This story is purely universe building and is a hint at very future things to happen so they make sense. It's optional and doesn't need to be read.
The events of this story are happening in the same timeline as 'Jungle' but takes place at the same time as the current City.
JUNGLE: Blood and Metal
Chapter One ? Good Kill
She rose early in the morning just as the sun was rising above the horizon line and blanketing the land in its heat. Getting out of her tent she looked at the large tree?s that surrounded her, it was the South Eastern Jungles ruled by Teyain. Bugs and animals roam wild in these parts, mainly due to the Teyain?s inability to keep order of the wild life. Going back into her tent she put on all of her gear, folded in the tent and because of their advance technology was able to fold it and put it into her backpack?s pocket.
Stepping further into the Jungle she was getting closer to the Teyain compound, taking out her trust M43 Sniper Rifle she kept it closer as she got further up the ridge and looked out and then below at the grey compound against the green trees.
They sure did a poor job at blending it in?
She wasn?t on the levels of the Yeanes Hunters, but she was still one of the top Snipers in all of the lands. Turning on her scopes sensor vision it allowed her to see through the trees and it highlighted the people in the compound. When she pointed her reticle at a person, it would scan them and identify them.
Victor Diosh was the man she was looking for, the leader of the Teyain Vipers. Eventually she saw a tall man walk in wearing a hood and it immediately identified the man was Victor.
?Command, this is Ester-Five-Four-One, I got the target in sights, orders?? She spoke over the radio.
?Ester-Five-Four-One this is Command; you may fire at any time. Just don?t miss.?
She smirked. ?Got it.? Ester loaded her gun with large rounds that could pierce a thick metal wall from miles away. Putting on Ear protectors, she prepared for the shot. Breathing in and out she steadied her aim and pointed the reticle right on the head of Victor.
When she fired the shot was deafening to anyone without Ear protectors and could be heard from miles away, but Victor didn?t. Just as he turned his head the bullet pierced right through his skull and even hit the soldier behind him and splattered the whole wall with blood.
?Target is down; I repeat Victor Diosh is down. Shot through the head.?
?Alright, head back now. Your mission is done. We shall send in the Hunters in due time.?
She hated that, she did the simple assassination and then the Hunters get to do the rest of the work. In her honest opinion it wasn?t fair and made her job less exciting. Packing up her Sniper Rifle she quickly began to move away, the Vipers would get to her position soon. Pulling out an SVSMG silenced she made her way back into the maze of tree?s. Vipers aren?t as tough or well trained as Hunters but they got the job done and have killed lots of good soldiers in their line of work. Ester didn?t want to be on that list of dead.
It would be a five day walk getting back to the outpost and she had no time to sleep. Using her cloak, it made her face lines and body line?s less bright and thus harder to see. Some Trison?s were unlucky and have bright lines for their whole careers and are spotted the easiest. Her were in the middle, not too bright but not hard to see. Moving down the small creek she covered her noise with the sound of the rushing water and stopped if she heard any noise from abound.
?Ester-Five-Four-One, we detect tangoes coming up to you at your six o?clock. Viper-class identified.?
Heh? Faster than usual.
This wasn?t her first time encountering them and wouldn?t be her last. ?We suggest you change your cloak settings to stealth and hide under the large tree to your left.? Command ordered.
Taking out her tactical pad she changed the settings of her cloak and it suddenly became one with nature, but it wasn?t perfect, there was still a slight blur where the person was, and it didn?t completely hide their heat from sensors. Getting under the tree where there was a small hole she sat there in complete silence while the footsteps of Vipers grew louder.
She couldn?t help but be thankful to the Gods that Yeanes has such advanced satellites or she would have been caught in a deadly battle. ?The Vipers are checking the area, stay hidden until we give the go.? Once more Command told her.
Ester looked out and saw one of the Vipers, their armor was white with red stripes and their helmets were snake shaped with slits where they looked out. It was advanced but archaic compared to the Hunters who have taken out many Viper Squads at a single time. But she wasn?t a Hunter, just a simple sniper, which was equal to a grunt in the eyes of Hunters. Resting her head she tried to keep still and make no noise because their noise detectors would go ablaze if she moved enough.
An hour passed and eventually the Vipers gave up their search and headed back to their outpost which would be soon under attack again by the Hunters. ?Ester you may move on.?
?About time.?