In Another World
Nearly two weeks ago a transmission from the former UEG colony of Meridian sent a transmission to Charon Industries about a possible hostile presence on the independent planet. Meridian worked hard to remain independent and didn't want anything, especially if was the UNSC, to be interfering with their not so legal operations and contacted the company to deal with the nuisance quietly. They dispatched their Flag Ship, the Staff of Charon to deal with the problem.
Onboard, the agents of Bravo Company, were practicing in the training room waiting for their orders to go down planet side. They hadn't been deployed on a mission in months and they were excited. As being apart of Bravo Co. they were specially trained and tasked with more covert missions such as sabotage, espionage, and above all assassination, therefore they were mostly on the bench while Alpha Company and Charlie Company got more action.
Agent North, the team leader of Bravo Co. was with his men making sure they were all still in top shape for their assignment. He had Agent South and Agent West sparring each other making sure they were on top, performance wise. The two of them were the worst slackers out of all of the program. "Alright guys, that last one was good. One more time."
The two agents gave groans as they complained to their leader. "Come on North. We've been at this for over an hour. We're exhausted." West complained.
"Listen, the boss is gonna be here soon to give us our orders. I just want to make sure he takes us serious this time." He said.
South just sat down on the floor refusing to follow orders. "Why does it matter, I think we've done good so far." She said.
Agent East stood forward backing up her leader by proving that overall, they were the worst preforming Company in the entire program. "Yeah sure South that would explain why we're at the bottom of the list. Even Delta Co. is above us and all they do is sit on their butts and take phone calls."
South just shrugged. "Maybe we've just had a bad year." She said. West was in the process of moving a stack of rifles to another table when he tripped over nothing and they all scattered all over the floor.
"Yeah more like four bad years." North said but then they heard the elevator sound and slowly start riding down. North immediately ordered his men to stand at attention believing that it was the boss of Charon himself. "Quick guys get off your asses, he's coming." He ordered and they all quickly got to their feet and stood in order. Agents North being number one, then South, then West, and then East.
The elevator finally arrived on the ground floor and the light dinged on. North waited for the boss to step put and see that his soldiers were ready and standing at attention. But instead of the the boss, when the doors opened out stepped Alpha Co. much to Bravo's dismay. The leader of Alpha stepped out with her men tailing behind in order and with a smirk on her face seeing Bravo.
"Oh look at this guys, Bravo was waiting to greet us." She said. All sense of pride vanished from North and Bravo and was replaced with dread. "As you were agent."
Bravo Co. could feel the hate radiating from their leader. "What are you doing here D.C. last time I check we had the training room to ourselves." He said.
"Oh don't mind us. We just wanted to observe so I could show my men what a couple of sore losers looked like." She said. Her men started chuckling at her sick burn. "You know the if you want to use a rifle properly, they shouldn't be on the floor."
Alpha Company was considered the best of the best of the program and their track record proved it. Most confirmed kills, most completed missions, highest body count, highest score in Guitar Hero and above all, the biggest, most obnoxious jackasses in the entire program. Either everyone loved them and wanted to join them, or everyone hated them, and no one hated them more then North.
"Seriously, what are you really doing here!" he demanded.
D.C. approached the other leader maintaining that same smirk he hated. "Oh I'm just here to support my little brother on his big mission." She and started roughing his hair. he heated when she did that and forcefully pushed her away. She wasn't amused, taking that shove as an insult, but didn't matter to her. "We're also here for when the boss arrived and realized it was a mistake to send you, that he'd have a better, much more accomplished and professional alternative."
The rest of Bravo were now steaming with anger as they approached the other team. The was four of them stood in front of the seven out of the usual fifteen of Alpha Co. They all stood up against each other ready to throw down. Despite being out numbered they could easily stand their ground against Alpha. They were always going on the best missions and were always around to convince the superiors into to pull things in their favor leaving the rest, especially Bravo in the dust. They knew that Bravo really needed this job and so they would try anything to screw them over.
North just stared at his sister in the eyes with hatred, while she stared back with a smirk. "Tell your team to stand down." She said.
"You can't order me around." North said back.
"Really? Because I do believe I outrank you."
"We're both the lead of our own Company, which means we are equally ranked."
D.C. just gave a scoff. "Sure keep telling yourself that. Whatever makes you feel better."
North raised his fist ready to just punch his sister in the face when he felt East hold him back, trying to calm him down. He whipped around seeing her staring at him, that look in her eye saying 'its not worth it' made him calm down.
D.C. scoffed again. "Thats what I thought." She said. "Do you know why they named you all after the compass? So that you'd always know how to make your way to the bottom of the leaderboard. Where you belong."
Just then the second elevator arrived and out walked Agent Wyoming, Warrant Officer and head of Alpha Co. AKA Jackass Extraordinaire. He quickly approached the tense group getting ready to disarm the situation and most likely pin the blame on Bravo. "Whoa, hold on everyone stand down." He ordered and then two teams relaxed but only barely. "Alright whats going on? D.C. what has Bravo done?" He asked his Lieutenant.
"Nothing Officer. We just simply wanted to see Bravo train and then they threatened us." She lied. "They even pulled these guns on us."
"Thats not true!" West retaliated. "They came and interrupted our training session."
"Stand down soldier." Wyoming ordered. West gave a frustrated huff, and did as the superior said. "I think I have to have a word with your C.O. Wheres Michigan?" He asked and nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard him standing right behind him.
"Did you need something?" He asked.
Wyoming yelped and jumped back landing on one of the rifles and fall on his ass. Michigan said nothing only walked around his fallen comrade and stood straight with his hands behind his back with his Company. Seeing the disgruntled Warrant Officer made East snort and quietly say. "Eat sh*t." However her comment didn't go unheard as she her fellow agents started chuckling silently. Wyoming immediately shot up, singling out East personally.
"What was that agent?!" Wyoming said as he got back to his feet. East stood at attention silently refusing to answer, but Wyoming wasn't taking it. "Mitch, I think you should tell your soldier to apologize."
"No I allow it." Michigan simply said without having a single care in the matter. "Except, East watch your language."
"Yes sir." She said and then had a slight smile knowing that her officer always had her back.
Wyoming was upset now, getting really close the Michigans face. "I don't think your understanding. Your soldiers are not only disrespectful, but they always seem to be causing trouble for my Company. And we, don't, appreciate it." He said emphasizing the last words with poking Michigan's chest. No one had ever spoken against Michigan directly before, and Wyoming's actions made Bravo surprised and speechless. Michigan just stared at him confused about why he thought that poking him in the chest was necessary.
"I'm sorry, we are causing the problem?" Michigan questioned. "Cause I do believe that my company had the room to themselves to prepare for their mission. Seems to me that your crew is the one causing problems." He stated.
"Well mate then perhaps you and your company need a reminder that we are Number One on the leaderboard, meaning we can do as we please without a problem. Now, do you understand, or do I need to explain it to you some other way?" Wyoming nearly threatened and stood closer to Michigan who remained unfazed.
"Are you really threatening me with physical violence? Oh please no don't. That would just, it wouldn't be funny, it would just be sad." The agents all gave ooohs, and Wyoming thought of his response as though he was challenging him. Except Michigan was genuinely confused about what was going on.
"Oh is that it. So you want to brawl? Go one on one right now!?" Wyoming challenged.
"That depends, when was the last time you spoke to your physician, and do you need you left kidney." Michigan asked.
Wyoming was ready to throw a punch when he heard his response. He gave a step back and gave up completely. The way he said that so bare, flat, and emotionless, how he stood, back straight, and arms held behind was not at all imposing and terrifying at the same time. "Well. Just be glad I forgave you. Don't want to embarrass you in front of you company." he said and then just walked away toward his company to have a private meeting.
Bravo was hyped and proud after seeing that display and congratulated and thanked their Warrant Officer for having their support. Michigan once again was just confused. "No seriously what just happened I like fell asleep half way." He said. All were quiet and attention was focused just as they heard the voice of the boss himself speak.
"You were right to stand down Wyoming. I'm fairly certain that you wouldn't have stood a chance against Michigan." The main man himself, Malcom Hargrove himself spoke. All were silent, not even Alpha spoke up to defend their Officer. They all just stood there at attention as the head of the entire program approached Bravo. They all stood at attention and saluting as he walked. "And you must be Bravo. Please incase I've forgotten, Agents North, South, West and East, introduce yourselves."
The four agents simultaneously took one step forward and stood at attention as they spoke in order. "Sir! Nathaniel BN-201! Team Leader!"
"Stephenie! BS-202!"
"Wesley! BW-203!"
"Emma! BE-204!"
They all announced and then quietly let go of the breath the were each holding in, thankful that they didn't screw up their introduction. Hargrove gave a smile at the agents. He already knew of Emma, before she joined Bravo and became agent East, and from the looks of it, she was a great asset to them. He turned to the Warrant Officer in charge. "And you believe that they are ready, Officer Michigan?" He asked.
"Ever since I started helping with training and with the added addition of Agent East, their performance has increased by thirty-eight percent. Yes, their ready." He stated. His words brought a smile to all of Bravo, but especially to East. He was always protective of her so she was glad that he thought she was ready for an important mission like this.
Hargrove turned back to face the four agents and pulled his tablet to begin the briefing. But before he could start Wyoming stepped forward. "Sir, if I may. I think it would be better to send Alpha down there. No disrespect of course, but my company is much more accomplished and could finish the job in record time. We are at the top of the leaderboard." He said. Almost immediately Bravo's smiles vanished and was replaced with either worry or anger. East turned to Michigan who was as well upset by Wyomings interjection.
"You would be correct." Hargrove said and it brought a cold presence to Bravo who felt as though their chance was slipping from their grasp. "If you wanted to start a War Zone!" he raised his voice, much to the surprise of, just about everyone. Except Michigan. "You team would go down their, guns blazing, blowing down doors and the enemy would cease all productivity and destroy any data that we could use for our program. The last thing I need is to explain to the government of Meridian and/or potentially the UNSC what the bloody hell was going on down there."
He was nearly shouting at this point getting in Wyoming's face. He had made his point and he quickly calmed down. "This mission requires, precision and discretion. Which is why I expect Bravo to be ready to go within the hour. You will be briefed on the Pelican flight down. Dismissed."
After a the excitement of Bravo finally getting assigned a mission finally past they spent another ten minutes in the training room getting ready and in shape for the mission. Once that was done they would later arrived at the armory to grab their weapons and other equipment that they would need. While the others grabbed SOCOM'd SMG's and Magnums East grabbed her special custom sniper rifle that she kept in her locker for such occasions as this, a gift from her mentor Michigan once she completed her sniper training. West commented that it was like when he got his first car when he graduated high school. East wouldn't know anything about that, she never went to school.
Once they were ready they all arrived to the hanger where they boarded the Pelican that was waiting on stand by and where Michigan was waiting for them. Once they were all situated, the Pelican lifted off the floor and took off into space and toward the planet below. During the flight, Bravo couldn't hold back the joy of finally getting an assignment after so long, but after a while Michigan had to calm them down so he could give them the briefing.
A few miles north-west of a Liang-Dortmund mining facility, an abandoned army outpost had recently gone active. The Liang-Dortmund Corporation has hired Charon Industries to investigate and if possible to terminate the disturbance with discretion or else putting their investments at risk. Their mission is to infiltrate the small outpost and eliminate the captain in charge. They'll receive a bonus if there are no survivors.
After about an hour of flying they finally made it planet side. The natural gravity of the planet felt real good. They hadn't experienced real gravity in a long time. West commented on how he came a little in his pants which made everyone groan and comment on how disgusting that was.
"Hey East." Michigan called from the cockpit. "Can I speak to you for a minute?" He asked before retreating into the room. East stood up without question and followed him inside, shutting the door behind her. "Alright boots on the ground in ten minutes. How you feeling?" He asked as he always did, before an exercise, or in this case, an actual mission.
"I'm feeling good. Kind of nervous, but good." She said, but then gave a little wince of pain. "Just got a little headache, but it'll pass. I hope."
Michigan reached behind in one of his compartments in his armor and pulled out a little syringe. "Maybe this'll take the edge off."
East stared at the needle confused and wondering while after all these years her mentor would tell her to take drugs. And then just like the headache resurfacing, it hit. She checked her watch and saw that the timer had surpassed by over seven minutes. "Damn!" She exclaimed.
"Language."
"Sorry." She said. "Could you?"
She asked and he complied. She turned and Michigan took the syringe, gently imbedding it into one of of the veins on her neck. She was stiff and rigid but once the medication started coursing through her bloodstream her body relaxed. "Thanks." She said and then reset the timer on her watch for another twenty-four hours.
"You'll do great out there. I know it." Michigan said.
"Of course you do. You trained me after all." She said then returned to the hold.
After a little while longer the Pelican finally landed and the hatch opened up. Bravo leapt out of the drop-ship, weapons drawn and securing the area from any hostiles, just like they had rehearsed over and over again. The nav-points all blared on their heads up display, the target location was just two miles south of their current location. "Yes! South! I'm in charge!" South shouted. She wasn't wrong however. Bravo had a long tradition, which ever direction they were heading, they were in charge. And without anymore discussion, South lead the team toward the outpost.
After the two mile walk, they finally spotted the outpost. Standing three stories tall, it was a lot bigger then they were expected, but it wouldn't be much of a challenge. Outside alone they spotted three Warthogs and nine guards. A little south-west from where they were sitting was a hill that could serve as a good vantage point. "East. West." North called and pointed toward the hill. The two nodded and climbed up. When they reached the top, East picked the perfect spot for covering the team and readied her sniper rifle.
"What do you see?" West asked. he stayed low behind cover afraid of giving away their position.
East looked through her scope and started spying through the windows. Aside from the three warthogs and the nine guards, she counted at between seven or eight more men inside, she couldn't tell, and at the top floor of the building she spotted the captain in tan and cyan colored armor sitting by a terminal. "At least half a dozen inside. And I found the captain. I think he's taking a call."
West fed the information to his two comrades below who had now moved to take cover behind an old Elephant truck. "Do you think its the Sundered Legion?" He asked.
"I doubt it. They haven't been around since before the Great War. And that was a long time ago." East answered. She was still looking through her scope when she spotted a soldier walking towards the truck and toward the agents. "Guys heads up." She warned and just as the soldier got close, North grabbed him, pulled behind and fired two shots into his head.
"Nice." South commented.
"More bogeys guys." East called as she spotted four more soldiers. They probably spotted their fellow man get grabbed and were going to investigate with weapons drawn. East took aim and fired at the one who fell back and dropped dead. North and South hopped over and fired three precise shots taking out the other three men.
There was a guard on the roof on his patrol when he spotted the two running toward the building. He got on his radio just as he was shot dead by East. All that went through was clank of metal and a blah. Two other guards decided to check the roof for their fellow soldier. When they arrived they found their dead teammate and were snipped by East with deadly precision.
"Damn your good!" West commented.
"Can thank Michigan for this." East said as she loaded a fresh magazine.
"West get on the roof. Help us out." North said over the radio.
After dispatching the last remaining guards outside, North and South entered the building and took out the men on the first floor and were quickly moving to the top. West quickly climbed down By now the building was on alert, but they weren't completely aware of the threat. North and South were at the door and placed a breaching charge. West was waiting by a window and ready to leap in. North gave East the command to give the go. When she takes the shot they charge in.
East took aim at the captain who was looking more frantic with his call. She took the shot and his helmet blasted as he collapsed to the floor. The door exploded and West leapt inside and started gunning down the last remaining soldiers. "Nice work team." North announced.
East took her rifle and then started making her way down toward the base where she joined her team in the third floor. After they got to getting rid of the bodies they tried getting to work on combing through their computers to figure out what they were doing here. She was more set on who the captain was. After searching his body she found his tags which read Captain Charles Palomo. She took his tags as she usually did. A trophy.
"So how did we do?" She asked as she walked over to West.
"You did great as usual." He said as he rapidly tapped on the keyboard. "I'm having problems with this damn thing."
East gave a scoff and then removed her helmet as she moved West to see the problem. "Step aside." She looked at the computer and just saw a repeating message that read. An Orc Blocks your path. After taking a second East typed in a response. "Attack Orc." The computer responded. With What. "With a Sword." She responded. The Computer responded. You Don't Have A Sword. "I don't have a, this is a waste of time. Just run the algorithm and transfer the files." She said and then connected the flash drive to the computer. West got to work on getting the job done.
"Uh oh." South said. "We got a runner." She pointed out the window where there was one last soldier jumping into a Warthog.
"On it." East said and readied her rifle. She took aim on the speeding vehicle aiming just in front of the actual jeep. She fired and saw the flash of blood, the driver go limp and the Warthog swerve out of control and ultimately crash. "Got it."
"Nice." North said. "Alright, West once your finished we're heading home."
"I think we did pretty good." East said.
North walked up beside her and placed a hand on her shoulder. She could see the smile under his helmet. "We did great."
