rely on drastic measures, but to go this far... So, regarding the fifteenth question...- We have plenty of time. And the moment you incorrectly answer the last question, it is all over.- What makes you think that I will get the final question wrong?- Of course not you, but him.- Him? The screen in front of me shows the footage of the studio. Everything is there: the dramatic lighting and sound, the audience holding their breath, the host reading the question, and the contestant furrowing while listening carefully to every word. Except the people sitting at the podium are not Ali and I.- The moment I first saw your assistant pushing you into the office for registration, I have already felt s
Chapter 106 - Project Tomorrow (part 5)
- Quick! Secure all exits of the television studio. Initiate first-level protocol. Focus security around studio 4-A. Hurried footsteps echo through the corridors and halls, as fully-armed police and military personnel impose a lockdown on the studio and check every nook and cranny for any intruders. The studio that hosts the game show is located in a fairly remote region near Cairo. As a national studio that produces most of the programmes in the country, its level of security is on par with a military base. The specific information of measures implemented is obfuscated to the public. Still, with some observation, one would realise that making any move within the studio needs meticulous planning from the most intelligent of humanity. As soon as every staff in the studio is mobilised, the girl starts to move. The trip sensors she installed throughout the studio have simultaneously triggered, capturing a huge movement.__________- The twelfth question is another
Chapter 105 - Project Tomorrow (part 4)
- ... and despite being the country with the largest area in the world, boasting up to eleven different time zones, Russia is surprisingly not the country with the most time zones in the world. In fact, it is France that claims the crown as the country with the most time zones in the world, with twelve different time zones ranging from UTC-10:00 to UTC+12:00! This is attributed to the fact that France has many territories worldwide, which also highlights their significant presence worldwide.- Wow, that is a very detailed description, although it may be difficult for the audience to grasp what you are trying to say. But yes, the correct answer to the country with the most time zones is B, France! Let us give another round of applause for the amount of wisdom this fortitudinous man possesses! With Mirai's assistance from somewhere outside the studio, we breeze through the first ten questions ranging in all sorts of topics and requiring countless hours every day look
Chapter 104 - Project Tomorrow (part 3)
- Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the thousandth show of the series "Who Wants to Be the Zillionaire?", a weekly trivia game show every Tuesday only available on Al-Hayat TV. I am your host, Ali, and today, to commemorate the thousandth show, the stakes have been raised. There are still fifteen questions, but each question is exponentially harder. In return, once the player clears all fifteen questions, he will win up to... A billion Egyptian pounds, approximately three billion yen or twenty million US dollars. That is ten years' worth of my previous salary or more. For thirty-three years of my life, I have never thought about this, because the odds of reaching the final question are as high as winning a lottery. However, with Mirai's help, getting the winning prize will be a breeze.- Let's welcome our player for today! Due to special circumstances, we will refer to him as T. Mr. T, please come in. The door to the game show arena opens., and I am immediately
Chapter 103 - Project Tomorrow (part 2)
- It has been so long since we last talked in person. So, how have you been? - Let's say, my past few years have been a mess. You? - Same on my side. You cannot imagine how difficult it is to live around that woman. - From what I see, she is a very intelligent and awesome person, no? I envy you for having such a partner. - It is because of that so-called intelligence you praise her for, that I do not even understand what is going on in her head. I have a better chance of winning a lottery than guessing her mood. We quarrel almost every day. - However, if you think of it, it is those days that you argue that make you appreciate the days that you two live harmoniously together. Of course, I cannot speak for you, because my marriage is very peaceful back then... - I think I have mentioned this before, but please do not compare our dynamic with a married couple. - You are overthinking, brother. Albert and I
Chapter 102 - Project Tomorrow (part 1)
2060, Sahara desert... Project Ashita... After the brief exchange with the Colonel-ranked Intruder named Lamabula, Mirai and I spent countless hours after the construction observation duty hours to devise a plan. After careful consideration, the seeds of Project Ashita are sown. Before introducing the project to the CEA survivors, Mirai initially hesitated, but she ultimately discussed it with Lamabula. Without a doubt, he burst into his signature, explosive laughter and rejoiced the moment Mirai mentioned the scale of the project, and willingly lent a portion of the base's space for the construction of the colossal battleship. So long as he deemed us subpar compared to the Intruders, he would continue lending assistance. However, the dangerous part of this rigged contract is that we do not know until when he would deem us sufficiently dangerous and suddenly cut all support. However, that has never been Mirai's concern, who can fight head-on with Lamabula, and whose distrust a
Chapter 101 - The Future that Bet Life to Believe
Counter-Extraterrestrial Association, Egypt branch, 2060, From the outside, it looks like a small stand-up comedy house within the bustling tourist area of Cairo. However, in the basement, its true form is revealed. More than half of the basement area is for equipment and vehicle storage, and in the corner, a hydraulic lift is responsible for carrying them to the first floor. Deeper into the basement is the meeting room. Around the table, Mirai and Wilhelm sit next to each other, on the largest seat designated for high-ranking officials of the CEA or important people. Then, Ernst, Gottlob, Arthur, Maric, and I sit on the remaining seats. At the centre of the table, a hologram depicts the images of the current situation. Under the table, each seat will have a mouse which resembles a ball, so anyone can freely rotate or zoom in on the hologram projection for better observation. - Thank you everyone for being here. Before we start the impromptu meeting, two more people wo
