Chapter 14: Orbital Drop Troopers

"Relax, girl. We're not going to hurt you. In fact, we saved you, didn't we?" Li Mingze gestured with open hands to show he meant no harm. His personal translation system converted Imperial's language into Monika's native language.

"A-Are you aliens? I don't want to be dissected! Please, let me go!" At this moment, there was no trace of the fearless warrior who once battled mutated insects in the ruins. Instead, Monika curled up into a ball, looking like a pitiful child.

"Ahem… We don't need to dissect anyone anymore. A simple scan tells us everything we need to know. Don't be misled by the brainless sci-fi novels and movies from your time. We come in peace, to help you and your people escape from this hell and give you the chance to breathe clean air again! (snickers)"

"Cough cough… Maybe you don't know this, but our ships came to your planet long ago. Back then, your species hadn't even developed civilization. It wasn't until one of our ships crashed on your world that your civilization began to take shape. So, in reality, this planet has always been Imperial territory! But instead of caring for it, you destroyed our rightful land with nuclear weapons!" Li Mingze cleared his throat and continued, "However! We are merciful. The Empire has decided to save you! Give thanks to the Empire! Give thanks to our glorious Emperor for this generosity!"

Monika was deeply moved. Having grown up in a shelter and later wandering alone in the wasteland, she had never experienced true companionship. The Empire's 'benevolence' filled the void in her heart, making her feel warmth and care for the first time. It was like having a loving family. This was something she had longed for since childhood. 

"I am willing to heed the Emperor's call! I swear my eternal loyalty to the glorious Emperor!" Monika even used terms she had learned from the educational machine since childhood.

"Good! From today on, you are a soldier of the Free Liberation Orbital Drop Troopers! (snickers)" Li Mingze patted Monika on the shoulder with satisfaction.

"Go find the security officer and learn how to use your new equipment. From now on, you'll follow the 'rescue' team back to your home planet and save more of your people who are suffering!" Without looking back, Li Mingze waved his hand as he left. Not because he was trying to act cool, but because he was struggling to hold back his laughter. This girl was way too easy to deceive. It had barely taken any effort to recruit an alien collaborator.

"Understood! Please, deliver a message to the Emperor for me! I, Monika, am a citizen of the Empire in life and a ghost of the Empire in death!" Monika shouted with conviction.

What she didn't know was that this rapid indoctrination wasn't just due to her childhood education—it was also the work of the observation room itself. The room had been specially modified to emit electromagnetic waves synchronized with a subject's brain waves, lowering their psychological defenses and increasing brainwashing efficiency tenfold!

Since Monika had already been exposed to the basics of Imperial knowledge from her childhood educational machine, she quickly adapted to using powered armor and a Gauss rifle. Within just a week, she could easily hit moving targets at 100 meters without any shooting assistance.

Her first mission as a soldier of the Free Liberation Orbital Drop Troopers was to lead a squad back to her old shelter to retrieve a vital piece of technology—the learning machine, a unique creation of her civilization. The Empire had been developing similar technology, but this primitive atomic-age society had somehow perfected it! With the learning machine, the Empire could drastically accelerate its population growth—imagine sixteen-year-olds being fully trained and ready to work!

This was the ultimate catalyst for Imperial expansion! With this, the Empire could reach a population increase of ten billion every sixteen years! The dream of rapid planetary colonization would finally come true. After all, what good were hundreds of planets with only a few million people on each?

Monika strapped herself into her seat, securing the safety harness. She ran a final diagnostic on her powered armor and confirmed that everything was functioning properly.

"First Independent Squad of the Free Liberation Orbital Drop Troopers—move out!" The squad leader issued the command after ensuring all personnel were ready.

The landing craft detached from the research vessel, its engines igniting with a blue glow as it descended towards the outskirts of a ruined city.

As the auxiliary landing thrusters fired, they blew away the dead moss surrounding the old shelter elevator. The craft hovered in place as Monika and her squad disembarked from the rear hatch, moving forward in a tactical formation.

"Sir, the elevator is out of power!" A soldier inspecting the control panel reported.

"Plug in your power armor's battery. You stay up here and keep watch."

"Understood!" The soldier pulled a universal power cable from his armor, adapted it to match the shelter's power input, and connected it.

Clank, clank, clank! The old gears creaked as the elevator platform slowly descended, carrying Monika and her squad into the depths of the shelter.

"Clear!"

"Clear!"

"Clear!"

After confirming the area was secure, the squad proceeded cautiously.

"This place is ancient. Rust is everywhere. I wouldn't be surprised if all the equipment has corroded into junk," a researcher muttered.

The team moved forward cautiously—until suddenly, a scraping noise echoed from the ventilation ducts above them!

Something was crawling inside.

The entire squad immediately aimed their weapons at the ducts, fingers on their triggers—but the noise stopped just as suddenly as it had begun. The eerie silence returned.

Remaining calm, the squad leader pulled three spherical drones from his backpack and activated them. The drones emitted a faint red glow as they floated down the corridor, scanning the shelter ahead.

"Sir! Multiple humanoid heat signatures detected inside the shelter! Possible survivors!" A soldier monitoring the drone feed reported.

The squad leader turned to Monika. "Didn't you say that after the riot, the shelter became uninhabitable? That everyone either died or escaped to the surface? Then why are there still people inside?!"

"Sir, I swear I'm telling the truth! When I left, there was no food and no power—staying here was impossible!" Monika frowned, confused and uneasy.

"Then let's go find out for ourselves. Stay alert and advance with caution!"

The squad pressed forward into the darkness, unaware that they were about to step into a nightmare—one that would haunt them for the rest of their lives.