-=+ +=- [COMPLETED] The Second Universe -=+ +=-

Part 7: The Lecelnan Incident, 35794

Morozov approached Allen again, tapping his shoulder. Allen pivoted to speak with Morozov and hear what he had to say. "You're one of the Marines of your country, da?" Allen nodded, not speaking. "I have a question for you. My little brother, you see, he wants to become a soldier, but us, the OFR, won't accept him for whatever reason. Will you allow for him to join?" A younger guy came rushing over, presumably the little brother who wanted to join.

"Oh, here he is now." Lil bro was now nodding and literally at the edge of just puppy-eyeing, before Allen spoke not long after. "EXTF'd be better for him." The researcher Morozov raised his eyebrow, which essentially asked Allen what the EXTF was. "It's basically the CIA." Little Morozov had his eyes light up like if a nuke went off, and he asked Allen when he could join. "When can I go?" "You can uhh, go now. Just follow the other Marines." Allen pointed.

Lil bro was completely ecstatic, and followed some of the other Marines who escorted him to a VTOL. The researcher Morozov also gave Allen a warning. "Oh, and the third station that the envoy passed us yesterday likely encountered is a CROS station. Some unknown force cleared that abandoned CROS installation under that surface-person city, so you should also watch out for them."

"That was my boys and I." Allen laughed at Morozov's ignorance of his presence at that location. "Oh shit--then you should be fine clearing that station. I'm sure that you have the adequate experience. And you looted some thaumaturgy dampeners from that station, da?" "So that's what those were... okay. Guess I'll be going now." "Heh, da. When your team comes back--whenever that time is, be sure to give us any slates and recordings you find, heh? I'm sure they'll help both of us."

Allen nodded, calling his Marines over to exit the station and enter their VTOL. The VTOLs then undocked and hovered. Allen inside contacted Overlord. "Overlord, can we get a sanction on that magma-station raid?" "That is an affirm, Allen. Go kick their asses." Allen acknowledged this, and hung up.

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"Infiltration"

December 5, 542 - 15:07:21

Sgt. Allen's Fireteam

Abandoned CROS Mantlebase

Underneath Lecelnan Union Ground, Thuia

The VTOLs flew through the magma, racing at incredible speeds and then arriving at the station. Since they had multiple confirmations of the location's hostile though abandoned nature--the entries and researcher Morozov--they hovered outside. Now confident there would be no repercussions, the VTOLs used their onboard fortress-killing EMPs to knock out the station's power and machinery, which worked surprisingly well.

Somewhat audible were the crackling of short-circuiting electric machinery and the rather tame explosions of purely plugged-in systems, such as screens. Sgt. Allen's VTOL docked with the station, and him and his Marines started pouring out of the vehicle. They moved through the hallways like snakes, working as one to ensure that whoever remained in the station would live on as a burnt crisp.

Allen located what he believed to be the cafeteria, which was surprisingly similar to those on Earth, though with a much more pronounced cyberpunk aesthetic. The door was closed, the food stalls were empty, and so were the benches and tables. However, there was a data slate left lying on the table. Allen looked through the door with his augmented reality system, and as much as Allen wanted to rush into the room and grab it, he was smart enough to realize that there may still be automated security turrets or otherwise a defense in the room that were invisible even to his visor.