Chapter 7

The minutes that it took for Big Boss to summon Pequod to Command Platform 1's helicopter pad and fly back over to Medical Platform 1 flew by like nothing to the distracted mind of Big Boss. Not a wise condition for the Legendary Mercenary were he in the field, but considering he was flying over his home territory, he allowed his guard to be let down a little.

And as he sat strapped to the open edge of Pequod's helicopter, Big Boss was planning.

There were so many things that had to be done, so many plans they had to come up with and set in motion, and they had barely started. He couldn't help the smirk clawing its way to his face at the thought as Pequod landed at his destination.

Time to get to work.

"Miller," Big Boss greeted as he stepped into the waiting room his XO was in. Two guards stood at parade rest on either side of the door he walked through, having saluted when he entered before standing at ease again, and Lady Eleanor herself, dressed in a set of comfortable civilian clothes Miller likely ordered for her to change out of her armor, sat on the opposite side of the room. She looked up and sent him a look that acknowledged his presence, but little else that indicated she was aware of her surroundings.

"Boss," Miller said, standing up from his seat. "Feeling rested? I hope so because we have our work cut out for us."

"What do you mean?"

He noticed the sideways look Miller sent Lady Eleanor under his shades before he said, "I'll give you the full briefing, but we should deal with the Couslands first."

"Right," Big Boss replied, nodding. "Has she said anything since yesterday?"

"Very little. A request for a change of clothes, questions about the meals we provided, and constant inquiries about her husband. I've reassured her every time, but I don't think she'll relax until she sees him with her own eyes."

"Problem?" he said, wordlessly asking why she hasn't yet.

"Doctors say the Teyrn is in a very precarious situation right now. It seems the wound was worse than they thought. You did your best, Boss, and no one is blaming you, but it seems that the knife wound went deeper than expected. Several of his ribs sustained minor fractures. They don't want him moving if they can help it. They took him off the coma drugs, so he can sleep properly after the surgery, though he still has a morphine drip. They said they'll let us know when he wakes on his own."

Big Boss glanced over at the Teyrna before asking, "You've told her this?"

"The basics, I didn't want to lose her with the anatomy talk. But she still asks."

"She just lost everything, Miller. Her husband is all she has left."

"Right," he said, shuffling slightly at the hidden reprimand.

Turning from Miller, Big Boss crossed the room to where the lady was sitting.

"Big Boss," she said, her gaze focused on the chair opposite her, her hands occupied with each other in her lap. Raising an eyebrow at her greeting, he sat down in the seat across from her. His actions earned him her focus, though the look in her eyes made him start to wonder if it was a good idea.

"What happened to 'Ahab', Lady Eleanor?" he asked.

"I don't know 'Ahab'. It seems that not I, nor my children, nor even my husband really knows you."

"You and your family know me better than anyone else in this world, Lady Eleanor, apart from my people here on Mother Base."

Her bitter laugh made him guess that was the wrong thing to say. "I'm starting to think that's not as big an honor as others might think, Big Boss." A thoughtful look crossed her face. "What does that even mean, anyway? 'Big Boss'? Quite the conceited title, don't you think?"

Knowing she needed an outlet for her anger, he allowed her to direct it at him. It wasn't the first time; he had a feeling it wouldn't be the last.

"There's a long story behind it," he said, not eager to get into it.

"I'm sure there is." She replied, disdain dripping from her voice.

Fortunately, Big Boss was spared further admonishment when the door to the room opened and one of the medical team members entered. "Sir," he said, saluting his two superior officers.

"Yes, soldier?" Miller said as Big Boss came to stand beside him.

"I just came to inform you that Teyrn Cousland woke up a few minutes ago. He's asked for his wife. Once the other doctors were sure he was stable, I came to let you know."

"How is my husband?" the barely controlled voice of Eleanor Cousland asked, the former noble seemingly appearing at Big Boss side. A glance at her out of the corner of his eye revealed her previous look of contempt was replaced with one of frantic concern and eagerness.

"He's fine…um…my lady? Would you like to see him?"

Answering for her, Miller stepped forward. "Lead the way, soldier."

The room the Teyrn was being kept in was just down the hall from the waiting room they were in, but it was clear the thirty-second walk was thirty seconds too long for Eleanor. Once the door to the patient's room had authenticated their identity, however, and it slid open, all her previous anxiousness disappeared, replaced by distress.

Big Boss imagined that seeing the unconscious Teyrn in such a sterile, alien environment surrounded by strangers in scrubs and masks that covered their faces would be distressing to the Teyrna, and he was right. The almost-widow had let out a gasp of shock when the door opened, and she beheld her husband laying in that hospital bed. When his head lazily turned in the direction of his visitors his eyes lit up at the sight of his wife, alive and unharmed.

Unsurprisingly, the Teyrna had immediately ran from Big Boss' side, practically running over any medical staff member unfortunate enough to be in her way, to her husband, grasping his hand in her own and losing the fight to restrain her tears of relief.

"Can we have the room everyone?" Miller asked the room, signaling everyone but Big Boss and himself to leave the room to them and the couple.

"Yes, sir," was the collective answer as everyone immediately left, bar the doctors who lingered for a few seconds to check the medical equipment one more time before leaving. Once the door slid shut behind them and the tell-tale beep of the lock being engaged was heard, the two Diamond Dog leaders moved to be closer to the couple.

Miller took a seat in a nearby chair to give some relief to his sole leg while Big Boss elected to stand. Big Boss pushed a chair up next to the Teyrn's hospital bed, allowing the Teyrna to be close to her husband. The two soldiers gave the exiled couple a few minutes of "privacy", which consisted of them keeping their distance and doing their best not to eavesdrop.

"Ahab?" Bryce said, getting Big Boss and Miller's attention. "Before anything else, thank you…thank you for saving me and my beloved wife. It would be ungrateful of me to speak before expressing my gratitude."

"You're welcome, Teyrn Cousland." Big Boss replied.

"Hahaha, no, not Teyrn, not anymore, I'm afraid. And to be honest, I'm not sure I deserve to hold that title anymore. That bastard Howe: for years I trusted him, but for how long was he scheming behind my back?"

"That lying snake." Eleanor hissed out. "Every time we visited each other's homes, every time our children played together; how many times was he thinking about driving a knife into our unsuspecting backs? How many smiles disguised his thoughts of slaughtering our family and defiling our family home with his slime?"

The two Diamond Dogs allowed a few seconds to pass for their two guests to collect themselves before Miller spoke.

"We don't have any answers for you. I wish we did. Maybe it would make things easier, maybe it wouldn't. But I might be able to offer you two the next best thing."

"And what is that?" Bryce asked.

"The full services of Diamond Dogs."

Silence.

"I…beg your pardon?" Bryce said. "You want us, two exiled monarchs with nothing to our name but the clothes on our back, to hire you?" A bitter laugh made its way out of his mouth. "With what exactly? I am not a fool, you two. I have nothing to offer you!"

"That's not true, Bryce." Big Boss said as he moved closer to the couple. "In the time I spent among you and your people, you showed your worth as a leader. We may not be knowledgeable when it comes to the way your country works, but I know a great leader and a good man when I see one."

While his boss was speaking, Miller had trouble keeping a smile of pride off his face. In the time since V had awoken to when he had revealed the truth of Big Boss to him and Ocelot, Miller had been reminded of the many qualities of Big Boss that inspired him to serve with him in the first place. It wasn't just that he was a great soldier, he wasn't called the "Legendary Soldier" for nothing; and it wasn't just because of his ability to pull off the seemingly impossible, though that certainly didn't hurt; it was because he was a living legend. The best of the best, the pinnacle humanity had to offer.

Which is why it was so devastating to hear the truth; that the man he had been following, the man he lost his leg and arm for, wasn't the man he swore to follow.

But in this moment, in this room, Miller didn't see a duplicate, another unfortunate casualty in Big Boss' never ending war.

He saw Big Boss, the one he remembered.

And that's why he was smiling.

He didn't know how long he had spaced out, but it couldn't have been long since both Bryce and Eleanor Cousland seemed resigned, as if just talked into something.

"You make a compelling argument, Ahab, and I am finding it hard to counter it, but my questions still stand: why would you help us, and what could we possibly do to help you? Much less pay you?"

That was a good question, posed by someone that, despite him knowing for such a brief time, Big Boss considered a friend; one of the few he had left…in either world. And it deserved a good, honest answer.

"Because we're mercenaries," he simply said. "We don't need a reason to fight, Bryce. We fight because we're needed. We are soldiers without borders, our purpose defined by the actions we take. We choose our battles, physical and ideological. Why would we help you? Because we're offering, and you need help." He let that hang in the air for a few seconds before continuing. "But if that won't convince you Bryce, Eleanor, let me ask you this: are you okay with letting your name end like this?"

The two pariah nobles had been listening intently as the man they thought they knew spoke, but when he asked his question, they both stiffened. In fear, in alarm, Big Boss wasn't sure.

"If it hadn't been for me, you two would be dead or worse back in your home. Your two sons have gone off to war; one just joined the Grey Wardens, which means, correct me if I'm wrong, his claim to Highever as Teyrn is forfeit." He stepped closer to Bryce. "Don't you want the man responsible to be punished for that?"

Silence.

The two Couslands weren't the only ones stunned by Big Boss just then. Miller had forgotten how great a speaker Big Boss could be. He wasn't just beloved by his soldiers because of his success, but because he had convinced them. Something Miller forgot in their mission against Skull Face; something which reminded him why he followed Big Boss – the REAL Big Boss – in the first place.

"Your words are cruel," Bryce said, "but they are true." He took a deep breath. "Before he left, my son all but swore to me he would bring justice to our family, to take revenge on Howe, but…there is no guarantee that will happen, is there?"

"Bryce!" Eleanor exclaimed at her husband's vague hint at lack of faith in their son.

"No, Eleanor, think about it. Even if Aedan lives long enough to meet Howe again, even if he survives the horrors of war and the Blight, he would be a Grey Warden, will he not? A Grey Warden killing a noble, even a snake like Howe, will invite trouble the Wardens would never welcome. It would be up to the King, or a third-party. Someone like you, Ahab."

A bitter laugh escaped the former Teyrna's lips. "So this is what we've come to? Hiring mercenaries to fight our battles for us?"

"My love," Bryce replied, taking her hand closest to him in both of his, "we are alive. Through the work of the Maker or not, we have an ally here, a powerful one indeed, who is offering to help us take our revenge."

"At what price, my husband?" she asked.

"That's not a factor. Your Ladyship." Miller said, standing from his seat.

"What do you mean?"

"As sad and tragic as your story is, it is not the first time we've heard it. We've been on both sides of this before; overthrowing a government or fighting to restore the old one. And, much like your current situation, not all of them made it out with their fortunes. This wouldn't be the first time we've taken a job and had to look for compensation elsewhere."

Bryce took a deep breath, one the two soldiers recognized: that of a man who had just conceited. "Well then, Big Boss, consider yourself hired."

"Please, Bryce," Big Boss said, "for you and your family, call me Ahab."

Roughly three hours later, Big Boss was trudging up the steps back to his cabin. Much was said, planned, and agreed on within the last three hours and he knew this was just the first step. They had quite the workload waiting for them, so he decided to do the wise thing and get a few more hours sleep before getting back to work.

With their meeting with Bryce and Eleanor concluded, and secretly recorded for various reasons, it was time for them to plan their next move. They had successfully secured employment with one of the highest-ranking nobles of their current country of focus. Now, it was time to do something with that authority.

Earlier…

"What will you need from us?" Eleanor asked.

"For now, Eleanor, your support." Big Boss answered.

"Support?" Bryce said. "I hope your remaining eye isn't failing you, Ahab. I've seen wounds like mine before. I don't think I'll be joining you on the battlefield anytime soon."

"As capable as I'm sure you are," Big Bos said, "that's not what I meant."

"What then?"

"Information. You were a Teyrn, Bryce. You had contacts, resources, favors, things anyone in power accumulates over time. You may have lost most of it when you lost Highever, but I doubt you kept everything there."

Bryce laid back in his hospital bed, pondering on Big Boss' words. "There are a few people I know of who would side with me against Howe, should they learn of the Couslands survival. I can give you their names and where you might find them."

"That's a good start." Miller said.

"But," Bryce added, "I doubt they would trust you immediately. Even the lowliest lord is not a total fool. I doubt they would believe whatever story Howe comes up with to explain his sudden ascension to Teyrn of Highever, but neither will they know the truth, what to believe."

"We'll have to convince them somehow." Big Boss said.

"Use our name." Eleanor suggested suddenly, causing them all to look at her. "Tell them who you are, and you knew us. Tell them you are working to bring Howe down, and whatever traitors helped him accomplish his treachery."

"That's a good idea," Miller said. "But for as long as we can, we should keep the news of your survival secret."

"Why?" Bryce asked.

"Whether Howe thinks you're dead or not, he needs everyone else to believe you are to be able to hold onto your territory that he took. If there's even a sliver of doubt in anyone's mind that you two aren't rotting in a ditch somewhere, he will be forced to spend time to address it. And that gives us an advantage."

"What advantage?"

"Time he's spending on the defensive, is time we have to strike."

Once the doctors had returned and requested Big Boss and Miller give the Teyrn room to rest, and after they instructed the doctors to see to the couple's every need, the two men rode a jeep back to Command Platform 1 in silence. It was a long day, especially for Big Boss who was running on only a couple hours sleep.

With the door shut and locked behind him, and his bed still mussed from when he napped in it a few hours ago, Big Boss collapsed in the bed and immediately fell into sleep.

It was a rare occurrence for the Legendary Soldier to sleep for more than the bare minimum his body needed. After all, he was in a coma for nine years; why waste anymore time sleeping when he could be doing something. Still, the ugly reality was Big Boss was still a human being; more than that, he was a human being in his 50s. Not a great age for someone who was planning on living for a long time yet. At least he wasn't feeling his age yet, thanks to all his exercise.

Regardless, it was the concentrated feeling of heat on his face that caused Big Boss to slowly open his eyes. The source was a partially open window, of course, but it was the height of the sun in the sky that instantly alarmed him. It was well past dawn, almost noon.

Readying himself in what he considered his "casual" wear for Mother Base, Big Boss was on his way to his and Miller's private meeting room within minutes.

"Right on time, Boss," Miller cheekily said with a smirk at Big Boss' late arrival. "Let's begin. Yesterday we received three reports from our teams in the field; one from the team in Denerim, one from Ocelot at the Mage's Circle, and one from the team we sent out to survey potential mineral deposits in the ocean to the east. We'll start with the last one."

Reaching down to the pile of folders in front of him, Miller tossed one across the table to where Big Boss was standing. "Shortly after you left for the mainland, or what we now know as Ferelden and Thedas, I ordered the commander of the Base Development Unit to put together a team and survey possible sites for materials procurement. Considering Mother Base is largely running at minimum capability to ration supplies and materials until we find a way to restock them, he put most of his Unit to work. I won't bore you with the details but, long story short, they managed to find four potential sites within a helicopter's flight from here."

Big Boss picked up the envelope Miller had tossed him and opened it. On the top of the papers was a printed image of the body of water Mother Base was situated in the center of. A red circle was marked in the center of the picture where Mother Base was located and to the east, past the cluster of islands semi-blocking access to the open ocean, the largest of which Big Boss had learned was called "Brandel's Reach", four smaller red circles were drawn.

"As you can see, the Base Development Unit found four ideal sites prime for mining. However, with our current numbers and already taxed resources, we'll only be able to begin development of one new FOB."

A short explanation of each potential site followed as Miller explained the pros and cons of each, outlining what resource each site had, their proximity to Mother Base, what it would take to keep it staffed and protected, etc. The discussion ended with Big Boss choosing the site most heavily rich in fuel and common metal.

"I'll inform the Base Development Unit after this meeting then," Miller said. "Now, before I explain to you the situation in Denerim, I need you to understand that what happened was almost entirely out of the team's control."

Those words immediately put Big Boss on edge.

"Kaz," he asked in his most steady tone, "what happened?"

Miller took a deep breath before starting.

For an hour after that, Miller gave Big Boss a play-by-play of the Denerim team's infiltration. It was remarkably…boring. The guards at the gates of the city had barely looked at them, nor did they pry into their reasons for visiting the city. They didn't even try to verify who they were! Big Boss' faith in Denerim's security fell further when the team was allowed into the city without even an inquiry as to the contents of their bags.

Pushing his disappointment aside, Big Boss listened as Miller outlined the rest of the team's first day; acquiring a map of the city and determining the best place to set up a safe house. For the next few days Miller gave a quick overview of their activities, which boiled down to making note of various weak points in the castle walls for future missions and approaching various individuals in the city to create an information network.

So far everything seemed to be going according to plan. Until the inevitable curveball arrived to smack them in the face.

Two days ago, a double wedding was scheduled to take place in the Denerim Alienage. It seemed to be a grand with just about the entire Alienage turning out for the happy couples' wedding day. However, just as the nuptials were starting, a nobleman and his entourage interrupted the ceremony, beat up several of the elves, including the groomsmen, and made off with the brides, the bridesmaids, and a couple other unfortunate female bystanders; all elves.

Were Big Boss not already aware of this world's human population's prejudice toward elves, he would be silently furious. Instead, he managed to contain his anger, as he always did, and nodded for Miller to continue.

"Suffice to say, the team was not on board with it. Without reporting, without orders, and without backup, our five-man team launched their own operation on the nobility of Denerim. They started by interrogating the Alienage elves who were present at the wedding. Of course, the elves were not exactly forthcoming with our team, but one of the bridegrooms eventually gave in, desperate to have his fiancé back. The noble that led this little abduction is the son of the Arl of Denerim, the one and only Vaughan Kendells. Apparently, the team had heard the man's name more than once in their investigations, and never in a flattering light. The man's a sadistic son of a bitch, known for abusing those he considers below him, including women, but especially elven women. Hate to break it to you, Boss, but I just couldn't bring myself to punish them for acting on their own in this case."

Big Boss merely chuckled.

"Anyways, fortunately the team's efforts bore fruit earlier than we were expecting. It didn't take them long before they learned Vaughan had taken his prisoners to the Arl of Denerim's Estate. Contrary to Vaughan, his father, Arl Urien Kendells, is actually a rather decent man, just not a great father. Apparently, he was very distant to his only son and heir, resulting in the scum of a son he has. The Arl is currently at Ostagar with the King and several of his advisors, preparing for the Blight."

Big Boss couldn't help the shiver that ran down his spine at the mention of the monstrous creatures he had come to know as Darkspawn. That feeling was only compounded by the reminder of the Blight currently in motion.

"How did their operation go, Miller?" Big Boss asked. "Did they succeed?"

Miller then smiled one of the brightest ones Big Boss had seen on his face in a long time. "Did they succeed?" Miller repeated his question. "They succeeded, and then some. Not only did they rescue all the women Vaughan took from right under his nose, but they also turned several of his house servants and even a few of his disgruntled guards; for a price of course. Don't worry, they paid them up front…with the small fortune they lifted from the Arl's own vault."

That was surprise, to be sure. But a welcome one.

"Considering you look so pleased about this, I assume they made a clean escape?"

"Please, Boss, they were professionals. After they managed to get out of the estate unseen, the team decided to test their knowledge of Denerim's back alleys. There were a few close calls, but they successfully reached the Alienage unnoticed and turned the women back over to their families. The team left and once they were sure they weren't being followed, they retreated to their Base of Operations and finally reported in."

Boss nodded, satisfied with the dispatch team's performance. "Have you heard from them since? Any problems?"

"I ordered the Intel Unit monitoring them to keep me updated. The second something comes in, they'll let me know. And as soon as that happens, I'll let you know."

Across Mother Base, in one of the Intel Platform's monitoring rooms…

Evasive Hound was one of the Intel team members Commander Miller assigned to handle the Denerim dispatch team. When he was told of this assignment, of course he saluted, accepted, and swore to do the absolute best job he could, but he couldn't deny there was a part of him; a small, traitorous part of him, that wished that ass from the Support Unit was stuck on babysitting duty.

Nevertheless, Evasive Hound was aware that there were always vital jobs no one wanted to do and people that needed to do them. Otherwise, everything grinded to a halt.

Still…that didn't stop his mind from wandering…

…Like how freaking insane this situation was!

A whole new world?!

Evasive Hound quit his old job at another fledgling PF to be able to serve with the Legendary Mercenary himself! Not get sucked into another world!

So involved was he in his thoughts he almost didn't see the alert that the Denerim team was trying to contact Mother Base. Taking a breath to collect himself, Evasive Hound answered the call.

"What about Ocelot then?" Big Boss asked. "You said you had a report from him?"

"Yeah," Miller said, wincing, "that one didn't go as well, Boss. Although, in fairness, the situation was already devolved by the time Ocelot got there."

Big Boss really didn't know where Miller was coming from. "What happened?"

Miller slid over the last of the three files to Big Boss who picked it up and spent the next few minutes looking it over. "Oh boy," Big Boss said once he was finished. Closing and tossing the envelope on the table, he rubbed his eyes in mental exhaustion.

To summarize the situation at the Ferelden Circle of Magic, it was…unforeseen and, therefore, unprepared for.

In the short time the field Intel team had the Circle tower under surveillance, they managed to get a fairly good read on the comings and goings of the Templars and Mages that called that tower home. The total of their findings, however, was, not to diminish their efforts, less than expected. To their credit, the tower was situated on an island in the middle of a lake, guarded by sentries who were remarkably attentive to their job, and almost no one came and went from the tower that wasn't a templar.

The closest thing the tower had to regular outside contact was the occasional supply caravan. Common sense would tell anyone in the Intel team's occupation that the most obvious course of action would be to insert someone into that delivery service, but they did not yet know from where delivery service came from, nor did they think a sudden new face would not attract attention.

This was frustrating enough, but the fact that the tower was such a small, closed-off community made the situation all the more difficult. As of right now, the only people that were getting inside that tower were either templars or mages. That wasn't the extent of their problems, however.

The inn that the Diamond Dogs had appropriated used to be a regular haunt for off-duty templars, but two days ago something happened inside forcing the entire tower to seal itself off. No one had since gone in or out; even the regular templar guard at the dock wasn't aware of what was going on, only that he had orders not to let anyone across.

However, before this lockdown went into effect, one of the templars said something interesting to the Diamond Dog member posing as the inn's bartender. Apparently, due to the threat of the Blight, the King had petitioned the Circle to send as many mages as they could spare to Ostagar, as much for their healing magics as well as their potential for raw, destructive power. Further evidence in Big Boss' mind of the difference in attitudes towards mages between the leaders of a country and the Chantry.

Because of this, the Circle had gone into overdrive, putting as many of their ready-and-able apprentices through their initiation, or Harrowing as they called it, in preparation for the Blight.

A part of Big Boss' mind couldn't help but admire these mages, these people, who, despite all the trials and obstacles thrown their way because of their talents, are willing to answer the call.

One of the mages in particular, a young man named Jowan, was the cause of all their problems.

"Apparently, he was secretly practicing this…blood magic, which is forbidden by the Chantry, and having an affair with a Chantry initiate; which, surprise, surprise, is also forbidden. Man, the number of rules and restrictions this Chantry has almost makes me wanna slit my wrists and pray to some demon god."

Big Boss raised an eyebrow in amusement, while Miller coughed and regained his composure.

"Sorry."

"It's fine." Big Boss said. "But how did you find that out? I thought we didn't have anyone in the tower, and it was shut off?"

"It was," Miller clarified, "but I got sick of waiting for an opening on that front. So, I ordered the team to do it the old-fashioned way."

"How so?"

"Shortly after the team noticed things at the tower started becoming hectic, one of the team members found a rowboat anchored at the docks and the templar guard knocked unconscious. They didn't know what to make of it at the time, but I think we can safely assume now that it was likely this Jowan making his escape. Unfortunately, we caught on to that too late to launch a search for him. By the time we were aware of all the facts, he was long gone. He could be across the country for all we knew."

"Hmm," Big Boss hummed as he thought about it. "Keep an open file on this Jowan mage for the future and make all our dispatch and field teams aware of him. We have bigger things to deal with right now than chasing a stupid kid across the country without all the facts. We'll deal with him later, when we don't have the impending end of the world to worry about."

"Ha, fair enough Boss," Miller said, making a mental note about it.

"Is that all?" Big Boss said. "You still haven't said how you learned about this."

"The Intel team was getting just as tired of waiting around as we were, so they started coming up with plans on their own in anticipation of our order. Don't worry, they didn't do anything stupid, they're too well trained for that. Anyway, you were on your way back from Highever after Howe's coup when I got a call from the team. They had found an opening in the tower's security and were requesting immediate permission to infiltrate it. They gave me a brief overview of their plan and I gave the all-clear. Basically they took advantage of a hole in the templars patrols and managed to plant several hidden mics and cameras and get out before anyone saw them."

"I thought I was supposed to make those calls?" Big Boss asked/stated.

"It was right after you saved the Cousland's lives. Pequod said you were already passed out when I got the call and it was a time-sensitive matter. I decided to let you get some rest and let the team proceed at their discretion while keeping us updated as much as possible. Last I heard, Ocelot had arrived on site and took command of the team. They're fine, Boss. They're professionals, and they know what they're doing."

"Fine," Big Boss said, not hiding his displeasure with it. "So what do you think our next step should be?"

"Well, obviously the affairs of Mother Base come first and foremost, Boss. If Mother Base falls apart, literally and figuratively, it won't matter what we do in the field."

"What do you suggest?"

"I'll have the Base Development Unit start making plans for building a rig on your approved mineral site. It's going to take a long time, as you know, about two to three years, but the sooner we start, the sooner it'll be done."

"Do it."

"You got it, Boss. Next, we should establish some sort of 'safe zone' on the mainland. Too much time out on the ocean could cause all sorts of problems for the men, psychologically and physically. Having someplace natural they could move on would be good for their moral."

"Find someplace out of the way, one that won't be found easily, and I'm in."

"Alright. I think that'll do it for the loyal home front. Next we should-"

Miller was interrupted when someone started knocking on the door to the meeting room. "Come in!" he called out. The door slid open and one Diamond Dogs' many soldiers came in. "Sorry to interrupt you Boss, Commander!" the man said, saluting.

"At ease, Running Lion," Miller said, again impressing Big Boss with his expansive knowledge of Diamond Dogs' staff. "What is it?"

The out-of-breath soldier took a moment to get some air in his lungs before speaking. "A few minutes ago, one of the Intel team members assigned to handle the Denerim team, Evasive Hound, received a call from them. Apparently, there's been a development in Denerim."

"What happened?" Big Boss asked.

"It looks like their liberation of the kidnapped elven women didn't go unnoticed, sir. About half an hour ago, the son of the Arl, Vaughan Kendells, led a group of armed guards into the Alienage and practically started a riot. As of half an hour ago, there are no deaths, but it doesn't look like it's going to stay that way."

"God damn it!" Miller said, banging his fist against the metal wall. "Well, I guess we should've expected that."

Big Boss was already on his way to the door. "I want a fully-equipped chopper on the helipad in fifteen minutes. Radio the Intel team and let them know I'm on my way."

"Where are you going, Boss?" Miller demanded, still hot under the collar.

His words stopped Big Boss in the open doorframe, the lightbulb in front of him painting him in a phantasmal light, giving pause to Miller and Running Lion.

"How many times were we too late to a war zone that left a crater where people used to live Miller? We're ahead of this one and I'm going to do something about it."

"What are you going to do, Boss?"

"Cut the head off the snake. But first, I need to grab something from my quarters."

Big Boss' ACC, three hours later

It had taken a little longer than he would've liked to gather up enough equipment for a sudden excursion into the field, but Big Boss was soon on his way to Denerim. As he was double-checking his equipment out of habit rather than actual concern they weren't properly maintained, he had faith in his men after years of reliance on them, he was listening to Miller and Ocelot talking in his earpiece.

"It looks like the mage that escaped, Jowan, didn't try it alone." Ocelot said, updating his comrade and Boss on the situation at the Ferelden Circle. "Apart from Jowan's girlfriend, I guess we'll call her, there was another young mage that was helping him steal his phylactery."

"What the hell's a…phylactery, you called it?" Miller asked.

"Another bit of this world's magical nonsense. Apparently, whenever a Circle gets a new mage, the templars take a blood sample from them and keep it locked away, hidden. Apparently, this is their means of tracking runaway mages. Using some magical mumbo-jumbo, they're able to triangulate a mage's current position. Don't know much more than that unfortunately."

"Sounds an awful lot like this blood magic they like to preach about not using. Pretty hypocritical if you ask me." Miller said.

"The Chantry is a theocracy, Miller, it's going to have its contradictions. That's why most countries on our world gave up on them a couple centuries ago."

"Go back to the mage," Boss interrupted before they could get too far off track. "The one that helped Jowan escape."

"Right. From what we were able to overhear, the mage's name is Daniel Amell. He's been in the Circle since he was a kid and was a model apprentice. It seems he's quite the magical prodigy; despite his young age, his magical potential is on par with mages much older and more experienced than him. One of the mics picked up the leader of the Circle, the First Enchanter, commenting about him. Apparently, when his fellow apprentices were learning the most basics of spells, he was practicing spells meant for those several years ahead of him."

"That does sound like a prodigy. Why would a prospective, young mage risk and lose everything in an ill-fated jailbreak?" Miller asked.

"It looks like he was good friends with the escaped Jowan. Evidently, the reason Jowan hasn't been put through his Harrowing yet, that initiation process of theirs, is because they were rightly suspicious he was practicing blood magic. He was afraid they were going to make him Tranquil, whatever that means, and he decided to help him break out. When they were caught, Jowan used blood magic to incapacitate the templars sent to apprehend him and fled, leaving Daniel and his girlfriend."

"And they say chivalry is dead, huh? What are they going to do to Daniel?"

"Not sure, but I strongly doubt they're going to just give him a slap on the rest and send him out of the principal's office. And whatever they mean when they say, 'to be made Tranquil,' it doesn't sound pleasant."

Miller groaned, clearly frustrated at their growing pile of problems. "What do you want to do, Boss?"

This was a tricky one. Diamond Dogs wasn't even established yet in this world and no one could tell Big Boss apart from another deformed war veteran. They didn't have any clout with the nobility to call on…

…Actually.

"We have the backing of one of the highest authorities in Ferelden, don't we? Use them."

"What do you…the Couslands? What can they do, Boss?" Miller asked.

"Wait," Ocelot said, "that might actually work. This world still uses primitive means of long-distance communication. Sending messages by bird is probably the fastest way they have. Which means, if we're lucky, news of the Couslands displacement shouldn't have reached as far as the Circle yet."

"So what you're suggesting is we forge a request from the Couslands for, what, a mage from the Circle? The Templars will never buy that."

"We don't have to forge anything, Miller. We can just ask."

Big Boss' focus on the conversation was broken when Pequod shouted over his shoulder from the cockpit, "Approaching outskirts of Denerim, Boss. ETA, three minutes."

"Got it!" he replied. "Ok," he said, addressing his seconds-in-command, "if either of you can come up with a viable plan to save this dumb kid from the Circle and find some way to press him into service in Diamond Dogs, then fine. If not, then it wasn't really our problem in the first place. Understood?"

"Understood, Boss."

"All clear."

"Good. Contact me is there's an emergency. Big Boss out."

Alright everyone. Here's another chapter and a little New Year's gift. This is the last of the prepared chapters I have written over the last few months. I have a few more of "The Man Who Stopped The Blight" written and being reviewed and I hope to have the next chapter of "He Who Guards The Avengers" out soon. I can't make any promises, and I am sorry if I let any of you down, butt I appreciate and hope if you all bear with me.

Have a Happy New Year!