Blood Queen - Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Setting Out

***

April 30, 2019, night.

In the vast base, lights blazed. Men and women in black combat uniforms moved through various corridors and halls. Occasionally, an electric vehicle towing military supplies would slowly pass by.

In the well-soundproofed indoor shooting range, the roar of firearms echoed. Men and women holding rifles or pistols were intently engaged in shooting practice.

Over a dozen moving targets zipped through the range at extremely high speeds, shifting up and down, their trajectories complex and dizzying.

A tall youth in a black combat uniform maintained a calm expression. His pistol fired repeatedly, unconcerned with frequent misses, his eyes only tracking newly appearing moving targets, quickly pulling the trigger.

As the last bullet was fired, the chamber locked open. The youth let out a soft breath, pulled the slide, removed the magazine to check and confirm no bullets remained, then put down the gun and removed his ear protection.

“Brother, that’s amazing! Even with these highest difficulty moving targets, your hit rate is over 30%!”

Another youth in the same uniform approached, looking enviously at the display screen at the other’s shooting station.

He had a baby face, with faint signs of childhood cleft lip corrective surgery, making his lip lines noticeably unnatural and marring his overall facial appearance.

“Xiao Yao, I’ve already told Captain Meng that you won’t be participating in today’s operation.”

The tall youth skillfully disassembled his pistol, neatly arranging the large and small parts on the table in a certain order, without looking up. His face, sharp as if carved by a knife, remained expressionless.

“How is that possible! Brother, I specifically applied to join the Black Armor Squad! I plan to follow you from now on!”

The baby-faced youth suddenly became anxious, his face turning red. His high-pitched voice mixed with the intermittent gunfire in the shooting range, sounding somewhat jarring.

The tall youth turned to silently look at the baby-faced youth for several seconds, then turned back to start reassembling the pistol, his movements precise and skilled.

“Attention all units, Black Armor Squad Operation 497, T-minus 2 hours. Support team first check, Logistics team first check… All assault team members please report to the operations briefing hall. All assault team members please report to the operations briefing hall.”

Just as the baby-faced youth was about to say something more, an electronic announcement sounded throughout the shooting range, including in everyone’s ear protection.

The men and women in the shooting range simultaneously put down their weapons, removed their ear protection, and filed out.

As a woman passed by the tall youth, her peripheral vision caught the display screen at his shooting station. She seemed shocked by his training results, briefly revealing a surprised expression, but quickly resumed her pace as if nothing had happened, walking out of the shooting range.

“Hey, brother, you must be the best in the Black Armor Squad, right? Look at that woman, she was shocked by your score.”

The baby-faced youth chuckled, feeling vicariously proud, and even let out a soft whistle at the retreating woman’s back.

……

The spacious operations briefing hall could accommodate hundreds, but now only about 70 young men and women were seated.

Most seats were empty, and everyone present seemed to deliberately maintain distance from others, sitting sparsely.

Meng Huai slowly paced through the aisle between the seats, his gaze coldly sweeping over the nearby and distant team members.

No one in the hall spoke, only the steady, heavy sound of military boots on the floor could be heard.

As Meng Huai passed each person, the shadow of his tall figure looming over them, the already straight-backed team members involuntarily sat up even straighter.

Passing one particular seat, Meng Huai stopped, slowly turned, and looked at a baby face before him.

Feeling the pressure of the Captain’s gaze, the baby-faced youth quickly stood at attention, eyes straight ahead.

Raising a hand, Meng Huai took a folder from his assistant who was closely following him, flipped through it, and finally spoke: “Gu Yao, 20 years old, previously a food delivery rider. Completed all three phases of Dark Arrow Unit training, voluntarily applied to join the Black Armor Squad assault team, officially joined yesterday.”

“Yes, Captain,” the baby-faced youth called Gu Yao puffed out his chest again.

“Don’t you know the rules here? Relatives and friends are not allowed to join the same operational squad. You probably can’t stay here. And since you just joined yesterday, you don’t need to participate in today’s mission.”

Saying this, Meng Huai turned his gaze to another tall youth not far away.

“Why not!” Gu Yao suddenly turned his head, staring resentfully at the still unfamiliar Major Commander. “Don’t try to fool me! The people at the training center said it was just a ‘suggestion’! Dark Arrow has never had such a written regulation! Why can’t I stay in the Black Armor Squad?”

At these words, many Black Armor Squad members simultaneously cast complex glances.

Meng Huai ignored Gu Yao’s questioning, his expression icy, continuing to look at a certain corner as if deaf to the words, where a tall youth was sitting quietly.

“Xia Yan!”

Brushing aside a few stray thoughts in his mind, Meng Huai called out the other’s name.

With a swift motion, the tall youth stood up, as if he had already guessed the outcome of the exchange between Gu Yao and Captain Meng Huai.

“Arrange which team he goes to yourself!”

Having said this, Meng Huai strode quickly towards the hall’s super-large projection wall, gesturing to his female assistant behind him, indicating the official start of the operation task briefing.

The female assistant glanced around at the silent Black Armor Squad assault team members, especially at the smug-looking Gu Yao, inwardly sighing slightly, then quickly pressed the remote control in her hand.

“The coordinates for this operation are in the northeastern mountain area of D City, S Province. The specific location is a confidential military factory from the Third Front Construction period, connected to the outside world only by a military road built half a century ago. At the beginning of this century, due to corporate bankruptcy and restructuring, the factory site is currently in an abandoned state.”

The female assistant used the remote control to flip through maps and satellite photos on the large screen. In the meeting hall, apart from her voice, it was quiet enough to hear a pin drop.

“The operation will officially begin at 1:30 AM. Three assault teams will board transport planes, perform a night air drop on the military road in the mountain area, then move cross-country to enter the operation area. They will then breach from the south, north, and east sides of the factory area, simultaneously controlling the ground-level factory buildings and underground factory areas!”

At this point, the female assistant used a wireless pen to draw several lines and key points on the screen.

“According to analysis from the Dark Arrow Western Surveillance District Intelligence Department, a Baron-level small vampire family entrenched in D City will conduct a family Embrace ceremony to develop new members at the mission coordinates. We estimate 5 to 10 Knight-level vampires, with the possibility of encountering Baron-level vampires, so this Black Armor Squad operation is classified as Level C. There are no live capture requirements; completely annihilate all targets on site! The support team is responsible for perimeter sweeping and establishing a containment line. Subsequent cleanup work will be completed by the intelligence team.”

“Considering that the underground factory area will still be retained as a national strategic asset, this operation will not employ air force for destructive bombing.”

As map after map and operation planning details were displayed, the briefing continued for over half an hour, with everyone present wearing grave expressions. This kind of all-out operation, especially with the possibility of encountering high-level Baron vampires, was something most had never experienced.

“We depart in one hour, everyone start preparing. I know most of you here have only participated in two or three Level D, E, or even F missions, but I believe that as long as everyone strictly follows the combat regulations, dealing with a Baron-level vampire small family shouldn’t be difficult.”

The electronic screen turned off, and Meng Huai stood up again, looking around at all the team members.

Although his expression was very calm and even somewhat cold, Meng Huai’s heart was heavy.

Because now, not only was the Black Armor Squad assault team chronically understaffed, but less than half of the members had been in the squad for over a year.

……

The armory preparation area was orderly and murderous.

Rows of firearms and unidentified equipment were neatly arranged on metal tables or racks. About 70 men and women in black uniforms were silently checking and organizing their weapons and ammunition.

Opening an ammunition box, 12-gauge shotgun shells full of killing intent appeared before his eyes. Xia Yan grabbed one and pressed it into the magazine of a semi-automatic shotgun.

On the other side, Gu Yao also grabbed a handful of silver-tipped bullets from another box and pressed them into a pistol magazine.

“Brother, can bullets made of silver really kill vampires?” Gu Yao asked in a low voice after loading several magazines, his face showing nervous excitement.

“Mm, it’s just human experience in fighting vampires for over a thousand years… Your instructors at the training center should have taught you all this already.”

Xia Yan answered while disassembling the semi-automatic shotgun in his hands into pieces, then reassembling it.

“Hey, it’s my first mission, I’m just too curious. By the way, brother, look at her.” Gu Yao mimicked Xia Yan’s actions, starting to disassemble his own weapon while nodding towards a young woman silently preparing her weapons and ammunition not far away. “It’s the one from the shooting range who looked at your score. She’s pretty. What’s her name?”

“Hm?” Xia Yan turned his neck slightly, just glancing with the corner of his eye, then nonchalantly began checking the night vision device on his combat helmet. “That’s Second Lieutenant Tao from the third team. What, are you interested in her? Didn’t anyone tell you when you joined not to get too familiar with people in the squad?”

“Brother, I just got here.” Gu Yao rubbed his head, looking confused. “I’m new, but I’ve noticed everyone in the Black Armor Squad is so cold, unwilling to get close. Can we accomplish great things like this?”

“Captain Meng will give you the answer later… Newcomers like you are supposed to start with the lowest Level F combat missions, gradually understanding our operational nature and combat characteristics.”

Xia Yan smiled, taking a few cylindrical grenades from a nearby rack and handing them to Gu Yao. “Take a few more incendiary and smoke grenades, better safe than sorry.”

As he spoke, the fully armed Meng Huai approached. The assault team members in the armory preparation area stood up one after another, waiting for the Captain’s pre-departure inspection or speech.

Meng Huai, with a cold face, looked around at his team members, finally resting his gaze on a certain female team member’s face. “Since we have another newcomer in the team, Tao Qiao’er, why don’t you explain the squad rules again.”

Having said this, he stepped back and leaned against a nearby ammunition rack.

The female lieutenant pointed out by Meng Huai stepped forward half a step, eyes straight ahead: “First, except for executing combat missions, team members are not allowed to gather privately, let alone engage in romantic relationships. Second, during mission periods, each small team’s leader is the primary commander. Team members must follow the small team leader’s orders in everything. In case of casualties, the pre-designated successor will take over command. Third, in combat, if a teammate is found injured and cannot be immediately evacuated, check for blood invasion reaction. If… if positive, dispose… dispose on the spot.”

Having likely repeated this many times, Tao Qiao’er spoke very fluently, but still hesitated and stuttered a bit during the last part.

“Mm, word for word, very good…” Meng Huai raised his head, his gaze sharp. “Although we are all rare blood type carriers in this world, it doesn’t mean we can 100% resist vampire blood invasion. Once we become new vampires, given the rarity of our blood types, it’s like giving humanity another nightmare. So, I hope when it’s unavoidable, everyone can make the choice that’s most beneficial to humanity. I’m not against you developing feelings and becoming close comrades, but I’m afraid you won’t be able to do what’s necessary when the time comes.”

As he spoke, his gaze turned to the pale-faced Gu Yao and the unusually calm Xia Yan. “Gu Yao, I’ll remind you one last time in front of your brother, you can still back out now. There will be plenty of missions in the future.”

“I… I want to participate. I’ve completed all the required training, I won’t drag everyone down.” Gu Yao looked around at the unfamiliar teammates with various expressions, then shook his head resolutely.

“Very well, as long as you have this awareness.” Having said this, Meng Huai walked towards the exit. Just before leaving, he suddenly turned back, his gaze once again sweeping over his subordinates’ faces. “Don’t be complacent. Even if someone can’t bring themselves to do it, in the future, whether it’s the Black Armor Squad, the Embroidered Robe Squad, or even the entire Dark Arrow Unit, they will still hunt down those who have been blood invaded, and it will be the highest priority…”

……

At 23:00 hours, the electric door on one side of the armory preparation area slowly opened, revealing a straight, upward-sloping passage. Along both sides of the passage, rows of indicator lights lit up in sequence.

The fully armed Black Armor Squad combat members filed in, their heavy footsteps chaotic yet solemn. Each person carried a heavy pack, heads slightly lowered.

Gu Yao closely followed Xia Yan, feeling his legs trembling slightly. He accidentally bumped into a teammate beside him. Just as he was about to apologize, he met the cold face of a young woman, and quickly lowered his head again, blushing.

At the end of the passage, it suddenly opened up into the ground-level military airport of the base. A large black military transport plane was parked on the runway. Its rear hatch was wide open, revealing the brightly lit spacious cabin. Four massive engines were in low-speed pre-takeoff state, emitting a heavy roar.