TF Amethyst

TFA2 6.1 - Second Phase

The incapacitating gas used to attack Battle Group B's camp was different from the one that usually used by law enforcement unit in riot-control operations. The gas used to break a riot was designed to provide a limited area of ​​effect, by default it would loses its efficacy as it expands, and only affects eyes, ears, or nose for a short moment.

Meanwhile, the gas that was used by TF Amethyst was military-grade incapacitating gas. It was designed to produce a wide area of ​​effect and targeting the brain and spinal cord, or what was commonly called the Central Nervous System effect. In short, the CNS effect would render its targets so they were unable to think or do physical activity regardless of their level of consciousness.

And even if the main purpose of military-grade incapacitating gas was a non-lethal effect, in fact, one slight error in calculating the dose would turn it into one of the deadliest chemical weapons.

Therefore, the use of the gas must be done as accurate as possible, followed by an after-effect operation that was no less careful. And so, to avoid fatalities on the slaves, the second phase in Oplan Black in the Night would be carried out by 38 doctors, 89 field surgeons, and 156 senior paramedics from Medic Quarter.

This number was represent half of the most experienced personnel in Medic Quarter, and was still added with 300 new paramedics from Tuscan Guard and another 700 from Buriek Guard.

 ---

A long convoy smoothly passed through the west gate of Battle Group B's camp, and from the leading M1152 Personnel Carrier, Major Shade looked at the corpses of Makai Guards, lying around here and there, strewn with spears, daggers, or swords deep in their chests.

Several patches of blood also decorated the road inside the camp, but luckily there were no corpses lying around on it, and so the journey to assembly point went smoothly.

"The Vanguard Element really did a massacre," said the driver next to Major Shade.

Major Shade calmly replied, "Yes, they did. 2700 vs 22,000, so each Vanguard's personnel had to kill seven people at the minimum."

The driver slightly nodded before asking, "I understand they have to carry their mission, but why don't they pull out the weapon they put in the victim's chest?"

"It’s to speed up the process of confirmed kill. I mean, it will be difficult to fake death when there is a spear, sword, or dagger stuck in your chest."

The driver nodded once more, and then pointed to a large square surrounded by torches, where the trucks used by Vanguard One were lined up neatly. "Looks like this is assembly point for Area One."

"Yeah" Major Shade firmly replied as he saw Captain Akrei standing in the square with some of his lieutenants, and behind them lined up neatly a company of Vanguard's elements.

Without delay, the long convoy entered the square. Not long after that, the vehicle crew was busy checking their vehicles and refueling, while the paramedics lined up neatly next to the Vanguard's company.

As for Major Shade, he followed Captain Akrei into a row of wagons.

"As per your instructions, Major." Captain Akrei opened the sheet that covered a few of closest wagons one by one and showed bags of brown bread, jars of dried fruit, jars of walnuts, and barrels of fresh water. "The two other squadrons have also finished preparing similar snacks."

Major Shade smiled as he casually tore a heel of brown bread and tasted it. The bread was too dry even for an adult like him, but it was much better than black bread.

"Thank you for the hard work, Captain."

"No problem, Sir. This square is surrounded by a kitchen, mess hall and bath house, so getting fresh water and these provisions are not a big deal." Captain Akrei breathed a sigh of relief, then asked, "Actually, we can also get beef jerky, salted salmon, or hard cheese, so are you sure this is enough?"

"This is more than enough." Major Shade looked at the question mark on Captain Akrei's forehead before explaining, "I suspect the slaves have weak digestive systems. Therefore, heavy protein will make them have a fever or diarrhea."

"Understood." Captain Akrei nodded slightly.

Major Shade then walked back to the front of the paramedics and said, "I believed you already knew the details of your job and how to execute it, but allow me to remind you."

"""Sir."""

"Even if NBC Elements has carried out indirect decontamination to clean the air in the camp, there will be some incapacitating compound attached to the clothes of the slaves. Even though the dose is small, with the slaves' weak condition, this remnant can still cause an overdose and death if we don't wake up the slaves immediately.

And in total, there are 5,000 slave workers, and 9,000 human shields which are basically slave women and children.

So make sure you execute your work swiftly but accurately, without unnecessary distraction. Do you understand?"

“”"Sir, yes Sir,"””” The paramedics calmly replied in unison.

"And please remember, the opposing main unit still poses a serious threat for this operation.

So if you hear a retreat order, no matter what you're working on, get back to assembly point as soon as possible, take what you can and leave the rest. Is that clear?"

"""Sir."""

"Good, now let's start the fun and follow the guidance from Vanguard's personnel. They know this camp like their own home."

"""Sir."""

Wasting no time the paramedics immediately dispersed into small teams, following the guidance from small-squad Vanguard's personnel who were also tasked as helpers to bring medical supplies. Only a small number of paramedics remain and stand by at the assembly point.

They have done similar simulations several times, so the paramedics were well acquainted with the small-squad that guides them. At the same time, the ambulance crew made preparations to receive slaves who needed extra medical attention, or pick them up if the situation demanded.

As for Major Shade, his team consisted of senior paramedic from Medic Quarter, three Tuscan's paramedics, twelve Buriek's paramedics, and a small-squad of helper led by Lieutenant Koshak.

"Lieutenant, we are ready."

"Aye sir, let's visit the laundry area first. A lot of slave women and children work there at night."

"Understood."

Wasting no time Major Shade and his team jogged behind Lieutenant Koshak.

---

Normally, a military-grade incapacitating gas was capable of immobilizing a combatant with robust physical fitness for three hours. However, because Battle Group B's camp were also full of slaves workers, slaves women, and slave children who work 16 hours per day and only get minimal food intake, the NBC elements had to reduce the efficacy of the gas.

The gas used to attack Battle Group B's camp was designed to incapacitate a healthy combatant for 20-25 minutes, an adult slave for 6-8 hours, and 12-16 hours for slave children. As for toddlers under four years old, the gas would kill them in a few minutes. Fortunately, the youngest slave children in Battle Group B's camp were five years old.

However, an unexpected event always occurs in the field. With wide eyes, Major Shade looked at a boy sitting among hundreds of women and children who were lying motionlessly in the laundry area.

"Treat the children first," Major Shade ordered.

"""Sir."""

As the paramedics under his command started to work, Major Shade approached the boy who caught his attention and knelt before him.

"Good Boy, what is your name?" Major Shade gently asked as he checked the boy's pulse.

"Reek."

Seeing the boy answered without averting his curious gaze, Major Shade lightly smiled.

"Reek, are you feeling dizzy or nauseous?"

"No," Reek replied and shook his little head.

"Is there any pain or discomfort in your body?"

"No."

"Do you feeling weak?"

"No."

Major Shade checked Reek's pulse one more time, and breathed a sigh of relief after find no abnormality.

"Where did you get this from?" Major Shade asked as he pointed to the half-eaten energy bar in Reek's hand.

"From that Uncle," Reek happily pointed at Lieutenant Koshak, and then he explained the details.

When his mother, other slave women, other children, and even the Makai Guards suddenly fell to the ground and stopped moving, Reek pretended to fall to the ground as well. Then, people dressed in black suddenly appeared and killed the Makai Guards.

Terrified, Reek burst into tears and sobbed, and one of the men in black came up to him. The man was Lieutenant Koshak, who then gave him an energy bar, then asked him to look after his mother, the other slave women, and the children until healers came to treat them.

"Smart boy, and very brave one." Major Shade stroked Reek's head gently before turning to Lieutenant Koshak, "And an excellent kindness, Lieutenant. I will note it in my report."

"Sir."

After watching a few of the children who had woken up sobbing and terrified, Major Shade then approached a woman in her mid-20s who was lying beside Reek.

"Is this your mother?"

"Mhm," Reek nodded repeatedly and then he asked, "Good Uncle, can you heal her?"

"I'll do my best."

Major Shade then checked Reek's mother. Her eyes were still wide open but her gaze was blank, while her breathing and pulse were extremely weak.

Major Shade didn't know if Reek's mother would understand his words or not, but as he placed a mask attached to a portable gas cylinder to her nose, he said, "Ma'am, please take a deep breath and exhale slowly."

A few moments later, Reek's mother's gaze became clear, and although she still felt dizzy and weak, her vitals had stabilized and strengthened. The worried and alert on her face also melted away after she saw that Reek was fine.

"Ma'am, I and my colleagues are healers from Sandhur Region. We come to help, but we also need your assistance." Reek's mother nodded and Major Shade continued. "We had to treat the kids first, but it seemed they were afraid of us. So, can you help us to calm them down once they wake up?"

"Ser Benefactor, I'll do my best and thank you for helping my son," Reek's mother said firmly

"It’s our pleasure to be able to help, and you can call me Shade."

"Ser Shade, this lowly slave is Irri."

"Irri, you are no longer a slave woman. We also come to free you."

"To free us?" A big question mark immediately popped up in Irri's forehead.

"Right now, the population of Sandhur Region is no more than 16,000 people, and more than half of them are children. So, Viscount Issel will accept slaves who wish to become residents of Sandhur Region, as a free person of course."

"As a free person?" Another big question mark appeared on Irri's forehead.

"Yes, as a freeman, a freewoman, and a freechild."

Irri nodded but said nothing. It was hard for her to imagine that someone would attack a heavily guarded camp, then help and free the slaves for free. But at least, from the healer who introduced himself as 'Shade', she didn't see contempt gaze that was usually thrown at slaves. He also didn't slap her when she looked at his eyes directly.  

A moment later, with all her heart Irri was busy calming the slave children who woke up. Then, when all the slaves in the laundry area were successfully being woken up, they were then asked to go to the assembly point to receive water and food.

With full alert the slaves women and children walked hand-in-hand passing the corpses of Makai Guards, but then they breathed a sigh of relief because the black clothed people who were guarding the key area did not harass them.

On the middle of their way, they also met the slaves from other areas and their confidence grew a little bit thicker.

As for Major Shade and his squad, they had arrived in another area to continue their mission.

*****