"In our world of constant struggle and survival we learned one rule; Men are expendable."
The young Senior Command Sergeant Stark Ironwood sat calmly staring out the window of the airship as they crossed the ocean. It was the first time he was leading his own black-ops mission, and his team wasn't nearly as enthused about it as he was. But then again, it wasn't their jobs on the line. Stark began to fumble with his dog tags nervously as he thought about it. This was the ninth year of his mandatory service, one more year before he would be either discharged or accepted into the lifetime role of the military. If he didn't make the cut then he would be forced to work in the city, or worse in the mines. The very idea made Stark shudder.
The oldest member of the team besides Stark was only in his fourth year of enlistment. Far beyond the time he would have to worry about staying or going. Senior Staff Sergeant Lucas Black and trained sniper Stark had never once seen miss his target. For better or worse considering he takes half of his shots drunk.
Lucas handed his sniper rifle off to their mechanical engineer for a quick tune up. Specialist Sergeant Tecaelis Schnee. Serving his second year a mandatory enlistment. A good man, but a little too ambitious for Stark's tastes. Then soldier joined the black ops squad just a few months ago because it promised a promotion upon completion of the mission. The only problem is that none of them knew the mission. Stark was here because he wanted to lead his own team for a promotion so he wouldn't get discharged when his term ended next year. Lucas was assigned to the team and didn't seem to care either way. Tecaelis was the only one to volunteer for a mission he knew nothing about, and that made him a risk.
But he has been good so far, he has made modifications to their weapons to make them function easier. Increased the speed in which the weapons changed form and decreased the recoil on Lucas' rifle. So he at least seemed to know what he was doing.
The plan suddenly shook, causing Stark to snap out of his daydream. He glanced at his watch and realised it was almost time. Stark stood up and grabbed a strap that was attached to the ceiling. He cleared his throat to get everyone's attention and said,
"Listen up you lot, it is time to hear what this whole mission is supposed to be about. Heaven forbid they tell us before we're half way across the ocean." Stark muttered. He banged his fist against the side of the airship and waited. The pilot pressed down on the control panel and an audio message began to play over the intercom.
"This is Brigadier General Amy Goodwitch, the overseeing officer on this mission. As you know the hostilities between Mistral and Vale are reaching a new height. The other day one of our trade ships was shot down when attempting to use the Mistral Trade Route to Vale. Now Vale is calling for our support in their trade embargo of Mistral. We need to know if what exactly Mistral is doing before we risk a war with them.
"Your transport will touch down on the northern coast of Mistral in a location known as 'Crook of the Dragon's Neck'. From this location, you will travel south for seventeen miles to one of Mistral's radio network relays. You are to eliminate any personnel within the facility that would stop you from reaching their records. You must obtain information on their hostilities with Vale and investigate the claim that Mistal assassinated the last Queen of Vale. Your extraction point will be ten miles due east of you drop off location. A new transport will go past the area once every five days looking for you.
"Alternatively, there is a small settlement in the cliff's northeast of the location of their radio relay. One of our agents, a man by the name of Elic is being held, prisoner. He is a powerful aura user and a good soldier. If you retrieve him your promised promotions maybe be even higher or accompanied by a pay raise." There was a pause in her speech and the team looked at each other. Tecaelis gave a sarcastic smirk and raised an eyebrow at Stark, who frowned.
"Officially team STL," Stark was unsure if it was supposed to be 'steel' or a joke by naming them 'steal', "is a Grimm control team. If you are caught all records of you a burned and you go down as a rogue team. That being said, I wish you the best of luck on your mission and hope to see you all in a week or two." The recording ended with a sharp click, followed by the pilot switching the intercom to broadcast his voice.
"Ten minutes until we land sir."
"Good," Stark said as he sank down into his seat. "Right everyone, saddle up and get ready." Tecaelis snorted and shrugged on his pack. Lucas rolled his eyes and lit a cigarette. Stark regarded them cooly and pulled out his rifle. It was a plain bolt action rifle that packed an enormous about of damage. It was already able to shoot through most armour and through several bodies's after that, but five minutes with Tecaelis and said it could even pierce through the skull of a Goliath. Stark had his doubts about that. He had gone on hunting missions to take down a Goliath pack, he doubted if Tecaelis had ever even seen one.
Lucas wiped his sniper rifle clean and studied it carefully. He didn't trust whatever it was Tecaelis did to it, but he couldn't see anything wrong with it on a surface level. He levelled it out the window and looked through the scope. The sniper rifle was long and completely black with a little bit of red colouring. It was incredibly heavy and thick enough to make it difficult for anyone else to use his weapon. Seeing nothing wrong he shrugged and pushed his aura over it. The mechanisms began to spin and whirl. Within seconds the rifle separated in two, becoming a light submachine gun and a revolver. Lucas sniffed at the submachine gun disdainfully and promptly hooked it on his pack so he wouldn't have to deal with it. He gave his revolver a quick test spin of the chamber and deemed it well enough and holstered it on his hip.
Tecaelis smiled at Stark who had been watching how the two of them got ready and carefully reached into his pack. He pulled out two strange looking devices and clasped them to his arm. The bright metal folded out across his arm and up his shoulder. Tecaelis gave sly smile as he showed off his arm guard, they made a quite robotic noise whenever he moved them.
"Uh, sir." The pilot said. "We have Grimm on the ground in our landing zone." Stark immediately made his way to the cockpit.
"How many?" Stark asked as he elbowed his way through the door.
"About a dozen beowulfs and an Ursa minor." The co-pilot told him. "They appear to be fighting over a fresh kill." Stark frowned.
"Swing the back end around and open the door the hatch, we'll take them out and then you set this bird down, got it?"
"Yes, sir." The co-pilot and pilot said in unison. Stark marched to the back again and checked the clip in his rifle.
"Black, how many shots you got in that pistol there?"
"Ten," he grunted.
"Alright," Stark said in his loud and commanding voice. "Then in ten shots we are jumping out and Schnee can do his thing." Lucas cast a sidelong glance at Tecaelis who winked at him. Lucas frowned and was about to question him when the back hatch opened up and Stark immediately fell to one knee and his rifle jumped up to his shoulder.
BAM!
The first shot from Stark ripped through the Ursa's shoulder. Stark slid back the bolt the empty shell clattered to the ground as a new bullet fell in place. Lucas fired off three round with his pistol, shooting clean through the heads of three beowulfs. Stark fired off another shot. This once glanced off the Ursa's bone armour in a shower of sparks. Stark cursed as he reloaded. Lucas drank from his flask in his free hand then fire four more shots. One by one the beowulfs fell. Stark's next shot went straight through the Ursa's eye and exploded violently out the back of its head. Stark reload his gun and leap out of the ship as Lucas' final shots rang out.
Stark's weapon shifted to a rifle before he even hit the ground, and the white glow of his aura flared before Lucas landed next to him.
A shield as tall as two men and as wide as a car projected from Stark's hand. Three beowulf trashed against it wildly. Another beowulf some had managed to get under the plan. Lucas spun and blew its brains out with even taking a moment to breathe. He then snapped open the revolver to reload.
"I thought you said you only had ten shots," Stark mentioned. Lucas shrugged.
"I like to keep two in the chamber in case one of these assholes sneak up while I'm reloadin'."
"Why two?"
"In case the first one missed."
"I thought you never miss."
"That second bullet has sat in the chamber for a long time." Suddenly a bright flash of silver shot through the remaining Grimm's necks, separating their heads from their bodys. They both looked up to see Tecaelis with a smirk on his face and a red glow around his hands. A cloud of ball bearing floated down towards him and created him a platform he floated down on.
"Every damn kinetic is a bloody show off." Lucas spat.
"You know you're jealous," Tecaelis said as he floated down to them. With a flick of his wrist and a sweep of his arm, his cloud of ball bearings dispersed and disappeared into two of six assorted bottles Tecaelis keeps on him.
"Right, Schnee," Stark said, "I want you to help the ship refuel. Black, you get onto and keep look out."
"Yes sir," Tecaelis said in a lazy fashion and then scurried off towards the ship that was coming into land. Black gave a half-hearted salute and stumbled after Tecaelis.
Stark found himself a clear spot inside the ship. He took out his map and smoothed it against the table. When he looked at where they were, he found a photo covering the spot up. With a thin smile he picked up the photo and looked at his wife and son in it. It was from the time they had visited The Glass Sea in Vacou. Stark suddenly frowned when he remembered his son.
He needed treatment, but he didn't have the money or the right standing for it. Each day he grows sicker and Stark is out doing mission after mission. How long had it been since they had seen each other? A month or two? Four? Six? Stark shook his head. The only way Stravik was going to get the treatment she needed was if he could make officer before she died. Even if all he could make was Privateer it would be enough. He had a year to make it there, if Stravik could just pull through for one more year…
"Er, sir? Are you ready to go?" Tecaelis poked his head into the back of the airship. Stark grumbled and stuffed the map and photo inside his heavy military coat. Tecaelis moved out of his way as Stark made his way outside the engines on the ship roared to life the moment he had stepped off. Stark scan the sky for a brief moment before pointed into the distance.
"We can make it to the cliffs if we move fast. We can set up came there." Lucas furrowed his brow.
"All the way to the cliffs? It will be dark hour for we get there, we'll be stumbling blind in the dark if we try to push that far."
"Then you best start walking," Stark said simply. Lucas held his gaze for a moment then turned away muttering to himself as he reached for his flask. Stark took a deep breath and then began to walk.
Footnote:
Private
Corpral
Sergeant
Staff Sergeant
Senior Staff Sergeant
Sergeant First-class
Command Sergeant Minor
Senior Command Sergeant
Master Sergeant
Privateer (men only)
2nd Lieutenant
1st Lieutenant
Captain
Over Tenant (Men only)
Major
Lieutenant Colonel (men only)
Colonel
Admiral
Brigadier General
Major General
Lieutenant General
General
Master General
