Well, here it is. My first fic. I intend to stagger my releases. I have planned so I am always writing two chapters ahead of what I post. Allows me a bit more wriggle room for time, as well as pressure. No references to the actual story, just the characters.

Disclaimer - Some mild language, infrequent. No sexual references that I can pick up, but I may have let something past my radar. I don't own the characters apart from my OC, Shade.

Enjoy.

Chapter 1 - Wait, what?

"Wait, what?"

That was the first question asked, by Roach, at the end of the 141's monthly full unit briefing. These were held with the purpose of allowing the entire task force to keep up to date with current events, regulation changes and reminders, upcoming events and missions, and general news. However, on this one, Soap had announced something new. The 141 was going to receive a new member. This wouldn't be surprising if had they just lost someone. But they hadn't been on a major mission for over four months, and there had been no losses to the unit since then.

"You seem worried Roach, what are you fretting about?" Soap asked.

"The new guy. Where is he coming from?" continued Roach.

"Well, according to his paperwork, he is transferring over from the 2nd Commando Regiment."

"I've never heard of them," said Meat. Rook's face lit up from what appeared to be a mix of boredom and fatigue upon hearing the transfer's base unit. Just as Soap was about to reply to Meat, Rook jumped in.

"You've never heard of the 2nd Commandos? Wow, you live under a rock Meat. They're a Special Forces group from Australia. You know, where I'm from." With this, Rook pointed to the Australian flag affixed to his sleeve, sitting above the 141 patch. "And don't worry. I've worked with 2CDO before, while I was still in the SASR. They're top notch, like us."

"So, we're getting another Aussie?" said Roach, a hint of worry in his voice. He was worried, as Rook was an odd man in Roach's eyes. Only last month did Rook, along with the 141's master prankster team of Meat and Royce, set up pressure-release stink packets under Roach's mattress. His room stunk for at least a week, the mattress having absorbed the smelly fluid the packets dispersed. Roach had gotten them back with the assistance of Scarecrow and Ozone, in an event that would be known as the Great Prank War. Now that another Australian was coming, Roach thought he would be screwed if GPW II broke out.

"Well, if there's nothing else to discuss, then you all are dismissed."

2 Days Later

Roach was one of the last people to find out about anything that occurred in the base, outside of the briefings. He was the last to know about parties, prank wars, pickup points. You name it, he was last to it. That didn't change for meeting new arrivals. However, today would be a change. He had intercepted a piece of mail destined for Soap with the exact arrival time of the new guy, as well as the room he would be placed in. With that crucial piece of intel, he planned to be one of the first soldiers he met, after Soap and Ghost. As he neared his destination, he started hearing music. It had a definite hip-hop vibe to it, but was nothing that Roach was used to. And he had heard a lot of hip-hop, courtesy of Toad and Worm. He stood outside the door, numbered 0617. Taking a deep breath, he put his hand on the handle of the door, twisted it, opened the door and stepped in. What he was almost had him feint from extreme surprise.

The walls, normally a dull grey, were covered in military-themed posters and pictures. Some of them were pictures of the new guy in the field, both the desert and the forest. He had been to Afghanistan, Iraq, Korea, Papua New Guinea and other places, from what Roach could gauge from the images. One wall was dedicated to a huge framed collection of patches from international SF teams. Patches included DEVGRU, Spetzgruppa Alpha, the SAS, 1st SFOD-D and the Kommando Spezialkrafte. The wardrobe, left open, was filled with plate carriers, helmets, hats and uniforms. The bed was made to immaculate precision, even making Soap's bed look like that of a recruit. However, there was no sign of the new guy. Fearing he would walk up beside him, Roach backed away slowly and closed the door. He was impressed. The new guy had taste. He had to go tell the others about this.

"Meat, Royce, Archer, guys! I just was in the new guy's room. You would not believe what he has in there!" The men in the rec-room just looked at Roach, having destroyed any peaceful mood in the room, and went back to what they were doing. Meat and Royce were duelling it out in a match of their favourite shooter game, Archer was reading a novel, Toad was browsing for rifle accessories online with his laptop and Rook went back to sleep on the couch. Roach, seeing this, felt defeated and headed back to his room.

How the hell did he get all those patches? He must be as old, if not older, than Soap to have worked with those guys during his career. Roach was deep in thought as he walked back to his bunk. Suddenly, he found himself on the floor at one of the passageway intersections. On his right, another soldier was on the floor. After a quick exchange of insults for not watching where they were going, they parted ways. But then Roach stopped. That voice. He knew every voice in the Task Force, but that voice was unfamiliar. When he retorted at Roach's insult, it was with a phrase he knew only one other operator, Rook, to use. The alarm bells in Roach's head set off. He had just run into the new guy.

Quickly turning around, Roach took off after him. Maintaining a steady pace and distance behind him, Roach was able to study and profile the recruit. He was tall, about six feet two and a half inches. He had short brown hair, was clean shaven, had brown eyes, and broad shoulders. He was wearing a set of camouflage pants, identical to what Rook wore occasionally, and a black close-fitting T-shirt. Running out of hallway to follow him, Roach ducked into an open room, instantly running into a familiar mask carrying a small stack of boxes.

"Ghost! I didn't mean to run into you sir," said Roach, stepping aside to let Ghost past.

"You better watch where you're walking bug. I don't want to mistakenly step on you." Ghost brushed past Roach, heading towards Soap's office with a sense of urgency. Something was up with Ghost, but Roach did not have the time or the balls to find out what it was. Stepping back outside, Roach tried to regain sight of the new guy. But he could not see him. Realising he had lost him, Roach made his way back to the rec room. Maybe he'd have a chance to actually talk to him.