Title: Beyond Conditioning.

Author: Knife Hand

Feedback: Constructive feedback appreciated, flames unappreciated

Spoilers: Nothing Specific.

Rating: M

Disclaimer: I do not own Buffy or Gunslinger Girl... I would buy them all but I am broke.

Summary: The Cyborgs of the Social Welfare Agency are sent on a mission into Africa. Against a massive Demon incursion. Buffy/Gunslinger Girl Crossover.

Colonel Riley Finn stood in the front of the transport, his armoured gauntlet gripping the handhold as he looked over the shoulder of the technician at the transport's command station just behind the cockpit, the heads up display on his helmet linking into the broader tactical network. The transport was one of sixteen, and the smallest, as it contained the command elements of the task force.

In the ten years since Africa had been quarantined and in those years the world had united unlike ever before in the face of non-human enemy, because for once there was no need to invent the justifications needed to fight other humans. As a result, technology had surged ahead, military technology in particular to counter the 'natural' advantages the Demons had. While war had always surged Technology forward, Magic had been the great advantage, once they had figured out how to integrate it without overloading the electronics, which had advanced technology by almost a century.

The commanders of the two other elements of the task force were standing beside him. One was an older gentleman, with the surname of Croce, who somehow made his armour seem like a nice, expensive suit, spoiled somewhat by the advanced assault rifle clipped to his armour and his helmet clipped to his belt alongside a powerful pistol. The other was Faith, who was wearing what was officially known as 'Light' Armour, which had nowhere near as much protection as 'Heavy' Armour that the two men were wearing but it allowed Faith to use her Slayer speed and agility, with a visor over her eyes in place of a full helmet, with an assault rifle and Longsword the most prominent of her weapons.

There were two versions of the 'Light' Armour, one which was equipped with therm-opitc camouflage and advanced sensors suites, known as Recon Armour, which was used by stealthy scouts and Snipers. The other did not have the camouflage or the advanced sensors, instead had slightly better protection without sacrificing mobility but had a lot of pockets, straps and loops, specifically designed for stakes, vials of Holy Water, Swords, Knives and a plethora of other equipment. This version was known as Slayer Armour.

"Two minutes to drop zone." The technician announced.

"Everyone get ready." Riley ordered. "Assume hostile drop zone."

"I don't give a fuck what those dipshit analysts say." Faith said. "I ain't giving up on Boytoy being alive. All the Slayers have orders to keep an eye out for friendlies, and despite all the Tech, the Slayers are still the best way to tell friendlies and there are some things guns can't fight. That's why you got at least one Slayer with each of your Platoons, Corn-fed."

"Colonel, Senior Slayer Lehane is correct. It's the same reason why there is a Fratello with each of your Companies as well." Croce said.

"One minute." The technician said.

Both Faith and Croce turned towards the back of the transport, quickly slipping into their AG harnesses, followed a second later by Riley. There were five soldiers of Riley's Command Unit, four in standard Heavy Armour and one in a Communications modified version. Four Slayers in their trademark Light Armour, with visors instead of helmets and an array of axes, sword and knives in addition to firearms. Croce's team was the most diverse. There were two older men and one older woman, with all the hallmarks of veteran soldiers, in Heavy Armour, and four younger women in their mid-twenties, who were in Slayer Armour, with helmets and a much heavier firearm focus than the actual Slayer, with a few knives being the only bladed weapons in evidence on their armour.

"Hillshire, Ferro, Armando, keep your teams well-spaced during the drop. Alyssa, stick close to me." Croce ordered.

"Yes, Giuseppe." Alyssa replied.

The jump light went from red to green and the door in the floor of the transport slid open, revealing a long slit down the centre of the aircraft.

"Go. Go. Go." Riley ordered.

Within a second, everyone in the small command transport stepped forward and dropped out of the aircraft and into the dark, moonless night. Without the optical enhancements of the armour, Riley would not have been able to see the soldier dropping next to him, let alone the entire task force.

From the larger transport well over a hundred figures were dropping out of each aircraft. An entire Regiment of specially trained US Army Demon Hunters, almost two thousand soldiers; eighty Slayers and forty Fratello teams dropping out of the sky, spreading out over a few square kilometres of sky.

Third Squad, First Platoon, Bravo Company, First Division, First Demon Hunters Regiment landed in the target zone in fairly close order, though one of the Privates pushed his AG harness too hard and hovered for a few seconds about a foot above the ground before landing hard. The Sergeant started immediately issuing orders to set up a defensive perimeter around their immediate landing area, a clearing with trees to the south and a ridgeline to the west.

At a hum he felt even through his Armour, the Sergeant looked up and saw a solo figure in Light Armour and a visor land with a grace that clearly indicated, if the Armour hadn't, that she was a Slayer.

"Slayer." The Sergeant said with a nod.

"Sergeant Marks." The Slayer replied, reading his nametag on his Armour. "My name's Jennifer. What's the situation?"

"We're securing the area." Marks said.

"Wait a second." Jennifer said, spinning to face away from Marks and raising her assault rifle.

One of the Privates was being led out of the darkness by two figures, one arm held behind him and an arm around his neck. The fact that these figures could immobilise someone in armour left only three possibilities. Demon, Slayer or Agency Cyborg.

"Identify yourself." A female voice rang out.

Jennifer lowered her gun at the voice when she recognised the voice.

"Sarah, it's Jennifer." The Armoured Slayer replied.

"Who found us on our fourth day at the Council?" the female voice asked.

"Dawn. She confiscated the smuggled beer before bringing us some of the best Hot Chocolate I ever had." Jennifer replied.

The private was released and the two figures stepped forward, both dressed in worn but clean and well-tended clothes and swords on their backs. One was Sarah, a woman in her mid-thirties, just like Jennifer, with dark red hair, and a younger woman in her early twenties with sandy-blonde hair.

"Silvia, get a signal to the Boss." Sarah ordered.

"Got it." Silvia said, before disappearing into the darkness.

"Sergeant, contact command." Jennifer ordered. "Relay to Senior Slayer Lehane that we have contact. Relay these words. 'found a sister'."

The Sergeant went a few feet away to make the call.

"Ten years, Jen." Sarah said. "We were abandoned. So why now?"

"We couldn't get to you, Sarah." Jennifer replied. "We've been trying to contain the invasion to Africa. But now there's a plan. Don't know the details, but there is a plan."

"Is that why Faith's here? What about Buffy?" Sarah asked.

"Buffy Summers is dead. Eight years now." Jennifer replied. "She died stopping a major Demonic invasion."

"I'm sorry." Sarah said.

Silvia returned from the darkness.

"The Boss acknowledged." Silvia reported. "Seven other teams have made contact. But their arrival has drawn attention. The local Demon Tribe is moving in on this position from the West."

"Priority One." Jennifer said into her radio on the command channel. "Reports of incoming Hostiles from the West. Demonic."

"Ridgeline, Ma'am?" the Sergeant suggested.

"Ridgeline." Jennifer agreed, before turning to Sarah and Silvia. "Do you have any other forces nearby?"

The Sergeant was ordering the squad to spread out and take cover along the ridgeline.

"No, we were scouting the area when we saw you drop in." Sarah replied as they also moved towards the ridgeline. "The Boss moves headquarters around a lot."

The squad hit the dirt just on the eastern side of the ridgeline, keeping low as they took their positions. Time passed slowly as they waited for the Demons.

"Movement." One of the soldiers reported. "Six hundred meters."

"Fire at four hundred." The Sergeant ordered. "If they get in close, support the three Slayers."

"I'm from the Agency." Silvia said.

"Ok, two Slayers and the Cyborg." The Sergeant amended.

TBC…