*Moscow: Burdenko Hospital*
Doctors and nurses dashed through the hall, almost knocking everything out of their way as they rush towards the Emergency Room.
The nurses briefed the doctors quickly as they ran, papers flying out of their hands as they tear off to the next page. It would've looked comical if it weren't the absolute look of terror on their faces.
Bursting through the doors they saw a furious Zarya, who is lying on the bed, has managed to break free from one of her restraints.
"I said take these things off me!" she roared, grabbing a nurse by the scruff of his coat with only one hand and threw him into a cabinet, shattering the glass.
"Ms Zarya please! You are in no condition to leave! You need to rest!"
"Then patch me up so I can leave!"
"We… We cannot… Not without you signing the papers"
"I am NOT going to allow you to install some Omnic parts onto me!" she shouted, resulting to an Omnic nurse to recoil at this adversity.
"At the very least, let us install the…" one of them began before he was cut off at the word 'install'.
"You claim to be the best? Then why don't you act like it?!" she yelled.
"Please! At least listen to reason!" another protested.
Seething with anger, Zarya realize that arguing with them is useless.
About to tear off the rest of her restraints, the staff was suddenly forced apart by heavily armed and armored guards, making way for Katya Volskaya.
"Zarya…" she heard her whisper and saw a flash of horror on her face before she regain her composure.
"We need to speak alone, make sure no one comes near the doors"
"Yes" the guards replied, forcing everyone out and guarded the door.
Once Katya's wristband flash green, she sat down next to Zarya, who noticed that she kept a hand over the same pistol she used to blow the ghostlike assassin through the walls months ago.
"How are you feeling?" she asked.
"What happened? I saw the sky lit up last night and thousands are being conscripted outside the hospital, tell me what happened. Now" Zarya demanded.
Katya took a deep breath before telling her everything.
Zarya listened quietly and nodded at a few points, silently agreeing to the decisions that had made as if she is reviewing the army.
"And my men? What happened to my men?" she asked when she realized that Katya did not mention them.
She did not answer the question, but Zarya got her answer.
Her face may have remained emotionless, but her eyes told the truth.
"No… How? Tell me how!" Zarya yelled at her.
"They… Were chasing after the last Titan…" Katya replied, barely above a whisper.
"And?"
"They went too far in… There was a misfire…"
"What misfire?"
"There was a miscalculation… The coordinates was sent to the artillery…"
Zarya felt sick. Grabbing a nearby bucket, she threw up in it.
"No… Not like that…" she cried.
Most of them were her childhood friends who survived the First Omnic Crisis. She remembered how they took care of each other as the Null Sector tore through their town.
Through thick and thin they made a pact to rebuild, to recover, to protect their country and its people. Now she is the only one left to carry on their legacy.
Katya said nothing, sitting still as a statue as Zarya griefs for her men.
"Who is he? Who miscalculated?"
"A young Lieutenant"
"Where is he?"
"Executed"
Zarya nodded, though unsatisfactorily, she would have loved to introduce her fists before his execution.
"Tell me you found someone who can help me, I need to be back to the front" she asked.
"I'm sorry Zarya, this was your last option, no one can do what you ask" she replied.
"There has to be someone!"
"Just sign the papers, no one will think less of you"
"I refuse to have machinery attached to my body!"
Katya frowned, she tried for many months to convince Zarya to accept the surgery but all attempts have failed.
"You must find someone Katya, there has to be someone out there who can help me"
"There is no one else, the world has fully adopted robotic and prosthetic replacements"
"Then keep looking! You can't give up yet!"
That was the final straw. Months of searching and research for a cure combined with the attempt on her life which led to her seeing ghosts everywhere and the sudden demand to replace the front line with upgraded Mechs, she had enough.
"Enough, I am needed back in Volskaya" Katya said, standing up.
"Wait! You can't leave me like this! It is your fault that I am in here!" Zarya snarled.
"My fault? MY FAULT?" Katya repeated, her features angry.
"If you had not brought me back for a stupid parade I would not be in this condition!"
"The people needed hope! They needed a symbol, something that you never understood"
"Wars are won by soldiers not pictures and flowers!"
"Wars are won by the support of the people!" Katya countered.
"You know that you do not believe that"
Katya remained silent for a moment before replying.
"I believe in many things, I do what I think is necessary to win"
"Then discard the ones that are wrong" Zarya said, almost pleading.
"Have a good recovery"
Pressing on her wristband, the guards opened the door and escorted her out.
Cursing, Zarya lay on the bed and stare at the two heavily bandaged stubs that were once her legs.
*Russia: Novo-Ogaryovo*
The Army General took a deep breath outside the building, preparing himself for the Emergency Meeting that he called, hoping that in the face of crisis his staff will rise up to meet it.
Judging by the different entourages, many have already arrived, all he needs to do now is to command them to fix this.
Squaring his shoulders, he walked in and climbed the steps. With each step the expected sounds of panicked voices grew louder. From his experience, these are the times that he needs to guide them, to force them onto a path where they can focus their energy.
Opening the doors, only those closest to it stopped their discussion and looked at him, while the rest of the staff in the room continues to shout at one another. He noticed that everyone has is standing and their faces red with frustration as meaningless plans, requests, and strategies hung in the air between them.
"Order! Order!" the Army General called, trying to get the room to quiet down, but his voice is drowned in the noise.
Seeing this, he took his seat at the end of the table, hoping his presence will be known and everyone will settle down. He counted there were about 14 staffs present.
But lost in their fear, the staff continue to bicker and had either ignored or is ignorant of his presence. It was only after half an hour when they finally stopped, either out of respect or they are too tired to continue their arguments.
"The Null Sector has tried to break out and we repelled them, why are we panicking?" he asked, trying to bring in an air of confidence, but it had an opposite effect.
The room immediately filled with a chorus of different reports regarding the battle. Some are optimistic while some are not as one tried to shout above the other.
"Settle down! Quiet!" he shouted.
Once silence is maintained he decided to change his question.
"The important thing now is we need to know what is our next step"
Everyone nodded and hung on his words.
Seeing that everyone is looking to him for guidance, he froze, his mind became blank, sweat began forming in his palms.
What is their next step?
The uncomfortable silence in the room was only broken when the youngest member raise his hand, thinking that the Army General is looking for innovation from them.
"I would like to make a suggestion"
Everyone snapped him a look and was about to berate him when the relieved Army General permits him to speak.
"We have successfully conscripted 15,000 people into the Army, I would suggest to add them into the Osvoboditel' Army and attack now"
"Impossible! The Osvoboditel' Program cannot receive any more recruits" one exclaimed.
"Then I would suggest to use the conscripts and elements of the Helix Security International to probe the city's defenses"
"I will not endanger the lives of the people for some 'probing' operation" the Army General said.
"But we have already destroyed the bulk of the Null Sector army, all we need to do now is to know how well defended the city is"
"I do not believe this is the time for rash actions or attack"
"With respects Army General, I believe this is the time, with each passing day they are building more troops and we cannot allow them to rebuild their strength"
Some of the staff nodded their heads at these words while some remain skeptical.
"And you are confident for this operation's success?"
"It will just be a probing operation, nothing more"
Unable to think of a better plan and desperate to provide guidance, the Army General made his decision.
"Very well, I will permit you to lead the conscripts to attack the City of Perm, you have until next week to attack"
Everyone looked shocked, but none more so than the young Lieutenant.
"I... I didn't mean that I would lead the operation" he squeaked out.
"The decision has been made, Lieutenant... What is your name?"
"Maksim, but-"
"Lieutenant Maksim, I order you to lead the conscripts and Helix Security International to probe the city of Perm. I expect your report in a week."
"But-"
"It is done Lieutenant, leave and make your arrangements"
The young man sat stunned, a visible trail of sweat ran down his face. He just thought to share an idea and have others to lead it, not actually lead it himself.
Shaking, he stood up and gave a salute before quietly exiting the room.
"How is the public's reaction to the story we sent out?" the Army General asked.
"So far half of the people believe that it is a small skirmish, while the other half believes that it is a battle larger than what we reported" the head of Public Affairs replied.
"What are we going to do about it?"
"We have already suppressed those who are trying to investigate more into it"
"Good... How is the current status of resupplying the front?"
"It has been delayed again, especially for the Mech Battalion" the Head of Logistics report.
"Why is that?"
"All factories are already fully utilized to arm the Osvoboditel' and the new conscripts, it is impossible to resupply the front"
"I am only asking you to resupply the front, are you so incompetent that you cannot fulfill that simple request?" the Army General scolded.
"What am I supposed to do? Make resources appear out of thin air? I cannot resupply without any more factories!"
"Just make it happen!"
"I cannot!"
The entire floor fell into disarray, including the Army General, as they try to shout above one another, only this time, instead of the topic of war war, they are now arguing about each other's loyalty for their country.
*Malaysia: Kota Kinabalu*
"Common I bet I can outshoot again!" Ahmad said, grinning as he drew his bow.
"Not this time!" Quillion responded.
Together they shot their arrows and wait eagerly for the results as Oliver walked out of cover to check.
"Looks like Ahmad wins again Quil, told ya to use my grenade launcher instead!" he called looking down at his clipboard, causing Quillion to groan as Ahmad punch into the air victoriously.
"Common now, eat!"
"Fine..." Quillion said.
Between them is a bowl of sky fruits, which all of the shells are on Quillion's side.
"Again!" Quillion shouted after eating his punishment, gritting his teeth as the intense bitterness shot across his mouth.
"Easy there, I do not have anything for the pain that you're about to endure" Hazir said as he checks his medical bag.
"Well that's what will make it exciting!" Ahmad said as they drew their bows.
Another hour passed before Quillion finally conceded defeat as, despite the enhancements, the bitterness is overwhelming.
"When are you gonna learn? You can't beat me!"
"l beat you one day Ahmad... Just you wait..." Quillion said as he lay on the floor.
"Here, this might help" Hazir said, throwing a pack of gum onto his chest.
"Common, lets hit the beach!" Oliver said.
"You guys go ahead... I'm gonna rest..."
"Suit yourself!"
Quillion watched as they ran down the hill towards the beach as he pulled out his sketch book and started sketching.
The sun has begun setting, basking the beach resort with its red light. In another hour they will be treated with a delicious buffet course and a massage if they wish.
He smiled as he sketched, becoming a super soldier does have its merits, even though many have to give up their lives just to make this possible.
He still could not believe that they were the only survivors from that procedure but he is not complaining as they are currently some of the most powerful men alive.
"Am I really just a historian now?" he thought to himself as he finished his sketch.
He knew that jumping from vehicle to vehicle in a highway is reckless, but what is the point of having all these enhancements if they do not use them to its fullest potential?
Despite that, this is a democratic vote from the team and he has to submit to their decision.
Only a few weeks before their joint operation against this so called "Omnic Crisis" with Singapore and Indonesia.
Last he heard, the armies will rally in Malaysia and will work its way through Asia, joining up with India first before Korea and China in another few months.
"Can't wait to sketch those for the history books" he thought.
Closing his sketchbook, he stood up...
And found himself under intense fire. The base is under attack.
The relaxed mood was painfully ripped away and was replaced by survival instincts as bullets whizzed past his head.
Everyone in his squad is suffering from vertigo, only he and their Sergeant are not. One by one they died so suddenly before him that he sobbed as he struggled against the hacked door, desperate to get it open.
There was Ahmad with his parang and pistol, slashing through hordes of Nulltroopers before he was taken down by Bastion units. Oliver was unexpectedly shot in the head by a ricochet. Hazir was stabbed through the heart.
He blinked and felt cold around his arms and legs, he looked down and saw that ice has formed around his body, stopping all bodily functions.
Tap tap tap
Looking forward, he screamed.
Jampang's pale eyes are staring at him, his face has been eaten away by maggots, his hands tapping on the glass as if trying to wake him up.
"Why have you forgotten your promise...?" the corpse groaned at him, it's voice clear and loud, as if it is speaking within the glass.
Quillion desperately tried to shout back, to tell it that he is trying, that he has not forgotten, but his lips are frozen shut.
"Zero... Why have you forgotten...?" it groaned again, its hands pressed against the glass as it inched closer to him, Quillion could almost smell its rotting breath as blood began to bleed from its pale white eyes.
"Find them… Kill everyone who gets in your way…"
It is inside the chamber now…
"Kill them all… Or join us now…" it said, wrapping its skeletal hands around his throat, strangling him slowly.
Maggots began falling down onto his face and he could feel them hungrily gnawing into his flesh.
Crying from fear he tried to beg or call for help, but he is frozen solid, there is no escape.
He could smell it's breath now. He could feel the maggots wriggling under his skin. Its bony fingers crushing his throat as the freezing cold gripped his body.
"Quil?"