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A Tale of Three Brothers
Gesture of Goodwill

Gesture of Goodwill

The transport settled softly onto the landing pad outside Clareo's Military HQ, its engines winding down as the doors slid open.

Team Unknown disembarked first, their movements precise but unhurried. They strode down the ramp with an air of quiet dominance, their hooded masks concealing all emotion.

Behind them followed Halcyon's elite forces, their steps deliberate, though fatigue etched their faces after three grueling days.

Waiting outside the main building stood Dr. Lewis, arms crossed, and his face composed in a neutral expression that masked an inner storm. The soft morning light glinted off his glasses as he greeted the returning squads.

"Welcome back," Dr. Lewis said, his eyes briefly scanning Team Unknown as they passed him without a word, their demeanor still tightly wound from the mission.

Val nodded curtly as he passed by. Ember didn't even look up, muttering something under his breath, clearly still simmering from the tension of the mission. Fon, Bo, and Riggs exchanged knowing glances, smirking slightly as they moved past Dr. Lewis.

Once Team Unknown disappeared into the HQ, Dr. Lewis turned to the Halcyon forces, his polite smile shifting into something a bit warmer. "Commander Elira," he greeted, extending a hand. "Congratulations on a successful mission. Your team performed admirably."

Commander Elira, her face a picture of composed professionalism despite her exhaustion, shook his hand. "The credit goes to Team Unknown. Their methods may be unconventional, but they're effective."

Dr. Lewis chuckled lightly. "Yes, that's one way to put it." He motioned for them to follow. "If you'll come with me, we've prepared a small gesture of appreciation before you leave."

Dr. Lewis led the Halcyon soldiers through the winding halls of HQ, his steps brisk yet unassuming. Commander Elira followed closely, her gaze darting around, noting the stark efficiency of Clareo's HQ personnel. The Halcyon soldiers, while weary, still carried themselves with dignity as they marched behind their commander.

Finally, they reached a set of double doors. Dr. Lewis paused, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"Here we are," he said, pushing the doors open.

The sight that greeted them was unexpected. Inside, the function hall had been transformed into a festive space. Streamers and banners adorned the walls, and a large table groaned under the weight of an impressive spread of food and desserts.

A group of Clareo's non-combat personnel stood waiting, and as the doors opened, they unleashed a volley of confetti cannons with a unified shout of:

"Congratulations and thank you, Halcyon Forces!"

Commander Elira blinked, momentarily stunned by the sudden outburst. A few of her soldiers exchanged glances, unsure whether to feel touched or humiliated by the display. Their fatigue gave way to surprise, though a few managed small, tired smiles.

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Elira chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Well, I didn't expect this," she admitted, stepping into the room.

Dr. Lewis stepped aside, gesturing for the guests to enter. "Consider this a gesture of goodwill from Clareo. After three days of grueling training, you've earned a proper send-off."

The Halcyon soldiers slowly filed in, their hesitation giving way to the allure of the feast awaiting them. They approached the table cautiously at first, but as the enticing aroma of roasted meats, freshly baked bread, and an assortment of desserts hit them, their discipline cracked.

The once-formal soldiers quickly fell into a more relaxed rhythm, their laughter and conversation filling the hall. Plates piled high, they reveled in the moment of respite after their rigorous training under Team Unknown.

"Pass the desserts," one soldier muttered through a mouthful of food, reaching for a tray of pastries.

"Careful," another teased. "You eat like that, you might end up on the wrong side of Commander Elira's glare."

Meanwhile, Commander Elira sat at a smaller table near the corner, sipping a cup of tea as she observed her team. She gave a small nod of approval. "They've earned this," she murmured to herself.

Dr. Lewis, standing off to the side, surveyed the room with a practiced calm. However, his gaze kept drifting to Team Unknown, who were seated at a table farther back. Unlike their usual battlefield chaos, they seemed unnervingly composed—too composed.

Riggs leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, his expression far too smug as he nudged Bo with his elbow. Fon was already munching on a piece of bread, his mask only covered half his face, exposing only his mouth, his nonchalant demeanor hiding a glint of mischief in his eyes.

Ember sat with his arms folded, his usual intensity subdued, but clearly watching everyone with hawk-like focus. Val, uncharacteristically relaxed, toyed with a cup of coffee, his posture giving nothing away.

"This is too boring," Riggs muttered under his breath.

Bo smirked. "Give it time. Chaos has a way of finding us."

Fon chuckled, tossing a grape into his mouth. "Or us finding it."

"Keep it contained," Ember warned, his voice low but laced with mischief. "We're supposed to be setting an example, not scaring off our guests."

Val's lips twitched in a faint smirk. "Where's the fun in that?"

Ember shot him a look but said nothing.

In the corner of the room, several HQ personnel gathered, their voices hushed.

"Team Unknown's too quiet," one whispered, his gaze darting toward their table.

Another nodded. "They're up to something. Always are."

"I'm betting Frost's the first to make a move," a third chimed in, holding up a small stack of credits.

"No way," another argued. "Umbra's got that look. He's plotting."

The betting pool grew as more HQ personnel speculated which member of Team Unknown would break the silence.

As the Halcyon soldiers enjoyed their meal, one suddenly froze, glancing down at his plate. "What the…?" He poked at his food, which had started glowing faintly.

Another soldier leaned over, eyes wide. "Is that supposed to happen?"

Before anyone could react, the glowing food burst into a harmless but dramatic puff of sparkling smoke. The startled soldier yelped, nearly falling out of his chair.

At Team Unknown's table, Fon and Riggs struggled to contain their laughter, their shoulders shaking. Bo snorted into his drink, while Ember rubbed his temples, muttering something about professionalism. Val, meanwhile, sipped his coffee, his expression unreadable, as his mask too covered only half his face, exposing only the mouth, but his posture betraying faint amusement.

Commander Elira arched an eyebrow, her gaze locking onto Team Unknown. "I take it this is normal?" she asked Dr. Lewis.

Dr. Lewis sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Unfortunately."

The hall erupted into laughter, the tense atmosphere dissolving into camaraderie as the Halcyon soldiers laughed along, albeit nervously.

As the celebration continued, Dr. Lewis watched Team Unknown with a mix of exasperation and reluctant fondness. "One day," he muttered, "just one day of peace. Is that too much to ask?"

The hall filled with laughter and lighthearted chaos, a fitting culmination to the Halcyon forces' training. While Team Unknown's reputation on the battlefield instilled fear and awe, their off-duty antics painted a different kind of legend—one of unexpected mischief and camaraderie.