Papers were shuffled, pens readied and recording queued up. The room was filled with people, but only three of them truly mattered.
"Gentlemen, are we ready?" the President of Russia asked. Flanking him was a team of aides who kept him stocked with reports, and sat ready to take detailed notes, leaving his hands free.
"Yes, Mr. President," the General of the Russian Defense Force said. Like the President, he had a team of aides. Unlike the President, however, he preferred to take his own notes. He had a pad of paper at the ready, already taking shorthand notes.
"Yes, Mr. President," the Admiral of the Russian Navy said. He sat with a pad of paper as well, but let his aides take all the notes for him.
"Then let us begin," the President said. "Overwatch."
A holographic projector spun to life, showing a massive, glasses wearing gorilla.
"This…thing goes by the name Winston," the President said. "Earlier this week, he broke international law, and put out a recall to Overwatch agents around the globe. Our men and women in the FSB tell us that they have already began amassing a large amount of personnel and material.
"This flies in the face of the Petras Act. Just by assembling under the name of 'Overwatch,' they are at risk of being arrested and detained for the rest of their lives. The questions I have are this: why now? Why have they decide to commit international treason, how many people do they have, and what do they plan to do with their…vigilante force?"
"They're a little late to the party, aren't they?" the General of the Russian Defense Force said with a snort. "They're missing out on the Second Omnic Crisis."
"Da, too late," the Admiral of the Navies said. "The Crisis is in full swing. Siberia is burning yet again, and Russia is bleeding."
"That is why I want to know why they have waited until this point to recall their forces," the President said. "What have they gained by letting Russia bear the brunt of the Omnic Crisis? What do they stand to gain?"
"What has the KGB found?" The General said.
"They prefer to be called the 'FSB' now."
"My apologies; old habits die hard," the General said. "What have they found?"
"Nothing, as of yet," the President said. No aid had to give him the files to report that. The President's close connection to his old KGB/ FSB unit was an open secret. They reported directly to him. "The ones who have answered the call to arms are old members of Overwatch. Men and women who have stared down the world while it screamed for their blood. The FSB cannot simply insert agents into them; yet. We are forced to wait for them to accept new blood so we can begin sending agents to their forces."
"And how long will that be?" the General asked. "Russia has already lost fifteen-thousand daughters and sons, and will lose only more as the Crisis continues. We cannot afford to wait for them."
"Perhaps their consciousness got the better of them," the Admiral said. "Overwatch was formed to combat the First Omnic Crisis; perhaps hearing about the Second Crisis was enough to make them remember their glory days and risk the threat of the Petras Act to return to duty."
"That is what we are hoping for," the President said. "But from what our FSB agents have told us, they have launched a few select missions, but not against the Omnics."
"Not against the Omnics?" the Admiral said. "Who could be a bigger threat than the Omnics? Who draws their hate more than the tin cans?"
"From what we can tell, a group called 'Talon.'"
"And who is this 'Talon?'"
"Apparently they believe themselves to be the successor of rogue Blackwatch agents," the President said. "At least, that's what the Talon agent we captured said."
"You have captured one of their members?"
"The mysterious Soldier:76 was on assignment a few days ago, and we were able to grab one," the President smiled.
"Where is he now?" the General said.
"Sadly, he expired from wounds he took from the battle," the President sighed.
"Wounds he got from our soldiers, or Soldier:76?"
"Does it matter?"
The General dramatically, theatrically, stroked his beard.
"No. No, it doesn't. What else was he able to tell us?"
"Not much. He was just a rank and file soldier, a true grunt who knew little of the grand plan, only his part in it."
"A good soldier."
"Da, a good soldier. He was buried with full honors."
"I think we're getting off track," the Admiral said. "Overwatch has returned, but they are fighting human mercenaries? What happened to their legendary hatred for the Omnics? Why have they not come to our aide? We are suffering worse than any other country on the planet."
"Which is why I want to know what their plan is," the President said. "This is why we are here."
No one spoke, but they realized that if the FSB, and by extension the President, were unable to make much headway, a new tactic must be found.
"Before we delve too deep into the credibility of this new Overwatch," the General said, "I think we need to make a statement."
"And what statement would that be?" the Admiral asked.
"By assembling their forces, they are willingly breaking the Petras Act and risk immediate persecution," he said. "I am surprised they have not been forcibly shut down already."
"Your point?" the President asked.
"It was the United Nations that formed Overwatch," he said. He had a plan, and was greatly relishing his chance to explain it. "And it was by their pen stroke that Overwatch was disbanded. But what is the UN? A collection of nations that have decided to work together.
"Gentlemen, we need Overwatch and her soldiers alive and well. We need them to return to their roots as Omnic slayers, the bringers of mechanical death. We cannot have them forcibly shut down and arrested by countries whom have grown soft, fat and lazy since the last Crisis.
"We keep Overwatch alive by withdrawing our support from the Petras Act. And with their future guaranteed by us, they will fight with us."
The room was quiet as everyone digested what the General said. The President was especially quiet; he held on to his perfect poker face.
"Russia is a permanent member of the UN Security Council," he said. "We do hold considerable sway with the council, and many other nations."
"My point exactly, Mr. President. If the UN and the world at large wish to kill Overwatch, they will have to do so without our blessings, and without the blessings of our allies."
"This will also create a haven for them, should the international community decides to act despite us," the President said, realization dawning on him. "If Overwatch were to move to Russian soil, no one would dare send their forces across our borders to arrest them. Yes, I like this idea."
"And when they see what they are missing, they will join us to fight the Omnics once more," the Admiral said.
"My point exactly," the General smiled.
"I will announce our decision to withdraw support from the Petras Act tomorrow," the President said. "But we still need to find out what they are doing, fighting this 'Talon' and not their Omnic enemies."
"That leads to my second idea," the General smiled. "We give them a man."
"Just give one to them? Have them accept one of ours, just like that?"
"As a blessing to them, and to give them a show of our support," the General said. "We can only send one, lest we spook them into believing we are trying to sabotage them. But once they are part of Overwatch, once they are trusted as a true member, they will begin to bring them into the Second Omnic Crisis. We give them a soldier to bolster their ranks, and they give us an ear to whisper into, to make them remember their former glory and duty to the world."
"It sounds like you have been planning on this."
"I have a few ideas I was thinking about, Mr. President," the General said, a twinkle in his eye. "This was the best one I could come up with on such short notice."
"And I dare to assume you have your soldier picked out?"
"That I do. Zaryanova, at attention."
Hearing my name, I stood, took a step forward, and snapped to attention.
"Sir, Aleksandra Zaryanova, reporting for duty," I said, keeping my salute perfect.
"At ease, soldier," the President said. I folded my arms behind my back, but stayed in perfect form. "You were awfully quiet back there."
"Sir, I had nothing meaningful to add, sir."
"What do you think of this plan?"
"Sir, I think the General is quite shrewd and wise. Overwatch is needed, and they are needed on the front, sir."
"How did the General find you? Did you volunteer, or were you chosen?"
"Sir, both. The General was pleased with my skills as a soldier, and having grown up through the First Crisis, I idolized Overwatch. Permission to speak freely, sir?"
"Go ahead."
"Sir, this soldier would love the chance to meet her heroes, sir."
"You know you'll be away from the fight."
I told myself I wouldn't hesitate. I promised myself I wouldn't blink. But I ended up doing both.
"Sir, this soldier is aware, sir."
"Then you have a great task presented to you, Zaryanova. You will join Overwatch, and you must steer them into rejoining the Omnic Crisis. The Motherland is depending on you."
"Sir, I will neither let you, nor the Motherland, down," I said, saluting. "Point me in the right direction, sir."