Ch 6: Departing

After grabbing a quick meal, Emrys returned to his room. It was a small but clean room with a simple bed, a desk, and a chair. The walls were plain, and the only window looked out over the busy military camp. He could see soldiers moving around, and the sound of machinery filled the air. Every one of these soldiers was Espers.

Emrys sat on the bed, staring out the window for a moment, thinking about everything that had happened. Just a few days ago, he had been in the City of Xiye, training quietly with no idea that his life would change so fast. Now that his parents were no longer with him, he was also chosen to enter the Combat Division. He was now in the Sixth Line of Defense, about to go on his first mission with the 30th Suicide Squad.

He lay back on the bed and sighed. His mind was full of thoughts.

Meeting Korin, Lira, and Rian had made him feel a bit nervous. They were all so strong, much stronger than him. But their words had given him a bit of hope. Thinking that he could help his team greatly in the next mission made him happy.

Even he knew that fighting and gaining experience was the best way to become stronger.

After a while, Emrys closed his eyes, trying to sleep. But sleep didn't come easily. His thoughts kept drifting back to the mission. He wondered what kind of dangers they would face, and whether his ability would really be enough to help the team.

Eventually, exhaustion took over, and Emrys drifted off into a light sleep.

The next morning, the sound of soldiers moving around outside woke him up. Emrys sat up in bed, rubbing his eyes.

Today was the day. The mission would start soon.

He got dressed quickly, wearing the standard military gear Jerek had given him yesterday before showing him where he would be staying. It felt strange wearing it, but it also made him feel like he was part of something bigger now.

After getting ready, Emrys stepped out of his room and headed to the meeting point. The rest of the 30th Suicide Squad was already there, waiting for him. Jerek, Korin, Lira, and Rian all stood together, talking quietly. When they saw Emrys coming, everyone smiled at him.

"Morning, Emrys. Are you ready for the mission?" Jerek greeted him with a nod and directly asked the question.

Emrys nodded, feeling a bit more confident now. "Yes, sir. I am ready."

"Good. Let's head out then. We'll immediately leave to complete our mission." Jerek said with a small smile.

With that, the 30th Suicide Squad gathered their gear and walked toward a military jet that would take them to their destination. Emrys felt a mix of excitement and nerves as he followed them.

This was it.

This was the start of his journey as part of the Suicide Squad.

As they boarded the jet, Emrys took a deep breath and looked around at his teammates. They were all experienced fighters, and he knew he had a lot to learn from them. But he was also determined to do his best. No matter what challenges lay ahead, he would not be afraid and fight with his life on the line. After all, those creatures from myriad races were all aliens who wanted to invade this world that was once called Xyron. But now, it was only known as the Broken Star Alliance.

The jet's engines roared to life, and soon they were flying in the sky. The 30th squad only had five people in their squad, and all of them were heading deep into enemy territory. No one knows whether they can come back or not.

This is how the military works in the Broken Star Alliance. Once a mission is given, you have to either complete it or die trying. You must not fear or step back, otherwise, it'll not only bring shame to you and the Broken Star Alliance, but it'll also bring shame to all those people who sacrificed their lives just to hold on for one more day.

Emrys does not know why the Suicide Squad only has five members including him, but he didn't ask. He just has a feeling that something terrible must have happened before his enlistment which resulted in only four people remaining in this squad. He also guessed that their mission this time must be related to what resulted in the 30th Suicide Squad's mission this time.

Emrys glanced out the window, watching as the landscape below changed from protected areas to dangerous unknown lands. The further they went, the more dangerous the land below became. Very soon, areas controlled by enemies come into view. These areas were such that there were no safe places.

Emrys felt a nervous excitement in his chest. He had never been this far from home before, and now he was on his way to face enemies he had only heard from someone or read about them in textbooks. He glanced at his teammates. Korin was sitting with his eyes closed, resting before the mission. Lira was quietly checking her equipment, making sure everything was ready. Rian was typing on a small device, likely preparing for the tech part of the mission. Jerek was calm, his eyes sharp as he watched the skies ahead.

After a while, Jerek stood up and spoke in a clear and steady voice, "Everyone, get ready and pay attention. We are almost there. Remember, stay alert."

Then he turned to Emrys and continued to say, "Emrys, rely on your Echo Sense to help us from now on. Every second is important. The moment we land, your work starts. We are counting on you to detect any threats before they can reach us."

Emrys nodded. Feeling the weight of responsibility, he clenched his fist and said, "Don't worry, squad leader. I'll pay attention!"

The jet began to descend as Jerek gave one last nod of approval.

"Alright, everyone, prepare to land."

The team quickly gathered their gear, checking their weapons and equipment one last time.

Emrys felt his heart race as the jet touched down on the rough terrain. The doors opened, and cold air rushed in. One by one, the team stepped out, with Emrys following closely behind.

As they left the jet, Emrys scanned the surroundings. The area was quiet, almost too quiet. The land around them was barren, with jagged rocks and sparse twisted trees. Dark clouds hung low in the sky, giving the place an eerie feeling.

"Stay sharp," Jerek ordered, looking around cautiously.