From the Ashes

Truth is the first casualty of war. With ease it can be taken and stripped bare revealing the lie it was built upon. Truth is a matter of perspective. It changes when the perspective does and often by the formation of one good lie and a river of blood. It feels like betrayal almost and the kind that kills you. Like Atlas…

Chapter 1

You did a great job son. You've saved many lives today.

He was working at his station on the newest project when he was summoned to the main office. It was nothing new but routine. More likely it had to do with the newest specs and the concerns he voiced earlier but they were always taken into consideration. So he didn't think twice as he responded and headed up there.

Everything seemed normal except the 'GI drones' as he privately called them. They skirted to his flank and followed him. It indicated it was serious and made him wary. They followed him all the way up to Irons' office and he was greeted by that very man.

You're one of the best people I've had. You know how to get things done and too well. It's a shame really…

He didn't see the gun but he heard the shot…

Connor shot open his eyes and took a deep breath while staring at the bottom of the empty bunk above his. He grimaced slightly and groaned, not caring since there was no one else; no one wanted to bunk with him really. Sighing he ran his fingers through his rich dark brown locks and stared upward with his blue-grey eyes. He knew.

It was the first time in months since he had that particular nightmare of that day. He had been doing well too… pretty much toeing the line and impressing everyone with his skills except for maybe his personality. There was only one reason for that nightmare… something definitely was going to happen today. He just hoped Cormack wouldn't think he was crazy like the rest; the man stuck his neck out enough for him. Slowly he got up to face another day.

A quick shower and a change of clothes and he was ready to go. He headed down to the area of the base he had free reign over since his rescue and his joining of Sentinel. Everything he had worked on the day before was in its place for him to work his magic. He was the tech genius after all since he had the ability to make things work. Not looking at anything in particular, Connor asked, "Ready to work Butterfingers?"

At the low sound of disappointment, Connor turned to look at his worker drone. He countered, "I bloody well told you. I don't care if that is your designation."

"He's just sorry that you are hitting the mines early instead of training again."

Connor turned to see the man that he owed his life to standing on the other side of the far table covered with a repair project in the works. He replied, "That's just his lazy arse and I prefer to train alone since no one is anxious to run a pit run with me." He picked up his tech computer pad and brought up diagnostics. "Anything you need today, Cormack?"

Major Cormack, United States Marine and commander of Task Force Sentinel, studied the British tech expert that his team had rescued three years ago listening to the accent that the man insisted was 'bloody Welsh'. He was well aware that his other assets with the exception of a couple didn't take to the man who was often thought of as crazy, a jerk or he just rubbed you the wrong way. It didn't help that Connor did little to nothing to assuage that assessment. It didn't change his assessment of him; he just happened to see things that others didn't. "Just coming to tell you that you did good with the surveillance last op."

"You came all the way from command to tell me that? Really Cormack… what did that bloody shrink say this time?" Connor looked up from his work and leaned against the table facing the man.

Cormack resisted the urge to chuckle. After being rescued, there were a couple of incidents that were labeled as psychic breakdowns. It was grounds to banish the Brit but Cormack made the argument that they weren't going to find a better tech than him with the knowledge he had in his head. So in exchange to being able to stay, Connor was required to attend regular sessions with an Army shrink. And with that brought interesting times.

Things did run smoothly and Connor proved to be getting back together in his mind while maintaining a basic training routine along with working on any and all things technical. It was then that a more humorous side that was sometimes blunt and caustic came out of the man. Cormack recognized he was dealing with someone who would be considered a genius when he started getting bored with his sessions. He still went as ordered but the complaints from the shrink increased. Cormack remembered one loud scene where the shrink recommended ten lashes and it was because Connor fed her a bunch of bullshit in their session.

It wasn't often but they hit hard and only cemented the opinion that Connor Hayfield was a nut case; a brilliant guy but a nut case. It didn't matter that it gave them entertainment in between their job of investigating the KVA attacks. Cormack was hard pressed to keep the man within his unit. So far, Connor hadn't done anything worth getting kicked off. In fact his part in the surveillance of the capture of Hades by Atlas was proof of that. He replied, "The usual about you working too hard."

"Busybody." Connor scanned his diagnostic and made a swiping motion on his pad. "Wouldn't recognize a healthy constitution if it reach up and bit her in the arse."

"And you would know a thing or two about that." Cormack watched the man and noted that he did look better but it also appeared he may have had a rough night. He had learned to recognize when Connor had a bad night. "Seriously though… bad night?"

Connor paused in his work and stared at his pad. He knew Cormack wouldn't rat him out unless he thought it was serious and he did trust the man. "Had the nightmare again," he finally admitted before dropping the pad on the table and looking away. "Four bloody months."

It was sheer frustration and Cormack could see that. You didn't get over what Connor went through easily and the fact that he hadn't gone completely over the edge to the point of committing suicide actually garnered points in his book. It only proved to Cormack that the man was every bit of his reputation, the one that he bothered to dig up. It was why he was paying Connor a visit with some news. He just needed to get a final assessment even though it was already official. "We all get them. They never go completely away. I occasionally remember Korea."

Connor turned to look at Cormack. "Try telling that to her. I swear the woman doesn't have the first damn clue."

"You know her service record. It was why she was assigned to you."

"And making my life a living hell." Connor snorted at his assessment of the shrink. "Prying is all she ever does."

Cormack chuckled at that. He had heard it all and made a slight waving motion. "Alright. You sure you're okay?"

"Been better mate," Connor replied, turning to meet the man head on. "But I'm fine. Like you said."

Cormack nodded, "Good because I'd hate to not give you the news. I just received word that you are active again and officially transferred under my command."

Connor looked at the man and blinked. He had inquired about going back to his old unit and had been hard put to toe the line with the shrink. It was a means of moving on and he wanted to go back to what he had missed. "You're shitting me."

Cormack shook his head, "You are reactivated and you are being promoted. All that hard work being nice paid off." He couldn't resist teasing Connor since he knew that he tapered off his usual antics.

Connor couldn't believe his ears. He was back in and with the international task force that been housing him the last three years. "And I'm ready to work."

Cormack knew that Connor didn't hear the part that he was promoted. He learned early on that he wasn't the kind of person to put stock into rank unless he had to. Just being able to work was what had him. "You better be Connor. I would hate to be embarrassed if you weren't."

"I'm ready, Cormack."

"I know." Cormack did know. It didn't help with the shrink's complaints about Connor and the usual threats of having him committed but he knew that the man was ready and willing to work. "You've done well with everything here."

"And I expect you want more."

"Hell yeah. I expect you at training in one hour. That's an order, lieutenant." Cormack gave a warning finger that was half hearted towards Connor before turning to leave.

Connor watched as Cormack left his work area. He leaned back on the counter and took a moment to absorb the fact that he was now an active soldier. He was always one in his mind ever since he joined the Royal Marines against all odds because of his quirks and few physical matters. Even when he was discharged because of his quirks he considered himself a soldier. Everything he had done when he moved on was for the field and for the men that risked their lives daily. He was a bit more idealistic then but he was firmly on the side of the guys doing the fighting. It was an equilibrium of sorts.

After he had been rescued, he worked to regain that. He wasn't a soldier but it was apparent that he had much to contribute. In the beginning he was tolerated as an observer that people didn't know what to do with. His first foray into helping out was when they were going into one of the cities to scour for Hades' right hand man. It was tolerated in the beginning but it opened the door and he took it and supplied them. Also they found out he was the one making needed repairs to the base.

Looking at nothing in particular, Connor though about his nightmare. He sensed something was going on today and it looked like he was proven right. However, it seemed too simple and from his experience, things hardly were simple. He brushed it aside though since he had nothing to make the day seem more ominous than it was already. He wasn't going to make a mountain out of a molehill and just revel in the fact that he was back to doing what he always saw himself.

He had an hour before he had to report for training so there were a few things he could get done. He looked at his worker drone and said, "Hey Butterfingers work on that calibration I set you to do yesterday and I want it done by the end of today."

The drone buzzed at him before following his orders. Connor pointed a warning finger and said, "Hey, don't be giving me that. You know that this unit depends on the crazy genius we come up with." He turned away with a slight eye roll and waved his hands. "And I'm already crazy for talking to a drone."

The drone warbled mournfully. It was working on the piece that was on the table that it was working. It chittered at Connor as he plugged in a cord to run diagnostics. He looked at the drone. "I know, I know… I'm not crazy. Bloody shrink had me tested."

The diagnostic was going to take awhile since it was going to be a part of the Exo suit. It was an idea he came up with. Again he had been bored and pulled an Exo to work on. It was nonoperational and he got it working and started playing with it. At least it was something in the works while he went about the usual. He set it up and dusted his hands and looked at the worker drone, "You think you can handle it solo?"

The drone buzzed indignantly. It floated upwards and got into Connor's face. It buzzed and whirled in his face. Connor raised his brow, "Merely a question bloody hunk of junk."

The drone buzzed and returned to work. Connor shook his head as he picked up his cup of coffee and started to walk away. He downed it as he said, "Don't wait up for me sweetheart."


"If you came to waste my time then you need to turn around and go back the way you came."

"If I wanted to do that, I would be here for the normal scheduled session." Connor leaned against the door frame with his arms crossed over his chest. He looked at the woman putting away a bunch of files with a bemused expression. "And I would say something that would have you wishing to throw one of your books at my head."

Dr. Magda Gaines, Gaines by the unit, stopped from her sorting and looked up at the one man that was lightly labeled her challenging patient. She saw her patient leaning against the door frame with that expression that usually warned her he was on a trail to making her life miserable. She put her hands on her hips well aware she was hardly intimidating wearing fatigues. "I wouldn't need an excuse to throw a book at your head."

"Nice. My sheer presence is enough."

Magda narrowed her eyes. "Your presence is nothing more than a personal hell."

Connor twitched his lip in a slight grin. He knew that he had not been and still wasn't the best of patients. He did the compulsory but it got boring fast and he played with her to the point that she would probably shoot him or something to that effect. He loved to tease her and when she was in the mood, she was good at dishing it back. He knew she was concerned about his mental health and he was touched by that. He just wouldn't be willing to admit it. "Is this how you react to someone coming to thank you?"

Magda had gone back to sorting her files when Connor asked his question. It had her stop and look at him. He had straightened up and was looking like he was… Well it wasn't the deadened look he had when she first took him on. It was different and it surprised her. It was like he was actually her reply hurt him. "Thank me?"

Connor shuffled in and swung his arms like it was nothing, in a casual fashion. "Yeah. I got word that I was back in and I know that it wouldn't have been made possible without your say so." He gestured towards her.

Magda was surprised that he was even in there thanking her. True she had apprehensions about being put back on active duty even though there was one time he went out and that was in Detroit. The surveillance gig was done from here. She was concerned that he would have a breakdown in the beginning but the more she got to know him, she discovered that he was working through things and doing well. He was just the kind to keep his cards close to the vest.

Her word figured heavily and she knew it. She could have easily said that he wasn't ready ever or that he be on restricted duty. But she knew he was ready and he was bored. That was the simple fact. He was bored and needed a change of pace. An active mind like his needed it. She gave her report and whispered an aside to Cormack.

Putting the stack down, Magda said, "Anything to get you out of my hair."

"And I'm betting that I still have to do the mandatory." Connor smirked at her. He was no fool since he was well aware of her stipulations when she started training like he was on active duty.

"Can't get out of that in this unit," Magda replied with a wave of her hand. "I wanted to be rid of you but no one in their right mind wants to deal with a technological genius that succumbs to bouts of insanity that often saves the lives of the men it is for." She put her hands on her desk. "Not to mention someone with penchant for screwing with people in their sessions."

"I do get bored easily," Connor offered. He gave one of his more charming grins and watched as the shrink gave a wry smile. "See now I know you like our time together."

"Only if I can add to the list of sins you've committed."

"Always a pleasure."

Connor was quick to duck out of her office the moment she sent what was probably a code book for diagnosis or something at him. He chuckled when it flew out the door and landed with a thud. He picked it up and put it just inside the door on the side table there pausing only to say, "Thanks, Mags."

He was gone before Magda could tell him to stop calling her that. He knew that she would grouse for a while but she would be thoughtful. It would allow her to think about how sincere his thanks was and it was real. Besides he did owe her thanks since she pretty much had a hand in his being reinstated. It allowed him to get an extra spring in his step as he went to suit up for the day's training per his orders.

"First day and you decide to be late."

Connor twitched his lip in a grin as he greeted Cormack's right hand man Knox, "I'm on time mate."

Knox grinned in reply as he did a final check to make sure the pit simulator was set. "And I'm sure all that hard work and practice paid off."

Connor checked his weapon and armor and gave a slight smile. Knox was the one that supervised his training with the pit runs and other drills. They had been conducted at odd hours since he had been disinclined to do anything with the others and the feeling was mutual. Knox took the time and in the end they got along well together. Knox's willingness to help got Connor to open up and the side that had been hidden to others was revealed and occasionally Knox would give Connor a technical job to do that didn't threaten security. Connor liked Knox and the feeling was mutual making a secure friendship. As he checked his load out he said, "No, they just noticed me. So what do you have for me today?"

"Smart guy like you should be able to figure it out," Knox joked.

"Fuck you," Connor shot back.

Knox laughed at that. It was a sign of their friendship with the banter they shared. It only proved that Connor was not the bastard most people made him out to be. "Now I'm sure your mother wouldn't like what was coming out of your mouth."

"She was the one that learned it from my Da. And that was after she fell in when they first met." Connor put his mag into his weapon. "And all us kids learned that when she got into her mood, it was all out war between them."

"And you turned out to be a British bastard." Knox grinned knowing that it was all part of how they interacted. He sobered though after glancing up at the tower. "Now I've got it set on the basic run. Looks like Cormack wants to ease you back in."

"Well it's not like I've been doing much." Connor adjusted his gear. It was going to be an easy run. Knox had worked him on that particular sim as well as others when others weren't looking. So it wasn't like Cormack would know what he had been doing. As far as anyone knew, he flew solo with basic cardio and maybe weights. He checked his pistol and put it in its holster and picked up his primary. Grenades weren't necessary so all he had was the basic armor, primary rifle and sidearm. "And you know how much I don't like people."

Knox couldn't resist the laugh but managed to keep it low. "Well he's up in the tower watching and you're good to go. Once you pass the line clock starts. Good luck."

Connor locked and loaded and headed towards the start. His lip gave a slight twitch into a smile as he passed Knox. He looked forward at the pit. It was routine now but it was like being in school and the pressure was on to prove that you knew what you were doing. His final proficiency to pass Selection was just as bad.

Running a pit run is nothing. It's one thing to get in but it's another thing entirely to belong. You just go in, remember your training and the rest will follow.

Like you, Da.

Aye. The only exception was your mother. She just dropped in and…

Connor took a breath as he remembered that conversation with his father. After the euphoria of making it past Selection and getting his first assignment, his father took him aside and had a talk. It was one of the more thought provoking and inspiring things that marked his life. It had him feel he could do anything and he still believed it but… just a little wiser.

Clock starts when you move Hayfield.

"Copy that," Connor replied to Knox's reminder. He could do this. He lifted his rifle and started forward.

It was pretty basic… just showing off that he can shoot and not hit a civilian. It was one that Knox had him run at least once a week. All he had to do was remember to not fire from the hip and use his sights. The accuracy was better and you didn't waste bullets. Of course that was the nature of a sim. Being in the field was a different matter.

Looking good Hayfield. Move onto the next section.

Connor just pushed forward as he heard Knox's assessment. He rounded the corner and headed to the next section, which would lead upstairs and close quarters. It was why he had the pistol and the knife. As soon as he stepped into the section, he took off using his pistol and knife. Some of his techniques were not the kind that you learned in basic but they worked. He passed through the close quarters and out onto what passed for a roof. Out came his rifle and he aimed for the targets and there were civilians there.

Jump down.

Connor followed Knox's instructions as he jumped down and aimed for the next set of targets. He used his sidearm and somehow managed not to hit any of the civilian targets that were placed there. A couple of targets he was able to get close enough to give a punch or two. It wasn't exactly what most would do for that particular course but it was something he did because of his positioning. He simply adapted to where he was and acted accordingly.

Sprint for the exit.

Connor made it past the last section and followed Knox's directions and started sprinting for the exit. He was just to the exit when a last surprise was sprung on him. His reaction was instinct and training into play as he swung his right out to knock the target out of the way and swung his left in front of him and fired his pistol at the back of it before stepping through the line.

"Not bad Hayfield," Knox said as he greeted him. He glanced over to where Cormack had been watching and added, "And I think you've gotten your foot in."

Connor glanced at the viewing platform and then at Knox. He gave a slight twitch of his lips into a smile as he shifted on his feet. He nodded, "Well that's half the battle, mate. Half the battle."


A/N: Welcome back and onto a new CoD story and this time featuring Advanced Warfare characters. Introducing Connor Hayfield and his role in things as he joins Cormack's TF Sentinel. Seems like he has a past that could shape how things go. This and more next time on From the Ashes...