Poppies and Sakura Chapter 1: Birds of Black
Disclaimer: All fictional organisations, nations, characters and their relatives are owned by Square(soft/Enix) except for the main cast, which are of my own creation.
Author's Note: For the perplexed, the POV is from Brenain Gainsborough mostly. I also suggest you play the GAME for the nostalgia to take full effect. I have tried my hardest to keep things in accordance with the canon, but age may have some inconsitencies. Anyway, enjoy
These are Shin-Ra's records of the individual "Brenain Gainsborough", hence referred to as "the condemned", concerning the events of Shin-Ra's most righteous war with the nation of Wutai in service of the world's protection, year 34 of the Era of Progress. These files also contain the confiscated material produced by the condemned addressed to one "Elmyra Gainsborough".
These files also contain an account of the actions of the unit under the condemned's command, the Special Ops. platoon code-named the "Ravens", during the events of 34 E.P. and beyond Most of the "Ravens" have been accounted for, although some remain at large and are considered to be highly dangerous.
These files are classified and any unauthorised leakage of material will result in a subsequent court-martial and execution. Events of Project CLASSIFIED are also mentioned, and are TOP SECRET. Jeopardy of this information will be decided by head of the Project, Professor CLASSIFIED .
My Dearest Elmyra
Our mission over these next few days will be a dangerous one, but don't worry my love. I have many trusting and loyal friends around me to make sure I'm safe.
This is by far the most valuable commodity in this entire damned war. You can't get by without friends here. Without them, you'll probably do something stupid and get yourself shot. Friends here are the ultimate armour for me. I doubt I could command my unit without the advice of my corporals, or the loyalty of the privates.
I must keep this letter to you brief, my dearest, as we are en route to CENSORED by helicopter and are about to drop into the dense jungles of Wutai's CENSORED area. It makes my handwriting a little shaky, but I'm sure you can still make it out. You always had a knack for understanding what people want to say, my love.
We are about to touch down. I send you all my love, affection, and hope for the future with this letter.
Your ever loving husband, Brenain Gainsborough
"Sir, I've spotted the drop site. Ten seconds to deployment." The pilot's voice buzzed over my personal radio and woke me from my little trance. I put the paper and pen away in my buttoned top pocket. I opened the helicopter's side doors and looked out at my troops standing out on the attached platforms either side of the helicopter. It was time to move.
"Alright guys, it's time. Hitch up to the ropes. I want pairs touching the ground per drop and I want the area secured the moment I get down there. We've got thirty seconds to get everyone off and to have the entire area cleared. First pairs drop on my mark. MARK!"
I guided the first two privates over the edge of the attached platform of the neon-bright helicopter and they shimmied down the ropes with practiced precision. Within seconds another two moved to the edge of the open copter door ready to drop. The first pair hit the ground and I yelled for them to move. They moved like clockwork.
I cast a glance up at the other two helicopters hovering in the darkness of the forest's night, dropping the Ravens onto the site. They moved with total precision. If I had time for feelings, I would have been proud. The last pair moved up to the edge. Underneath his cowboy hat, Corporal Mariquez flashed his dazzling white teeth at me. I could never get used to the contrast between his eyes and teeth, and his tanned skin. He whisked his long trench-coat about him and began to slide down the rope. The yelp that inevitably followed seconds later signalled to me it was time to unhook his coat that had undoubtedly caught on the platform's pulley system. He smiled sheepishly and proceeded to slide down the rope. I followed hastily.
The forest was deadly still. The Ravens were lying prone on the ground, radiating from the drop point. I crouched behind a tree next to one of the privates and drew my pistol. The deafening buzz of the choppers lingered for a second and then began to fade into the distance of the forest's noises. We waited until the sound had died completely.
"Alright guys, we're moving out. Styles, Junko, you scout ahead for a suitable platoon harbour. Two minutes lag time, then the rest of us move north." The Ravens crouched and waited patiently.
The platoon harbour had been set up within a few hours of our arrival. Styles and Junko reported no sightings of enemy patrols, but to be safe, sentries were placed all around the camp area. I supervised the construction of the camouflaged tents and the other temporary facilities.
Some of the younger privates were having a bit of fun messing about. I'd always wondered how on earth they could have passed for eighteen. Our youngest was thirteen for heaven's sake! I had to admit though; his physique was impressive for a thirteen year old. No doubt the Turk recruiters overlooked his real age to get the high-energy youth into the army. The Shin-Ra would do anything for an advantage.
Three of these more troublesome youths had crouched around one of the tents. They were whispering secretively, but were so engrossed in their own conversation that they failed to notice me hovering over their shoulders until I spoke.
"And what would that be, privates?" The three leapt to attention and into a sloppy salute. My look no doubt was the cause of the hasty correction of saluting in the field.
The buff thirteen-year-old spoke first, slightly more relaxed then the other two.
"Aw, we're not doing anything, sir, honest." He slackened his posture and lent against the tree the tent was pitched against. I could see in his pocket a box-shaped bulge. The smell of cigarettes lingered about the trio.
"What about you two?" My gaze ground towards the other two. The taller of the two was rather skinny and the eldest of the three. I knew from his personality that he was too honest for his own good, but several sharp kicks from the buff one silenced him. Looking on the third one, I gained that distinct smell of cleanliness mixed with gunpowder about him. He was short, lithe, and wore a uniform a few sizes too large. His high voice, strained to be lower then was comfortable, answered with a very unbelievable "Nothing, sir."
I turned back to the buff one. "I have a deal for you then, private." He rolled his eyes.
"What could you possibly deal with, sir? We're not hiding anything." I pulled his sunglasses out of my pocket and dangled them in front of his face.
"Hey! What the hell? How did you get those?" He then quickly added "Err. Sir?"
"I have my ways, private. You know that I'm not allowing you kids smokes, let alone my own. I suggest you return them to me." The buff private reached into his pocket grudgingly and returned the packet of cigarettes to my waiting hand. I promptly returned his sunglasses. The trio began to retreat to the rest of the privates. I called out behind them.
"And Private Biggs, mind that you don't go stealing the older private's alcohol. You two, Wedge." The buff one and the tall one flinched.
"And could you two keep the gunpowder away from Jay please. I don't want anything blowing up unless I authorise it." The little one flinched too.
I smiled as I made my way to the command tent. Those kids were troublesome, of course, but their talents were exceedingly useful in battle, and they were more mature than most kids their age. The war was making us all get older a lot faster.
Walking into the hastily constructed tent, I was confronted by the usual scene. Corporal Kael Morrow stood immediately as I entered and saluted smartly. Other then the occasional glint from his glasses, he was stock still. I let him stand easy and he immediately sat, although he was still rigid as a board.
A few seconds after Kael, the new corporal, Mana Satao, had clicked his heels together in a sharp salute. This was Satao's blooding mission. I was unsure about how he would perform, but if it was anything like the report that I had been handed, he wouldn't be a bad addition to the Ravens. The look about him suggested he may have come from the upper-plate in Midgar. Trim beard, smooth hair, unblemished skin, and that sleek, stoic face I had seen in many of the upper-platers.
Corporal Whitewind was a little more casual about it the military etiquette. Corporal Dekal Whitewind was unique in the Ravens in that she was the only woman in the platoon. Admittedly when you first looked, you couldn't tell the difference between her and a young boy, and the baggy nature of the army uniform aided her blending in. The sight of her hair didn't help though, as giant leave of it made her lith figure resemble a palm tree more then anything. However, her skill with weapons allowed her past the recruiters, and she had proved her capabilities more then enough.
The only one that did not come to attention, or even rise from his seat, was Corporal Dario Mariquez. Legs propped up on the table, leaning back on his chair, his cowboy hat covering his eyes completely; he failed to notice I had even entered.
"Ahem! Dario, do you mind?" The corporal moved his hand in a mocking salute, but otherwise remained still. I gave up.
"At ease guys, we've got some things to discuss." I moved to the table in the middle of the officers' tent, and the other followed me. There, the sole gas lamp lit the tent, aiding the rising morning light to illuminate the map spread out on the table.
"As you know from the brief prior to taking off from Uzuka beach, our target is a POW camp inside the Hatana Valley, north-west of our current location. It has come to HQ's attention that this POW camp holds a captive member of SOLDIER, along with numerous other Shin-Ra military personnel. Our orders are to liberate the captives. However, our priority is to safely rescue the SOLDIER member and have him transported directly back to Uzuka head-quarters. As per usual, we may use whatever means necessary to achieve our objectives. Questions?" Kael, logical as always, was the first to raise his hand. I let him ask it, despite the moans from Dario.
"What are the camp's defences, sir?"
"We shall have to scout the area first, as we have no intelligence on the actual defences, personnel numbers, or exact building layout of the facility. We'll have to wing this one, guys." Dekal put her hand up after that.
"So what's the current battle-plan then, chief?"
"We're gonna set up camp here until eighteen-hundred, then we'll move out and ready for the raid at nightfall. I've already arranged the advance parties. It will comprise of…" Before I could finish my sentence however, one of the privates bowled into the tent. Dario grabbed his arm before he could get any further.
"Hey mun, why choo gone be rushin 'bout like dat, eh? Chill mun, chill." The private began to gather his wits and shifted himself into a salute.
"Sir. I just found a Wutai scout in my patrol area. There's a group of them heading straight for us from the north-east."
I swore under my breath. "We gotta get outta here now guys. Kael, Satao, get the troops to pack up now! And make sure its done quietly. Both saluted smartly and rushed to their duties. I dismissed the private and sat down.
"Crap! We had to park ourselves right on a patrol ring, didn't we? Crap" Dekal came up behind me and bent down, putting a hand on my shoulder for assurance.
"Don't worry Sarge, it'll be alright." Then Dario chimed in from the back.
"I'll tell ya sumtin' dat be alright mun." Both Dekal and I turned around, seeing Dario's dark eyes from under his hat fixated on Dekal's rear. Three seconds later he was on the floor swearing, with Dekal's boot planted firmly on his cheek.
"You'd better learn some manners, ya bum! Jus' remember that yer only here 'cause you can shoot. If ya weren't our sniper, I'd bloody break yer spine! Bloody Costalian. What the hell has Costa Del Sol ever contributed to the world other than bum's like you? Pah!" A few more insults later she calmed herself and let Dario crawl back to his chair in silence.
"Like I was sayin', it'll all be fine, Sarge. We've done this hundreds of times before. What's got ya so bad about this one?"
"I just got a feeling, you know, Dekal? There's something about this mission. I've felt it since we took off. I just hope that by the end of this, I'll be able to get the letter off to Elmyra…Nah It wont come to that. C'mon, lets pack up the tent and get the hell outta here."
We packed up in record time. I left two privates and Dekal behind to make sure we weren't followed. We hiked a few more kilometres north-west and struck camp again under daylight. I doubled the sentries. Despite handling the escape flawlessly, that foreboding feeling still stuck in my gut. I showed my stern face to the troops in commanding them, all the while clutching the letter to my dearest and sweetest Elmyra.