Fareeha stared down at her old team nostalgically.
The photo was dull and worn from being carried around in her armor for so many years.
She could see so many great and experienced warriors in it, herself and her mother
included.
It was a photo from the day she graduated from the Egyptian Military academy. Fareeha was so happy then, she could actually see herself, as well as her comrades and her sergeant, smiling cheerfully. They smiled like nothing in the world could stop them, like they could take on the whole Omnic crisis themselves, like they were invincible.
But they weren't.
Fareeha frowned bitterly and tucked the picture back under her armor. She grabbed her Helix built standard issue rocket launcher as she prepared to land. In front of her was her new team. Most of them had seen combat before. Mahmud, Tariq, and Saleh of them
had personally fought alongside her when they quelled the Anubis uprising.
There was also a 5th team member assigned to them, a rookie. What was her name? Nubia? Navia? Nia? Whatever.
Reports said that she had graduated in the top 2% of the academy. Still, Fareeha would have to reserve judgement until she could witness her newest comrades' strength in combat for herself.
The seasoned Egyptian soldier went over the mission report in her head again. A large force of rogue omnics had taken control of a large sector of New Ontario and started making demands. Among these demands was the call for the destruction of the Helix International's Headquarters, which was near the border of Omnic controlled territory.
Because of this recent insurrection, Fareeha and her squad were being sent in to quash
it and any trace of it.
The bay doors to the transport jet opened, revealing Fareeha's squad standing at the ready. Waiting for them were two people. The one standing front and center looked to be a battle-weary commander, Fareeha didn't recognize him. But she sure did recognize the other person.
Angela Ziegler, Chief Health Officer, medical prodigy...and Fareeha's lover.
But right now, they were going to have to deal with their newest mission.
Wasting no time, the commander began. "Here's the situation. A large group of unidentified terrorists Omnics have taken over the political centers of downtown New
Ontario. At 1730 hours the Canadian military set up a perimeter around the city."
"And our mission?"
"Helix International is giving you orders to recover a valuable data unit locked up inside its business center. You have clearance to damage other Helix property if it is required, as well as clearance to use deadly force against these Omnics, though we don't know how many there are or what kind of units or experience in battle they possess."
"Civilians?" Fareeha questioned.
"None in immediate danger as far as we can see on bio-sensors. They're all either evacuated or in hiding underground." The commander reported.
"Good. That will make things a lot less complicated."
In response, Fareeha's squad mounted up their weapons and prepared for the upcoming battle. Fareeha herself began to walk towards the aforementioned perimeter so her team could begin the recovery op.
However, before she could even take a step, she was stopped by the grasp of a small and gentle hand on her shoulder. Even through her thick titanium-polyite armor, Fareeha could feel its warmth. She already knew who it was even before she began to turn around.
"You know according to research it's extremely unhealthy to run more than four missions like this in one week." Angela warned.
"Officially ma'am, I'm going to have to apologize to inform you that I am under orders and am unable to halt my mission without proper orders from Helix International."
"And unofficially, hmmm Fareeha?"
"Unofficially I'm...really sorry?"
A soft-hearted chuckle escaped from between Ziegler's lips.
"You know, for all your experience in the field of battle, you're still really cute when you're confused."
The Helix mercenary stood unwavering. Donning her helmet and loading her rocket launcher.
"You and I both know I still have to go out into that field. King's row was the first uprising, and unfortunately Anubis was a stark reminder that it wasn't the last." Fareeha said.
"Is there any way at all to convince you from going?"
"Not unless you're willing to file a request with Helix International and then wait 3 to 4 business days." The war-weary pilot wisecracked.
Angela sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose as she responded. "Please just...don't die out there. Your Raptora armor can only take so much, and I won't always be there with Caduceus if you fall, you know." She warned desperately.
Fareeha simply turned to gaze into no man's land. She smiled. "Yes, you will." She countered earnestly.
Not wasting another second, she linked up with her team before crossing the perimeter into the field of battle. Angela could do nothing but look on, hoping and worrying for her lover's wellbeing all the while.
"I pray I won't have to."
The crossing into the firezone was silent and dreary. The smoke and dust of damaged concrete buildings flooded their nostrils and made it so that they couldn't see more than a few feet with their eyes. Luckily, Fareeha and her team were equipped with the Raptora Mk IV armor, and their Helmet's HUD meant that they could spot any contact from a mile away, friend or foe.
The walk into the bleak unknown was unsettling for the rookie, to say the least. She kept checking her corners and running scans like she was told in training over and over.
"Why haven't we run into forward units, yet? This doesn't feel right." The rookie complained.
"They're likely holed up near the center of their territory. If we keep low and stay quiet, we should be able to sneak up on them. Make sure not to use your rocket pack unless the element of surprise is no longer with us." The older, more experienced veteran advised.
"Yeah...right, sorry."
Fareeha looked over the new recruit. She looked nervous, paranoid. This must be her first time in a real combat mission. Getting shot no longer meant a slap on the wrist and orders for extra laps. Out here, getting shot meant getting shot.
"Hey, this your first real mission, rookie?"
"Yeah. How'd you know?"
"You're nervous. It's your first crossing into no man's land. Everyone was nervous in their first one, too. Even me. Just trust your team, do your job, and we'll all come out of this alri-
"CONTACT!"
The egyptian captain barely had time to whip her head around before the rounds started flying all around her. Tariq and Muhmad had already jumped behind a dumpster, while Saleh tackled the rookie behind a broken down hesco. No longer was she Fareeha, tough-but-caring captain. She was now Pharah, the bold and heavy hitting commander of Helix's best assault squad.
"Everyone! Get airborne and on top of those buildings! NOW!"
Her squad was quick to respond. True to their training, half of them dashed for the flattops while the other half fired on the omnics currently trying to jump them. Once half the squad got to a better position, it was their turn to cover the other half.
Now it was just Pharah and the rookie still trapped on the ground.
"Go to the left! I'll go to the right! We'll split their firepower!" Pharah screamed over the cracks and explosions of the raging battle.
"Yes, Captain!"
The two soldiers flew as fast as their packs allowed. The rookie reached the safety of the gravel roof before Pharah, she turned to cover her captain. However, the newbie's look of relief snapped into one of horror. Pharah turned to look back.
Without warning, a bastion turret began unloading lead into her back from a nearby shop window. She had no time to react. She had no chance.
Armor piercing rounds sliced through her armor and her skin. Her jetpack burst into flames. The chemical inferno seared her skin and sucked her breath out. She tried to scream in agony but all that came out was a meek groan. Without the aid of her pack, she fell to the Earth.
She saw her team look at her in horror, shock, and anger.
She saw her mother.
She saw Angela.
And then she saw nothing.