The following is a Work of Fan-Fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or are rearranged in disregard of actual Space and Time in a fictitious manner to suit the fantasy of this tale. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Any intellectual properties, memes, or what-have-you's mentioned herein belong to their respective rights holders.
Tales from the ARKNIGHTS
As I thought, the Daily Lives of Operators is FUBAR
By A Deluded Middle-Aged Smart Aleck Gr00vyThunderb0ltJazzDuel
Prologue 1-1
"Amnesia is a pretty lame rationale"
0810 \ Thunderstorm
Rhodes Island CIC \ Ark-1 Holding position 50Km outside Chernobog
With the stakeholders assembled, Amiya called the morning briefing to order.
Amiya: Good morning, everyone. Please, join me in a brief respite to offer our prayers for our friends who still stand with us this very day, and those whose wishes we must carry on in their stead.
Respectfully, the living gathered here at this precipice in time lowered their heads solemn silence for a moment. The voice of Rhodes Island had spoken, and so it was.
Kal'tsit: Thank you, President Amiya. But I must ask, where are Closure and Warfarin?
Amiya: I am afraid Operation Broken Arrow cost us far more than we anticipated, Kal...Director Kal'tsit. Our Operators are wounded, dead, or missing in action. Chernobog is a warzone, devolving into a humanitarian crisis on a scale we are ill-prepared to address.
Kal'tsit scowled ever so slightly. Often her expression lived on a knife's edge daily, but to those familiar with the Feline woman, the subtle change felt ever so frosty.
Kal'tsit: President Amiya, with all due respect, what are Closure and Warfarin doing?
Amiya: Chief Closure is occupied inventorying our remaining material stockpiles and running pre-flight checks and maintenance on our drones and aircraft. Director Warfarin is engaged in the ICU, but I should have a report from her by noon in regards to our medical supplies. We will coordinate with Miss Eagle and her aircrews, and all stakeholders involved closely to maximize the success of our Search & Rescue, and Humanitarian Relief operations. I anticipate our proposal-Operation Dauntless-will be ready for review by the Board come 1600 this evening.
The temperature in CIC must have dropped a few degrees, as a chill traveled around the table. Perhaps, there was a malfunction in the thermostat?
Kal'tsit: ...Amiya.
Doctor Trigger: Brrrrr, is it me? Or is it getting COLD up in here? ...But seriously, Hold UP! A Search 'n' Rescue Op? WITH a side of Humanitarian Relief? Why is this the first time I am hearing about any of this? Why didn't I get invited to this secret powwow? Was I not cool enough? Was that it? Me? Not COOL!? Ugh, color me O-F-F-E-N-D-E-D yo!
Bridges: Because you would be derailing the conversation and running your mouth just like now, then E-V-E-R-Y-O-N-E would know.
Doctor Trigger: Hurk! I am not that obvious. I am a closed book as they come. My lips are sealed!
Bridges: Isn't that what every motor mouth says before he gives up the goods?
Amiya: B-Bridges, D-Doctor! Right now isn't-
Doctor Trigger: Bridges baby, I don't know where this is coming from, but if you wanna beef, I can beef. Like, hey, what the heck are you doin' in this meeting for grown ups, huh? I don't see you with no superpowers!
Bridges: ...well, it's not a superpower, but… I'm rich, technically.
Doctor Trigger: Wha...oh, o-okay, that's a start actually. B-B-But how RICH, yeah!?
Deadsmith: Appearances can be deceiving, Doctor Trigger. Our young master here might look like an understated liaison from the notorious Penguin Logistics, but he does have a controlling majority stake in Rhodes Island. In fact, he is the one responsible for introducing my services here to Rhodes.
Doctor Trigger: Huh, that explains the off-brand getup that strikes a different stroke from our black and blue vibe, but! Why is he here in this meeting?
Machias: He has an honorary seat on the Board of Directors.
Hourai: Bridges-kun does not get a vote, but his insight has proved invaluable in charting the course Rhodes took for the past two years. We would not be here today without him, and his money.
Doctor Trigger: ...Oh, okay. That's pretty cool. Sooo, uh, do I get a vote on the Board? Cuz I would totally vote to get this smart aleck an order of censure for defamation!
Kal'tsit sighed at the antics spreading around the table. Things have not been this lively in a long time. Indeed, it seemed her harsh words would have to wait for another time.
Kal'tsit: Your voting privileges have been revoked until such a time the Board can ascertain you have returned to full physical and mental fitness, Trigger.
Doctor Trigger: Eh? ...Ehhhh?! Then why am I even here? Y'all should just go have fun by yourselves, darn it! Imma go back to the infirmary and sulk! Maybe, get some sleep while I am at it.
Kal'tsit: Trigger, amnesia or not, you are still under contract as Rhodes Island top military advisor. Please, sit down-and do your job.
Doctor Trigger: Wha? I haven't done nothin', or signed no papers! Where's my legal counsel at?!
Also, it felt peculiarly cathartic to trample over Doctor Trigger's protests.
Kal'tsit: Miss Dobermann, your assessment please?
Dobermann: As the acting Head of Military Operations, I agree that Doctor Trigger requires more rehabilitation and observation before he should be reinstated in full.
Amiya: Ah ha, there you have it, Doctor.
Doctor Trigger: Okay, fine. Look, before we go off on some other tangent, can I see a show of hands around the table from folks who are, actually, onboard with this Operation Dauntless thing?
Only two hands came up, and one of them did not rate a vote at the table even. Amiya shared an appreciative nod with Bridges, leaving no doubt to the others that he had collaborated with her. If Closure and Warfarin were present, she would have two more votes, but not enough to hold a majority.
Doctor Trigger: Well, hot diggity-dog. That's a tough crowd.
Kal'tsit: Miss Dobermann, what is there for us to Search-and-Rescue exactly?
Dobermann: I am afraid sixty percent of our Operators are missing in action, along with classified and valuable RI tech, equipment, and supplies. Only thirty percent of our squads made it back to extraction, with another ten percent confirmed killed in action. Of the surviving thirty percent, accounting for attrition as of this time, we have approximately ten percent at combat readiness.
Kal'tsit: Which squads?
Dobermann: A squad. Operations Team A4.
Kal'tsit: ...Any other options?
Dobermann: We could mobilize Reserve Operations Team A1, A4, and A6. A4 ran into some trouble during the retreat, but there were no casualties luckily. We could deploy them all but that would leave the Ark defenseless, besides some volunteers, interns, and non-combat staff who have combat training.
Kal'tsit: Thoughts Chief Machias?
Machias: I do not know what the President expects Doctor Warfarin to find, but as far as I am aware we are at our limit. Those Operators missing in action were also carrying valuable medical supplies and kit. Among their number I can count a fair number of my own colleagues and staff too. ...Colleagues who are no longer here, President Amiya.
Amiya endured the criticism gracefully, as expected of the leader of Rhodes Island. In another time and place, Kal'tsit would have approved, but she had her own role to play in the here and now.
Kal'tsit: Doctor Hourai?
Hourai: Good grief, President Amiya, I hope you have a good plan to impress us. With the situation as is, we are just holding on for dear life. We have enough to feed ourselves and keep the lights on, but if you plan to bring aboard refugees? I am sorry, but I am no fan of wagers where the deck is not stacked heavily in my favor.
Deadsmith: Also, if I may interject, Miss President, there is no shame in running to live and fight another day. We have a duty to the living and the dead to see through, and we are no good to either camp if we destroy ourselves right here and now.
Amiya: I understand, Doctor Deadsmith.
Kal'tsit: There you have it, so what's your plan, President Amiya?
All eyes watched Cautus girl expectantly for an answer. Well, except for one...
Amiya: Doctor Trigger, if you would please?
Doctor Trigger: Wait, what-me? Me! N-Now? Why am I getting roped into this now?
Bridges: You said it yesterday, didn't you? Miracles are not for free. If you want one, everyone has to hustle their butts off and meet it halfway. Then, a Miracle might decide to reveal itself to us.
Doctor Trigger: Was this before the part where you punched someone's clothes clean off, beat them into a wreck, then somehow left them stark naked, writhing in pain even though there was not a scratch on their bum?
Dobermann: Doctor Trigger, do we need to mention the multiple times, you faced off against fully armed Reunion militants with your bare hands, and apparently robbed them of the will to fight by pummeling them into submission? ...Also, you did punch a meteorite out of the sky to protect that Medic girl...
Doctor Trigger: Right… Or did this come after I walked into an invisible sea of fire by piggybacking off Amiya's senses and sucker punched Reunion's she-dragon in the face out cold?
Suffice to say, there were those present at the table hearing of such outlandish accounts for the first time. Some turned to Dobermann to rebuke such childish tall tales only to meet a thousand yard stare of a woman wondering where her professional career had gone astray.
Kal'tsit: ...What?
Deadsmith: My, certainly I am aware about young master Bridges' antics-
Bridges: Oy, gimmie a break with the young master. I'm just rich, t-e-c-h-n-i-c-a-l-ly. There's no titles or anything crazy attached, I swear.
Hourai: Tee hee hee, well, Bridges-kun's martial prowess is no new story around here.
Dobermann: I am still not acclimated to Bridges bizarre fighting style, but to think another enlightened one would appear in our ranks… [Ryzers], truly, defy the common sense of possibility.
Maichias: Doctor Trigger, you were fighting on the frontline? Is this true?
Doctor: I mean, yeah. I might have punched some dudes out with some pretty sweet sunlight power, told them to go home, and reconsider their life choices. Set free some Arts-controlled Monsters too. Kinda wish we could have brought the creatures back last night, but maybe those guys might come in handy sooner than I expected.
Kal'tsit refused to believe what she heard. Amnesia aside, the person she knew as Doctor Trigger never fought valiantly in battle with his own strength. A cool mastermind like him showed his ferocious power through strategy and cunning, overseeing the tragedy of War from on high. Allies, enemies, intelligence, valor and fear, words: all were but a means to the end called "Supreme Victory".
No; the amnesia excuse sounded more preposterous by the minute. The Trigger she knew was not a comical manchild, who put himself into harm's way to protect his allies. Something was wrong!
Kal'tsit: ...Amiya, what is the meaning of this? No, you, explain yourself! Who are you? An Ursus impostor?
Doctor Trigger: Uhh, I know amnesia is a pretty lame rationale, but I reckon I'm a mysterious black box of sorts.
Kal'tsit: ...What?
Kal'tsit bewilderment captured the surreal daze spreading around the table for the newly initiated perfectly. As for those who had gone on a very bizarre adventure yesterday, well, they had gotten used to it already.
Bridges: Doctor Kal'tsit, everyone. I know it is hard to believe, and, ugh, everyone who fought with the Doc yesterday went through the same thing, but with President Amiya, Miss Warfarin, and I as his witness… Everything checks out about Doctor Trigger underneath the helmet, at least on the surface level. The rest of his records are sealed by yours, and his order. Seeing as one half of that legal party can be seen as mentally compromised, it will be a bureaucratic can of worms for you to undo later, if you want to go down that rabbit hole.
Doctor Trigger: Man, who cares about who I was? Who cares if I don't understand everything, or can't really explain all the things I say and do! Shoot, even I don't have all the answers, and it's not like I planned to keep it a big secret either. But, you know what? I can kick butt and take names now, and in these trying times, there is no substitute for a reborn renaissance man like me, so why don't we get back on topic…
The Doctor stood up, rolling a handful of dice in his hand from his coat and cast them onto the table sharply with swashbuckling swagger.
Doctor Trigger: And hear out my grandmaster plan to save Rhodes Island?
Footnotes:
Ryzer - a Terran who has achieved the state of "Enlightenment", allowing them to perform paranormal feats well beyond the scope of modern scientific theory, including but not limited to the application of Originium Arts. Often a Ryzer is accompanied by an incarnated [REDACTED] construct, resembling creatures of myth and folklore that hail from the many cultures and civilizations of Terra. Of course, exceptions to the rule have been reported, but the veracity of such claims requires more research and review than what it is available at present time.
"So, why did we come up with this Elite 2 classification for the Ops to begin with?" - Anonymous Researcher 1
"Because it makes for a pretty good cover given our shady, pseudoscience methodology to induce 'Enlightenment' in our Operators?" - Anonymous Researcher 2
"Well, I thought it was a thing to make them feel extra special, but that does sound like a better justification for stockpiling all of this sweet, sweet Loxic Kohl. Anybody up for snippers and cocktails later? My treat!" - Anonymous Senior Researcher