AN: Hey guys I'm back. Been barreling through finals week and that's been conquered. Now I'm free to write again at my leisure but I figured I'd give you guys a heads up about when I'll be posting new chapters. I'll more than likely post on Fridays and Saturdays because those are my days off from work. Other than that I'm glad to see a few people reading my story and I'm glad to make just one of you guys happy. Anyway enough of this let's move on to the next chapter.
Chapter 3: The New Guys
The Commander awoke from his slumber a bit more refreshed, but was still troubled by the failed assault that almost wiped out his strike team yesterday. After he showered and got ready for the trying day ahead he was still pondering the attackers' motivation at attacking innocent civilians when he arrived at his office. He noticed the dossiers on his desk and he meandered over with his cup of coffee and proceeded to glance over the newly composed Delta Squad which was renamed Strike One. The four members of Strike One included:
Javier Rodriguez (Squad Leader)
Age: 27
Height: 6' 3"
Ethnicity: Latin American
Hometown: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Branch of Service: Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic
Rank: Squaddie
Specialty: Heavy Weapons (Heavy for short.)
Riku Endo (Second in Command)
Age: 25
Height: 6' 4"
Ethnicity: Asian
Hometown: Osaka, Japan
Branch of Service: Japan Self-Defense Forces
Rank: Squaddie
Specialty: Support (Medic)
Chin Mal Han
Age: 21
Height: 6' 2"
Ethnicity: Asian
Hometown: Seoul, South Korea
Branch of Service: Republic of Korea Armed Forces
Rank: Rookie
Specialty: N/A
Eric Roberts
Age: 21
Height: 6' 4"
Ethnicity: Caucasian
Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Branch of Service: None, Civilian Shooting Champion
Rank: Rookie
Specialty: N/A
The Commander was happy to see that two members of the new team were already promoted and had found out their weapon and class preferences. But he was shocked to see that one of the new members was a civilian with no military experience before being recruited into the XCOM program. He would have to go down to the barracks later to watch the team train together, but first he decided to go find Rodriguez and talk with him.
== At the Memorial Wall ==
Javier Rodriguez was an emotional wreck since returning from the first mission. He hadn't gotten a decent night sleep and decided to go clear his head. He was walking around the workout area in the barracks when he noticed something that had recently been added into an empty adjacent room. He entered and saw that it was a memorial wall that included his squad members' names, photos, their date of death, and their hometowns. Rodriguez silently began weeping as he mourned his comrades and he softly pledged to them that he would get the bastard who did this to them. This was the scene the Commander happened upon when he caught up to Rodriguez.
"Javier, I had a feeling I'd find you here. How are you holding up?"
"Commander it's good to see you, I'm not doing well but I'll get there eventually."
"I'm here to give you some information about your new squad, you're being given Sq. Endo from Echo squad, Rk. Han from the South Korean military, and Rk. Roberts a civilian shooting champion from the USA."
"A civilian are you sure about this sir?"
"Bradford knows what he's doing while recruiting, he must have seen something special in this guy to bring him in."
"Okay sir, who's going to be squad leader? Endo or myself?"
"You are Javier. In fact, I'm promoting you to Corporal so that way you're the de facto leader. You have the most combat experience and also good leadership qualities. I noticed that when you and Murakami were fighting for your lives."
"Thank you sir I'm honored by your choice. However, can I request a favor?"
"Sure Javier, what is your request?"
"If we have a lead on that bastard who did this to my friends, I would like to have my squad be the one to take him down."
"Request granted, now hurry off to the hangar. The new guys will be here and you have to get them settled and over to the training area for weapons and tactics training."
"Understood sir. Will you be watching the training?"
"Of course Javier, I want to see how these rookies will mesh with you guys."
"Okay then I'm off sir. See you at the training grounds."
"Take care Javier."
The Commander stood and looked at the Memorial as Rodriguez left to pick up his squad. He looked over the names and had a thought run through his head before he left for the training area.
'I hope this list doesn't become too extensive before we can end this invasion.'
== Skyranger heading towards XCOM Headquarters ==
Six new recruits were being transported to the XCOM headquarters for their basic training in weapons and tactics. The flight had been ongoing for a few hours now and there was still about two hours left before they would be landing in Nebraska. The rookies were conversing amongst themselves to pass the time except for one who was deep in thought. His name was Eric Roberts and he was wondering what he had gotten himself into.
'All of these guys have military experience, what are they going to say when they find out I'm just a civilian. Ugh this is so troublesome, glad I was asleep for most of the flight. I still can't believe they attacked so suddenly. Glad my aim was so spot on, otherwise I wouldn't be here right now.'
He was brought out of thought as another recruit had made a joke and gotten the others to bust out into laughs. Said recruit was Chin Mal Han who was the comedian of his squad back in South Korea, and was putting his outgoing personality to work making the ride more enjoyable for everyone. He then noticed the sixth recruit off by himself and he had a quick thought.
'This guy has been asleep most of the time. I wonder what his story is? Let's ask him, after all who knows I might be working with him in the future.'
Han had no idea how right his was with that thought, but he proceeded to talk to the silent man and the others soon quieted down to hear his story.
"Yo, quiet guy what's your name?" asked Han.
"Eric Roberts, what's yours?"
"The name's Chin Mal Han and I hail from Seoul, South Korea. Where you from?"
"Baltimore, Maryland, USA. You served in the military right? That's the Republic of Korea Armed Forces right?"
"Yeah good eye man. What about you? You seem to know a lot about the military."
"Nope, I was actually a civilian before all of this went down."
Han stopped for a moment and gawked at Roberts along with the other four recruits. Here was a civilian being brought into a military program with other soldiers with more experience.
'How is that possible, he has no combat experience what so ever.'
His interest piqued, Han decided to continue his questioning of the man now known as Eric Roberts.
"How'd you get recruited into this, I thought only military personnel were allowed into this program?"
"Well, it all started when Baltimore was attacked at the same time as Munich. I had just returned from a shooting competition in Washington D.C. when they attacked. Everyone around me was being captured so I took off with my bags and found a building to hide on and proceeded to unpack my rifles. When any of those fuckers approached I took them down and I held out until the soldiers from XCOM got there. They were impressed to say the least and they were told to offer me a spot in the program because no civilian had ever been able to defeat one of these things let alone five of them. So I packed up my clothes and weapons and I got on the Skyranger and slept until well after you guys got on. And well here we are."
The others were shocked to say the least. Here was a mere civilian who not only survived an attack but took down several hostiles before backup arrived. Han was very impressed and saw the quiet man in a new light.
"I think they made a wise choice in recruiting you. You've already got experience fighting these things and I'd be honored to have you on my team. Please join our conversation we'd love to know more about you."
Roberts was surprised that he was accepted so easily, but gladly joined the conversation. The rest of the flight passed as the recruits got to know each other better. Roberts learned about the others and their back stories before they reached the hangar and everyone disembarked and waited for their orders to go to training and settle in.
== With Rodriguez ==
Rodriguez had gone back to his room and changed into his uniform before heading to the mess hall. He found Endo enjoying his lunch where he informed him of the Commander's assignment for them.
"Hey, Riku what's up? How's the chow?"
"Hey, Javier not much. It still sucks but hey what you going to do about it? Why are you here normally you're working out at this time?"
"I just had a conversation with the Commander and he informed me that I'm the new squad leader for Strike One."
"Congrats man, who's in it?"
"Well you're me second as I'm now a Corporal, and we've got two new guys coming in today that we're going to train in weapons and tactics."
"Awesome I'm glad to mold new minds, and I'm happy to work with you. What're their names?"
"Rookies Chin Mal Han from the South Korean military, and Eric Roberts a civilian shooting champion from Baltimore, Maryland, USA."
"A civilian?! Are they going mental or something!?"
"Calm down Riku! I read his file it looks like he fought off and killed several of those creatures before we arrived to liberate him."
"Wow, I need to see this for myself. When do they get here?"
"Five minutes, let's go get them. But you should probably change first, you got mashed potatoes on your shirt."
"Damn it! Be right back."
After Endo changed they both walked down to the hangar to pick up their new soldiers. Both were having the same thought as they arrived.
'I hope this guys are ready. I'd hate to die because they freeze up or fuck up.'
AN: There you go guys Chapter 3 was the longest one to date. Hope you guys enjoyed it and I'll see you guys next Friday. Remember to follow, favorite, or leave a comment/review it's all appreciated. This is The Nasty One signing off.
- PRAK
