Chapter 2 The Enemy Within

David – Age 49 (POV)
Joyce – Age 51
July 22nd, 2017
9:01 AM
North Atlantic Ocean
USCC Oregon

The Oregon had diverted course to the Atlantic to get to the Mediterranean Sea where Lebanon shored and where our next mission would take place. The debriefing was in an hour and I sat down in the mess hall for a drink at the bar table. I took a glass of bourbon and sipped on it. Thinking about my harsh decision in hiding Kristine's relations with the Herd of Whales. Dwelling upon how I can live with myself with something that would disgrace my marriage, my fatherhood, and my career.

At the very least, Kate was safe and sound on the refugee deck with her family as well Warren, Brook, and all the other MIT students on board. Dean Nelson was making herself comfortable too. It would also seem that I've also brought nearly the entire Blackwell band back together considered. Victoria and the former Vortex gang turned Berkeley fraternity, Warren and the MIT, and now Kate with the rest of the Marshes and her Christian community. Then there's the former Arcadia Bay District Attorney turned San Fran senator/Chrysalis Ambassador. Bringing the Arcadia Bay band together on the Oregon. Not just Blackwell.

Joyce had walked into the mess hall to check on me and talk. She sat down next to me on the bar table I was drinking at.

"You look quiet today," said Joyce. "The war still beating you down?"

"In a way," I replied. "I'm not even sure if I wanna talk about it."

"You don't have to. It's all up to you."

"Tell me, Joyce. You ever had to keep secrets from someone you cared about? From Chloe for instance?"

"That's coming from the man who has kept secrets from someone he's cared about before. If you have something to say that I deserve to know about, I'd appreciate if you do."

I sighed and put down my drink. Joyce was right. I shouldn't risk any more secrets to be kept from or Chloe. But the more people know who Kristine really is, the greater the chance she'll be disgraced from Chrysalis. Here goes nothing.

"Its Kristine," I admitted. "Cayce and I are keeping something from the team for her. Maybe even the rest of Chrysalis with that. Which could cost me everything I've worked for to get to where I am."

"And what is it that you're keeping for her?" Joyce asked.

"Let's just say there was a time when she was leagued with an avowed enemy to Chrysalis and there's something permanently marked on her that can't allow her to escape that past. Despite having cut all ties with that enemy."

"What enemy? It's not ConDef, is it?"

"It goes beyond ConDef. Consider that confidential for both our sakes. That's all I'll be able to tell you."

"Chloe texted and said she was coming aboard here with Rachel and that Frank guy. As well as with some other people she's with."

"Chloe's coming here? To the Oregon? I thought she was going to Aaron and Linda's?"

"She changed her mind and I don't blame her. No one's safe in the country anymore. Even less safe than 9/11. Which can't be measured to what ConDef has done."

"Oh, Chloe. Once a rebel. Always a rebel."

"You should probably go to the refugee deck. Ryan and Ness need you and I think it's about Max."

When I heard the name Max, it was immediately taking me back to what I assumed Ares was bluffing about back at the chapel in Canyon Springs. I marched out of the mess hall and back to the refugee deck to find out if what he had said was true. I walk into the triage in the sanctuary where Ryan and V were camped in but find James and Rose inside instead.

"Where's Vanessa and Ryan?" I asked them.

"They're in the restroom if you need them," replied Rose. "They said they needed you."

"Nothing wrong with the two of you?"

"Nothing wrong with the two of us, David," said James. "Except that

Rachel and Frank are coming aboard. With your step-daughter Chloe."

"Rachel's coming along too? Why?"

"Best we don't talk about it. Better if you talk to Mr. and Mrs. Caulfield. We can talk later, Commander."

I step inside the men's restroom where I guessed Ryan would take his wife to and there they were. The two of them were quiet. Vanessa was leaning over a sink with tears on her face I had seen in the mirror while her husband laid his hand behind her back. Ryan had a devastated look on himself as well. Something tells me this confirmed what I denied about back in Canyon. Only one way to tell for sure.

"Vanessa?" I said. "Ryan?"

"David!" Vanessa gasped. "You're here!"

Vanessa instantly caresses her arms around me for a hug. I wrap my arms around her too. Still indecision of what she and Ryan were emotional about.

"What's going on?" I asked. "Is it Max? Did something happen to her?"

"No, no," whelped Vanessa. Releasing her caress. "Nothing happened to her. But it still could."

"Ryan? What's going on here?"

"I need to be alone."

Vanessa marched out of the restroom without an answer. Evading my presence. It was up to Ryan now to grant me the answers.

"Ryan, you brought me here and now I'm here," I reminded him. "What's going on with Max?!"

"She lied," answered Ryan.

"She what?"

"Max lied about her new job. Chloe told us on the phone that she's screwing around on the other side of the world getting involved with ConDef business. Not to mention my niece is alive. Max's cousin Alex is alive. And my brother Bryan is with them. My FUCKING brother!"

Ryan slammed his fist against the sink like an angry gorilla. I jump a little. Max of all people actually getting involved in the seed of this war. Meaning what Ares said was true.

"Calm the fuck down, Ryan," I said.

"Don't tell me to calm down!" Ryan roared. "My daughter is out there breaking her vows of never getting into her non-sense again! An agreement Nessa and I made with Max a long time ago! And now she's at it again."

"Her time superpowers?"

"Yes, that again."

I scoffed. Ares was never getting in my head after all.

"Son of a bitch!" I hissed.

"Is that all you have to say?" Ryan muttered.

"No, Ryan, that is not all I have to say! I'm right there with you but care to elaborate the conflict here?!"

"I've been on the phone with her arguing nonsense to me about being some certified chosen one to end the war by traveling to some middle of nowhere island. Something she called the Ark of Genesis. Just some old fable her and Alex obsessed about years ago."

"Who's Alex now? Your niece? Max's cousin? Didn't know she had one. You said you had a brother too?"

"Bryan. His name's Bryan. Speaking of, he's the one that got Max involved. Max also said some wild things about Eternity Shards and all that jazz. I can't even explain what only she can."

"How does this exactly involve in ConDef's intuition?"

"Can't explain that either. I don't know about you, David, but I believe something died in Max back in Arcadia Bay when I sent her back there. Something I believed she ended back during Triple 4."

"What do you mean died in her? What's this have to with Arcadia Bay and Triple 4?"

"Everything. Her time powers, the Arcadia storm, the Blackwell shooting, the invasion in Portland, and now this. It's all coming back to her."

"What's the story behind your brother and niece? How come you never told Joyce and me about them?"

"There was a time when Max and Alex grew close to one another some years back when we first moved to Seattle. And before that, Chloe got to know Alex as well during a camping trip to the Tillamook back when they were just kids. And when Bill was still around. During our time in Seattle, Max's relationship with Alex was pretty mixed compared to hers with Chloe."

"I'm pretty sure Chloe's relationship with Max was a mixed bag as well."

"This is different. While I always appreciated Max getting along with Alex as she did with Chloe, there was something about them that my brother influenced my daughter and niece that brought them to a tragic turn of events. About five years ago, before I sent Max back, Alex brought her into the craziest incident ever. The two broke into a museum with some friend of theirs. They were caught. And then, the guards shot Alex to death in a sewer they tried escaping through and the police caught Max and her friends and arrested them."

"Jesus Christ! Max of all people, breaking into museums?! I've seen Blackwell kids get expelled for less than things like that. Including Chloe. What museum guards would just go in and shoot at intruders?"

"Max almost was expelled for what she did until the Principal decided to suspend her instead. Then she was put under house arrest for eight months. The police never found Alex's body and was presumed dead. We had the funeral. And then I told Bryan to stay out of Max's life after that nightmare happened. When Max's house arrest was lifted, she was excepted into Blackwell and on her way back to the bay."

"So is Alex still alive after getting shot years ago? Even if her body wasn't recovered. And how is she coming back just now after falsifying her death all those years?"

"That's a story only Max will be able to explain. Assuming we see her eye to eye again. It doesn't help that she brought Rachel Amber, Rachel's boyfriend, and Max friends from Seattle into it as well. Goddamn you, Max."

"Rachel was part of this too?"

"Yes she was and Max tells me Chloe, Rachel, Bryan, and the others are coming to the Oregon now. Her and Alex on their own which I don't appreciate."

"Ryan, I get it. Okay? But don't underestimate your daughter. She's a fighter. I've seen enough action come out of her back during Triple 4 for me to believe she's more than what you say. More than what I've said about her too. Which all began the day Max hit a fire alarm that saved Chloe from being shot and killed by my lieutenant's brother. And I know she can live through whatever she's up to now with the war in play."

"I should let you go, David. I have to check on Vanessa. Nice talking to you."

I step out of the restroom as Ryan does and check on the people I rescued at the MIT, Canyon, and San Fran. I must believe Rachel confessed her involvement to her parents Rose and James and that's what they were referring to when I saw them in their triage.

I enter the triage where most of the Blackwell refugees are camped in. Victoria, her boyfriend Freddy, and her friends looked bored playing with their phones and reading books. There was no sign of Juliet however who I know was with them. Warren and Brooke were at table with the girl named Steph and the boy named Hayden who was in Victoria's group. All playing a tabletop game on the table they were sitting at. Some kind of Superhero tabletop game as it looked like.

"Ultron takes Captain America's shield," said Steph. Narrating the game.

"And snaps it in half with his grasp. Leaving cap disarmed with only his bare fist as the last resort."

"Ah, come on!" Warren whined. "Cap's shield doesn't snap in half in Age of Ultron and it sure as hell doesn't break in Civil War either."

"Well if you hadn't rolled a two," said Brooke. "It wouldn't have."

"Says the girl who has Mjolnir for her hero's weapon. That never breaks."

"If I rolled a five or over," said Hayden. "What could Black Widow do?"

"You all look like your enjoying yourselves," I said. Approaching the tabletop gang.

"Oh, hey, David," said Warren. "What's new?"

"David Madsen," said Steph. "Welcome to our domain. What brings the former Blackwell cop turned Chrysalis veteran to the house?"

"Just checking in and making sure everyone I know here is getting comfortable at the sanctuary," I replied. "Looks like you all have something to do here. What kind of game are you playing?"

"We're playing Marvel Tabletop Heroes. Attempting to reenact the battle of Sokovia from Avengers: Age of Ultron and failing utterly. There's always room for one more player. Want to join?"

"No thank you, miss. Looks like you have plenty of players already."

"We're also running out of players considering Cap only has his bare fist left to fend for himself," said Warren.

"Well you all have fun with your board games then," I said. "Take care."

"You too, David. Now, where were we?"

I walk to where Victoria and her friends are hanging out and most of them are passed out from boredom. A couple of college kids with nothing do but sit in a tent on a Chrysalis freighter away from their war-torn home. I feel bad for them in a way I do. Victoria was reading a book and leaning against the wall next to Freddy who was playing a mobile game on his phone. Courtney and Taylor were passed out on their bunks and so were Steph's friends Kerry and Johnny. Dana sat down on the floor eating some rations. Juliet was out of sight as I first noticed. I talked to Victoria and Freddy when I did.

"How are you all holding up?" I asked them. "You don't look so well."

"No, David," admitted Victoria. "We don't. Our lives have been shit since day 1. Aside from a high school reunion we've had on board, it doesn't say much as to how strict it's been living here on this deck."

"Unless you'd rather play that Steph chick's bloody tabletop games," said Freddy. "I'd rather play Mustard Party 2 on my device. Dammit! Cheeky vultures!"

I sighed.

"I know it's been a rough couple of weeks since Berkeley," I said. "But the best advice I can give is just to hang in there until this war is over. It'll blow over eventually and then you can all go back to being normal fraternity kids again. It'll be over soon."

"That's what every authority has been saying until now too," said Victoria.

"And I know they're running out of excuses as we speak. They won't even allow photography here. I could really use some photographs that'll make a good war album for my photography projects at Berkeley. If we could ever get back there that is."

"I could give you clearance to shoot some photos for whatever you have to do. If that satisfies your boredom."

"Really? You could?"

"I could talk to security right now and ask for a permit under my authority. How does that sound?"

"That would be great, David. I'd really appreciate it."

"Have you seen Juliet anywhere? I didn't see here when I walked in."

"Juliet's actually been looking for you," said Dana. "She wanted to interview you about your efforts in the war for her journalism project if that's okay. If you catch her, just say the word if you accept."

"How 'bout Kate and her family? Have you seen them?"

"They're next door to our triage if you want to see them," said Victoria.

"It's good that you saved them from this war when you did. Kate and her sisters looked traumatized from they went through and we all managed to make Kate's day for her when she got here."

"Take care, Victoria. You and your friends have seen better days."

"Au revoir."

I walk to the triage next door and find the Marsh family getting comfortable inside. Kate and her sisters Laura and Lynn were playing around with dolls and telling Bible stories with one another. Kate's parents Richard and Mary were sitting next to each and talking. I spoke to them before I could speak to Kate.

"Commander Madsen," said Richard. "God bless your soul for saving my family."

"Mr. and Mrs. Marsh," I said. "I hope you and the girls are satisfied with your stay at the sanctuary."

"For the moment being," said Mary. "We sure are, Commander. Kate and her sisters will find peace where they belong and so will we. The lord gifts us with his providence. We're also pleased Kate has friends from Blackwell onboard. At least she won't be alone with my younger daughters."

"Was there something you wanted for us?" Richard asked.

"Just checking in with everyone I've rescued throughout this war," I answered. "I also came here to apologize about what happened back in Canyon Springs at the church."

"Everyone including us is alive because of you," said Richard. "Why would need to apologize?"

"Because you and everyone in that church could've been dead because of me as well had it gone the opposite way. I nearly costed those lives tricking Ares and pretending to give up what we came there for to him and I'm severely lucky he was bluffing."

"None of that is your fault, David. Even if not everyone made it out alive, we were in a difficult position from the start. And if it makes you feel better, what Kate tried to do to herself at Blackwell isn't your fault either. Thanks to her friend Max who subverted that incident for her."

"Don't mind if I check on Kate and her sisters, do you?"

"Not at all. She's over there with Lynn and Laura if you wish."

"Thank you. Glad we talked."

"As you were, Commander."

I walk over to Kate playing with her sisters and talk to her. When Kate notices me behind her, she's proud to see me. Proud enough to hug me once again as she did in the basement of her home.

"David!" She snapped happily. Holding me tight as she could.

"You're awfully too kind to a person who's hurt you badly," I scoffed.

"Usually people like Chloe isn't someone as forgiving as you are."

"David, I owe you big time after what happened in Canyon Springs. You deserve all the kindness you'll get from me."

"How are you and your siblings holding up? Things were pretty rough back in Canyon."

"We're fine for now. Laura and I were just reenacting some bible stories with Lynn's toys. I'm also glad to have seen Victoria, Warren, and everyone I used to know at Blackwell. Small world we're living in when it comes to this war."

"Well, I hope you find peace here on this deck. It's getting pretty here for refugees."

"David, I've been to ask you. Back there at the church, that voice we heard. The one that used your name and Max's name too. Whoever he was, whatever he said, was it true, David? Is Max really involved in what he said she was?"

I take a second to think about what to say to Kate and what I just learned about Max and how Kate would react to it. Should I really tell the truth to her or should I keep it from her? I know Max liked Kate and she'd deserve to know what's going on with her. This is what I say to Kate.

"Let's just say I can't confirm nor deny whatever Ares said," I answered.

"But if what he said was true, I'll make sure nothing bad happens to Max. You have my word."

"Thanks, David. Despite our differences, I know you're more than what people say about you. You really are."

I smiled in response to Kate's compliment. Then someone drops in to ask me for an interview.

"David, there you are!" The girl said from behind me. "I'm Juliet if you remember me. I'm with Victoria. You saved us back in-"

"I know who you are, Ms. Watson," I interrupted. "I've known each and every one of you former Blackwell attendees from the back of my hand. I've been told you wanted an interview with me. Why?"

"I used to write for the Blackwell Totem and now I've been writing for the Berkeley Bulletin since freshman year. I wanted to interview you about the war to make up for my assignments that were supposed to be due two weeks ago before ConDef struck the place. Perhaps you can help."

"You have three minutes for an interview. Ask away and make it quick. I have a debriefing in forty-five."

Juliet and I walk out of the triage and sit someplace for the interview. I answer any questions I have time to answer as Juliet asks them. The girl herself has a pencil and paper to write down the answers for her scripted questions.

"Commander David Madsen," begins Juliet. "Your record shows that you enlisted in 2015 and have served the Chrysalis military division since. Eventually earning the rank of Commander. What made you want to join the corps when you did?"

"Back during the Triple 4 attack in Portland," I said. "I volunteered during the operation to take down Derrick Crosby and Neo-Chrys with the help of my step-daughter Chloe Price, Max Caulfield, Rachel Amber, and Frank Bowers. Since then, I thought I'd find my calling and ambition with Chrysalis."

"You were in Seattle when ConDef attacked. What were you doing in Seattle at that time?"

"It was Independence Day at the time of the attack and I was with my wife Joyce, Max's parents, my team, and Admiral Penske celebrating. I was also riding a Seahawk in the sky with everyone else and barely survived a crash caused by a hacked AA gun. Which was when the attack had started."

"Back in San Francisco, Senator Amber when the attack was coming. Why didn't he warn everyone about the imminent incident sooner?"

"That answer is classified, Juliet. The simplified answer, Amber couldn't confirm the attack was coming until he had sufficient intel. Not something bull."

"One more question. Its said that Canyon Springs was an odd place for ConDef to intrude. Why go there?"

Then the intercom rang. Paging my name and other close people of my team.

"Commander David Madsen, report to CIC at once. David Madsen."

"I think this interview is over. Sounds like I'm going to CIC early."

"Before you go, Commander, I just like to say that I might have a future at the Chrysalis News Network. I'm glad we had this interview. Thanks for your time."

"Chrysalis News Network sounds like the best career opportunity for you. Good day now."

After my Q and A with Juliet, I march to CIC on the bridge of the Oregon. Wondering why my presence was needed. Something tells me it was going to be the end of my service with Chrysalis. Or perhaps someone else's.
When entering CIC, the room was vacant except for Admiral Penske and Cayce who were the only two people present. Perhaps Penske asked Captain Harvest and his crewmen to leave the room so we could speak alone privately. A look of disgust is on the admiral's face and Cayce has a look of guilt. I instantly know what this is about now.

"You have something to say to me, Commander?" Penske asked.
I sighed. You son of a bitch, Cayce.

"So you know," I said.

Kristine walked in the room and saw the three of us alone. She felt the same way I did when I walked in. A heart racing and a nerve tingling.

"Lieutenant Prescott," said Penske. "How nice to see you here."
The young Prescott woman in the Chrysalis uniform stared at Cayce and me with a heartbreaking frown. Then scoffed and shielded her face with her hand feeling crushed about what she now must confront.

"And by the look on your face," continued Penske. "I shouldn't have to ask do you deny what Corporal Foley had just informed me of."

"Admiral, let me explain," said Kristine.

"I shouldn't have to explain that what you have hidden under that uniform is treason and a capital offense to all Chrysalis jurisdiction! Not to mention punishable by court-martial and imprisonment!"

"Admiral-"

"Not another word! You should all be aware that the Herd of Whales is an avowed enemy to Chrysalis now in league with ConDef! As for you, Madsen, care to justify harboring the truth behind Prescott's former relations?"

"For starters," I begin. "I was only hiding the truth until the time was right. Something the corporal seems to have gone against my orders on. Also, Kristine is more than what Cayce has told you."

"Is that so?" Penske thought. "Then perhaps the lieutenant can speak for herself. Well?"

"Admiral," begins Kristine. "With all due respect, I've burned that bridge with the herd. I've cut all ties with them a long time ago since the day I enlisted. Having no reason to commit such treason at all."

"And yet, here we stand with you secret unearthed. Treason is treason, lieutenant. So tell me another one."

"If you think somehow, I'm some snitch for ConDef, you have it all wrong. I joined Chrysalis to redeem my family's title from the corruption of terrorism and force labor my father brought upon the family with Neo-Chrysalis. The corruption that killed my brother almost killed Max Caulfield, and turned Arcadia Bay into a wasteland. I deserve all the redemption I can get between service in the corps and my mother's leadership as CEO."

"You have my sympathy for what your family has gone through. But if you believe your service in Chrysalis will thwart your comeuppance with the enemy within, you're only running away from a bitter reality that already is."

"In a way, Admiral," I said. "She is not wrong. I have all people who know her better than anyone know that she isn't like the other Prescotts in her lineage. I trust her enough with my own life to believe that."

"You would vouch for a traitor over everything Chrysalis stand for? Is that what your telling me, Commander?"

"What I'm telling you is that Kristine is not a traitor. She's also not a loyalist either. She's a complicated woman raised by a complicated family and despite the complex circumstances, trusting her is a risk I'm prepared to take. Not because she deserves a second chance, but because I'm the damn best great judge of character you'll know for my team."

"Your judge of character will not say much to defend her secrecy. I have heard enough. Lieutenant Prescott, you are hereby ousted from the upcoming mission as well as every other mission beyond. You'll be escorted to the brig, relieved from duty, and I'll have a court-martial scheduled for when this war is done. Do I make myself clear, Lieutenant?"

"Admiral Penske," said Kristine. "Let's-"

"Do I make myself clear, Lieutenant?"

"Yes, sir."

"Good. Commander, if you have anything else in defense of Lieutenant Prescott, please say so now."

X/SQUARE/LM – DEFEND KRISTINE

B/CIRCLE/RM – ARREST KRISTINE

"As a matter of fact, Admiral," I said. "I do have something to say in her defense. Let her stay on the mission."

"What?" Cayce thought.

"Excuse me?" Penske asked.
"Penske, Kristine is the only person on the team who knows the herd better than anyone. Think about how valuable she could be if our next assignment could be connected to the herd or such."

"Define valuable."

"Kristine has an aunt leading the herd. Joanna Prescott who we know is allied with Elias Alkaline and the rest of the ConDef army. Say if anything were to turn up on the mission that would relate to that, Kristine could have an angle we're unaware of. Keep her off the mission and it may just go south. Think about that for once and her knowledge just may prove crucially vital. Her disloyalty and betrayal aside."

"People say you're a stubborn man, Madsen. And now I see how. But for the record, now that you've brought this up, then so be it. Prescott, as far as I concerned, you will not be removed from the mission. Instead of the brig, you'll be confined to your quarters from here on and will not leave without an escort. But your court-martial stands. We'll be reviewing your personal accounts for any evidence of you leaking Chrysalis details to ConDef, the herd, or any adversaries alike."

"I won't make you regret this, Admiral," said Kristine. "My actions will speak louder than my words and I'll face the consequences of my betrayal by whatever means necessary."

"I know you will, Lieutenant. As for you, Commander, I'm putting a disciplinary reprimand on your Chrysalis status for the secrecy. Should you ever keep secrets like this again, you'll be finding yourself wiping showers at Apex Station. Dismissed."

Everyone in Valor Team gathered around to discuss Kristine's treachery. The team was shocked about this news and Cage was far from pleased. So unpleased, he spanked Kristine across the face super hard. As it sickens me to see Kristine like this thanks to Cayce, I knew the truth would come out somehow anyway.

"I should've known better than to trust a Prescott on the team!" Cage yelled. "Motherfucker!"

"Captain, please," said Kristine.

"Don't 'Captain, please' me! One, I don't appreciate this being kept for us! Two, you Prescott shits make me sick! First, a tornado storm that kills my family, then a school shooting we're manipulated into, now a Bitch of Whales member on my team. I should've rejected your ass out of here when I had the chance."

"If we've come to gloat about my former affairs, Captain, we can do it elsewhere!"

"Former?" Heard thought. "We may have just let a fox slip into our henhouse, and you defend that mark on your arm by calling it former? You've brought this on yourself, sweet pee."

"Believe it or not, it is former. And don't call me sweet pee!"

"I'll call you whoever the hell you are, Krissy!"

"Both of you, can it!" Cage ordered. "When did you know about this, David? Were and Cayce actually going to tell us about this?"

"No, we weren't, Captain," I answered. "We found out about this when we rescued the Marsh Family back in Canyon County. I specifically ordered Cayce not to expose Kristine about what she was hiding. At the time being, I was his superior officer to have the authority to say so. It wasn't until now that Cayce exposed her to Penske against my orders."

Cage scoffed.

"Listen carefully, David," he said. "As your superior officer, I get the final say. Not you. You've nearly costed this team's reputation with your secrecy. You should be lucky Cayce took advantage of your orders when he did. I'm even more surprised you've managed to defend our lieutenant's ass and convinced Penske to stay on the team. I'm disappointed in you, Kristine. Such a disgrace."

"You can be disappointed all you like, Cage," said Kristine. "It's not my fault my family is fucked up as it is."

"I don't care who's fault it is! If you think you can earn back your family's honor with that mark on, you've barked up the wrong tree here. A traitor like you doesn't deserve that uniform. Nor does she deserve to be on this team and on the mission."

"Call me what you will. From my point of view, I'm neither a traitor nor a loyalist. I'm a complicated individual raised by a complicated family who has lived and died in a complicated reality brought upon themselves. And the only people who have disagreed with that reality were my brother, my mom, and me. Penske has permitted me to be on the mission, but I'm still be punished as a result of my crime."

"Penske is letting a herd member into the mission?" Logos wondered.

"Doesn't sound like the Penske I know."

"I agree," said Mason. "Captain, for all we know, she could compromise the mission at any time when the opportunity is given to her. She's either on our side or still turning traitor. We cannot allow Penske to let her on. We should take a vote on this at least."

"Forget it, Mason," said Cage. "I'm not wasting my breath butting heads with Penske and no vote would mean anything to him except his. We're done here. Logos, Newblood, escort Prescott to her quarters where she'll be confined. Everyone else, debriefing's in fifteen. Don't be late."

As soon as the debriefing came to order and was in session, I stood next to Penske with everyone else sitting down for their orders. An image of General Alkaline was projected onscreen to begin the debrief.

"This whack job had been juicing his boys to invade the middle east," said Penske. "Lebanon has lost control and they've asked for our help. Now just five minutes ago, I was on the phone with President Trump. He called it. We now have an alliance with the Lebanese resistance in Beirut."

"ConDef has been occupying Middle-Eastern territory for over a year," I said. "A plan set by Alkaline to start an all-out war between the middle east and ConDef themselves."

I project the global map on screen and highlight Lebanon and its capital city of Beirut.

"We just got intel that the leader of the resistance group Fehr Dhaled is stationing refugees and his fighters in the Al Zarif valley," I continued.

"His numbers have decreased by the dozens and we'll be sending in four-hundred men for reinforcements."

Then I project onscreen of our special intel based on our prime objective. The key reason we're entering the war in Beirut.

"We've also received special intel based on our prime objective of the mission," I said. "Dr. Kara Hendricks. A senior science officer of Chrysalis under resistance custody for a special project set in a dig site near the warzone. Project Tesseract as they call it. This project will help saboteur the enemy's objective of the war and gain us a set further into winning it. We don't know any further details regarding Project Tesseract. So, we'll learn more once we're there. Our two objectives are old school. Help the resistance and protect Project Tesseract. Don't miss."

Penske approached me and to grasp my hand and shake it hard like a man. I was going to need it.

"Good luck, Commander," he said. "This is it. You have to help Dhaled and his men defend Beirut against Continuum and help Dr. Hendricks protect her project. You fuck it up and our military supremacy is just a wet dream."

Note: Expect more recurring characters from previous stories and the stakes to be raised higher in this episode of Eternity War as said before. As well as some new minor villains who will be in league with Ares and ConDef and Kristine may not be the only character in this story to have secretly worked with the Herd of Whales. This will be even tighter than the last. Now on my way to get back to my normal life and see How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World.

Until next time, stay tuned and golden!