IW-229 Houndoom

Statistics

Type: Personnel carried flamethrower

Weight: 10 kg (empty); 25 kg (loaded)

Dimensions: spray wand: 1.5 meters

Range: 55 meters (maximum); 25 meters (effective max)

Ammunition capacity: fifteen 1-second bursts

Ignition system: platinum mesh catalytic igniter

Notes by Doctor Kaminko

It is said that desperate times call for desperate measures. Nowhere is this aphorism more true than in the genesis of what has been termed the HLC's most terrifying and cruel weapon yet: the IW-229 "Houndoom" flamethrower.

The genesis of this weapon can be traced back to "Project High Flyer" — Mossdeep Space Center's research project for non-cryogenic and energy-dense liquid rocket propellants. The project was considered a failure with no propellant fulfilling both criteria as well as being relatively stable and of low toxicity.

With the advent of the war, the results of "Project High Flyer" were reexamined. Much of the results were of minimal use as stability and shelf-life took priority over specific impulse and thus, solid rocket propellants were used in most HLC ordnance. However, one test formulation known by the code name of "Hellgar" attracted interest for use as a potential incendiary weapon.

Examining the documents closely revealed that Hellgar is a 55:45 mixture of 2-fluoro-2-methyl-1-trinitro-4-butyne and 2,3,4-triethylpentaborane. The substance is a clear liquid slightly more viscous than water and with a specific gravity of 2.1. The addition of 2-fluoro-2-methyl-1-trinitro-4-butyne serves to both stabilize the 2,3,4-triethylpentaborane and as a freezing point depressant. Hellgar was rejected for use as a rocket propellant due to the high toxicity of the exhaust products and fuel itself, its corrosiveness to living tissue and the tendency for its exhaust products to attack metal. Toxicology reports also indicate that the liquid has a pungent and very unpleasant musty odor but also noted that detecting the odor already represents a significant exposure hazard. Hellgar's freezing point is −100° centigrade and its boiling point has not been determined as it will decompose before it boils. Water cannot be used to extinguish fires fueled by this substance as it will ignite the borane component of the fuel. Open air combustion tests revealed that the combustion temperature of Hellgar ranges from 1,200oC to about 1,640oC.

As unfortunate as it maybe, accidents that have resulted from the handling and firing of Hellgar for rocketry tests have provided us with valuable toxicological information. Not only is the liquid capable of causing deep and slow-healing burns upon contact with skin, the exhaust contains various boron and hydrogen fluorides that react with water to form hydrofluoric acid, posing a significant risk of corrosive lung damage and systemic fluoride toxicity. Also mentioned in the reports is the propensity for Hellgar to attack peripheral nerves, leading to numbness and other symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. Most common reported symptom is persistent pain often described as burning or stabbing at the injury site. Follow up studies on accident victims suggest that the peripheral neuropathy is permanent.

The most visible portion of the weapon are the dual cylindrical tanks composed of a nickel-copper superalloy known as MSD1036 originally designed for rocketry and aerospace applications. The exterior of the tanks is insulated with durasilk and alumina fiber composite to provide protection against shrapnel. One tank holds ten liters of Hellgar and the other contains pressurized argon at 21 MPa as the propellant. The hose connecting the tanks to the spray wand is composed of the same superalloy that is used in the tanks. Fluoroplastic hoses were considered but the poor mechanical properties of the material ruled out its use. The entire backpack is held on by straps of the same configuration as the standard HLC infantry pack but made of woven alumina fiber reinforced with MSD1036 wires. Organic materials cannot be used due to the intense heat produced by the weapon and the corrosive nature of the fuel and its combustion products.

The spray wand is also composed of MSD1036 and shaped similarly to the BR-541 battle rifle. The spray wand has twin grips for additional control and stability. The trigger is located on the rear grip. Ignition is achieved by passing the liquid stream over a platinum mesh catalyst. This causes exothermic decomposition of the borane component, resulting in ignition.

Very early models of the "Houdoom" had a second trigger on the front grip that retracted the platinum mesh catalyst, allowing the operator to drench an area with fuel and then ignite it with a second shot. This was later found to pose an extreme safety hazard as the fuel was found to ignite after an unpredictable time period due to the borane component reacting with oxygen. As a result, all subsequent models (designated IW-229 Houndoom Mod. 2) lack this secondary trigger and the platinum mesh igniter is permanently fixed in place.

Due to the toxicity of the fuel and its combustion products along with the intense heat produced by the weapon, it is not to be used be used without the associated protective suit, codenamed "Safeguard". This particular piece of equipment is a self-contained powered exoskeleton that is capable of providing air for the wearer for approximately five hours thanks to a carbon dioxide scrubber system. An auxiliary oxygen supply lasting about two hours is also present. A climate control system utilizing nevermeltice as a heat sink (cooling capacity is approximately four hours with the internal thermostat set at 25o C) is also present for the comfort and performance of the wearer. A full charge of the battery pack for the suit lasts approximately six hours. Fully encapsulated protective suits worn by Mossdeep Space Center ground crew during fueling operations served as the basis for this particular piece of equipment — indeed, the earliest versions were actually these protective suits with durasilk sewn on the interior as additional insulation and armor. However, it was found that these suits were not capable of standing up to the rigors of combat and their weight made them cumbersome and exhausting to wear.

As a result, Mossdeep Space Center scientists collaborated with the Human-Legendary Coalition Ordnance Development Division to produce a suit that was suitable for combat and capable of withstanding the toxicity and heat produced by the burning fuel. The result of this collaboration was the "Safeguard" powered environmental combat suit.

Entry to this suit is via a rear hatch. Despite weighing approximately fifty kilograms, the suit supports its own weight. Electroactive polymer muscles woven through the underlayer also help in reducing the perceived effort in movement.

The suit consists of multiple layers of materials to prevent heat transfer through any means. The three millimeter thick outer shell is composed of boron carbide-steel cermet plates secured with alumina fiber yarn overlaid onto an alumina fiber cloth; this layer serves to shatter incoming projectiles and deflect spalling as well as serving as the first layer of insulation. Beneath that is a twenty millimeter thick layer of silica aerogel. This layer serves as the main insulation of the suit by blocking heat transfer by conduction and convection. Backing that is a one millimeter thick layer of silvered ceramic fiber cloth to deflect radiant heat. Beneath that is a four millimeter thick fluoropolymer vapor and liquid barrier layer that provides protection from liquid or vapor infiltration. Finally, underneath that is the electroactive polymer muscle layer that assists the wearer of the suit.

The helmet of the suit is non-removable and similar in construction to the rest of the suit. However, it lacks the electroactive polymer muscle layer. The faceplate of the suit is composed of high-purity transparent silica aerogel sandwiched between two sheets of corundum. Both corundum sheets are silvered to protect against radiant heat transfer and glare. An additional corundum window is fitted over the faceplate; this serves to protect the main faceplate from damage.

Because of the nature of these layers, the outer corundum faceplate and the carbide plates are designed to be easily replaced. The suit is capable of multi hit protection (without compromising the environmental seal) against Poison Sting and Pin Missile and rifle fire up to 5.56 x 45 mm FMJ. The helmet's faceplate is proof against Poison Sting and Pin Missile as well as pistol fire up to .45 caliber FMJ. Despite this, reports of the faceplate withstanding 5.56 x 45 FMJ rifle fire and the suit withstanding 7.62 x 51 mm AP rounds without compromising the suit's environmental seal have been reported. Nevertheless, these are conditions that should be avoided.

Testing has shown that this suit can withstand radiant heat of over 2,400o centigrade as well as direct flame impingement of over 2,000 o centigrade for approximately thirty minutes. Extremes of low temperature have not been tested but reports from HLC soldiers stationed in areas such as Snowpoint City indicate that the suit is perfectly functional in such conditions.

Note: This weapon is no longer produced or issued but is still used by some units. Phase out and replacement of this weapon is currently in progress.

Note: Plans for a vehicle mounted version of this weapon with greater range and ammunition supply (dubbed the "Mega Houndoom") were proposed and finalized but production has not yet started due to a moratorium on borane-based incendiary weapons due to their extreme toxicity and propensity for unpredictable, spontaneous ignition. Furthermore, production of MSD1036 has ceased due the lack of the necessary metals.

Note: Information on the longevity of the scrubbers, oxygen supply, cooling capacity and battery pack are based on normal exertion. High exertion levels will result in greater consumption of battery power and oxygen.

Selected Field Reports

"Them 'Doom Troopers' are fucking insane. Then again, you probably have to be to charge into battle with a tank of horribly toxic rocket fuel on your back." Corporal Sharon "Buzz" Hartmann, Company A, 2nd Battalion, 56th Hoenn Infantry Regiment, 7th Armored Division (Fort Mossdeep)

"Effective but refilling this thing is terrifying. I mean, one drop of this stuff could light you on fire or kill you." Meowth, Fort Mossdeep mechanic

"If you can manage to not set yourself, your allies or anything valuable on fire, this is a truly fearsome and effective weapon worthy of its name." Private Harold "Hariyama" Izumo, Company A, 3rd Battalion, 25th Unova Infantry Regiment, 3rd Armored Division (Fort Anville)

"Kaminko! What the fuck is wrong with you!?" Specialist Peter "Hardon" Johnson, Company A, 3rd Battalion, 1st Infantry Division (Fort Twinleaf)

"Absolutely indispensable during the Liberation of Mount Moon." Staff Sergeant Ignatius "Torcher Scorcher" Vaalbar, Company A, 2nd Battalion, 56th Kanto Infantry Regiment, 2nd Armored Division (Fort Pallet)

"Saved my ass during the Liberation of Mount Moon but that 'wet shot' trigger is a disaster waiting to happen." Corporal Rufus "Volcarona" Arjun, Company C, 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Armored Division (Fort Moon)

"The suit's made for intense heat, but it works well against intense cold too." Specialist Indira "Frostbite" Frost, 1st Tundra Warfare Battalion, 26th Sinnoh Infantry Division (Camp Snowpoint)

Tales from the Front Lines

Stone-Shirona Archives, Evergrande City – 008 ADR

The oaken shelves and carpeted floors of the Stone-Shirona Archives were a stark and beautiful contrast to the war torn state of the Hoenn Region. Military personnel and civilians alike browsed the shelves to learn more about the war or reminisce about times before the Undampening.

But outside the open, airy atrium of the library with its sculpture of Lugia and Latias, loomed the metal and concrete barriers, armed checkpoints and watchtowers of Fort Evergrande. It was as if the fort itself stood guard over the library and to remind patrons that the war with Uxie and Ho-Oh was still ongoing.

Jesali Avemunde set the books down on the polished wood table with a thump that seemed to echo around the library. Most of the books were after-action reports as well as first and second hand accounts of assorted battles.

The green-haired young man examined the titles: Dragonbreath: The Story of Mossdeep Space Center's Failed Invention; Into the Dark; Green Flame. The titles all explained the purpose behind the mini-library that surrounded Jesali; he was to write a paper for his military science class making a case as to why the HLC's most infamous — and discontinued — weapon should make a comeback. He took a sip of his now cold tea as he cracked open Into the Dark, the memoir of an HLC infantryman who took part in the HLC's first combined operation with LaRoussian and Ransian soldiers.

The Liberation of Mount Moon.

Mount Moon, Kanto – 003 ADR

Mount Moon, the rocky tunnel that connected Pewter City and Cerulean City was no mere passageway to be traversed and forgotten. Through the decades, it was famed for the eponymous moonstones — an evolutionary stone that coruscated with mysterious lunar energies and prized both for its use in evolution and as a gem. It was also claimed as the home of the enigmatic Clefairy and the starship that legends say they ferried them to Kanto from some far-off planet.

Tourists once flocked by the thousands to collect these stones and see these alien pokémon.

But now, with the Undampening this once popular tourist attraction became a deathtrap. Hordes of bloodthirsty Zubat and Golbat claimed it as their home. The Clefairy and their evolutionary relatives have all but vanished. While most attributed this disappearance to the pokémon being slaughtered by the Zubat, there were a more than few fringe hypotheses out there that claimed the Clefairy had left the planet on their starship.

It was therefore perhaps appropriate that the first Humans to set foot on Mount Moon since the Undampening looked less like soldiers and more like astronauts.

Private Rufus "Volcarona" Arjun stood at the ready, his fingers clutching the spray wand of his IW-229 "Houndoom" flamethrower. Had the soldier not been sealed inside his "Safeguard" powered environmental combat suit, his nose would have been assaulted with the pungent odor of Zubat guano and rotting flesh. The harsh glare of the afternoon sun was filtered by the silvered faceplate of his helmet.

He looked over the other five members of his squad: two Ransian GUNDAMs, two LaRoussian soldiers and the current team leader: Sergeant Ignatius "Torcher Scorcher" Vaalbar.

The sergeant's gruff voice came on over the built in radio. "All right men, we move in and we clear out every one of those Arceus-damned 'mons. Remember, weapons free and we take no prisoners."

The last part really didn't need to be said. Zubat and their evolutionary relatives were completely driven by a desire to feed and utterly lacked the concept of surrender. Indeed, it was less a military operation and more a pest control operation.

And so, following their sergeant's lead, the group headed into the yawning maw of Mount Moon

Corporal Yoshi Asa slowly followed the group. The powerful spotlights mounted on his shoulders panned across the rocky tunnels, their walls smooth from eons of weathering.

While the five-foot tall GUNDAM frame he occupied was positively miniscule - even by Human standards, he thought the loss of over a foot in height was an acceptable trade-off for a second chance to serve his country in a nearly indestructible armored body. A metallic gasp came out from the speaker grille that served as his mouth.

"What is it?" one of the soldiers asked.

"A body," Corporal Asa said as he focused one of his lights on the corpse. It was that of a boy, no older than twelve. A shattered poké ball lay next to him. His eyeless face stared at the stony ceiling and his mouth frozen in a scream for help that would never come. Pale white bone peeked through rotting gashes in his arms, legs and faces. Fang marks, purple and green with post-mortem bruising marred his dark face.

The GUNDAM quickly scanned over the body with his sensors. A metallic creaking sounded as he shook his head. "No. He's been here a while. Regardless, we need to press onward."

Deeper into the cave, the group heard squeaks and fluttering wings as Zubat fled from the blinding light from the two Ransian GUNDAMs.

Soldier Pierre Renaul's finger gently caressed the trigger of his PAR 41A "Manectric" rifle. His HUD indicated that the Zubat were further in.

Despite the cool, recycled air circulating inside his LWIS Mk. II "Lairon" powered combat suit, he could feel sweat beading on the back of his neck. It was a sensation that he was all too familiar with.

A Sandshrew waddled out of the darkness.

Soldier Renaul turned to face the tunnel the pokémon had come from. He felt his stomach sink to his feet as his HUD lit up with warnings that the Zubat were practically on top of them. He switched his rifle to delayed detonation, raised his rifle and fired a burst. The large, explosive tipped 10x24 mm rounds ripped into the Zubat and detonated, tearing them apart in a bloody burst.

He continued shooting every Zubat he could see, raining blood and viscera down upon the cavern floor. A Zubat latched onto his helmet, its fangs glowing with the corrosive venom that was the hallmark of Poison Fang. Unfortunately for it, the "Lairon" powered exoskeleton had the same hard armor plates as its namesake.

And the strength as well.

Soldier Renaul switched to firing his "Manectric" one-handed. Small explosions blossomed along the wall as he missed a few shots thanks to the wings obscuring his view. He stopped firing and with his free hand, ripped the Zubat off his helmet.

A simple flex of his armored electro-active polymer laced glove and the Bat pokémon's brains were smeared over his right hand like juice from an overripe oran berry. He threw the mutilated carcass aside and continued firing.

He breathed a sigh of relief as his suit's HUD indicated that the environmental seal hadn't been compromised.

Corporal Asa's beam saber flared to life as the Zubat swarmed them. Despite their agility, the instinct of a lifelong practitioner of swordsmanship melded with the inhuman reflexes and speed of a computer ensured that they could not evade the glowing blade.

The Zubat feebly attacked him with their venom-laced fangs and blades of wind but the GUNDAM's armor was impervious to anything short of an anti-tank missile. But still, the cloud of fluttering wings obscured his vision and made it difficult to use his sword. The high-explosive "Aqua Tail" rockets that he carried in twin launchers mounted in his wrists were useless — if not out and out — dangerous in a subterranean setting.

"Arjun!" the metallic voice was harsh and sharp. "Burn them!" '

Private Arjun turned around to see a writhing mass of Zubat piled atop one of the GUNDAM soldiers. Blood streaked the robotic soldier's body as he swatted and crushed the Bat pokémon.

"Er, say again?" he said via radio, assuming that he had misheard.

"Do it!" The voices of Corporal Asa and Sergeant Vaalbar rang inside his helmet.

Wasting no time, Private Arjun depressed the trigger on the spray wand of the "Houdoom". A brief hissing was heard as compressed argon forced the fuel into the sprayer and over the catalytic igniter. That hissing soon became a roar as a plume of brilliant green flame spewed forth and enveloped the GUNDAM. Anguished cries and chirps sounded over the roar of flames as the Zubat were instantly burnt to cinders. The brilliant green-white flame outshone the helmet lights of the LaRoussian soldiers and the floodlights of GUNDAMs.

The moment the noises stopped, Private Arjun let go of the trigger. Spots of green fire still dotted the rocky ground but those were soon snuffed out by the metallic foot of the GUNDAM. The robotic soldier was completely unharmed. The only thing marring his armor were the glassy boron oxide deposits and black soot left over from the fuel.

Corporal Asa looked at the HLC soldier and gave a silent nod of acknowledgement.

The group forged their way deeper into Mount Moon. A few Zubat attacked them but they were quickly dealt with by the LaRoussian soldiers and the GUNDAMs. The two flamethrower armed soldiers held their fire as they had low ammunition reserves compared to everyone else.

To their surprise, they saw daylight at the end of the tunnel. The sudden brightness would have temporarily blinded them like the Zubat they were hunting if it were not for the mirrored visors on their armored suits.

The group found itself in Mount Moon Square…or at least the enormous pit that used to be Mount Moon Square. Where there would be chirping of Pidgey and other small avian pokémon, there was complete silence. Not even wind was heard thanks to the location of the square between two mountain peaks.

The only sign of Human habitation was a small wooden building at the edge of the enormous pit…a pit that the Private Arjun and Sergeant Vaalbar were certain had not existed before. Curiosity overtook the two Kantonian soldiers as they peered over the lip of the pit. It was very deep — at least fifty meters deep but their Undampening enhanced senses could pick up what were clearly wires, conduits and supports among the dirt and rocks.

"Corporal Asa," Sergeant Vaalbar said. "Check records to see if there are any subterranean Team Rocket bases in this area."

The GUNDAM paused for a moment and his optics zoomed in on a sign just barely protruding from a collapsed tunnel. He shook his head. "There are no records of any Team Rocket bases in this area. Furthermore, I have noticed a sign in the rubble. The words written on the sign do not match any known Human language."

"Does that mean…" Private Arjun trailed off. He did not need to finish off his thought. Everyone present knew that he was referring to the crackpot hypothesis that explained the sudden rarity of Clefairy by claiming they had left Earth in their starship. A hypothesis that was now starting to look like the truth.

"Possibly," Sergeant Vaalbar said. "Regardless, we are to clear out the Zubat, not go looking for Clefairy technology."

"Roger that." The private backed away from the pit as did the GUNDAM and everyone else.

Sergeant Vaalbar gestured to the intact house. "All right," he said. "We check for survivors. Corporal Asa, you and the other GUNDAM clear the building. He turned to the LaRoussian soldier with the nameplate "CPL Savarin". "Corporal, you also help clear the building. Myself and Private Vaalbar will be standing watch." As the Kantonian soldier was the highest ranked member of their squad, he was the one who issued the orders.

Corporal Asa scanned the house. All that showed up on his sensors were Zubat…hundreds of them. He shook his head. "No life other than Zubat."

Sergeant Vaalbar then spoke up. "All right, we'll take it from here." He gestured for the other soldiers to back away and Private Arjun to step forward. "All others; kill any Zubat that escape."

The HLC sergeant nodded and carefully broke the front window with the metal tip of his spray wand. He squeezed the front trigger and then the secondary as he slowly swept the spray wand from side to side. Clear, slightly viscous liquid gushed out, painting the floor, walls and furnishings with the toxic and highly flammable contents. After about four seconds he stopped, ensuring the room was well-saturated. "On my count. Three, two, one!"

The room exploded into green-white flames as Sergeant Vaalbar shot a half-second burst of flame into the room. His mirrored visor prevented him from being blinded but the intense flash still left some spots in his vision. The white glow emanating from the other window indicated that Private Arjun had also set the room aflame.

The two soldiers backed away and watched as the searing heat burned the Zubat roosting inside alive. Those that survived quickly had their lungs destroyed and fell to the flaming ground as they inhaled the lethally toxic fumes that gave the weapon its name.

The air was silent except for the crackling of the flames. A few Zubat fluttered out but they were either on fire or slowly plunging to the ground, having succumbed to the cardiac effects of fatal fluoride poisoning,

"It is done," Sergeant Vaalbar said as the flames slowly shifted from brilliant green to the more prosaic hues of orange and red. "We continue onward."

He then led the way to the entrance passage, leaving behind the burning house as symbol of the fate that awaited the Zubat.

The cavern entrance into the depths of Mt. Moon was the same dark, dank passageways that led to Mount Moon Square. Footsteps echoed as the group trekked through the dry, rocky passageways. Sandshrew scampered past the armored soldiers. The spotlights of the GUNDAMs played over the walls, revealing claw marks on the walls indicative of Sandslash activity. Thankfully, Sandslash were harmless as long as they or the Sandshrew were left alone.

"No Zubat?" Soldier Renaul asked aloud. He looked at the stalactites.

Sergeant Vaalbar held up a hand. A faint chirping could be heard up ahead. "Not yet."

"I think the Zubat are pushing the Sandshrew out," Corporal Asa said, pointing to the gouges in the walls. They marked with the dark splotches of Zubat guano. A few desiccated Sandshrew corpses lay on the side of the tunnel.

After several minutes of trekking through the tunnel, Sergeant Vaalbar ordered everyone to halt. "We're practically on top of them. Weapons free everyone."

There was a barely audible clattering sound as the two LaRoussian soldiers reloaded their weapons.

Corporal Asa and the other soldiers gasped as they carefully entered and laid eyes on a massive stone chamber. Thousands of Zubat, Golbat and Crobat clung to the ceilings and walls as the lights of the group slowly panned over the enormous cathedral-like cave. If it weren't for the thick layer of guano covering every inch of the cave and the bloodthirsty pokémon, it would've been quite a remarkable tourist site. The few that were awakened by the lights fluttered over to a dark spot in the cave and resumed their slumber.

"On my command." The two Kantonian soldiers held up their spray wands and waited. The GUNDAMs and the LaRoussian soldiers took their positions near the single entrance of the chamber.

Private Arjun's heart thudded in his chest as his finger gently caressed the trigger of the spray wand. He focused on the quiet whirring of his suit's fans and cooling system.

"Fire at will!" The voice of his sergeant practically exploded in his ears as the radio headset broadcast Sergeant Vaalbar's shouted command. He raised his spray wand up and squeezed the trigger.

A brilliant arc of green-white flames leapt from his weapon and struck the ceiling of the cave, nearly thirty meters overhead. The pokémon barely had time to shriek before they were burnt alive as he swept his wand in a downward zigzag motion.

Without bothering to take his finger off the trigger, he aimed at a new spot, painting it with the same toxic flames. The cave was soon lit up with burning Zubat, Golbat and Crobat. Hot green rivulets of fuel trickled down the walls and dripped from the ceiling, even landing on some of the soldiers.

Private Arjun screamed as Golbat slammed into him. His spray wand slipped from his hands as the 55 kilogram impact sent him sprawling. Even through his armored suit, he could feel impact of landing on hard stone. Its glowing fangs dominated his vision as it tried to find a way through the hardened cermet plate armor. Unfortunately, knives were not issued to Houndoom troopers as the standard combat knife of the HLC would be rapidly destroyed by the corrosive fumes of Hellgar. Likewise, metals that resisted the corrosive effects of burning Hellgar were ill-suited for use on edged weapons.

But the soldier quickly improvised. Grabbing a rock from the ground, he brained the Golbat with his impromptu weapon and yanked the corpse away from his face. The ache in his body subsided as he got back to his feet and resumed incinerating the pokémon.

Sergeant Vaalbar sweated inside his suit as he struggled to remove the several hundred kilograms of Golbat that pinned him to the rocky ground and struggled to bite through his armored suit.

Soon, his vision was dominated by a brilliant wave of incandescent green-white and the weight lifted off him. He got to his feet and saw Private Arjun with his "Houndoom" flamethrower drizzling green flames like saliva from the namesake pokémon. Around him were burning or poisoned Zubat convulsing on the stony ground

The soldier didn't know whether to praise the private for his quick thinking or tear him a new asshole for his incredibly reckless action. He got up and let the sparkling green flames on his armored suit burn themselves out. He then nodded and looked around. Dots of dancing green flames marked the ceilings, walls and ground of the cave along with the burnt carcasses of Zubat and their evolutions.

"On your left!"

Corporal Savarin's shout through the headset came moments too late for Soldier Renaul. The infantryman swiveled and put three rounds dead center into a charging Crobat. The 10x24 mm explosive tipped rounds tore into the Bat pokémon, the small explosions tearing the creature in two.

His HUD indicated that Corporal Savarin was ten meters away and to his left, his rifle on burst mode. Directly behind him were Corporal Asa and the other GUNDAM.

An insistent chime inside his helmet indicated that something was approaching him. Before the LaRoussian infantryman could react, he was slammed against the stone wall with such force that the wall itself — and likely some of his armor plates, he thought — was cracked.

He shook his head to clear it and was confronted by a Crobat, its wings fading back to the normal purple from a metallic grey. Soldier Renaul groaned as he tried to bring his "Manectric" to bear. Even with the shear-thickening fluid impregnated impact absorbent layer of his "Lairon", he'd definitely have a few new bruises maybe even a broken bone or two.

But the Crobat was faster and a wavering yellow sphere of energy struck him.

"Confuse Ray," he muttered before his vision completely went white.

Sergeant Vaalbar allowed himself as smile as he filled a smaller adjoining alcove with the green flames. It was full of Zubat eggs and infant Zubat but he reminded himself that Zubat and their ilk were not pokémon worthy of a fair fight or honor like a Gallade or Houndoom. No, they were merely pests to be extirpated from Mount Moon.

It was then an explosion knocked him down. To make matters worse, he could hear the hissing of the pressurized argon leaking from the tank. Unfortunately, the area he was in was slick with fresh guano and the gas rushing out of the punctured tank propelled him along the filthy ground.

It would have been a comical sight had Corporal Savarin and Private Arjun not just seen Soldier Renaul fire off a quick burst at Sergeant Vaalbar.

Private Arjun could only blink as he watched the LaRoussian soldier calmly raise his rifle and aim at Sergeant Vaalbar. Thinking quickly, he sprinted towards the rogue soldier and slammed into him.

He was just moments too late. As he made contact with the LaRoussian soldier, a few rounds were fired off. Most of them harmlessly exploded around Sergeant Vaalbar but one made a direct hit on his fuel tank.

Expecting to see an explosion of green flames, the Kantonian soldier was instead relieved to see his superior skittering across the ground on his back as he flailed about like an overturned Squirtle.

That relief was short-lived as he saw the rogue soldier raising his rifle to take a second shot. On instinct, he batted the rifle away and grabbed hold of its barrel, trying to wrest it from the vice-like grip of the exosuited soldier.

"What in the fucking name of Arceus has fucking gotten into you!?" Private Arjun bellowed as an armored fist slammed against his helmet, making his ears ring.

At that moment, he saw Corporal Savarin running towards him. His heart leapt into his throat. Had both LaRoussian soldiers gone rogue? His fear was allayed when Corporal Savarin managed to pin down the confused soldier.

"Private Arjun." Corporal Savarin's heavily LaRoussian accented voice came through his headset. "Activate his Lum sprayer."

"What."

"The button behind the panel at his waist."

The Kantonian soldier did as told, quickly popping open a small panel and slamming his fist into the button. A green mist quickly filled the LaRoussian soldier's helmet. In a few seconds, Soldier Renaul sat up.

"What happened?"

"You nearly killed my commanding officer!" Private Arjun snapped.

"Last thing I remember was a Crobat attacking me, a yellow-white flash of light and then I saw two Gabite using Flamethrower on some people."

The Kantonian soldier narrowed his eyes — an action invisible behind his mirrored visor.

"Confuse Ray," Corporal Savarin said. "He's not responsible for his actions."

Corporal Asa and the other GUNDAM overheard the transmission as they slaughtered the fleeing Zubat with swords. The other GUNDAM's shoulder mounted 7.62 x 59 mm electrically fired rotary gun rent the air itself asunder with a great tearing sound as the robotic soldier stitched the air with gunfire. Powdery debris and blood rained down as the other GUNDAM mowed down Zubat and their evolutionary relatives that tried to flee the toxic atmosphere.

Of course, there was no risk of ricochets as the rotary gun was loaded with frangible ceramic rounds that would break into harmless dust upon striking rocks or anything of similar hardness. Like the armor plates of the Kantonian and LaRoussian soldiers.

The moment he saw Soldier Renaul raise his rifle and aim at Sergeant Vaalbar, he prepared to attack the rogue soldier but the other Kantonian soldier had somehow managed to outspeed the GUNDAM and struck first.

Seeing as everything was apparently under control, Corporal Asa resumed hacking apart any Bat pokémon that that tried to escape the choking atmosphere inside t he cave. Already a pile of Golbat, Crobat and Zubat chunks lay at the two GUNDAMs' feet.

He kept one of his sensors on the three soldiers grappling on the ground in case things really went sideways.

Luckily, his fears were allayed when Soldier Renaul got up and instead of shooting the other soldiers began talking to Corporal Savarin.

"Corporal," the other GUNDAM said. "I am detecting a large concentration of Zubat in a side cave. Other than that, there are no Zubat life signs."

"Must be their nesting site," Corporal Asa said. He relayed the information to Sergeant Vaalbar.

Sergeant Vaalbar was helped to his feet by both LaRoussian soldiers. He then heard Corporal Asa's latest transmission. He looked around the cave; there were no more Zubat or their evolutionary lines. Glassy black deposits of boron oxides marked where the two Kantonian soldiers had burnt away the Zubat.

"All right, let's finish this," he said. "Private, you take point since my weapon's now completely fucked."

"We'll be coming along in the event you require additional backup," Corporal Savarin added.

"Very well."

Private Arjun carefully peeked into the cave that was pointed out by Corporal Asa. His headlight panned over the sleeping Zubat. He raised his spray wand and squeezed the trigger.

Nothing happened.

There was no roaring Dragonbreath-esque plume of green fire; all that was audible was a brief hiss. The ultrasensitive hearing of the Zubat picked up the sound and they immediately awoke and began to fly about in panic as the bright lights from the four soldiers disoriented them.

Sergeant Vaalbar began undoing the straps of his flamethrower. His plan was a desperate as it was bold.

"The fuck?" Soldier Renaul said as he watched the Kantonian sergeant lob his already damaged flamethrower into the cave. The impact awoke the remaining Zubat and they began flitting about in confusion.

"Shoot the tank!"

The LaRoussian soldier instantly obeyed, raising his "Manectric" rifle and firing a three-round burst at the tank. Even though the rifle had been set for soft targets, meaning the explosive-tipped rounds would detonate on impact, the alumina fiber and durasilk sheath was designed to protect against shrapnel, not direct hits from rifle fire. Almost simultaneously, the tank split open, a shimmering pool of clear liquid flowed out onto the ground and the liquid immediately flashed into searing, green-white flames.

Soldier Renaul watched as the toxic fumes from the fuel began to have their lethal effects. Zubat fell from the air as the fluoride fumes stopped their hearts. Already, his HUD indicated that the air inside the little cave both had a lethal amount of hydrogen fluoride and dangerously low oxygen levels.

"We're done here." Sergeant Vaalbar motioned for the soldiers to back away as the green flames continued burning. The group then headed back to the entrance where the two GUNDAMs were located.

"All right men," Sergeant Vaalbar said. "I think we've removed all the Zubat." He turned to Corporal Asa.

"There are no Zubat life signs in this area."

Sergeant Vaalbar nodded. "Good. We'll head to the clearing and call for evac."

The exit out of the Zubat cave was silent and uneventful. When they made it Mount Moon Square, Sergeant Vaalbar used his suit's inbuilt radio to call for evac.

As the rest of the soldiers kept their weapons ready, he peered into the crater that revealed the subterranean Clefairy base. The Kantonian wondered if they'd ever come back to this place or if it would remain one of the many forgotten battlefields of the war.

Stone-Shirona Archives, Evergrande City – 008 ADR

Jesali shuddered as he closed the cover of Into the Dark. He looked at the author of the book and nearly spat out his tea in surprise.

Staff Sergeant Ignatius Vaalbar.

The same man who was giving a talk about his experiences today in the auditorium. The student quickly packed up his books and made his way to the main auditorium.

The auditorium was reverently quiet as Sergeant Vaalbar addressed the group. The soldier was wearing his digital earth camouflage uniform with its speckled pattern of browns, tans and greys, looking like the pebbly surface of a mountain trail.

"Everyone," he said. "It's an honor to be here. I know many of you have heard of the HLC's most famous battles: the Xanadu Incident, the Battle of Route 123 and the Siege of Groudon's Pass just to name a few. But who here has heard of the Liberation of Mount Moon?"

There were no raised hands.

"Well, I am here to rectify that. You see, many of the minerals we use right now are harvested from Mount Moon's caverns. If we hadn't won that battle, the HLC would be fu—, excuse me, toast right about now." The soldier made a mental note to tone down his language; his usual profanity-laced dialogue was perfectly acceptable among his fellow soldiers but he wanted to present a clean-cut, professional image in front of the civilians.

He continued. "Well, I am here to share with you the story of the Pacification of Mount Moon in the hopes that it is not forgotten."

Sergeant Vaalbar kept the audience in rapt fascination as he regaled them with tales of how the group found proof that the Clefairy did in fact leave Earth aboard their starship. Of course, he showed pictures of said ruins…after assuring everyone that everything related to the Clefairy and their starship was not classified. He also talked about the LaRoussian and Ranseian soldiers he fought alongside. He even talked about the friendly fire incident.

At the end of the two hour discussion, Sergeant Vaalbar asked if anyone had questions.

And of course, there was always the one idiot asking how many people he killed. Sergeant Vaalbar's response was a simple, "Next question."

When Jesali raised his hand, he asked two questions:

"How'd you and your fellow 'Houndoom' users get the nickname 'Doom Troopers'?"

"What's your opinion on the Houndoom being discontinued?"

Sergeant Vaalbar nodded. "Well, the 'Doom Troopers' nickname started out as a contraction of 'Houndoom Troopers' but a lot of the soldiers themselves took it as a nickname simply because it was intimidating. Yes, I know most of our enemies aren't really affected by such propaganda but it's good for morale."

He then frowned. "As for the 'Houndoom' being discontinued…REMFs thought it was too dangerous for use. What kind of logic is that!? War is dangerous and that weapon is perfect for clearing out caves. Anyways, any more questions?"

Jesali sat back in his chair and took notes as the soldier relayed his war stories. The young man nodded.

This was going to be quite a research paper.