Scene 13:

This scene is where things start moving somewhere, a little bit. We learn Kael goes on missions to Wutai with some regularity during the war, and that he was originally in medical sciences.

I really like how the Squad 7 squad leader came out, but do not intend to use him in any scenes after this mission. I think it would taint his character if he turned out to have some pivotal part to play or just kept randomly getting dragged into the chaos Kael will end up in soon.

Please feel free to comment, suggest, flame, whatever. I'm not really sure the specific details of where this is going yet myself. I only have a vague idea.

Deployment

Four helicopters roared out of the sky to release their passengers on the rocky cliff top. This was as close as the helicopters could get to the target without being spotted. The SOLDIER inside grabbed their packs and clattered out of the transports. Once outside, they moved far enough away to allow for takeoff before beginning to mill around in search of their squad mates and squad leaders.

SOLDIER 1st class Angeal strode into the fringe of the jungle and placed his pack under a tree, only taking the mission clipboard back to the group with him. There, he found Zack and sent the SOLDIER 2nd class to put his own pack down by Angeal's. Turning from pointing out his pack, Angeal called out, "All squads, roll call. We need to know if anyone is missing now, so we don't worry when we are missing them later and spend unnecessary time looking for them."

The squad leaders all turned and organized their squads before taking an orderly attendance. While they were doing that, Zack returned to stand by his mentor's side.

Angeal greeted him, then turned back to the squads. "Squad 7, report."

"All present," the squad leader reported.

"Good," Angeal checked the squad seven members off his attendance sheet, then looked up at the squad leader. "Follow SOLDEIR 2nd class Fair under the fringe of the jungle. We will regroup there."

The squad acknowledged the order and Zack lead them into the trees, towards where he and Angeal's packs were.

"Squad 10," Angeal inquired, turning back to his clipboard.

"All present, sir."

Angeal nodded to show he heard and marked the squad 10 members as in attendance, "Follow Squad 7 and SOLDIER Fair." He flipped to the second page, "Squad 14?"

"We're all here sir."

"Excellent, follow SOLDIER Fair," Angeal checked off everyone in Squad 14 and was about to turn and follow when he realized he'd checked off "Medical Unit" at the bottom of the Squad 14. "Medical Unit?" He called quietly. How could they expect him to run this operation efficiently if they didn't tell him number and names of the unit they hadn't told him was coming during briefing?

"Here," a single voice responded cautiously.

Angeal turned towards the speaker, and froze at the sight of a white labcoat. It took him barely a second to catch himself and look up at the face of the scientist, who smiled faintly at him.

"Kael Ren," Angeal greeted in a carefully neutral voice.

Kael inclined his head by way of an answer.

Having collected himself, Angeal returned the nod, and flipped the mission packet closed. "For your own safety, professor, I would ask that you stay near the back of the party," the SOLDIER 1st class said, turning away, "We don't want you up front during an ambush."

Kael sighed silently as Angeal's back. Then he composed himself and nodded, "Thank you, sir."

Angeal glanced back at Kael and nodded curtly before setting off towards the rest of the group. Kael hoisted his own pack and followed.

The leader of Squad 7 was standing at the edge of the jungle, and Angeal paused on the way by, pulling him aside. "I want your squad to guard the rear, and…" he gestured at Kael, "Watch over our medical personal."

The squad leader nodded at Kael before turning back to Angeal, "Understood."

Angeal nodded at him and continued past, moving through the three squads to Zack's side.

The members of Squad 7 gathered around curiously as the squad leader shook hands with Kael.

The young scientist smiled at them, "My name is Kael Ren. I'm the medical personal for this mission. Please take care of me." He bowed.

The squad murmured in welcome and the squad leader put a hand on Kael's shoulder, "Don't worry about a thing, professor. Just let us protect you. That way you can better protect us."

Kael smiled and nodded, "Thank you, sir."

"Don't worry too much," the squad leader told the younger man warmly, "The most you'll have to worry about is a few scrapes and other hiking injuries. Once we're on the battlefield, we can take care of ourselves."

"Yes," Kael said, smiling, "Still, I will do my very best to ensure that every one of us returns home. I was specifically assigned to this mission for that very purpose."

The SOLDIERs blinked at him, startled. Then the other squads began to move. The squad leader clasped Kael's shoulder warmly, "Good speech kid. Let's move out." He turned to the squad, "Everyone! We're the rear guard! Let's go!"

Bemused, Kael watched him giving out orders in silence. Then he smiled slowly and allowed himself to be pulled over to the center of the column, as requested.

One final glance at the loose column and the squad leader nodded his approval, giving the order to move out.