“Umm.. this clause here…”
Issac began as he went over a set of contracts with Alarea, though he didn’t understand half of it, and had skipped over the other half, he figured he should probably at least make an effort to understand what he was signing.
Which was fortunate considering the small clause he found at the bottom of just one of the many documents they had been through.
“The signatory hereby acknowledges, blah blah blah… shall be considered an act of treason against Bastion and shall be punishable by the fullest extent of the law, yada yada… may result in legal action up to and including the death penalty.” He quickly summed over the long winded legal jargon, pointing his pen towards the most important part of the page as he looked up at Alarea. “Death penalty? Bastion doesn't have the death penalty anymore.”
Alarea merely smiled at his questions, having already expected such a response. “That is true, but it more pertains to the civilian population. The military runs on a completely different set of laws. You’ll be privy to many kinds of state secrets after all. But you’ll be fine if you just don't go running your mouth to our neighbours.”
Makes sense, he guessed. Though he still didn’t exactly feel comfortable as he signed a paper that gave the government and military the authority to execute him whenever they saw fit. Well, technically he got a trial and what not, but that is how it felt to him.
“Just a few more to go.” Alarea said as she took the freshly signed document, placing it in a briefcase before replacing it with another. “We’re almost done.”
They had been at it for an hour now, and Issac began to feel more than a little guilty for taking up so much of her time. Although she told him it was fine, apparently some of the other members of her team took days to read through their papers with legal counsel. Which was not something he could afford, or even knew how to arrange.
And so, he got to work reading the next lot of legal jargon.
– – BULWARK CONFIDENTIALITY AND SECURITY GUIDELINES – –
– Introduction –
Welcome to Bulwark, a premier military intelligence organisation dedicated to safeguarding the national security interests of bastion. As a member of our esteemed organisation, you are entrusted with securing the continued prosperity and sovereignty of our fair nation against any and all that might deem to threaten it.
– – Confidentiality Obligations – –
1.1
All agents of Bulwark are entrusted with sensitive information pertaining to national level security. This information must be treated with the utmost discretion and must not be disclosed to unauthorised individuals under any circumstances whether intentional or unintentional. (Refer to Section 31A - 1.1)
Issac could feel himself falling asleep just just reading this. And this was just the bullet points. Alarea had seen it fit to slap down five incredibly large binders filled with pages upon pages of legal information he could refer to if needed. Not that he ever intended to. Reading just this much had already given him a headache, and he wasn’t going to make it worse for himself by reading more of something he didn’t even understand.
He signed his name at the bottom of this document, or rather, signed it at the bottom of every individual page of the documents.
“Why can't this all be done electronically?” He couldn’t help but ask.
“It could, and it does happen. But that's only whenever we do inductions within headquarters itself.” She began to explain. “But unless we go up into orbit and board Trinity, that's our battleship by the way, we don’t have a secure connection to Bulwarks servers at large. I can just scan all of these when we get there anyways, but you still have unfinished business here do you not?”
“That's true.” Issac accepted her explanation as the freshly signed documents were replaced by, what Alarea promised, were the last batch. “Thanks for helping me out with that though. It means a lot to me.”
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“Don’t worry about it.” She offered a smile. “I take care of those under my command. Although, on that note.”
She pulled out another document after Issac had just finished signing what was promised to be the last one. Though this one was digital as she pushed a data pad over to him.
“It's not more paperwork.” She laughed at his despondent expression. “Rather what you’ll be doing for initiation.”
“Oh?” Now this was something Issac could get behind, he sat up in his chair as he took hold of the data pad.
“You’ll be travelling together with us back to the Bastion System, a two week trip, and when you arrive you’ll be dropped off at headquarters for your initiation and training course.” She went over the information with him. “You’ve done most of the initiation procedures already, but they’ll still need to take your biometrics and run several medical scans on you before you can start the training process. It’s usually a five year course, however I’ve managed to get you into an expedited one year program, with the rest of your training done on the job with my squad.”
“One year huh?” He mulled over the information. The PDF training he had been through hadn’t really been training at all, rather a one week induction process before being given a gun and being told good luck.
“As I said, it's usually five, but you’ll be released after one. Though you’ll still be considered a conditional agent until I sign off that you’ve completed your training under me.”
“Why though? Is there a reason you're pulling me out early?”
Alarea looked conflicted on whether or not to tell him, furrowing her brows for a moment as she thought over her words.
“While I would prefer if you got the full five year training. We are… we might not have the luxury to wait that long.”
“What do you mean?”
Alarea didn’t respond, simply shaking her head instead before returning to explaining what was on the data pad she had given him. Though before he could think too much about it she said something that brought his attention back.
“Now the last item of business before we return to Trinity. That letter of yours.” She clicked a few buttons on her comm unit, before a new page was displayed on the data pad in Issac’s hand. “Based off the information you gave me, Jessica was able to track down Miss Mayne to a small town house just outside of Adamin 2’s capital city.”
There was a small amount of information that Issac read through. Tanya Mayne, alongside her two sons, Thomas and Aiden. There was a picture as well, a full family affair. The two children looked much the same as the major, who stood at the back of the group, hand on his wife’s shoulder who sat on a large arm chair.
“Listen Issac.” Alarea spoke up, her voice turning a touch softer. “You don’t have to be the one to deliver this news. I understand how difficult it can be, I’ve had to do it plenty of times myself after all. Unfortunately. No one is going to think less of you.”
“I want to.”
Alarea sighed. “Very well, but I have one condition. I will come with you.”
(/)
Issac took a deep breath. Trying his best to steady his mind as he stood before a door to a quiet town home on the outskirts of the capital city of Adamin 2. Alarea stood a few paces back on the sidewalk next to the military car she had requisitioned for them to use.
It had been a novel experience for him. The moment Alara had pulled out her badge they suddenly became the most important people in the base, being quickly ushered towards a free vehicle. They were even able to secure the personal aircar of the overall commander of their sector, and while it was still a military vehicle, was much more luxurious than the cramped train that had brought him here in the first place.
“Hoo. Okay.” Isaac relaxed his nerves as best he could, before raising a hand and knocking on the door. He heard some shuffling for beyond, a pair of footsteps getting closer to the door.
“Yes?” A soothing voice rang out as the door swung open, Issac’s voice catching in his throat as he looked at the smiling woman. She looked him up and down, his sombre expression causing hers to begin to fall, more so when she looked beyond him and saw Alarea sanding at the side of their military marked transport. “W-what can I do for you?”
Her voice broke. News of their battle had been relayed back to the civilian population, through various means, mostly from soldiers phoning home about their harrowing experiences. Although an official statement had yet to be made, something that probably wouldn’t happen at all. The local government didn’t want their potential recruitment pool getting cold feet if they heard about the extremely high death toll at the frontlines.
It also meant that word had yet to reach many of the families of fallen soldiers. Tayana wasn’t dumb however. She could tell he brought bad news before he even spoke. And he didn’t want to speak, not with the tears beginning to form in the corners of her eyes or the way she clutched at the fabric of her clothes. Her eyes almost pleaded with him not to speak as they stared wide open at him.
He froze in place, words not forming properly. He had seen the effects of war first hand, and the brutal effects it had on the soldiers fighting. And now he saw the effects it had on those who were not, even thousands of miles away from the frontlines its cruelty couldn’t be escaped.
“Your husband fought valiantly ma’am.” Alarea placed a hand on his shoulder, speaking for him where he could not.
“Noo!” Tayna broke down into tears, dropping to her knees. Her scream attracted attention, two boys the same age as Issac poking their head out from deeper within the home. “Y-you're lying right? T-there's no way he’s dead right?” She clutched at Issac’s legs, eyes wide and manic, her sorrow slowly giving way to anger. “He was supposed to retire a year ago! You forced him to stay longer! He would still be alive if it wasn’t for you!”
Alarea pulled him back when he didn’t move. He was stuck in place, eyes wide open as she blamed him for her husband's death. Deep down inside he knew it wasn’t true, but emotions were never rational things. He had already been blaming himself for many things. Being weak and scared were things he cursed about himself daily.
He didn’t even realise he was led back into the aerial transport. Alarea had taken over, pulling the letter out from his pocket and finishing the exchange on his behalf before dragging his frozen body away. She didn’t have to say the words for him to understand the look in her eyes was ‘I told you so’.
“These things happen.” Her voice sounded so distant as she spoke right beside him. “Don’t blame yourself for what happened. You had no control over anything.”
The kids were just as shocked as their mother when given the news. And while they didn’t scream their blame at him, the look in their eyes filled with sadness and anger was all the same.
“And you're not even listening to me.” Alarea sighed, shaking her head.
“Urgh. Why did I think it was a good idea to let a kid handle this.” She thought to herself. “Oh well, what's done is done. I’ll just stick him on enough PT when we leave the planet that he doesn't have the time to think about anything else.”
Though he didn’t know it yet. Issac would very quickly regret his decision to become a Bulwark agent.