"I don't think you understand what's happening here, Colonel," a firm voice explained across a long oaken table surrounded by reploids of varying ranks in the Maverick Hunters and Repliforce. "We've been seeing strange attacks all over. These are not standard maverick attacks, this is something different. Quite frankly, I'm surprised they sent X out after Chill Penguin rather than investigating the odd chaos that the Maverick Hunters have been involved in.
"I understand your concerns, Captain," Colonel replied just as firmly towards the also elegantly dressed reploid. "I feel like we're caught between two battlefronts this time, each of a separate force. However, don't you think that having Zero back with us would make the other war easier to maintain?"
"Don't be foolish. A single reploid cannot turn the tide of a war. A battle, possibly. A war, no."
Colonel's stare was focused yet blank. "A war is made up of battles. Sometimes a few battles, sometimes many. A single man or reploid, tipping the tide of the battles, can win a war. I believe that Zero can be that key. Him, X, and Roll."
A silence swept across the board. Colonel's eyes shifted about, waiting for a response even if it was just the sound of a pin dropping.
"Roll?" Captain questioned. His tone was sharp and piercing. "As in X's sister?"
Colonel nodded in affirmation. He knew of Roll's importance and her combat skill though untrained. "Yes, that Roll. If she is granted access to the same instruction as the S rank Hunters, I think she will become one of the best Hunters that the world has ever seen."
Another silence preceded Captain standing up and motioning for everyone to do the same before nodding. "A word in private, Colonel?" Colonel nodded and followed Captain outside of the large room. They stopped not too far from the door. Colonel watched Captain closely, not in distrust, but in determination of getting what he believed to be true.
Zero, Roll, and X were instrumental to this new war. The casualties were still unknown even to the Hunters and Repliforce, but it was a looming threat that this would be even worse than the Sigma War. Strange, humanoid, mystical, powerful creatures were making themselves known from unknown places. From what he had seen in reports, some appeared to be flesh and bone, some appeared to be a combination of reploid and flesh. Some of them appeared sickly and shocking to even glance at. Some looked like death incarnate. He knew the truth.
"Well, Colonel. What do you think leads you to really believe in repairing Zero this much? Don't tell me that Iris has been hounding you about him ever since his passing."
"No. Not at all. She's been silent; withdrawn; alone. We have barely spoken for the past month. She only speaks if spoken to. She has no bearing on my opinion and I will not let that sway before anyone.
"Zero was and is a hero. A SA rank Hunter that gave his life to save another who he believed in. I put my trust in X that he will return soon with Zero's parts. I'd give it less than two weeks."
He was sharply cut off by Captain who had begun to walk in circles around him. "Two weeks? Do you know how much two weeks can affect a war? I've seen major portions of a country collapse in one."
"I've seen no portions of a country fall after prolonged sieges. We don't have time for talk, only action. In a proper battle council I would like to suggest my ideas on the next steps to take." His eyes stayed in an unwavering, straight gaze. They only flicked towards Captain whenever the tall reploid entered the peripherals of his vision. "Here in private, I only give my personal advice. Do we know how the enemy is getting supplied? Which direction?"
"That's the problem." The captain's tone quickly turned sour and frustrated. "We don't know how they're getting supplies. From our scout reports, the things come out of nowhere then disappear. There is no clue about how we can slow them down or weaken their attacks. We are running into this blind."
"Then I suggest we keep a closer eye on them to see where they're going."
"We can't get any closer. By the time we do, they're already gone."
Colonel grunted. Now he was getting frustrated.
"You aren't watching close enough, apparently. Are your reconnaissance soldiers poor in training and unfit for duty?"
"No," Captain interjected and opened his mouth to continue, but Colonel wasn't going to let him get his way.
"Are they killing all of those soldiers?"
"No." Now he was trying harder to get another word in.
" Then what," Colonel emphasized his annoyance, "is stopping you from finding all of this out?"
Captain was obviously flustered, angry, and tired of this interaction. He could only reply in frustrated grunts, stammering half-spoken words, and incessant pacing.
"Has your rank preceded your logic, Captain?" For such a pointed, potentially arrogant question, it rang true and lacked the haughty tone. "We have the advantage of infinite supply lines and a larger force. We only lack the knowledge of where theirs come from and where the creatures themselves are coming from. Even finding out the answer to one of those two will tip the scales heavily in our favor till Zero is back. I believe we can manage that much against such sporadic attacks and that a simple recon mission will answer that."
The two were staring at each other, the one steeled and fiery, the other calm and emotionless. "An official war plan will alleviate any doubts that you and others may have. I'm firm in this resolution and will not be swayed. Not by you nor any other superior."
"Then that is where you are making a mistake," Captain hissed. "You forget your rank and how much say that it has over the grand scheme of things."
Colonel finally allowed himself to smirk when Captain spun around and walked away with one hand wringing the other.
"I think he forgot that my name is Colonel; not my rank," he said to himself.