Thunder Island Air Base
Asean Republic, Pacific Ocean
March 21st, 437 AC
6:04 AM Local Time
As the engines on Jay's plane started to quiet down, he took off his oxygen mask and let out a heavy sigh, relieved that everyone got back in one piece. Throwing the canopy open, he made his way down the ladder, skipping the last few rungs and jumping straight to the floor. Nyx followed behind him, and once everyone was back and accounted for, Jay made his way over to the hangar that Ritari and Varonis landed in.
Compared to Templar and Knight's hangar, Varonis and Ritari's seemed far more active. All sorts of conversations echoed around the hangar as everyone unloaded supplies from the helicopters. They did their best to organize everything into separate piles before it got moved to where it belonged. After quickly looking around the hangar, Jay spotted Gray talking with Alston and Cyborg and made his way over to them.
"So, how'd we do?" Jay asked as he and Nyx joined the group. "In terms of supplies, I mean," he quickly clarified.
"Well, the most important thing is that we've got enough explosives to blow up the base," Alston said. "And there was some vital intel that Ritari collected that we're going to be using to plan our next move. However, there's still the matter of this." He held up the black case containing the cordium, which was entirely featureless aside from an Icarus Armories logo and a small electronic gauge on the front displaying the case's integrity.
"It doesn't seem that big," Jay observed. "I thought cordium was usually transported in far larger quantities than that."
"We looked inside, and the cordium is shaped into small rods. There's 15 of them in total," Gray explained. "We don't have the slightest idea what it's for, though. I can't think of anything that's able to run on that little amount of cordium."
"What are we gonna do with it, though?" Nyx asked. "We really just gonna keep carrying it around? Taking it with us wherever we go?"
"We don't have much of a choice," Cyborg pointed out. "Besides, it's small enough that we should be able to take it with us without any hassle."
"I believe 'should' is the keyword there," Gray said. "Regardless, we should be keeping our eyes open. Especially, after what we found out about Harrow. The Federation messing with cordium is never good."
"Speaking of Harrow, I still don't know what would cause him to turn to the Federation again, after everything he did," Alston said. "How could the man who led the revolution against the Federation do a complete 180 like that?"
Jay scoffed. "I'll tell you how: it's in his nature. I've seen his type before. They only care about two things, money, and power."
His mind immediately went to General Myers. To call the man intimidating would be an understatement. His eyes were like daggers, cutting through anyone's will in seconds. If looks could kill, General Myers would have the highest kill count in the Federation, not to mention that he was a class A manipulator. If it wasn't for Myers and his brainwashing, Jay might've been able to convince Natalie to leave the Federation with him, and for that, he hated the man.
"He probably only led the revolution so he'd get a shiny new position," Jay guessed. "Men like him are all over the military, so it's easy to spot one."
"Still, I- I just can't believe it," Alston said. "After everything he did, just to undo it all." He shook his head, clearing the thought from his mind. "Anyway, I'll call everyone in for a debriefing soon. I want to make sure everyone knows our plan going forward." He nodded to Cyborg and left the hangar.
"Oh yeah, Nyx," Gray suddenly said as a realization hit him. "Before I forget, I've got something for you." He took several pill bottles out of his bag and handed them over to the WSO.
Nyx looked at the bottles with a puzzled expression. "Spironolactone?" she asked as she read the label. "But how did you-" She quickly put the pieces together and turned her gaze over to Jay. "Did you do this?" She couldn't help but smirk a little as she asked the question.
Jay responded with a nod and a smile of his own. "Gray owed me a favor, so after you were talking about needing more hormones, I asked him to look for more while he was out," he explained.
"Ah, it was no big deal," Gray said, waving his hand dismissively. "We were grabbing more meds anyway."
"Shit, Samurai. I don't know what to say," Nyx chuckled, looking down at the bottle before returning her gaze to Jay with a heartfelt smile. "Thanks."
"Ah, you don't have to thank me," Jay told her. "It's what friends are for, right? Come on, let's go find the others and head down to the debriefing. You coming, Gray?" he asked, looking over at him.
"Nah, not yet. I've still gotta help get all this stuff sorted out," Gray explained. "I'll meet you guys there, though."
"Alright, sounds good," Jay replied before turning around and making his way out of the hangar with Nyx right behind him as the two of them headed into the main building.
"Alright, everyone, listen up!" General Alston called out, subsequently quieting everyone else in the briefing room down. "I have good news, and I have bad news. I'll start with the bad." He paused, taking a deep breath as he looked around the room. "We discovered that Henderson and MADB are supplying the Loyalists in exchange for Asea rejoining the Federation if they win the war." He silenced the murmurs that rose with a wave of his hand. "I know this is troubling news. It's surprising. Surprising that Supreme Commander Harrow would sell us out after everything he did, but this is why we fight. Because the people of Asea have had enough of Federation and their tyranny, we fight for those that can't. We fight for Asea and the Free Republic!"
"For the Free Republic!" All of the Asean soldiers chanted.
Alston smiled as they cheered. "Now, for the good news. The Loyalists are about to go on the attack again. They're gathering all of their forces at Anderson Island. This is the perfect opportunity for us to stage our breakout and return to friendly forces. We've been maintaining communications with the main force, and we've already got a plan of attack. Cyborg will explain." He stepped back and nodded to the mercenary.
Cyborg started by taking a slide showing a map of Anderson Island and putting it onto the projector. "Once we leave and destroy Thunder Island, our main goal will be protecting the transports. As soon as we get close to Anderson Island, though, our fighters will move ahead and catch the Loyalists forces by surprise." He took a blue dry-erase marker and drew a line from the bottom right corner of the map up to the island. "Then, allied forces from the frontlines will commence their assault from while the enemy is still confused." He drew another blue line from the top left of the map down to the island. "While they're preoccupied, our transports will slip right by and regroup with the main force. Meanwhile, we'll continue our attack until the entire Loyalist assault force is wiped out."
"Not only will we regroup with allied forces," Alston added. "But with Thunder Island destroyed and a majority of their strength depleted, we can turn the tide of this war in a single blow. After this mission, we'll almost have a straight shot to the capital, and we can finally put an end to this war. Until then, we need to make sure everything is ready to leave. I don't want anything left behind, which means we're gonna be working around the clock. Everyone pulls double duty. However, I think Paladin deserves a rest after their work today." He smiled at the mercenaries.
"Don't mind if I do," Nyx said, standing up and stretching. "If you need me, don't bother, I won't be up for another eight hours at least."
"Agreed," Mustang said. "Soft bed, here I come."
Jay smirked as he watched everyone from Paladin start to stand up and slowly make their way over to the barracks, all making some remark about wanting to sleep before eventually joining them.
"Y'know, the longer this whole thing goes on, the more it just feels so surreal," Jay said as he took off his flight suit.
Eagle gave him a confused look. "What do you mean? The war?" he asked.
Jay nodded. "Yeah, this is our biggest contract yet. We're about to help liberate an entire country. It just feels so strange that we have such a big part to play in it all."
Eagle shrugged. "Yeah, I guess. Although, I suppose this is also gonna be the best paying job we've ever had as well, especially because the Liberation Front would be way worse off if not for us. God, you're right. That does feel weird now that I think about it."
"Let's just hope this mission goes as well as Alston and Cyborg hope it does because quite frankly, I've had enough of this place," Jay admitted, sitting on the side of his bed. "We've already been here for like, five months. If this war goes on for much longer, I'll go crazy," he added with a smirk.
"Hey, Samurai, what do you think about having bigger jobs like this versus smaller jobs?" Eagle looked over at Jay as he laid down in his own bed.
Jay paused for a moment. It was a question that he never really gave much thought to. He looked up at the ceiling as he pondered the question. "I guess… I'd have to say I prefer bigger jobs, even if they do drag on. Because with smaller jobs, especially quick one-and-done jobs, I don't really feel like I get much satisfaction out of them. It just feels like I'm a mercenary working for a paycheck."
"Aren't you, though?" Eagle asked, raising an eyebrow. "I've always thought it's what you do with the money you get that counts."
Jay nodded. He understood where Eagle was coming from, considering whenever he got his money from a contract, he'd always send a portion of it to his family in the Tejas Republic. "I dunno," Jay admitted, laying down on his pillow. "With the bigger jobs, like this one, I feel like what I'm doing matters- like I'm changing the world for the better."
At that moment, Jay knew precisely why he thought the way that he did. Whenever he finished a big contract, he got to feel like he was making a positive impact on the world, which helped alleviate his guilt over being a Peacekeeper. For years he blindly flew with them and followed their orders without batting an eye. It wasn't until Prospero and Presidia were burnt to the ground that Jay had his eyes opened, and he realized how misguided he had been. He may not have been able to undo all that he did, but helping those that needed it, like the Asean Liberation Front, was a start.
"That's a good point," Eagle admitted. "I guess it depends on where you came from and why you're fighting."
"Mhm," Jay agreed. "Anyway, I'm gonna hit the hay." He rolled over onto his side and shut his eyes. "If anyone comes looking for us, let me know," and at that, he drifted off to sleep.