Emma woke up feeling brisk but not irritated. Training her recruits was proving to be more of a challenge then she anticipated. Not that she would give up but this was hardly the easiest group she’d train and it wasn't like she could complain since after all she was the one who chose them. And she chose them for a reason. Mostly because the majority had some reason to have a larger than average grudge against the” touched”. Even if they hadn't realized. But that could be kindled. The two she brought on for balance were the twins, Sam and Sean. Unsurprisingly they were a bit naïve but it was outweighed by their confidently decisive nature. Additionally they had both worked as town guards before transferring to militants. So they had experience. The others, with the exclusion of Olivia, were relatively fresh out of training though. Mercy and Cllnton were a duo since childhood and though it showed training, combat was a bit different from petty jokes. Regardless they had good team work, and likely would be the squads rangers.

Olvia would be a medical officer and the twins would handle the fireams. It was a good balance and everything she had intended when picking them. “But for the love of the Lake” If they stopped calling her ma'am everything would be so much better. She was barely twenty six and only had seven cycles on the lot of them, it was completely unwarranted. She’d figure out some punishment “the next time one of those gremlins called me ma’am” as she was muttering that, a messenger jogged up to her “Captain Winfell?” he asked with a traditional salute “correct, what is it runner”? He straightened and handed her a letter. “Brass has orders, you are requested to meet with Wing Overseer Patient to receive a briefing” she managed to keep herself from sighing. “Thank you, I’ll be over timely” she replied. The runner saluted and took his leave. Overseer Patient was far from being actually “patient”, despite his namesake. Besides that though he was a reasonable superior. Never ridicule or the like, just annoyance out of him. While reading through the letter she weaved her way through the halls of the upper city’s Military Hold, until she entered a set of double brass doors. Inside was the Overseer, looking annoyed but ready to brief her. She saluted and he started his lecture. “I don't mean disrespect but may I inquire why my squad is being sent?” she asked. It didn't seem like something they were ready for and she wanted some clarification. He clicked his tongue but indulged her in a polite manner regardless “We are rather short handed due to the recent riots, and though we are aware that you are still training your team, we feel you are capable of determining the threat level, and pursuing if necessary”. She had another internal sigh but kept decorum “Understood we’ll move out as soon as possible” he gave a dismissive wave and she quickly made herself scarce. Despite his efforts to be polite that man still ticked her but she couldn't give solid reasoning to it. Venturing her way to the training yard, she found her team ready and waiting for the day's trails. She would have to ruin the mood then, well hers was at least.. She smirked sarcastically and made her presence known. Relaying the orders, all but the pranksters seemed eager, but to their credit refrained from commenting. One of the Delton twins did perk up though, but on a different topic. “Ma’am will there be a chance for a little action?” he asked with an eager look. She frowned a bit but replied honestly. “If it’s not out of your league, yes we will most likely be seeing action, but keep your head cool Sam'' He looked a bit dejected at being called out but didn't retort. “Alright we move at midday, get your gear and report here by eleven sharp”. It was time for a bit of revenge, she thought. Hopefully it just wasn't too early. It was just after eleven when they set out for their destination. A village situated right on what would be considered frontier, but not far enough to be in danger from touched raids. The village in question, Patterville, had reported a significant disturbance but hadn’t clarified, which was strange given the level of need they’d indicated in their letter. The Brass decided, given the situation at the capital, it wasn’t worth experienced personnel. She hoped for her team they were right. But there was no use worrying over something she had no say in, so the best thing she could do was adequately prepare. Several packs of “touched” made themselves a problem, but none lasted long. “Fucking knee eaters” she’d heard her brother call them. She wondered who he picked that up from though. Regardless, with a team they weren’t a problem, not withholding that they were still a nightmare solo. She’d heard enough horror stories to ever underestimate the skinned muts. Much of the trip was uneventful though. The tricksters did their job of clearing and reporting, making the group progress speedily. Patten was in disarray when they arrived the morning after. “Canton’s tits, what happened here?” Olvia spat in her accented tone. “Alright blues fan out, press the village folk for info” Emma barked.” And meet me in the square asap, you have your flares if there's a problem” the team moved quick to their task, while Emma stalked to the center of Patter. It was like a god had spilled his ink over the village square. Slick black goo coated the ground round an eviscerated corpse, split down the middle in unnecessary brutality. But besides a few other, cleaner kills she didn’t see many dead. Grimly what bothered her was whatever came here had intellect and only picked off the group's captain and his lieutenants. Yes it was targeted, but what had done It. Absolutely no feral “touched” ever displayed this kind of intellect and no documented “touched'' ever displayed this kind of substance. While she was piecing the scene together her squad began to report one by one, filling in the gaps she couldn’t guess at. And finally when the last of them arrived she was sure about what happened. That was until Mercy piped up about something she apparently had forgotten to report. “Oh mother fucker!!!” she cursed. She’d be damned before she let some bitter monster disrespect her brother's memory. “Mercy, Clinton, find me tracks now” she hissed, startling them. “Yes m’a.. Captain” they replied in unison, setting off in fear. It was going to be a long couple of nights for them.

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