Ghaspada Village, Kodagu District, Karnataka State, India

Opinions on Vishkar were polarizing to say the least, Kadia didn't even attempt to hide her distaste and based on their brief conversation with the governor, it seemed they were far from a beloved entity. Based on what Kadia had told him, they seemed to be a bastardized amalgamation of ideologies that formed when corporate greed mixed with disaster relief. Having some 'architects' that perfected hard light technology, sort of like plasma shielding that the covvies used on portable shields. Though that would be selling it short, it was downright amazing to what he could understand, they could…manipulate and mold tangible light into physical objects. The specifics went above his head, Kadia having a far greater interest and understanding fo the technology that he did. Apparently, they'd even created a whole city of light to help house the destitute in an increasingly overpopulated world. Nothing good can ever stay virtuous though, the details were fuzzy to him, but soon Vishkar became the epitome of generosity at a cost. They could help you, but that didn't come free, they were at the core the definition of hypocrisy in action. On the outside they promised to revitalize the world, giving genuine living standards to those who needed it most, the reality however was not only exorbitant costs, but it seemed Vishkar didn't actually care much for the impoverished. According to some news stories from Brazil, entire favelas were razed to the ground to build 'quality accommodations', but those never arrived and now the people are not only struggling to survive but don't even have a roof over their heads. Worse still, Vishkar wiped out any opposition with brutal efficiency, in fact he briefly remembered Lucio saying something to that effect. He'd have to ask the man when they got back from this mission if he remembered.

The situation at Ghaspada didn't seem different in that regard, Vishkar had promised the Indian government to rebuild the village into a modern hotbed but what resulted was a bungled construction leading to massive damage throughout the sizeable village. Now Governor Ahuja wanted intervention, apparently fearing a repeat of Brazil in his own backyard. A reasonable enough request and something they'd iron out in detail once they touched down soon. The next few minutes were spent in a lazy silence before the Orca eventually shook with a light thud as it hit solid ground. Adrian eyed the other troops; Vickers was armed but not at the ready, only weapon being the sidearm placed at the hip. Standing up he grabbed Barbie by the shoulder, nodding his head towards the Overwatch personal beginning to file out as the hatch opened.

"Let's stay quiet and follow their lead, this isn't our OP, our world."

"Agreed, I'm still going out with more than just a pistol, but I'll keep it all holstered. Doesn't look like we'll need to the bring the heat."

Adrian nodded, "I also want us guarding the ship, following what Winston said we'll focus on these Vishkar folk. Enemies getting a hold of covvie tech is bad, an unknown third party is worse."

With that they armed themselves, putting aside their heavier weapons in favor of keeping their compact submachine guns and pistols. Placing the M7S on the magnetic strip on the crux of his back, Adrian followed the last couple Overwatch personal with Liam not far behind. Stepping out solid ground his visor darkened a touch to compensate for the brilliant sunshine that shone above, taking the surrounds he noticed they'd drawn quite a crowd. The denizens of Ghaspada wary of the new arrivals of which he couldn't blame them if the last visitors ruined their town. Two however stood out from the crowd and were conversing with Vickers and Kadia, despite Adrian's own wishes to stay out of the light, the gunnery sergeant waved him on over.

"Governor Ahuja and Mayor Ramadevi, this is Adrian Kasporov," Vickers began, "and Adrian, these are Governor Ahuja and the mayor of Ghaspada, Mithi Ramadevi." Ahuja was older than Adrian had expected, the man's hair was stark white with a sagging heaviness to his face. The mayor was quite a bit younger; she wore her dark hair in a braided ponytail while looking over Adrian with a calculating eye, clearly not happy about more foreign intervention in her village.

Adrian kept it curt, "Sir, Ma'am." They responded in kind with brief nods before turning their attention back towards Vickers, clearly not interested in anyone but the leader of this expedition.

"Despite what the governor has committed too, I'm less inclined to put foreign soldiers in my village." Major Ramadevi spoke.

"I understand ma'am, I'd be just as wary as you which is why I've organized a relief effort to come from Overwatch, filled with absolutely no soldiers. Their sole purpose will be to organize efforts to help expediate the rebuilding, offer any help to those affected in the accident, and be out of here as soon as possible." Vickers responded with straightforward military discipline.

Ramadevi eased a little, "I hope that's all it will be, if it means you'll leave all the faster than who am I to complain. Let's just pray you're better than these Vishkar folk, when can we expect the rest of your ilk?"

"They'll arrive in one to two days, depending on how fast they can load supplies and get the necessary crew. I would-"

Vickers was cut off as shouts rang through the air, the gathered crowed began to look around as a man made his way through the crowd followed by three others. "Excuse me, hold it please! Governor what is the meaning of this!" The leading man spoke loudly as he pushed his way through the citizens of Ghaspada, before he could get another word in Adrian and Liam instinctively pushed the Ahuja and Ramadevi behind them with the Overwatch soldiers resting their hands on their pistols. The leader stopped dead in his tracks as he looked into the pitch-black void of Adrian's visor, a look of uncertainty crossing his features. The three followers behind the man stopped as well, one was a woman with elaborate clothing and the other two were men dressed in formal suits.

Governor Ahuja frantically spoke up as he made his way past Adrian, "Let's all take it easy now, Gunnery Sergeant Vickers these are the representatives of Vishaka, Chada and Vaswani, respectively." He pointed towards the lead man and the woman. "They may be a pain in my ass, but they're no threat yet.

The leader, now identified as Chada huffed at that, "What's the meaning of this, pulling in outside resources? You know Vishkar will not only compensate everyone fairly, but we're also fixing the mistake."

"How can you be surprised? You wouldn't have to rebuild or compensate any of us if you'd stayed out, and now you're dragging this project out. I'm no fool Chada, I'm well aware of your company's history and Overwatch are here to make sure that history doesn't repeat itself."

"So you bring in armed soldiers to impose peace?" Chada snarled, spreading his arms out as he looked over the Overwatch personnel.

"I feel safer around them then I ever would around your thugs. At least which Overwatch I don't have to go to sleep wondering if I'll wake up alive come morning."

Chada wanted to bite back but held himself back, eventually the woman known as Vaswani spoke up, "You're only going to complicate things, all we wish to do is instill order for the betterment of all."

Mayor Ramadevi narrowed her eyes, "Then you should have no problems cooperating with our new friends, if you truly want what's best for all then you can hurry up and leave."

It was a tense few seconds as the area was filled with utter silence, no one said a word as the two groups starred off against each other. Eventually Vaswani turned and left without a word, not long after Chada and his two bodyguards followed after her with a snort. Adrian didn't relax until the Vishkar folks were gone from his view, as his posture eased, he turned back to the main group.

"Friendly bunch of people." Adrian remarked

"Well it highlights why I want you here at the least." Governor Ahuja disappointedly sighed, likely hoping to avoid such a confrontation.

"Don't worry Governor, we understand loud and clear, as for Mayor Ramadevi." Vickers began, "You have my word that Overwatch's forces will stay in line. The soldiers are not here because we believe in force, but rather we were the closest unit available to assist. Those under my command will do only what you want, if you wish for us to stay to the sidelines we'll do that or they'll help rebuild as you desire."

Ramadevi looked him over, her sharp eyes slightly softening, "And once the rest of your forces arrive? What happens then? What happens with your soldiers?"

"Honestly it depends on who and what is sent, the rest of Overwatch's personnel are going to consist of medics, engineers, organizers, and so on. Passive forces if you will, simply there to help expedition rebuilding."

"And Vishkar's thugs haven't adjusted then your military forces will continue to stay as protection?"

Vickers nodded, "That's the gist, but it's also not an all or nothing commitment. Several may leave or almost all, but these things aren't going to be deiced by me alone, though the important thing is that we're going to do everything for the best interesting of the people in the village."

Adrian thought he spied the faintest tugging at the corner lips of the mayor as she replied, "We'll see. Nonetheless I can appreciate the earnestness you have shown; let's see it put to action. For now, I'd like you're soldiers to help with some basic but necessary actions…"

"Fuck me, just had the worst memories of being back in the corp. I haven't done that much physical labor since digging out trenches before the Covvies ass blasted us to the next millennia." Adrian bemoaned as he sat down with an ungraceful stumble in the center of the village, removing his helmet he took in the fresh air with a calm breath. Solid brick foundations filled out the area with a modest fountain acting as the centerpiece, the northern half of the town center was what could be described at the border of damaged land. He still had no fucking clue what had caused such an accident, Vishkar guarded 'ground zero' like damn hawks, all he knew was that something huge had upended a lot of housing and basic infrastructure. It was especially striking because as it stood, Vishkar had been focusing on repairing the 'big' parts first as opposed to the basic foundations. Perhaps that was one reason the Governor was so worried, the idea that Vishkar was going to rebuild on a superficial level and leave the actual necessities in the dust. Still those thoughts were above his paygrade.

Liam chuckled, "It reminds me of a sergeant I had when I was only a few years in with the marines. This cunt had us spend two days straight forming a mile long trench line to defend against a probable Covvie attack, not unusual in and of itself, but he was a bloody perfectionist and needed everything to go exactly right. We finally finish, as the sun is about to set on our second day when he comes over, same emotionless fucking face as always as says, 'Command has informed me that you all have built the trench three meters behind the required position, you are to dig a new trench at the correct location.' The audacity of that chap, it was under his orders where we dug but of course no one was going to say anything about it."

"The military bureaucracy never ceases to screw over its own men, what happened to him?"

"Don't know, the operation itself was a complete disaster with so many casualties that the survivors ended up being sent to different companies. I'd like to say nothing good happened for him, but god knows the UNSC can't afford to be picky." Liam removed his helmet as he took a seat next to Adrian but upon the edge of the fountain, lowering one hand into the center he scooped a handful fo water and brought it up to his parched mouth with a slurp.

Adrian had just recently taken a swig from his canteen so he instead flicked out a cigarette from its battered packaging only to realize he couldn't find a lighter anywhere. Groaning to himself he haplessly looked towards Liam who threw up his arms in denial. Stuffing the cigarette back in its packaging, he stood up with a groan.

"I'm gonna try and see if Vickers or Kadia carries a lighter, also poke around the village a bit. See if I can't figure out what Vishkar is guarding."

"You do that, meanwhile I'll put on my charm and see if I can't warm up our reception here." Adrian narrowed his eyes at Liam's words, "I mean it, not going to try anything, but even if it's just for a few days it won't hurt to make ourselves welcomed. Especially if you want to learn more about what's going on."

Adrian nodded in agreement as he waved to Liam before he headed off in search of someone who might be able to help, his helmet rest under his right arm. Around him the people of the village went about their life, some with clear goals and mind and others wandering about the same as him. He got a few stares here and there, mostly from children as the adults seemed pressed to ignore him not that he could blame them. He was an armed foreigner, an intruder on their doorsteps, regardless of intentions it probably wasn't pleasant to see a soldier clad in heavy black armor patrolling around your home. Sighing he rubbed his brow, briefly looking down as his boots plodding along the paved path beneath him. So absorbed in his thoughtless daydream could stop himself from colliding into someone, sending them sprawling to the ground.

Stepping back in shock, he automatically went to apologize as he noticed who he'd ran into, "My apologies, I should've paid attention to where I was walking."

"Yes, you should have." On the ground was the Vishkar employee known as Vaswani replied. He offered her a hand but she ignored it, instead pushing herself up as she brushed her clothes off with meticulous movements.

"Apologies again…Miss Vaswani, was it?"

"That is was."

"Ah… well I'm Lance Corporal Kasporov." He said with a hint of uncertainty, she wasn't exactly an engaging conversationalist. "I uhm, hope this won't dampen relations between our peoples."

"I don't think they can be worsened more than they already are, we were here to simply right our wrongs. Place order on the chaos of destruction."

He rubbed the back fo his neck, "We'll we all have the same goal, right? We're not here to step on any toes though I understand it's easy for me to say, still if we're all here to help than the only thing that should matter is the people right?"

She looked him over, "Perhaps, though in my experience I tend to my people hard to trust." With that she walked past him, each step measured and precise.

Adrian stood there dumbfounded before turning to her leaving form, "Say you would happen to have a lighter, would you?" He could out after her, though it didn't matter as she never responded. "Well just fuck me then." He grumbled to himself as he turned back the way he was heading almost to run into yet another recognizable face, Mayor Ramadevi who had what could almost be considered a smile.

"It seems you're doing well with the folks at Vishkar." She mused as she beckoned him to walk with her.

Biting back the urge to ignore her request and find someone with a lighter, he begrudgingly followed, "What can I say, I'm simply a bundle of popularity."

"Don't dwell on it too much, the entire corporation reeks of arrogance. I hesitate to group them all together but if no one else is stepping up to change it, does that make them any better."

"I suppose not, though I have to ask if moral philosophy is the reason you wanted to talk. I don't think I have much an opinion to offer on that."

"No, I simply wish to understand those who have come here, again Vishkar aren't exactly open."

"Well that's certainly agreeable enough, I'm no expert but I can't help but feel we could better help if we knew exactly what happened in the first place. What if it happens again?"

"Then you and I share the same sentiment. Chada is in my opinion the scummiest of the lot, a corporate desk jockey out of his element. For once having to put faces to the dollar sign statistics he normally deals in. Vaswani is at the least complicated, as an architect I believe that she genuinely wants to help people but is perhaps at odds with herself at how to achieve that." Adrian nodded along with vague understanding, he'd only talked with Vaswani only briefly and he doubted he could get an audience with Chada for half that length even if he groveled. "Ah I'm getting distracted, my point being, I don't trust Vishkar."

Was that it? He understood that point within five seconds of landing in her village, "Uh-huh."

She briefly turned her head with a look of scrutiny as they wandered through the backstreets of the village, "Though I know that isn't a shock to you, what I'm trying to highlight is that I suspect you and your friend are doing the very same thing I am. Trying to get answers."

She was technically right, excluding the primary reason being to find a lighter, "More or less. We figured we could do our job better if we understand what was going on, as well as figuring out what Vishkar were keeping so guarded."

Ramadevi stopped and turned to him, her shrewd eyes staring into his own. "We have a common distrust of Vishkar, a common desire to understand the world around us, the difference however is that these are not your people. You don't have to face the repercussions."

Adrian caught her drift, "They won't even know we were there, wouldn't do well to stir up trouble now would it?"

She smiled slyly, "No it wouldn't." Looking towards the setting sun, she breathed deeply before turning back to Adrian. "I have a lighter if you have a cigarette to spare."

Adrian's brows raised in amusement, "A woman after my own heart."

She chuckled softly, "All this fresh air isn't good for my lungs." Adrian flicked out the last two cigarettes of the packaging, handing one off to her as she pulled out an elegantly decorated flip lighter. Two faint points of warmth glowed in the encroaching darkness of the night as wind rustled trees and people chatted animatedly as the day came to a close. The duo stood in a comfortable silence, relishing the warm weather and calm ambiance. Eventually Adrian stubbed the cigarette out on a piece of metal plate on his armor before placing the waste in the empty cigarette cartridge. Mayor Ramadevi simply tossed her cigarette on the ground and stomped it out with her shoes, a mirthful grin at her lips.

"It's the thought that counts." Adrian replied dryly.

"Indeed, I appreciate you not trying to dirty my town. If you do go forward with your plan, I'd ask you keep me in the loop at the least."

"I'll make sure to do that." Adrian stated as Ramadevi nodded, bowing to him slightly he awkwardly returned the gesture as she turned and left, presumably to return to her administrative duties. With the day just about at its end, Adrian began to wander back to the craft to finish up one last piece for the day. The walk through the village was peaceful, eventually he came to the large open plaza that was hosting their ship. Outside was a single Overwatch solider sitting upon a crate, comfortably telling tales to the local children. Adrian offered a brief wave that was returned as he passed by the soldier, stepping onto the aircraft his heavy botos clanked along the metal floor. The ship was surprisingly empty, only a couple people milling about or getting supplies ready for the coming day. Walking through the trop bay into the comms center, the room was entirely empty, it's lights flickering once he stepped in. Immediately to a communications console on the side of the room, he made himself comfortable as he laid his helmet on the floor next to him and brushed his air up a touch. His fingers worked over the keyboard on the console, each key clacking underneath his fingers before he stopped as a dial tone filled the room. In front of him a dark screen lit up, as it processed the request before eventually filling with color as a face filled the screen.

"Adrian? You looked awful." Angela's German accented voice echoed out through the speakers with a jovial laugh.

Adrian couldn't help but laugh with her, "That's how you're going to open the conversation? I mean you're not wrong but still."

"Did I say awful? I meant wonderful."

"Somehow I doubt that."

Ziegler held a hand up to her mouth as she tried to get herself under control, "I see Winston has moved you to another assignment."

Adrian leaned back a bit to get comfortable, "It seems like it will be quiet, though it's pretty damn gorgeous here, the scenery in unparalleled. The same can't be said for the Vishkar folk here though, I ran into one and well I think I'd have better company with a brick wall."

"Can't say I'm surprised, Vishkar have always been interesting to say the least."

"You can say that again." Adrian snorted before taking in Angela's image on the screen, her warmth filling him even across electronic channels, "Anything new happen while I've been gone?"

"Oh! Yes actually! I was doing some research on a new nano-laminate medical wrap and I think I've made substantial progress. You see…" Their conversation continued on until the late of night with the two falling asleep where they were.

.