Smoke still hung in the air. The battle for Old Ephyra was won, but the city had not survived the battle without suffering damage. Walking back from the shelter he had seen buildings in various states of damage. Some were even still aflame with fires being fought by civil service DeeBees. Whilst those were putting out the still raging fires. Other machines cleared debris from the buildings that had already been extinguished. Or simply collapsed.
Peacekeepers worked to direct those with no home after the battle to other housing. Looking around the apartment space he had been allocated he was luckier than some. The small bag holding his personal effects lay on the side. Waiting to be unpacked hopefully with more care than he'd stuffed it with. The sound of a voice at the door caused him to jump.
'Administrator Alexander Emmerich, your presence is required,' A synthetic voice called from outside.
'Y… Yes. Who is it?' Emmerich called back. His voice was hoarse. How long since he had a drink?
'Administrator Alexander Emmerich, your presence is required.'
The voice must belong to a DeeBee but why would one be asking for him?
'Please report for further instructions.'
Walking over and opening the door. He found himself face to face not with a DeeBee Shepard class as he had assumed but a Watcher. Why would a Watcher be doing message runs?
'One moment, please. Identify confirmation in progress,' The machine's single eye ran a pattern of scanning light across his face. Matching it to his biometric data.
'One moment, please- Identify confirmed. Please proceed outside the main entrance for collection.'
'Collection? Am I being assigned duties? I'm… I'm on evaluation leave at this time.'
'This unit has no further details. Please proceed outside the main entrance for collection.'
With its assignment seemingly complete the machine darted up. Skimming the top of the corridor it raced off out of sight. No doubt looking for another person amongst the crowds of returning citizens.
Emmerich looked back into the apartment. Still only furnished with the stock items, his only belongings inside the bag on the side. He still could only think of it as "The apartment" not his. His apartment was... gone. Probably burned down or collapsed or… now housing something worse then he could imagine.
Shaking his head, he tried to dislodge that train of thought. Better not to stray into the past or he would need to stop and try to steady himself again. Pulling the door shut, he made his way through the building. Around him other citizens were returning to their homes. Some embracing each other happily to see loved ones.
Others were doing so to comfort those who had lost someone. Off to the side, an army officer in uniform was trying to counsel an older couple. No doubt a child of theirs having given their life in the city's defense.
How many more people would be happy to still be alive? How many more would wish someone else were still here?
Reaching the street, he found a Taxi cart parked up outside. That was strange. With the city this damaged, he had expected the transit systems to be locked down. As he approached, the vehicle door opened automatically and a chime signaled him to board. They must really want him to get somewhere fast. Did they need him to organize a work crew? Or help with some issues affecting the district's population?
He entered the cart, barely getting seated before it pulled away. Instead of moving to the local district center like he expected, it drove towards the middle of the city. Checking the destination he was surprised to find it was going to Government House. What would they need him for at the seat of power for the COG?
Arriving at the base of Government house he exited the car. Looking up at the building that lay at the heart of the COG. It was a feat of engineering in of itself. A self-stabilizing structure. Capable of enduring the most violent conditions that could be found on Sera. Looking up at the vast citadel before him, he still felt that small bit of wonder. He'f left when he'd come here for his original appointment as an Administrator. Walking out of the taxi stand, his sense of wonder was crushed.
Now he was closer. The signs of war stood out clearly. Lines of razor wire were across the top of every wall. Guard towers with weapons peaked over aiming down streets. Instead of the well trimmed garden with neatly kept paths he had taken before. There were trenches and barricades criss-crossing the grounds.
He was grouped up with other staff. Checked and then herded through the rings of fortifications. Once he was through, the rest of the group he had been with broke off for their own destinations.
Joining the mass of people moving around the atrium, heading every which way. Some were the regular staff with clipboards or tablet computers. Others were Gears marching with crates of equipment from one place to another.
Looking around, he tried to spot whoever was organizing those arriving. But couldn't pick out anyone in the sea of figures moving around. At the back of the room he could see the desk for check in. Opting to speak with the staffer or DeeBee, who would normally be on duty. Emmerich moved through the tide of figures.
After working his way across the crowded space to the desk with a few colisions. Emmeich found that rather than the staff member or DeeBee he had expected. There was a Gear in full armor working the desk. The soldier must have been an older gear. His body's bulk showing the signs of the older augmentations from the last war. After waiting a moment, Emmerich coughed to get his attention.
'Name and Rank?' The old Gear didn't even look away from the screen before him.
'Alexander Emmerich, Administrator Grade A-5,' Emmerich replied. His response clipped and professional, at least he hoped it was. Not that the soldier turned receptionist seemed to care.
'You're clear,' The Gear said after a moment.
He gestured over his shoulder, pressing a button under the desk with the other hand. Making the doors behind him open, 'Go upstairs. Head straight across the rotunda. And find the waiting room marked 1F-A. Someone will direct you from there. You get lost. Ask one of the DeeBee's for directions.'
Emmerich nodded to the gear and was about to thank him. But saw something already making the soldier focus back on the screen before him. He moved away and through the doors.
After another exhausting journey of apologies, stamped toes and another collision. He reached the waiting room. Inside there were a dozen other Administrators but nearly all of them were his senior in rank.
No-one seemed interested in talking to him. The few in conversation were huddled in smaller groups, speaking in hushed whispers. He found a jug of water had been left out and poured a drink before seating himself on a bench off to one side. Picking up and starting to read one of the DBi pamphlets that had been left in the room to keep his mind off things.
Every few minutes, a man would enter and call for one of them. Emmerich kept reading until he heard his name called.
'Administrator Emmerich.'
Looking up from the latest skim-read pamphlet in his hands. Emmerich gave a nod of acknowledgement before returning the pamphlet to its holder. Standing, he moved towards the man who had been calling them up. Something seemed oddly familiar about him.
'Please follow me,' The man turned without giving his name and set off down a corridor,
'Your PDA will receive most of the relevant details while you speak with the First Minister. You-'
'I'm sorry, the First Minister?' Emmerich said, interrupting the man.
'Yes...' The man looked at the tablet in his hands, then at Emmerich. 'You are Alexander Emmerich Administrator grade A-5 correct?'
'Well, yes.'
'Then you are to meet with First Minister Jinn, who will provide you with a briefing regarding your duties. Please follow me,'
With that the man turned about face and continued to walk with Emmerich, trying to keep a few steps behind.
Moving down the hallway, Emmerich now recognized the man as First Minister Jinn's secretary. The secretary led him through a winding path towards what must be the First Minister's office. Emmerich glanced into the rooms along the corridor as they passed. The spaces once used for planning the COG's future. Were now pressed into the service of ensuring its survival.
To the right. A conference room turned civil operation center was working to restore some sense of normalcy to New Ephyra. The table was ringed with suited Administrators and Technicians in coveralls. All were shouting and gesturing to the table in the middle of the room. A map of the city with some sections colored to show different states.
On his left a control room filled with military staff organizing the city for a second Swarm attack. Call-signs and status reports from teams in Old Ephyra were called out. Punctuated every so often with the sounds of the battle's still taking place beyond the wall.
Two DeeBee Peacemakers in Onyx black stood on either side of the main office doors. Enforcers held at ease. These were not the clean glossy white Shock model. The metallic blue of their frames showing lethal rounds.
Gone were the days when a single Peacekeeper unit with a Shock Snub and baton could keep anything safe. Let alone the leader of the COG. The two machines didn't respond to their approach. Remaining like statues watching the corridor.
The machine's presence did nothing to slow the secretary. Who walked right round a desk off to the side and pressed the intercom. 'First Minister, I've brought Administrator Emmerich for his assignment.'
After a moment the receiving light flicked on. And the voice of the First Minister responded, 'Very good, please send him in.'
The secretary nodded and pressed something under the desk. The large outer doors to the First Minister's office swung open. Stepping inside the outer set closed then locked. Before the inner ones opened to admit him to the office proper.
The First Minister was a kind, intelligent and forward looking person if one went by the press releases. The woman in the chair before him did not let off that kind of presence. She looked tired, pressured, and near her wit's end. Seeing him enter, she took a breath and collected herself. Looking more like the broadcasts than she had a moment ago.
'Good to see you, Administrator Emmerich. I trust you had a pleasant drive over?' Jinn asked. The question must have been so standard she'd fallen back on it by reflex.
'It was alright, First Minister. Apologies for the state of my person. I'd not been long home,' Emmerich responded by settling into the role of polite subordinate.
She extended a hand whilst remaining seated. After a near perfect good to see you but now I'm dropping you in it so get ready handshake. Jinn gestured to the chairs on the other side of the large hardwood desk.
Taking the offered seat, Emmerich tried to get settled as best he could in the wooden framed seat. It seemed tailor made to render its occupant as uncomfortable as it could be. Whilst remaining a usable piece of furniture.
Jinn selected a set of documents from the desk and passed them over to Emmerich. He flipped them round to read the front at the top was a uniform set of large font red letters TOP SECRET. Beneath the encouraging label was a title Operation: Exodus.
Looking back to the First Minister with a quizzical look. She gestured toward the documents before beginning.
'These documents should contain the details for the part I have assigned you to play in the coming days. Whilst I am aware you no doubt have questions we are pressed for time. I'll explain your role as part of our new strategy to the best of my ability.'
Emmerich nodded in understanding. But he was confused. Was there no-one more qualified for this role and why was the First Minister giving his briefing?
Jinn took his look in her stride, 'As you are no-doubt aware. Our prior strategy of consolidating our forces and the citizenry in New Ephyra does seem to have resulted in a measure of overcrowding. But at the time. We believed that the threat would be limited in strength. Not the creatures that we've now seen leading the Swarm into battle.'
They both shuddered. The memory of the gigantic creature that attacked the main gates was still too fresh in the minds of many. Leaked footage of the battle had spread like fire amongst the population. Eager to see the foe they only knew from scattered rumors and hearsay.
Seeing the destruction that had nearly been brought to the very streets of the capital. Many people now wished they had remained outside its once comfortable walls. Which now seemed far too restrictive. Even to those who had only known life within them. Taking a short sip of tea from a cup on the desk, she continued to detail his assignment.
The new plan called for several new Settlements that would use New Ephyra as a template. Whilst in the past this was simley the design and layout. Now each would now operate as a self-supporting enclave. A city state.
With the ability to produce their own food, material, energy. Allowing them to support a defensive garrison. One suitable to hold off an attacking force until help from other sites could arrive. Whilst also building new materiel for the COG as a whole.
Emmerich's assignment will be to Site 13 on a peninsula. It should have been an ideal site. The old structures of a town nearby had been abandoned during the Pendulum wars. They would be used for material. And with the site being dozens of kilometers from any known burial sites, active or otherwise. The risk of attack should be low for now.
But the site had encountered issues with work reportedly stopped. Because of communication issues, reports only came and went with a narrow satellite window. Emmerich was being rushed out to take over and get the site back on schedule.
Reaching the section regarding personnel, his eyes widened at the numbers on the page. Jin continued, either unaware or just uncaring of his reaction.
'You'll be in charge of a full settlement population of COG citizens of age. And their dependents. No seed population to test the waters. I'm afraid there is too little time to move smaller groups. All have been selected based on their suitability for future sustainability of your Settlement. A garrison force has been assigned one unit of Gears and two battalions of DeeBee's. Your Head of Security will have more details.'
Turning the page in time with the briefing. Emmerich found the pages had sections crossed out or text pasted over as revisions had been done. Was this even the final draft?
The next section was marked with the strange header of "Additional Partners". With a pair of logos. The first was a reddish brown knot symbol on a yellow background. The second was a lightning bolt set in a circle with wings on either side.
'You will also be hosting two groups of non-COG citizens. From both the reformed Union of Independent Republics and the Outsider's.'
Emmerich's head snapped up, looking at the First Minister in confusion. The Outsiders had been beyond COG control for some time. Whilst the Swarm had brought them and the COG together by necessity. It seemed strange they would be placed into a COG controlled Settlement.
The UIR distrusted the COG more than the Outsiders at some points. Most of them infact. Their most of them having spent the time since E-Day trapped and cut off from the rest of humanity at large.
The COG had made its plans known that they were to receive their own Settlements. Rather than risk any of the bad blood between them causing a fight.
Why then would they agree to be settled with the COG in charge? The Outsiders may have been a stretch to believe. But some of the UIR population still refused to see the restored COG as anything more than a rebrand of its past. Before he could interject, Jinn held up a hand for him to allow her to finish explaining.
'Settlement 6 was to be given over to the Outsiders. But given how many we've taken in from various Camps. And those that managed to reach shelter of other COG locations in time it won't be enough. The UIR are by all accounts in the same state. We intended to assist them with establishing Settlements in their old territory to prevent them from becoming too...' She trailed off, searching for a word, 'Disgruntled. Sadly, we all need to share the burden along with those we may once have considered foes. I'm sure-'
The intercom on the desk beeped loudly. Interrupting what was sure to have been a rousing speech.
'Apologies for the interruption, First Minister. Your next appointment is due in a few minutes.'
Jin nodded and gestured to the door with a look of apology on her face, 'I'm sorry we must cut this short. But I'm certain your Heads of department will be able to brief you better. A transport and security detail has been assigned to you. And the necessary data should now have been uploaded to your PDA.'
Emmerich felt slightly dizzy as his mind tried to comprehend the task he had just been given. He nodded, pushed himself out of the chair and exchanged a much less firm handshake before going to leave.
'And Alec,' Jin said before he reached the doors, 'Remain on your guard. I'm not sure all the issues with site 13 are just down to common errors.'
With that cryptic warning Jin unlocked the inner doors for him.
Walking back through the double layered doors, he passed the DeeBee's still at their posts. The Secretary was already gone, no doubt to find the next waiting soon to be Governor. It used to be a public event when a settlement expedition was sent out. How many other expeditions were being sent out? The 6th had been announced before the war started. But if he was to lead the 13th? And the other Administrators that he had been waiting alongside were all leading a Settlement each?
The COG was back on war footing, it seemed, and damn the expense.
Walking through Government House he made for the road access. Flicking through pages out of the file and on his PDA trying to make sense of the situation. According to the documents, a car would wait to take him out to the staging area for what was now his expedition.
Stepping out to the taxi stand and scanning his PDA on the terminal. Emmerich glanced at the files in his hands, suddenly feeling the weight of responsibility they represented. Was he ready for this? He had taken the tests to be a head of a Settlement years ago but with all that had hap-.
The sound of a horn blaring snapped him back to awareness. Instead of the small Auto-taxi he had expected there was… an armored car? pulling into the bay with the Phoenix Omen emblazoned onto its rear doors.
Looking at the terminal and his PDA again to confirm the vehicle in the bay was for him. He now noticed in the image of the armored car in front of him in the listing, rather than the compact form of Auto-Taxi.
The name field above marked it Packhorse (Staff Model). That was from the Pendulum wars, wasn't it? When did design get reactivated? Let alone redesigned?
The horn bayed again, signaling him to board. Stepping up to the Packhorse, he took two attempts before getting the door heaved open enough for him to climb into. The interior was much like its predecessor from the Pendulum Wars.
That being made for full armored Gears not a suit clad Governor. Pushing off the ground and pulling himself into the back of the high set vehicle. Emmerich landed in a large seat that at the least was more comfortable than the one from Jin's office.
'Good Afternoon, Governor Emmerich. This vehicle will transport you to, Expedition 13 staging area. Should you require any diversions to alternate sites, please state them now,' The Auto drive said. The things still had the conversational pace of a voicemail system.
But... if it was still connected to the Net. He checked the time on his PDA against the schedule tucked into the upper part of the briefing. Better check on his belongings judging by the timetable he was due to leave by Condor this evening. It would be struggle to get back to the apartment. Thankfully he hadn't unpacked after returning from the shelter.
'Sector 6 Apartment complex please, I need to collect my personal effects.'
'That will not be necessary. Your personal effects have been collected and will meet you at the staging area. Do you require any other diversions at this time?'
Of course they had collected his things. From the way the day had gone so far, he was grateful they hadn't stuffed him into a drop pod and dropped him at the site. He paused, pinching the bridge of his nose. I need to get some sleep. Hopefully, the ride to the site will be long enough to nap. No use delaying further or they might just opt to ship him by drop pod.
'No thank you, please proceed to the staging ground,' Emmerich said. Leaning his head back against the chair and willing himself to sleep. Hoping for more rest than the last few days had given.
The sounds of the last few months haunting him. Wailing alarms and cries of terror clawing at his sleep. Even as the Packhorse wove a route to the outskirts of the city.