21/Kryo/2467 R. S. 4:15:31
Central Highway District Four,
"Ground Zero", Centralia.
A matte gray with glossy dark purple stripes Class-B Heavy Drop Ship hovers inches off the ground as it awaits boarding, Marines huddle inside and take their seats, while some stay on the opened hatch, to keep an eye out. Even though the Millitant presence in the area is thought to be snuffed out, the Centralian Forces cannot leave their guard down.
"Come on, Marines!"
"Let's go, let's go!"
The sergeant yells, ordering their corresponding Marines into their positions.
After the Sergeant boards the Dropship, the Millitant Prisoner is escorted inside by yet another pair of Marines, around ten feet behind them Vera and Michael stand guard.
20: "So they agreed to share their theory?"
51: "Ellindel was hesitant, but they agreed, under one term, though I don't think we have much of a choice."
20: "Which is?"
51: "That's the thing, they told me to meet them at their Dropship, we'll find out soon."
20: "I'm guessing they did most of the talking between themselves."
51: "That's right, but this information could be vital, we don't know what they can do with this new Element."
They talk between one another while the last of the Marines hop on board.
"Here they come."
Vera says as she sees Phaeton Squad coming from between the tents, Ellindel wielding a long metal suitcase in one hand and her MTR in the other, Fox holding an Equipment Bag with his right hand and their blue armored Combat Tactician Arnes (MT0023) carrying his own Satchel. They make their way towards their own Dropship in silence, in the middle, Fox stops his tracks in front of Michael and Vera, while to their left and right sides, Ellindel and Arnes respectively pass by them and onto the Dropship.
Michael glances behind him as they do, noticing the Prisoner is already inside the Dropship.
98: "By now you should know our only condition."
20: "No, we don't."
Michael turns his head forward and says:
51: "I think I do, the Millitant, isn't it?"
Fox turns his bright yellow visor at Michael.
98: "We get to bring in his technology, you get to reveal the elemental theory as your own."
Michael growls inside his helmet, not long ago Sigma Squad was in a similar situation with Epsilon Squad, an objective for an objective, that did not fare well for Epsilon.
In which Michael starts to think about what he could propose as a counter, but while he does, Vera quickly jumps in.
20: "Both of these could help our efforts in the coming war, Fox, it doesn't matter who brings what in."
98: "See, that's where you're wrong Vera, the higher-ups do care who brings what in."
20: "We already stopped Epsilon from pulling off a similar deal, not gonna happen. We deliver both objectives together and get the hell out of here!"
Vera gets a chunk of pressure off her chest as she imposes her thoughts onto Fox, however, he does not appreciate this.
Fox remains silent for a couple of seconds, thinking it over. Before Michael weighs in as well.
51: "She has a point, Fox, don't do the Suit's thinking for them, we have to think like the Troopers they need us to be, we have to think about the greater good here, not who gets this week's Bonus Shiori Cache, understand?"
98: "I cannot argue with that logic, Sigma. however, let it be the last time you disregard a Master's orders, get on board."
Fox walks forward and passes in-between Michael and Vera, bumping with Michael. Sensing the obvious hostility and energy being transmitted by Fox, Michael latches on to him by crossing his right arm through Fox's right arm, bypassing his guard. Michael tightens his grip and pulls him closer, but not without any resistance, quickly the gray armored Trooper reaches for his sidearm located on his left thigh. However, Vera sees this and covertly holds his left hand in place, he is surprised by this and looks at her. He then nervously turns his head towards Fifty-one.
Michael gets closer to his visor and says:
"Listen Fox, don't let your rank get to your head, I am also a Master rank, and I don't say such things as you do."
Within his helmet Fox resides in seriousness and contemplation, he takes a deep breath as he closes his eyes.
"Release me, both of you, we need to leave, will discuss this further within The Amaranthine. "
He says.
20: "We'll be all ears once you stop being a dick, okay?"
98: "We'll leave this as a misunderstanding, Sigma."
Michael retracts his locked arm from Fox's personal space, releasing him, Vera does the same. Fox begins to walk towards his Dropship. Michael and Vera stand together watching as Fox sits on the first seat to the right.
Standing on the opened hatch, also sporting a bright yellow visor, Arnes turns around to face the two Troopers. As he looks down, Arnes stares at Michael.
Phaeton Squad seems to be in a rush.
"Move it Sigma, we should be flyin' by now. "
Michael and Vera look at each other.
"I'd normally say ladies first, but I think I'll be first in this time around."
Michael jokingly tells Vera as he starts walking forward, passing next to Twenty-three. They lock eyesight while Fifty-one slowly sits down on the first seat to the left. Arnes looks away, so Michael stops looking at him, he turns his head to the left as he puts away his MTR and looks at the many Marines that were being ferried with Phaeton Squad. Tons of chatter and commotion going on inside the Dropships, however, next to the cockpit door tensions arise as seriousness is strictly required. Two Marines aim down their Heavy Assault Rifles at the unconscious Millitant Prisoner, which wrists and feet remain restrained.
He still wields the black metal box on his left hand, or what was left of it. Neither Michael or Vera could remove the technology as none of them know how to work it.
Vera walks up the opened hatch and sits on the left row next to Michael. Meanwhile Arnes smacks the close hatch button and the Amaranthine impulses upwards away from the tents and destroyed houses. Before the hatch fully closes, Michael and Vera get one last glimpse of the Massive Crater left behind by the explosion.
Arnes takes a tube-shaped object from his thigh and hands it over to Fox, he accepts.
The Blue Trooper makes his way through the many Marines inside the Dropship towards the cockpit.
Michael sees the transaction but remains silent about it, he looks to his left to Vera, which is also observing Fox. He assumes that she also saw what happened.
Fox breaks the silence between both squadrons.
Inside Michael's helmet, an orange square pops up from the left and it seems to be an invitation to a private channel, as Michael looks at the notification he sees it is, as a matter of fact, Phaeton's private Satellite Communications channel.
He accepts, as soon as he does a short static emission bursts through followed by Phaeton Squadron's Pilot, Vultar (MT0417) disagreeing with Fox's decision to invite them into the SatCom channel.
"-of logistical data we have floating around, I am completely against this decision, Fox."
Michael speaks.
"I'm here, you said you had something to discuss, Fox?"
Vultar quickly replies:
"He's already here? What the hell?"
"I must relay information, Vultar! "
Fox exclaims.
Silence follows as Fox prepares to explain.
98: "Michael, Vera, as you may know we are a QRF Squadron, meaning we are the first to arrive at any major event in our jurisdiction."
51: "That's right."
98: "So we were initially tasked with handling the Kalderag Situation if it ever went south, however, your Leader and Operator did fine work.
As we hovered around the area, we were called in by General Dovyo himself to report to District Four."
51: "Your point in all this?"
98: "My point is that when we arrived at the scene we were met with a nearly resolved conflict, and we would come empty-handed back home."
51: "Fox you and your Squadron have full discovery rights on the chemical and its effects I just want to share the information, as soon as possible."
98: "That's the problem, what if we are wrong? Regardless, that's why we will be delivering the technology, and you will be delivering the Prisoner and the theory."
51: "That's going to be a problem. The technology is blended with him, we don't know what would happen, so we decided to take him to the Command Center."
98: "Well then... I guess we'll have to deliver him whole, technology and all, sorry Sigma."
51: "Vera already told you, that's not going to happen, we will deliver both objectives together, easy."
98: "Fifty-one you are really testing my patience, unlike mine, your handler might receive the highest praise but his preference has made him soft with you and your Squadron. Colonel Altarus is not so forgiving."
20: "Fox, Phaeton should report to Dovyo, I'm sure he can sort something out with your handler."
Vera suggests, entering the conversation.
However her addition is greeted with negative feedback by Pilot Vultar.
417: "We are heading to Caloris, and we are reporting to Colonel Altarus, right Fox?"
98: "I may have to think about this, the General did order us, it seems correct to report to him. Do you know where he is located, Vera?"
20: "Last I checked he was in the Command Center with our Tactitian."
Fox is inclined towards doing the right thing and reporting to the General. After all, it was a direct order. Sitting next to Fox is Trooper One one seven, the gray armored Ellindel. She stays silent looking at the skin samples within an airlocked glass cylinder.
98: "Alright, Vultar take us to Central, we report everything to the General."
417: "Unbelievable."
98: "That's about enough of your insolence Four One Seven, silence!"
Fox yells from within his helmet loud enough to be heard outside.
The chatting Marines in the vicinity abruptly stop talking right after this.
98: "As a Trooper once told me, it's for the greater good, no more defiance from my squad as of now, is that clear?"
Twenty three, Four One Seven, One One Seven and Six all say: "Yes, Sir!" In unison.
Michael is impressed with the respect Fox's squadmates have towards him when he gives an order. They may be free-spirited but they know when to stop.
98: "Alright Troopers, rest easy, we're thirty minutes out."
51: "Got it, I'm leaving the channel so you can have some privacy, anything you need just let me know."
Fox nods at Michael, acknowledging and respecting his decision.
Michael leaves the channel, closing the added orange box within his helmet, and re-enters the "SIGMA" Private Channel.
A short static buzz suggests a successful connection, so Michael speaks to it, wondering if there is anyone else inside.
51: "Sigma, this is Michael, anybody out there? We're on our way home, gonna see you in a bit."
Silence follows Michael's message and Vera turns her head at him. He tells her to wait with his right hand as he lifts his open palm up to his chest.
The Amaranthine jets across the night sky as she enters the more populated District Five.
Vultar flies her Dropship close to the city's skyline, an action that is disliked by many.
But given the situation at hand, arriving at the base on time is important.
While Michael is already thinking about what lies ahead in their path, Vera reminisces the past hours.
"This was a close one..." she thinks to herself. regarding how close they both were to the Sedan at one point. They could have both been evaporated along with the highway. Both of them came prepared with bags full of equipment to aid them in the swift extraction of the Diplomat, and both of them exit with barely their primary weapons. Her eyes slowly close and she lays her head back to rest.
"Finally this mission is over."
She thinks as she falls asleep.
Michael on the other hand, remains awake, waiting for a reply from anyone. While he waits he notices that The Amaranthine has small five-inch slits of glass above each seat, like small windows. He turns slightly to take a look outside, he sees the densely populated city under him, suddenly a building rooftop interrupts the light show.
As this happens Michael realizes how low Vultar is flying the Dropship. Unamused he turns around again and thinks about his Close Friend and Squad Leader, Ankiros (09). "The theory proposed by Phaeton makes sense, even Vera attested to the lack of metal inside the explosions' radius." Michael thought to himself.
"This thing can be weaponized in various ways, imagine bullets tipped with this chemical substance..."
He continues but stops abruptly after reaching a critical conclusion, Ankiros.
"Jacklyn do you read me? I need you to answer right now, I'm worried about Ankiros."
Michael clenches his jaw as he does not get an answer for the second time, in an attempt to contain his emotions.
Slowly an anxiety grows within, he once again feels the tightness of his armor, the lack of a response creates slight worry.
Michael swallows and moisturizes his lips as he once again prepares to talk.
51: "Jacklyn, Jade, Anyone? Come in!"
49: "Michael! Glad to hear your voice!"
Jacklyn Replies.
The mere fact that one of his Squad members replied helped Michael yank himself out of his sudden anxiety attack.
.
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21/Kryo/2467 R. S. 4:47:02
United Centralian Command, District Seven,
Centralia.
49: " I just put my helmet back on, I was taking a breather, things haven't been easy past few days."
Jacklyn continues as he sits on a nearby equipment box, next to Ankiros' medical bed. His wound, not yet healing, but fortunately the medical systems hooked up to him have been injecting essential nutrients among other vital ingredients for his Mikundrian Trooper Genetic Pool.
51: "Man, I needed to hear a voice of someone I could trust, this Phaeton Squadron we're tied up with here aren't exactly what we could call trustworthy"
49: "I get what you mean, but did you say Phaeton? As in Fox, Vultar, and gang?"
Jacklyn says surprised to be hearing these names working with Michael, due to years perhaps decades of disagreements and past altercations.
51: "The ones and only. Hey, any updates on Ankiros?"
49: "Not yet, we are still waiting on Hendricks to take a look, he's flying in from the northern districts.
But if I can be honest, he doesn't look so good unless we know what's happening to him, his entrance wound was lucky I guess, but what happened after baffles me. "
51: "What's happening to him?"
Jacklyn looks at Ankiros as he lays dormant on the medical bed.
"Well, the regional doctor said he found traces of an unknown element, it seems his wound is deteriorating faster than normal. And so we don't know what to do, until Hendricks gets here."
Unfortunately the response was not positive at all. An unknown element? Michael has heard this before. His fears have become a reality, as Ankiros seems to have been contaminated with the unknown element. For Michael, these are two red flags.
51: "Shit... Listen Jack, I shouldn't be telling you this but Phaeton Squad found traces of what they believe to be a metal consuming chemical, tell that to the doctors, maybe knowing this they can find an alternative."
49: "Are you sure about this, Michael? He wasn't even near the explosion."
Michael remains silent as he thinks about this decision. Meanwhile Ankiros opens his eyes as he hears Jacklyn talking next to him. He slowly turns his head to the right looking at Jacklyn and lifts his right hand towards him.
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49: "Wait hold up, Ankiros is awake!"
09: "Mi-Michael... "
Ankiros faintly asks for Michael while Jacklyn approaches him and carefully grabs his lifted hand as to not disrupt the small tubes running through his wrist.
"Michael? Yeah, I'm talking to him. "
Jack replies to Ankiros.
On the other end of the line, Michael listens in silence.
09: "I need... To.."
49: "Mike I'm really on the fence on this but, I think Ankiros wants to speak with you."
Jacklyn proceeds to take off his helmet, revealing his Warhawk hairstyle, strong eyebrows and brown eyes, accompanied by his sharp jaw.
He slides his helmet onto Ankiros' head, his eyes glow blue due to the blue colored interface within the helmet.
09: "Michael, I.. I dunno if I'll make it through this.."
51: "Damnit Ank, you're our strongest link, they'll find an antidote or something just try to hold on."
09: "Hold on...? I can barely move..."
51: "Listen, you just focus on getting better, trust me..."
09: "I trust you."
51: "I'll be there in a bit, get me Jack on the line, need to tell him something."
Ankiros taps on the helmet, signaling Jacklyn to remove it. As he does this Jacklyn sees Ankiros' face, noticing he looks very sad and his health has decayed.
Jack has a very emotional face, meaning he can convey messages without necessarily having to speak. His eyebrows lift and his lips curl up inside his mouth. Jacklyn quickly puts on his helmet and walks away from Ankiros. As Jack turns his back, Ankiros sighs, he saw Jacklyn's facial expressions, and even he knows things are not looking good for him. "I hope you're right, Mike." he thinks to himself.
Meanwhile next to the door, Jack finally speaks to Michael.
49: "Are you sure it's the same thing?"
51: "Listen, tonight has been crazy enough, too many coincidences and they don't add up, let's take our chances here."
49: "I sure hope this puts our people on the right track, I can't help but feel guilty."
51: "Yeah, listen, I gotta go now, you know what to do. fifty-One out."
49: "Wait did you hear me?"
Inside Jacklyn's helmet he sees how Michael (or MT0051MKX as he is referred to within the Centralian Battle Network) leaves the SIGMA Channel.
He is now alone with Ankiros once again.
Jacklyn knows he has to find a doctor to give them a headstart, however as he turned around he sees Ankiros looking at him from his bed. "Shit." he thinks to himself, they eerily stare at each other as Jack flinches. "It's too late to look away now."
He continues in his mind.
But Ankiros breaks the awkward silence with an order.
"Go... and do... whatever Michael told you to do, now! "
Jacklyn concentrates on saving his Squad Leader's life, and nods back at Ankiros before turning around and leaving through the door in search for the room's doctor. As he steps outside the room, a hallway leads to a triage center, where medical staff and nurses return to upload their medical data.
He arrives to the circular room, a desk spanned all across the middle of the room to the right end, he notices there are medical staff behind the desk and walks up to a female nurse.
His heavy footsteps alerted her of his approach, she looks up towards the incoming Trooper.
"I need to talk to the doctor in charge of my Squad Leader here."
The nurse shifts her vision to the computer monitor in front of her. "Patient "Nine", Doctor Terrance should have visited by now".
49: "Yes, he did but I need to speak to him regarding the treatment."
The nurse seems confused, as she raises her left eyebrow.
"I am sure we are giving them the best treatment, Dr. Terrance is not due for another visit for at least twenty more minutes."
49: "Ma'am, just get me the doctor, will you please?!"
He starts talking low, but then escalates into exclaiming at the nurse, he continues.
"I have been in the room with him for hours and nothing makes him feel any better! I see the pain in his face as he lies there, immobile. And now we may have something that can help him!"
The nurse stutters as she tries to calm Jack down, as he yells he advances, scaring her. The nurse falls out of her chair and a second and third male nurses hear the yelling and arrive at the scene one goes to assist the female get up from the ground and the other walks over to Jacklyn.
" Hey you need to calm down! "
He tells Jack while maintaining his distance.
People start arriving from around the building, surprised by the incident.
"You can't come in here and start yelling at people!"
The male nurse tells Jack, but Jacklyn turns toward him and replies.
49: "Just get me Dr. Terrance!"
From the multitude of people, a dark-skinned gray-haired male emerges.
"Trooper! Enough! I am here, stop yelling!"
49: "Doc! I need to tell you something..."
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21/Kryo/2467 R. S. 5:10:21
Central Highway District Seven,
Centralia.
Inside the Amaranthine's cockpit, Phaeton Squad Pilot Vultar enters district seven with incredible velocity, she leaves the Highway's track and goes over the buildings. In the back of the dropship, the Marines maintain the same racket as before, they could not contain themselves. Many cheering on the Centralian Marine creed as they talk about how much they want to drive the fight towards the Millitant Republic.
In the back of the seats, next to the hatch. Fox Leaden (98) looks at the strange vial from before, seeing it, Michael addresses it out loud
51: "So, what is it?"
98: "The Element, this container should revert it into its natural state within sixteen hours."
51: "Interesting, it doesn't look like anything right now. What do you think it is, a gas?
98: " It's only been here for a few hours, it is gas at the moment, time will tell."
Michael feels that he is approaching United Central Command looks down to his MTR, removes the magazine, puts it on his waist strap, he turns the rifle on its side and chambers it, removing the last round inside the rifle.
Fox notices this and compliments Michael after standing up.
98: "You know your timing between the districts, I must commend you Xentenas, you survived that mega explosion."
51: "Thank you."
98: "We aren't done talking, get ready for landing."
51: "Got it."
Fox makes his way towards the cockpit as The Amaranthine makes its way through the same tall buildings Jacklyn flew by hours ago, the bright light shine inside the Dropship, letting the Marines know that they are near. Everyone begins to stand up and pick up their equipment bags, however, Michael remains sitting down. The Amaranthine slows its velocity down and the descent feels eternal, until the landing gear connects with the landing pad. The Marines grow anxious to leave the dropship, Arnes Calium (23) walks between the block of Marines, shoving them out of the way to open the dropship's back hatch.
"Out of the way! Come on!"
His deep voice modulator strikes fear into those with weak confidence. As he finally makes it to the back of the dropship, Arnes smacks the open hatch button.
The Marines rush out in square formation, Arnes and Ellindel leave behind them.
Michael turns to Vera and nudges her multiple times with his elbow. She gently lifts her head up as she wakes up. She groans, bothered by some neck pains caused by sleeping with the helmet on.
51: "We're here."
20: "Did I miss anything?"
51: "Not much, you should go check on Ankiros, contact Jack."
20: "And you?"
51: "I'll stay with the Millitant, escort him and Phaeton to General Dovyo, there I'll share the elemental theory and bring in the prisoner."
20: "Sounds good, let me know if you need back up."
51: "I'll be fine, go."
Vera walks out of the Amaranthine and continues her path towards Ankiros.
However, Michael turns around to the cockpit section of the ship, where Fox, Vultar and Thorian stand next to the Prisoner, inspecting the man and his left hand.
417: "This Millitant reeks of negative energies, Fox, I hope you know what you're doing."
98: "Fifty One! Come."
From afar Michael asks:
"What do you want?"
98: "I wish to not yell..."
Michael walks towards the trio as they surround the Prisoner. As he approaches the Prisoner starts to become conscious.
98: "Thorian has a question, Michael."
06: "We are more interested in his technology rather than any second-hand information he might know, any suggestions on how to remove it?"
51: "I really have no idea how to remove it, it seems to be mixed with his own flesh, yet another Transgalenician Millitant invention."
06: "I'd cut off his hand if I have to."
The Millitant hears this and begins to move around, resisting his restraints.
Thorian sees this reaction and looks at the Militant.
"Yeah, you heard right! Now stay put."
Thorian yells at the prisoner while holding his left arm out, in an attempt to induce fear into the man.
06: "Hahaha, you're going to love this."
Everyone stands looking at Thorian as he maniacally laughs handling the prisoner, and do not intervene, yet Michael begins to feel uncomfortable with the manhandling.
The Millitant is visibly stressed and due to the restraints across his body, unable to scream in pain.
51: "Now what exactly are you going to do, Thorian?!"
06: "What I saw on those cameras, an energy shield? Listen, Mike, I've got nothing against you, but this is never before seen technology we have here."
51: "I understand, but putting him through excruciating pain won't help anyone, we still don't know why the attack happened, and he seemed to be inside the capital before it happened, I'll be taking him to the General, he'll know what to do."
Michael walks towards Thorian, only the Millitant's left hand separating them, Thorian stares at the black visor in front of him, casting a faint reflection of his own gold visor. " Put him under again, smaller dosage. " Michael tells Thorian while menacingly standing him off.
Fox seems to catch up on the conflicting nature of their conversation and enters. "Relax, relax, both of you." Distracting the two Troopers as they look at Fox, meanwhile, Vultar walks up to the prisoner and stabs a liquid lorazepam stim on his extended left forearm, the Prisoner flinches.
Michael and Thorian look back at each other, the Prisoner slowly stops resisting, and Vultar drops the stim to the ground.
417: "There, he's asleep again, take him, but remember that his tech belongs to Colonel Altarus."
Thorian growls within his helmet as he throws the Millitant's arm away from him, with no one holding the sedated man, the momentum of his arm throws him at Fifty-one's feet. Michael kneels down to take a closer look at the unconscious Millitant, under his tattered coat he still bears his ferrite armor chest plate. Fifty-one proceeds to flip the prisoner around, finding the armor's release on the top left side of the user.
With the press of a button the armor expands and Michael takes it away from the Millitant.
Phaeton Squad then steps away from Michael and walk to the opened hatch.
06: "Don't take too long."
Thorian lets Michael know that he must be quick with the Prisoner. Michael holsters his MTR on his back, and picks up the Millitant, holding him on his left shoulder.
He stands up and carries the Prisoner out of the dropship, and behind him, Phaeton Squad follows him to the Command Center.
Instead of following the path forward into the motor pools and garages, Michael walks to the left, he sees the Sanity docked four pads away from the Amaranthine. By taking this path he is bypassing the garages and detouring by the barracks section, which has a direct walkway to the General's building.
They all stop before crossing a dimly lit narrow street that separates the landing pads from the populated barracks area due to multiple vehicles transiting from left to right.
Michael turns around and asks:
"So all three of you are coming?"
To which Fox quickly replies.
"He's your handler, we wouldn't want preference to influence the prisoner's fate."
51: "You also forget he is thr Grand General, preference can't influence you when you're that high up, also he has to answer to some questions I have."
Vultar jumps into the conversation, insinuating Michael to be blinded by his handler.
417: "Poor you, do you enjoy being a puppet? Because that's surely what your handler has made out of you."
51: "I follow orders, as do all of us. You should think about what you're saying, your handler has you bring in bounties to prove your worth."
417: "That's called training, Xentenas."
51: "Whatever you want to call it, I live by my own free will, but I will fight for the greater good every day if my body is able to. And I don't have to bring in bounties to prove anything to anyone."
417: "Wow, you all hearing this, Sigma Squad be slackin', it's alright Michael, the old General may have been soft but you do the basics of your job quite well."
51: "I already proved my worth, as did all of you, but your handler won't let you think that. Did you already forget about the Trials?"
The long convoy finally continues its route away from the base, granting passage on the street. Fox was the first one to walk forward, and his squadmates follow, but not without Vultar saying one last thing.
"You really think the results of a test that happened ten years ago would still hold up to this day? You must be so naive."
She turns around as she continues walking straight, as does Michael, though he does not reply anymore.
"I guess I'm gonna stay quiet the rest of the way." He thinks to himself as he walks under a large concrete archway, marking the entrance of the barracks area. As soon as they walk inside, many Marines and Combat Medics, and the occasional Ranger were conversating between each other, tossing ammo bags and pieces of equipment from one side to the other. The desperation within the corps is real, this night is only the beginning.
Deep down, Michael knows this, as he slowly makes his way through the masses of Marine squadrons and detachments being mobilized for assault.
Some of them stop and marvel at the Troopers as they pass by them, these tall supersoldiers are not an everyday sighting.
Little did they know that they would be seeing Trooper Squadrons a lot more often due to the recent event, the war is guaranteed to escalate into a global conflict.
It is bound to pull in allied nations of both major participants, and it seems the Republic has been planning this overthrow for some time, though there was never peace between the two nations, Pacific Republic Diplomats managed an armistice between the nations five years ago.
The armistice's rules were broken the day the Caloris conflicts began, at the start of the second cycle of last year.
Kryo, the current month of the year is the seventh (7th) and the final month of the first cycle.
The upcoming eighth (8th) month marks the beginning of the second cycle and in religious terms, the Creation of the Galenician race, it is also the month wherein which the Millitant Attacks started, the fear of many that with the anniversary coming up the Millitants would ramp up their offenses, is slowly becoming a reality.
The Troopers make their way through the Barracks Sector and once again reach a street, they look both ways before crossing, not too far away from the Command Center.
The silence between Michael and Phaeton squad has given him time to think about the prisoner's technology. Everyone that sees it appears to be zombified by its power, even rumors have been already spread about a new kind of Millitant soldier. Michael believes otherwise, he believes this man is the sole bearer of this technology, and he was not supposed to get caught. Diplomat Sagras had a destination in mind, one that Michael and Vera interrupted and detonated the bomb prematurely. Although many lives were lost, and the biggest highway junction was destroyed, the order of the country remains, and its high ranking officers live. However, the Millitant Senate just lost a valuable player to their agenda, this alone would cause the Republic to retaliate in large numbers.
It has been almost a year of constant battle for Michael, as he is assigned to protect the Caloris/Ino Island, his squad was one of the first ones to come into contact with Millitant attackers from Northridge.
Michael looks around within his helmet, and enters the Sigma Channel, as he enters the channel, to his surprise he sees that Jade, Jacklyn, and Vera are on the channel as well.
Fifty-One quickly says: "Would you look at that, almost like a reunion. How are you Jade?"
Jade replies and continues:
12: "Michael, glad to hear your voice, but as I was saying, I think this structure needs to be looked at."
51: "Sorry, what structure?"
12: "I'll patch some images through, I took them myself, too. So, Vera, Jack, and now... Mike, we should check this place out."
An image of a desert crater pops up inside Michael's Visor along with the rest of the squadmates, though he does not pay much attention to the image.
51: "Jade I'm currently crossing a street heading towards the UCC and it's pretty dark, I can't see anything with this image on my face."
49: "This place looks abandoned, why would we go there? And now with the war? We don't have time for this Jade."
12: "Dovyo tasked me to decrypt this datapad, and I have tried three alternatives, they all lead to one point, there's a transmission being broadcasted into nowhere."
49: "Ankiros is gravely wounded, and as for what the doc told me, they are looking into the metal consuming substance thanks to you, Mike."
20: "I agree with Jade, hear me out, even if we didn't want to, we are all involved with what happened in the dam, and it lead to the Prisoner Michael is currently moving. Jade needs to decrypt the datapad it's her mission, we should help."
51: "Alright, give me a sec."
Michael continues to walk past multiple tall structures, office buildings intended for the technical side of the military base. Before they stop once again to cross one last street to arrive at the UCC.
Vultar notices Michael talking and turns her head to her left, looking at Michael behind her.
417: "So you rather open a channel to chit chat?"
51: "It's important."
12: "See now you get it, Michael!"
51: "Wait no, not to you Jade, I'll come back and hear the final decision about this."
Michael accidentally confused Jade and leaves the channel so he can pay attention to his surroundings.
98: "Fifty-one, we are approaching the Command Center, if I may ask, what will you tell the General?"
06: "Yeah, it would look as if we went for nothing."
Vultar scoffs and adds:
"Speak for yourselves, I got some Millitants with my Amaranthine."
51: "She's right, Vera and I held them off long enough for everyone to call for reinforcements."
98: "And I'm sure everyone is grateful, but answer the question. "
They cross the street and as they are, the Troopers can now see the great semicircular structure, with heavily Armored beams on every segment, and in between said beams written in large bold white letters UCC.
The North-East side of the base is very large and it took the Troopers around thirty minutes to traverse the barracks section and fifteen to get to the offices. Finally forty-five minutes later, Michael and the three members of Phaeton Squad are in Command Center vicinity.
51: "I'll tell him the truth, I'll tell him everything."
98: "Everything?"
51: "I'll keep the whole bargaining thing between us, I know that man has good information, you can keep his tech in my opinion."
06: "I'm liking you already, Fifty-one!"
51: "Yeah well, can't say I feel the same..."
98: "Alright let's keep moving, we're running out of time."
The four Troopers keep walking across the sidewalk until they reach the brightly lit salmon-colored stone brick floor heading up to the UCC.
.
.
.
06:10:02
United Central Command, District seven,
Centralia.
Michael and the Phaeton trio await outside General C. Dovyo's office, its prior owner, General Kurt Maxwell was the first military official to ever have recommended the super soldiers idea, dubbed Project Goliath, the science team in charge of the project decided to start from scratch, looking to the streets for potential candidates. The forties were a desolate time where lots of children suffered greatly due to the war at the time. Some of them ended up homeless, or in foster homes, but most of them never had a parental figure, a role model to look up to. And so, The Mikundrian Trooper program launched, collecting children from all over the Centralian aligned countries, the new program consisted of super-soldiers enhanced from the early stages of Galean development, that their only memories of a childhood would be the days they survived during training, and after the training, the Trials Period began. Most, if not all Troopers are molded by fire.
A glass door opens, and from it, General Dovyo walks out with documents on his hands, all four of the Troopers show their respect and Salute.
"Carry on, Troopers, Michael, I have some bad news, regarding the prisoner, our local interrogation cells are packed, we're going to have to outsource him to another facility."
Thorian quickly looks at Michael and back to Dovyo, as he nefariously prepares a suggestion.
06: "Sir, if I may, we have good relations with Omega Squadron, I'm sure they wouldn't mind if we used their facilities on East Hollow."
The General looks at Thorian, as does everyone else in the room.
06: "It's next to the No Man's Land, which we can obviously take care of any incoming Millitants."
98: "That's enough, Thorian, my apologies General."
"No no, he's right, Omega Squad has two master Tactitians, maybe they could help retrieve the technology. Once it is removed from the Prisoner it is to be returned to meCentralian Military property, are we clear?"
Thorian swallows his pride, he wanted to keep the technology for Phaeton Squad, perhaps a new armor upgrade, he thought.
" Yes, sir! "
The Troopers acknowledge the order.
"Phaeton dismissed, Michael, come inside for a moment. "
The Phaeton Trio turns around toward the exit door, leading to the elevator room.
But before they leave, Vultar turns around and takes a look at Michael before he enters the General's office, closing the door behind him.
Fox notices the distracted Vultar and snaps his left-hand fingers, grabbing her attention.
Michael stands in front of the General's desk as he sits down and drops the documents on it.
The General seems frustrated.
"Michael, please sit."
51: "Sir... Before anything, I want to apologize for failing the mission, Sagras, he had other plans-"
"Don't apologize for that, something was off, but I never thought they would be willing to sacrifice a diplomat, the destruction of the neck has severely affected transportation around the Core Districts. Royal Navy vessels were seen by our observation towers on the west coast, but no aggressions were recorded or acknowledged at our last meeting. "
51: "Royals? Do they not know of what happened tonight?"
"The whole world knows Michael, that's the thing, the Millitants got a good hit on us. Frontlines are being set up on East Hollow, Caloris/Ino region is locked down, I believe it is best sending Sigma up there for the defense, along with Epsilon and Lambda."
51: "We'll be ready for them, sir."
"Not you though, Michael, I'm going to have you accompany Phaeton, to guarantee that both the technology and the Prisoner are taken care of, Phaeton is a smart squadron, but they are selfish."
51: "Sir? Only three Sigma Squad Members are available, Jade is busy with the datapad, and Ankiros, well I don't even know how he's doing, take me over to East Hollow and that leaves Jack and Vera. "
"A formidable pilot and an expert Demolitionist. I already thought this through, the Millitants have had more time to plan an offensive against us, but I have a trump card, I need you to go with Phaeton, trust me."
51: "Understood... Do you want me to brief them?"
"You should rest, I did tell you this last task would be your last consecutive operation, take some time to think, organize your thoughts. Very difficult times lie ahead. As for your squadmates, I'll brief them myself."
51: "Rest? Sir, after what happened tonight, I already made up my mind, I will face the Millitant Offensive myself if I have to."
"Listen to yourself, Xentenas! It is a miracle you're still in one piece after that explosion. I need you in your best shape for what's to come! "
Michael lets go of his arms and puts his left hand on his wounded right shoulder.
51: "Then tell me what is going to happen, General, no more deception!"
"You know I cannot tell you, not yet at least, If I could have I would've told you already..."
Dovyo lowers his head, in this moment Michael is ready to leave the office, as he turns to his left towards the door, the General looks back at him.
"Also, get that shoulder looked at, dismissed."
Michael slowly turns his head back at Dovyo, but is unable to look at him in the eyes, even with the visor completely blocking his face. As he is looking away he catches a glimpse of the documents General Dovyo had put down on the desk, seeing a satellite image of a massive crater in a desert. A huge red mark across the bottom part of the sheet read [CLASSIFIED], even as the Grand General of the United Mikundrian Centralian Army, Dovyo cannot leak classified information to any underling without the correct clearance. Knowing this, Michael feels a little bit better, but now the image of the crater is burnt into his brain.
He feels like he has seen this place before.
51: "Yes, sir."