TF Amethyst

TFA1 3.6 - Camp Terry

XO Office, 4th Floor of Main Building, Harley Quinn MOA.

09:20, 12 April 2024

Grapass was an old slave from Lionel Region. He spent half of his life teaching children from noble families Amstell Language. Until finally six months ago a group of people bought him and a dozen other slaves. He and other slaves were then taken to a giant camp located on Desolate Land.

Grapass still remembered the horror in his heart, when he entered the camp for the first time. At that time, he thought that people who bought him would use him and other slaves as bait to hunt Gray Wolf or Black Eagle. However, slowly but surely his horror turned into curiosity after he saw that clothing, equipment, and tents of the people who had bought him were very unusual.

What's more, those people treat him and other slaves with great respect. Grapass returned to his old profession, but this time his students treated him like a free human. They even called him Teacher Grapass. He also got a huge salary and nice accommodation.

In a matter of weeks, the tents on the camp also turned into a giant complex called Harley Quinn. And under Harley Quinn, Grapass heard there was another giant complex. However, he did not have permission to enter it.

Among his students, Grapass was most impressed by one person. The student's name was Vex, who loved to wear a T-shirt with puppy pictures. According to Vex, her only daughter was a puppy lover, and somehow Grapass could feel that Vex looked very sad every time he touched the puppy pictures in his chest.

Vex arrived at Harley Quinn for the first time last January. After that, he went back and forth, and only started settling in Harley Quinn three days ago, right after the name TF Amethyst used by people in Harley Quinn.

However, even though Vex only attended his class 3-4 times a month, he was the first student to graduate from his class. And not only graduated but was able to speak like the rural people or the nobles in the city fluently.

Now, Grapass only needed to accompany Vex to chat to help him master some local accents on Amstell Continent.

Grapass smiled before saying, "Ser Vex, just a little more and you will master the accents on the southern area of Amstell Continent."

"It was all thanks to Teacher Grapass' help."

Vex handed Grapass a Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical Watches before adding, "Sorry, only now can I thank Teacher for your help."

Grapass spontaneously refuses the Hamilton Watches. "Ser Vex, TF Amethyst has given me freedom and a new life. So, it's more than enough."

Vex smiled before saying, "Teacher, please don't hesitate. This watch is not a luxury product, but represents the spirit of the place where I come from and I want Teacher to have it."

In the end, Grapass accepted Vex's gift, and the two of them were chatting over tea. 

Then, Nate entered the room with hasty steps. "Vex, we have a situation."

Vex nodded slightly, then turned to Grapass. "Teacher, sorry, it looks like the lesson has to stop here."

"Understood."

Grapass then got to his feet, and after giving a small bow to Vex and Nate, he quickly left the room.

--- 

Camp Terry

As soon as report from Captain Stark came in, Harley Quinn immediately sent reinforcement. The entrance leading to the underground tunnel was widened, while security perimeter to ward off Gray Wolf and Black Eagle was established.

The emergency compound was named Camp Terry, and when Vex arrived, he was greeted by a salvo of Chain Gun M230 30 mm trying to repel a flock of Black Eagles.

While shaking Vex's hand, Colonel Meyer said, "We've already taken down five Black Eagles leads, but other flocks are still coming."

"Then, we will continue to take down every incoming herd's leads."

Vex then followed Colonel Meyer to command tent, where a geologist from Brazil named Elias Carlos was preparing a drawing desk.

Colonel Meyer casually said, "Carlos, please enlighten us."

"Sure." Carlos nodded slightly before starting to explain, "So far we only know the tunnel leads to the north and south. No idea how far, how many levels, or how many branches.

Fortunately, the tunnel walls are made of a dense, hard, and dry layer. So radio waves can work well in the tunnel."

Vex raised his hand before asking, "Are we going to do paperless cave mapping?"

"Yes, but not as instant as you see in the movies. We still have to send exploration teams down to the tunnel."

Carlos held out a 1 meter long stick, made of polymer, and there was a big light and a micro emitter at the top of it. Then, with a sparkling face he resumed his explanation.

"Allow me to introduce Disto Beacon. This tool will help the mapping process using radio waves, as well as being a relay for communication networks. The explorer teams just needs to stick it along the tunnel with a distance of 200 meters or at every turn.

Then, the computer will do the basic mapping. But for more in-depth results, specialists should be sent to do the mapping and analysis manually, using compass, clinometer, drawing board, shovel, and other primitive tools."

Colonel Meyer then turned to Vex. "I've prepared the explorer teams. We just need the goals and priorities."

Vex tapped his fingers on the table before saying, "The priority right now is to find out whether this tunnel is a threat to Harley Quinn or not. After that, we'll decide what to do next."

""Understood.""

Colonel Meyer and Carlos calmly replied in unison.

--- 

The exploration teams prepared by Colonel Meyer consisted of 80 personnel from CQB Company. They were divided into 8-man squads, where 5 teams would move north and the other five would move south. Each team would bring 30 Disto Beacons, and enter the tunnel at 15-minute intervals.

Right at the tunnel entrance, Carlos placed the first Disto Beacon. After confirming that it was functioning properly and connected to the mapping computer, Carlos nodded at Vex.

Vex then looked at the exploration teams before saying, "Well, good luck and don't get lost down there."

""""Sir."""""

All of exploration teams’ personnel smiled slightly, and then they began the operation. The first team to move south was Sierra One, led by Sergeant Kurt. Meanwhile, the first team to move north was Utah One, led by Sergeant Marco. The first two teams immediately entered the tunnel, and it wasn't long before both of them were out of sight.

*****