ARC-Ops Chapter 4(finally out! along with Chapter 5, which I'll post soon)

Part one:
The designated coordinates were a clearing in the woods, a place that had once been serene but now served as a stark reminder of the world they lived in. The sun was just beginning to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows that danced through the trees. Jade, Swifty Ramirez, Polarson, and Bertha stood together, their faces etched with apprehension and determination. The ARC-Ops were already there, a disciplined unit of Soldiers clad in their white and gray camouflage, their expressions hidden behind Balaclavas and goggles. The current leader, the tall man with piercing blue eyes, stepped forward to greet them. "So. you all made it, even if I had to raise my voice at the Otter who wouldn't stop smoking Marijuana." he said, his voice devoid of any warmth. "I'm Corporal, Joe Morgan. I'll be leading this operation." Jade stepped forward, her green eyes narrowing. "Let's get one thing straight asshole. We're here because we were forced to be. We don't want any part of this war." Corporal Morgan's gaze did not waver. "Don't start that Shit with me Private. But understand this: the Red Kobra poses a threat to everyone. Except one. which is The Red Kobra Guard. as are not a threat to us, they are allied with everyone for unknown reasons. By helping us, you're helping to protect what's left of the Arctic." Ramirez placed a hand on Jade's shoulder, his touch a calming presence to her as always. "What's the mission?" he asked, his voice steady. Morgan nodded, appreciating the shift to a more productive tone. "Our objective is a Red Kobra supply depot located in an abandoned factory a few miles from here. It's heavily guarded, but taking it out will cripple their operations in this area." Polarson, the polar bear with a weathered face and a quiet demeanor and small brown eyes, spoke up. "And what's our role in this? huh?" "You'll be providing support and reconnaissance as a gunner." Morgan replied. "Jade, your sniper skills will be crucial. Ramirez, you'll be leading a flanking maneuver with Polarson. Bertha, you'll assist with logistics and communication and spotting for Jade. We're Oscar Mike in ten." As the ARC-Ops prepared for the mission, Jade, Ramirez, Polarson, and Bertha huddled together, their expressions grim. "I can't believe we're doing this." Bertha muttered, her eyes darting nervously. "We don't have a choice," Swifty replied, his voice firm. "We have to make the best of it."

Jade checked her rifle, her movements precise and practiced. "Let's just get through this. We do what we have to do and then we get out." The team fell silent, each lost in their own thoughts as they prepared for the mission ahead. The air was thick with tension, the weight of their situation pressing down on them. When the time came, they moved out, following the ARC-Ops through the snow-covered forest. The journey to the abandoned factory was tense and silent, the group moving like shadows through the trees. The only sound was the crunch of snow underfoot and the distant howl of the wind. As they approached the target, the team split up according to the plan. Jade found a vantage point on a hill overlooking the factory, her sniper rifle at the ready. Ramirez and Polarson moved into position for the flanking maneuver, while Bertha set up a communication relay with the ARC-Ops. The factory loomed before them, a hulking, decrepit structure that had long since fallen into disuse. The Red Kobra soldiers patrolled the perimeter, their movements methodical and disciplined. Corporal Morgan's voice crackled through the earpiece. "all of you, report in." "Sniper in position," Jade replied, her voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through her veins. "Flanking team ready," Ramirez added. "Communications set," Bertha confirmed. "On my mark," Morgan said. "Three, two, one, go!" The assault began with a whisper, not a roar. Jade's rifle cracked quietly, taking out the sentries on the roof with deadly precision. Ramirez and Polarson moved like wraiths through the shadows, slipping past guards and neutralizing them with silent efficiency, The ARC-Ops advanced, their movements coordinated and silent, taking down any opposition with swift, silent precision. Inside the factory, the air was thick with tension. The Red Kobra soldiers were well-trained, but they were taken by surprise. the other duo moved through the dimly lit corridors, their senses heightened. Every creak of the floorboards, every flicker of light, could signal danger. They communicated with hand signals and whispers, their actions synchronized through years of training and experience. Jade provided cover from her vantage point, her shots echoing in the still night. She spotted a pair of guards moving towards Ramirez and Polarson's position and took them out with two precise shots. Bertha's voice crackled through the radio as she helped Jade. "Incoming patrol from the east side. Watch your ass."

Ramirez and Polarson flattened against the walls, waiting for the patrol to pass. The tension was palpable, the seconds stretching into what felt like hours. The patrol moved past them, oblivious to the danger lurking in the shadows. Ramirez signaled to Polarson, and they continued their advance. The ARC-Ops infiltrated the main building, their movements ghost-like. They disabled security systems and took down guards with knives and silenced weapons brutally. The operation was a dance of death, executed with cold,violent precision. As the last of the Red Kobra soldiers fell, the factory fell silent. Captain Morgan's voice broke through the stillness. "Mission accomplished. All units, regroup and prepare for extraction." Jade lowered her rifle, her eyes scanning the battlefield. It was over, for now. But she knew this was just the beginning as she looked at the moon with tears in her eyes and made a excuse to regroup in a few minutes so she could be left alone and cover her head in sorrow. The war they had tried so hard to avoid had found them, and there was no turning back. As they regrouped with the ARC-Ops, the weight of their situation settled heavily on their shoulders. They were no longer just survivors. They were soldiers once more, caught in a war they did not want but could no longer escape.