(Author's note: Welcome to Red vs. Blue: After the Recon. For those of you who have read my first RvB fanfiction, Red vs. Blue: Reconnaissance, welcome back! This story is intended as a companion tale to Reconnaissance, but if you haven't read it, have no fear! I've written this fanfiction in a way to make sense standing alone. All right, enough of my ranting. Let the madness commence!)

"You wanted to see me, sir?"

I walked gingerly into the large office and encountered a tall figure dressed in iron-gray armor. His back was to me, his hands clasped neatly behind him. He stood facing the one large computer screen now flicking through files of other Agents.

"Ah, Agent 11," he said without turning around. "Please take a seat. We have much to discuss."

I sat in the chair opposite the desk belonging to the man in front of me. The golden name plaque shining on the desk read James Hale, Chief of Directorate of Intelligence.

I watched as my superior flashed a file on the screen—my file. The large computer displayed all my work—my pre-CIA training, standardized test scores, job assignments, and, most importantly, my major accomplishments. Hale scanned through it and turned to me, sitting upright at his desk.

"Eleven, I commend you on your superior work," he began. "With the information you brought us from Blood Gulch, we were—as you know—able to arrest the Director for all his illegal offenses conducted in the work of the Freelancer Project."

I nodded. It had been my job to obtain the necessary information we required to write up the warrant to arrest the Director. It had been a long and tedious job, but I had done it.

"You have already received your promotion and raise in salary for your work—I believe you are now Chief of Intraglobal Reconnaissance and Affairs, is that so?"

I opened my mouth to agree to the statement, but he whipped his head around and peered at my file instead. "Yes, that's right," he said, cutting me off. "Now, you must understand something. As a member of the CIA—and a member with the responsibility of monitoring the war as it goes on in other planets—you also have the responsibility to follow up with your investigations.

"As you know, there is to be a vacation coming up soon for many of the outposts during the war. Blood Gulch is one of them. I expect you to go back during this break and follow up with those with whom you made contact before."

"Yes, sir," I replied. My heart sank some; I had been planning to take my own vacation then, but it looked as though that just wasn't happening. "What are my specific orders for this… 'post-recon' mission?"

"Your task will be simple. You must go back and interact with the soldiers you met—make sure that they are suffering no serious emotional, physical, or especially mental insufficiencies."

I held back a chuckle. Mental insufficiencies? I didn't even need to go back to Blood Gulch to report on those.

"Very well, sir."