First Contact: Lieutenant Aleph's Encounter

Central Interior of Hawk Springs, Fire Station.

The survivors were horrified to find themselves on the ground with a group of jet-black soldiers with crimson-lensed gas masks. They resembled cold machines that would terminate them like humans stepping on insects.

But before horror could grip their hearts tightly, one of the strange-looking soldiers introduced themselves. 

"Hello, I am Lieutenant Aleph of the Cerberus."

When they heard of his introduction. They glanced at one another since they hadn't heard of any organization or armies named Cerberus. 

The only reason why they were here was because of the news a group of survivors brought into the Gathering.

It was the emptiness of Hawk Springs that seemed devoid of aberrants. It was an opportunity waiting to be taken, so they immediately decided to check for supplies. 

Unfortunately for them, they couldn't hear the words of old Joseph about a new army residing in Goshen County.

Nonetheless, the fact that a soldier spoke meant that they wouldn't be unceremoniously killed by these machine-like soldiers. 

"Now, I'd like to ask a question. What are you doing here?" 

The soldier, or Lieutenant Bet, calmly asked the survivors lying on the ground with barrels on their heads. 

The survivors gulped since they felt they had done a great crime by entering the premises of Hawk Springs. There was only one thing they could do. Speak with honesty and spill everything.

"W-We didn't mean to trespass this place. Our survivor group only learned of the news that this town was devoid of any aberrants, so we wanted to salvage some supplies."

Hearing the explanation of one of the survivors, Lieutenant Bet surmised that this one was the leader. This also made him admire the wisdom of the Director.

To think the Director would be able to immediately guess where the survivors would be residing, the lieutenant worshiped the Director in his mind.

"I see... I am wondering one thing. Are you part of a shelter?"

This question caused the survivors to tremble. After all, they knew where the question was heading. The terror started to creep into their chest, making it feel heavy.

They wanted to be brave martyrs who would be remembered for not telling anything to other adversaries. But they also wanted to live. 

Even if there was a slight chance.

Besides, the Gathering wasn't meant to be a secretive place. Every survivor could head there with a sufficient guide. 

With this in mind, the leader of the survivor group felt less guilty and responded to the lieutenant's question.

"Yes..."

The confirmation of the survivor didn't surprise Lieutenant Bet. He merely gazed at them and decided to question more about the so-called shelter.

"What kind of shelter is it?"

"I-It's a shelter for leftover survivors who got their original shelters overrun by aberrants. It is the sanctuary of Goshen County. The remains of human perseverance." 

The survivor leader explained, making the lieutenant nod in understanding. A sanctuary wasn't out of the possibilities. 

Especially when most shelters in the county collapsed in the darkness of the eternal night. 

"Then, where is this shelter, and what is its name?"

"The shelter's name is the Gathering. It resides 20 kilometers southeast of Hawk Springs. The shelter is surrounded by a deep forest, and such forest is shrouded with thousands of traps."

"Unless you knew the route, you couldn't safely enter the shelter." 

Lieutenant Bet knew the survivor leader's implications. If the team wanted to go to the Gathering safely. They mustn't kill the survivors. But it's not like he planned to execute them.

They didn't seem to be hostile and merely wanted to collect supplies. Though... It was better to be safe than sorry.

He wouldn't necessarily lower his guard around them. And if they made a move. The team would immediately dispatch them from the world. 

Lieutenant Bet glanced at his fellow Sentinels and nodded at them. They also nodded back and agreed with whatever plan he had in mind.

"Your shelter sounds interesting. Why don't you bring us there?" 

"If you do, we'll return you and your friends to your people."

The words of the lieutenant gave hope to the survivors who thought that death was about to take them from the living. After all, this was their first time being held down by humans for months.

As part of the sanctuary, they held its beliefs of nonviolence against fellow humans. The world has already ended, and doing vicious actions would make things worse.

The survivors of Goshen County were low in population, so they rarely met with other survivor groups. 

If they did meet, the others wouldn't be too hostile since the incursion of aberrants and lack of human interaction weighed their minds too much.

"I am willing to bring you there. I merely hope you won't hurt my people in the shelter."

"It seems that we are in an agreement."

Lieutenant Aleph nodded in understanding. He looked at his squadmates and ordered them to bring the survivors to the Vanguard Convoy.

"Take them to the convoy."

The Sentinels brought the survivors out of the fire station and loaded them into the Vanguards. The survivors were each separated from one another to prevent a breakout. 

Though... It was not like they could escape the grasp of the elite Sentinels even if they were huddled together.

While walking to the Vanguard, Lieutenant Aleph took out a communicator. As the survivors they had needed were already acquired, it was time to report the situation to his superior.

The communicator blinked for quite sometime before the line went through.

*Lieutenant Aleph, you must be reporting news about your mission. What is your current situation?"

The voice of the Director sounded out from the communicator. Lieutenant Aleph almost instinctively kneeled before realizing the Director wasn't before him.

"Director, we have acquired some survivors in Hawk Springs. They seemed to be part of a shelter called the Gathering, the leftovers of surrounding settlements." 

"Our actions in the first liberation operation have undoubtedly brought attention to our organization. But it looks like they are still ignorant of our structure as a whole."

"The Gathering is situated the 20-kilometer distance southwest of Hawk Springs. We will be there for further investigation of their motives as a shelter."

The lieutenant concluded his report about the recent discovery and information he received from the survivors.

*You have done well, Lieutenant Aleph.*

*An SD4 Reaper Drone will be deployed for recon in the surrounding area.*

*The command will be transferred to the Strategic Command. This confidential mission will become an official one.*

*Gathered intel will be sent back to your Vanguard.*

*Take care of yourselves, and be careful around survivors.*

"Understood, Director. I will take your words to heart."

Lieutenant Aleph nodded, and the communicator turned off. He entered the leading Vanguard and commanded the convoy of their current mission.

"We will be heading to the so-called Gathering. This mission will be handled by the Strategic Command, and a Reaper Drone will be sent to assist us."

The surrounding elite Sentinels nodded and didn't speak much. During missions, they rarely spoke of anything. Only in their free time will they freely talk to each other.

The engines of the Vanguards roared, and the convoy drove forward, pointing to the southwestern direction.

....

Cerberus Headquarters, Strategic Command.

Around the futuristic round table displaying a holographic map of southern Goshen County. Duke calmly stood amongst several officers. They were the newly acquired officers of Cerberus.

"Survivors have been detected in Hawk Springs, and our operatives have captured them. From the intel our operatives gained. A shelter dwells in Grid 72."

"Grid 72 is a large forest area shrouded in mist. This might be one of the reasons why they stayed hidden despite our constant display of air power."

"A recently constructed SD4 Reaper Drone will be tasked with short recon in the area. It will be supporting and observing the situation of the ground from the skies."

"I want it to be always present with the alpha team on the ground."

"The Strategic Command will be guiding the circumstances with scrutiny and rationale. I also want you to prepare for an extraction since anything might happen." 

After the Director uttered a series of orders to the officers, they saluted with respect and pride. They felt honored to be personally given orders by the Director.

"Understood, Director."

"The Reaper Drone deployment will come about in a minute."

Duke nodded in satisfaction with the determination they displayed to him. He took off from the Strategic Command and returned to his office.

On the other hand, the Officers scattered along with Communication Operators and Drone Specialists. The Strategic Command became busy with the incoming and outgoing operations. 

Meanwhile... 

In the Air Dock, a large platform rose from the bottom floor. On the massive platform was a lone slick aircraft. It was the SD4 Reaper Drone. 

As the platform reached the Air Dock, the metallic claws unwrapped from the superstructure and lowered themselves. 

Wind from the outside plunged into the Air Dock with heavy pressure, but everything on top of the deck held on. 

Radiant neon lights blinked from the SD4 Reaper Drone as the ATCT checked for clearance, which was immediately covered by the Strategic Command.

*Armaments checked!*

*Hardware checked!* 

*Electronics checked!*

After a short procedure, the SD4 Reaper Drone was clear for launch. 

With the runway clear, the Reaper Drone slowly propelled itself forward, covered in unrivaled ferocity. It pierced through the air and flew to the dark heavens like a freed eagle. 

It soon course-corrected itself and headed towards Grid 72, where the last shelter of Goshen County resided.

The Gathering.