Disclaimer: Another chapter done, though through some very complicated situation. As you know, it is mostly real live business and somewhat that this fanfic is late. Well, at least it is done.

While this chapter is more towards the Adepts, the EXALT will be a major part in the next chapter. But it will be more… 'ADVENT' situation? (insert sinister chuckle here)

EXALT

I see a sea of metal machine shape as men. Their empty blank eyes leer at the horizon, the last bastion of mankind. Their weapons brought to bear, unafraid to unleash their weapons of mass destruction upon the sea of metal shaped man. But in the end, no lone island can withstand the incoming tide of tsunami. Once, there was land, soon it will be none.

We are numerous. We are many. We are without numbers.

We are Legion.

I awoke dead at night. It was four in the morning, and yet I could not get myself to sleep. My head ache, due to the lack of actual sleep. Memories that is not my own continue to haunt me. Demons of shape and sizes claw it's path into my sanity. War of attrition that yield only death and suffering. I saw ruination of a once proud nation. The sea dried in a matter of seconds. The incoming apocalypse dawn upon us, and a strange, gigantic machine, channeling an unknown energy, a pure searing white blinding light of plasma welcome it's embraced. The Kanegawa Military Industry label is stamped on said machine, but for what purpose it holds, I could not say.

I saw my fellow Adepts… turned against humanity. Their psychotic glee plastered on their face. Their calm blue eyes are replaced with murderous red hue that shine brighter than the glowing sun. I could see myself in the Adepts however, all desperate to wrest control over what had become of them, but to no avail.

No. To say that I lack of sleep is not it; I just had a nightmare.

I digress this horror from my head; paying no mind to what my mind had just fathom about as I sit upright from my bed, looking at the three Adepts that shares with me. For a time, there was a time that I envy the Adepts. Here I stare across their hyperbole capsule which serve as their bed, maintenance chamber, the likes. I stare at Adam, Dean and Sarah intensively, hoping their blank gaze would locked at me. Theirs hollow eyes long past me.

Truly, I am. Very much envy them.

And so I strove to the cafeteria, perhaps taking my mind off with some snack and cold chocolate milk will do. As I exit from the halls of the Adept holding area (which also house all active Adept units), the night guard salute me in an attention, which I salute back. After some idle chatting and a promise of snack bar for the lone guard, I was off my way.

Picking up a number of snacks wasn't the hardest part. It was trying to get in without having these damnable female soldiers ogling at me with their starry eyes of their, before having to fight my way against a horde of gorgeous woman who sees me as a fine tender meat. I maybe synthetic lifeform, but still, the attractiveness was never suited for me. There are times I blame Leon-chan for being a direct clone, but perhaps it is also because I was the 'matured' out of the team.

It was not the first time it happen to a man of my caliber; Tarma Roving once did the same, but almost died just to grab a cup of coffee. From the SPARROW Intelligence Agency own little cafeteria if I recall correctly.

Returning from the cafeteria (and barely escape from the rabid fangirls) to the Adept holding area (which I still find that offending, they call it a 'temporary name 'til we can come up with suitable name for it'), gave the lone night guard soldier his snack bar and walking through the familiar halls down to my chamber.

It's funny how my chamber is also a shared room with Adam, Dean and Sarah. At least General Marco treat me like human and provide bedding, the Adepts however had to settle with these capsule.

I've seen the schematic of the capsule, and even try boarding one. It was cramped, with little movement to be had and with little interactions inside said capsule outside of a few buttons to interact with – one button to enter sleep mode and another to open the capsule door. Sleep mode last for eight hours.

As I sip my cup of cold chocolate milk, I couldn't help but to marvel these three, so as the rest of the Adepts here. Adam took most of his traits from me – the past me. Pragmatic, serious, and to the point. Dean very much took a different route from Adam, just like I am in a sense. Sarah, on the other hand…

I just couldn't place my hand which part of her did she came from in me. I would say that she maybe from the desire to protect Fiolina Germi, but that was a long stretch. She is very bubbly, naïve, impulsive and desire to best her big brother and me via impossible achievement.

I mean, for heaven sake, Adam and Dean, in their inactive mode, stood at attention, as if they are ready to bounce from their heavenly slumber and to the armory if the alarm are sound to retake the base from an enemy invasion. Sarah on the other hand, looks like a sleeping Beauty with her electric glowing eyes staring right at you, with that sweet smile no less! If she is trying to accomplish something, she already have.

Well, I'll better start sleeping soon. Six more Adept Elites need to be train and certified to join in the ranks of Heroic. Need to better myself first thing in the morning.

(Morning)

I woke up with a startle, seeing Sarah's radiant smile beaming across her face so darn near me. The girl is being playful again.

AUDIO LOG 00

UNTITLED (FOR NOW)

Sarah: Good morning father! Had a good night sleep?

Shepherd: *groan* Not really…

Sarah: I must say, I do envy you, father.

Shepherd: Oh? And why is that?

Sarah: Well, you got a bed and a room and whatnot. Me and Adam and Dean had those capsule.

Shepherd: It was design that way, Sarah. You do realize that the Kanegawa Military Industry scientist made those just for you to charge up when your inactive, correct?

Sarah: True, but we don't need capsule to begin with; our powers draws from the Sun, and are kept in check for interval cycles. A complete charge from the Sun will last us for a week! Father on the other hand have an entirely different reactor built altogether, and yet you have a very comfy bed. I bet it must be heavenly to sleep in.

Shepherd: While it is true that you and I, and through rough extension, all other Adepts uses different kind of energy source, I can hardly be at fault. Still, I prefer hard, solid ground than sleeping on rather than on a bed.

Sarah: Ha, your joking. *silent* Your joking, right father?

Shepherd: No. I'm serious. I prefer sleeping on the ground so that I can feel the vibration on the ground which alert me to any enemy position. The soft, comfy bed is like sleeping on a mud. Too soft and too much distraction.

Sarah: … huh, I… I never knew that.

Shepherd: It came from experience. You already learn the basics on how to engage the enemy, but there are times when you also need to be very aware of your surroundings even in your sleep.

Sarah: I see.

(Sarah's eyes glow in a split second, startle me again.)

Sarah: I appreciate this lesson father. I'm going to share this info to my brothers!

Shepherd: Oh… Um… yeah. Okay. You do that.

(Sarah proceed to plant a kiss onto my cheek, smiling girlishly. Again, I was startled.)

Sarah: Love you father! Going to bother Leon-chan again!

Shepherd: Just try not to murder him this time, okay?

Sarah: *laugh* That never happen!

AUDIO LOG END

Usually, I pay no mind what just happen between the two of us; father and daughter(?) bonding and such, just like what Fio described it to be. What really gets me is her eyes that suddenly glow unexpected. Was that the same to all Adepts? An inspired insight perhaps? Maybe it's something more.

I decide not to dwell too hard on the matter and get myself wash and clean up.

It has been months since the Adepts are active… and yet I still can't get them to stop eyeing at me whenever I decides to wash myself up. They have that curious look whenever I splash water to my face or when I took a whole shower. They even asked if I was water resistant. I really need to say a few words or two to Prof Namro regarding this small matter. Chances are, he'll laugh at my complain again, like the last time I hurt myself and Adam notice I was bleeding.

When you look at the point of view from the Adepts, it make sense; the Adept all have synthetic skins with a few selected rank below Veteran has thin layer of metal fiber (Rhino Diamond Skin), but if you look at their skin very closely, you can see a crossline in a more finer detail, like a paint on a blank wall. Mine is a straight out living tissue, tougher than titanium, and stretchable too.

It still disturb me that male and female Adept prefer to remain… naked through the whole ordeal until they got out of the Adept holding area. Some of the Protégé question why they are in need of uniform and clothes to cover their private parts when they are literally machine in human form… a question that was raise as to ask why the security guard look so squirmy in front of a female Adept.

Sometimes bringing food into the holding area is also not a good idea. Because Adept can't taste any food they consume and is treated as a luxury item than anything, their eyes found its way to me, when they saw me eating a meal and see me enjoying it every savor moment of it. Cue three million question from the clueless Adept regarding the food I had to fill my belly.

Sigh, live as a synthetic lifeforms is hard…

The day went by uneventful, training the new six member into Heroic will take time, with interesting result; some of the Adept Elite prefer to go all out on melee, even if the target is several league away while the other prefers to keep their distance than to go up close and personal. When I highlight this problem, some of the Adept said that they are lousy at shooting with a gun while the other prefers to just hang behind taking pot shot. This problem is highlighted to Professor Namro as a defect to either of their targeting sensor. The Kanegawa Military Industry scientist and researcher wishes to fix this problem, but after a short debate, I pitch an idea to Professor Namro regarding melee and range Adept. Heroic is a jack-of-all-trades version of the Adept – why not introduce the Berserker and the Archangel? Hearing my proposal, the good professor starts working on a newer upgrade cater to melee and ranged Adept respectively.

Having Adam and Dean with me to speed the process up is a tremendous help. Outside of having another watchtower of ours blast to smithereens again by an enrage general over the klaxon morning summons, I can't really say anything more than the usual (but seriously now, did the general had a rocket launcher at hand? I heard some soldiers sleeps with a gun but this is utterly ridiculous). Can't say to Sarah though; she got herself into trouble again, against Nathalie Germi of all person. Hmm… where to begin?

It begin when Sarah is found lying on the ground, appeared to be testing my theory of sort, with Leon-chan lazily sitting besides her questioning her strange motive. When she explain to her Guardian, Nathalie Germi, who was pasting by comment on that theory. From my understanding, argument assures like a fuse just ready to ignite under the burning sun. Like a grenade explode, the girls proceed to argue aloud, drawing attention Regular Army soldiers, recruits, officers and their staff member, including a number of curious Adept.

Leon was trying his best to defuse the problem. His not very lucky; the two girls chew him out like a piece of bubblegum. That is rare even for Sarah to do.

AUDIO LOG 01

DAUGHTERS OF WAR.

Leon: Oh, finally! Shepherd, you gotta help me man; those two are driving me up the walls!

Shepherd: … aren't you suppose to be a rank higher than these two?

Leon: A woman who argues back doesn't give a damn about ranks! I learn that when our Staff Sergeant sass back a general way back when, and it ain't pretty…

(All of a sudden, Rumi and Madoka Aikawa came to mind; those two once sass a Regular Army Major rank officer into an early retirement. How that happen is everyone guess.)

Shepherd: Sigh, fine… Okay, girls. Break it up. You do not want to be on disciplinary action do you?

Sarah: But she started it! She said your theory has no basis!

Nathalie: I'm merely stating the fact – the fact that a walking toaster who can identify between allies and enemies is quite obvious. Unless your deaf, like miss little teapot here.

(Sarah display a rare moment of utter rage, her eye color change from calm blue to crimson red. She held the human female soldier by the collar fiercely)

Sarah: A-a teapot?! Who you calling a teapot, tube bar?!

(Nathalie seemed to take offense to that comments, her hand slowly reaching for her knife.)

Nathalie: Why I never!

Shepherd: Enough! Stand down, Sarah! That's an order!

(Sarah drop Nathalie almost immediately, causing the female soldier to stood up in attention after fixing her collar. Sarah crimson red eye persist, burning with rage.)

Shepherd: Sarah, stand by my side this instant. That's an order.

(Sarah seemed reluctant, but she did so as ordered.)

Shepherd: Nathalie, I appreciate what your doing is to point out my flaws, but please do so with moderation; I do not want to make this a habit of tying her on a leash.

Nathalie: Maybe you should.

(Sarah's eyes beamed again, barring fangs. Yet she did not move from her position; she was ordered to stand by Shepherd side after all.)

Nathalie: And made sure she also vaccinate; she looks like a rabid killing toaster than the benevolent nuts and bolts now.

(Sarah seemed to be shaking with rage. Her hands ball up into a fist.)

Shepherd: Sarah, go back to your room for some down time.

Sarah: BUT!

Shepherd: That is an order.

(Sarah stop protesting. She salute, and stomp her way to the Adept Holding Area. Several Adept accompany Sarah back, as too Leon, who decides to follows her, worried that she might do something offsetting. As for the crowd, I quickly dismiss the gathering of soldiers, before turning my full attention to Nathalie Germi)

Nathalie: Well, at the very least she still follow your orders. At least she is a trained hound.

Shepherd: Nathalie, what is your problem? Every time we had to go through this process and every time you decides to undermine me because I'm a Cyborg. What other wanton insult are you trying to do before something horrible happen that I can't even control?

Nathalie: Just a tolerance test. She fail by the way.

Shepherd: She look up at me for a very good reason. Insult me in front of the Adepts, and the results are the same.

Nathalie: And why is that, L-X8? Maybe because you shouldn't be here. Maybe, it's because of all those Adept running around like they own the place. Or maybe-

Shepherd: Please stop.

Nathalie: -it's because you are a threat to the Regular Army.

Shepherd: … a threat? To the Regular Army? What are you implying?

Nathalie: I'm talking about that hidden energy Blade you keep. I'm talking about that miniature reactor laying in dormant, just waiting to detonate. I'm talking about that unknown program called the Legion Program, which, by the way, is both menacing and ominous?

Shepherd: … are we done, Nathalie Germi?

Nathalie: You can't ignore the fact that one of those days you will side against the Regular Army and it's benefactor, and once that happen, I'm going to enjoy breaking you down, bolt, nuts and microchip, down to size.

Shepherd: My allegiance has always been the Regular Army. And my judgment is very much sound. Thank you.

Nathalie: Hmph.

Shepherd: *walks away, but stop for a short moment* Oh, by the way. That method Sarah was fighting over? It only works for Adepts and I. We can distinguished between friend and foe via the speed and movement of said intruder.

AUDIO LOG END

You should have seen Nathalie Germi's face when I drop that info bomb on her. She looked uttered confused, followed by total annoyance. She may utter a curse or two, but at least she was wrong, and my basis is very much sound.

Now to deal with the other tantrum child… Hopefully, Leon can defuse this matter before I do.

AUDIO LOG 02

CALMING THE AURORA.

Shepherd: Ah, there you are. I-

Sarah: SHE MADE ME MAD! MAD I TELL YOU! I FEEL LIKE WANTING TO BREAK HER VERY BONE JUST TO MAKE A POINT!

(I raise my eyebrow with interest, seeing her clobbering a stationary target – a thousand ton pillar with a curious photographic picture of Nathalie Germi tape just above Sarah's head height – with her bare fist. Loud metal clashing echoed the hall, raising concern to the other Adepts that wonders by. Leon couldn't do anything but fruitlessly trying to cool her down.)

Shepherd: Calm down, Violent don't solve everything; it is a last resort option.

Sarah: I-I… GRRRHH!

(Shepherd proceed to embrace his synthetic daughter, holding her in place. Her hands are being crushed in, and yet she still punches it without a second thought. Sarah, still in rage mode, attempt to break free.)

Shepherd: Calm down, Sarah. Please. Calm down.

Sarah: Why should I be calming down?! Just let me go! Let me go!

Shepherd: Calm down. That's an order.

(Sarah starts to slowly calming down, her aggressive nature seemed to be slowing down. Shepherd notice that the phrase 'that is an order' is effective on the Adepts, even a Heroic version such as Sarah.)

Sarah: … I… I still hate her. I just… hate her. So much.

Shepherd: I know. But there is nothing we can do. She is an excellent field Commando. And earn that right to call the shots.

Sarah: They why can we be that Field Commando? At the very least at the same level as they are.

Shepherd: Technically speaking, we all are.

Sarah: Then why are we being treated like dirt?

Shepherd: Nathalie just has an interesting view that all Adepts are evil. If not, a menace. You need to understand that all of her friends was involve in the war against the CFA. Almost eighty percent of her friends died in battle. Her hatred was legendary, even CABAL would priorities her over Matthew, and that says a lot.

Sarah: CABAL had nothing to do with us Adepts. We're superior than that clunky Prototypes of his.

Shepherd: You misunderstand me; she hated the Adept BECAUSE you are all spawn from me.

Sarah: … I…

Shepherd: Here, let me see your hands. Does it hurt?

Sarah: It doesn't hurt. I don't feel pain. I don't feel… anything…

Shepherd: Of course you do. Where else does all that pile up anger came from?

Sarah: Simulated emotions. The one of many program that-

Shepherd: I'm referring to where, not what.

Sarah: Sigh… fine… my anger came from Nathalie Germi and her accusations. I just… couldn't let it go. It just… boils me up – figuratively speaking – that I… well, blew up – again, figuratively speaking.

Shepherd: Well, if it calms you down further, she was wrong; it's a skill only Adepts could learn.

Sarah: I know. You told her yourself, right?

(I blinked. She knows? Is the program kicking in again? The Legion Program?)

Shepherd: Y-yes. I told her all 'bout it. She wasn't impress, let me put it that way.

Sarah: I'm sure it does.

AUDIO LOG END

I decided to end our little moment there and start reflecting everything that had happen. First and foremost, the Legion Program is at it again. And the report speaks true; it was triggered by me. I definitely need to get Prof Namro about this. Secondly, the Adept seemed to respond my orders obediently without question when I add 'that is an order' at the end of my command. We need further testing on this.

The reports are made and as such, I can focus on another task at hand; apparently, the general appeal of Adepts in public safety is still in question and General Marco Rossi wanted to change that negativity. A select few of my Elites are to be dispatch to many local public area (with Regular Army escort) to show the genuine claim that the Adept are not aggressive against civilian and citizens. They are to be deployed within a weeks time and I had a pleasure to double check these Elites data performances.

That is, until something urgent came up that cancel the plan altogether. And to think we finally able to do something important and very mundane.

It was a serious meeting, seeing many big shot in the meeting room and a few surprises which I have not see or heard from. Marco Rossi, Fiolina Germi, Tarma Roving the Third, Eri Kasamoto, Leon-chan, Doomguy and Havoc all join in the meeting, along with Adam, Dean and Sarah. Matthew and Nathalie are also here, though they are not important right now. Apparently, they wanted me to check on a defunct paramilitary called the EXALT.

AUDIO LOG 03

EXALT

Marco: Welcome, Shepherd. Welcome Adepts. I want this meeting to be as official as possible. There are reasons that we pull you from your previous assignment to comfort the public for this, as we need as much helping hand as possible.

Adam: I assume the severity is also the reason we are being pulled out of.

Dean: Huh, I was disappointed though. Mundane tasked actually yield better results than mission on hand.

Marco: As I said, this mission is quite a different one, and the fact is we are sending you four instead of our usual fire team should give you an idea how urgent it is.

Sarah: … it was so bad that the usual team had to pull out? Really?

Nathalie: You got a problem with that, sister?

Sarah: … no. I guess not.

Shepherd: But what is wrong with the usual fire team that warrant such sudden change?

Marco: Matthew and Nathalie has been the only member that has been established since the start of the Cybernetic War against CABAL, and it is a hastily formed team. Other fire team were already dispatch on other areas and are currently under staff. The reason why the base is very much manned is due to the increasing use of Adepts units, and this has given us a lot of breathing room to dispatch our more veteran forces into the field rather than have them coop here like it use too.

Tarma: And thanks to that, development of other weapon technology is booming. We were expecting the Hydra Slug deployment to be ready in several days later, rather than months on end.

Eri: Some of our former allies in Russia and China is now lending hand as well, including the Ikari Warrior Mercenary after that disastrous mission on Sydney Australia. Their allegiance however is still questionable.

Fio: The same can't be said to the west coast of the United States of America; the Liberation Army is gaining more territory and supporters, and it is only a matter of time before the government could issue a direct orders to us in halting General Amelia. The US Marine Corp has already defect to the Regular Army, thanks to Flynn here.

Flynn: Well, the pals needed a warning sign after all. As a former Marine myself, it was my duty to inform them that General Amelia interest is to turn America into her own playground. Some of the lads don't sit well with her plan. Loyalist of the US Army is pulling out from all form of outpost, bases, even reserved Army are getting their gear and hoping off the sinking boat.

Shepherd: And yet I do not see why…

Havoc: Do we need to spell it out for ya kid? Matthew and Nathalie here is undermanned. That stunt they pull during the war? It was mostly luck based and well timed coordinate assault. Mostly due to having Leon or Flynn by their side. In truth, their team is not ready for any sort of deployment. Not officially that is.

Matthew: Aww come on man, you make it sound like a bad thing! I don't need anyone on my team; I am my own team! I'm a one man army! I can beat fools with my Rattlesnake Rifle easy!

Havoc: You have not earn that title yet kid. I like to see how you survive on a mission that span for over a month, no backup or a plan, behind enemy line, armed with only a pistol and a knife.

Matthew: Ha! That sound like an easy mission!

Flynn: I swear to God… that kid ego is as large as a moon.

Nathalie: Don't remind me how I could tolerate him… I try not to think about it, it hurts just by imagining it.

(Marco and Tarma look at each other with an embarrassed outlook. Both refrain to open their mouth in Matthew's defense, partly because Marco was on a roaming rampaging against General Morden while Tarma had to keep his partner in line outside of accompanying his only unit companion. Eri and Fio snicker)

Shepherd: … so, about this mission?

Marco: Ah, yes. Got a little sidetracked there – we want you four to investigate the sudden emerge of the former warring faction known as the EXALT.

Adam: EXALT? Doesn't sound like any warring faction that was mentioned on the threat level chart.

Dean: They probably got kicked out of the war so hard they became obsolete.

Havoc: Right on point. It was me and Larissa who defeated the EXALT, however we do not make this news known worldwide due to the controversy at the time. Looking back now, even if we did published our findings to the world, General Amelia would have call it a propaganda bullshit.

Sarah: And why is that?

Marco: We found some clue, but nothing concrete, that the EXALT is actually an off-shot faction to the Liberation Army.

(The three Adept and I display shocked expression. Nathalie and Matthew also express similar fashion.)

Leon: Believe it or not, this discovery came to light AFTER the Liberation Army first fire their guns at us, whether it was intentional or not is everyone guess. Thus far the only information we gather are all jumbled up data with no solid coherence.

Adam: Thus making the puzzle even more screwed up, especially when said puzzle is larger than normal.

Tarma: So far the only warring faction that we can confirm with a solid coherence are the one we manage to identify, the Rebellion Army with General Morden is still our enemy, now bolstered by their future counterpart – the Future Rebellion Army. CABAL and his Cyborg Federation Army. Lastly the Liberation Army.

Shepherd: Out of curiosity, what are the rest of the warring faction that you mention?

Eri: Well, basically everything else that isn't nail down; the European Front, the Red Army of Russia, the People Liberator Army of China, Japan Self Defense Force, the Canadian Armed Forces, the Pacific Australian Front, Ikari Warrior Mercenary-

Shepherd: Wait, the Ikari Warrior Mercenary? I thought they were allies?

Marco: Their loyalty is based on how much money we throw at them and how much align our goal is with theirs. The last active duty on Australia consume almost eight digit number of cold hard cash, and their last employees were the Kanegawa Military Industry. They almost broke alliance before we mention Shadow Council that brought their attention.

(I can see at the corner of my eyes that Matthew and Nathalie shift the weight of their chair, as if feeling rather disturbed. It was the same time as the phrase Shadow Council are brought up.)

Shepherd: … and what is this about the Shadow Council?

Fio: Nothing that you should know, dear. This information is very sensitive already and I do not want to have you worried about something that is outside of you mission specifications.

Shepherd: Understood.

Leon: Okay, let's go through this mission briefing first, then you'll understand where this is going; during the last war Matthew, Nathalie, Flynn and I venture into parts of America that is neither being controlled by any warring faction outside of the normal minutemen during the war. They denied any request of help and denied any kind of trade, but we do get a permission to stay in their Inn for a while.

Flynn: Normally, under a normal circumstances, the minutemen should have received help 'cos you know, they are hardly combat trained and will fall apart just by whacking the dude in charge to the ground. But their behavior are strange – not enough to rose suspicion but just enough to make you wonder why they are so darn protective in these here parts.

Dean: Okay, so… you guys just left without so much as to take a peek?

Nathalie: We're soldiers, not scavenger. We can in, we asked question and we walk. End of story.

Matthew: Wait, so no one even mention about the giant monster that is walking at the distance?

Leon: There you go again with the same monster story; there ain't any monster back then! How on Earth can you identify a huge monster from the distance? It was foggy as hell!

Nathalie: Seriously brother, your credibility is getting lower and lower the longer you make no sense of it all.

Matthew: But there is one! I even wrote a report on it! Sure I got some scolding for traumatizing Superintendent Findlay, but I wrote what I saw!

(The three Adept look at each other, mix expression is being thrown around. I decide to press this matter on hand.)

Shepherd: Sounds awful. May I read the report?

Matthew: Knock yourself out; it's at the SPARROW office where my reports are in process since the end of the war.

Marco: As we were saying before you start sharing with your Bigfoot theory, it had come to our attention that the area maybe under the influence of the EXALT, and since they are relatively near one of our controlled checkpoint, we want you four to go in with a thorough inspection. You are allowed to carry armed weapons for this mission, though we would prefer if you would capture at least one enemy for interrogation.

Havoc: Dunno how much good it will do for ya; last time we got some prisoners of war, they outright kill themselves. They value the information they hold than to spell out the alphabet for ya.

Marco: The order still stands. Will you accept this mission?

Shepherd: … it's been some time since I was on active duty, and I would love to see these kids perform in front of my eyes. When can we leave?

AUDIO LOG END.

After the meeting (and a short mission briefing), the Adepts and I begin to prepare our gear and equipment for this mission. Adam decides to pick his selection of a classic shotgun/assault rifle combo with a sidearm (XSG-13 automatic shotgun and the Rattlesnake Pulse Rifle), Dean choose the AP Marksman and shotgun (also a XSG variant shotgun) while Sarah choose an odd combination of rocket launcher and a assault rifle (UAC Model 1993 Rocket launcher and what appears to be the USEF Storm Rifle).

Seeing as how much firepower they are packing in contrast to mine (I decided to pick up only my sidearm and a shotgun), I quickly point out the mission being an active reconnaissance survey, not venturing into a warzone, Dean was the one who throws a very logical answer.

"You'll never know what kind of danger we're facing, so it's good to be well prepared."

Taking the answer into account, I decided to also pack in some heat, gathered enough grenades, ordering a Metal Slug, etc...

….after all, you'll never know what horrors we might find ourselves out there.

Report End.

Legion Program Report Diagnostic 02

Report written by Professor Mizuka Ayumi.

After receiving more and more reports regarding the mystery of the Legion Program, from Shepherd no less, the more it sound… strange.

Professor Namro regard the Adept existence as flawless creation may have been an understatement at best; the Legion Program continue to show flaws from every seams, as it seemed to be incapable of hiding even the most common conversation private as is. Repeated test on this phenomenon has yield more question than answers, and one factual coincidence is how this 'hive mind' is in fact growing. New information filtered in are spread like wildfire, and the source all came from Shepherd. Of course, pointing him as the source of problem will not yield any results; he had no control over this matter as much as we had no control over this technology, even if we did build the Adept from him.

As we all know, the Legion Program came into existence as a mingle technology between CABAL technology and that from the Future Rebellion Army own technology. But every source regarding these Legion came from the FRA. Additionally, we finally know what all these binary coding means; they are orders - in a form of white noises, too low frequency for humans to hear but can still affect if being exposed too long. From what we manage to decipher, it range from the phrase Shepherd, Loyal, Standby and Master. There is much we need to decipher from, hopefully something that could bring this war to our advantage.

Shepherd seemed to have given us another interesting find of his own; apparently, when an Adept Unit does an action, he can order them to stop or perform whatever tasked they are doing via 'Orders'. For example, if Adept Unit A is busy performing Task A, Shepherd can (forcefully) redirect Adept Unit A to perform Task B, but only when the phrase 'that is an order' is utter out by the end of said command. No matter how ridiculous it may sound, the unit will comply without question, even if the command is intrusive. We have repeatedly trying to duplicate said experiment with a normal human officer with a much higher rank than Shepherd, but with mix results – the Adept follows said orders, but not the type we saw from Shepherd own. While a human officer command seemed like a choice (to the Adepts), Shepherd command seemed absolute, almost forceful.

The Adept that undergo said experiment said that taking "orders from a human officer is given, and it is up to us to either obey or denied, given the situation. Our father (Shepherd) is… absolute… for some reason."

Since the technology derived from the FRA, we can only assume that the Future Rebellion Army own 'Legion Program' to be much superior than we would initially thought.

EXALT (Shepherd POV)

I know not what this EXALT is, or what they were before CABAL rock the world with his army, but from what information gain from Havoc, they are an organization that try to bring down the Regular Army via political means and blackmails. They do have their own military might, but it is so vastly underpowered that it question why they are willing to go after the Regular Army in the first place.

What we know is that they are obsess with Martian technology (or rather, extra-terrestrial), and had try to alter their own genes to counter the Regular Army field commando to be on par with the best soldier. Forget about troops, their headquarters are a glorified office at the top floor somewhere in New York, and that Havoc and Larissa storm the place with enough firepower to wipe them out from the power play. The situation seemed to be gotten less severe after their disband, but that did not discount the fact that they were a threat before. I mean, they had a freaking death satellite aiming down Regular Army base at one point! Havoc and Larissa did a good job thoroughly cleanse them from existence…

Now that they have return… puts that into a newer perspective. Are we going to have a new faction, rising in power? Or are they something more?

Adept Berserker

"BERSERKER! TERRORIZE!"

The Walking Tank Destroyer

It has come to our attention that some of the Adepts undergoing their initiation to Heroic status have came across problems of their own, mainly their incapability to aim straight with their armed weapons. They show signs of frustration on operating any armed weapon and has gone 'primitive' to crush their foes up close and person. After going through many test results, we finally figure out that some of our Muscle Mass upgrade may have a bug or two that is interfering with their advance targeting sensor and thus rendering the Adept Unit being frustrated over such trivia matter. Knowing our mistakes, we issue an immediate orders to recall of any bugged Muscle Mass upgrade to be replaced. However, Shepherd, who caught wind of our practice, approach us with an interesting idea; instead of replacing it (and thus making it expensive to replace), why not simply adapt it? And thus, the Berserker program is initiated.

The Adept Berserker are a melee orientate warrior (they pride themselves as warriors, not soldiers) carrying no range weapon outside of their semi-automatic sidearm (Gloak-17, Uzi, etc). These warriors are exclusively on the offensive, primarily on the very most front of the battlefield (some Adepts Berserker even considered an honor to die in melee range against them), zipping to and fro, smashing opposition with brutal tenacity. With Muscle Mass upgrade still in effect, they can deliver a punch that could level a building with a single strike. Some might even consider these Berserker to be rather fond of the carnage they found themselves in. They are essentially Tank Destroyer in human form, wielding jetpack at high speed. Surprisingly enough, most Berserker are male Adepts, while a few female Adept do exist from time to time.

All Berserker primary method of attack is to get close to the enemy, nose to nose to unleash a crippling blow that can destroy any armored foe on the ground. They are to engage in melee range, fast moving assault unit capable of moving to a next target one after another. They are equipped with heavy duty K-series Tungsten Pile Bunker Buster Gauntlet, design to puncher heavy armored tanks hull like tissue paper, and they are further equipped with mobile jetpack booster for fast terrain maneuverability purposes. The all-terrain jetpack booster, a variation of the aerial jetpack booster, are build for maneuvering terrain landscape in mind and thus cannot be use to fly, though that did not stop some Berserker to perform impossible jumps from said booster. For added protection, they are also being given an experimental Reactive Shield, a reverse-engineer technology from the Future Rebellion Armies own Future Shield Grunt. The shield doubles as to indicate where the shots are fired at, giving the Adept Berserker to locate and destroy any enemy that tries to damage said unit.

Despite the lack of any range weapon, they do not have any quip against any target on the ground. The Adept Berserker once was given a test against the Kanegawa Military Industry Future Tank for field testing with. Suffice to say, the Future Tank had no future as the Adept Berserker stood what remains of said tank. When tested on a real combat field, almost all known armor tanks became a joke to them. When further testing against units that is equipped with superior range weapon such as the antimatter sniper rifle, said sniper team present on the field had to be evacuated before they are harmed by the Berserker. In the field, enemy sniper team attempt to take the Berserker out, with no positive results as the Adept Berserker are quick to notify their present and rooted out rather quickly.

Some military officers will point out the flaws upon the Berserker and its weapon of choice, especially when said unit is melee oriented and are vulnerable to air attacks. The point have been made, which is why the Berserker will always be in a company of their sister kin, the Adept Archangel.

Adept Archangel

"I'm a One Angel Army!"

The Surveillance Siege Unit.

It has come to our attention that some of the Adepts undergoing their initiation to Heroic status have came across problems of their own, mainly their refusal to go onto melee offensive. They show signs of frustration on performing close range combat and prefer to simply hang back and fire their weapons from afar. After going through many test results, we finally figure out that some of our Advance Sensory upgrade may have a bug or two that is interfering with their Muscle Mass and thus rendering the Adept Unit being frustrated over such trivia matter. Knowing our mistakes, we issue an immediate orders to recall of any bugged Advance Sensory upgrade to be replaced. However, Shepherd, who caught wind of our practice, approach us with an interesting idea; instead of replacing it (and thus making it expensive to replace), why not simply adapt it? And thus, the Archangel program is initiated.

Adept Archangel are range Adept packing an impressive long range weapon and arsenal, commanding the sky as if their own, and would love to do nothing more than to idle chat friendly units down below while delivering death from above. They are mostly supportive, hanging behind the frontline, while delivering trick shots upon their foe. Like it's namesake, Archangel kept their feet above ground at all times, several thousands feet in the air, and keeping a wide eye on enemy units. With the Advance Sensory upgrade still available to them, most Archangel could see their target before the target could see them, mostly through the eyes of another Adept. Surprisingly enough, Adept Archangel are mostly females, while few of them are male.

All Archangel are supportive siege units, taking their time to fire their payload at long range at the back of the battlefield. They carry the most heaviest gear weapon existed and are proud soldiers to rain death from above. Using their Advance Sensory upgrade, they can snipe practically any target where their friendly Adepts can spot them, and are still potent enough to fend for themselves from aerial assault. They are equipped with Q-series Ionic Railgun Accelerator Cannon, an experimental weapon meant for siege long range target. The Railgun in question is very potent weapon, and will not loose any speed velocity upon exiting the barrel of the cannon until it hit a target. Because the weapon is ionized, said target tend to detonate in a spectacular display of explosion. They remain airborne using the aerial jetpack booster, a variation of the all-terrain jetpack booster, to remain and dominate the sky. While not the most maneuverable, some Archangel does a wonderful aerial display during off duty (and during aerial fighting via air dodge). Outside of using the railgun cannon to defend herself, they are also given shoulder pack micro missile launcher defense to ward off enemy aerial assault. These missile launcher pack holds up to a few dozen micro missile, capable of tearing aircraft out from the sky, and can be also be use to ward off flak rounds and regular missiles.

Most Archangel are the eye in the sky, supporting the Adept below with her immense firepower that she yields, in addition to destroying heavily fortified outpost. She also rely on the Adepts on the ground to be on a look out on aerial assault units so she can take them out instantly. Thank to her Advance Sensory upgrade, the Archangel practically has every target available to her. She is basically Pteranodon Aerial Fortress in a long range siege load out, all compact in a little Adept form.

Strangely enough, all Adept Archangel are known to be very flirty and has very forward personality, to the point where they would talk to their Adept Unit below on various seditious chatter. Most Adepts merely humoring the Adept Archangel as pragmatic as ever, and some (like what Shepherd encounter) remain dumbfounded. Most commanding officer suspect that the Adept Archangel is desperate for companionship while a few just flat out scorn, not taking any hint. It should be mention that the Berserker always seemed to actively reply to the Archangel silly act.

Several Hours Later…

"This is Nathalie, L-X8 and his cohorts are now on mission."

"… And what about the Adepts you promise?"

"I've convince one of them to follow my orders. She will be transfer to you as we speak."

"She? My dear Nathalie, they are merely machines, chips, processor and transistors running on a body… we shouldn't call it a 'she'. 'It' is suffice."

"Just… do what you must. The more I'm in the shadows, the more I feel uncomfortable."

"Oh, trust me when I say that our business is officially non-existent."

EXALT - END