Otaku Translation: Carrying the Bases of Starcraft C136

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Chapter 136: Claire

By the time Tang Fang returned to the radar control center, the horizon had been painted a vivid crimson. The defensive barricades made from wrecked vehicles and machinery had been cleared away, leaving the airstrip littered with stretchers bearing the fallen fighters of the uprising.

They lay shrouded in pristine white cloth, their bloodied faces cleaned by comrades who had cared for them even in death. Their arms were crossed gently over their chests, as if they were merely sleeping peacefully under the fading light of dusk. Among them rested little Sam and his brother, bathed in the soft glow of the evening sky, their expressions serene, like children lost in an untroubled dream.

Tang Fang clenched his fists unconsciously. When would this shadow-cast sky return to its boundless azure? When would this tragedy—soaked in tears and blood—finally come to an end?

“Thank you…” A soldier from the special ops team hurried past him but paused abruptly upon recognizing Tang Fang. He snapped a crisp military salute before continuing on his way.

“Thank you,” Tang Fang murmured back, his voice barely audible, almost swallowed by the stillness around him. In these people, he saw ideals, trust, sacrifice, camaraderie, and brotherhood. They might have had their quirks and flaws, but when they picked up their weapons to fight for their vows and hopes for a better future, the brilliance behind their actions outshone everything else. In them, he witnessed the radiance of humanity—a truth that only the darkest times could birth the brightest heroes.

With the battle concluded, the wounded had been moved to safer locations. As Tang Fang entered the room, his attention was drawn to a female officer standing nearby.

She was a young woman likely in her mid-twenties, standing at about 5’8”. Her golden hair was tightly coiled into a neat bun at the nape of her neck, framing a face so fair and symmetrical it seemed sculpted. Deep-set eyes sparkled with crystalline clarity, while her nose—slightly upturned yet delicate—added a touch of refinement.

Her lips curved ever so slightly, reminiscent of a lotus flower emerging from water, lending her an air of gentle grace. There was no denying her beauty; she was like the moon on a quiet night—elegant, restrained, and breathtaking.

Had she smiled, she might have captivated countless admirers. Dressed in simple attire, she would undoubtedly exude charm and poise. But alas, there was no smile to be found. Instead, her expression was cold—as frigid as a mountain spring in winter, distant and unyielding. She wore bulky camouflage fatigues and a tactical vest smeared with dried bloodstains, though whether they belonged to enemies or allies remained unclear.

Her piercing gaze carried the sharpness of a blade always ready to strike, her stern features resembling the icy peaks of a frozen wasteland. Stern, resolute, and unwavering—qualities one wouldn’t expect from someone with such a seemingly tender and graceful appearance.

As Tang Fang observed her, she too noticed his presence. After glancing briefly at his powered armor, her dagger-like eyes softened slightly.

At that moment, a black woman officer approached Tang Fang and introduced the young woman. “This is our Special Ops Team Captain, Claire Lockhart.”

“Captain, this is Talosal, the allied commander who arrived with Lieutenant Colonel Nehemiah.”

“Hello.” Both exchanged brief nods, their greetings curt but polite.

Claire remained as impassive as ever, her expression devoid of emotion—neither joy nor sorrow, only seriousness. This puzzled Tang Fang. Was she incapable of smiling, or was this icy demeanor innate? Then again, considering her rank at such a young age, her frosty "ice queen" persona fit perfectly with her role as captain of the special ops team.

He hadn’t seen her when he first arrived at the radar control center with Nehemiah, so he held no particular impression of her. Given how aloof she appeared—like a block of ice—he felt no inclination to warm up to her either. After exchanging pleasantries, he stepped aside to examine the maps of the surrounding terrain, searching for a shortcut to Droznyr Naval Port.

The black woman officer who had introduced them earlier seemed to sense the awkward tension filling the hall. Smiling warmly, she approached Tang Fang and introduced herself. “I’m Iyeta Hoppskin.”

Tang Fang paused what he was doing and nodded politely. “Talosal Clauber.”

She grinned, revealing a row of dazzlingly white teeth, straight and orderly like bricks laid in perfect alignment. “Thank you… for everything here, at Makanda Arsenal, and in Nablanca Town.”

“No need to thank me. I just did what I believed was right,” Tang Fang replied with a faint smile.

“About earlier,” Iyeta began hesitantly, “please don’t take it personally. The captain isn’t what you think she is. It’s just…”

Tang Fang interrupted her with a small smile and a shake of his head. “Don’t worry. I’m not that petty. I’m looking at these maps because I’m trying to find a shortcut to Droznyr Naval Port. It has nothing to do with Captain Lockhart.”

“Oh, that’s good then.” Iyeta sighed in relief, visibly loyal to Claire and clearly worried their interactions might strain relations between the two groups.

“Captain, Captain… Claire!” Just then, a muffled voice called from outside. Benjamin Gerard, the lieutenant second-in-command of the special ops team, strode into the hall and stopped directly in front of Claire. His voice was low and heavy with suppressed emotion as he asked, “What should we do with them?”

Claire looked up, her gaze sweeping toward the doorway. Fifty or so rioting miners stood solemnly outside, each carrying stretchers laden with victims of lethal neutron radiation exposure. The doses ranged from 1 Sv to 6 Sv. Though they had survived the battlefield, they now faced unimaginable torment in the days ahead, destined to die slowly, painfully, and full of regret.

An oppressive silence fell over the room, suffocating everyone present. Watching their comrades suffer without being able to help evoked a profound sense of helplessness, a pain akin to knives slicing through their hearts. Some wept openly, others turned away to hide their weakness, and many clenched their fists tightly, their eyes burning with hatred.

Iyeta rose slowly, her body trembling slightly with emotion. She walked outside, gazing at each stretcher in turn. Some of the injured groaned softly in agony, others lay pale and gritting their teeth, and some stared blankly, their faces ashen and lifeless.

Before claiming their lives, neutron radiation had already stolen their hope, leaving behind only the torment of impending death.

Iyeta said nothing, merely whispering the names of those on the stretchers. Among them were members of the special ops team, newly acquainted miners, close friends with whom she shared crude jokes, and strangers whose faces she’d never seen.

The area was crowded with acquaintances, friends, and brothers of the afflicted. Their faces bore expressions of sorrow and despair. Many wept openly, clutching the hands of the dying tightly, afraid that letting go would mean losing the warmth of someone dear, watching them grow cold and sink into endless darkness.

Claire emerged from inside, her boots thudding heavily against the ground with every step.

Iyeta stepped aside, and all eyes turned to Claire, awaiting her command.

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