(AN: So, I got the next chapter Desert Storm almost complete, along with the chapter that introduces LTC Long, but then I realized that there was one player missing. This introduction grew big enough to warrant its own chapter, albeit it's shorter than normal. Also those who have come from Zulu Squad No Tsukaima might find this chapter familiar as it's essentially just introducing PFC Pete Gobbi. Fun fact, when I first envisioned this story back in mid to late 2014 I only had Pete Gobbi in the Disney-verse, and his companions were all Disney animals. Then, as I started stubbing out the story I realized he would need help, and his companions would need some sort of counter-part, which in turn turned the story into an 'Exiles' vs the 'Damned' story. Anyways, I have the next two chapters almost complete, so look for them mid to later this week. Enjoy!)

PFC Gobbi's squad were out on patrol by the ruined sand-clogged freeway of Dubai when they were ambushed by the CIA-backed Insurgents. His squad leader went down, wounded by shrapnel from an RPG attack, and the rest of Gobbi's fellow soldiers took cover underneath a collapsed overpass clogged with wrecked luxury cars. Pinned down and taking casualties, the private crawled over to the squad RTO and radioed in for help.

"This is Bravo Patrol, we are under attack and taking heavy fire! Requesting immediate assistance, over!"

A long three minutes passed, then a clipped voice came in through the static.

"Bravo Patrol this is Zulu, what is your sitch?"

Gobbi breathed a sigh of relief.

"Oh thank Christ! The sitch is FUBAR, we are two clicks outside the wire from Sheikh Zayed Road, pinned down by unknown number of Insurgents. We're holding `em off, but are taking casualties and running low on ammo."

There was a pause, and another voice came on the radio.

"Roger that, Bravo Patrol. This is Iceman, be advised, Zulu Alpha is inbound, ETA five mikes. Sit tight and we'll get to you."

Sure enough, after about five minutes Gobbi could hear the distinctive sound of helicopter blades cutting through the air and echoing off the abandoned high-rises. Then a Black Hawk helicopter emerged from behind the ruined monorail, and immediately the insurgents shifted their fire to the chopper.

Minigun tracer fire cut into the insurgents out in the open, and force the others to take cover. Then, when the chopper was close enough, figures in black uniforms rappelled down to the ground and took up defensive positions around Gobbi's unit. His rescuers were none other than Zulu Squad, the elite heavies of the Damned 33rd.

1SG Crosby, the leader of Zulu Squad, happened to be near the radio when Gobbi had been requesting aid, and personally led Zulu Alpha to relieve them. The two of them hit it off on the chopper ride back. For whatever reason, Crosby was a completely different person around Gobbi, even some members of Zulu Squad were shocked at how mellow their normally cold and reserved commander was when he was hanging out with the private.

One evening, when they were off-duty and spending time sipping their daily beer ration at the putting green, Crosby showed him a picture. It was a boy, about 16 with dark brown hair and light blue eyes. According to Crosby that was his son Jonathan. The way the sergeant spoke about his son, he was either dead or estranged, but Crosby told him that Gobbi reminded him of his son. And then he made Gobbi promise him that he would make it out of Dubai, to see his baby girl and wife again.

Pete Gobbi's reverie was cut short by someone dope-slapping the back of his head.

"Hey!"

He looked up and saw one of the Zulu Squad soldiers looking down at him, his grim face creased into a smile.

"Mission Control to Pete, snap out of it!"

The private looked around. Gobbi was with the rest of his squad, gearing up in a hotel suite that was his squad's barracks. The hotel was adjacent to the Aquatic Colosseum, and after the Gate it served as the 33rd's main headquarters. Gobbi grinned at Crosby.

"Aw shucks sarge you're no fun! I was having this great fantasy about my dream threesome with Carly Rae Jepsen and Miley Cyrus!"

1SG Crosby shook his head, laughing.

"Well, your happy-time sock will just have to wait until you get back from this mission. And remember what I said, be careful out there. Your squad's job is to lay down suppressing fire, and leave the breaching and heavy lifting to Zulu Squad."

"Roger that, sarge!"

(June 27th, 2012, Atlantis Hotel, Dubai. 14:35 hours local time)

Gobbi finished gearing up, but he couldn't help feeling excited. Thanks to intel gathered by interrogating the captured CIA agent Gould, the 33rd had located Agent Riggs' headquarters in an abandoned mall off Al Dhiyafa Road. The new mission, titled appropriately Operation Cockroach, was to capture or kill Riggs and any remaining Insurgents, and hopefully stamping out the last of the insurgency and bringing stability back to Dubai. He looked over and saw some members of Zulu Squad gearing up as well.

The members of Zulu Squad were easily distinguished with their black and white uniforms and ice-cold demeanor. But 1SG Crosby stood out, mostly because his head was uncovered. The leader of Zulu Squad waved Gobbi over, so the private grabbed his helmet and M4 rifle and walked over.

"So, you guys are joining us on this mission too, Sarge?"

The Zulu Squad sergeant's stern face continued to grin.

"Well, command doesn't want to take any chances, what with those three maniacs running amok out there. Last thing we want is for them to link up with Riggs and make a mess of things."

Crosby reached into one of the pouches on his tactical vest.

"Oh, and one more thing…"

He pulled out a balaclava and gave it to the private. When Gobbi unfolded it, he saw that it had a skull stenciled on the front, just like what all the other members of Zulu Squad wore.

"Gee, thanks sarge!"

Crosby smiled.

"There's a chance we're going to run into another sandstorm out there, and the stylish skull is for good luck."

He made a bro-fist and pounded knuckles with the private.

"See you in the killzone!"

(Operation Cockroach: T+25 minutes into mission)

Gobbi took cover behind some sandbags. Lt. Benson's chopper had inserted them in a small side street in front of Riggs' hideout. Sure enough, armed Insurgents had poured out and were firing on them. Crosby's cadre Zulu Alpha was making short work of them, and for a while it seemed like Gobbi's squad was going to only be in support.

"Man, we shoulda brought popcorn and beer, instead of ammo!"

The private couldn't remember what the name of the specialist was who spoke. Gobbi was about to respond when the specialist's head exploded in a shower of gore, his body toppled to the ground. Gobbi spun around, and saw three men firing on his squad from above. He heard Crosby's voice on the radio.

"Shit! It's those Delta fucks! Martinez, Pineada, move in to flank!"

This could complicate shit, Gobbi thought to himself. He saw the three members of Delta Squad rappel down into the square close to the entrance. One of them, the dark-skinned soldier with an M249 SAW, leaped behind some sandbags and fired from cover. Two more of Gobbi's squad-mates were cut down by the incoming hail of bullets. Over the din of the gunfire, a voice could be heard booming from the various loudspeakers placed throughout the city.

"Where's all the violence coming from? Is it the videogames? I bet it's the videogames."

Gobbi grinned, in spite of the morbid situation. The Radioman had a unique sense of humor. He heard Crosby's voice through the static of his radio.

"That Darden is such a prick. I don't know what the colonel saw in him."

The private grinned.

"Oh come on sarge, he ain't that bad. You just gotta get to know him."

"Fat chance. I'll follow orders and protect him, but that doesn't mean I have to like him."

Gobbi looked up and saw the Delta commander take cover behind a HUMVEE.

"I've got a bead on their leader, I'm taking the shot!"

There was an edge of emotion in Crosby's voice on the radio.

"Wait! Pete, don't! Private Gobbi that Walker is a dangerous customer you stay in cover and we'll out flank him. That's an order, stop!"

But the private had already left cover and was firing off a burst at Walker's position. Suddenly he heard the Delta leader say the dreaded words.

"Sticky grenade away!"

Gobbi already turned to run back to cover, but he felt something hit his back. He panicked, trying to reach behind himself.

"Get it off me! For Christ's sake get it off me before it goes!"

He didn't hear Sgt. Crosby cry out a loud "No!", Gobbi didn't even feel pain, like he was afraid he would. One moment he was on the ground panicking, the next he found himself in a white light. He looked down and saw he still had his kit, and still had his weapon. He looked back up and saw a tall, lithe figure in the light.

It was a she, and she had long, flowing green hair and eyes that matched. Her garment was made of some glittery translucent material like muslin or silk. It was a light purple edged in finely woven gold, and an unseen wind tousled the skirt to reveal a slender bare leg. He caught himself staring and looked back up to her face. She was beautiful, and she also appeared to be amused at his ogling.

"Private Peter Gobbi, the noble soul who just wanted to help, to be the hero. But Fate had other plans, and would have left you dying alone and buried in some sand-ridden hell."

Gobbi awkwardly removed his helmet.

"A pleasure to meet you, ma'am. And I apologize for admiring the scenery, it's just that it's been so long since I've been seen such a pretty, ah, well you know."

The lady put a delicate hand to her mouth and giggled.

"I can see why he counts you as such a close friend, Peter Gobbi. To answer the question you were about to ask I am the Weaver of Fate, I pluck threads about to be cut from tapestries and weave them into other tapestries where they can alter the pattern for the better."

Something she said clicked in Gobbi's mind.

"Wait, you mean you know the sarge? When did he buy it?"

She nodded.

"I do know your friend Robert Crosby, I had woven a new pattern in a new tapestry for him and am guiding him on his journey to redemption. In my realm there is no past or future, there is only the here and now."

"How can you do that?"

She smiled.

"Magic. In the Celestial Empyrean which is my domain I can weave any pattern in any number of tapestries. So I ask you, what is your heart's desire, Pete Gobbi?"

He scratched his head.

"Well, I'd really like to go wherever ol' sarge Crosby went."

The Weaver of Fate seemed think it over, and then slowly shook her head.

"Regretfully that Tapestry already has a hero, but there is another tapestry, a place where your warrior's heart can achieve great things, a place where you can defeat a great evil and become the hero. If you accomplish this, I will give you what you wish for."

Gobbi stood at attention and saluted the lady.

"You can count on me! Private First Class Pete Gobbi, awaiting orders ma'am!"

The lady smiled again, and slowly approached him. When she was very close to him Gobbi started to get nervous. He was sweating, which was an odd thing given where he was, and when her face was inches away from hers he closed his eyes. He felt soft lips on his own and heard her voice speak.

"Welcome to your new adventure, Pete Gobbi, and your quest to become the Hero!"

Gobbi's eyes opened with a start, and then shut them again. The sunlight was too bright. He sat up and opened his eyes again, this time shading them. He was in a forest of some sort, so wherever this was it certainly wasn't Dubai. He looked down and saw that he still had his kit and his M4 rifle in a sling. He looked around and let out a low whistle. Everything about the forest was so vivid that it almost didn't seem real, like it was some elaborate painting. He heard birds chirping and looked up. He hadn't seen birds since he was deployed, and nothing but crows survived the sandstorm in Dubai. He noticed other critters were scampering about, including a squirrel. He smiled to himself at the recollection of his cousin who hunted and barbequed squirrels back home.

Something seemed odd about the animals in the forest. For one thing, they were very expressive. He swore that one of the squirrels was staring at him like it was frightened of him. Then without warning a covey of birds swooped down and started pecking at him. He tried to swat them off, they weren't much of a threat since he still had his helmet, goggles and balaclava on, but he still backed off. He was too distracted by the birds to notice the overgrown tree root sticking out of the ground behind him. Or the cliff behind it. He tripped over the stump and fell head over heads down the steep hill, hitting branches that slowed his fall, until he hit something and fell through it. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he noticed that what he fell through was a thatched roof. And he was sitting in some sort of easy chair. A voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Ah, there you are my boy, you made it."

(5 minutes earlier, same location)

"…One big medieval mess, bah!"

The old wizard finished his rant by slamming the door to his cottage. As he poured the fresh water into the kettle, he calmed down.

"Now then, let's see…"

He pulled out a pocket watch.

"He should be here in, oh I'd say about five minutes."

"Who?"

A brown tufted owl hooted at the wizard poked its head out of a small house. The old wizard finished setting the extra teacup and saucer on the table and adjusted the guest chair while looking up at the ceiling.

"I told you, Archimedes, I'm not sure. All I know is that someone will be coming, someone very important."

As he adjusted the table he continued, as if he were conversing with his owl.

"Fate has weaved a new pattern for this person in Her Tapestry, and will direct him to me, and I in turn shall guide him to his rightful place in this world."

Satisfied, he went back to his own chair and lit his pipe. The owl had a look of disbelief on its face.

"Oh, come on Archimedes, you'll see. He'll be ah…a boy, a lad of about twenty…"

As he spoke the large cloud of smoke shifted, and coalesced into a scene of battle, where strange men were wearing woven armor wielding pikes that spat fire.

"…He'll come from a distant far off land, a land of sand and strife…"

As the wizard spoke a large man in black and white armor walked past.

"Oh, no, no, no, that can't be the boy, surely not! That chap looks to be in his thirties at least."

The image shifted over to a younger man wearing a black armored vest and clothes the color of moss. The wizard chuckled.

"Ah, there he is, the gangly young lad of about twenty."

The young man in the odd clothes stood up and fire issued from the pike he was holding (a rifle, the wizard corrected himself), and sudden there was a bright flash. As if on cue there was a loud crash and someone came tumbling through the ceiling and right into the guest chair. It was the very lad he was talking about.

"Ah, there you are, my boy. You've made it!"

Private Gobbi pulled down his balaclava and stared. He couldn't believe it. Sitting in an easy chair across the table from him was the owner of the cottage whose roof he just fell through. An old man with a long white beard and a blue conical hat, he looked very familiar. The old man pulled out a pocket watch and glanced at it again.

"Oh dear, you're a bit late, you know."

"Say what, sir?"

The old man pointed to his watch.

"You're about a minute late, not that it matters."

Gobbi disentangled his M4 from its sling and leaned it against the chair.

"Well, I apologize for being late; I was attacked by some testy forest critters."

The old man shook his head.

"Oh, I wouldn't take it personally, young man. The creatures of the forest were just scared of you. Your face coverings don't exactly make a good impression in these parts."

Gobbi realized he was still wearing his skull balaclava and pulled it off. He looked around.

"Speaking of which, sir, where's here?"

The old man stood up.

"Oh dear me, where are my manners? My name is Merlin and you are?"

Gobbi was in shock by the old man's admission, which the old man took for hesitation.

"Come, come, my lad, don't be shy. Who are you, my lad?"

"Private First Class Pete Gobbi, sir."

The private belted out his name and rank mechanically as he was still trying to process what he just heard. The old man chuckled again.

"My, my, that's quite a mouthful there. Do you go by Peter or Pete?"

"Um, Pete's fine, sir. Only my mom and Mrs. Tingle in the 4th grade called me Peter."

Gobbi looked around the room and saw an brown owl.

"Huh, you got a stuffed owl? My cousin did taxidermy too."

The owl sprang to life, but that alone wasn't what shocked the private.

"Humph! Stuffed? Why, the very idea!"

The owl spoke! Gobbi shook his head.

"Kerrist on a Kawasaki! A talking owl? That's nuts!"

The old man, Merlin glanced up.

"Oh, don't be too hard on Archimedes, he's just a little grouchy this morning. Always gets that way when he's been out all night hunting."

Gobbi continued to stare at the little house where the owl had retreated to in a huff.

"Um, sir?"

"I told you lad, it's Merlin, there's no need to be so formal."

"Huh? Oh, right, um, Merlin, can I ask a wild ass question?"

"By all means, young man, ask away."

"And don't take this the wrong way, but are you some kinda magic wielder type? Y'know, abracadabra, rabbit out of the hat, Dumbledore stuff?"

Merlin chuckled.

"Oh, yes I did read those books, delightful fluffy stuff. Got the magic all wrong, but then again what do you expect from muggles?"

He cleared his throat and straightened up.

"You are quite correct, my lad. I am a wizard, a soothsayer! A prognosticator! I have the power to see into the future! Centuries into the future!"

He glanced down at Gobbi's rifle and kit.

"I've even been there, lad. Let's see, based off your clothing I would say you're from the early 21st century military…hmmm..United States Army, and…judging from the insignia...the ill-fated 33rd Mobile Infantry Battalion? Also known colloquially and somewhat ironically as the 'Damned 33rd?"

Gobbi nodded.

"Nailed it, sir. So you mean you can see everything before it happens?"

The wizard nodded.

"Yes, everything!"

A third voice spoke up, and the owl poked its head out of its house.

"Uh-uh-uh-uh! 'Everything,' Merlin?"

Merlin appeared flustered.

"Uh, uh... No, no, not 'everything'."

He shrugged.

"I, uh, I admit I didn't know whom to expect for tea, but as you can see.."

He pointed his staff to the hole in the roof where Gobbi fell through."

"I figured the exact place!"

He looked back to the private, who was staring at him.

"Erm, listen young man, I understand this must be a whole lot for you to take in."

Gobbi shook his head.

"Sir, with all due respect, if a week ago someone told me that I'd be in a weird world of medieval magic, with a wizard sporting a beard that would make Billy Gibbons envious, and a talking owl, I'd have called bullshit."

He shrugged.

"But here recently a few things have happened that have broadened my horizons, so to speak."

The wizard smiled conspiratorially.

"Ah, you are of course referring to the Weaver of Fate?"

Gobbi looked surprised.

"you know her?"

"Well, not precisely. We've cross paths on a few occasions. Delightful lady and very knowledgeable. I take it she told you why She sent you here?"

"Yup, she said she was sending me to a place where I could be the hero."

Merlin smiled.

"Ah, yes, that you will, my boy."

"So what exactly does that entail, sir?"

"Oh just the usual things; lots of adventures, travel to exotic lands, save a princess or two, and eventually slay the dragon. All standard hero's tale stuff."

The wizard sat down and poured some tea.

"But first we must have a bite to eat and some tea. No adventure should begin on an empty stomach."

Gobbi glanced down at cup and saucer placed before him.

"Ah, no offense Merlin sir, but tea really isn't my thing. Unless it's iced and chock full of sugar."

The wizard looked aghast.

"Cold tea? Dear me, how dreadful! Well...come to think of it...yes, yes now that you mention it that was a thing in the 20th century, especially in the southern parts of the United States."

He pulled out his wand.

"Well, I'm afraid I can't make you iced tea, it goes against my principles as an Englishman, you understand..."

Merlin waved his wand, and Gobbi's teacup disappeared in a puff of smoke, replaced by a pint glass full of amber-colored lager.

"...but I trust a pint would suit you better?"

The private grinned as he took the pint.

"Thanks sir!"

Gobbi put the glass to his lips and drained the pint, to him it was the most delicious beer he had ever had. He set the glass down then wiped some of the foam from his lips. The private looked sheepishly at Merlin.

"Sorry sir, but I was a bit thirsty..."

Merlin merely chuckled.

"Aha, no worries my boy. You just came from a desert place, it's no wonder you're thirsty."

Gobbi was about to ask if he could get a refill, but as if on cue, his pint glass magically refilled itself.

"Damn! That's some hot shit magic right there, sir!"

The wizard continued to chuckle.

"I told you my boy, it's Merlin, and you're most welcome-"

Then Merlin paused, and seemed to be distracted, if only for a moment. Then the wizard's eyes refocused, and he turned to Gobbi.

"Oh dear me...er boy, that is to say, Pete, I'm afraid we're going to have to cut happy hour short."

Gobbi sensed trouble, and set down his pint glass.

"Shit's about to go south?"

"Erm, yes but not here. You see, there are others, fellow soldiers from your same unit, the 33rd. They are in a far off country and are in need of help."

Merlin stood up, and Gobbi followed suit, grabbing his M4.

"Now then, Pete, unfortunately you can't fly out of London, because the next flight out of Heathrow isn't until..."

He pulled out his pocket watch.

"...800 years from now, and in any case they won't let you take your weapons on board the plane, so we're going to use magic."

The wizard raised his wand, then paused.

"Ah, Archimedes?"

The owl poked his head out of his small house.

"Erm, what was that traveling spell again?"

Archimedes cleared his throat.

"Ah...'volantem, volantes, volantes nunc', I think..."

Merlin nodded.

"Excellent!"

He pointed the wand at the private.

"Ahem, Volantem, volantes, volantes, Nunc!"

And with that, PFC Pete Gobbi disappeared in a puff of smoke. The owl glanced over to Merlin.

"Shouldn't you have given the private a mission debriefing first before sending him to Agabrah?"

Merlin shrugged.

"Oh, he'll figure it out, these 21st century soldiers are all about adapting and overcoming..."

(AN: So, there you have it. One more soldier being sent into the Disney-Verse. Also, I am trying to keep things fairly realistic in terms of how soldiers (especially ones that have been stuck in Dubai for 6 months) will react to being in a magical world. Hopefully it will work out. Adding the private does beg the question whose side will Gobbi choose to be on, since according to the Intel Items in the game he is an idealist, but theoretically he was also one of the 'Damned' who sided with Konrad. But, fortunately you dear readers will find out very soon, as the next chapter should be up in the next couple of days. Until then, don't touch that dial!)