(Base Armoury, South Africa camp, February 2134)
Sean and the cadets were led to the armoury. Just as he is going to enter, Nanami stopped him, handing him a slip of paper.
"Show this to the armourer, we have a surprise for you," she winked.
Puzzled, Sean took the slip and walked in, bumping into Giorgio who had stopped.
"My god…" muttered Giorgio in shock as he looked at the rows and rows of guns in front of him.
The 30 cadets shortlisted for ATC are now gathered in the base armoury. The entire armoury is filled with racks after racks of firearms and accessories, enough to make a redneck collapse out of pure joy and ecstasy.
What is impressive is not just the number of guns available, but also the number of models of guns available. This armoury has almost every firearm currently in production, from every company and nation in the world.
"Take it in boys and girls," grinned Xu Qing from behind the counter. He is together with other gunsmiths and engineers, who are staring at the cadets like amused adults accompanying toddlers in a toy shop.
"The main privilege of a Tier 1," said Xu Qing. "In my opinion is that you are free to pick your own gears, we have almost all the standard-issue weapons of the world militaries in here, as well as all of the common accessories! Tired of using standard issue basic HK-416A5 rifles, QCQ-171 submachine guns and Glock 19 pistols? Here is your chance!"
"Of course, I would still suggest sticking to 5.56, 7.62 and 9mm if possible," grinned Xu Qing. "But if there is something you really want then go for it, just that you may be stranded without a buddy to lend you ammo."
"Also," he smiled, pointing to the rows of plate carriers and body armour vests. "If you don't like the standard issue NFM Thor LBS, we have other options."
The excited cadets muttered among themselves as they went to pick their guns and accessories, bringing them to the counter. Soon Xu Qing and the rest of the armours assembled the guns ordered by the cadets like buffet chefs, and the cadets then took their guns to the indoor range next door to zero their optics.
Sean handed Xu Qing the paper slip. Xu Qing then passed him a rifle bag. "Already zeroed," smiled Xu Qing.
Curious, Sean opened the bag after bringing it to a corner, stunned to see its contents:
A SCAR-H rifle with a Vortex Razor LPVO optic, a canted Aimpoint RMR red dot sight, a NGAL laser aiming sight, weapon light, foregrip, folding bipod and an ACR stock sat in the case — the rifle Sean used to operate with.
He grabbed it, checking the chamber to make sure it is clear and pulled the trigger. It is perfect, just the way he remembered, crisp and smooth.
He then grabbed the FN 5-7 pistol in the bag, fitted with a Surefire X400 laser and light combo, also in the configuration he had used.
Sean smiled, knowing that Nanami had pre-ordered his old guns to be brought over from the Tokyo base. It heartens him to know that even though most of his "siblings" hate him over Katya's death, Aya, Frederica, and Vasily still care about him, and now he can add Nanami to the list.
In the meantime, Louis handed his selection of firearm and accessories over to Xu Qing, smiling earnestly.
"This will be all, thank you!"
Xu Qing peeked at his selection, and is puzzled.
A basic HK-416A5, an Eotech EXPS holographic sight, a PEQ-16a laser aiming sight and weapon light combo and a hand stop grip. For sidearm, he picked a standard issue Glock 19 Gen 5, but now with a Surefire X400.
"You sure you will stick with the standard issue stuff?" asked Xu Qing.
Louis nodded.
"And no other changes except for these accessories?" confirmed Xu Qing again. "Most people sticking to the standard rifle platform will change handguards, stocks and what not, not just slap on different accessories."
"I will take this," Louis said. "Just like the M27 RWK I used in the Marines."
Xu Qing chuckled, assembling the rifle as per Louis's instructions.
Carl threw a side eye glance at Louis as he handed his HK-416A5 modification options to the counter. Unlike Louis, he basically changed everything beyond just accessories, including swapping the handguard for a Midwest Industries MLOK handguard, stock for a Magpul MOE SL stock, changed trigger to a better quality one, and more.
(3 hours later)
The cadets are now gathered outside a simulated housing complex made of plywood boards, tyres and other temporary structures. This is to allow the ease of reconfiguring the layout to fit different scenarios.
James and Nanami are standing in front of them, dressed too in gear and armed with weapons.
James is all modern and sleek, with a high-cut helmet, an AVS plate carrier, complemented with a M4A1-URGI rifle equipped with a SOPMOD stock, Aimpoint Mico T2 red dot sight and a 3x magnifier, an angled foregrip, a weapon light and an NGAL laser, fitting of his background as an operator of the legendary 75th Ranger Regiment.
Nanami on the other hand is way more retro. Instead of using a plate carrier or an integrated body armour vest that allows for both load bearing and protection in one package, she opted instead to wear them separately. While this makes gear wearing more cumbersome, it is hands down more comfortable.
With an LEM supply PF-4 chest rig worn over a Fort Defender 2 Molle version body armour, Nanami looks bigger than she actually is. Her choice of a weapon is also very different from the usual mix of AR-15 styled rifles in UNSSD service, but its instead a heavily modded AK-202, fitted with Zenitco parts: B30U+B31S handguard system, PT-3 stock and RK-5 grip, making the weapon better suited to accepting accessories, at the cost of making it heavier.
On the gun is a vertical grip, a Perst-3 laser, a weapon light, and a SIG Romeo 5 red dot sight.
"First order of business today is CQB," said James in a calm, instructing voice. "Now, we are all not foreign to the concept of room clearing as operators. In Tier 1, things remain the same concept wise, but stakes are higher, with more complicated mission scenarios."
Nanami clapped her hands lightly, a coy smile tugging at her lips as she let her eyes wander lazily across the cadets. Her voice came out low, velvety, with just enough sweetness to make it unsettling.
"So, kids… we start with the basics. But don't let that word fool you—basics can get you killed. A single wrong step through the fatal funnel and you'll be sprawled on the floor, legs open, helpless… not a pretty look, is it?"
She tilted her head, resting her AK against her shoulder like it was an accessory more than a weapon.
"CQB isn't about brute force, it's about intimacy. Breathing the same air as your enemy. Feeling their warmth as you mow hem down. If you can't handle being that close… then maybe you're not cut out for this dance."
She strolled down the line of cadets, boots crunching gravel, deliberately letting the silence stretch as she inspected them one by one.
She suddenly stopped, turning back toward the group, and clapped her hands again with a mock-playful lilt.
"Now, line up, darlings. Mama's going to show you how to play the kill-house."
The 30 cadets looked at each other, baffled. They do not understand why there is a sudden shift in tone.
After all, from their perspective, they have toiled through 2 months of brutal selection to be shortlisted from 184 cadets to even make it into the final stage of the selection process, the ATC; it would only make sense for the instructors to still be the hell spawns they are, tormenting the cadets until they live up to their twisted idea of quality.
Yet, the instructors now are behaving like chill teachers, calmly, and even friendly in their guidance and instructions and teaching, as if they are here to babysit the cadets and train them from complete rookies to professionals.
Nanami raised two fingers, letting her gaze sweep the line of cadets with languid amusement.
"First, dynamic entry. Fast, hard, overwhelming. You storm through the door, pour bodies and fire into the room, drown your enemy before they can gasp. Dominant, decisive… intoxicating, isn't it?" she said, her voice dripping with sweet venom.
A couple of cadets exchanged nervous glances;
Vera muttered under her breath, "She makes it sound like a honeymoon gone wrong…" drawing a chuckle from Sean.
Nanami leaned forward, her tone dropping, silk laced with steel. "But what if they're waiting? A machine gun boxed in, hungry barrels licking the doorway. Or worse—an automated sentry tucked in the corner, its eyes already tracing you through infrared. Motion sensors primed. You rush in like an overeager lover, and they will tear you apart before you even finish the first step."
Louis et out a low whistle. "Guess I'll take her word for it," he remarked.
"At least one of us is enjoying this," muttered Albert dryly
Nanami's lips curved, clearly pleased by the discomfort. "That's why we learn the second flavor: pieing. Smooth, deliberate. You slice the room one sliver at a time, like savoring each piece of something forbidden. Let the sensors twitch. Let the angles bleed open. Let the machines betray their masters before you move. Slow. Patient. Cruel."
Her hand slid down the rail of her AK as though it were an extension of her body. A few cadets visibly shifted their weight, unsure if they should look away or stare.
"Because now," said James, interjecting "It's not just men you fight. It's their toys, their little eyes in the dark. You'll use radars, drones, heat signatures, every trick you can to create asymmetric advantage. Otherwise? You're nothing but meat in the grinder."
"So, fast and rough, or slow and sweet? Both can kill you. Both can drown you. The trick is knowing when to indulge… and when to pull back," finished Nanami with a sultry grin.
With that the cadets raised their rifles and submachine guns, moving in to conduct room clearing training. James and Nanami cut them up into groups of 4 for the economy of space.
Ariel moved in first, now wielding an AUG A3SF rifle, she is not looking into the Aimpoint Acro 2 red dot sight placed on top of the integrated 3x scope of the rifle, but instead active aiming using the visible laser setting on the Rheinmetall LLM-Varioray laser and light combo on her rifle. She is doing this to prevent tunnel vision which can happen when aiming through optics, allowing the operator to have full visual awareness of his or her surroundings, an important thing in CQB.
Following behind her is Clara, using a KAC KS-3 rifle, activating the MAWL-C1 laser on the rifle. Ariel stacked up on the left side of the door, Clara on the right, then Louis and Giorgio in alternating order.
Ariel them employed the step centre technique, where she moved forward to the centre of the entrance.
"Stop, come back," said James, crossing his arms. His tone friendly and encouraging, but there is a clear "you messed up" tone.