The Sound of rotor blades was a constant companion as Vertin and her team was send away to the base. Strapped into the helicopter, her mind raced, trying to reconcile her current reality with the familiar narratives of Girls' Frontline. Was she in the anime's universe, or the game's? The commander she'd briefly seen leaned towards the game, but her new assignment and the files detailing her destination hinted at the anime's commander.
("Man, I'm in both the anime and the game GFL. This will be interesting,") she mused internally. The thought prompted her to activate her internal AI.
("AI, any reply from Sangvis?") she questioned, hoping for news.
[Negative]
It had been hours since she'd feigned unconsciousness, using the opportunity to instruct her AI to send a message to Sangvis Ferri. Yet, there had been no response.
("Well, there's no need to worry. But you did a good job fooling the Griffin commanders, posing as a Zimmad employee, or rather, its CEO. You did well,") she complimented her silent AI. There was no reply, a familiar lack of response from the program.
("This will be a long ride… So, can I upgrade my units?") she finally asked, breaking the silence.
[Answer: Yes, you can upgrade them.]
("Can you show me what upgrades I can do to them?")
[Understood]
[YMS-09 Prototype Dom: MS-09 Dom]
[Dopp: Any flight-capable mobile suit or]
[mobile armor]
[Magella Attack: Zaku Tank Cannon Type]
("Well, I know I'm picking for Dopp,") she thought, already envisioning the possibilities.
Five hours later, the helicopter touched down smoothly. As the doors opened, Vertin stepped out onto the tarmac, greeted by the base commander.
"Welcome, my name is Gentiane, and the person next to me is Kalina," Gentiane said, gesturing to the blonde woman beside her.
"Nice to meet you," Vertin replied, offering a polite smile. Her team had already exited the helicopter, and she turned back to Gentiane. "Come, we've got a job to do."
"Ah, yes, please follow me," Gentiane responded, leading the way. As Vertin followed, she spotted two familiar faces: G36 and MG3.
"Ah, I never thought you guys would be here," Vertin exclaimed, genuinely surprised.
Both T-Dolls turned, their eyes widening in recognition. "Oh, it's you! You saved us from Sangvis. I should thank you, but we knocked you out so…" MG3 stammered, flustered.
"I think you should start with sorry," Vertin interjected with a wry smile.
"Yeah, we should!" Both MG3 and G36 bowed in unison, apologizing profusely.
"It's okay, I forgive you. It wasn't your fault; you were ordered to," Vertin said, reaching out to pat their heads.
"Ahem. We should get going," Gentiane cleared her throat, a hint of impatience in her tone.
"Yes, of course." Vertin ceased her head pats and continued to follow Gentiane and Kalina into the command room.
"So, I've been informed by HQ that your first mission is to destroy a Sangvis scouting party at the city. It seems HQ just wants you guys to go without reinforcements, huh?" Gentiane said, handing Vertin a flash drive. "All related data you need is in this flash drive, and if you need any assistance, I will do what I can."
She continued, "Also, you still have some time left to explore the base or train. Kalina will show you around if you want to."
"Well, if you say so, then we accept," Vertin replied, taking the flash drive.
After exploring the base, locating their rooms, testing out the shooting range, and chatting with other T-Dolls, they were finally ready for their mission.
("AI, still no reply?") Vertin asked, a flicker of disappointment in her tone.
[Negative]
("Alright then,") she sighed, before turning to her team. "Let's go," she commanded, gesturing for them to board the helicopter.
As the helicopter ascended, Gentiane's voice crackled over the radio, informing Vertin about the enemies they'd be facing and offering a few motivational words.
"What a good commander, right?" Dopp remarked.
"Well, she's at least trying, right? The other T-Dolls said that she's kind," Dom countered.
"That's nice," Dopp conceded.
"We are close to the drop point! ETA 5 minutes!" the pilot announced.
"Copy," Vertin confirmed. She looked at her team, her gaze firm. "We are close to the drop point, be ready. Dopp, as soon as we land, I need you in the air. Magella, I want AP loaded. Dom, you're with me."
"Yes, ma'am!" the three T-Dolls chorused.
The helicopter landed, and Vertin opened the door. They exited swiftly, with Dopp already airborne.
"Dopp, can you hear me?" Vertin asked over her radio.
"Loud and clear, Commander! I have seen the Sangvis scouting party. Permission to engage, Commander?" Dopp's eager voice responded.
"Negative, stay in the air and notify me if anything weird is happening to the Sangvis unit," Vertin instructed.
"Copy," Dopp acknowledged.
Scanning her surroundings, Vertin commanded Magella to position herself in front of the enemy formations, while Dom would attack from behind, and she herself would assault the rear. Dopp would provide aerial support.
"Is everyone ready?" Vertin asked over the comms.
"Ready!" Dopp exclaimed eagerly.
"Panzer on standby," Magella stated flatly
.
"These dolls don't know what hit them," Dom boasted, already positioning herself behind a disintegrator unit.
("Panzer, huh? That's interesting,") Vertin thought before issuing the command.
"Beginning operation." She fired her weapon, instantly destroying a disintegrator.
"DEATH FROM ABOVE!" Dopp said while smiling while she is raining hell down on the disintegrators, destroying most of them.
Dom cleared the back lines, and Dopp massacred half of the remaining units, while Magella stood firm at the front, shrugging off hits as if they were nothing
"Is that all… it's my turn," Magella muttered after taking five direct hits from disintegrators without her armor being pierced. She loaded a canister round and fired, obliterating multiple disintegrators at once. "Pathetic," she scoffed in disgust. Three more disintegrators appeared and fired at her, hitting their marks, before she fired her cannon again, destroying the last three. "My armor is made with the best steel, the best science. Nothing can penetrate it," she declared with a hint of pride.
"All units, I need a sitrep," Vertin's radio crackled to life. She grabbed it. "All Sangvis units are down," she reported.
"Back lines are clear," Dom confirmed, removing her heat saber from a disintegrator.
"All clear in the skies," Dopp added.
"Alright, this operation is a success. Good hunting," Vertin said before turning off her radio.