I don't claim ownership of Mass Effect.
Set in the Another Realm Universe created by Katkiller-V. Approximately four years before the start of his series.
ACT I: Basic
Chapter 3: Curveball
10-19-2176
Week 6 of Systems Alliance Basic Training, Class 1-35A
Providence Base - SA, Providence, Rhode Island, United North American States, Earth
Echo squad had taken Captain Ahern's warnings to heart. While they had not been able to successfully complete every scenario, they had gave everything that they had as individuals. 'Everything they had' amounted to a tied record with Charlie squad for the worst record during the week.
Squad Tactics training week inevitably boiled down to a competition. This competition was not promulgated from the drill instructor or base staff but rather was an unspoken requirement. Looked at another way, it's what happened when you get any group of 16 to 20 year olds together in win-lose situations.
Each squad in a recruit company is trained in six scenarios featuring three scenario types: Hostage, Patrol, Defense. The Hostage and Defense scenarios have a solo session and a co-operative session with another squad in their recruit company. The Patrol scenarios have a solo session and a head-to-head session. In this way, each squad experiences almost the same training program as the other squads in their company.
Echo squad's record was 2 - 4; tied with Charlie squad as the worst in the company.
The five misfit recruits sat in their small barracks. Dee Jones and Paulo Fraser sat together on Paulo's bed, the obvious chemistry between the two had been growing throughout the week. Dario Marmont and Deckard Russell sat on Deckard's bed while Camille Wilmot leaned against a small dresser between the two bunks. They were preparing for their final test. Except there was a small problem.
"Seriously? No one knows what the hell is going to happen tomorrow?" Paulo asked for a third time in 10 minutes.
"Unicorns and rainbows," Deckard spoke up and then shot a wink at Paulo.
"Ugh! Guys, this isn't helping!" Cami stated as she rubbed her forehead.
"Well, has Deck's girl got any insight?" Dee asked
"One, she isn't 'my girl,'" Deckard replied using air quotes with his fingers. "And.."
"Deck, you saved her life and now you two are inseparable whenever you can be together. A pig doesn't have to know slop to eat," Dario corrected his friend. The metaphor clearly flying over everyone's head.
Echo squad's third scenario was a cooperative defense with Charlie squad. Because the scenario was early in the week, intra-squad teamwork was basically non-existent. Dee had put in the effort to listen to Cami's orders but still did her own thing. This was immediately noticed by Charlie's squad leader.
Bianka Seager was a strong-built woman with skin the color of latte and hair as black as a raven. Her stature and her muscular physique commanded respect. Her disgust at working with Echo squad was palpable from the beginning. She had taken over control of both squads to set up their defensive position. Bianka integrated the squads together to have them cover both levels of the area the 10 recruits were to hold.
Bianka had taken personal notice of Deckard when, during the middle of the firefight that had ensued, Deckard noticed she was about to be flanked by three Blue Suns simulations. He was on the second level with his sniper rifle and had taken out two of the mercenaries but his weapon overheated. The surviving mercenary had knocked Bianka down with an overload and had been reaching for his shotgun when Deckard had jumped from the second level. His aim had been true and Deckard slammed into mercenary and drove him into a makeshift barricade, ending the threat.
Deckard had then stumbled over to Bianka's prone form, laughing to himself about what he had just done and the fact that it worked. He offered her his hand and simply asked her. Are you okay? He had been about to pull her to her feet when, as thanks for his chivalry, he was shot by a mercenary sniper and out of action for the rest of the scenario. His squad had laughed their asses off afterwards because he had fallen with his now immobilized hand outstretched and that hand had landed on Bianka's...lap.
"I keep telling you, we just have a lot in common!" Deckard protested.
"That's what you keep saying Deck. I'm still not buying it," Dee said with a smirk as she leaned a little bit more into Paulo's side.
"Guys, I don't think Deck's lack of relational awareness is what we should be focusing on," Cami said as she tried to get the meeting back on track. "We got lucky twice."
"Hey!" Paulo exclaimed playfully. "I thought we did pretty good today. Held our own against 3 Asari pirates."
"Without biotics," Cami replied. "Still, it is true, we had some semblance of teamwork."
"Cuz you let me do whatever the hell I wanted. Felt good to flank that one bitch."
"Dee, Deckard exposed himself to enemy fire to give you enough time to flank her," Cami corrected.
"Queen, you always gotta ruin the point." Dee stared her down before a loud ping rang out.
All eyes turned to the barracks door to see Gunny Matthews. All five recruits shot up to attention.
"Relax Echo," Gunny grunted out. "Except you Wilmot. Emergency call from Vancouver came through. Let's go to my office for a private line."
Cami looked to Dario and Deckard with trepidation in her eyes before she swiftly walked away with Gunny.
Dee let out a whistle. "Shit. That can't be good. They only allow that kind of private line shit for deaths and shit."
"Eloquent Dee," Deckard said as sat down on his bunk and began reading a datapad that had been lying on his dresser. A thrown pillow knocked the datapad out of his hand.
"Show some respect Deckard," Paulo said menacingly.
"I had to get shot today while she was taking her sweet time on the flank!"
"I like this," Dario said with a smile. "Much better than actually fighting each other."
All three of them scoffed at Dario's statement. Dee and Paulo got up from his bunk and went to lay down in Dee's bunk, intentionally the furthest from the door. They weren't doing anything overt, just laying down next to each other and talking.
"Them two, huh?" Dario said into the silence as Deckard picked up his datapad and started to read it again. "'Bout time me and Cami-"
"What?" Deckard said incredulously. "Dario, you're my best friend here so take this to heart, that girl is out of your league."
"Said the plow horse chasing after a filly."
"I…" he had to be sure he understood that metaphor correctly before answering the country boy. "I am not chasing after a filly. And her name is Bianka."
"Ah, ha! So you are concerned about her?" Dario drawled.
"She's about to replace you as my best friend here," Deckard mumbled, trying to focus on his datapad once again.
"Awww, sweet of you. Whatcha looking at anyways?" Dario inquired, reaching for the datapad.
"No concern of yours!" Deckard replied trying to keep the datapad away from his friend's grasp. But he was lying in bed and Dario was standing next to him, the datapad was out of his hands easily.
"Asari Cooking for Beginners? You into the fish food now?"
"Maybe I want to expand on more than just my knowledge of UNAS cuisine."
"Burritos with a side of coleslaw just ain't cutting it anymore?" Dario asked. "Or...shit. Naw."
"What?" Deckard asked.
"Maybe a lucky A2 Seager likes the fish food?" Dario responded with a triumphant smile.
Deckard stood up to tell his friend how wrong he was when the door opened and a sniffling Camille Wilmot came into the barracks. Gunny Matthew was actually showing an emotion other than anger, consoling her as he helped her walk to her bunk. After she was seated, Gunny's old demeanor returned.
"Lights out in 15, Echo." The door closed behind him as brusquely walked out.
Dario was the first to sit beside Cami whose sniffling was starting to trail off. "Aww hon, is everything alright? Anyone hurt back home?"
Cami sniffed once more and then laughed darkly. "The only thing that's hurt is my father's ego."
"What?" Dee said in confusion.
"Gather 'round, I have some news and only 15 minutes."
10-20-2176
Colony Training Biome Ready Room
Providence Base - SA, Providence, Rhode Island, United North American States, Earth
The mission is simple Echo Squad. Captain Ahern's voice commanded from the ceiling speakers. The Alliance has verified intel that a local slaver operation is packing up and getting ready to leave the colony. We need you to infiltrate and raid their base of operations to hold them on planet. Reinforcements will arrive 30 minutes from now.
"Understood, sir." Cami said, her voice full of determination.
The rest of Echo squad was standing two by two behind her. Deckard had set aside his sniper rifle for an assault rifle, two frag grenades, and four overloads. Dee had finally been convinced, mostly by Paulo, to take some advice. She had equipped two pistols from the weapons locker; the second belonged to her fledgling boyfriend. Paulo would act as tech and fire support as he was equipped with the remaining five overload grenades and an assault rifle. Dario and Cami both had a couple frag grenades along with an assault rifle and pistol.
Very well. Godspeed, and stop those bastards.
The doors opened as the captain finished. Cami ordered Echo squad forward at the double-quick. The colony biome was not very large but had been configured for this scenario with a series of 10 foot tall walls that doubled-back on themselves to provide a snaking corridor the recruits had to travel through. Once out of the walls Echo squad came face to face with a large building and bay door.
Cami ordered Paulo and Dario to one side of the door and took the other two squad members to the opposite side. "Dee, look for a side entrance," Cami ordered. Dee grinned, nodded, and began to work her way around, both pistols out of their holsters. "Paulo, sitrep."
"Door's just about open Queen," came the reply from the big man, who everyone had learned was uniquely skilled at breaking into VI suites.
Dee came huffing back next to her squad leader and Deckard. "Nothing Queen."
"We're in business!" Paulo called out as the door shuddered and began to slowly rise up.
"Let's make it quick, Echo. Keep your lines and don't sweep over each other. Paulo and Deck, take top. Dee, find the weak flanks. Dario, just keep your head on straight." Cami snapped off.
The gravity of the situation seemed to have finally paid off as there was no dissension.
When the doors were high enough to allow them to enter, Cami gave the order and Echo swept into the building.
They were met by crates stacked upon each other throughout the cavernous interior and no one in sight. Clear rang out from four voices. "Confirmed." Cami responded. "Paulo, Deck. Figure it out." Both recruits grouped up with each other from their locations on opposite sides of the room, which could have easily fit three airtrucks. Cami looked above her to see a catwalk encircling the room.
"It's a killzone," Dee muttered as a door opened 20 meters in front of them followed by a smoke grenade.
Cami ordered everyone into cover before a flashbang went off in front of their position.
"Fucking flashbangs!" Dee yelled out. "Who the fuck authorized that?"
"Who cares?" Cami yelled back. They began to hear muffled orders directing Alfa squad. Cami risked a look and saw the other squad filing out of the doorway wearing full helmets. "They're much better equipped than we are. Echo, suppressing fire!"
Deckard, Dario, Dee, and Cami all rose up and let loose a volley. Their momentary advantage was taken away when all four of them overheated at the same time.
"Dammit Echo!" Cami yelled into the comms as she and her squad ducked back into cover. "Stagger it next time."
Two overloads exploded in front of where Cami and Dee were in cover. Cami's rifle chimed to let her know it was ready to fire. "Dee, I'll try to cover you, get to a flank position if you can." A nod of confirmation and Cami fired off another volley again at full auto.
Dee made it behind cover just as Cami had to duck back down. "Paulo, Deck, I need a sitrep."
"I can't find it!" Paulo answered back.
"Dario, how are you doing?"
"Like two dogs in heat," he replied with some strain in his voice before he let loose a volley at two members of Alfa squad in front of his position.
"What?"
"He's fucking great," Deckard answered for his best friend. "Cami, they aren't pressing us!"
"Opened!" Paulo shouted.
"Deck, work on it." Cami ordered.
After a short firefight, with no sound from Dee since she got to Alfa squad's flank, Cami saw more figures appear on the catwalk.
"Second squad!" Cami called out. She turned to Deckard who was busy messing with his own omni-tool. "Status?"
Her answer was two frag grenades off to her left. She saw Dario's body fall to the ground and storage crates tumble on top of him. "Dario!" Cami cried out in fear, those crates weren't light.
The commotion and explosion had given pause to the other two squads attacking Echo. A lone voice broke through the lull.
"Curveball, curveball, curveball!" Deckard screamed out into the comms.
Immediately Paulo, Deckard, and Cami threw out their overloads and fragmentary grenades from behind cover as the second-level squad began firing...into Alfa.
The three members of Echo popped out of cover to lay down more suppressing fire. Four members of Alfa squad went down from the overwhelming fire rather quickly. Dee finally revealed herself by tackling Alfa's squad leader and downing him with a point blank shot to his chest from her pistol.
"Deck, Paulo, check on Dario!" Cami ordered as she strolled into the middle of the room.
The second squad entered the lower level and stopped to face Echo's squad leader. Dee walked up next to Cami from her position in the shadows as the other squad resumed their walk forwards to meet with Cami.
"He's out of it. Breathing. Probably a concussion," Deckard reported.
"Who's the shithead?" Dee asked to the second squad as they came to a stop opposite the two girls.
A person near the middle of the opposing line meekly raised their hand. Dee charged them and raised her fist as if to hit the poor sap but shot their knee with the pistol in her other hand. She fell on top of the recruit and began pummeling them.
"That's enough of that!" Ordered the opposing squad leader as they took off their helmet. "Camille, it was an accident."
"Tell that to Dee, Bianka." Cami said with a grin as the other girl had to be pulled off of the helpless Charlie squad member by base staff as they flooded into the room to attend to the downed recruits.
"This is the thanks I get?" Captain Ahern vented as he stood over Camille Wilmot and Bianka Seager. "Training spoiled brats to protect Earth's colonies was supposed to be a great career move, they said. Now I have not one but two squad leaders making up their own rules!"
"Captain, if I may?" Cami asked.
"You will anyways Wilmot, just say it."
"This decision was mine in its entirety. I fully understood the ramifications but felt this was within the rules of the engagement." She paused but the captain gave her the go on motion with his hand.
"The scenario, as described, was to take down a slaver operation that was about to leave one of our colonies. You yourself said intel confirmed the numbers and location of the slaver and their gang. However, through my own contacts, I received information that your intel was wrong."
"How did you know about 'my intel' if you hadn't heard the scenario parameters?" Captain Ahern's voice trailed off. "That emergency phone call."
"Again, I received information that the slaver hired another group to ambush any Alliance patrol-"
"Don't keep roleplaying with me, Wilmot! You will tell me who was on that call and what was discussed!"
Cami hesitated, her cheeks began to flush and pinpricks of sweat appeared on her brow.
"Grow a pair and tell me or I'll pull the damn records and kick you out for interfering with a Systems Alliance military training program." The captain threatened.
"Pardon me, sir. But the records have already been expunged. I'm not at liberty to say more," Cami risked a glance at Bianka who was intrigued at the ongoing exchange.
Captain Tadius Ahern pinched the bridge of his nose. "How did you get Charlie squad on your side?"
"I had better payment," Cami bluntly replied. "And, I'm sorry sir, that is also privileged."
"Tell him," came a voice from the doorway.
"Admiral on deck!" Captain Ahern called out as the three occupants snapped to attention.
"At ease." Rear Admiral Steven Hackett replied. "Camille Wilmot. If you do not wish to tell Captain Ahern, then tell me. But I will tell Captain Ahern. We don't like our faces dragged through the mud."
"Sir," Bianka said before Cami could respond. "She offered information vital for my family's business."
"Bianka!" Cami pouted before a stern look from Hackett had her snap back to attention.
"Go on, A2 Seager." Admiral Hackett said in his gravelly voice.
"A2 Wilmot let me know about three upcoming projects the government would be awarding."
"So she blackmailed you?" Captain Ahern asked.
"No, sir. Just, informed me to help with my decision." Bianka replied.
"What were the specifics, recruit?" Admiral Hackett ordered.
"That information has not yet been received, sir." Bianka replied softly.
"Then give me a summary," said the admiral tersely.
"In the next three months the UNAS government will be putting out bids on an advanced medical VI suite, data conglomeration algorithms, and a research grant for advanced medigel applicators."
The graying war veteran looked from Bianka to Cami. His eyes were searching for an answer but seemed to find none. "Care to enlighten me, A2 Wilmot?"
"Sir, I cannot. All I knew I told her."
Admiral Steven Hackett stood there and rubbed his chin with his forefinger and thumb. "A2 Seager, you are dismissed."
"Aye, sir." Bianka shot out the door without a look behind her.
"A2 Wilmot I'm troubled by this collusion." The admiral stated matter-of-factly. "What led you down this course of action?"
"Training, sir. Permission to speak freely?" Admiral Hackett gave her a nod. "I started to play the game, started to plan, before the scenario.. Obviously I was forced to play the game because of my informant but I couldn't pass up the opportunity. My squad is barely making it such as it is. And really, they are barely my squad. We are the washouts that haven't washed out."
Cami saw the admiral sizing her up. He began to rub his chin again.
"Who was on the emergency call, Wilmot?"
"Captain Ahern knows."
The captain stared at her for a few moments. "Your father?" The junior officer replied. "Fucking politics."
Admiral Hackett smirked. "Captain, this appears to be above our pay grade. Wilmot, you are dismissed but I will be filing a complaint, not that it will do me any good. Tell President Huerta he has one hell of a granddaughter."
"Aye aye, sir."
A/N: And….fade to black. I know this is a shorter chapter but it was the best place to stop. I could have gone into more detail about the curveball but felt that my readers are smart enough to put two and two together to make four. And, SURPRISE! Badass Hackett makes an appearance, will it be his one and only? I like cameos and felt, again, Hackett fit the best here. Who else could have gotten Camille to spill the beans?
If you want to know more about my evolving storytelling voice, read my response to Legendary Junk Mail's review. I believe I found a better solution in this chapter to signify who is speaking.
ALSO - 2 million internet points to the person who can name the pop culture reference I put in this chapter. I hope you all like my fourth-wall breaks with nods to the past decades of America's pop culture. Next chapter's reference will be an easy one.
Thank you all again for your Favorites, Follows, and Reviews! It's awesome to play around in Katkiller-V's universe and your responses are always cool to see.
Review Responses
Legendary Junk Mail - First, it's awesome that I have grabbed your attention. My storytelling voice is a based on an omniscient retelling of the events but rest assured, this IS Deckard Russell's story. Right now, I find it hard to tell it solely from his POV because of the world-building that has to occur. If this were taking place in the Terminus, I don't think I would be spending nearly so much time jumping between individual characters or speaking with an omniscient voice. What you are also dealing with in your confusion is when I jump between Echo squad's first and last names. I think I will stick with the "informal" first name references as they were in this chapter. I had originally intended first names to be used when Echo was talking amongst themselves and last names when in a military setting, but you may be right, it's too damn confusing. Deckard Russell's POV will become more apparent after Boot Camp (Act II, onwards). Or, at least I hope it will ;)
Tusken1602 - I'm glad you are liking the chapters. Thanks for reading!
Katkiller-V - Hopefully I portrayed "good ol' Echo squad" once again in their fighting capabilities this chapter. I think it's a good juxtaposition between Cieran Kean's first battle and what is now their 8th combat battle. (IE, they suck and don't have very good situational awareness)
Seabo76 - Thanks for the kind words.
