This chapter brings in the other established Overwatch characters in this story. Sorry this took so long to update, life got in the way.
"Alright Satya, I'll send some agents down there to survey the situation. Hang tight," Winston ended the transmission with Satya.
The sentient gorilla, one of the main commanders of Overwatch, was in his personal laboratory back on Watchpoint: Gibraltar. It was 2 in the morning, and he was passing time not sleeping by working on a few more inventions of his. Mainly to provide more protection to Overwatch soldiers on the field. With Overwatch back in full swing, this was a common occurrence for him.
At least he was working when Satya called. He wasn't aware if anyone else on base was awake at this hour.
"Athena," Winston ordered his computer. "Which main agents are still on base?"
"Current mission assignments of others indicate agents Amari, McCree, Song, Santos, Zaryanova, Zhou, Lindholm, and Schmidt are still on base."
"Just them? What about Lena?"
"Agents Oxton, Lacroix, and Shimada are engaged in cleaning up a splinter cell in Istanbul."
"What about Angela?"
"She's in Numbani, trying to bring a girl named Efi Oladele into our youth program."
"What about Reinhardt?"
"He and Capt. Amari are on shore leave."
Winston wondered about the selection available to him. Some weren't his ideal choices for a mission like this, dealing with a major threat for all of Australia. Then he thought about what exactly this would entail. There haven't been confirmed sightings of this enemy in Junkertown yet. It could just be a survey job. To see if this plea for help had any credence. At the very least, since Vishkar was one of many corporations now affiliated with Overwatch, they would surely be pleased if their investment was kept safe.
"Are they not sufficient for our needs for this mission?"
"No, they'll do fine. I just need to think more on how to approach this."
"Should I put that into their schedules for tomorrow?"
"Yes, do that Athena. For 9 am."
"Done. I'd advise you get some sleep, Winston, if you want to be prepared for this as well."
"Thank you Athena, but being one of the commanders here demands a lot of my time."
Winston was in one of the Overwatch boardrooms, waiting for the requested agents to appear. The clock read 9 o'clock, when the meeting was supposed to start. The gorilla didn't expect everyone to be timely, morning meetings weren't everybody's strong suit, but he at least expected someone to be here.
One by one, the agents rolled in in their casual wear. Fareeha Amari, daughter of Captain Ana Amari, the effective second in command of Overwatch, walked in with her childhood friend, Jesse McCree, deciding to go sans cowboy hat for moment, but still adorned his BAMF belt buckle. Aleksandra Zaryanova, former championship weightlifter and member of the Russian military forces fighting off omnics, and her girlfriend, climatologist Mei-Ling Zhou, soon followed. Hana Song, known throughout her pro gaming and MEKA careers as , and her boyfriend, DJ and freedom fighter Lucio Correia dos Santos followed suit. Head engineer Torbjorn Lindholm arrived in a particularly bad mood, not often called down to meetings like this.
The last one to arrive, one of the newer Overwatch agents in this particular circle, was Brigitte Schmidt. During the era of Petreas Act, she Reinhardt Wilhelm's travelling companion, taking care of his crusader armor when Torbjorn wasn't available. She had also gotten close to Torbjorn during that time, often spending holidays with his large family and Reinhardt, and teaching her the finer points of metalworking he picked up over the years. Now that Overwatch was firmly re-established in keeping world peace, Reinhardt and Torbjorn made an offer for Brigitte to join, effectively becoming Torbjorn's right-hand person in engineering and mechanics. It was simply an opportunity too good for her to refuse.
"Good morning everyone," Winston started off. "You're probably wondering why I called you down here."
"Yes we do, monkey," Torbjorn seemed cranky this morning. "We all have busy schedules that don't need cluttering with meetings."
"Well you're gonna have to clear those, because you all have a mission to go on," Winston stated, typing on his computer as he brought up a large map of Australia.
"Australia?" Mei questioned, as the map zoomed in on the Outback, then on the area where Junkertown wa. "Seems a bit out of our way, doesn't it?"
"During the night, I received a message from Satya. She and a few other Vishkar agents are in Junkertown doing an inspection of the Vishkar facilities there when some refugees showed up at their doorstep. They said they came from Perth, which was attacked by different band of junkers."
"Different from who?" Jesse asked.
"The junkers living in Junkertown. Last we checked, the place is for everyone to live as they wish. Now for these attackers. Roadhog claims to know the leader from his past Australian Liberation Front days, and he has some questionable methods, to say the least."
"How questionable?" Aleksandra asked.
"Roadhog claims he attacked people because of their race and sexuality. Part of what he wants a greater Australia to be."
The team took some time to process. The new Overwatch certainly dealt with sporadic riots and terrorist groups claiming to be fighting for a greater cause. But for the people here, this was certainly the first one they've encountered whose methods were so blunt. Only fitting he come from Australia.
"So he's a dictatorial madman, I gather?" Lucio inquired.
"As far as I can tell."
"So, we know what we're dealing with, what do you want us to do?" Fareeha asked.
"What I want you eight to do is to head to Junkertown and survey the situation. Verify their claims of this junker threat. If it's true, we'll send in more troops to properly deal with this."
"Winston, if I may ask," Torbjorn disrupted. "This is clearly a task for proper soldiers. Why do you want me and Brigitte to go?"
"Junkertown is surrounded by a large wall. If there are any attacks while you're there, I want someone as defensive minded as you being there."
"Why don't just send a squad of field recruits out there?"
"They don't have the experience of dealing with junkers and VIshkar like you have."
"But Brigitte hasn't been on a mission before. She's as green as any recruit here."
"Torbjorn, I'm surprised at you," Brigitte seemed aghast at the accusation. "We both know I've dealt with Reinhardt's shenanigans as much as you. Plus you get to see as much of the world as other agents. Why not me?"
"You don't have any combat training. We didn't think you'd be out on the battlefield."
"What are the odds that'll happen? Besides, I'll do what you do. Make repairs to everyone's weapons."
"I think a bit of field experience would prove invaluable," Winston offered. "It's about time she got some. What harm could come out of it?"
"Just don't see the point, that's all," Torbjorn muttered under his breath.
"She's coming along, no if's, and's, or but's. As for the rest of you, you're all due to leave in 24 hours. More than enough time to pack and learn about the area. You're all dismissed."
With the briefing over, the eight members left the boardroom and headed back to their respective spaces. 24 hours was enough time, but still short notice enough that they had to pack quickly and clear everything else they had planned.
Jesse was in Fareeha's quarters, watching the Egyptian pack various articles of clothing into her suitcase, looking around her mess of a room if she forgot anything.
"You think I should bring the raptora suit along?"
"If you feel like going overkill, yeah. It shouldn't be that much work we have to do."
"I know. Better to be safe than sorry I guess. There's a new model I'd like to get some field action on."
"What, the turquoise mess? Where the helmet covers your whole face?"
"It's a prototype model for a reason. To see what works and what doesn't. They must do the same for the guns you use."
"Nope," Jesse bragged pulling his revolver out of its holster, twirling it around his index finger. "This is the same Peacekeeper I've used since the Deadlock Gang days."
"That was 20 years ago!"
"Still works as fresh as the day I got it."
"You're telling me you've never tried a different gun in all your time at Overwatch?"
"Of course I have, but none of them suited me. Fareeha, when have you ever seen me go to battle without my Peacekeeper?"
"I guess I just assumed there must've been a time,"
"Never. So think about that next time R&D puts you into that cyan monstrosity. Or whenever, since you shouldn't need it."
"I suppose that means you don't need Peacekeeper either."
"Oh no way. What if I need it?"
Mei was her room, looking up the Australian conditions on her personal computer setup. She was obsessed with figuring out if the heat there would cause any interference with her ice equipment. Aleksandra laid on her bed, staring at the ceiling.
"Average temperature will be around 25 degrees Celsius. Mostly a dry heat. Scant chance of thunderstorms."
"But the nights should be cold. Least we have that to look forward to."
"Nights? How long do you think we're staying there for?"
"However long it takes. You don't think we can do this all in one day, do you?"
"It's just a survey mission. Get in, examine, and get out."
"Hmph hmph," Aleksandra chuckled. "You really don't know what these are like, do you?"
"Umm well, . . . uhh, no."
"This isn't one of your scientific missions where you gather a sample of something and perform tests on it back at a base. You have to deal with real humans affected by war. Who knows what the people who live there have been through?"
"Didn't think you'd take this so seriously."
"Sorry. I just hear we're dealing with relocated persons and, . . . it just reminds me of Siberia, that's all."
"I'm sure the situation is different. We're not fighting omnics, after all."
"Sure it will," Aleksandra got up from the bed to give her girlfriend a hug. Mei accepted it, but didn't focus too much on it, her eyes still on the computer screen.
Hana and Lucio were in the base's main hanger, the Korean giving a once-over of her giant pink MEKA, seeing if the fusion cannons and defense matrix were in proper working order. Lucio had his arms crossed, appearing less than enthused about the mission.
"You seem tense babe," Hana noticed her boyfriend's behavior while inside the MEKA.
"I know I shouldn't. It's just, dealing with these Vishkar people. Being on their side."
"We're on the same side. And we're friends with Satya."
"Well we work with her. We know where we stand. I have no idea what these other Vishkar people are like."
"Think of them as like her. Just doing their jobs."
"Yeah. Doing their dirty work. Forcing people to abide by Vishkar's rules."
"Lucio!"
"Sorry, neném (babe). Guess I still have some problems with them."
"You know we haven't heard a peep from the place since Satya finished her work there. Plus, who do you think helped rebuild Overwatch's bases? Maybe you're not giving her enough credit where it's due."
"Yeah, or maybe it's something else."
"Can you just save your anger problems until we get there? How about this? Instead of thinking about working with Vishkar, think about how you're going to save all these people. Threatened by outside forces who don't like how they are. Just like what you fought for back in Rio."
Lucio decided to take Hana's suggestion to heart, but it didn't completely cover the way he felt about the assignment.
Meanwhile, in the base's main workshop, Torbjorn was already at work packing whatever tools he might need aside from his trusty red and gold hammer. He barked out orders for Brigitte to take whatever parts and tools off the shelves, packing them into various cases.
"Now Brigitte," Torbjorn went on, "when we arrive in Australia, I want you in my sight at all times. Don't go talking to anyone looking like a troublemaker."
"Torbjorn, I'm not a child. I'm 28 years old."
"You don't know what these people are like. They're all off in the head. Years of baking in the sun and radiation will do that to you."
"From what I've heard, they just want to be left alone. Doesn't sound so crazy to me."
"But the lengths people'll go for that."
"For finding peace? I'm sure we can find a proper way. Besides, these evil junkers sound like the kind of boogeymen Reinhardt and I fought back in Germany. They won't be that tough."
"Heh, you're just as hopeful as I was at your age. Best start packing your tools. Never know what you'll find down there. The points I said before still stand."
"Don't worry Torbjorn, I swear I won't get into any trouble."
"You better hope so. If anything happens to you, Reinhardt won't let me hear the end of it."