Chapter 79: The Numbers (Patreon)

The mysterious number station continued its relentless broadcasts, its cryptic messages becoming increasingly concerning. What initially seemed a curiosity escalated dramatically when the source from the mountain range took actions Bell hadn't anticipated. Now, the situation had taken a more disturbing turn for Bell personally. The sequences of numbers transcended the limitations of radio waves, infiltrating his thoughts as voices that whispered directly into his mind, straining his sanity.

"Those numbers," Bell muttered, nursing a cup of coffee on the balcony of his apartment. He gazed out over the view, which outwardly appeared no different from the usual civilian landscape of Joint Base Frostwood. Yet, the atmosphere had shifted noticeably. 

The community's mood had soured, with the increased irritability of its residents manifesting in constant horn honking and frequent outbursts of shouting—a stark contrast to the norm. The phenomenon of the number station broadcasting directly into people's minds escalated rapidly, transforming from a disturbing circumstance into a straight-up psychological operation to degrade the Federation’s moral. 

To complicate matters even more, Lukas was pushing for an even more drastic measure: wiping out the entire area of the mountain range with a nuclear strike, effectively turning it into a radioactive wasteland. Bell strongly opposed this idea, pointing out that they were facing unknown threats from unknown origins with unknown capabilities. Caution was paramount when considering any escalation of force. There was a very real risk that any aggressive action they took could backfire, particularly given the enigmatic nature of the enemy.

The gravity of the situation was further emphasized by Lisa, the only individual seemingly unaffected. Despite the unsettling whispers and nightmarish visions of numbers plaguing Bell's mind, Lisa remained unperturbed. She was among those who objected to the use of nuclear weapons, fearing they might be confronting the very creators who engineered her. Lisa, being bulletproof, non-biological, and sentient, posed a troubling question: what if they were faced with thousands of entities like her, all equipped with Aether reactors like hers? The potential devastation was unimaginable.

With exhaustion clouding his thoughts, Bell couldn't help but question the readiness of his troops. If he, along with the entire command staff, were struggling to sleep, he could only imagine the state of readiness of his forces, who endured constant discomfort. Even when he did manage to sleep, it offered no respite from the relentless onslaught of number sequences haunting his dreams.

"WARNING 22-12-21 21-4-7-6-15-12-9-9-8, 16-12-22-19 8-5-12-14-8-1-18-4, 25-9-19-9-20 51.5074Q, 0.1278Z.”

The numbers blared incessantly, day and night, accompanied by eerie music that sent chills down the spine. Needless to say, the relentless broadcast had a profound impact on everyone, including children and infants, creating utter chaos. There was simply no escape; sleep provided no relief, nor did general anesthesia.

However, the escalating situation from the other side spurred Bell to devise a countermeasure. His sole objective was to locate the source of the broadcast and neutralize it. Only then could he reconsider his next move in response to any further escalation. Something must have triggered this phenomenon, but what? It couldn't have been the nuclear strike; that had occurred a month prior to the onset of the mysterious broadcast, and the whispers had begun just three days afterward.

Bell, weighed down by sleep deprivation and the relentless barrage of the enigmatic number station's transmissions, resolved to make his way to the command center at last. Grabbing his car keys, he swallowed a tablet of ibuprofen before heading to the parking lot. As he descended the stairs, he noticed the collective weariness etched on the faces of those around him, likely grappling with the same torment.

Upon reaching the parking lot, he was greeted by a weary reservist. The elf's fatigued eyes and red gaze added to the eerie atmosphere. "Morning, sir," she greeted. 

"Morning, corporal. Aren't you supposed to be at the college?" Bell inquired, considering her age and the unit she served in. 

"All activities have been suspended until the disturbance ends, or so they say," the female elf replied nonchalantly. "Anyway, have a good day, sir. I have to continue my patrol." With that, she walked away from Bell, her H&K 416 in hand, circling the three-story apartment building while conversing over her radio. A frustrated curse escaped her lips, "Damn numbers."

Bell nodded as he settled into his Accord, refraining from turning on the radio to avoid triggering the broadcast of the numbers. With determination, he drove towards the command center, situated in the heart of JB Frostwood. Upon arrival, he was greeted by a scene of bustling activity, a stark contrast to the unsettling atmosphere outside. Officers and analysts were deeply engrossed in their tasks, communicating with troops stationed at Maruno River and attempting various methods to decrypt the mysterious numbers.

Upon reaching the designated meeting room on the top floor, Bell found himself among familiar faces: Lukas, Amelia, Lisa, and unexpectedly, Hussar, awaited him. Bell took his seat, signaling the start of the meeting.

"Thank you all for being here today. Our focus will be on determining a proportional response to the unknown threat. I've heard some of your proposals. However, let's be frank; resorting to a nuclear option is too extreme. I advocate for a more targeted strike in their region."

"What kind of targeted strike are you proposing?" Lukas interjected, emphasizing the formidable capabilities of the enemy. "These are the adversaries who have neutralized our 5th generation aircraft. We have LGM-118 missiles with sufficient warheads to deliver the necessary impact. Anything less would likely yield less than unsatisfactory results."

Both Amelia and Lisa disagreed with the opinion.

"Are you out of your mind? What if our nuke gets disabled by their telekinetic mumbo-jumbo technology?" Amelia protested, her engineering expertise coming into play. "I agree with a limited strike. Let's target the source of this frequency and get on with our lives. And Lukas, don't forget, they made the 120th ASD vanish without shedding a drop of blood. What do you think our nuke will do to them?"

"Are you seriously suggesting we use our trump card, twice?" Lisa interjected, unaffected by the broadcast and speaking from her unique perspective. "There must be something within me that prevented me from being affected. My body is equipped with technology our medical team could only dream of: a food vaporizer that converts calories to pure energy, self-healing nanites, next-gen armor, processing power incomprehensible to Amelia and her team. Do I need to continue? The point is, Amelia is right. We only need to weaken the enemy, not annihilate them."

Holding his head in confusion, Lukas could only respond, "I'm running out of options to get us out of this mess quickly."

"Your initial proposal still holds weight, though. What's wrong with that?" Bell interjected. SEAD would still be effective. While they lacked precise location data, they could launch a barrage of missiles to destroy the general area where the jammers or broadcasters were located. The key was saturation, and with the budget at their disposal, they could execute a rapid alpha strike.

"I doubt it would be effective," Lukas replied with skepticism.

"Well, anything is better than nothing, and nuking is certainly not our way of escalating," Bell added with conviction. "Let's opt for SEAD missions with alpha strike characteristics. We'll saturate the suspected area with a focused barrage of missiles. Additionally, we need all patrol aircraft in the air for coverage. Is that satisfactory?"

Lukas, though dissatisfied, begrudgingly agreed. "Fine..."

"This approach will provide us with a window for de-escalation, unlike resorting to a nuclear option," Lisa chimed in, emphasizing the importance of their chosen course of action.

"Alright, let's proceed with the SEAD mission, incorporating alpha strike tactics," Bell affirmed firmly, his voice resonating with resolve. "We'll neutralize the threat by disrupting their broadcasting capability without resorting to extreme measures."

He shifted his focus to operational details. "I want all patrol aircraft in the air for coverage and intelligence gathering post-strike. It's crucial that we monitor any changes in the enemy's broadcasting capabilities closely and remain prepared to adjust our tactics accordingly."

Lukas, though visibly dissatisfied with the avoidance of a more forceful response, acknowledged the command. "Understood," he said, albeit reluctantly.

"Absolutely, Bell," came the supportive reply.

Expressing a personal longing, Bell added, "I wish I could join the Air Force on this mission."

Lisa, with a hint of humor, quickly dismissed the idea, "Hahaha, I think not."

Lukas, amused by Bell's comment, teased, "Since when have you been so eager to take to the skies?"

“Since I am trained? But yeah, it’d be a bad idea.”

"Let's not forget why Hussar is here," Lisa redirected the conversation. "Hussar, the floor is yours."

"Thank you, Bell. To begin, I must address a concerning possibility—that our adversary in this instance may be Zugspitze."

"Your kingdom?" Bell inquired, seeking clarification.

"Yes, that kingdom," Hussar confirmed, his tone carrying a mix of gravity and resignation.