The UNSC Needs You! Chapter 4 — Fireteam Darwin

It had been a few weeks since Echo Squad began basic training, and the routine had settled into a predictable rhythm that repeated each day without variation. The morning started with a ten-mile run to build endurance and shake off the remnants of sleep, followed by a quick meal in the mess hall where recruits fueled up on standard-issue chow designed for high-calorie sustenance. After that, they showered and prepared for the day's core activities, focusing on physical and mental transformation to mold them into effective soldiers before granting access to advanced roles.

The regimen emphasized self-improvement through diverse combat skills. Recruits trained in multiple hand-to-hand styles to handle unarmed encounters, along with close-quarters combat using knives for precision strikes in confined spaces. Those who demonstrated proficiency with blades received permission to practice with swords during limited free time, though such training held secondary importance; the bugs possessed a significant size advantage over humans, and proximity close enough for edged weapons often meant certain death in ninety percent of cases.

The bulk of their time centered on mastering standard-issue firearms. The primary weapon assigned to all was the MA5 Series Assault Rifle, a reliable tool for frontline infantry that required simple point-and-shoot operation but demanded control over its recoil to avoid being thrown off balance. Recruits with superior marksmanship also practiced with Designated Marksman Rifles and BR55 Battle Rifles for mid-range engagements. Sniper training remained on hold, though Sergeant Zim meticulously recorded performance scores to identify candidates later. In addition, they learned to deploy fragmentation grenades effectively, along with handling other field equipment such as secondary sidearms for backup scenarios.

When not actively firing on the range, the squad dedicated hours to weapon maintenance. They disassembled, cleaned, and reassembled their gear repeatedly, fostering an intimate knowledge of each component to ensure reliability in combat. This cycle of physical exertion, skill acquisition, and technical familiarity reinforced the foundation needed for their evolution into capable warriors.

Today marked a pivotal shift in Echo Squad's training regimen, as Sergeant Zim planned to announce promotions to Private First Class within each fireteam, selecting leaders based on weeks of observed performance in endurance, marksmanship, and discipline. These promotions would signal the transition from individual drills to team-based scenarios, where fireteams would simulate coordinated assaults, defensive holds, and extraction operations against holographic bug swarms, fostering unit cohesion and tactical awareness essential for frontline deployment.

For now, the day unfolded like every other, with the squad pounding the base's perimeter paths at the crack of dawn, their boots syncing in the dim pre-light as Sergeant Zim ran alongside

"My girlfriend is a vegetable," Zim yelled.

(She lives in the hospital,) the squad called backt.

"I'd do most anything to keep her alive!"

(I'd do most anything to keep her alive!)

"She's got a new TV,"

(She's got a new TV,)

"It is called an EKG!"

(It is called an EKG!)

"I'd do most anything to keep her alive!"

(I'd do most anything to keep her alive!)

"Her EKG does not rise,"

(Her EKG does not rise,)

"Still she can part her thighs,"

(Still she can part her thighs,)

"I'd do most anything to keep her alive!"

(I'd do most anything to keep her alive!)

"She cannot hear, she cannot see,"

(She cannot hear, she cannot see,)

"But she's got an oral cavity!"

(But she's got an oral cavity!)

"I'd do most anything to keep her alive!"

(I'd do most anything to keep her alive!)

"She can't get out of bed,"

(She can't get out of bed,)

"Still she can give me head!"

(Still she can give me head!)

"I'd do most anything to keep her alive!"

(I'd do most anything to keep her alive!)

"She's got a tracheotomy,"

(She's got a tracheotomy,)

"She can breathe while giving head to me!"

(She can breathe while giving head to me!)

"I'd do most anything to keep her alive!"

(I'd do most anything to keep her alive!)

Dizzy and Cassie shot each other looks while they ran, kinda weirded out by how the chant went. Adam and Quiet just kept going like it was nothing, they'd gotten used to Zim's wild cadences, and if you didn't focus on the lyrics it was kind of catchy.

Dizzy leaned over a bit toward Cassie on a straight stretch, whispering just loud enough over the stomping. "These things keep getting weirder every damn day."

Cassie nodded, letting out a little giggle even though it creeped her out, her ponytail swinging as she kept up. "For real, next one's probably a ballad to his favorite rifle or something."

Zim caught it, his head whipping around without missing a beat, face scrunching up in that over-the-top anger. "Private Poodle! Private Princess! You two yapping like it's tea time? I'll have you scrubbing the shitters with your pretty little toothbrushes till they shine brighter than your old man's movie-star grin, I'll run you ragged till those curls of yours start blowing straight! Double time 'cause of Private Poodle, pick it up, Echo Squad!"

Cassie leaned against Adam as they walked, her breaths coming in heavy gasps, sweat trickling down her neck and soaking the collar of her tank top. "Man, that was brutal," she said, her chest heaving up and down. Adam, with his sharp hearing managed to pick up the rapid thump of her heart like a drum in his ears. "Sarge can be such a cocksucker sometimes."

"I'll second that," Dizzy chimed in, just as wiped out, clinging to Adam's other arm like it was the only thing keeping her upright, her fingers digging into his bicep.

"You guys should know by now that the man's part bat," Adam said with a small grin, not even winded from the run, it felt more like a light warm-up to him, but he kept that to himself. "Besides, it wasn't too bad, right Irina?" He glanced back at her.

She met his eyes with a little frown, her brows knitting together just enough to narrow her gaze.

"Oh right, I mean Quiet," Adam corrected, rubbing the back of his neck.

She flashed him a thumbs up.

Ever since day one, Quiet had stuck with the nickname Zim gave her, insisting on it through signs and notes. Adam didn't get why, she could've picked something else, and he sure wouldn't want to go by Bigfoot forever, but hey, to each their own.

"Yeah, but you two aren't exactly normal, are you?" Dizzy said, shooting him a raised eyebrow as she caught her breath.

"Pfft, tell me about it," Cassie added with a rough chuckle that didn't sound all ladylike. "We got Miss Bullseye back there and Mr. Perfect Scores up front. You guys are gonna make me look like shit when my mom swings by for a visit."

"You can always request a transfer to the other fireteam, I'm sure Briggs and the rest of those meatheads would love to have you," Adam shot back, which got Dizzy giggling and even pulled a tiny smile from Quiet.

Cassie pulled a face like she'd bitten into something sour. "No thank you. I'm too old for farting into bottles and shoving them in people's faces."

"Ugh, they really are disgusting," Dizzy said, shuddering a bit. "I hate to think how bad they'd be if Adam wasn't around to keep them in check."

"I'm sure training'll make 'em grow up a little," Adam replied, though after three weeks, he wasn't holding his breath on that one.

They kept trudging back to the barracks, all of them eager to scrub off the sweat and grime... well, everyone but Adam, who hadn't even broken a sweat. Cassie bitched almost every step, with Dizzy right behind her in the complaint department. "Hey, big guy, odds on you carrying me the rest of the way?" Cassie asked, looking up at him with pleading eyes.

Adam mulled it over for a second. "I'll give you ten, but if you lose, you gotta carry me."

Cassie went pale as a ghost. "I don't think we could lift you if we all tried to." Quiet nodded along, agreeing without a word.

"Come on, I'm not that big," Adam said, putting on a fake pout that Cassie thought was kinda cute.

"Aw, did I hurt the giant's feelings?" she teased, reaching up to pinch his cheek.

"Maybe you should find someone else to lean on," Adam fired back.

"Nooo!" Cassie and Dizzy both whined at the same time. And for the rest of the walk back to the barracks, they laid it on thick, praising him up and down, how he's such a great guy, basically perfect, the whole nine yards.

"Yeah, yeah, okay, we're here you can cut the brown-nosing," Adam said, giving them both a gentle shove onto Dizzy's bunk.

"Thank Jesus!" Cassie exclaimed, planting a big kiss on the mattress, which earned her a shove from Dizzy.

"Keep those grubby lips to yourself, Princess," Dizzy said.

Cassie gawked. "I'll have you know, everywhere I go, people beg for even a smile, let alone a kiss."

Adam rolled his eyes and turned to Quiet. *Lip fillers?* she signed.

He chuckled. "I don't think so."

*Bet?*

Adam thought it over, then nodded. "Bet. Same as before?"

Quiet nodded back.

Cassie and Dizzy didn't notice the side bet, they were too busy bickering about Powerball as they grabbed fresh clothes from their lockers. Quiet did the same, and the three headed to the communal showers, still going at it. Dizzy claiming the Rio Rainbacks were miles better than the Johnny Cages, then throwing in, "Who the hell names a team that anyway?"

Cassie snapped back, "They've got the best coaches in the world, and my family owns the team, so watch it."

Quiet turned back to Adam who had loaned himself onto his bunk. *Coming?* she asked.

Adam shook his head as he got his notepad out. "Writing my Ma a letter, she still likes the old pen and paper, I'll be there in a minute," he replied with a smile.

Quiet nodded before following the other girls into the locker room. In the locker room, they kept arguing while stripping down, the steam from the showers already fogging the mirrors. Cassie yanked off her tank top first, her perky breasts bouncing free, and her nipples hardening in the air as sweat glistened on the smooth curves of her body, her hands brushing over them absentmindedly before she hooked her thumbs into her shorts and shimmied them down, revealing her toned ass and the neat strip of hair above her pussy lips, still damp from the run. "What do you think, Quiet? Rainbacks or Cages?" she asked, trying to pull her in.

Quiet just shrugged, her fingers working the clasp of her sports bra, which she unhooked with a soft snap, letting her smaller breasts free, the pale skin marked by faint tan lines from training gear, her nipples tightening as the air hit them. She folded the bra neatly and set it on the bench, then bent to slide her shorts down her lean legs, stepping out one foot at a time, her ass cheeks flexing slightly as she straightened, revealing her smooth, bare pussy lips, the inner folds peeking pink and slightly dewy from the morning's exertion.

Dizzy wasn't letting it go, though, her voice echoing off the tiled walls as she tugged her tank top over her head, her heavy tits spilling out with a bounce, the dark pink nipples already erect from the chill, sweat still beading along the undersides where they'd been trapped against the fabric. "Oh come on, Quiet, back me up here, the Rainbacks have actual strategy, not just flashy plays from coach's bought with daddy's money. They've won three championships in the last five years without needing a celebrity name slapped on them."

Cassie rolled her eyes, kicking her shorts across the floor toward her locker, her ass jiggling with the motion as she stood fully nude. "Strategy? Please, Diz—the Cages dominate because we scout real talent, not some ragtag colony kids who luck into a few good seasons. And the name? It's iconic! Johnny Cage, action star legend. What do the Rainbacks have? A bunch of no-names they haven't even won a systemia award. Come on, Quiet, back me up here," Cassie said,"

Quiet shook her head with a faint smirk, signing *Not my fight*

Dizzy laughed, shimmying out of her shorts next, her thick thighs rubbing together as the fabric peeled away, exposing her hairy plump pussy with its full outer lips, a few stray beads of sweat clinging to the folds before she wiped them off with her towel. "See? Even Quiet's staying out of it, the girl knows not to start a fight about Powerball. But seriously, Cass, your team's all hype. Rainbacks play gritty, real Powerball. No nepotism, just pure skill."

All three girls walked into the shower room joining the rest of the squad. Quiet moved under one of the shorter ones while Dizzy moved next to her. Cassie stepped under the adjacent shower head, the water hitting her skin with a hiss, streaming over her perky breasts and hardening her nipples further as she soaped up her cleavage, squeezing her tits together playfully while she shot back. "Hype? That's called branding, babe. And nepotism? My dad's got the eye for winners, why do you think we're undefeated this season? Quiet, seriously, you've gotta have an opinion. Rainbacks or Cages? Pick one, or I'll splash you."

Quiet glanced over, water sluicing down her body, her hands now working soap between her legs, fingers slipping along her inner thighs and brushing her labia absentmindedly as she signed *Both suck with* one soapy hand, then turned back to rinse, her ass facing them, cheeks parting slightly as she bent to wash her calves.

Dizzy burst out laughing, the sound bouncing around the steamy room, lathering her curves with foam that slid down her belly to her mound, her fingers parting her pussy lips to rinse thoroughly. "Ha! See, Cass? Even Quiet thinks the Cages are overrated."

Cassie splashed a handful of water at Dizzy, grinning despite herself, the droplets scattering across Dizzy's tits and making her nipples perk up even more. "Oh, shut up, she said your teams sucks too ya know, besides you're just jealous 'cause the Rainbacks couldn't afford a decent sponsor if they tried. But fine, truce for now. This water feels too good to waste on arguing."

The girls started relaxing under the shower, but all three eventually sighed in annoyance as the sound of the Meatheads at the other end of the shower got louder and louder. Tyler 'Meathead' Briggs and his Fireteam—Crash, Brick, and Slug, the same people who had bullied Miles when he got here—laughed like hyenas which ruined the relaxing shower for the girls.

Briggs soaped up his stocky chest, and chucked a bar of soap at Dumbo's feet, who jumped back like it'd bite him. "Watch it, elephant ears, don't wanna slip and crack that empty skull," Briggs barked, his gang howling as Crash grabbed Slug in a mock headlock, rubbing his knuckles into the guy's scalp while Brick flexed his arms, bumping into Calendar on purpose.

Calendar shoved him off, water sluicing down his chiseled abs and over his decently hung dick swinging between his legs. "Back off, you Neanderthals,some of us are trying to clean up without your caveman bullshit."

Pebbles, short but built like a tank, laughed from her spot under the adjacent shower, her stocky frame lathered in suds that ran over her heavy breasts and down her thick thighs. "Yeah, go play grab-ass somewhere else, Briggs. We don't need your stink mixing with the soap."

Dizzy joined in, rinsing her curls under the spray, water cascading over her full tits and dripping from her dark nipples as she shot them a grin. "For real, you guys act like you've never seen a shower before."

Cassie, next to her, giggled while scrubbing her  ass, the suds sliding between her cheeks and over her pussy lips, her perky breasts jiggling with the motion. "What she said. You four couldn't hit water if you fell out of a boat."

Briggs turned his attention to them, his eyes lingering on Cassie's curves as he stroked his average-sized dick under the pretense of washing, the head peeking through the foam. "Oh yeah? Well, if you ladies are tired of playing with farm toys, come over here—I'll show you what a real man's packing. Got enough for both of ya, no need to wait." His gang snickered, Crash pumping his fist like an idiot.

Pebbles burst out laughing, her hands on her hips as water ran down her bushy mound. "Please! They've got enough man in their fireteam to make you look like a twig, Briggs." She nodded toward the door, still chuckling.

Briggs puffed up, his face reddening under the spray. "Oh yeah? That oversized freak Darwin? All bark, no bite. Guy's not half the man I am, I come from a long line of real military men, not some dirt-scratching farm boy playing soldier."

"Nothing wrong with working on a farm, Briggs," Adam said casually as he walked in already naked, showing his sculpted physique, shoulders like boulders, pecs thick and veined from constant use, abs carved deep into an eight-pack that flexed with each breath, arms bulging with biceps the size of most guys' thighs, and legs like tree trunks supporting it all. Like nearly every time they used the communal showers everyone—even the guys—eyes drifted down between his legs, his enormous dick swinging free, easily twice as long and thick as Briggs' even soft, hanging heavy between his thighs like it had its own gravity, the head brushing his thighs as he stepped under the water.

Briggs glanced over, his eyes dropping to Adam's crotch, and his smirk faltered, color flooded his face as he turned away quick.

Pebbles howled, slapping her thigh. "Still think you're more of a man, Briggs?" The whole shower erupted in laughs—Calendar doubling over, Dumbo snorting water out his nose, even Slug cracking a grin—everyone but Briggs, who muttered something under his breath and shuffled back to his shower, keeping his back turned as he rinsed off.

Adam just shook his head with a small smile, grabbing a bar of soap and heading to the open spot by Dizzy, Cassie, and Quiet. He lathered up his chest, the suds running down his rippling abs and over his massive cock, which bobbed slightly under the spray as he washed.

Dizzy, still washing her tits, glanced over and nudged Adam. "Hey, speaking of the big day—Adam, you pumped for that promotion announcement? You're basically a lock for PFC in our team."

Adam rinsed his arms, water streaming off his broad shoulders. "Could be one of you guys, you know."

Cassie burst out laughing, her breasts shaking as she washed her pussy. "Oh, come on, that's hilarious. Like Zim's gonna pass up Mr. Perfect here."

Dizzy joined in. "Yeah right you've been carrying us since day one. Quiet's the only one who could maybe give you a run, but even she agrees."

Quiet signed *He's modest*

They kept ribbing Adam the whole time; Cassie mimicking his deadpan face while Dizzy threw in fake scenarios like "What if Zim promotes the coffee machine instead?" until they finished up, dried off, and dressed in fresh fatigues. From there, they hit the mess hall for breakfast, scarfing down eggs, synth-bacon, and oatmeal while swapping more jokes about the promotions. After chow, they headed outside the Echo Squad barracks, falling into line under the morning sun, standing at attention in front of Sergeant Zim, who paced with his clipboard, ready to drop the news.

Sergeant Zim paced the line, his clipboard tucked under his arm like a weapon, his eyes scanning the recruits with that mix of disdain and indifference. "Now, you shitbags probably know why you're here," he yelled. "And it ain't no ice cream social."

Cassie and Dizzy exchanged confused glances, their brows furrowing as they tried to stay locked in position.

"As you well know, we've been tracking your sorry asses these past few weeks," Zim continued. "How you handle a rifle, how you maintain the damn thing without turning it into a paperweight. Your knowledge of the enemy. Your general fitness, or lack thereof." he looked towards Miles. "It's all been noted, marked down, and filed away. And I'm sure you geniuses know why."

He stopped in front of Miles, jabbing a finger at him. "Private Mumbles, why don't you enlighten the class?"

Miles stepped forward, swallowing hard but keeping his voice cslm. "Today, you'll be deciding who gets promoted to Private First Class, sir!"

"Goddamn, Private, that brain of yours never ceases to amaze me," Zim shot back, his lips curling into a sneer. "It's almost as impressive as your PT scores, which have gotta be the lowest in UNSC history. But Private Mumbles is correct, three of you are getting bumped up. Like I said before, this ain't permanent. Screw up, and you'll be kicked right back into the dirt where I'll gladly stomp on you some more."

Miles stayed silent, his face flushing but he still stood straight as an arrow.

Zim cleared his throat, flipping a page on his clipboard. "Let's get this over with, we've got a lot of shit to do today. Private Meathead, step forward."

Tyler "Meathead" Briggs lumbered out, snapping to attention. "Yes, sir!"

"I didn't have much choice looking through your fireteam," Zim said, eyeing him like spoiled meat. "It was like picking the prettiest pig in a sty. You edged out the others 'cause your intelligence scores were a hair above rock-bottom. But don't get too excited, an ape's still an ape, even if it figures out how to swing a hammer. Congrats anyway, Private First Class Meathead of Fireteam Briggs."

"Thank you, sir!" Briggs bellowed, puffing out his chest.

"Private Mumbles, step forward."

Miles did, bracing himself. "Yes, sir."

"Apart from your atrocious PT, you're decent with a rifle and have a high degree of intelligence," Zim said. "Don't let that swell your head, 'cause all the brains in the world won't save you from a Termined turning you into chow. Work on that fitness, and you might make a decent Marine. Congrats, Private First Class Mumbles of Fireteam Kerr. Step back."

Miles nodded and retreated, a flicker of pride breaking through his nerves.

Zim's gaze shifted to Adam's group, his expression turning almost amused. "Now, who can guess the leader of this little circus? Should I even bother spelling it out?"

Dizzy and Cassie stifled sniggers, their lips pressed tight to keep from breaking out into a grin.

"Private Bigfoot, step forward."

Adam did, standing tall. "Yes, sir."

"Full marks on the range, full marks in PT, full marks on every intel and strategy test we've thrown at you," Zim said, almost grudgingly. "Hell, if I had the pull, I'd ship you straight to ODST school. Matter of fact, maybe you should be the one drilling these maggots, and I'll take your place. No surprise here, Private First Class Bigfoot of Fireteam Darwin. Step back."

"Yes, sir," Adam replied, falling back into line without fanfare.

Zim pocketed his clipboard, his voice rising again. "Now that you've got your shiny new leaders, we're diving into team exercises. You'll learn to fight as a unit, sync up, and kill the enemy before they turn you into bug food. Fireteam leaders, your asses are on the line, your performance gets marked. If you're a shit leader with no sign of getting better, you'll be replaced faster than you can say 'demotion.' Am I understood?"

"Yes, sir!" the squad roared back, voices echoing off the barracks walls.

"Report to the holographic training field, double time!" Zim bellowed, pointing toward the distant pads where sim gear waited.

The squad broke into a jog, falling into fireteam clusters as they crossed the base, boots kicking up dust under the rising sun. All three squads quickly arrived at the simulator and started to get dressed in their battle armour.

Zim veered off toward the control room, an elevated booth overlooking the field, where Corporal Benjamin Rand waited at the console. Zim climbed the steps two at a time, slamming the door behind him. "Rand, fire up the basics, bug patrols on low aggression. Let's see if these PFC clowns can lead without tripping over their own feet." Rand nodded, keying in the parameters as the field below flickered to life.

Zim settled into the observer chair, crossing his arms as Rand adjusted the final dials, the console humming with the sim's startup sequence. The door to the control room swung open behind them, and First Lieutenant Annika Hansen stepped in, her boots clicking on the metal grating. Both men bolted upright, Zim barking "Attention!" as they snapped salutes.

"At ease, Sergeant," Annika said, waving off the formality with a quick gesture. She moved to the window overlooking the field, her uniform hugging her athletic frame, the fabric shifting over her toned legs as she leaned against the console. "Have I missed Fireteam Darwin entering the sim?"

"No, ma'am," Zim replied, lowering his hand and resuming his seat. "They're gearing up now, they haven't started the run yet."

"Good," she said, her eyes scanning the recruits below through the glass, a faint crease of focus on her brow. "I'll be observing on behalf of the captain to verify if your report on that standout holds any substance."

"Yes, ma'am," Zim said, nodding once before turning back to the controls.

"Carry on," Annika added, folding her arms and settling in to watch, her interest piqued at the prospect of confirming whether this Darwin kid was indeed some kind of enhanced asset.

Zim leaned into the intercom mic, his voice crackling over the field speakers. "Fireteam Darwin, get your asses in position, objective's simple: locate the bughole and seal it shut. Move out!"

Down on the pad, Adam, Quiet, Cassie, and Dizzy stood ready in their battle armor, the bulky plates clamping over their fatigues like second skins, rifles cradled in their arms as the holographic emitters whirred to life. The flat field warped around them, rocky walls materializing into a dim cave network, stalactites dripping simulated moisture, the air turning cool and musty with the scent of damp earth.

Cassie shivered under her armor, the plates hugging her curves tight as she gripped her MA5. "This place gives me the creeps, feels like something's gonna jump out and grab us."

Dizzy nodded, her helmet visor fogging slightly from her breath, the suit's padding accentuating her thick thighs as she shifted her weight. "Yeah, like a bad holovid where the killer is hiding in the shadows. Quiet, you feelin' this vibe?"

Quiet signed *Focus,* and her eyes darted to the dark tunnels ahead.

Adam snapped into command. "Flashlights on," The beams clicked to life, cutting through the cave like knives. "Quiet, cover our six. Cassie, left flank; Dizzy, right. Safeties off, weapons hot. Advance in diamond formation, keep your eyes open."

They pushed forward.

Cassie muttered as they moved, her light bobbing over the walls. "Seriously, this sim's too real, it smells like wet dirt and shit. Remember that vid about the colony miners? When we first discovered the termineds, the bugs swarming everywhere, eating people alive."

Dizzy chuckled nervously, her beam catching a drip from the ceiling. "Don't remind me. I'd take an insurrection any day over this. Quiet, you ever been in a real cave?"

Quiet shook her head, but before she could sign more, Adam held up a fist. "Quiet down," he commanded. He stopped and strained his ears, his enhanced hearing picking up the skittering echoes deeper in, faint claws on rock.

He signaled with his hand. "Firing line, wedge formation, center hold." They fanned out, rifles up.

"Get ready, they're coming," Adam said as he aimed his rifle towards one of the many tunnels.

From the tunnels ahead, a swarm of Scavengers burst out. Termineds with chitinous shells and mandibles, their segmented bodies scrambling over rocks in a wave, eyes glowing in the flashlight beams as they charged from multiple angles.

"Open fire!" Adam commanded.

The cave lit up with muzzle flashes, the MA5s barking in controlled bursts. Adam led the volley, being able to fire perfectly with his rifle, dropping half a dozen in the first second. Quiet pivoted to cover the rear, firing her DMR on any of them that escaped the firing line, dropping flankers with headshots that exploded their heads.

Cassie whooped mid-fire, her weapon bucking against her shoulder as she hosed a cluster, bullets tearing through legs and torsos. "Take that, you ugly fucks!"

Dizzy laid down suppressive fire on the right, rounds ripping into the swarm, limbs flying as she laughed through gritted teeth. "Yeah, eat lead!"

The bugs fell in heaps, the last one twitching before Quiet put a final round through its skull. Smoke curled from their barrels, the cave falling silent except for the four of them reloading. Cassie and Dizzy turned to each other, high-fiving with a loud smack, their armored gloves clanging. "Wooo! That was badass!"

Cassie yelled, pumping her fist. "We shredded them!"

Adam smirked under his helmet but shook his head. "Don't celebrate yet, they were just Scavengers. The real warrior bugs are probably deeper. Let's move, stay in formation."

...

Back in the control center, Annika leaned closer to the console, her eyes fixed on the replay feed as Fireteam Darwin advanced through the simulated cave, the holographic bugs crumpling under their fire. A faint smile tugged at her lips. "Impressive," she murmured, turning to Sergeant Zim. "How far out did those bugs materialize from their position?"

Zim glanced at the overlay data on his screen, his fingers tapping the edge of the console. "Around fifty meters, ma'am, standard spawn distance for the low-aggression patrol."

"And he reacted straight away," Annika commented, her voice laced with intrigue as she replayed the moment in her mind. 'He clearly has enhanced hearing, but does that apply to all of his senses?' She wondered.

Corporal Rand nodded, pulling up the timestamped logs with a few keystrokes. "Yes, ma'am, the recording confirms it. He picked up on their movement the instant they activated."

Annika's breath caught for a second, her mind wandering to what other enhancements he might possess. She was impressed. "Pull up the statistics from that first encounter," she said. "How many of his bullets missed?"

Rand complied, the screen populating with firing data in a few grids. "One hundred percent accuracy ma'am, every round found its mark, no strays at all."

Annika raised her eyebrows, leaning back in her chair, as she processed the numbers. Not even she or Captain Davis pulled those kinds of scores on their best days, the precision was unnatural. But the data showed he wasn't alone. "Private Quiet also hit one hundred percent," Rand added, highlighting the line.

"Private Quiet?" Annika echoed, her gaze sharpening.

"Sorry ma'am, Private Sokolova," Rand corrected, zooming in on the entry.

"I see," Annika said, nodding as she reviewed the overlay. "How are her general scores?"

Zim chimed in from his station, scrolling through the squad dossier. "Full marks on the gun range with every weapon we've issued her, ma'am—pistols, rifles, the works. Above average across the board on the knowledge tests, too."

Annika paused. 'So most likely just naturally gifted,' she concluded, though the perfection nagged at her like an itch begging to be scratched.

The three turned their attention back to the main screen, the live feed resuming as Fireteam Darwin pushed deeper into the cave. Annika watched intently, her body tensing with anticipation, ready to note every move that might reveal more about Darwi.

...

Adam scanned the cave's interior, his rifle sweeping left to right in an arc, the flashlight beam cutting through pockets of shadow where moisture dripped from the ceiling. "Conduct a sweep, fan out and check the immediate tunnels for hostiles. Report back in thirty."

The team moved without hesitation, Quiet peeling off to the right tunnel with a nod and walked silently as she braced her rifle against her shoulder, finger hovering near the trigger. Cassie and Dizzy took the left, their boots scraping softly on the floor. Cassie muttered under her breath as she advanced, "This place is giving me serious bad vibes, is this what the real thing will be like?."

Dizzy nodded, her grip tightening on her MA5, "Yeah, i heard that all of their nests are underground."

They probed the short branches while ready to shoot, but the tunnels dead-ended into solid rock without a sign of movement. "Clear," Cassie called out, her voice echoing back to the central chamber.

Dizzy echoed her a second later, "Clear on this side."

Quiet pressed the button on her wrist guard, and a synthesized voice announced, "Clear," in a neutral tone that matched her expression.

Adam nodded as they regrouped. "Fall in." He gestured for them to cluster up, his own light steady on the path ahead. "Dizzy, set up the sonar pulse; start mapping the cave system. Quiet, cover the tunnels, have eyes on any entry points. Cassie, watch our flanks; keep that rifle up."

Dizzy knelt down, pulling the compact sonar device from her pack and planting it on the ground with a soft click. She activated it, and a loud hum filled the air as pulses radiated out, bouncing off the walls to build a holographic projection in the cave before them. The map materialized layer by layer, tunnels branching like veins, converging toward a central chamber deeper in.

Cassie leaned in, her armor's chest plate pressing against Dizzy's shoulder. "What's the play?"

Adam studied the display, his mind piecing together the layout in seconds, he saw a lot of them leading to a nexus point that screamed bug hole. "That's the target," he said, pointing to the convergence. "We'll approach from the eastern tunnel, it's narrower, gives us better choke points for defense. Quiet, take point on recon; scout ten meters ahead and signal if it's clear. Cassie, you're on demo, prep the charges for the hole. Dizzy, monitor the sonar for movement; call out any shifts. Stay wuiet. Move slow, conserve ammo and expect resistance. If we hit a swarm, fall back to the last defensible position and lay suppressive fire. Questions?"

The team shook their heads, falling into step as Adam led them forward, his massive frame filling the tunnel entrance. They advanced in a staggered line, Quiet slipping ahead like a shadow and scouting the area ahead. Adam's ears picked up the faint vibrations first—a distant skittering that grew into audible claws on rock—long before the others registered it. He held up a fist, halting the group without a word, his body tensing like coiled steel.

"Contacts ahead, Scavengers, multiple," he whispered. The bugs rounded the bend, their bodies scrambling over each other, mandibles clicking as they charged.

"Engage, controlled bursts only," Adam ordered, dropping to one knee and firing first, his rounds punching through shells, green ichor splattering the walls.

Quiet pivoted, her shots cracking from the front, dropping two with clean headshots. Cassie flanked left, her MA5 barking as she stitched a line across three, legs crumpling under them. Dizzy covered right, her fire sweeping to shatter legs and send bodies tumbling. The skirmish ended quick, bugs piling up in twitching heaps. They pressed on, Adam directing them around a narrow crevice. "Watch the walls, could be ambush points." His eyes caught the subtle shift in the rock texture ahead, a seam hinting at a side tunnel. "Quiet, check that alcove. Cassie, cover her. Dizzy, pulse again; update the map." The sonar pinged, revealing a branching path they avoided, sticking to the main route.

Another group of Scavengers hit them mid-turn, but Adam called it early. "Incoming, twelve o'clock form up, suppressive fire on my mark." They mowed them down, Adam's reflexes letting him pivot and drop the stragglers before they closed distance, his body absorbing the recoil like it was nothing.

Deeper in, the tunnels widened, and the ground trembled with approaching numbers. Adam's hearing locked onto the thunder of claws—hundreds, a massive swarm boiling from the depths. "Theres too many of them, tactical retreat! Back to the last junction, double time!" They turned and ran, two of them turning to firing over as then and and as the horde poured in.

Dizzy stumbled on a loose rock, her ankle twisting as a bug leaped toward her back. Adam spun without breaking stride, his arm shooting out to grab her collar and yank her upright, his strength hauling her like she weighed nothing. In the same motion, he leveled his rifle one-handed and blasted the Scavenger mid-air, its shell exploding in a spray of fragments. "Keep moving I've got your six!" Dizzy gasped a thanks, limping but pushing on as they reached the junction and set up a firing line, pouring rounds into the swarm until the bugs thinned enough for a breather.

They backtracked to a fork, all theirbreaths ragged—Cassie and Dizzy leaning on walls, chests heaving under their armor, sweat pouring down their faces inside the helmets. Quiet signed Clear for now, but her posture stayed alert. Adam knelt without a hitch, his breathing was fine, and pulled up the holographic map again. "That path's a no-go, the bugs are swarming it and we are too exposed. We'll have to reroute through the western branch; it's longer but has more cover points. Cassie, block this tunnel, set charges for collapse on my signal."

Cassie nodded, pulling demo packs from her kit and wiring them to the walls with quick hands, her fingers steady despite the adrenaline. "Charges set, remote trigger ready."

"Good fall in, weapons check before we move," Adam said. "Quiet, take rear guard; scan for flankers. Dizzy, monitor vitals and sonar, call out any spikes. Cassie, lead the demo chain; if we hit resistance, blow bottlenecks. Let's move out."

They rushed through the cave now, firing on any bugs that popped up in short bursts to conserve ammo. Adam guided them, his eyes spotting hidden alcoves before the map updated, his steps sure on the uneven ground. A lone Scavenger ambushed from above; Adam shouldered it mid-leap, slamming it into the wall with bone-crunching force before stomping its head flat, the crack echoing. "Clear! Keep pushing."

They reached the bug hole, a large pit its a ominous orange, warriors erupted from the sides and the inside; they were massive Termineds with armored exoskeletons and scything claws, towering over the team as they charged.

"Warriors incoming!" Adam shouted. One slashed at Cassie, its claw smashing into her side and sending her flying across the cavern, armor denting with a crunch, blood smearing her visor from a gash on her forehead.

Dizzy panicked, breaking formation to run toward her. "Cassie! Hold on!"

Adam fired, but a warrior swatted his rifle aside. He drew his sidearm in a blur, ducking under a sweeping claw that whistled past his helmet, and unloaded the full clip upward into the bug's underjaw, orange juices squirting out onto him.

"Quiet, cover them! Get to Cassie and Dizzy!" Adam ordered. Quiet nodded, before sprinting and laying down fire to suppress the advancing swarm.

Dizzy reached Cassie, dropping to her knees and pulling her up. "You okay? Talk to me!" Cassie groaned, blood dripping from the cut, her armor caved in at the ribs, pain lancing through her side with every breath. "Fuck, that hurts, feels like a truck hit me. Her armour held, but her ribs felt cracked.

Dizzy hauled her up, helping her stand while Quiet shot from a crouch, bullets pinging off warrior shells. "Come on, we gotta move."

Dizzy glanced up, spotting more warriors flooding in, their claws scraping the floor as they advanced. "Shit, there's too many!" She raised her rifle and fired, rounds glancing off the armor, but the numbers overwhelmed them.

Just as a warrior lunged at them, Adam barreled in, using his bulk to slam into its side like a freight train, the impact cracking its shell and sending it slamming into the wall. He caught the follow-up claw slash in his gauntlet, the force bending the metal but not his arm, holding it as he jammed his rifle barrel into the joint and unloaded, shredding the limb. With a spin, he hurled the dying bug into another, the collision bowling them over.

"Dizzy, get Cassie out now fall back to the entrance!" Adam commanded. "Quiet, toss me the bomb!" Quiet took the pack off Cassie and lobbed the charge pack over without looking, her fire never stopping as she dropped two Scavengers mid-scramble.

"Cover me!" Adam added, catching the bomb one-handed. Quiet fell in behind him, her rifle cracking, each shot finding weak points in the swarm; eyes, joints, underbellies exploding in green mist.

Pp

Adam launched forward into a sprint, moving faster than any of them had seen, his legs pumping with explosive power that ate up the ground. He dodged a claw swipe without slowing, stomping a Scavenger's head flat under his boot, the shell crunching like eggshell. Another bug leaped; he sidestepped and fired mid-stride, blowing its mandibles off. Quiet's shots zipped past him, nailing threats in his blind spot, and covering his advance.

He reached the bug hole's edge, a warrior rearing up to block him. Adam vaulted onto its head, boots denting the shell, and hurled the bomb deep into the pit, the device tumbling a down the whole. "Charges out, retreat!" He spun off, firing behind him as he ran, the team already pulling back through the tunnel.

The explosion ripped through the cave, a deafening boom that shook the cave, flames and debris erupting from the hole. The blast wave hit Adam like a hammer, throwing him forward out of the collapsing tunnel, his armor scraping the ground as he rolled to a stop. Rocks and dirt sealed the passage behind them, the cave stabilizing as the objective cleared.

The team collapsed against the walls, panting hard—Cassie slumped on Dizzy's shoulder, her breaths ragged from the pain, blood streaking her face; Dizzy wiped sweat from her eyes, her chest heaving; Quiet leaned on her rifle, signing *All good?* between gulps of air. Adam pushed up without a hitch, dusting off his armor, his breathing only a little heavy as if he'd just taken a jog. "Yeah I'm fine thanks," he replied.

Dizzy stared at him with wide eyes though she was unable to voice ehat she wanted. Cassie, clutching her side, was the one to break the silence. "Adam, what the fuck was that?"

The sim then down with a sudden flicker, the cave walls dissolving into pixels that faded away, leaving the team sprawled on the flat training pad under the open sky. And just like that, Cassie's dented armor smoothed out, the blood vanishing from her face like it was never there, her ribs no longer aching. Dizzy's twisted ankle straightened, the pain evaporating, and Quiet's minor scrapes healed in an instant.

They all blinked, catching their breaths as the exhaustion lifted, bodies resetting to pre-sim freshness. Adam pushed to his feet first, slinging his rifle over his shoulder with a casual roll. "Sim's over, gear check and stow it. Good work, team." He didn't bother addressing Cassie's question, using the shutdown as his out, and the others were too disoriented to press right away.

They trudged back to the gear storage racks at the field's edge, the sun now fully up and warming their armor plates. Cassie groaned as she started unclasping her chest guard, the metal releasing with a hiss. "That felt way too real... my side's fine now, but damn, I thought I was done for."

Dizzy nodded, popping her helmet off and shaking out her damp curls, her suit's padding peeling away to reveal the sweat-soaked tank beneath. In the storage area they stripped out of the battle gear. Cassie yanked her chest plate free, her full tits bouncing out in her thin undershirt, nipples poking through the fabric as she arched her back to stretch, a satisfied sigh escaping her lips. "God, this stuff's heavy, feels good to breathe."

Dizzy followed suit, unlatching her guards and letting them drop, her ample breasts jiggling free under her top. She bent over to step out of the leg plates, her thick thighs flexing, ass cheeks spreading slightly. "Yeah, but seriously, Adam what the fuck was that back there?" she asked, straightening up and tossing her gear into the locker with a clang.

Adam, already halfway out of his own massive suit—the plates custom-fitted to his huge frame—paused, his chiseled abs glistening as he pulled off the upper half, his broad chest and veined arms on full display. "Don't know what you mean," he said, keeping his tone light.

"Don't know what we mean?" Cassie said, her voice shooting up in disbelief as she stripped her undershirt off completely, her tits fully exposed now. "How about the fact you ran like the damn flash at the end there and straight-up threw a Termined warrior like it was a sack of potatoes? That wasn't normal, big guy."

Adam chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly as he stepped out of his lower armor. "I'm just stronger than I look, I guess."

Quiet, peeling off her own gear nearby smirked at that, signing *Understatement* before folding her clothes neatly.

They were about to dig in more when Sergeant Zim's voice boomed from the doorway. "Attention! Officer present!"

The squad snapped straight, half-dressed or not, salutes flying up as First Lieutenant Annika Hansen strode in. "At ease," she said, her eyes sweeping the group before settling on them with a nod.

She walked up, her boots clicking on the floor. "Congratulations on clearing your first simulation— not many fireteams pull off a victory on the initial run."

"Thank you, ma'am," they chorused, lowering their hands.

Annika turned to Adam, her gaze lingering on his exposed form for a beat—the massive muscles, the sheer size of his cock dangling there—before meeting his eyes. "Private Darwin, come with me. The Captain wants a word."

(AN: So we have made quite a bit of progress with training, I think maybe two chapters until it's over, I don't want to stay on it for two long but I want to establish some group dynamics and personal relationships. They're all strangers at this point so I need to fix that before sending them all into battle. Anyway hope you enjoy.)