Author's Introduction
So, I've had this I've had this idea floating around in my head for a good long time, but I've been worried about putting it out. I have virtually no experience with Anything Multi-Chapter, so, as usual, I'm just going to dive in. Thus, any advice would be appreciated, and any Criticism (I don't really give a fuck if you're polite or not about it) would be EXTREMELY appreciated. Multi Chap writing is very different from one-shot writing, so this is indeed very new to me. I'm putting a lot of effort in this, and I really want it to turn out good.
Disclaimers: 1.) My experience as a military historian is amateur at best, and my knowledge of military proceedings, while perhaps better than most people, is very liable to make someone with that knowledge irritated. If there is anything that you see that makes you go "oh, damn that is so wrong" and/ or cringe, please tell me, and I will do my best to correct said mistakes, or just take it into account in the future. 2.) There is an OC in here that may seem/ is prejudice to an extreme. The views of my character's are not a representation of my own personal beliefs and views, so please don't say things like, "you shouldn't talk about blacks/ Jews/ homosexuals/ Asians/ women like that." That's not me saying it, that's all him. 3.) Seeing as I consider FMA a WWII based story, this takes place in the mid-to-late 40's era. The guns I use, however, will be just a bit of an Anachronism (I'm not saying someone's going to bust out a p90 and rock and roll or anything). The latest I will go to is late 50's early 60's (with an m16) but other than that I will restrain myself. I also did my best to identify the guns that are used in the manga, and believe that I did a damn good job of it.
"Thank you for coming, Major General. You may be seated."
"Thank you, Councilman. I appreciate your time."
"Noted. Now, let's get to the matter at hand. Brigadier General Heat, you have the stand."
"Thank you, Councilman. Now, as you know, recently there have been various terrorist attacks and assassinations made on Amestrian State Officers, Amestrian State Alchemists, Amestrian State Buildings, and Amestrian State Officials. Now, while the Drachmann Officials have declined any association with the incidents, the Drachmann Royal Family has not made an official statement on the matter. The terrorists, on the other hand, have openly admitted to being directly attached to Drachma. Here is documented proof that the Terrorists are not only Drachmann citizens, but also enlisted members of the Drachmann Military."
"General Heat, the claims you have made in no way link the terrorist cells that have attacked to the Country of Drachma, except by circumstantial evidence. We cannot jump to conclusions so hastily when dealing with matters of international policy. Since no official release had been made by the Royal Family, and all statements made have declined association, we cannot jump onto the war horse so blindly."
"Councilman, General Mustang is a well know anti-war activist. He would have us stand by blind to all that goes on in order for us to stay out of conflict. Our country will fall without even fighting back if you listen to his advice."
"General Heat, my personal conscience direction has no effect on the position I take on this subject matter, and should not be brought up in this hearing at all. The fact of the matter is that you have no proof, and for a situation like the one present, your argument holds no water. "
"Truthfully, General Mustang, you surprise me. I would have thought, given that one of the victims of the assassinations from Drachma was your own Lieutenant, you would be all over the enemy like the attack dog you are."
"Why don't you say that to my face, Gen-"
"Behave yourselves, Generals. This is not the proper time or place to settle personal issues. General Heat, I'm surprised that you would openly insult another officer, especially a superior officer, like that."
"Sorry Councilman. I'll hold my tongue."
"Don't let it happen again."
"I won't, Councilman. So, as I was saying, the evidence shows that the terrorist cells that have made the assaults are in some way linked to the Drachmann Military. My colleague claims that the best course of action is to do nothing and sit and wait because our country is fragile and can't risk another war. I agree with him on one thing: our country is fragile right now. Any country going through the governmental overhaul that we are would be. And Drachma knows this. Our country is weak right now, but the best course of action would be to prepare for war and close the doors to our country save for diplomatic offerings. What we cannot do is enter a war without being able to respond immediately, and the best way for us to do that I to put all troops on ALERT STATUS: BRAVO. "
"The problem with what General Heat suggests is that, as of now, Drachma has declined all relation with the terrorist cells, not even making an effort to reclaim their own soldiers. By increasing the status to BRAVO, it would make Drachma suspicious of our intent and meet our forces with the same caution. This would make our borders a powder keg, set off at the slightest spark.
"As of right now it is foolish to treat Drachma as an enemy. What I suggest is that we simply keep up the status quo with Drachma and work with them to solve this issue. They have expressed interest in seeing the end of these attacks just the same as us."
"Thank you General Mustang. Both yours and General Heat's arguments will be taken into consideration. You are both dismissed."
Master Gunnery Sergeant Kellogg tapped his foot impatiently as he waited for Mustang to arrive at the scene. The Lieutenant in front of him, apparently Mustang's personal aide, was getting irritated with him, and he could tell. Judging by the she held it in, she was clearly adept at keeping stoic mask on, but he could read people like a book. He kept his foot tapping up, trying to goad more of a response from her, but to no avail. Not giving up, he tried a different means of assault.
"Lieutenant, is your son-of-bitch General ever going to get his ass over here, or is he purposefully wasting my goddamned time?" One of the best ways to piss off a Lieutenant, especially a personal aide, was insult the commander, and judging by the flash in her eyes, she was no exception. God, he loved his rank. If he had chosen to be a First Sergeant, admittedly a tempting choice, he would have never been to Sergeant Major, due to his unruly behavior. Seems Master Sergeant had been the proper choice; all that bitching paperwork had more than paid off when he was promoted. After all, who was gonna mess with a Master Gunny?
"The Brigadier General should be here soon. He said his meeting wasn't going to last more than an hour." While the words she said didn't hold an irritated connotation, Kellogg could taste the venom hidden in them. The truth was he knew exactly where the Brigadier General was and how long it would take him to get to the office. He could hear the footsteps mixed with the tap of the cane on the hallway floor outside, and judging by how quickly the beats were falling, he still had a good thirty seconds to goad the Lieutenant. He decided to try a different subject
"You know, Lieutenant, I couldn't help but notice the FN 1922. I have to say, I wasn't expecting a marksman of such high regard to carry a pussy-weak pistol like that. Though I suppose I shouldn't have expected anything heavier, .380 is standard for female officers." Ouch. That sent her overboard. Kellogg realized he may have made a mistake when, instead of responding with a loss of control, she reached behind her back and pulled out a pistol. Kellogg was quick to realize that the gun that was not, in fact, the 1922 that was housed in her holster, but a Webley .38 magnum. Though, from where she had pulled that gun from, he hadn't a clue.
Luckily for him, his timing wasn't off and Mustang entered the room before the Lieutenant in front of him did anything that he would regret.
"Lieutenant? Is something the matter?" Hawkeye glared at Kellogg and holstered her revolver.
"No, Sir. You have a visitor. This is MGySgt Kellogg." Mustang focused his senses on Kellogg, and realization dawned on him.
"Kellogg? How'd you get here so fast?"
"Word travels fast in my office. Should I have come later?
"No, no it's fine. I just wasn't expecting you for another hour. Lieutenant?" The blonde he had been pestering earlier turned to him with stereotypical military precision.
"Sir."
"I have transfer requests that need to be taken to down to HR. I'm also expecting Lieutenant General Armstrong in soon, and I have to meet with Kellogg, so I need you to hold down the office."
"Yessir. When are you expecting General Armstrong?" Kellogg was surprised to hear no exasperation in her voice, and figured that it wasn't too unusual for this Mustang to weigh her down like this.
"Well, I was expecting both her and Kellogg here in about an hour, but seeing as he's here, I haven't a clue." Kellogg decided to interject at his point.
"I know some of the cocksuckers who work down in Human Resources. They'll take forever to get the summon to Olivier." The blonde Lieutenant got an odd look that on her face that, to his own surprise, Kellogg couldn't read.
"An hour, then." Mustang turned and went to his office, and signaled Kellogg to follow him with his white and red cane. Not quite sure what he was about to get himself into, he followed him in, and Mustang shut the door behind him.
Riza sat in her chair and looked over the paperwork that the General had given her. It was all transfer paperwork, and she knew a fair amount of the names from the documents. The two on the top were for Chief Warrant Officer Falman and Master Sergeant Fuery. These two weren't a surprise. Roy was gathering his old empire, and the men he trusted with it. Breda wasn't far below, and she couldn't help but regret the absence of Havoc's name on the forms. It seemed anything that Roy wanted to do, he would have to manage without him.
There were a few others in the stack, including a sniper from her old unit, and a few other Enlisted men, but they were all being assigned under his command, not to his office. Giving the forms a once over, Riza straightened the stack of forms and left for the HR department. She wondered exactly what was going on, with the abnormally high traffic, not that she minded the busywork.
In the two months since the upraising there had been a shortage of productivity, since everyone had been tied down in investigations and reformation. Both Roy and General Armstrong were given promotions, Roy from Colonel to Brigadier General, and Armstrong from Major General to Lt. General, due to their roles in the revolution. Partly this was to do with their roles, but more than likely it was a way for the council to take advantage of the lack of High Brass and fill the holes with the two revolutionaries, who were heroes to the people, and thus placing them in favorable light. Sometimes Riza despised the politics involved in the military, but she could appreciate being one step closer to their goal.
It seemed that Roy was just now getting around to placing the pieces of his infrastructure back under his command, and Riza would be thankful to have to now empty office back to the way it used to be, even if she wasn't to certain about the new addition. Arriving at Human Resources, Riza entered the office and handed the transfer requests to the office secretary.
However, as she handed the forms to the office, the secretary surprised Riza with an official summon from Major General Mustang. A bit offset by the odd request, Riza retraced her steps back to the office that she worked at, Summon in hand. By the time she arrived Kellogg had left and Roy's office was open once again. Marching in, Riza gave her commanding officer a stiff salute. "General Mustang, 1st Lieutenant Hawkeye reporting in, sir." Roy casually looked up without rising from his desk.
"No need to be so formal, Hawkeye, Especially when it's just us."
"Permission to speak freely, sir?"
"I believe I just granted it, Lieutenant," Roy said with a small amount of humor on his lips.
"Why did you send me a summon request? You could have simply asked me to with you." Roy let out a heavy sigh.
"Honestly, Lieutenant, I wish it were that simple. Unfortunately for all of us the council is requiring me to keep official records of the whole recruitment process. It's a huge pain in the ass, and I think they're just doing it in order to keep me on the shortest leash possible." Suddenly the recent activity around the office held itself in a new light.
"And that's the reason why you've been holding back what's going on from me?" Roy nodded his head and went on.
"I have my paperwork filled out now, but I need to have a recruitment interview with you, and you're going to have to fill out about to get three metric tons of paperwork"
"Is that really necessary, Sir? I'm already under your command, and it's not like I'm about to withdraw my support."
"'Even into hell.' But, yes it is necessary, though it won't take long. So, let's begin." Roy reached over to the voice recorder located on the office desk between him and her, and flipped it on. "1st Lieutenant Hawkeye, the following is recorded and can be examined by the authorities for investigation purposes. This interview, coupled with the paperwork you will fill out afterward should you choose to accept the offer, will verify you as an official member of ROSE. Should you choose to not accept the offer, you are to give a life-binding oath that you will never speak of the proceeds of this meeting to anyone outside of myself and those who I give my permission to. Do you understand?"
"Yes, General."
"Good. Now, onto business. The purpose of this interview is to extend a formal invitation to you to join ROSE. As a member of ROSE you will participate in undercover and top-secret missions for the State of Amestris. You may be asked to do things that are not entirely legal, if under any other circumstances. You were selected because of your incredible skill demonstrated on the battlefield, and other traits that makes you an ideal soldier for the task.
"As a member of ROSE, you will be treated with a level of respect outside of the office that any member of an elite force would receive, including unquestioned use of any piece of State equipment. Inside the office, and during operations, conventional rank is ignored, and a new line of power is established, with me, Roy Mustang, as Command. As Command, my word is above all others and is treated as law. I am above all others, save for the Fuehrer, when one is appointed, and any disobedience to me, or my commands will be dealt with appropriately, as per my decision." Mustang went on, talking in a serious, yet bored voice. He had clearly given this speech a lot, and was doubtlessly going to give it a whole lot more.
At the end of the interview, and when Riza gave her acceptance and Roy handed he a hefty stack of paperwork, as promised. The whole process both made her nervous and excited her. She was soldier, and the prospect of being stuck in an office all day was very daunting, though she had always contained herself a lot better than Roy ever did. It was like being a predator trapped in a cage, denying her the ability to fly free.
At the same time, it was dangerous, and she had believed that she was out of the danger. Though, somehow she doubted that they would ever face an enemy like those they had fought moths earlier, if they did any combat missions at all. The important thing, however, was that Roy stay safe, and he, as Command, would be safely located in Central, and directing his forces from there. Any duties that would otherwise be unfulfilled, because of his lack of on-site location, would fall to 2nd Command, and he would stay safely the hell out of the way.