C8 Dimensional Organization

In the Meteorite Era, Year 58, early July found Bear City...

At the Joint Central Hospital, within the Survivor Center...

The Dimensional Organization launched a surprise attack.

The relentless barrage of artillery fire obliterated the defense line that the survivors had built with great effort. The warriors of the Survivor Center had contemplated their own demise before enlisting, but they never imagined they would perish under the barrage of their own kind!

The bombardment ceased, and the survivors emerged from the rubble, faces smeared with dirt. Awaiting them were super soldiers wielding Gatling and laser guns, clad in medium-sized power armor.

The makeshift weapons in the survivors' hands couldn't even scratch the paint on the enemy's armor.

As the Central Hospital neared capture, five figures in long robes and masked faces leapt from a fourth-floor window. They scaled walls and fled the city with astonishing speed.

They were the last five members of the so-called "Shadow Society," the group's elders having fallen during the initial bombardment. By the time the enemy's rogue soldiers arrived, only these five remained.

A Kirov airship, repurposed as a gunship, hovered into the airspace above the battlefield. Faced with such overwhelming superiority, a white flag was finally hoisted atop the Survivor Center.

Meanwhile, the five young assassins had already made their escape from the city, speeding away in a six-wheeled pickup.

...

"Hold on, hold on..." Moorer interrupted Ashes, "You're saying the attackers had not only a full array of cannons and power armor soldiers but also Kirov Airships?"

Ashes looked at him, puzzled, "Yes, what about it?"

"Do you realize that these forces are equivalent to a fully equipped power armor brigade from the nuclear era? Such a brigade wouldn't be deployed lightly, even during wartime. And you're telling me... the D organization deployed this formidable arsenal just to target your group of unfortunate survivors?"

Payson, rarely in agreement with Moorer, chimed in, "Exactly... It's preposterous, and... it's illogical and unreasonable. There's no benefit for them in this kind of battle."

"We too found it strange at first..." Ashes began to explain, "But there's something even more bizarre that I haven't mentioned yet..."

About three days after the defense of the hospital, my companion and I returned to the site. However, we were met with an eerie silence—there was no one there. Our fellow survivors, the enemy infantry, all were gone. Yet, the hospital was tidied up impressively, with some of the original facilities even restored.

It was as if the hospital was still operational, except for the complete absence of people. The whole place felt like a ghost town, and we were too apprehensive to even breathe loudly.

I'm not sure if the enemy had overlooked something or what, but there were still plenty of drugs left untouched in the medicine warehouse. Some of the survival supplies we had previously gathered were also still there.

I had intended to investigate further, but my companion held me back, insisting that the heavy aura of the place made it unwise to linger. Reluctantly, I agreed to leave.

Subsequent battles broke out in other parts of the city—the Survivor Center at Central Plaza, the Jade Lotus District... all the work of the Dimensional Organization. It appeared they were intent on wiping out every survivor group in the city. The five of us concluded that Bear City was beyond saving and decided to make our escape. So, on the evening of July 7th, we left the city in our six-wheeled pickup and sought refuge in Vage Village.

...

"So, you arrived at Vage Village on July 8th and managed to survive there for several days until you lost contact with your small team three days ago?" Moorer asked, as if he'd just had an epiphany.

"Exactly. How did you figure that out?"

"Simple deduction..."

"That explains why there were so few supplies left in the supermarket we scavenged. You guys had already taken everything!" Payson exclaimed.

"But that doesn't add up, does it?" Meow questioned, tilting her head. "How could they have stripped such a large village bare in less than a week?"

"What's not to understand?" Ashes replied, clearly annoyed, "My four senior brothers and sisters are top disciples of our Master! Clearing out this village in a week would be a piece of cake for them."

"Well, you three don't seem to have much going on. Why not join me? We're in need of new recruits. Plus, my senior sister, she's really fond of small animals..." Ashes, still showing his youthful naivety, extended the invitation to team up without even fully assessing their situation.

"Um... Let's take a moment to discuss this..." Moorer said, pulling Payson and Meow aside.

"Payson, what's your take on this?"

"I believe... his proposal has merit... Teaming up would indeed significantly increase our chances of survival."

"And what about you, Meow?"

"I... I'm on board as well. He doesn't seem like a bad guy to me. He's quite nice, and importantly, he's really good at petting... very soothing."

After a moment of contemplation, Moorer nodded in agreement and conveyed their collective decision to Ashes. Ashes was clearly delighted to hear it.

"Come with me! It's still early, and if we hurry, we can make it back to camp before nightfall!"