The Assignment

Chapter One

April 2nd, 1912

East City

Office of Colonel Roy Mustang

9:33 am

Colonel Mustang and his team had not been together long. He had been assigned to Security in East City six months ago, bringing with him Riza Hawkeye and Jean Havoc. Havoc had suggested his long-time friend, Heymans Breda as a good fit for their office, and Mustang selected Vato Falman to join them as well, remembering the man from the War. Kain Fuery was the newest member of the team, barely out of training when Mustang snatched him up, though so far, he was also a good fit.

In addition to security, Mustang oversaw the Alchemist branch of the East. There were only two alchemists of note in East Command currently, Mustang himself and his youngest recruit, Edward Elric. He had, in addition to his office staff, several field agents that reported to him. This was why he was annoyed this morning.

Somehow, when the new request came across his desk this morning, he had no one available to take it. All his field agents were already out on assignment, including Fullmetal. Mustang had read the report twice and knew that it was not a case that could wait.

Someone was going to have to go from his office staff. He stood before them all attempting to decide who would be the best fit. He settled on Vato Falman and Heymans Breda and called them into his office.

Falman and Breda were standing in front of him, as Roy pulled out the file in question. He had never sent them out together, and they had not been working in this office together long either, so he hoped they could work well with each other, or this case would be even harder to handle. He sighed silently before turning his attention to the men.

"It has been brought to Command's attention that someone has been stealing cavalry horses out in Ellicot. I need you two to go out there, investigate, and hopefully apprehend the thieves. Over the last two months, fifteen horses have been taken in the middle of the night directly from the stables. The guards on watch claim to have seen nothing." He said as he handed over the file. "Unfortunately, since this may be an inside job, I cannot afford you any troops as back up. It will be just the two of you. I expect progress reports every evening at five."

"Understood sir." Falman said.

"Okay, sir." Breda said as he flipped through the file himself.

Mustang nodded to them both before sending them away to pack before their train left at three. He then returned to his large stack of paperwork, there was no point in worrying about the mission before it began, not when he had other, younger field agents who were yet to check in.

Eastbound Train

3:30 pm

Heymans and Vato sat together on the crowded train, across from an older couple. The wife was glaring pointedly at the two soldiers, who were doing their best to ignore the hostile nature of the couple. It was not uncommon to run across people who were less than pleased to share space with soldiers after all.

It was a tense ride, made in silence partly thanks to the couple, and partly because the two had yet to get to know each other aside from office banter. They knew they were both loyal to Mustang and his plans. They then knew this was someone who could, in theory, be trusted. There was a big difference between knowing that and opening up however, and Vato admitted to himself he was not the most open of people to begin with.

It would be at least another seven hours before they arrived in Ellicot, so Heymans decided since no one was talking it was good a time as any to take a nap. With a sigh he leaned his backpack against the window and laid his head on it to sleep for a while.

"You're sleeping already?" Vato said in a near whisper. "Will it not interrupt your sleeping patterns later in the evening? Then you would be thrown off for the remainder of the week, which would be detrimental to the mission and, more importantly, your health."

"I always sleep on the train." Heymans said with a sigh, he just wanted a nap at this point. "So far, I've never had a problem with not falling asleep once we got to the hotel."

"Still, it would be inappropriate to sleep at this hour. You would not want to be up all night if possible." Vato said again trying to keep his travel companion awake. Truthfully, he was mostly just uncomfortable being left alone with the couple across from them.

"It's fine Falman." Heymans said. "If you feel that strongly about, I suppose I can wait until later to take a nap. Cards?"

6:00pm

Thankfully, the couple, along with most of the car, deboarded at the next stop. Both men sighed with relief before Heymans moved over to the vacated bench across from Vato. Now they would both have enough room to take a nap should they decided to sleep before arriving.

For now, Vato offered to pick up their dinners and took Heymans meal card along with his own down to the dining car to collect their dinner. By the time he had returned, Vato had opened the file and spread it across the table to look over the case.

Wordlessly they read as they ate before gathering the file back up and clearing up the area around them. "Well," Heymans said after throwing away the trash and returning the tray "At least the kid and his brother didn't catch this one. I'd hate to see them send him all the way out to the border like this."

"The Major seems far more capable than one would assume given his age." Vato said.

"Doesn't mean he should be covering things like this." Heymans replied. "This is likely to go bad. We both know it."

Vato didn't say anything in return, but he agreed. This was going to go badly, there was a good chance that people were going to get hurt, or even die. He was just as glad as the other man that Mustang had not sent the child in…though from what Vato had seen, he would not have sent the boy anyway.

10:38pm

Ellicot

Train Inn

They had arrived far too late in the evening to bother trying to begin their search tonight, so they went directly to the local Inn to check in for the next few days and sleep for a while. The Innkeeper was not happy to see a couple of soldiers checking in, his scowl and rigid stance told them that as soon as they walked up to the desk.

"We don't usually rent out to your lot." The man said snidely. "Tend to rip up the rooms and run off without paying."

"We'll pay for a week up front." Heymans said, ready for bed and not wanting to deal with the argument.

"Security deposit too. For all the damage you will do." The man continued.

"Of course." Heymans said with a sigh.

"I guess I can give you 203. It needs renovations, anyway, was about to get started on it." He said as he dug up a key. "Beds are still in there, but you'll have to make em up yourself. Not gonna call my daughter back out this late."

"That's fine."

The man grunted once more as they passed off the money and he handed over the key. He then handed them a bundle of sheets and pillows so went back to ignoring them. They made their way upstairs, Vato carrying their bags, Heymans the linens. Before they found the room and let themselves inside.

The room did look like it was in the middle of renovations. There were two single beds, with a night table between them and a dusty lamp. Otherwise, the room was empty and covered in a fine layer of dust. The walls were half painted, and a rug rolled up against one wall. The men just shrugged and went about making their beds. Both had slept in worse places over the years and could handle a bit of dirt. Even if it was overpriced dirt.