As expected, the sniper caught a lift on a tank withdrawing due to battle damage. He hopped off and walked towards the restaurant as the tank continued on. Clad in a more minimalistic uniform of camouflaged cloth, much like Kazak's drab gray. The sweeping coat tails had no use in a sniper's wardrobe. Across his back, a VDF Type 87 Sniper RIfle, their latest model plasma sniper, along with an Imperial issue plasma shotgun and a VDF Type 50 Heavy Pistol in a shoulder holster. The NCO issued a nod and a fist bump to Mizak and Avak.
"Returning as ordered, boss."
"Excellent. This is Commander Vult, you'll be attached to his unit for the time being, if you make the cut."
Zurrak turned and nodded to Vult, though looked at him for a few moments of silence. He seemed familiar somehow, though he couldn't figure where. "Commander, pleased to meet you. I'm guessing you're also from an experimental unit? You're a bit too short for your rank otherwise."
Vult rose as the stranger, soon identified as Zurrak, arrived. Given his attire and armament, it was safe to assume this was Mizak's man. Before he could speak, the obvious was soon addressed. Vult couldn't help but force a smile and a nod.
"I hear that a lot," He jested lightly. "...and without going into classified details, yes, my team and I are another experimental unit. Similar assignments, some not-so-similar...usually favoring the suicidal type these days. Your C.O. speaks highly of you. I've already poached one of his men and he's worked out well enough so far."
"So I can see," Zurrak nodded to Kazak and fist bumped him as well. "Nice to see you again, First Sergeant."
"It's actually Lieutenant again."
"No kidding."
"Not a bad piece of kit you got there either."
"Thanks. Got lucky with a nice cache find about a month ago." He turned his attention back to Vult. "Commander, have we...met before? I swear I recognize you from somewhere but I can't put a finger on it. I don't think we talked but I remember seeing you."
"I may as well have a second home on Vort at the rate things are going." Vult summarized somewhat cheekily. "...navigating OPSEC...my entire team is composed of ID1 survivors."
"Maybe that was it," Zurrak started as he thought back to that fateful blunder of a campaign. "Yeah...Sector H Seven...Just got done with our primary and secondary objectives and we were waiting for the Elite battalion under Major Otab to break through. I think I was closest to a couple of units, sent the Vortians running. I was just waiting for them to advance so I can resupply and do that whole song and dance again...then the priority one came through." He paused, "I'm actually glad it did. The company that was supposed to advance and take the position they just abandoned was whittled down to just seventeen men."
That gave Vult pause. The name-drop of his commanding officer had his undivided attention from the start, being reminded of the killing fields of Praxxus 7 all over again. Something, strangely, took hold of his thoughts as vivid memories played in the forefront of his mind. The smell of burnt ozone. The once barely-noticed, now shrill, deafening cries of the dead and dying around him. The concussive blasts from grenades and heavy ordnance going off around them. The images pulled him in deeper and deeper. He gave a firm shake of his head, focusing on the conversation again. Strange.
"...small universe by the sounds of it...that company was my own. I landed with a hundred men. I left with seventeen. Major Otab was my C.O. before this...opportunity came up."
He noticed the head shake, blinking in surprise at first, though brushed it off. "Well, Commander, you already have a load of respect from me for surviving that...mess, and I know that's an understatement. Guess we're all survivors in this room, aren't we? Of all us original picks for the unit when the Cap and then First Sergeant were putting the team together, we were all vets as well."
Mizak shrugged, "Kazak was the only one I picked alone, the rest of you we both chose."
"I guess an eye for talent isn't completely lost among the ranks, boss." Zurrak smirked, "So, Commander, what do I have to do to make the cut?"
"Normally, I'd lock you up in our ship and run you through a gauntlet of simulations and grade your performance before proceeding with a judgment call. Unfortunately, we don't have the luxury of time for that right now." Vult began, gesturing to the maps and images on the table. "There's a lot of intel to digest but from what I can tell, that is your forte. I won't insult your intelligence. Apparently there are some very big Vortian intelligence types sneaking about. I dug deeper into recent events prior to my team's arrival in my down time. Apparently they have been a very big nuisance. Sabotage, assassination, asset denial...you know the game. The difference being is they are capable of accomplishing all of this as solo operatives with, as far as I can tell, little to no support. I want to find out how...and kill them, naturally. One less thorn in the Empire's side and one step closer to bringing an end to this mess."
Vult looked to Zurrak, only being half-serious.
"You personally bag one of these guys, you're a shoo-in. Was just telling your C.O. here we're setting up anti-armor emplacements to take care of them. Something tells me even a marksman's rifle isn't going to pierce their suits."
"You mean those suited assholes?"
"Yes, and no," Mizak started as he pulled out the picture of the larger Vortians in the same armor. Zurrak blinked in surprise as Mizak continued, "Yeah, these guys. Big, mean looking guys."
Zurrak rubbed his chin and smirked, "Well, you know what they say about them being bigger." He looked to Kazak, "Know anything about those suits?"
"If they're anything like the types we ran into before, they're vulnerable to a large electrical shock that will disable the suit systems or force a lock up. One of our guys already has devices we can try. No clue if it'll work on these guys."
"Nothing ventured, nothing gained," Zurrak looked over the maps, he already saw the plan coming together in his head. "So, looking at this...if you want to bag them and kill them, you need a way to distract them...which means bait."
"Exactly," Kazak nodded. "And you're not going to want to get within arm's reach."
Zurrak pointed to standing water marked out in the street, "Granted...if what you said about the electrical thing is true, that trick is probably going to work exactly once."
"You mean run some high voltage cables into it looking like it's downed power lines…" Kazak started piecing it together, "and then-"
"Exactly. But like I said, exactly once."
Vult listened to Zurrak and Kazak's planning, drawing the visual in his mind as they laid it out. He nodded approvingly, stroking his chin while doing so.
"I like that. Something tells me the armor lock devices my guy crafted isn't going to be enough voltage for these ones...don't put all of our smeets in one jar though. Make it too obvious they'll stay away from it like the plague. A good place to set a subtle trap though."
"You consider a backup?" Zurrak looked to Vult, "Anti-tank rockets might be a good choice. I'd think even some of the captured Vortian launchers laying around may be up for grabs. If the Troopers haven't destroyed them because 'filthy alien technology.' Maybe we could also rig up some...call me crazy, lightning guns? I'd also venture a guess to take some EMP grenades."
"Starting to sound like my Communications Specialist," he lightly teased at his techno-babble. The sort of conversation to be had with Aero and Vard. "We'll look into it deeper in the near-future. For now, I want to get our heavy weapons set up out there and hidden from VDF recon teams. We can do official introductions later with the rest of the team. For now, wherever Captain Corr wants you, you go there."
He paused, looking to Zurrak fully.
"Kazak's already set my expectations very high from your team. I owe him my life. You're filling in a pair of big boots now, too. You don't make a habit of disappointing, do you?"
"Not in the least, Commander. My team the first time around was among the handful of Spec Ops units that managed to complete both our primary and secondary objectives before the retreat order came through. We don't do failure where I come from." He shot a grin to Vult, he'd have to make a note to speak with the communications specialist at some point.
With the roster restored as Zurrak unofficially joined the team in Tuu's place for the time being, Corr set to delegating duty assignment for the upcoming operation. Kazak made a suggestion in private to benefit the team and its clandestine nature. The less Zurrak was made aware of, the better. Isolating him with only Kazak and working with the other scout snipers he was already familiar with settled those potential issues. Corr placed himself with Volx, Haxx, Sula, and Rem to make up the second team. The third and final team consisted of Vult, Aero, Hesa, Vard, and Rha.
Normally, the whole team would be resigned to the field and remain on-task and on-site for however long it took short of needing a resupply of rations or water. Vult's strategy was to keep his people fresh and alert as much as possible while maintaining a presence. Warm beds, hot food, and regular rest behind secure lines put the mind at ease without worry of infiltration and waking up to a slit throat or a shot to the face.
At least it would in theory for everyone else but the Commander it seemed. Having spent the better part of all day making plans and preparations with Corr and Kazak, he and his team were reserved to going out at first light the next morning to relieve the Captain and his team. Naturally, this moment of reprieve and potential final moment of rest was spent in the warm, welcome embrace of Hesa. The privacy offered by being planetside and on the top floor was taken full advantage of yet again. Normally, sleep would soon greet thereafter.
He lay there beneath the sheets in the gloom of night, wide awake. His blue eyes appeared a dark gray, nearly black in the low light only occasionally intensified by a particularly large explosion off in the distance from the din of battle looming over Tallum still. His artificial arm wrapped tight around Hesa, the other tucked beneath his pillow.
Strange sensations. Awkward feelings. Irregular thoughts and images. It was confusing...concerning...somewhat terrifying in some cases at just how real they seemed.
Hesa stirred slightly from Vult's arm wrapping tightly around her. One eye slowly opened, seeing he was still awake. One of her hands ran across his chest as she planted a light kiss on his cheek. "You're still up? Something on your mind?"
Jolted from his thoughts as she stirred, his head shifted to look to her with a thin, albeit forced smile.
"Yeah...just...processing." He told a half-truth. "Vaukt. The movement. Our mission. Ohmantu. SIS...all of it."
What troubled him should be of no one else's concern. They had enough to worry about, let alone the weight he carried as a leader and the burdens that came with it. That was why he held the rank he did and did his job dutifully...mostly.
"Vult," her hand came up to rest on his face as she looked into his eyes, both of hers open now, "the way I see this, we're in this together. You always listen to our problems if we ever have them and come to you to vent. The least I can do is provide the same for you. You're my boyfriend. I think that's part of what I'm here for, yeah?"
He nuzzled his cheek against her hand with a huff and a smile.
"...fair point…" He opened with, taking a second to gather his thoughts. "Earlier this morning, when the replacement arrived for Tuu...he said I looked familiar to him. He explained where and how. Name-dropped my C.O. when I was in the Irken Elite...described my unit to the letter..." His hand lifted from behind the pillow, gesturing to his head. "...this is going to sound strange, but...in my mind...it was like I was right back there during ID1 on Praxxus 7. Not just remembering...but all the...awful, terrible things that happened. My men being cut down in front of me...slaughtered...the sheer volume of fire being traded back and forth. I could hear everything clearly just like back then...the smell of cooked flesh, freshly-turned soil...the taste of my own blood in my mouth...I don't know how long it lasted but I snapped back to the conversation and Zurrak could tell something was going on with me. He said nothing. Maybe not to make a bad impression...or maybe some other reason. I don't know."
She planted a kiss on his forehead. "You know I'm not as much of a veteran as you guys...but, sometimes it happens to me too. My mind goes back to when I was captured. It all just plays in slow motion like a bad dream...but I'm not sleeping. I don't know what it is, but I think it might have to do with being unhooked? Nothing's been the same for me since Turb did that...and partially, I'm glad it's led to this point."
"Maybe," he answered quietly, idly stroking her shoulder with his arm still wrapped around her. "...less PAK programming and more natural reaction to things...did the same with emotions, wouldn't be a stretch if they can do it to memories, too."
A moment of silence overcame them save for the sound of their shared breathing. His head rolled on his neck to face her fully.
"...hard to be a loyal, mindless murder machine for the Empire if you feel fear...and hesitate."
"Probably why they saw fit to cut us off from as many natural functions as they could…" She sighed, pressing herself closer to him, "Honestly? I'd rather take this...being able to feel everything, even if it may be detrimental, to that unnatural condition that was forced on us before. This freedom I have is...amazing. I wouldn't trade it for anything."
Adjusting his own posture as she jostled the bed, he turned onto his side, arm unraveling from her behind her shoulders to drape across her waist, pulling her closer.
"Neither would I...but I can see how it is...detrimental to the "mold" they've perfected, too." He reasoned, his digits dancing across the contours of the small of her back beneath her PAK. "My...focus isn't on being efficient or accomplishing the tasks given to me...its making sure everyone comes back alive. I was fortunate with Tuu and what became of that. Even more so with General Vaukt."
He leaned in, a brief reprieve from depressing conversation for a slow kiss, resting his forehead against hers.
"...I've felt a wide range of emotion I've never experienced before all of this in recent months...but I also worry. I'm...uncertain. More than ever. I doubt. I hesitate. The things that get people hurt. Get people killed."
He looked into her violet eyes mere inches away.
"...I don't want to find out what it feels like to lose someone you care about."
She indulged in that reprieve. The closeness...this warmth. She craved it deep down and enjoyed every moment they could spend together. "I get what you feel, I really do." Another pause, this one to break from her own thoughts for a moment as she kissed him. "If I lost you...I don't know what I'd do."
"I don't plan on going anywhere anytime soon so long as I have a say in the matter." He teased, trying to lighten the mood even a little. "...the values and ideals I've instilled on everyone...they mean so much more now. I taught them to not be soldiers, but a family. Brothers and sisters in arms. Independent and self-reliant from the Empire...and like family, those bonds that make us stronger can also destroy us if they're broken."
A pause.
"...despite the conflict and issues it's caused...it...hurt to see Tuu go. I hand-selected him. I groomed him. I instilled those same beliefs in him...and I couldn't get through to him...but he was still one of them. One of us."
"He grew on me too...but…" there was a pause as she gently kissed his cheek, "I'll be honest with you, removing him was the best call. I almost shot Volx so long ago, remember? I will gladly choose you and any of our friends over someone who may betray us. You may have put those values into Tuu, but it seems for him his loyalty to the Empire comes first, not us next to him on a regular basis."
"An unfortunate truth I was unwilling to accept at the risk of compromising the rest of us." He admitted with a sigh. "...I can only hope moving forward I'm not forced to make choices like that again...or worse…"
"I know...the last thing I want to have to do is gun down someone I work with to save the rest of you." She turned slightly to get a look at the time on a digital clock nearby. They still had a few hours before they needed to get up, prepped, and head out. "You going to be able to sleep? I don't want to have to take command because you're too tired." She chuckled, a light tease hoping to lift his mood somewhat as she smirked.
Vult couldn't help but huff in amusement at her jest, smirking back at her as he drew her closer with his arms, limbs smoothly sliding under the sheets.
"You got a few more ranks to achieve before you can think about giving anyone else orders." He mused, relaxing. "...I'll manage. Some is better than none. Not the first time I haven't been able to rest. Won't be the last."
He concluded his thoughts with another soft, slow kiss.
"Worry about you and I'll worry about you. You can worry about me later."
"Hey, if there's going to be two worrying about me, there's two worrying about you too." She smiled, giving him yet another in kind. "I mean it, we somehow make it to the end of this, whenever that is…" she stopped herself to rest her head next to his, "maybe we should talk about making this a permanent bond?"
Vult blinked, mildly confused as his brow furrowed to match, looking to her in the gloom of darkness around them.
"Do we need to? I was under the impression that was where this was to lead next in progression." He reasoned based on his limited knowledge and curious insight into the nature of companionship on his own down time. "I haven't seen or felt a reason that would deviate from that."
Hesa sighed, an apparent frown coming over her. "It's...more than just that. I know I got that impression. It's just that all of this is uncertain. You might die tomorrow. I might die tomorrow. What then?" She paused, thinking about what she said, "On second thought, don't answer that. I guess it's more that I want to step away from all this, relax, not have to worry about orders or any of that. Doubt people like us ever get breaks in this current regime though, do we?"
"No. Not yet." He summarized. "...and I am afraid it will be some time before we can do so. With the responsibility on my shoulders, the expectations of the team now...we can't rest. Every moment we delay is one more second closer to being compromised or an opportunity running its course."
A pause. Contemplation. Consideration. Realization.
"...maybe one day, we will be able to step back and relax...but I don't want to leave business unfinished or a mess for someone else to clean up. Not while I'm able to do something about it still."
He was right, they just couldn't step away when all this was going on, with what they were planning. "One of these days...until then, I'm content to have you and enjoy every moment we can like this...maybe one day we won't even have to hide it from the others?"
"Maybe," Vult mused somewhat optimistically with an expression to match. "...not to sound morbid...but what little I've learned and experienced about all of this...these moments, here and now...we need to cherish them. Tomorrow comes, we may not get another. All the more motivation to survive another day to come back to this. To you."
She nodded, survival, coming back to him, that was what mattered. She enjoyed the closeness, the comfort, maybe one day with being able to step away from it all. Something to work for. One of these days… She kissed his jawline and closed her eyes, relaxing against him, "I love you."
Love...the emotional aspect to this companionship thing. Something someone could spend their entire life studying the concept of and never fully come to understand it. An emotion that lacked logical precedence or understanding. The feeling of yearning, of want, of desire, of solitude, of shelter, of trust, and countless other things shared together. Two consciousnesses combining into a singular creation of their best parts.
For a moment, Vult lulled that concept over in his mind. Love. Was this love? Companionship, certainly. He cared a great deal about her, she him in return. Friends. Confidants. Squadmates. Superior and subordinate...but lovers? Were they? The tender moments shared, the weaknesses seen and resolve strengthened in private. It wasn't purely born of base instinct or overwhelming hormones and a lack of self-control. Everything they did together with one another was deliberate and intentional, emotionally and physically.
Even by the most pedestrian understanding of the notion, the blue-eyed male was struggling to debunk his own assumptions. Maybe it was simpler to accept it as it were rather than try to rationalize it into something else in fear of being wrong or showing any sort of weakness to be exploited in the future.
With that, he relaxed beside her with a lengthy sigh, his eyes closing as he sought to get a little bit of rest before it was their turn to take to their posts on a very dangerous assignment.
"...I love you, too." He softly answered.