The Mission
Damon followed Chris intently, not trying to lose him in the hustle and bustle of the people coming and going through the base. "So Corporal Hylton how many grubs have you kill? I heard that you and your squad took part in the Lightmass Offensive, you must've taken down a whole shitload," Damon said with a hint of excitement. Chris's answer quelled any excitement Damon had. "Yea I killed a lot of grubs, a shitload you can even call it, but I don't count much grubs I kill I count it by the number of men I'm able to bring home intact."
Damon stood there for a moment stunned, before continuing with the black Gear in silence.
The duo went through many passages and corridors until they came to a door that was made of pure metal. It had to be at least 3 inches thick and two Gears stood guard outside it, their eyes following Damon and Chris's movements as they approached.
"Halt! Do you have clearance to be in this sector?" one of the guards asked. Reaching into his pocket and pulling out a card Chris showed the guard his clearance ID. Motioning towards Damon he said, "He's with me, he's a rookie and doesn't have a clearance card yet."
The two guards stepped aside and let Chris insert his ID card into a key slot. The doors opened with a hiss and groan as they slid slowly apart to reveal the darkened interior. As both Chris and Damon entered one of the guards smirked at Damon and said, "Rookie eh? Well looks like we have more meat for the Grinder." Damon shuddered on the inside as that was the second time he had heard that phrase said to him in the last 30 minutes.
The room inside was quite vast with an array of computer panels on the wall and a few laptop like devices sitting on the floor and countertops. Two Gears were sitting in the chairs that lined the wall of the place. One male, one female.
"Chris, where the hell have you been?" asked the male with a slight Latino accent. Chris crossed the room and then locked arms with the Latino Gear, "I have been doing your mom," he said with a smile then looked over to where Damon stood, "That's the new guy he's a little green behind the ears," Chris whispered into the other's ear.
Chris turned towards Damon, "Rookie get over here and meet the rest of the squad, ON THE DOUBLE!!" Damon obeyed instantly and jogged over to where the others were gathered. Motioning to the Latino Gear he said, "This is your new commanding officer, Sergeant Christian Espinosa."
Christian was about 6 feet tall with a very dark complexion. He had a five o'clock shadow and long kind of curly black hair. He was a little bit more built then Chris was but both still looked menacing as people.
Christian shook Damon's outstretched hand and said, "You can call me Sarge." "Or Cspos for that matter," this was coming from the female Gear who he still hadn't been introduced to yet. She swaggered over and playfully shoved Christian aside. "The name's Marissa Mayuga."
Marissa was the cutest girl Damon had ever seen. She was about 5 and a half feet, which was pretty small for a Gear even a girl. She was as muscular looking as a girl her sized could probably get. She had auburn hair tied up into a short ponytail. By her color and name Damon came to the conclusion she was from one of the South Islands. She was wearing a much slimmer version of the COG armor it looked a lot like Chris's without the hunchback.
"Well if you are all settled and acquainted I would like to start the mission briefing." Said a gruff voice from behind the Gears.
They all turned around to see Colonel Victor S. Hoffman standing before them. He was huge. Standing at 6 feet 4 inches he was the biggest Gear in the room. His face was lined with a text book tough guy attitude. He was wearing the standard military dress coat with his Colonel stars lining the side of his collar strap.
Next to the Colonel was an oriental woman of about maybe 20-30 she was as short as Marissa and not as built but she still big for her size. She had a really cute face a short brownish hair in a bun.
Damon took notice that she gave a barely noticeable nod towards Chris, who returned it in similar fashion. "This is Tammy Li she will be your communications officer," Hoffman said mainly to Damon since he was the newest one of the squad.
The lights dimmed and the main screen of the TV screens in the back turned on to show a map of their planet, Sera. Using a pointing stick Hoffman pointed to a spot on the continent of Tyrus, where Jacinto Plateau was located. "This is the Argenes Forest. It is located about 30 minutes from the town of Landown if you use a King Raven."
Hunter squad all tuned into the briefing intently. Hoffman continued, "Gamma one – one was sent here a week ago to set up a listening post." Christian piped up, "What was Gamma one doing setting up a listening post in the middle of some woods." "There have been a number of Locust sightings within the last month and we sent them in to see if there is any major locust build up in the area," Hoffman answered, he turned to Tammy and said, "Miss Li will inform you of the rest of your mission."
Tammy stepped forward and cleared her throat, "We lost contact with Gamma one about two days ago and right now we fear the worst has happened." Hoffman put in his two cents quickly, "Though we are sure those Gears kicked some fine locust ass." Tammy looking quite an annoyed at being interrupted continued, "that's where you come in Hunter squad. Your mission is to insert as close to Gammas listening post as we can possibly get you and see if Gamma is still there."
"What if they aren't there?" Chris asked.
"Then you will report back to us ASAP and we will pick you up. If they are there then you will provide reinforcements to their numbers, and Corporal Hylton please let me finish next time before you open your big mouth," she said with a slight smile on her face. Chris kept quiet and returned the smile.
"When do we leave?" asked Sergeant Espinosa.
It was Hoffman who responded, "In 0200 hours that should give you plenty of time to get your weapons and get ready, is there anymore questions." The whole squad stayed quiet. "Then good luck on your mission I want to see you all back here, Hunter squad you are dismissed."
All four members of Hunter snapped off a salute then proceeded to exit the building to prep for the mission.
Two hours later Chris and Christian were walking onto the helipad. The King Raven chopper they were using was already starting its engines and kicking up dust. The chopper was about 100 yards away, and the two Gears were conversing heavily.
"So what do you think my chances are at Tammy giving me head?" Chris laughed. Christian however was being more serious, "pretty good if you ever get her."
"Yea I will eventually but we got to be incognito about it, like you and Marissa." Chris replied. Christian looked around to see if anybody was trying to ease drop on their conversation before saying, "Me n' Marissa are getting pretty serious I was thinking of giving her this." He pulled out of his ammo pouch a ring with a decent sized diamond on it. Chris's eyes were locked onto the diamond. He snapped out of his trance and said, "You aren't thinking of popping the question to her are you, you guys are getting way to serious, you know the COG's rule on fraternization, you both could end up in the Slab."
Christian simply smiled and put the ring back into his pocket. Shouldering his Gnasher Shotgun he said, "Fuck the COG, they can't afford to loss anymore Gears and they won't put us in jail over something as petty as love," he joked. "Plus the Slab was destroyed shortly before The Lightmass Offensive, good thing Major H. got all those prisoners out," he said trying to change the subject.
Chris not really wanting to bring it back up remarked, "Yea they brought back Marcus Fenix, that guy was hardcore to the bone. You here how he and Dom took out that locust leader on the Tyro Pillar and was able to set off the Lightmass Bomb."
"Yea I'm happy he's on our side and not the locust." Anymore conversation was silenced by the whir of the Ravens blades. Christian went on and sat next to Marissa, Chris sat across from him next to the rookie.
"What were you two boys talking about?" Marissa asked. Chris and Christian looked at each other. "Awe you know boy's stuff," said Christian as the King Raven lifted off the pad. Now the mission really began.