Operation Black Dawn, 1995

by paynedotdll

1995. As the Cold War comes to a halt, GDI and Nod try to contain the spread of an infectious disease in Italy. However, as fate would have it, they wouldn't just be containing an infectious disease in Italy. As GDI and Nod forces disappear into Terra, they have to try their best to help everyone out. Even if it means sacrificing the ideas they fought for back at home. (TibDawn AU)

31. Intermezzi IV - The Beginning of the End

Operation Black Dawn, 1995

Intermezzi IV - The Beginning of the End

October 1995/December 1096

Aftermath of Operation Chernobog Shield

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"We have before us the opportunity to forge, for ourselves and for future generations; a new world order. A world where the rule of law, not the law of the jungle, governs the conduct of nations. A new world order."

-International Security Agency Director/United Nations (Acting) Secretary-General George H.W. Bush, 1995/1096

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(Acting) Secretary-General George H.W. Bush [United Nations - Department of Planetary Security] – Spear 2-1, HC-1B Chinook - Dated December, 1096

I checked my watch, right sleeve folded back as the rain continued to patter against the hull of the helicopter. It was a sleek, black model. I could never recall which model it was. Was it the older Nighthawk or the newer Chinook?

Though, the question seemed irrelevant right now. Food for another time.

The time read, at least for earth, 7:36 PM. And the rain seemed to agree, given that it continued to patter onto the hull. At least, since it was raining, I could don the black raincoat. That one looked good on me.

I looked around me, I was greeted by the faces—visible and obfuscated—of my security team contingent from the OAS' JTF-2 once again. Clad in black camouflage, faces covered with masks and tinted goggles. Heads shielded by black reinforced CVC helmets, and occasionally, darkened one-way tinted visors. With them were their rifles. 5.56x45mm rifles. Strong enough to kill typical inhabitants of this planet. Not with one shot, no, but a lot. That was all. On those rifles were tactical, top-of-the-line accessories. Accessories desired and used by Tan Berets and their equivalents in both Nod and GDI.

The way they all fidgeted around while the helicopter continued in transit made me look down at myself too. These were the men that I had been trusted with, in the aftermath of my ascension to the position of Secretary-General. A position that more qualified men have held.

But perhaps this was where leadership was tested. And I was the latest one in line.

Such misfortune.

"Secretary-General," The pilot chimed in from the radio, looking back at me. I turned my head in his direction, eyebrow raised. "We're 10 minutes away. Do I ask them to give a five-by-five?" He asked, seemingly not turned around.

"Well, go on," I responded, hand under my chin as I continued to stare at the cockpit, watching as the pilots seemingly never broke contact with the front of the craft. "Give 'em a five-by-five."

"Roger that, keeping this channel open," The pilot opined as he coughed into the radio. "Rhodes Island landship, this is Spear 2-1, I repeat, this is Spear 2-1, carrying the Secretary-General. Do you read me loud and clear, over?"

"Spear 2-1," A female voice responded over the radio. "This is the Rhodes Island landship, we read you loud and clear."

"Roger that, glad to hear a five-by-five," Spear 2-1 muttered. I chuckled, glancing to the right to take a look at the rest of the passengers with us as Spear 2-1 continued speaking. "Rhodes Island, Spear 2-1 is requesting permission to land, I repeat, Spear 2-1 is requesting to land, how copy, over?"

"Spear 2-1, you are cleared to land, over."

"Roger that, Rhodes Island landship. Spear 2-1 descending soon. Out."

As the pilot closed the communications channel, the radio within the helicopter buzzed to life as my security team all began to talk. The chatter filled a once-dead airway with life that it had sorely lacked.

"So what do you think we'll be greeted with when we get there? Pikes pointed at us? Guns? What's the chance that we're going to get stabbed the first time we open the door?"

"Frankly, I'm just interested to see what they've got in store."

"Well, yeah, so am I- But, like, c'mon, Andy! We're probably going to get piked the moment we step out of the helicopter!"

"For… what reason, Joseph?"

"Think about it- They probably think we're trying to trick them, so they'll respond in kind by deploying soldiers to kill us at a moment's notice. Hell, I'd do the same thing if we-"

"Joe, they contacted us first during Chernobog Shield," A sigh escaped that man's lips. I couldn't help but sympathize. It sounds like he was placed in the worst place he could ever be in. "I highly doubt they'd try to stab us."

"I mean, Andy's right." Another security team officer intervened, cutting into the conversation and making his voice more prominent. "Why the hell would they try to stab us after we make contact with them? That's, like, step one to being seen as the least, and I really mean least reliable potential international partner. Which is to say," He breathed in. "It'd be the worst decision. Of all time."

"Thanks, Wilkins."

Three members of the security team were chattering, while the other three opted to stay quiet and remain on standby. Man. I wished I could be them sometimes. But for now? I have to settle just sitting down, waiting for Spear 2-1 to descend.

"Jeez! That's a landship?! We weren't briefed on this! Who the hell thought it was a good idea to withhold this information from us in briefing?!" Joe screamed as he looked over the window. I took a moment to look at it myself, peering through a nearby window to see what was below as the weather began to clear up.

I blinked. My mouth seemed to open on its own as I stared, slack-jawed at the landship of Rhodes Island. Its titanic size seemed to dwarf the base. Christ. This was enough to fit Camp Tiber inside of it three times over.

I clicked my tongue. "Nobody told any of us just how big the landship would be. Scale doesn't matter when you look at it from a photo." I muttered. "In fact, I'm pretty sure that we'd only have known if it was right next to a skyscraper." Unfortunately, it isn't. To say that this distorted our view of scale is a terrible understatement.

I looked away. "How many minutes to landing?" I asked the pilot. One of the two men turned around to face me and replied.

"Give us three minutes 'til we're able to set foot on the helipad, Mr. Sec-Gen!" His voice came over the radio. "But I doubt that our new friends would exactly like the armed presence!"

"Let us hope they understand that precautions are precautions," I responded as I looked back to the team. I highly doubted they'd misunderstand. But, well, I can't be so sure about these things.

I leaned my head to the right, my hand resting on my headphones, and glanced back at the security team. "You boys sure you're able to handle things if they go down south?" I didn't have any hope that Camp Tiber would. I didn't even set a clear line of succession.

Though perhaps Jean would inherit the title if I died. I suppose.

"Yeah!" One of them shouted. "We'll ensure that attacking our helicopter's the last thing that'll happen before they pass!"

"I have high hopes that this meeting will go smoothly," Another one responded. That was the voice of the team leader. One Jiang Anderson. Or, Andy. "But should things not go exactly as planned, then we will enact our sworn duties, Secretary-General."

"Good, good," I responded as I turned my head back to the landship. "Well. We're going to have to face the music soon, so…"

The helicopter then turned to the right as it began its descent down into the ground. I continued to press my lips together in silence as I took off the headphones. The security team began to stand up, and one of the pilots looked back. I couldn't tell the expression of his face with the rain and the gray clouds obscuring everything.

But somehow, I knew that he was just as anxious as us. Meeting the people we crossed paths with some time ago while trying to rescue a downed pilot? Yeesh. That's an awkward experience and a half.

But you know what?

Perhaps facing these awkward experiences is necessary to develop a working relationship. Especially in a world like this.

Noises came out of the headphones I had just discarded, yet I had no idea what they were saying. I was just staring at the doors, anxiously waiting for them to open as the rest of my security team loaded their rifles and stood on guard too.

However, the helicopter shook. We had finally landed. The cessation of movement had told me everything I needed to know.

We were now on the Rhodes Island landship.

The helicopter engine had died down and the rotors had stopped spinning. One of the pilots, head still swiveled towards me and my security team, spoke up as the propellers had stopped spinning.

"Good luck out there, Secretary-General," He said. "This is our only shot at a working relationship. Don't waste it."

It felt odd to take such a thing from a subordinate. Someone who wasn't supposed to doubt anything.

"I won't, pilot," Yet. I felt sympathetic. His doubt was natural. And so, it wasn't my space to complain about it. "Trust me on this."

His muted nod told me more than enough.

The doors opened, and immediately the security team stood up, rifles in hand as they began to move in. "Wilkins! Cover Joe!"

"I've got Joe's left! Miller, take Lennard's right!"

"On it!"

"Armstrong, you've got the shotgun! Cover that area!"

"Got it, Andy!"

"Let's move! Huzzay, JTF-2!"

The shouts echoed throughout the helicopter as they exited, a sweep in progress the moment I blinked. Boots thumped in the metal hallway of the helicopter as the JTF2 security team stepped off. I chuckled. What would our new RI allies have thought, seeing the Royal Franco-Canadian banner of the JTF2 operators?

A minor thought, really. Only I could care so much about their thoughts on the Franco-Canadian banner.

Though I was lucky to not have brought the Republican Special Service with me in this operation. The animosity between the two UNGDI member-states in the Kingdom of Canada and the United Socialist Republic of Britain was something that could never be healed.

"Woah, woah! I didn't expect Victorian soldiers! Jeez!" A response came from the outside of the ramp. "...Wait. Are you guys soldiers? Or…" The voice sounded like a young man. I stood up upon hearing those noises, having sighed inside. I had to calm things down since the security team was… finicky.

They were doing their job though, not that I could blame them. My death means the end of civilian control over the United Nations.

Not that it really affected things in the long term. But it did make legitimacy in the eyes of Terrans seem limited. Would the UN after my death be viewed as the United Nations or just another warband in a world like this?

We had to obtain legitimacy somehow.

"Put the guns down! We're not hostile here! Let's not start things we don't like, okay?!" A young girl's voice sounded as I walked across the helicopter's hull, the JTF2 team spread out in a V-Shape, weapons spread out.

However, they weren't lowered. That order had to be given by the Secretary-General.

"Hey, hey- Hey! Everyone calm down! First impressions don't need to be-"

"Back up! Back up!"

"Snowe! Keep 'em at a safe distance!"

"Roberts! Ensure they don't harm the Secretary-General!"

"Woah, woah, woah- Time-out!"

As I stepped down from the helicopter, I could now see just exactly who I was dealing with. And, rather surprisingly, I had been staring at them in amazement. Eyes blinking the entire time. As though what was in front of me was not real. Like some Disney cartoon about meeting new people.

But no. What was in front of me was real. Very real.

A woman with rat ears, carrying a dirty yellow-ish tinted sword. A blonde woman with pointed ears, a horn, and a halberd of a sort. A green-ish woman with a crocodile tail, backing away. A foxlike woman with white hair and red eyes, holding onto a sort of halberd.

They had come within melee distance of the security team, weapons raised just inches apart from their firearms. More people had seen the commotion on top of the landship, and had begun to walk towards the helipad—well, some may say more sprint to the helipad—and in a flash, my appearance had apparently gathered a crowd. Not something I had ever wanted, nor expected. But unfortunately a natural consequence.

I suppose reports of my appearance had spread like wildfire and they were just itching to catch a glimpse of the mysterious group that appeared in that city… Chernobog, it was. They were itching to catch a glimpse. And lo and behold, they had finally seen them in person. That was the United Nations.

I suppose we were just as mysterious to Rhodes Island as the first day we met them all that time ago in Chernobog.

But these four women had been at the forefront. The vanguards and guards of the Rhodes Island delegation. And they all looked just as animalistic as the people we took into base in our previous operations.

To think that such features were things on humans in this place… Hell, I couldn't have believed it. But the villagers and Reunion prisoners that we brought from our earlier operations had told me otherwise. Even then, it was only from a distance. I never really spoke to the rescued civilian, or the Reunion prisoner. That was the duty of the Nod and GDI Commanders.

Now, he was within spitting distance, watching as his own security team barked orders to back away at the Rhodes Island delegation and the associated unwanted crowd. His surprised look seemed to have attracted the attention of the Rhodes Island personnel, however, as he saw their eyes dart toward him.

I seemed to have been important to their eyes. Nevermind that I was important to the United Nations, but mostly for legitimacy purposes, not anything inherent or spiritual. The outfit gave it away.

On my right arm was an armband of the United Nations, the dark blue and globe surrounded by a wreath being a symbol of my mystery.

On my suit itself was a small pin of the United Nations and the United States, its primary backer. 51 stars and the blue banner of world peace crossed together.

And, I suppose, my aged appearance told them I was the main star of the show. For now at least.

They continued to bark at my team, who likewise barked back. Both of them were in a sort of tug-of-war, where they were trying their damn hardest to keep the other out of reach.

I sighed.

I raised my right hand, fist balled. Immediately, the security team froze, ceasing their yelling and barking and instead huddling closer, retreating to my position on the helicopter ramp.

"The fuck's he doing?" Ordering a regroup order.

"They're just backing away…?" Yes.

"Holy shit. They're not just mercs after all." They were loyal to the Franco-Canadian crown.

"So that's the United Nations' leader? I was expecting someone less…" Harsh.

"They just obeyed a hand gesture?" Yes.

Words from the Rhodes Island delegation all boomed out as more seemed to speak out. Cries of "Who the shit are these guys?" had been joined by other inquiries, such as "What's up with their hostility?" which itself had been accompanied by "So this is the UN delegation?"

"When I expected us to be meeting with the UN, I didn't expect it to be like this!"

"Yeesh. Same people who wiped out Reunion in Chernobog!"

"Yeah. I heard from Team A1. They slaughtered Reunion like it was no big deal. Could you imagine having them on our side?"

"You think they can defeat anyone?"

"Yeah. Well, I've even heard they're backed by Columbia for deniability's sake. Makes 'em not liable for things that go on."

"With how these guys sound Victorian, I'd not believe it. But perhaps that guy's Columbian, based off appearances alone."

"Personally, I do believe they're backed by Columbia."

The distinction between the Franco-Canadian security team based on their voice and my status as an American based on my appearance was… interesting.

Those comments soon got joined by other languages, mostly in native languages of this world. Though many of the operators seemed to speak English. Well, the English sounded familiar enough. But to say that he could completely understand the inflections was a lie.

The voices continued to babble, my brain tuning out the noise as I kept my fist raised, the team having backed up and surrounded me. I breathed in, closing my eyes. It felt dramatic, but really, I couldn't handle the stress.

Having all eyes on you while they anxiously awaited for what you would do was not a fun experience. I would rather have eaten glass, quite frankly.

I spoke out in front of the Rhodes Island delegation for the first time.

"Lower your weapons and remain at ease, team."

And it was an order to the team instead of a proper greeting.

"Understood, Secretary-General." The team leader, Andy, had spoken out. "Team! Lower your weapons! That's an order from the Secretary-General!" He barked, making it loud for both the team and the Rhodes Island delegation. Soon, the team had lowered their guns, much to the confusion and relief of the RI delegation.

It was disappointing to have a situation like this being resolved in such a way. But what am I to do?

The crocodile-tailed woman turned to the fox-eared woman with albinism. "Secretary-General? That's his title?"

"...Quite a mundane title for such a mysterious group, if you ask me. Sounds too irrelevant."

"I agree."

Another of the women had spoken up, lowering her halberd. It was the blonde one. "Call Instructor Dobermann, the Doctor, and Kal'tsit! The United Nations has arrived! I repeat, the United Nations has arrived!"

With that, one of the people in the crowd sprinted off. I couldn't make their appearance out from this distance.

Not that I really thought it mattered. Such a thing like this was… Unprecedented.

I kept silent and put my hand down as the JTF2 security team lowered their firearms, seemingly relaxing after such a tense standoff with the rest of the personnel from Rhodes Island.

"So that's his title?" Another one asked a question I had once heard earlier. "Secretary-General?" I sighed as more people continued speaking. Once again.

"Jeez. And here I thought these people would be warn and welcoming to us in Rhodes Island. Hmph, guess that ain't the case."

"Some diplomacy alright."

"Fuckin' showoffs with their guns I tell you. Ninety LMD they're just using props. No way they're Laterano."

"I bet a hundred-eighty those masked goons are Blacksteel."

"Nah, voices are too Victorian."

"What's his title again? Secretary? A secretary leads them?"

"Hmph. Asshole must think he's so humble with a title like that."

"Really? Cringe."

I shifted my focus to other things as the personnel began to speak-

That all shattered when I heard the sound of a whistle akin to the whistles from the First World War, and my eyes had shifted to the source of it. A woman with dog ears whose glare matched the authority of the whistle. Flanking her was a woman in silver hair, animalistic features matched by green motifs shoulders exposed to the elements. And flanking that one was a figure in a hood, color highlighted by a white shirt and blue stripes on each arm.

"Step aside!" The dog-woman shouted, motioning her arm as if to scatter the gathered crowd away from my UN security team. "Step aside and return to your posts! Refusal to return your posts will be punished by a pay deduction!"

The sound of people stepping aside and moving away followed as the dog-woman repeated her message, the mass of human-like figures breaking off and going back to where they came from.

The four women who stood off against my security team soon gave way, though they refused to make way. Perhaps that was because they were supposed to be the team escorting me to these figures.

Sadly, a standoff had prevented that.

My misfortune.

"When I sent two vanguards and two guards to escort a VIP to meet with me and the Doctor, I did so with the assumption that the meeting would be diplomatic," I furrowed my brows and curled my lips in disappointment as I stood there, vindicated in my assumption. I resisted the urge to sneer at my own security team for that failure. "It is just unfortunate then that I get alarmed of a possible disturbance committed by the very people I was supposed to meet. To say that I am irritated is an understatement.." The green cat-like woman spoke as she and her entourage stopped in front of me.

"Were we in a different situation, you would have designated them as enemies," The blue-striped hooded figure interjected, their voice sounding curiously soft. I raised my eyebrow and moved my lips in confusion. That voice? From that person? It felt like tonal whiplash. "Fortunately, these are not our enemies."

The cat-woman seemed to nod as the dog-woman stepped back, letting go of the whistle, with the four armed women sent as my escort rallying around her.

My left hand tightened as I took in a deep breath, lower lip putting pressure on my upper lip as I felt humiliation for the first time in a while. Murphy's law was inescapable for me, even after my days in the Second World War.

"I…" I sighed. "I fear there has been a misunderstanding caused by the… extremities of my security team's policy of preventing harm from coming to…" I gulped, then closed my eyes and stepped forward, hearing the sound of my security team stepping aside to make way for my presence. "The, uh, Secretary-General of the United Nations."

I extended my hand to the cat-woman who first spoke up, and I felt a little jolt down my spine when she took it. Everything about her was rather strange. In spite of her relatively youthful appearance, a part of my brain saw her as something unnatural. But who was I to judge?

Must've been the latent shock from discovering that animal people were in fact real.

"I'm George Herbert Walker Bush, the, well, Secretary-General of the United Nations," I watched their expressions, waiting for a shift. But nothing had happened. I let out a little smile as I shook the cat-woman's hand. "I hope my security team didn't cause too much of a disruption. Their objectives were always to ensure no harm came."

Damn Transatlantic Union trying to woo over the favor of UN HQ in NYC. The security contingent from the Franco-Canadians was always triple their 'competitors' for a reason.

Now thankfully the previous Sec-Gen, Maria Giuseppe, wasn't exactly blind to their efforts to woo her over, bless her soul.

"I can respect a dedicated security corps, even if I question their hostility even in a diplomatic meeting," The cat-woman responded. "I am Doctor Kal'tsit."

I let go of her hand when the handshake ended, wincing as I felt my muscles reeling from the somewhat tight grip she had over my hand. "Thank you, Doctor Kal'tsit," I said. And then I moved my hand over to the hooded figure with blue stripes, who returned the favor and took my hand, starting a firm handshake. That one turned out to be equally as stiff and tight. Fuck.

"You may call me the Doctor," They said. "I call some of the shots 'round here."

"Glad to hear it," That was his title? The Doctor? Really? Jeez, the Franco-Canadians and the British are gonna enjoy hearing this. As the handshake was released and a feeling of soreness overwhelmed that hand, I resisted the urge to almost chuckle, but furrowed brows and a stern expression remained. "Is there anyone else I should be talking to, or…?"

"Yes, Amiya was supposed to accompany us, but she had to deal with an issue downstairs," The Doctor mentioned. "She said she'll join us shortly after we make it back down."

"Got it."

The cat-woman then turned around, but her head swiveled to my direction. "Come with us, Secretary-General. We have many important things to discuss. In particular…" She muttered. "We at Rhodes Island would like to discuss the potential for co-operation. In particular, involving a future operation in Chernobog."

"Now, we understand you just finished an op there," The Doctor said, beginning to turn around, but their head still swiveled to my direction. "However, we believe that your aid in our next operation in Chernobog would be an extreme boon to our working relationship—however circumstancial it may be as of now—and thus I would like to ask for your words in negotiation."

I cringed. Well, didn't this feel powerful? Being the highest authority that the United Nations presented as its public face? What they forgot to tell me is that I'd be wracked with both an investigation on potential traitors within the UN's ranks and diplomatic missions. And only time for one of them. Jeez. "I'll follow. We do have much to discuss regardless, Doctor...s…" I awkwardly stilted out, scratching my head. To their credit, they just nodded.

It felt overbearing being the public face of the United Nations for once. The weight of so much responsibility just felt crushing. The long arm of New York City had always overshadowed me. And, for the longest time I thought that I would never have to step out of New York City's guiding light.

Well, I concluded as I began to walk forward, I am New York City's guiding light now. As painful as that would have sounded like to me from a few days ago. Frustration and anger were pretty prevalent feelings in me as of now.

A frown of frustration on my face formed. Hands placed in my pockets as I found myself walking in stride with the two Doctors.

"I would like to request that your security team keep their weapons lowered as soon as we descend onto the landship, as maintaining extreme caution in a diplomatic environment in Rhodes Island creates an atmosphere of hostility," She glanced back at him, eyes seeming to narrow as if she was glaring me. "Something that nobody in this meeting wants or needs."

"Alright," I said, raising my right hand from my pocket, curling it into a fist—a signal fist, rather than a deliberate gesture of hostility. "Team. Keep your weapons lowered. We're in friendly territory now, as weird as that is to say in this world," It really was. The only friendly zones he visited outside of base were the Village Safe Zone or the Chernobog Rescue Zone, the former established during the first operation after the chronoshifting and the latter established thanks to Chernobog Shield. I closed my eyes as I continued walking, putting up my index and middle finger. "Just smile and wave. Smile and wave, boys."

"Yes, Secretary-General!" They responded as I opened my eyes back up, finding myself having followed the two doctors to a door, leading to a stairway that descended to the bottom of the landship. I raised my eyebrow as I continued to follow them, mind musing about other things while walking.

How long would the alliance between RI and GDI last? Not very long, I mused. As much as I admired Rhodes Island, primarily based on hearsay alone, I'm afraid that I would rather much uphold the old alliances that keep this hodgepodge alliance of Nod and GDI together.

I sighed. Well, kept it together as best as it could be.

Sometimes, it is better to go for the devil you know than a fiend you have no recollection of. Once you have seen the devil, it is good to remember his visage.

Is RI even seriously keep this alliance up?

How long until they see that we're not members of their planet?

Do they know anything about the Brotherhood of Nod?

What do we do after Reunion is destroyed?

That one caused me to click my tongue, coinciding with my face being blasted with cold air from an air conditioner as I continued following the two Doctors and that dog-lady instructor, with my security team trailing behind.

I turned to my left, eyes narrowed as I put my hands behind my back. I was greeted by the sight of a cluster of odd and strange individuals, all with features that felt so alien to me. My mouth curled to bemusement, eyes narrowed as I continued to scan the environment around me, with special focus on the Rhodes Island personnel.

"I suppose this is my first time seeing the internal workings of the famous Rhodes Island," I offhandedly commented as I turned my head right, the combined footsteps of the Doctors, the instructor, me, and my security team drowning any further interjections. "Are recruitment standards this lax around the landship?"

That comment, by all accounts, should have made me chuckled when I blurted it out in public. Except it didn't. Instead, as soon as I had said that, I stared at personnel who were, quite clearly, underaged.

I furrowed my brows. Again.

The hell're they doing here? Christ, I mused as I turned right, shaking my head in severe annoyance. Aren't these people supposed to be, well, playing with their fellow children? Why the hell are they serving on Rhodes Island, of all places?!

Bemusement, confusion, and some disgust continued continued to permeate my feelings. Though outside of my own thoughts, I heard the comments from everyone else who had taken a glance at the security team.

"Some kinda important meeting?"

"Kroos, look- The UN's here."

"Woah… These are the guys that saved the Doctor's life at Chernobog!"

Hmph.

"Where were they when Lungmen was hit? Come on, if they were there for the Doctor, then-"

Another voice complained. This time, he turned to look at it, glancing at a woman with horse-like features. With a green, open overcoat with white, skin-colored sleeves, glaring at him. A stripe on the shoulder made her outfit unique in my eyes. Commendation for overcoat choice.

Standing next to her was a woman who looked like a fashionista, who turned to glare at the horse-woman instead. She looked… like a plain old human.

And sheesh. They both looked unnaturally well-kept. As if they had plastic surgery on repeat to look beautiful.

Though they likely didn't, knowing this world.

"Now, now, Catapult," She said as I turned my eyes away, eyes instead focusing on the road ahead of me. "The… United Nations likely doesn't have eyes every-"

That woman's response, Catapult her name was, faded into the distance as I kept moving, eyes furrowed and people staring at me from a distance. In hindsight, it felt similar to how we had our own troops go bug-eyed when we brought in those schoolkids.

Hell, they had gone through so much things that, frankly, no kid should ever have gone through.

"When I find those damn Reunion bastards…" I muttered under my breath as I lowered my head down a little, more emphasis given to the floor by my vision.

"I'm going to give them what they deserve."

My muttering stopped, however, as I took a step into an area of the Landship that had blue-ish stripes running through it.

"Christ, Joe," One of the security team operators muttered. Wilkins, if my memory served me correct. "You think we're out of our element here? I mean- I just don't think we're cut out for this shit."

"No kidding," Joe had replied. "It really feels like I'm stepping onto an alien planet. Feels like a level of Ring," A sigh. "Christ alive."

"Crown wouldn't believe this if we came back," Andy muttered. "For now? Just keep the Secretary-General protected until we reach the target."

"Gotcha," Joe replied. "Hey, Roberts. You ever notice something about this place?"

"The glares and stares we get? The fact that most of the people we've met have only melee weapons? The fact that we get murmurs and whispers about us as we keep walking?" Roberts replied. "Yeah, I do notice something. Why do you ask, exactly?"

I looked to my right as they were speaking, looking at the blue stripes that ran through the sterile gray of the landship. Meanwhile, Joe had responded to Roberts. "No, not that- That's another topic," He said. "I meant the fact that almost all of the people here are so fuckin' hot. Bloody hell, you could sear meat under a minute with how hot some of the people here are."

"Not the time to be thinking about screwing the CIVPOP," Wilkins interjected. "And I sure do bloody hope you say that about the people who are of legal age, Joe," Wilkins' response caused Joe to stammer. "Don't want to be known as a nonce now do you?"

"No! Christ, no. I was talking about that fashionista-lookin' lady earlier. Looked like she crawled out of a fashion show."

"I sympathize, but you had me contemplating shooting you for a second there, Joe."

"Christ, Wilkins, just keep moving."

With that, the conversation died as the two Doctors and their associated personnel continued marching on-

I was taken by surprise when I tilted my head left to see two of Rhodes Island's kind in some sort of industrial construction. A conveyor belt transported boxes draped in a tan-ish color to a hole in the middle of a wall while a machine to the right spewed out the boxes.

"Uuuu… Courier, h-has that, uh... package been signed off? The one with the, err, gold, I mean," A timid voice entered my ears amidst all of the chattering of the JTF2 team and the machinery of the machines. Somehow I caught what she was saying. Which was surprising.

I suppose the position of Secretary-General comes with powers considered unnatural to many, though.

"Oh, yeah, Jess," The second voice came. I got a look at the both of them. One of them was a catwoman who looked rather nervous to be there. Almost as if she was hastily reassigned there, judging by how she handled the paper. Which I guessed was the order papers. The other one wore a white coat, a red scarf alongside black-and-orange clothing joining the fray. "That one's been filled already."

"Great…" The catwoman, Jess, apparently, responded. "My assignment's about to end in an hour, so, I-I… Uh… Wanted to ensure that our orders weren't misfiled."

"No, no, I get it Jess," He responded. "Oh- look! The Doctor's there! And the Doctor has brought guests too!"

"Aahhh!" The catwoman screamed as she turned around, facing me and the two Doctors. Though I assumed that she was talking about the Doctor here. "D-Doctor! I didn't expect to see you here so soon!"

"Oh, haha," The Doctor stopped, with Kal'tsit stopping as well, eyes moving to the left to keep an eye on them. "No, keep your job up! You're doing great, Jessica," The Doctor then turned to the other man, supposedly named Courier. "Courier! I see that we're doing excellent over here."

"Always have been, Doc," He gave the Doctor a smile. "Packages've been properly filed. Jess's shift is ending in a bit, by the way."

"I know, Courier, I know."

"That's great," Courier said, before he glanced to the right—and into my general direction, eyebrows raising as he seemingly locked eyes at me, before they darted to look at my security team, eyes moving up and down. His expression changed into one of surprise, with a tinge of concern inserted there. "Doctor, are these guests here for a visit?"

"Yes, Courier," The Doctor said. "More specifically, Kal'tsit can provide more context."

"As of now, we are currently escorting allies from the United Nations to the reception room to negotiate a treaty of friendship and mutual co-operation, in regards to physical combat operations and intelligence."

"I concur with what Doctor Kal'tsit has said," I interjected, nodding my head. "I apologize for my sudden presence, but I have been invited to this ship to begin talks in regards to co-operation." What I had omitted was the fact that Rhodes Island didn't actually give me specific details.

But it was better to tell a white lie in this case, I thought. So long as we in the UN don't end up sitting on our asses…

"Wait, the United Nations? That United Nations? The one from Chernobog?" Courier suddenly took a step back, eyes widening. Jessica seemed to do the same, though she remained silent. Christ, the conveyor belt made more noise than her.

"Yes," The Doctor responded.

"O-Oh, I see," Courier responded. "I, uh, I was advised by SilverAsh to, uh, keep an eye out for anything about them. Can't say I expected them to just waltz into the landship so soon." He said, scratching his head.

"It happens," I respond. "Can't say that we expected to, uh, be meeting with Rhodes Island so suddenly," That implied that I knew about Rhodes Island prior to this month alone. Christ. I still didn't get over the fact that their name's too similar to that state just next to my childhood state. That first caught me off-guard when I read our—admittedly, rather shit—file on Rhodes Island. "Though times do change."

"I see," Courier nodded, as he turned to look back at the Doctors. "Well, uh, Doctor, Ms. Kal'tsit, Mr. Guest-" He said, turning back to me when he said the last part.

"George Bush, Secretary-General of the United Nations."

"Uh, alright- Well, Mr. George Bush, I extend a fellow welcome from a guest aboard the Rhodes Island Landship… Though I imagine that Ms. Kal'tsit and the Doctor have already welcomed you."

"After a bit of a rough first introduction yes," I responded, glancing at my security team, a small scoff escaping my mouth. "I hope none of you mind the security team. Insurance for the Secretary-General is necessary in times like these."

"Oh, I understand," He nods. "I just wish you, the Doctor, and Ms. Kal'tsit good luck on your negotiations."

I let a small smile form. "I appreciate it." I said, turning my head right and beginning to walk forward again, the vanguard and the two Doctors moving just in front of me.

I glance up to the left, and see a name on an arrow that faced just where I had come from. Written in a rather simple font were the words "Trading Post" which were followed by a currency sign of some sort and a hexagon with a box inside of it. I raised my eyebrow, curious as to what it was.

"What's a trading post?" I ask, making my voice audible to the two Doctors. Both of them turned around to address me.

The Doctor went first. "Trading Posts are how we fulfill our commercial contracts to other affiliated parties," They said, pointing their thumb at the place with conveyor belts and boxes from earlier. "Usually these commercial contracts include things such as precious metals, in particular, Pure Gold, which previously used to sustain our operations by generating a lot of LMD," The Doctor suddenly sighed solemnly. "At least, before the incident in Lungmen, that is."

"A stock market crash fueled by panic after the devastation that both Reunion and the Brotherhood of Nod brought to Lungmen had devastated the value of the LMD," I almost flinched and felt my eye twitch as Doctor Kal'tsit seamlessly integrated the words "Brotherhood of Nod" in talking about terrorism. I read the reports, I made my comments, and I'm still mad about how disastrous it was. "And since then, most of our Trading Post contracts have been in exchange for rather worthless local currencies, or other physical objects that we need in order to function."

"We have since been prioritizing more important contracts that grant us, say, materials in order to assist in the daily function of the ship. Sure, we're somewhat self-sufficient, but quite frankly we're still obligated to fulfill these contracts, worthless currency or not."

"However, there has currently been a trade war of a sorts between Columbia and Lethanien in order to fill the void that LMD has left behind. Currently, Columbia's newly-minted CUD is winning, though that's mostly because Lethanien's currencies are rather disorganized and only based on which nobles prefer what."

Christ. This was starting to sound like a recipe for a headache. And what was that about Columbia? I swear, Junior told me about it on the hospital bed. I'd have to do some more intelligence gathering of my own someday. Can't wait. "Sounds like absolute hell." Do these people even have free trade yet?

"It is," The Doctor muttered, shaking their head and sighing. "But so far, the CUD's weight in the trade war means that it's likely that we'll see the CUD fill in the shoes that LMD left behind, at least until LMD recovers."

And I better help it recover. "Noted," I nodded, before I noticed that we had moved into a room that had contained a yellow stripe cutting through it instead of the blue of the Trading Post. My eyes darted to the right as I heard the sound of machinery and construction not too dissimilar to Mobile Construction Vehicles when they produced things.

I shifted my face to one of curiosity and got my question answered as I watched two of Rhodes Island's operators. A man with a horn of a sorts, covered by a facemask and goggles. And a doglike woman with an overcoat and a sword by her side, assisted by a shield on her back.

"That's the latest batch of Gold done," The doglike woman said. "Glad to see it."

"Just in time too."

"Huh?"

"Doctor. Guests here too."

The masked man pointed to them. I simply smirked and gave my best smile and a thumbs-up.

"O-oh! Hi, Doctor!" The shield-wielding dogwoman spoke. "Those… Those are some, er, strange people with you today!"

"They're guests, Beagle," The Doctor chuckled. "They're here on a diplomatic mission."

"Th-those are the strange men wearing tan from Chernobog, y-yes…?"

"The United Nations, yes," The Doctor said. "They're currently here to discuss terms of co-operation."

"Strange times beget strange beginnings," The masked man said. "I wish you luck, Doctor. Holler at me if you need VIP protection for 'em."

"Thank you, Noir Carne," The Doctor responded. "Let's get going, Mr. Bush- I apologize if the constant stopping to greet the operators is delaying anything important." It very much is, but the fact that he's willing to take time out of his day to do such things is fascinating.

"No, I don't really have a problem with that," I really don't. Sure, it does delay me returning to my post and the investigation going on, but it's not the worst reason for it. At least I'll hopefully get more intelligence when I return home.

Assuming the damn SEAL team actually does their job.

"In fact, I quite like such interactions. Makes me remember I'm dealing with you guys," I said. We were only very vaguely able to get intel as to what RI was by simply assessing the knowledge of what we encountered back then. And to say that our initial assumption—that they were more of a paramilitary group—was incorrect is like saying water is a liquid. The obvious was there, but it wasn't entirely visible to the blind.

I ceased my musing as I continued glancing at the yellow stripes. Then, I shot a look at the name of this facility. "Factory." An eyebrow was raised as I turned my head to the two Doctors as we both walked past by the two employees of the Doctor.

"I assume that this is the method of production used to fulfill the aforementioned orders from the Trading Post?"

"Yes," Kal'tsit said, not bothering to turn to face me as we continued walking onwards in the landship. The machinery in the factory section was pretty interesting. Seems like they could use an MCV after all. "The Factory is usually where the material is processed and then sent."

"Whatever is made varies," The Doctor shrugged. "It can be as simple as things like operator training aids, or it can be as valuable—for the time being—as pure Gold refined from the finest ores in Terra."

"I see," I nodded. "You know, I guess very few people have had the luxury of being given a tour of the Rhodes Island landship. Wonder why I'm one of the lucky few now?" I asked, a half-surprised expression on my face as we continued moving.

Sliding doors in front of us then opened up, revealing to me a rather hilariously spacious and comfortable living room in the middle of the ship. And we were just strolling past it. Christ, to think that my troops—especially the ones with NCID—would revolt just to have a living room this large under quarantine.

My thoughts on the quarantined troops with NCID—a few of which also had a concurrent infection with the mysterious local black crystals—had faded into the wind just as we passed through, the Doctor gave a short laugh in response to my words, prompting me to raise my eyebrow.

"It's mostly a matter of repayment on my end. Though, it wouldn't have been possible without Dr. Kal'tsit humoring my musing about meeting the UN leadership," The Doctor muttered. "Though in another, less ad-hoc time, I would take a backseat to let Kal'tsit do the diplomatic work, negotiating with one of your faction's diplomats, but…"

"I assume the repayment you're talking about is related to the pilot who handed you his deceased co-pilot's firearm during our first meeting in Chernobog, yes?" I replied.

"Yes. I could not just sit there and know that my debt to the man who rescued me and his comrades was not paid. So? I had to invite the leader themselves, whoever they could be, and talk this with them," The Doctor glanced at Kal'tsit. "Well, she also has her own reasons. Strategic."

"An alliance with the United Nations was proven to be the most… strategically advantageous in our current conflict against the Reunion Movement," She said.

"So, we both came to an agreement. To brief on all of our current operators on the United Nations, and to immediately contact them should the opportunity present itself. An invitation to an impromptu conference, so to say."

"At the same time the Doctor returned from an operation that had been curtailed and cut short by a Reunion commander—Crownslayer, her name was—in rather unusual temperatures," Kal'tsit interjected. "My office had received news that the United Nations had accepted the invitation."

Yes, and I remember that. The acceptance was done not by me though, I frowned. It was done by the reckless Federationist jetpack psychos who didn't even bother to run that through command.

It was hard to resist the urge to order Fitzgerald to court-martial his entire squad for insubordination. But the opportunity had presented itself in their recklessness. So? We had to be there, or be square.

I felt my browse crease as I put on the biggest goofy smile I had. "Well, it wasn't hard to, considering that we were considering contacting you too. Mostly for help against Reunion and such," I said. "Though I apologize if it's a little disappointing to find out that I'm the only one of the United Nations leadership who bothered to come."

"And yet, perhaps all your presence is all we would need, Mr. Secretary-General. Given the… reverence your security team has, I think that your presence ensures that the United Nations has the final say on the terms of co-operation with Rhodes Island."

"Well, that's awfully convenient," I snickered, a lucky grin on my face as I fidgeted my hands in my pockets. The two Doctors glanced back at me as I said that, their expressions—okay, more like one visible expression and another ambiguously confused expression—showing their interest in my elaboration to the comment. "Our usual diplomat, Mike, bless his heart, is in the hospital. Crossbow bolts, slashes, stabs, you know the drill. Combat injuries. Doctor says his recovery's bound to be quick."

Hoping that Mike Dukakis recovers. He almost died for Junior. Christ.

"...Oh, I'm sorry to hear that."

"Don't be."

"But this Mike, he is an ambassador of the United Nations, yes?" Kal'tsit interjected, eyebrows squinting at me as we continued moving. "I find it odd that he was able to obtain injuries like that… Was he-"

"Sent into combat? Yes, actually," I replied flatly. "Can't say I blamed him though. He volunteered for the operation," In case the UN needed to negotiate with anyone. Even if it would've been pretty disastrous, owing to the fact that Stan was a diplomat for Yugoslavia and not Terra. That turned out pretty poorly for him.

"That is a rather odd decision to commit," She muttered. "When was this made?"

"A few days ago, during one of our own anti-Reunion ops. Way before we made contact another time."

"...Baffling."

"Can't say I hate Mike though," I sighed heavily, shaking my head, closing my eyes, and clicking my tongue. "He saved my son in that operation. They both fought their way through Reunion lines by their lonesome, and, hell," I clicked my tongue a second time. "If it weren't for my son and Mike, that op would've ended with too many casualties to count."

A bit of an exaggeration. But there was a bit of truth. There'd be more schoolkid deaths if we didn't intervene. Christ, who knows what I would've seen in the after-action reports?

And to think that Shrub was in the frontlines of that operation…

"Hang on," The Doctor said. "You sent your own son into the frontlines against Reunion alongside a diplomat? Just by themselves?"

"No, they had a special operations security team. But they diverted from them to take out Reunion support infantry and had managed to take several prisoners."

"I… Okay, that's a little more understandable," The Doctor continued. "But, still-"

"If it weren't for Mike, my son would be a casualty in the notebooks," I grunted out. "Fortunately, they're both in the hospital. Unfortunately, that means that HUMINT and diplomatic services can't really help us right now."

"I… Alright," The Doctor sighed. "Well, regardless, I welcome your presence on the landship, Mr. Bush. I really do hope that it's up to your standards."

"We can discuss the fluff when we actually get to where we're supposed to hold this damn meeting," I said. "Just know that my son would've loved to be here. Same with Mike."

"Noted."

I nodded as the two swiveled their heads back forward. Surprisingly, despite being a rather spacious room, there wasn't a lot of people actively using anything here. No, it was just us. Christ, there were more people watching me than there are in the living room.

"Wonder why everyone's away from the living room at a time like this," I muttered. "Usually'd be buzzing with chatter and chatter regardless of what time you get inside. Why's that?"

"Well, I mean," The Doctor chuckled. "Have you considered that most of the staff here have lunches to eat, Mr. Bush."

"Really? It's lunchtime?" I asked. "Couldn't notice with the weather 'round me, actually. Christ," I muttered in frustration. "Well, I suppose we already passed by the cafeteria anyway, so no need to make a fuss 'bout that."

"Oh yes, I have heard some of the comments about you, Mr. Bush. Some are rather… admirable and complimentary. By the way, everyone who was in Chernobog gives their thanks and gratitude to you for helping them out."

"Oh, thank you."

"However, we would like to apologize for some of the comments from our operators, especially earlier…"

"They do not possess any positive tone about the United Nations, at least as of now," Doctor Kal'tsit interjected as we went through another door. "Their primary concerns, at the very least, involve your supposed lack of effort against Reunion. Perceptions include sentiments such as that your presence does nothing to stem the reason infected join Reunion, your lack of presence in dealing with Reunion proper is a sign of neglect, and that you are but an arm for Columbia to begin to scoop up the hole that Yan left after the collapse of the LMD."

Jesus Christ. Point one was true. We didn't exactly know how or why infected joined Reunion in the first place. Second point was, well, true but I wished I could tell them the real reason why it took until Chernobog to get kicking into gear. Third point wasn't really fair at all. We just came here after a week.

And the last point… I cringed. From what I've heard interrogating the prisoners, Columbia was a rather poor imitation of the land of liberty where I had come from and grown up in.

To think that we'd be accused of being an arm of them. Hmph. "It is rather unfortunate that we get to hear this," I began, unease making me grimace as I moved my head left, lowering it while doing so. "But my main question is that why we're hearing this? Surely, wouldn't it make more sense to keep your personnel's opinions confidential? Especially with a potential ally on the line?" I asked.

I genuinely did not know why they just up and told me that information to my face. No, seriously. I would've zipped shut everything about my men's opinions. But to think that they allow such brazen things?

Good lord. At least they know when to speak out if things go too far.

"We would rather you have known rather than being blind to it after a supposedly successful negotiation." The Doctor opened up. "Well, I feared that if we deceived you by negotiating with you only to have my operators heckle and insult you…"

"That would jeopardize whatever agreement we could come to a conclusion to, yes?" I asked, eyebrow raised. Well. At least they are pretty honest about that. I'd have the same worries too, to be quite honest.

"It is integral that the security of a potential agreement between Rhodes Island and the United Nations be kept as stable as possible." Kal'tsit replied.

"Well, frankly, whatever your people say isn't my concern," I hadn't logged my own men's words about Rhodes Island. But that's mostly because a good chunk of them haven't been briefed and just remained at base. Thank God for mobile construction technology to make self-sufficiency an option.

But I cringed when I remembered the words that that Doctor… Lars, his name was, tell the command staff that the Tiberium stocks that fueled the self-sufficiency of the base were running out.

And, admittedly, a total loss of Tiberium meant a total loss in self-sufficiency.

I clicked my tongue. Hoping that Yang's men would figure something out that wasn't the… nuclear option, so to say. Lars' words about the nuclear option still rang in my head as we continued walking, the memory of the base doctor's words drowning out the two Doctors of Rhodes Island as they tried to talk to him about reputation.

"Mr. Bush. I'm afraid to say that to keep this base running and the men alive at this rate… We may have to seed Tiberium into this new world."

"Doc," I murmured. "You sure 'bout this? What about the people that're going to get screwed over? Shit- Nobody from our prisoner camp knows of Tiberium."

"We tried using the Black Crystals on the Harvesters," Doctor Lars sighed. "It didn't work. It just damaged the refinery. We're running low on credits and resources, and unless you want to raise a base tax and risk an open revolt... You have to spread Tiberium to this world."

That conversation had left me shaken to my core as I weighed my options at that time. But ultimately, no conclusion was reached.

"Give me until after the diplomatic meeting with Rhodes Island to figure it out, Doctor," I said. "Depending on how we do, we can potentially use them as a cushion against Tiberium."

"That is assuming they are able to obtain a piece of it before it changes structure-"

"Just... Just wait. I'll think of an answer when I'm back from the diplomatic mission." And I sighed. That answer, unfortunately, was to consult with the Brotherhood of Nod.

We had to spread Tiberium to this 'Terra.'

The risk of NCID spreading here was too high. But… Fuck.

I snapped out of my own thoughts as the two Doctors continued talking. "-It is still appreciated that you are willing to extend clemency to my operators," The Doctor chuckled. "Most people we work with consider us kind of rowdy."

"To say that is inaccurate would be incorrect," Kal'tsit said. "Regardless, that is not the topic at hand now."

"Oh well, it is what it is," I shrugged as a door opened once more-

And I found myself standing inside of a sort of elevator. To which the Doctor pressed a button, before turning around to meet me. "Oh. We'll be taking the elevator up to where we're going to talk. I'd advise you leave your team just here."

"Dobermann and the operators with us will stay behind as well. Two to four trips will be made. One with us, and the rest with your team and ours."

"Got it," I nodded, turning to the team. "Stay here and wait for the next elevator. I'll be going with these two first." Wordlessly, the team leader nodded and turned back to his own team, mouthing orders in French.

"Vous avez entendu le Secrétaire général. Restez derrière et attendez les prochains ascenseurs."

"Vous n'êtes pas obligé de le dire en français, vous savez?"

"Je pensais que cela nous donnerait l'air froid et mystérieux."

"Comme vous voulez."

"Peu importe. Restez derrière jusqu'au prochain ascenseur. Nous ne pouvons pas tous y monter avec le Secrétaire général sans que cela s'effondre sous nos poids."

"Je m'en occupe, et pour l'amour de Dieu, ne transmettez pas d'ordres en français. Il faut que nos appels soient compréhensibles. Bon sang, vous n'avez pas utilisé l'anglais tout à l'heure?"

"D'accord, bien sûr. N'importe. Restons discrets et attendons."

Everyone seemed to freeze in place as the special forces team finished their bantering. I even raised my own eyebrow as I looked at Kal'tsit, who appeared to have her mouth gaping open in… shock? That was odd.

"Was it something they said?" I asked, confused. I looked back to the team. "Christ! I know you're all supposed to speak the language of the crown you owe allegiance to, but can you please keep it understandable here?"

"That was…" Dobermann interjected.

"It really is…" One of the Rhodes Island operators escorting me said.

"Never before in my life would I have heard Gaulish so casually thrown around," Kal'tsit hissed, brows furrowing as she seemed to take a good look at me, barely avoiding a snarl as she looked at me. "You have a lot of explaining to do, Mr. Secretary-General."

"...Frankly, I'm surprised it was thrown around in such a bantering tone," The Doctor grimaced. "But she's right. You have a lot to answer for, Mister… Secretary-General."

I just widened my eyes and blinked thrice. "Uhhh…" I muttered, eyes glancing at the elevator- "Oh, shit. Elevator's here."

Kal'tsit and the Doctor seemed to focus back on the elevator as its doors opened. "Right. Follow me, Mr. Secretary-General," The Doctor said. I gulped as I stepped forward, gulping and grimacing in nervousness. Christ. "It's time we get this meeting out of the way."

As I stepped into the elevator, I heard the doors close just behind me. I stood in the elevator, facing the front. In front of me, however, were the two Doctors. Both of their heads glanced back to me, one suspicious and the other undetermined.

"Let me ask you something, Mister Secretary-General," Kal'tsit said. "If you were to hear a long-dead language from the mouths of those who guard people you want to negotiate a working alliance with," She continued, turning more to me, causing me to grimace. "What would your reaction be?"

She had an icy tone as she said all of that. Her glare seemed to intensify as I shifted my facial expressions. Cringing. Embarrassment. Lack of comfort. So many emotions ran through my face as I stood there.

"I'd frankly find it very odd and confusing, but to be honest? I'd just push it to the side and continue with the proposed alliance anyway," I blurted out, eyes narrowing as I tried not to cringe at my own words. This was it. I'm fucked. I'm dead and this is my hell. Fuck you, Fitz! "Because, well, a working and understanding relationship is more important than the linguistic abilities of my soon-to-be-ally's men."

"That is…"

"Living up to the United Nations label already, huh?" The Doctor snickered, keeping their eyes trained on me. "Listen. While we're… pleasantly surprised," Kal'tsit shot a quick glare at the Doctor. "I'd highly advise against your men speaking like that in public. You do know how a lot of people view Gaul and its language, right?"

"Oh, yeah," I hurriedly excused. "Told 'em to mostly speak in-" I almost blurted English. Damnit. "Victorian."

I still had to familiarize myself with the counterparts of every nation here, good lord. Columbia is America. Victoria is Britain. Ursus is Russia. Those were the major ones that we caught. But truth be told, we never really got the others.

We'd have to look into the world. But for now? We had to play pretend that we came from Terra.

And, boy, without the animal features here that's going to be hard.

The Doctor chuckled. "Hah."

"It is quite fascinating that you have managed to scrape together a force of Victorian-speaking Gaulish restorationists," Kal'tsit said, still suspicious of me. "Yet, regardless, I still find it odd that you can recruit such a team that hasn't been religiously reverent of Corsica. Why is that?"

"That'll have to do with my A-All-Columbian ideals," I cursed internally again, having almost blurted out 'American' rather than 'All-Columbian.' Fucking hell. "Or, perhaps it'd have to be the internationalism.." I shrugged.

"Internationalism?" Kal'tsit asked, curious and surprised. "Could…" She hesitated, for… some reason. "Could… could you elaborate as to exactly what internationalism is?"

The Doctor and Kal'tsit seemed pretty hesitant when the latter said internationalism… Not that I would ever know why. It was just one of those weird moments, I supposed.

I took in a deep breath as I prepared to explain internationalism. "Yeah, internationalism is the United Nations' guiding principle," I said. "Internationalism is the idea that all nations can work together, to break down the artificial barriers put up by hostile, isolationist elements," I said, as the elevator doors opened up the front, and the two doctors moved, with me following behind. "At least, that's what was written by the men and women who helped found the United Nations as it stands."

"What is the United Nations, actually?" The Doctor said. "I can comprehend the sentiment of internationalism. But there's still the question of why you fight? What drives you to fight? To carry on this torch of internationalism?"

"What drives Rhodes Island to fight?" I sigh. "Let me ask that. What's exactly the driving force for Rhodes Island to continue their activities in a world like this?"

A beat. "What is Rhodes Island? And why does it stand?" I ask, halting my advance, the two doctors seemed to follow suit as they turned around and looked at me. I was actually asking an honest question, funnily enough. "Surely, if you were to ask me about why the United Nations stands, then I must ask why does Rhodes Island stand too?"

"...May I enjoy my life and practice my art," The Doctor opened up. "Respected by all men and in all times." They finished. I raised my eyebrow. That sounded like a rewritten version of the hippocratic oath! "We at Rhodes Island are a pharmaceutical company, dedicated to fighting for tomorrow's dawn."

"It is within our strategic objectives to provide medical services and relief to those who cannot afford it, especially in the current battle against Oripathy," Kal'tsit added, looking at her fingers as she moved her head to look at her hands. "Especially as most of Terra seems to be rather content with letting those afflicted rot like unneeded commodities."

"Mr. Bush, we here at Rhodes Island-" I was surprised. It seemed that he interpreted it as a rhetorical question rather than a genuinely honest question. "-Are made up of those afflicted by Oripathy." Wait. So it was made up of this world's version of NCID patients?

Shit.

"We know that there may not be a cure for Oripathy in the present. We know that there are still many people who refuse to feel empathy for their fellow man. And we acknowledge that there are… elements who seek retribution in such a way that only begets more violence," The Doctor said. "Yet, we persist. Love and empathy have failed for many people around this world," Kal'tsit seemed to wince as the Doctor said that, with the Doctor none the wiser. "But have we given up on love? On empathy? Have we given up on seeking a cure for Oripathy, despite the rocky roads and setbacks? Have we given up on sharing medical care?"

I stayed silent, crossing my arms to take it all in. It felt… like IDAP. Only, more corporatized- Wait. No, it felt more like GloboTech. It felt like GloboTech. The words reminded him of the two executives. There just needed to be a volunteer-coordinator to complete the vibe.

That was what I felt in the air. I felt like I was watching half of a mirror image of those executives. He felt half of Akito whenever Kal'tsit spoke. And the Doctor's words, full of hope but guarded by an armored idealistic spirit, reminded him of Jeon. Yet they were only half.

I could tell Akito's story from a glance. I can't tell Kal'tsit's. Akito was raised in the same opulence and privilege that I had been afforded. Yet, Kal'tsit felt… different. She felt like she had been raised in privilege. But in a different manner. But they both shared a stiffness and seriousness to them.

It was the same with Jeon. I couldn't feel any of Jeon's life story. A man raised in idealism by his father shipping him off to the Russian Confederation and coming out an egalitarian. That was Jeon. This Doctor didn't have that life story though. No, they felt… off. Yet, in spite of that oddity, Jeon and him shared an idealistic and ironclad determination to do no wrong.

I kept my eyes at level with their faces as I awaited further response. Kal'tsit had sighed and spoken up first. "We at Rhodes Island are dedicated to saving lives, Mr. Secretary-General. Terra is a world that is in peril. Yet, whatever sacrifices be made on the way, the ultimate goal is the same. To save Terra. That is what we fight for." It felt… it felt like it was trying to be cold. But there was a level of passion that could not hide in her voice. But I shut that thought away. No reason to be suspicious.

Not now at least.

And so, I nodded and smiled. It was my best attempt at a sincere smile. I felt my muscles trying to calmly express my appreciation. Yet, I felt eyes boring deep into my soul. And, rather unfortunately, rightfully so.

I just looked like a creepy old guy at times. Curse be my age, even with the technology of home.

"Well, that's the same principle of the United Nations," I ceased smiling and put my head down, mind flurrying with word combinations in an attempt to explain what the United Nations is without spelling out any anomalous details that could make us look alien. "We were… formed out of rough times. We're not exactly…" I stopped. "A proper government organization, though we try to ape the appearance of one. Hence, the title – United Nations. We aspired for a united world, bound by world peace and institutions we co-operate to uphold."

I breathed in. "We weren't just soldiers like you might have assumed, actually," That was the truth, I noted. "We are… many. We've all walked different roads, but we've all ended up in the same route. But we all united as one in the United Nations under the guidance of idealists," I sighed. "Men in suits who envisioned a world united as one, bound only by internationalism and a commitment to the inherent goodness of man."

I looked down, eyes closed as I made a vaguely mournful expression. "Those men are long since gone. And I was but the last in line when they had perished." I lamented as I sighed heavily, sweat still beading down my forehead as I anxiously awaited their responses. "Now, the hopes and dreams of idealists and academics lay in the hands of me… The last in line."

"I take it that these men were of Columbian descent, then?" To some extent. I resisted the urge to sneer. Nobody could deny that the architects of the modern United Nations were American. Wilson. Bradley. Fulbright. Lodge. Kirkpatrick. But the people who brought it to where it was today… They were an international force.

We could not be here today without the help of the men and women bound to nation, but loyal to the flag of the United Nations.

"Fascinating to see that a faction birthed from the minds of academics and idealists would become such the thing that it is today," Kal'tsit muttered. "This United Nations… From what I am hearing, it is little different from Rhodes Island. And yet."

"There is a tinge of familiarity in that story," The Doctor solemnly noted. "Which is… what worried me."

"What, have you heard of a United Nations-like organization before we met?"

"Yes, though not academics as you. Rather, they were once founded by people who believed that there could be a chance for equality for the downtrodden," I blinked. That was why that mysterious org was founded? From what I had gathered, we were the first internationalist movement around Terra. And yet, somehow there was a UN-like organization too? Christ. Wasn't there a word for this? It was, uh, convergent evolution, I think. "Yet, they had degraded into bandits. Looters. Killers." Rather than hatred, I sensed… regret in the Doctor's voice, even as he spat out the last part. "They had become little but thugs."

I nodded. "And such aimless violence is precisely what the United Nations is striving to fight against," I solemnly smiled. "My… predecessors had left behind a vision. A vision of peace and prosperity, all nations bound together by a common love for the inherent good of mankind and free trade."

"Which, I assume, is why you are rather hostile with Reunion and the Brotherhood of Nod?" I almost cringed at the last part, but through it, I just had to nod. "Then we share a common goal in restoring peace and saving lives by eliminating both of these."

"That is why I am here in the first place, no?" I asked. "Come on, let's discuss the terms in the location we were supposed to talk at. I don't need to stall you further by telling you two about the men who founded the United Nations," I sighed. "Which… describing the movement I inherited that way must conflict with your impressions of us, the UN."

"It is not out of place for movements such as yours to contract mercenaries," Kal'tsit scoffed. "Rather, I'm more surprised that you acknowledge that there is a contradiction at all. Many would not bother, and preach empty phrases without ever confronting the violent methods that your groups employ."

"But to contract such high-quality Liberi mercernaries, fluent in Victorian and Gaulish? And trained with firearms?" The Doctor said as what was apparently the last door I had to pass through opened. "It amazes me what resources you are able to employ."

"Well, heh, you know, it comes with, uh, hard work in the A-All-Columbian dream," Another almost-impulsive description of American rather than Columbian. Jeez. "My poppy was a man who made his fortune being the manager of O-" I felt myself rapidly backing out as I almost said oil. I wasn't sure if oil existed, so I had to get that out of the way. "-riginium mining." That last-second save stopped my slipup.

Yet, when I pulled that excuse out of nowhere, the only response I had received was the two turning their heads to me and squinting. It only came to me that Originium was just as contagious as Tiberium when their eyes continued boring into my soul.

Squinting, furrowed brows and an almost scowl came from Kal'tsit. The Doctor, meanwhile, had… An uncomfortable feeling on their face.

As far as I know, I had basically said that my father had made his money off of sending people to mine Tiberium. I clenched my fist and coughed. "Moving on."

"Right," The Doctor said, as the doors closed behind us. Finally. "I apologize for the lack of proper introduction when you landed on the helipad, but… Welcome to the Rhodes Island landship. And welcome to the reception room."

"In normal operations, this serves as a hub for all intelligence coordination between Rhodes Island and its affiliated groups," Kal'tsit interjected as she turned her head to the left, my eyes deviating as I looked at the actual room around me. It had a somewhat comforting… brownish hue to it, with natural sunlight piercing through the massive window to the left, the Rhodes Island logo emblazoned on it. "However, this also serves as the location where diplomatic meetings and visits are conducted."

"Please, take a seat, Mr. Bush," I looked at where the Doctor was facing as they spoke, only for me to stumble across a table with assorted items on it. Flanking it to the left and right were two individual couch chairs, and the very left of it hosted a long sofa that could fit three people. "I'll take the sofa."

"Right, and I'll take the chair on the left," It was only polite to sit in the direction you had come from, after all. Or, I suppose. Whatever the case, I walked over to the couch on the left, or the south, and sat down on it, arms resting on the armrests as I leaned back. The high-quality fabric and metal frame provided a level of comfort that I had been missing since being cut off from NYC. It was less flashy and technologically integrated, but it did its job.

I blinked and crossed my arms as Kal'tsit sat down on the chair in front of me, crossing her arms as well, face completely stern and unyielding as she stared me down. It was only when she had sat down did I notice that her right arm had been coated in black crystals that poked out of her skin.

...A bit different from NCID, actually. Usually, NCID occurs inside the body. But… I'd heard that NCID could spread to have crystals to poke out. Christ, I'll have to look at the soldiers we quarantined after our first operation in that Burmese-speaking village some time ago.

It felt so long ago, too. Yeesh. And it was just only how many days ago?

"So, to begin, Mr. Secretary-General," Kal'tsit leaned forward. "We would like to request whatever intelligence you have on this… Brotherhood of Nod," I nodded and began to unbutton my raincoat, exposing my two-piece suit and tie to the two people in the room. Kal'tsit rolled her eyes. "I assume your files are in that raincoat of yours?"

I nodded as I moved my right hand to take out a folder buried in a pocket. On it was stamped the United Nations logo. As I took it out, I laid it out on the table, flipping it open and rotating it, sliding it to Doctor Kal'tsit.

It was a heavily, heavily edited document about the Brotherhood of Nod.

Kal'tsit took the document, perusing over it.

"That scorpion symbol I recognize," Kal'tsit spoke. "But what piques my curiosity is the background, however," She interjected. "It mentions that this Brotherhood of Nod has been active since the beginning of 1090, with rumors of it being present beforehand. Yet, I have heard nothing of the Brotherhood of Nod for the last six years until now."

Shit. I breathed in, trying to compose a response to that as I moved my head back.

"How exactly did the Brotherhood of Nod maintain such a secretive presence from the time of 1090 up until now?"

"That'd have to do with its well-off contacts high up in some governments," I casually blurted out, a part of my conscience screaming at me as I had cited earth stuff for Terra. "Alongside the simple fact that they weren't interested in making a statement until Lungmen." Yeah. They were totally planning to make a statement in Lungmen.

"Interesting. And you tell me that you have managed to obtain this intelligence well before any national entity?" Kal'tsit asked suspiciously, causing me to shift my expression. On the outside, I was nodding with a stern face. On the inside, I felt embarrassment take hold as I only realized that I walked right into that one without any prior foresight.

This was why I wasn't supposed to be Secretary-General of the United Nations, damnit!

"Well, the simple fact is that we were their first victim," That was indeed stated on the report. It was… true. To a certain extent. "Their first years were marked by them focusing on attacking assets belonging to the United Nations. More specifically, the men before me who helmed the first of the United Nations Security Assembly," I said. "These attacks weren't done publicly, however. If you'll turn to the document-"

"Yes, they were conducted in the rather seedy and undocumented parts of Ursus." Kal'tsit sneered. Score one for plausible deniability. All it took was some wrangling the prisoners and freed hostages who were from Ursus to figure out what was their Cleveland equivalent. The seedy and "no-go" zone. "Why a group of intellectuals would choose to gather in Shiraziburg is a matter beyond me," I felt my heart stop. Had she seen through it? Fuck! "But, rather admittedly, it is plausible in hindsight that such an organization could only be first sighted in Shiraziburg."

There was an unspoken tone of suspicion in her voice, though. As if she had no guarantee that she actually believed in it.

But I counted on her just focusing more on the prospect of an alliance rather than… a minor detail like that. I prayed to God that she would do so.

Otherwise, frankly, I'm fucked. No way in hell I'll be Secretary-General again after these failures.

"Yes, yes," I nodded. "But, regardless- That is all we have on the Brotherhood. As far as we know now, they're a violent, militant non-state actor rather… hellbent on promoting their rather syncretic religious agenda."

"Sankta leadership?" The Doctor asked. "I mean- RI's encounter with them attested that they had access to firearms."

I wonder. What'd they think of the captured Nod captain's weapons?

"Report seems to conclude so," Kal'tsit muttered. "Nevertheless, I thank you for this document, Mr. Secretary-General."

"Yeah. We've been lacking on info regarding Nod, so we're desperate for any crumb of info regarding that damned organization." The Doctor said, taking a deep breath and sighing. "The things I do to repay the man who gave their firearm."

Seems like the Doctor didn't find anything off with the rifle then either. I muttered a silent thanks to God.

"What is more important is stopping the Brotherhood of Nod's activities before they spread too far-" Kal'tsit was interrupted by knocking on the door. I turned my head to the right, looking at the door as the knocking continued. "You may enter the room," Kal'tsit said, deadpanning as the door seemed to open up.

In front of the door- My eyes widened when I saw who was in front of the door. It was a young girl. Teenage-ish in appearance. In tow with her were the escorts from earlier, and my special forces team. All of whom seemed to just gather at the back of the young girl.

And that young girl seemed to have rabbit ears on her. Huh. Wonder if those are real?

"Dr. Kal'tsit, I apologize for being late!" She shouts. "I had to conduct some business with Closure at this time!"

"I assume that your tardiness is why the Secretary-General's team and the operators I sent to escort him are behind you?"

"Long story," One of the JTF2 team members croaked out, only for another one of his fellow teammates to elbow him. "Ow. Christ."

"I-I… Yes…"

"No matter, Amiya," Kal'tsit sighed. "You may come in," She looks at the operators behind the girl that I now know as 'Amiya.' "The rest of you may also follow suit." She said, before looking back at the document.

"Feel free to help yourself to the snacks and the drinks by the way," The Doctor said. "We usually restock them later so all of y'all feel free to grab something to eat while this meeting is in progress."

"Thanks, doc," I say. "Yeah. Help all of y'selves out," I look at the JTF2 team as they walk into the room following the Rhodes Island operators. "But try not to make too much noise. We're, uh, kinda busy here, y'see?"

I turned my head around after seeing the men nod their heads as they proceeded to go to the pantries and shelves, the sound of cabinet doors opening and closing signifying that they had begun their pantry raid. God, it had been so long since I had raided a pantry back at the base for snacks.

Perhaps I should do it again this time. I could just easily restock them with the vending machines. Synthetic food was a godsend. And a major reason why most of our troops now are still alive and eating rather plentifully instead of rationing out food.

This was the future, I sighed.

"Moving on," Kal'tsit said as she slid the document back into its folder, then slid it back to me A heavy sigh came out of her as she looked at me dead in the eye. "Mr. Bush. The reason why I have allowed your presence on the landship is because you seem to have a grasp on the situation regarding the Brotherhood of Nod that we do not,"

She leans even more forward as I take the folder back and put it inside my raincoat's inner pocket again. "Currently, our lack of intelligence on the Brotherhood of Nod makes us unable to truly strike back against them. We lack key information that would enable a strike against the Brotherhood."

She leaned backward, eyes squinting at me as she continued to speak. "And like Reunion, the Brotherhood of Nod will not obey the laws of Terra's nations. Neither will they wait for the relevant authorities to take the initiative," She looked down. "In fact, they cannot take the initiative, due to the total global economic collapse of the Lungmen Dollar sending the Yanese Empire down a spiral. And with it, Lungmen,"

"And with both Yan-" China. "And Lungmen down a death spiral-"

"Yes, they cannot gather or obtain the intelligence that we have against the Brotherhood. In simple terms, we are lucky that we managed to capture a Nod prisoner, else we might not have known about the organization at all. Unfortunately, without further assistance, Terra will suffer heavy losses due to the supreme connections that the Brotherhood has that we at Rhodes Island simply cannot stand up to."

"...And I assume that said prisoner talked about the United Nations," I almost sweated as I blurted that out, my mind racing with various unfavorable possibilities that were extremely untenable for us as a faction. What if he had blurted out about the alliance, and that was why Kal'tsit seemed so shifty and stiff around the United Nations? What if he had accidentally incriminated the cooperation between Nod and GDI military command? What if they found minor details that enabled Rhodes Island to find weak links in the official story we put out? What if- "Which is what led you to consider humoring the Doctor's incessant requests to see UN leadership, am I wrong?"

"You are not," She said. "We believe that whatever familiarities you have with Nod will enable you to curtail them before they present themselves more. We cannot simply handle terrorism on this scale by ourselves."

"Calling in the experts, huh," I chuckled. "You're right on the money. Because that's what the military arm of the United Nations has been doing ever since its founding in '93," I pulled that number out of my ass. "You just came to the right place."

"I assume that you disconnect the intellectual and academic arm of this United Nations movement-" Oh wow, she called it a movement. Like a political one. Though that did make sense, now that I thought about it. "-From its paramilitary and mercenary arm, yes?"

"Yeah," I said. "That's the GDI for you," I had to restrain myself from saying global when referring to the UNGDI. "The General Defense Initiative. The, uh, armed wing of the internationalist movement. Trained in counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency activities."

"Excellent," Kal'tsit nodded. "Then I trust that you will cooperate in the fight against the Brotherhood of Nod and Reunion?"

"Well, yes, but I'd like to specify a caveat," I spoke. "We're not exactly… keen on integrating into Rhodes Island," I said. "Frankly, as far as I'm concerned, this is a strictly military alliance against two terrorist organizations that we have mutual enemies in."

"I have never considered integration on such a scale beyond tactical," Kal'tsit rebutted. "I acknowledge your desire to remain an independent political movement, but nevertheless I would like to see military co-operation against terrorism against Reunion and especially the Brotherhood of Nod."

"Very well then," I responded. "It wasn't made clear."

"Then I will make it clear once again," Kal'tsit said. "We will only cooperate on tactical matters that involve operations where Rhodes Island and the United Nations will cross paths. Nothing more, nothing less. Our expertise and your expertise will join forces, but part ways should the operations come to an end."

"That is agreeable," I said. "We'll remain an independent movement," Christ, that hurt describing the hopes and dreams of Fulbright, Lodge, and Wilson as just a political movement. Though perhaps they would cling to it as a righteous one. "But we'll cooperate against terrorism."

"Good," Kal'tsit said. "Now, I trust that we have agreed on tactical cooperation?"

"Indeed we have," I leaned forward, extending my hand. Dr. Kal'tsit joined in, taking my hand for a short handshake before it ended and we moved back to leaning on our respective chairs. Surprisingly, not as tight or painful, now more like- Slightly stronger than me. I smiled. That was a good sign. "Now, there are two more remaining important matters we will have to get out of the way before we can call this meeting concluded. And the last one concerns our prisoner."

Oh right. They still had that one Noddie. His RFID went offline mysteriously, too. But thank God that RI has him here. Else we'd be looking for him like a wild goose.

Though I wonder what happened to that one pilot, uh, Mojo 2? He crashed on Cherno, so…

Maybe he's still kicking, I suppose.

"Continue on," I said. "I'm willing to extend the United Nations' full cooperation regarding these matters."

Nodding, Kal'tsit turned to the rabbit girl—who had somehow silently made her way to stand beside Kal'tsit, huh—and asked her something. "Amiya, could you please give me our dossier from the intelligence department on Reunion?"

"Oh, right!" Amiya said as she pulled a file out of a pocket inside her jacket. "Here it is, Dr. Kal'tsit."

"Thank you, Amiya," Kal'tsit said, as she slid the folder over to me. "That is what we have on Reunion as of now, though I will apologize in advance, as there are certain portions that have been censored on the need-to-know basis."

I opened up the folder and found myself looking at a summary of Reunion.

"BACKGROUND

Reunion is a violent terrorist organization that is the most dangerous of the rebellious infected groups. Formed around the concept of infected 'internationalism', which rejects racial and national identities, Reunion has pushed aggressively and conducted grabs of power aimed at destabilizing nations to upend the international status quo."

I felt a shiver down my spine as I read the line about 'infected internationalism.' My eyes widened, though they couldn't see that as my face was focused on reading the document. That was why they seemed hesitant when I cited that the UN's ideology was internationalism. That was why they said the UN sounded familiar.

That was why they prodded me about the resources to hire the 'mercenaries' that were my JTF2 security team.

Oh, shit.

Who the hell was giving Reunion the resources then?! We got our resources independently! So how the hell is Reunion getting the shit they have?!

I remembered the reports and the briefing. The portion about the Multipurpose Gun Drones. The first report from Chernobog about the magic that they seemed to pull out of their ass and throw at UNGDI forces. It all couldn't have been gotten easily for a simple terrorist group such as Reunion!

Shit. That was why they were asking me for help against Reunion. Because as far as they can tell, it's pitting one against one, like our first crossing together at Chernobog a while ago.

And… Hell. They were suspicious that I'd turn out to be a Reunion 2. They must've seen me the same way I saw them.

A half-mirror of something that's uncomfortably familiar to them.

I flipped through the rest of the documents, being greeted with things that actually were useful to me. Such as equipment, assets, and photos of some of the mercenaries they've been employing. Alongside potential reports about their bases in Chernobog. This was good. I could use this and my coalition's spy plane to gather more intel about Reunion.

I put down the folder, and slid it back to Kal'tsit, who took it.

After reading, I leaned back and furrowed my brows, sulking and angered. At Reunion. However it was because they ruined the notion of social movements such as their independently developed internationalism. But it was convenient to omit that and just to be angry at Reunion.

"This… This…" I sighed. "I suppose we have more of a reason to co-operate against Reunion then," I muttered. "I had known about Reunion for a while now, but I have never been able to get information such as their mercenaries and their… elite squadrons," Fucking hell. It'd pay to have air support even more now. "Most of what we have is basic stuff. Mostly from our experience with their grunts… And the GDI's encounter with one of their commanders."

"Who? Who was it?"

"They said it was the kid with the white hair. They never got his name, though," I muttered. "You have any idea who he is?"

"Mephisto…" Kal'tsit muttered. "Doctor, didn't Crownslayer's troops mention Mephisto's troops reinforcing another Reunion commander? The one who commanded the Yeti Squadron?"

"Yes," The Doctor solemnly said, a long sigh—sighing was in fashion, apparently—escaping his mouth. "Yes, they did."

"Mr. Secretary-General," Kal'tsit said. "This is something I would like to request your assistance in. We are planning another operation against Reunion in the Chernobog area, however, we fear that our current operators are lacking heavy firepower against Reunion, which we suspect has been reinforced by Reunion commanders regrouping as per the Doctor's last operation," She said. "It would provide a tactical advantage for the United Nations to be present in assisting the Doctor."

"Say no more," I clasped my hands together and scowled, brows furrowing and mouth locked in an angered expression. "I'll alert the General Defense Initiative when I get back. We will get our forces in Chernobog ready for deployment," I said. "Though, I'd like to make a request of my own after yours- Two, actually."

Kal'tsit seemed to raise an eyebrow at this, and tilted her head, squinting and questioning as her crossed arms seemed to cross each other more. But her words, at least, showed a willingness to humor my own requests. "You may," She said. "I was expecting to conclude this meeting after Rhodes Island's last term for cooperation, but I am able to accommodate the United Nations' terms."

"Excellent," I nodded. "Let's move on. What's the last term that you have for us at the UN?" I asked as I moved my hand to my chin, musing about whatever term it could be.

Kal'tsit, however, seemed to want to move on fast. "In regards to the Brotherhood of Nod prisoner," Oh no, fuck me. "We would like to request your assistance in extracting information from him, as, from our attempts, he has refused to divulge anything important on a strategic and tactical level."

"So… What? You want the UN to, like, interrogate him or something? Drag out whatever dirty secret he possesses and outline them in a paper?"

"Something akin to that, yes," Kal'tsit nodded. "We will arrange for the prisoner to be temporarily transported to your custody—we will not follow suit, as to not infringe on your privacy-" Perfect. While I couldn't break him free and cover it up as a prison breakout, what I could do was bring him back to base for some debriefing, a quick wash and snack, then transfer him back as a prisoner when the time ran out. "-But what we do request is the sharing of intelligence obtained from the interrogation."

"Oh, that's pretty easy to arrange," I nodded. And easy for us at the UN to turn beneficial for our alliance with Nod, as 'temporary' it may be. "We'll see what we can get out of him. Why'dja need our help anyway?"

I leaned forward, elbow held up by my thigh as I held my right cheek with my right hand, left eyebrow raised. Kal'tsit crossed her legs and looked at Amiya. "Amiya, can you give me the briefing on the Brotherhood of Nod?"

Nodding, Amiya procured another folder, this time on the Brotherhood of Nod. Marked with the Rhodes Island logo in front, it had the words "BRIEFING ON THE BROTHERHOOD OF NOD" underneath the RI symbol. I flipped the folder open to see what they were able to get out of the Brotherhood of Nod.

I was surprised when I found myself staring at a pretty basic description of the Brotherhood. Mysterious violent organization with religious motifs. Believed to be pledging allegiance to a figure known as Kane. Members are vaguely religious. Possible Sankta leadership given the lack of action from the Church. Many more details were just obfuscated, and I had to stem my urge to laugh when I saw some of the comments.

"Gray and black uniforms? Somehow more practical than Reunion – LK"

"Blacksteel called, they want their guns back – FK"

"Someone go tell the Sankta they have a rogue element – CT"

Now, I knew these were, likely speaking, just observations made based on what information they could get. So I don't particularly blame them. But perhaps giving that folder to Kal'tsit, and falsifying the interrogation with metaphorical truths and red herrings would be a great start.

I nodded, closed the folder, and handed it back to Kal'tsit. "I wholeheartedly agree to both of these terms, Dr. Kal'tsit," I said, clasping my hands together as I let a smile break out on my face. "While ultimately this is more of a tactical alliance than a merger, I see a real chance for multilateral cooperation to develop here," I extended my metaphorical hand, keeping my smile as Kal'tsit seemed to relax and go less stiff. Perhaps we really could grow this into a multilateral practice of true internationalism! "Now, may I present my terms to the table?"

My eyes lit up when Kal'tsit gave a nod. Amiya seemed excited too, given how she gave a smile of her own. The Doctor, to my left, seemed to nod along too. Huh. Seems like this was a fine mood today. Wonder what was the cause to that?

"Present them," Kal'tsit responded. "If able, I will see to it that these terms are complied with immediately."

"Noted, noted," I said as I leaned back, hands crossing the back of my head as I glanced to my right, eyes glancing at a JTF2 special forces operator carrying a bag of chips. "You," I said. "You able to grab a bag of chips?"

"O-" He turned around, caught off-guard. "Of course, sir- Hang on," He said, as he turned around and proceeded to go back to the pantry with snacks on it. I turned my head back to the left as I stretched my hands, flexing them while they supported my hands.

"My first term is… more of a request, but," I said. "We, at the United Nations, would like to utilize the healthcare services of Rhodes Island to facilitate immediate diagnosis and treatment of soldiers and civilians affiliated or under the care of our organization," I explained my terms as I kept myself laid back, even though I was talking about a serious issue that had was making life hell for both the quarantined soldiers with NCID and the civilians and prisoners we rescued. We had the proper resources to diagnose for NCID infection, owing to it being familiar. Not so much with Oripathy. Add onto that the fact that we have prisoners and CIVPOP rescued from the rest of Terra, though… Yeah.

As I gave my terms—which were true, but they were also a massive case of lying by omission—The Doctor, Kal'tsit, and Amiya seemed to be listening intently to my sobby excuse to send our soldiers for Oripathy treatment. Time to continue on. "Due to our current lack of medical resources, we do not have the resources to diagnose or stem the approach of Oripathy. With this, I would like to request permission to transfer UN General Defense Initiative troops to Rhodes Island for medical treatment."

Kal'tsit seemed to look at me, puzzled. "How is it that you are able to keep a mercenary army while having a deficit of medical resources?" She sighs. "No matter. I suppose expending money on assets such as the ones seen in Chernobog are expected to be expensive."

She may not have realized it, but she just covered my ass by herself. But still. That stung a little. It was basically just 'you spent all the money on the mercs, congratulations, dumbass.' Which admittedly, would be a fair criticism in and of itself. The problem was that… Ah, fuck it. I know this already.

"We will see to it that GDI troops are to be transferred to Rhodes Island for diagnosis and treatment," Kal'tsit said. "The matter of payment is a question already settled, as Rhodes Island wishes to provide care to all, even those unable to afford it," She said. "Consider the tactical alliance a form of payment, Mr. Secretary-General."

I nodded. "Thank you, Dr. Kal'tsit," I said as I was handed a bag of chips to my right by one of my JTF2 security team members. He shook the bag of chips. "Yo, Secretary-General, got something," I snickered. Felt both out of touch and way too personal with my own security team at that moment. I just calmly nodded, taking the bag of chips and giving him a thumbs-up. I then sat it down on the table for later.

He then pulled back and continued on with his day, the sound of somewhat quiet idle chatter blending in with the environment as I and Kal'tsit continued speaking. "My second term is actually closely related to the subject of payment as you have stated," I said, causing Kal'tsit to raise an eyebrow in surprise, as with Amiya and the Doctor.

"As… a complementary gift," I tried my hardest not to bite my own tongue as I offered this move. God. It would be a strategic olive branch to Rhodes Island, but… Jean would have my ass. A heavy sigh escaped my mouth. "I would like to offer Rhodes Island one of our… construction vehicles," I said. "As absurd as that sounds."

"To what benefit does a donation of a singular vehicle—especially a single construction vehicle—give the alliance?" Kal'tsit interjected. "I can acknowledge the strategic acumen of a weapon donation, but construction vehicles…?"

"As long as it makes my life use fewer drones and gives us more power," The Doctor interjected. "I can't complain."

"I would like to inform you that inside this construction vehicle is a blueprint that allows for… power optimizers that enable a slight increase in the power output of the generators," I half-lied. It did exist, but it was called a base power plant. Or, more accurately, the "AN Death Squad HQ," but this felt familiar for now. "If you would like, I shall give you a demonstration of the capabilities of the construction vehicle on the ground."

"...I suppose we can accept it, but only on the requirement that we test it ourselves and see it worthy of acceptance as an alliance gift," She sounded pretty suspicious of the offer, not that I blamed her. However, the eventual acceptance of her tone—sounded off by a sigh—told him more than he needed to know. "Were there any more terms, Mr. Secretary-General?"

"None." I firmly stated as I extended my hand one more time. Another handshake to go. This time, to certify the mutual acceptance of our terms of negotiation. I kept my smile, and it grew wider as Kal'tsit lurched forward and took it, another quick handshake coming in. Part of me felt that it was a genuine desire for cooperation.

And another part of me just felt like it was designed to make both of us look good in our respective factions' eyes.

Nodding, I stood up and grabbed the bag of chips, a goofy smile on my face. "Glad to see we've all agreed upon acceptance of terms! Our cooperation will be extremely fruitful!"

"Extremely fruitful may it be indeed," Kal'tsit said, standing up, alongside the Doctor too. She turned to her left to look at Amiya. "Amiya, you may return to the control room. I will escort the Secretary-General and his team back to the helipad," She said, before glancing at the Doctor to her right.

"And Doctor, you may return to your office now." She replied. It had been one of the few times where she addressed him directly throughout this whole negotiation. And she seemed to treat the Doctor extremely icily, underneath the formal and stiff character she put up.

The Doctor seemingly got the hint and stood up, walked over to the door, opening it and then walking out, door closing behind him as the footsteps faded into the background noise. I turned around to the team seemingly continuing to enjoy their snacks raided from the reception room.

A cough cut through the air, my free hand catching whatever particles could come out of it. "Attention, team! We'll be heading back to base! Finish your conversations, or else you'll be left behind!" I commanded as I heard the collective sound of the JTF2 team turning to me, then back to what they were doing.

Conversations cut themselves as quickly as possible after my announcement as the JTF2 team prepared their firearms once again and the RI operators quickly gathered around Kal'tsit, while my team regrouped around me.

I let Kal'tsit step forward, standing still as she moved over to open the door. When it was pulled to the side, she stepped forward, only for her to stop just about ten or twenty meters away from the door, letting the RI operators fall behind her and in front of me.

"Let us go, Mr. Secretary-General George Bush." Kal'tsit said as she continued walking.

I moved forward to the doorway, walking out of the reception room and in front of the elevator area again. I heard the door close behind me, and then the sounds of the special forces team chattering began to fill the hall.

But that was not what my mind focused on right now, even as I sighed and tore open the bag of chips.

My mind was left reeling from my bad improv diplomacy, only strung along by prisoners and rescued hostages willing to answer basic questions in exchange for extra credits on their credit strip and a free bag of chips.

A lot of what I said was just bullshitted, vaguely truthful, lying by omission, and simply just pulling things out of my head as I continued speaking. And yet, perhaps, as I stand here waiting for the elevator to go back up after Kal'tsit's team went in first…

Perhaps I've really found myself an opportunity to test my leadership skills. This is what Roosevelt had to go through during the Japanese-American War. This is what Hopkins had to go through against the Republican Party. This is what Bradley and Lodge had to go through during the Giant Ant War.

This is what I will go through.

And only time will tell if I come out of it revered or despised, I mused as I closed my eyes, grimacing.

But my mind quickly faded back to my immediate thoughts as I threw the first chip into my mouth with my free hand- Immediately greeting me was the intense, overwhelming sensation of salt and an intense feeling of spiciness. Immediately, I cringed, stumbling and almost biting my tongue with heavy force.

"What the fuck…" I muttered, tongue somewhat sore from almost biting it. I turned the bag of chips around and tried to scan it for anything that could tell me about what it was-

My eyes widened when I saw that it had some sort of rating with fire icons, four of which were filled and one of which was empty.

The chip package turned out to be almost all red. But it was written in Chinese, which I could barely understand due to being, well, from Massachusetts.

"...Might as well finish this." I gave up as the elevator came back up at the same time I grabbed a group of chips and threw them in my mouth.

The feeling of spice in the aftermath haunted me as I descended the elevator and made my way back to the helicopter.

…Perhaps I shouldn't have immediately aimed to consume it all when I waited for the elevator to take me to the helipad, I winced. But there was nothing I could do now as I continued to eat the chips.

Besides, what's the worst that could happen to my stomach after this?

---

Author's Notes:

We're approaching the end of a long arc here, ladies and gentlemen. This was my first long fanfic I began when I was 13. I am now 18, and still writing on this fic. And many other fics. This one's pretty good, and I plan to revitalize the older chapters to fit my current standards. They may be long, but my will to finish my obligations is stronger. Mark my words, everything my younger self wrote will be rewritten. Until then, consider those canon in broad strokes.

See y'all once again. Have a great day.

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