Deep in the heart Omega land, among the ever shifting sands of the greatly expanded Red Rock desert, sat a temporary military camp made of innumerable beige tents. The encampment was made specifically to search for fragments of the black obelisk that had been shattered in the battle here a few months ago and had been able to recover 14 large fragments of the poison metal.
Sitting in middle of this putrid wasteland two Orange Star officers hold a simple conversation with meaning far beyond the words they spoke and an impact they would never ascertain.
Sami Orange Star's infantry specialist sat exhausted, shirtless, and sweaty in a 9 dollar black plastic chair that might as well have been on fire. The sunlight pierced the tents cloth from directly above making no place safe from its dehydrating rays.
"IT"S TO HOT!" she yelled in a pathetic tone to no one in particular, moving a small glass thermometer to eye level, the red liquid inside had long since reached the top of it's container and read 120 degrees. Sami tossed it to the floor and watched the glass container shatter, an action she would later regret with a slightly awkward walk. Sami buried her face into her arms in an attempt to drift to sleep, but she knew all to well it would end in failure. The constant sweating that accompanied this sweltering inferno of a climate was bad enough, but when your own perspiration drenched you to the marrow not only did you become increasingly irritated but made any hope of sleeping a hopeless illusion.
A tall drooping figure had worked it's way over from the makeshift mess hall and cast its elongated shadow on the zipper door of the tent. This figure carried 2 clear water bottles refilled for the thousandths time.
"Yo Sami I have good news" Said the figure in an apathetic voice.
She knew it had to be another officer anyone else would have addressed her as commander rather than her name, without lifting her head she gave her unenthusiastic reply.
"Come on in, and you better have some water."
After listening to the annoyance of the zipper opening and closing she lifted her head to recognize the figure as Jake. Dressed in white cargo shorts and a soaked tank top, Jake fell onto the round cushioned seat across the small plastic table in the center of the tent. Rolling an icy water bottle across the table Jake tried to show signs of enthusiasm behind his exhausted composition. Sami eagerly snatched the plastic container and snapped the lid off pouring about half the bottle over her face and hair. A weak smile flashed across her face following the cool sensation that provided much needed relief. She took a deep breathe and brushed her dripping red hair out of her eyes before starting.
"So what's the news Jake?"
Jake took a swig of water before responding with a grin.
"Word came on the radio a few minutes ago, we're heading home."
A spark of energy showed in her eyes, after weeks of miserably searching this featureless expanse it would all be over soon, comfy beds, cool drinks, REAL food it all awaited her upon return from this wretched place.
"Who gave the order? What day do we ship out? Are we going on leave?" Sami asked ecstatically.
"Someone in command seems to like you cause only you get leave. Me, Max and Rachel have to report back to Cosmo land HQ for some kind of briefing. Apparently Commander Andrew spotted Lash on Delmaro Island. "
"What? Why only me?" Sami questioned
"Not sure, Commander Andrew was skimpy on the details; he seemed tired when I talked with him."
"Andy gave the order?" She said with a worried look.
"What's up Sami at least you get to go home for some R and R, the rest of us just get more work"
"Have you ever met Commander Andrew, Jake?"
"No" he replied curious to the sudden change of subject and mood.
"Except for the clone and stories Max told me I don't know much about him."
Sami nodded quickly acknowledging his response, then stared blankly at the table.
Jake's expression changed from curiosity to concern. It was rare for Sami, who was perhaps the most seasoned veteran to show signs of strain or doubt, in fact in all the battles Sami participated in she always appear confident of victory despite the odds and sometimes despite logical reasoning. Jake had assumed this was to keep troops morale high, but now it seemed as through she was distressed or perhaps panicking.
"Is there something bothering you Sami?" Jake already knew the answer to the question, she was clearly hiding something and he would find out what.
Sami took a few seconds before answering with a happy polite tone.
"No, it's nothing." She lied, adverting her eyes from Jake with a smile.
For a full minute neither of them said anything, until Jake broke the silence
"Liar." Jake said with conviction and his most straightforward tone.
"Liar? Seems a bit harsh don't you think your being rude?"
"Don't change the subject Sami, Come on anyone can tell something's up and I'm trying to help you out here."
"It's called subtlety Jake, and this doesn't concern you" She said with annoyance turning to anger.
"It's called lying, and this DOES concern me"
.
"Mind your own damn business Jake, and start prepping to leave I want to be ready to move out ASAP." She said with a scowl.
Sami had hit a hot button with Jake. Because of his straightforward attitude and overall openness towards people he came to expect it from others, which rarely came to fruition. Jake had developed a certain amount of hatred toward higher tiers in the chain of command, always giving orders never explaining them to the lowly grunts they sent off to die.
A look of displeasure ventured across Jake's face at her remark.
"Looks like someone is perfect for command, aiming for Nell's job huh?"
"What are you talking about Jake?"
"That's why you try so hard right? So you can sit on your own little throne. Handing out orders without concern for anyone else." He said in a hateful outburst.
"You'll be the first one to go when I get the job, why don't you go join the men you sent to die, do us all a favor."
"You power hungry bitch, the hell do you know about me."
"I guess upstart kid is just a jealous punk after all, I hope you know if Rachel wasn't so blinded by love she might see you aren't fit as a riflemen much less a commander"
"Don't drag Rachel into this"
"Or what it'll hurt your feelings? I guess baby won't get his way."
By this point they were standing and shouting at each other with little concern for anything, least of all each other, the scars of this argument were deep on both sides because they were both right to an extent.
Jake turned with a grunt and stomped out of the tent, he would spend the rest of the day griping to himself on the opposite side of the camp in garage. Sami on the other hand began organizing there withdraw she wanted to be gone ASAP.
Sami and Jake had never been friends, they worked together when they had to, and they didn't like nor disliked each other they had a very neutral relationship from which they both benefited. However now was a different story Jake's unrealistic expectations of people had finally worked against him and Sami had never been the forgiving type, it was a conflict waiting to happen.
Jake told the tale to Max and Rachel the next day, Rachel was applaud at Sami for insulting her despite not being involved, while max sided with Sami saying Jake was way out of line to begin with. A divide had been created amongst the officers; this divide would spread to the other officers as each told there version of the story, down the chain of command this story went eventually entire divisions were siding with officers and refusing to work with other platoons and divisions. A growing rift was forming and it appeared to be unstoppable.
Two days later Orange Star forces were pulled form the region as per orders from Commander Andrew; there is no report of this incident official or otherwise.
On the other side of the world sitting in the middle of Cosmo Lands largest ocean was a single yacht. A large vessel made of 3 stories colored a dull white, it held all the comforts of a home air conditioning, a large kitchen with a marble floor, a lounge of 3 sofas made of soft black leather, a pool under a sunroof, several storage areas; it was basically a home on the water. This yacht was made to live in not just to sail in. It was on a course to a northern Orange Star port where Commander Andrew was due in 1 week, but was going to stop at a tiny island on the way to pick up an unexpected guest. Andrew had been thinking a lot about what Lash said just a few days ago. He didn't know if she was right but he did know he believed her and in the end that's almost the same thing, almost.
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Alrighty chapter 2 is here please comment it really helps people out when you do.
There will be 7 chapters total
One thing that always bugged me about the AW games was the fact that the officers ALWAYS got along having only very minor arguments that resolved themselves without issue. That above all else was the reasoning for this chapter.
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