I'm honestly surprised that people have read and reviewed this recently. I left this story in the dust after going to BCT myself. I'm very glad that I didn't write that much further beforehand, as I already see mistakes in the SOP that I wrote in (not that I could tell you what the SOP of CAG is, but nonetheless, I know what a ruck should have in it). So, I will use my little experience to write a better story. Anyways boredom has brought me back, so I'll do what I feel would happen and try not to stress myself out entirely over all of it.
Same Shit Different World
The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday
The abject horror strung across the face of Sasha Fullmoon when she first met my gaze was quite telling; whatever I was witnessing was something she didn't want to be known. Of course, after an awkward few minutes, she finally got the impression I knew shit about fuck. The calmer tone and more relaxed posture were more than enough for getting the impression that she either one figured I couldn't do much of anything with the information or two would restrain myself after hearing her out on something that was about to escape her lips.
"Sir, I beg that you keep this secret; these children, their lives depend on the Order not knowing of their existence."
She wore her bleeding heart on her shoulder; that much was obvious. The desperation in that high alto voice was neither dramatic nor scathing; it was genuine. The omission of her safety in that sentence showed her priorities. It was refreshing to see someone so open and actually caring; it certainly made me feel guilty for constantly evaluating her. Then again, my time in SF made that more of a habit than an intention.
"Ma'am, with all due respect, I just received a story from one person; I have no idea where to even go from here with just about any of this." My eyes glanced at the uncomfortable innuendo that these children were not bothering to even hide from me.
"Even if I told someone about this, as you already explained, you're part of the clergy. Someone like me coming in and spouting slander as an outsider would be more to my detriment than yours." I admitted with all honesty; considering the situation and my new lack of network, I was willing to match honesty with honesty. Which is a relief as the words that have come from my mouth in the past were not… well me. Moving from SF to Delta was a slight relief as my words were no longer supposed to be poison. Although the information had to be covered up, I wasn't leading others to their death for a purpose that wasn't totally theirs.
A warm smile took to her face as her gaze cast downwards. Relief of the current situation only to be burdened by another pressing matter. However, my mind turned away from her onset of emotions toward one slightly disturbing fact.
"She hasn't asked much of me or my past."
"You seem awfully trusting and uninterested in someone so out of your environment." Her head raised when the words left my mouth; she scratched her head sheepishly.
"To be perfectly honest, Mr. Gifford I have seen one other person like you, although for some strange reason, he was adamant I refer to him as Ghost." It took all my willpower not to lose my shit there.
"Riley, you son of a bitch, I can't believe you made it." This time it was my turn to feel a weight off my shoulders. However, now I have information that I need to know and a clearly established goal.
"You wouldn't happen to know where he is, would you?" Her eyes turned to the side with a pang of visible guilt.
"I'm sorry, but I only ever been around him once during a missionary trip towards some contested territories of the Order. All I can really say is that he went off on his own after I gave him a map of the surrounding territories." Simon Riley was a man that I knew and didn't know at the same time; his motives were always unclear as far as an end goal. There were two things I knew for sure about him he was trapped in the military mentally as all of 141 was, and he was desperate for people he could call family. It was what made Sheppard's treachery even more of a gut punch to me than anything. Ghost, in his own desperation, to have people whom he cared for and was cared by, was betrayed so easily by a man who couldn't leave his mistakes in the past.
Her answer, on the other hand, gave the complication that Riley was likely off the grid if the fact that he was hiding behind his callsign said anything. I'll probably have to shove him to the back of my mind for the moment as I thought of a more pressing matter, survival.
"You're probably looking for a place, aren't you? I can show you some friends of mine who may be able to help with your plight." I was so deep in my thoughts that I forgot how openly I conveyed my emotions. Her response was convenient, though.
"Even with a pure heart, you still have to play the game of politics, don't you, Ms. Fullmoon?" As she was shoving me off to someone else, that probably meant image and rumor mills still were a fear, perhaps more so given the fact that this was a clear-cut combination of a Theocracy and Aristocracy. Though it did dawn on me that this was her way of paying off a debt for secrecy, before I could hang it over her head, the need for a roof took precedence over holding onto a favor. For being the person that she is, Sasha was well-versed in this horrible game. Still, this did leave me with the problem that my new network would not have her in it. This was going to be a one-and-done deal. I would have to work in this system with whatever group she throws me with, taking a good few options out of my hand as denying her introduction to a specific group of people would hurt my image before it had a chance to be made. Though I suppose not everything could be in my control; what's life without a bit of adventure?
"That would be great ma'am, though could I ask we leave as soon as possible I'm feeling a bit uncomfortable." I could hear her slight giggle as my eyes shifted toward the very underage girls in the room, giving me bedroom eyes. Despite the horrors I had seen, this perhaps ranks among the worst.
"Of course; however, please let me take the lead, seeing as your appearance might raise some questions." I figured that was what she had in mind, but even with the chorus of 'awws' coming from the children, I was willing to agree to anything to get out of there.
During my few trips to England, I had the opportunity to tour around and view some of the maintained castles that were quite the spectacle, but still, it was an intriguing sight to see a stone wall constructed with armed ramparts surrounding the city of Lescatie. Not that it did much to stave off the annoyance that this line for security checks was. Having to wait to have your CAC scanned at a gate was one thing, but what was quite literally a shakedown for most people apart from what I can only assume are VIPs was another. It didn't help that everyone that was getting searched was having to pay an arm and a leg, from the looks of the situation, to acquire access to the city. I spared a glance at Sasha noticing her eyebrows furrowed and a grimace across her lips.
"Now, where could that money be going, I wonder?" It was one thing for them to take money behind prying eyes, but extortion of funds in public view was something you don't usually see. I could only assume that while it was half the guard's fault, someone else had their hands in the situation if Fullmoon's lack of action told me anything. It's a thought I would have to file for later, seeing as it wouldn't do me any good to start antagonizing anyone off the rip.
I couldn't help but notice as the line moved forward that the people with successful entry, despite having burnt a hole in their pockets, were quite relieved when they made it through.
"Refugees?"
"Lescatie is a symbol of hope to many of the people and nations that fall under the Order's allegiance; with the encroachment of monsters on our borders all of them believe they will find true safety within the city's walls." Her slight smile actually irked me, the only indication I gave was my wandering eyes, but after only a few hours, this woman was starting to read me like an open book. Still, while I have her with me, I might as well make use of the resource that she is.
"Will they actually find it here?" I started.
"From the military forces of the monster realms, yes, Lescatie is heavily defended by the best we have to offer aside from the capital. However, within the walls, I cannot say who in particular they will run into. Most that make it anywhere already have contacts with a bit of sway before they made their pilgrimage." Great, I can only assume that also means that they are the old money types too. I wonder how many times she has had to witness this painful sight. Though sadly, it wasn't an unfamiliar sight, growing up in Atlanta taught me more about the survival of the streets than any other source possibly could; I just happened to be fortunate enough to live in a family that could get by in the upper-middle class. It's funny how a single airport like Hartsfield could show just how cruel people could be.
"Not to be rude, but where does that put me?" I asked in all seriousness. Instead of a hurt look, she laughed it off and smiled at me.
"Don't worry, I'll be leaving you in good hands. An old friend of mine, Karina Myer is the manager at Lescatie's branch of the adventurer's guild. Not to mention she owes me a few favors for all the treatments I've had to administer to her charges." Well, if that guild bares any kind of semblance to the ones in games, I should expect to be situated with what is essentially a PMC. I could work with that. There was only one thing left that I would need to worry about.
"I'm assuming there is still plenty I need to be wary of in the city. Anything, in particular, I should keep away from?" Sasha's hand rested on her chin as she looked up.
"Honestly, there are so many conflicting views and factions in the city that I couldn't give a straightforward answer. I can't put my trust in any of them; at the same time, I don't completely disagree with all of them. I can only say that the Noscrim hold the most sway at the moment, but it's a constant power struggle among the nobles and clergy." At the mention of the name, I saw some of the surrounding pedestrians grumble and groan. Even the guard we were approaching didn't like what Fullmoon reminded him of if his barely restrained scowl was anything to go by. However, his expression brightened considerably at Sasha as we approached the checkpoint.
"Ms. Fullmoon, it's good to see you. I trust that you are in good health." Despite the actions he committed prior, that statement did not appear to be a lie. With that reassurance, all I had to do was sit back and watch the nun work her magic.
"I am corporal; my friend here sought to that. I'll be heading toward the guild; do you need our identifiation?" I had to admit this woman could act, if I hadn't already known what she was going to bullshit, I wouldn't be able to see through that bright smile or her soft-spoken words. The guard quickly glanced at me up and down with slight interest as I did the same out of habit. These guys were not the full-plate knights you would see in depictions of the Middle Ages. It was mainly a combination of flexibility with more leather and chainmail than plates which were only present on the forearms, chest/back, and shins. None of the guards present wore head coverings which was an odd choice for any military unit, but I assumed they had their reasons. The only things even remotely grandiose about the uniform were the emblazoned crests on the upper left corner of the chest plate that reflected the centerpiece of the blue flags flown atop the ramparts. The other piece differed between the sets of guards, which were crosses on the shoulders in various levels of décor. I suspected those were rank indicators but they could have been their unit's sigil.
Overall, his inspection of me was not as invasive as I expected it would be. With a nod of his head, he turned back to Sasha.
"That won't be necessary. Your friend here is a bit outlandish, but if you can vouch for him, who am I to doubt a Hero's assessment." The gruff corporal stated as he motioned us through the gate into the city.
Hearing the term Hero always piqued my interest in the story behind the person associated with it. I can count the number of people I could consider Heroes on one hand. The information Fullmoon presented me with in our awkward greeting showed that it was a job more than a title a person achieved. Nonetheless a key role, but one I saw as degrading the value of such an achievement. No matter my opinion on the subject, it was a topic steeped in their religion and culture, my thoughts would not be popular, but I digress.
I'm not sure what I expected when I entered the city, but it was an interesting experience to witness more foot traffic in a city than in New York. I have to say I liked what I saw. The road Sasha was leading me down appeared to be one of the main streets branching off into many different sectors of Lescatie. The architecture as we passed by was a pleasant surprise. There was a general theme of wood, cobblestone, and occasionally marble, but every building had its unique charm that showed the investment the workers had put into it. I turned to see Fullmoon being greeted warmly by various people; children in particular, were enthused by her mere presence. I let a genuine smile cross my face. I hadn't seen something like this happen in real life. It was a welcome sight to see something of its nature.
On the other hand, I was able to catch people in the corner of my eye observing both of us in a cold and calculative manner. Whether it was me they were observing, Fullmoon, or both of us, I couldn't be sure. However, I highly doubted that anyone would publicly go against the nun. If what I'm observing is consistent across the city, they would only make themselves pariahs.
"Unfortunately, the city isn't completely like this. The central routes are grand displays to the public and tourists. The more off-the-beaten-path you get, the uglier the city in all of its aspects becomes." The somber tone in her voice snapped me out of my scanning of the surroundings.
"Do the high brass even attempt anything to fix that?" I suspected not, but I'm unaware of this country's policies and programs.
"Yes and no; with the main concern of the public and nobles being the monsters, resources are stretched thin to keep our military competitive against the Overlord's armies. The different factions scramble on which issue is most pressing at the moment, but most of it comes down to what will win the most public support rather than the causes of problems. A few genuinely try to fix it but lack the political sway to achieve their goals." Well, doesn't that sound familiar, but it begs the question of why this system of government is at least somewhat subordinate to its people.
"Why would the nobles care about their image to the people?" It was a genuine question that Sasha's face turned grim at.
"Fear. Lescatie is more than a battle between the powers of nobles. Various people can be blessed by gods or receive power through different means. Those that have those powers are not always known to the church, and their motives are unclear. Some may just be attempting to live a regular life, but others are caught up in the criminal rings in and around the country. Sometimes the syndicates can even sway the people by offering what the nobles cannot." I decided it would probably be better not to dig any deeper as her grim expression turned to her slightly hanging her head with an unreadable expression. There seemed to be history there, but it was none of my business for now.
On that note, we stopped in front of a three-story building that stood out among the rest, being the main point of a congregation of an assortment of colorful faces meeting around it and on its balconies. To the left of the doorway held a sign with a sign featuring a compass overlapping two swords underneath a star capped off with the words 'Semper Inquisitione.'
"Latin, huh, interesting." I didn't dwell too much on their motto as I followed Sasha through the double doors into what honestly looked like a bar you would find straight out of Texas. The inside was quite spacious, with an area for ordering food and drink sectioned off to the right side, complemented with an actual bar and tender at the far wall. The left side of the building held plenty of long tables, maps, and bulletin boards covered with hundreds of slips of paper that at least a few people almost constantly surrounded. Overall, I probably looked quite standard among the bunch of people here, as there was nothing unifying any individual here. Many had their own unique outfit explicitly tailored to each taste rather than practicality. I received several looks from the locals, but almost all of them were sizing me up instead of being intrigued.
Sasha, even here, was well recognized, and some people stepped out of her way and nodded their heads in respect. No one here made a big deal about her presence and preferred to carry on with their business. She led me to a staircase along the back wall of the building. The second story I briefly glanced at held a number of individual rooms that only a few people came in and out of. The grogginess in the eyes of some of the pedestrians led me to believe they were hotel rooms. When we reached the third floor, there were significantly fewer rooms than on the second floor, and each room was marked with either a person's name or the room's purpose. Multiple of these rooms appeared just to be conference rooms where I could make out muffled yelling and arguing. I even heard a loud bang from one of them and turned towards Fullmoon concerned. She laughed and waved a hand.
"Don't worry about it. This building has been reinforced specifically because of how many people like to brawl in it." Well, good to know I won't be in too much trouble for throwing hands should the need, or more likely the urge, arises. Hey, I like a good drink every now and then, and well, not the best decisions come out of it; in my defense, they usually deserve it… usually.
But I digress. Fullmoon walked to the end of the hall towards a single dark oak door with a sign displaying 'Manager Karina F. Myer.' Opening the door, I'm welcomed to the sight of a very butch woman. Redhead, green eyes, muscles, and scars that Grinch would be envious of. This 5' 10" athletic build displayed a desk very reflective of her current mood. Scattered reports, crumbs, scattered empty bottles of liquor, and to top it all off, she had intense bags under her eyes. I almost thought I had walked into my old First Sergeant Jay's home office. In fact, when she looked up and started speaking, I had already gone to parade rest.
"Lady Fullmoon, I apologize for the mess, but recent requests and missions have gone rather poorly. I suspect you have another 'lost lamb' for me." Her deep alto and gruff voice made a statement rather than a question. Sasha was already scratching the back of her head before replying.
"Yes, but he should probably be of some use. He's already proven himself to me."
"Proven what that I can keep a secret?"
"Well, I'll do what I can, but I can't pool resources to help him out." Here's the sway that Fullmoon appears to have. Myer just accepted without much argument, but if she's anything like First Sergeant, this is about to get ugly as soon as the nun leaves.
"I'll leave him to you, Karina please treat him kindly. He's a good guy." Even if this is the last time, I see her for a while, that smile still impresses me with its effectiveness. However, I could only feel dread as she closed the door behind her and felt Myer's eyes on me.
"All right, I'm going to make this real simple guy. She dumps plenty of people on me that need jobs. You're nothing special in that regard. I have no idea what you did for her, and honestly, I don't give a shit. However, I need to get this situation I have found myself dealt with. So, if you want some meals and a roof, you're going to get it done, got it?" Oh, fun already got myself work; at least I won't be bored trying to figure everything out. Well time to see if my skills can translate to this world.
"What's the mission?"
Myer grinned.
Oh, baby did I do a whole lot of reading, note-taking, and catching up in order to throw this together. I have an idea of where I want to take this, but I'm going to explain some decisions I made in this chapter. As you may have noticed I kinda skipped past the world explanation by Sasha since I thought it would have been too much info dump of things everyone probably already knows. That being said, I'm definitely going to include the Encyclopedia in the story to give more context to the situation and do a bit of building on concepts. For all intents and purposes Sasha gave an overview from her point of view the world will be explored a bit deeper as the story allows, but rehashing information didn't really give much point beyond introducing COD fans who probably have already read the series given the fact they are reading this. Speaking of COD fans, I'm taking a good deal of liberty with Sandman given the fact that there is so little on him besides his dialogue and cameo in Operation Kingfish. His name for example was actually mentioned in this chapter; I have shamelessly named him after my Drill Sergeant, whom we were all convinced was CAG despite him refusing to wear any of his patches and the only indication being his memorial bracelet. Also, you may have noticed I threw in the tidbit about Sandman being in SF this was important strictly for the fact that he will be eventually playing the game of politics in the story. Now I had to kind of tread carefully in how I portrayed this chapter as the soft retcons that happened while I was away from the MGE series really changed some characteristics of monsters and the extremists as a whole making me rethink entirely how I was going to write this. This may not be my best chapter for something I put out before, but it's an effort to get back in, so if you have suggestions and critiques, please let me know so I can keep practicing.