While the sun rose over the valley they were in, bathing it in the glow of a new, bright day, the snow on the peaks sparkled under the radiant gaze of the planet's star. On the flattened plateau where the Vacation House turned observation post was, slightly chilling winds bit the soldiers, forcing them to don their uniforms even as the sky was clear and light was shining.
Breathing out into her gloved hands to try and warm herself up, Shino watched her sister and her boss filming the areas around them as the vehicles once more prepared to move. This Outpost would still be their little base of operations in the area, but the main item of interest to them was finding the Dwarves, the technology hidden beneath the mountains and to find signs of the Innies here.
She sighed deeply, stuffing her hands in her armored vest's pockets as she listened to the rattle of allied vehicles' engines approaching. More MRAPs and a few new Russian designs specifically meant for mountain and urban warfare:The BMP-T 'Terminators'. The BMP-T was a heavy weapons platform bearing two 30mm autocannons, the same ones as on BMP-2s, but mounted with the muzzle breaks parallel and diagonal so they didn't shake each-other off target.
Additionally, the BMP-T, a vehicle heavily based off of the Armata Universal Chassis that the Russian UralVagonZavod had developed to specifically use to lower maintenance costs for their future armored fleet. Though it was considered a pipe dream by many, Shino was watching the first of the three test Vehicles deployed to this area of operations roll forward.
Aside from the aforementioned 30mm cannons, which had a high degree of elevation to hit any floor of a potentially-hostile apartment block, it carried four 'Ataka' Anti-Tank Guided Missiles, some of the Russians' deadliest, mounted in two separate dual launchers on each side of the Turret. It also had a pair of grenade launcher machine guns and a PKT Coaxial mounted onto the turret.
Terrifying beasts, painted in splotches of whites, greens and blacks for camouflage, they rolled onto the landing from the main road, followed by American MRAPs and more Mountain Division vehicles. Of course, the situation would develop even further, she thought to herself as she marched inside the house, catching a glimpse of Tuka preparing lunch while Tyuule and Rory discussed something.
The Russian officer asked, "I heard the BMP-Ts' engines. They here?" to which Shino nodded. The officer then cracked a smile and told her, "Well, that's gonna make fighting in this shitty mountainscape a little easier… Still can't believe they took the requests I and a few other staff members sent to heart and put the BMP-Ts onto Armata Chassis…"
"Oh, yeah, they were on old T80 hulls or somethin', right?" Shino inquired, getting a nod from the woman. Yeah, probably another cost-cutting attempt.
Pomorenka was nothing if not capable of making sure her Army was properly equipped to fight, thought the young Japanese Sergeant. She snapped a salute which the Officer replied to in kind, before dismissing the girl and walking outside. Shino hummed a quiet tune as she walked to the kitchen and asked, "Whatcha cookin', Tuka?"
"Stew from a mountain Rabbit I hunted today," The girl smiled, then paused and went a little pale as she felt Delilah, Tyuule, Sarah and Rieta's gazes lock onto her, deadpan expressions perfectly encapsulating the awkwardness of this little situation. Shino let out a loud snort, covering her mouth, then pat the girl on the shoulder.
"Hey, Nick," The girl then greeted as she walked over to the Electrician. She took a knee beside him and asked, "Guessing the last of the OP's power source is in place?"
He nodded as Shino looked at the wall he was working on. The circuit breaker of the building had been firmly placed here, wires leading into walls that had been stripped clean of the plaster used to insulate and decorate the insides, filled with lines of neatly-arranged copper in colored rubber sleeves, then resealed and left to dry with the help of the UNSC's own quick-drying plasters and cement reinforcements.
The place looked much better than it did when they walked in, with the fresh paint on the plaster side of the walls having dried overnight, leaving spotless, beautiful surfaces onto which the paintings and portraits were all put back. The wooden panels lining the lower halves of the walls were also refurbished while removed.
Nick said, "The fact we managed to do a full renovation of some Roman Bathhouse-looking shit is really something. UNSC Engineers are scary bastards," and he stood up, dusting his hands off. He started counting on his fingers, "So, wires are running throughout the house and powering the new appliances we've installed, all of them being connected and properly wired to this fuse box. The Power Source, a combination of a small Microfusion Generator and Solar Panels…" he paused, realized what he said, then sighed and continued, "It's installed… And working."
"That's everything, then?" Itami asked as he and Torres walked up to the man.
Nick nodded, "Should be. I'm gonna hitch a ride on the nearest MRAP to get back to base… Nearly froze my nuts off trying to get the secondary heating stuff working," before tilting his head to the space heaters. He spoke, "Well, good luck out there, HITMAN. Feels like you folks are gonna need it, considering…"
"Thanks. Have a safe trip back, man," Richard replied. The group watched him pack his gear and go with the other Engineers, electricians and basic maintenance and repair staff over to a few trucks and MRAPs, boarding them calmly and letting the drivers get them out of the AO. Overhead, the rotor blades of a Ka-52 chopped through the air as it approached, alongside a Hind and a pair of Romanian IAR-330 Puma Helicopters.
"We really aren't gonna hang out here anymore?" Joked Itami as he looked around. In the valley below, Allied forces were already moving around by the frozen river, patrols that scoured the snow-covered landscape for any further Imperial forces. They were barely visible among the canopy of the pine forests, though some would've stuck out like sore thumbs. Overhead, Clarisse and the other Dragonborn were already in the air, stretching their wings after a good night's sleep.
UNSC Pelicans followed next, gently gliding alongside the helicopters. As the squad gathered, they were packing their bags onto their vehicles, with Dick stating, "Command wants us as the Tip of the Spear, remember? Can't exactly be that from the back of the formation," before climbing into the vehicle with them.
"It feels like we've only been cooped up in our vehicles for a while now," Mari spoke, then breathed a heavy sigh, "... At least I got to test out that warm bath," as she leaned forward, utilizing her elbows as support pressed into her thighs while cradling her rifle. She blew a little hot air into her hands, then rubbed them together, thankful she'd bought handwarmers.
"Agreed," Voiced Nanami, though she was shaking like a wet dog in the cold.
Shino spoke, "Alright, c'mon," with a slightly strained grunt as she helped her sister and Kaylee board the transport truck. Rory and Tuka followed quickly, Tuka having packed a bit of the stew into containers to take for the trip.
"We didn't even get to eat," The blonde Elf whined a little, sitting down in her usual spot, then pausing as she watched Rory sit on the floor. Her gaze swept the hold of their truck as she whispered, "Oh, we're overcrowded now…" before Tyuule, Delilah, Sarah and Rieta boarded the transport and put their gear down, sitting on the floor, too.
The Lieutenants were last to board, squeezing in with Torres taking the wheel of the truck this time instead of Kurata, who was boarding the Komatsu in front of them. He waved to Itami, Torres and Samuels, all of whom smiled and gave their other resident weeb a thumbs up and a few sad smiles. He climbed into the Komatsu, shutting the armored steel door behind him.
The crews turned on their vehicles' engines. Purring like cats despite the cold temperatures, the engines revved as the vehicles began their trek down the main road to the other side of the mountains. They began to roll, BMPs and BMDs in the lead, lighter vehicles in the middle to be protected and yet more armored transports behind them.
The Princess and her Knights had once again started riding on horseback, providing eyes and ears outside the vehicles. The Princess herself used a pair of binoculars given to her by Henry to scan the opposite ridges and the trees down below, where allied infantry still patrolled, trying to keep their flank safe.
It started getting a little warmer in the transport as the vehicles drove down the mountain in a column. It was, presumably, due to the amount of people packed into the vehicle now, with Kaylee herself taking pictures of everyone while Nanami was (probably) writing down questions for an interview with the officers.
"There's a certain air of calm about travelling through the mountains," Rory spoke, enjoying the serene beauty of the world around them. Sparkling white snow as far as the eye could see, only marked by the presence of allied forces moving through the area. Attack helicopters, transports and other gunships followed them, disturbing the natural order a little.
"Don't jinx us, please," Torres joked, though with an air of caution in his words.
Dick nodded, shifting his grip on his MA40 and admitting, "Mountains are the fuckiest landscape to fight in, probably second only to cities, after all," before he pulled his canteen out from his parka and uncapped it, taking a swig. He offered some to Tyuule, who smiled and nodded thankfully before drinking and handing it back.
"Which is why I feel confident in saying we got extremely fucking lucky the Emperor gave up that easily…" Henry spoke as he gently turned the wheel left to match the curvature of the road. He then mumbled, "Though I'm guessing he's staking a bet on his blonde shitboot of a son coming back with General Ephes," and got affirmed by his Lieutenant buddies.
"Very likely. General Claudia is…" Tyuule visibly winced. She continued with begrudging respect toward her enemy, "Nothing if not resourceful. She subdued many other beastfolk around, including, last I heard, the Lamia and other Desert People. I could believe she'd make a possibly successful attempt at reclaiming the Capital. Through infiltration or otherwise."
"With what army?" Delilah asked more rhetorically than anything.
Her queen cast a sideways glance at her, then told her sternly, "The same one they've been waging a guerrilla war with."
"The Insurrectionists aren't anything to shake a stick at, girls," Torres joined, taking a look back at the hold via the rearview mirror. He put a hand on it and shifted it so he could better see behind them and added, "Bastards have every kind of gun under the sun with them now… There's still radio reports of Convoys getting hit and taking Casualties," and, as if on cue, the radio crackled to life, telling of one such ambush in the lowlands to the West of the Capital of Sadera.
"We'll hopefully notice before our turn comes," Rory murmured. She did what the others did to warm her hands, blowing into them and then rubbing them together.
"While praying it never does, eh? Love the enthusiasm, Rory," Henry joked as he set his hand on the gear shifter, wiggling it a little and then letting it be as they passed to a lower elevation. Their tracks audibly crunched the dirt and underneath. Though they were passing on pretty much flat earth roads, they were further making them traversable for their armor via the APCs and Scout Cars that had taken the lead.
"Hehe," Rory cracked one of her usual smirks, her lower lip glowing a bit red as she took in the humor.
"Speaking of General Ephes…" Itami began, keeping his voice slightly quieter. He turned toward Rory and asked her, "She has that 'Em' in her name, same way Lelei has a 'La' in hers. Is she a believer in Emroy?" a little concerned. The involvement of one of Falmart's 'Gods' with their party was a bit… Terrifying? But still a welcome respite. The rest of the Pantheon, though, they weren't too sure about.
"Yes…" The two women they knew were worshipping the God of War, Rory and Tyuule, replied together before locking eyes and nodding to one-another.
"Huh. Guess she's a little pissed we got him on our side, or at least not trying to fight us?" Dick quipped. He met Tyuule's gaze and smiled at her, causing her to blush and hide her face behind her gloved hand. To think he still made her shy like that was sweet enough to make him blush, too, all while feeling his blood sugar levels rise.
"I'd assume so. I do believe she has accounted for the fact I am cooperating with you, considering she has a few Apostles in her corner as well…" Rory said thoughtfully, before grinning and stating, "Though, with your Spartans, it should really be of no concern," as she remembered the fight back during their battle for the capital.
"Considering the display of their combat prowess we saw outside of the Capital? I agree," Tyuule chuckled a bit, tapping her foot. She pulled out her own smartphone and picked out a song to play from the ones Richard had shown her:A 'Flip' song, as it'd been called, an old style of music that even Sergeant-Major Johnson had reportedly listened to.
"Chief's gonna be happy to hear the praise, ladies," Shino quipped, smiling.
"I think he might be a bit busy trying to see if he can't magick up a body for Cortana," Dick joked, garnering a few laughs out of everyone on board, including an awkward one from Nanami, who'd both stayed quiet and started recording the exchange, all while the 'Flip' Music, which she soon recognized as AC/DC's 'Thunderstruck' hit its tempo.
"If he wishes to make his AI companion flesh, he should speak to one of the Gods. I'm sure they can provide… I do not recommend Hardy, however," Rory commented in a low voice, as if trying not to invoke the strange God or Goddess. When she saw the confusion in the Earthlings' eyes, she spoke, "She is… Not for the faint of heart."
"Hardy?" The whole group of normal humans asked in unison, Kaylee being the most visibly excited to learn more of this world's deities.
"... The Goddess of the Underworld? Did we not include her in the briefings we made?" Rory questioned her own sanity there. She was sure she must've mentioned or written about Hardy to doctor Halsey, if not the other Gods as well, considering their run-in with their Apostles, her cousins or siblings or whatever one would call Demigoddesses.
"We might have missed her, to be fair… Not much interaction with her," Rieta, one of the 'new' faces of the crowd, spoke. She was the sister to Sarah, the other other member of the platoon that had joined Delilah on this trip and shared features with her sibling, ranging from the brown hair, to the eyes, to even that one droopy ear on the right side. She cradled one of the Squad Automatic Weapons and a medical bag slung on her back.
"She is still a fairly important Goddess, as sour of a taste as it leaves to admit it," Rory grumbled, tapping her foot to the music to try and forget the issue or the 'weird Underworld Goddess'.
Tuka hummed, leaned forward and pushed a string of her own blonde hair out of her eyes, before asking, "You two have a bad history?" as she set it behind her ear. She lifted up her bow while keeping her eyes on Rory, then started checking it over as quickly as possible, just in case… She hadn't mentioned it yet, but she had spotted figures moving out amongst the trees.
Rory, however, paused, face flushing as she sighed in annoyance. Crossing her arms and leaning back, she grumbled, "... She keeps trying to court me, even though I repeatedly told her I do not view women that way," which caused the entire group to pause. She blinked, waiting a good few seconds for the reactions as she felt a drop of sweat fall off her brow, then she scoffed as everyone burst into hollering laughter.
"Oh, that's fuckin' perfect. A Greek tragedy if I've ever heard it!" Torres himself hollered.
"I would appreciate not being mocked, Lieutenant…" Rory grumbled, mildly miffed at the dismissal of her issues with a DIFFERENT Goddess than her own.
"And we thought you would be used to the jokes by now, Your Holiness," Tyuule offered kindly, smiling at her supposed 'Lady of the Gods', all while Rory pouted at them and the other Whiskey Bravos on board giggled. As Richard looked back, he couldn't help but crack a smile, seeing Tyuule have the courage to tease one of her Gods and all. Truly, much to nobody's surprise, she and her girls were part of the team.
Then, the Apostle seemed to get an idea. She cracked a mischievous grin, then jabbed back with, "About as used as I am to you and Richard dating. Please pick a room farther away from me next time," which… Immediately restarted the wave of laughter across the vehicle. The two lovebirds, a Queen and a Marine Lieutenant, blushed heavily at the quip, while the Apostle of Emroy now wore a victorious grin.
"Alright, alright, enough… We're entering the valley," Delilah started, trying to calm everyone down and lifting her DMR. She continued, "Can't believe I have to be the one to say it, ladies and gentlemen, but keep your eyes peeled," before tapping Rieta and Sarah on their elbows with her own and showing them to be on alert.
… The radio once again spoke, this time of combat…
Above Sector A12, approximately forty kilometers from Italica
AC-130J Spectre Gunship, Callsign 'VOODOO-1-1'
The AC-130 Gunship was a miracle of modern engineering. Built on the modified chassis of the venerable C-130 Hercules quad turboprop Cargo Plane, the AC-130 and especially its latest, the J variant, was the finest gun-based Close Air Support platform available to the United States Air Force when the enemy's Triple-A, SAM and Air Support were a nil factor. Armed with a 20mm six-barrel rotary cannon, a forty-milimeter autocannon and the famed 105mm Howitzer, plus a suite of sensors meant to identify, tag and provide accurate fire for allied units against hostile forces, she was one mean bitch.
Three such Gunships were currently in Falmart, supporting allied combat units on the ground. All three were from the Fourth Special Ops Squadron. VOODOO-1-1, commanded by Captain Pattison, was currently supporting a defensive operation in the hilly areas some distance away from the joint forward operations base and city of Italica.
Combat System Officer, Lieutenant Jane Dawson, listened to the radio transmissions of the Romanian Infantry platoon down below, currently under heavy fire by enemy units from an opposite hilltop, then said, "This is VOODOO-1-1 to MAREȘAL-3-Actual. We're in your Airspace and ready to provide support for your convoy. Do you copy, over?"
Jane was an ethereal beauty clad in the dark flight suit of the Spectre Operator. A freckled face, deep blue eyes and a soft smile and softer voice. Her black hair, trimmed to regulation, was hidden beneath the lofty helmet all pilots and operators of the Spectres had to wear in order to both protect their ears and their brain pans.
"VOODOO, this is MAREȘAL, copy your last and fuck me if we aren't glad to see you. Be advised:We're being engaged by approximately three platoon-sized Elements, approximately 120 enemy soldiers with supporting FPV Drone operators and Mortars. Counting maybe four tubes, presumed to be captured Vasileks by the Rate of Fire," The officer in charge of the Convoy reported, audibly happy to have a Gunship, "Be advised, the enemy is within 200 meters of us, Danger Close. You're cleared to engage at your leisure, over."
"Roger…" Dawson spoke, flicking on a few switches and looking at the four crewmen loading their 40mm and the 105. She said, "This is VOODOO-1-1, we're moving to engage, Danger Close fire mission in support of Allied convoy…" before she switched on her FLIR Pod and looked at her sensor officer, ordering him, "You keep that Thermal working, ya hear?"
"Aye, ma'am," The man replied as he flicked over a few switches on the console.
"We're entering orbit above friendlies," Captain Pattison reported from the cockpit, "Safeties off, MASTER ARM ON. Flares and Chaff are on…" then he thumbed a few more controls in the cockpit and looked over to their left. Through the cockpit windows, he could see the exchange of tracers. Explosions blossomed across the field, digging superficial gashes in the green hills. Sighing, he spoke, "All yours, Jane."
"Copy that. Guns, guns, guns," She spoke as she grabbed the joystick and switched to the 20mm, noting the enemy among the hills. She began to recite, "Blessed is he, who in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of Darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper…" before cracking a smile. She slid her hand under her flight suit, pulled up a rosary and kissed it, then spoke, "And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger. Those who attempt to poison and destroy, my brothers, and you will know my name is the Lord, when I bring down my vengeance upon you…"
"Lased," The Sensor Officer spoke.
"Fire…" She grinned, then squeezed the trigger. The 20mm roared, loud, but muffled by the hull of the bird. It shook the shit out of the plane, bursts of heavy fire ripping through. She switched on the forty mil as well, then started firing it, too. The first impacts played out across the FLIR, flashes of whites and greys striking bright white thermal dots right in front of the Romanians.
"Good hits, good hits. Fuckers don't know what to do about us, going by how they're running…" The SO reported, scratching his neck.
The thunk-thunk-thunk of the 40mm autocannon caused the bird to shake again, HE rounds striking and causing the enemy force, presumably made up of mages and barely-trained local insurgents alongside Innie leaders, to scramble for better cover and further distance themselves. The Sensor Officer spoke, "Tagging… Vasilek mortars in the rear. They're close. Recommend 105."
"Captain, I'm gonna need a slightly higher angle to hit'em. Loaders, 105 Airburst," Jane spoke. She felt the aircraft gently turn on its axis. She panned the FLIR Cam onto the targets, a battery of four soviet 'Vasilek' Mortars, automatic mortars with both direct-fire and high angle bombardment capabilities, and heard the servos of the 105 track. She grinned a pearly white grin, turning to look at her loader pull a 105mm shell out of the rack next to the gun, slide it into the breech, just past the yellow basket, then close it.
"Gun ready," The man gave a thumbs up. Jane didn't waste time, thumbing the 105's button and feeling the bird shift a little to the right as the 105 cannon fired and shell ejected into the basket. She watched the high-caliber Airburst shell arc in. The impact flashed like a bright spot on their thermals before smoke covered the area.
"Fuck yeah, baby!" She laughed, then high-fived the SO and a few of the loaders. She then turned back to the console and reported over radio, "MAREȘAL, Vasileks neutralized, switching back to enemy infantry," while panning the gun cam down to fire the forty and twenty mil at the enemy. The wail of alarm klaxons filled their ears, a missile lock.
She watched a pair of Jackhammer missiles and even an old IGLA arc toward them via the FLIR, with the pilot barking, "ENEMY MANPADS! GOING EVASIVE!" causing the crew to brace as the aircraft banked hard to the right. The thump of flares and chaff being dumped filled their ears and, outside, behind the gunship, an angel of burning phosphorus and metal shards trailed.
All three missiles banked, their sensors tracking the flares and chaff and exploding behind them. As the crews breathed a sigh of relief, the Captain brought them back in position to engage the enemy… Only to hear another warning. The Captain scoffed and said, "Advise Mareșal that we're gonna have to bug out! Fuckers have some sort of SAM Down there!"
"Rog…" Jane sighed, annoyed. She flicked on her radio again and said, "MAREȘAL, VOODOO, be advised:We're bugging out. Enemy Anti-Air is now a factor in the AO… Though I'm seeing a few new friendly faces coming in to support you. Godspeed," calmly as the gunship moved out of MANPADS range.
On the ground, the Romanian officer replied, "Copy your last, VOODOO. Thanks for the cover…" while gazing around at his troops. They had wounded and a few dead being packed into the transport trucks they'd come with while their own version of the BMP-1, the MLI-84s with heavy Oerlikon autocannons and Anti-Tank missiles. He whispered, "At least the Vasileks ain't raining hell down on our heads anymore…"
One MLI was hit by an enemy Jackhammer, opening the perimeter to an enemy advance. They were trying to close the distance as much as possible, probably having been told by their Innie officers that the Gunship wouldn't fire on friendlies at that distance. He grabbed his ARX-160, an Italian-made assault rifle, adjusted the scope and poked it out of the window before firing a burst at an enemy soldier advancing through smoke.
He saw a Mage, one of their usual clad in armor and their robes, collapse to a shot to the chest, dead on the floor. A wave of fire washed over another MLI, but the 25mm Oerlikon cannon ripped apart any attempts from the remnants of that platoon to advance, spraying blood and bodyparts all around. Despite that, though, the enemy was closing in and the dozens of still-standing infantrymen he had with him were doing their damnedest to hold the line.
One such soldier, a Romanian Sergeant, fired a burst from her assault rifle, an ARX as well, and caught an enemy with a headshot, ripping his head off his shoulders. A second charged her and slammed into her, sword drawn, which caused her rifle to fly out of her hands. He thrusted it toward her head, but she narrowly dodged it by moving her head. She tried grabbing him by the throat and stopping his sword arm from swinging at her neck.
The sky turned black for a moment, the young woman visibly pausing as she could swear she saw a giant sea monster or manta ray land above them. Even through the roar of gunfire around her, she could hear the quiet hum of antigravity engines, then gasped as she saw bolts of azure light striking enemy positions ahead.
A familiar, loud hiss filled her ears, then an alien hand with terrifyingly long fingers grabbed the human soldier trying to cut her throat out by the head, lifted him off the floor and held him up. Two shimmering blades of energy pierced his chest while he struggled against his assailant. He only went limp a second after the weapon had left his chest, then his corpse dropped beside her.
Scared, but alive, the woman looked up and saw the incredibly familiar masked face of a Sangheili, clad in black combat armor. He offered her his hand and inquired, "Are you injured, soldier?" in a voice that was smooth as velvet. She shook her head, taking his hand, then stared at him. A hunchback alien with a hand that looked like it only had three fingers(It had four, but the fourth, the pinkie, was tiny in comparison to the others) and had triple-jointed legs. He spoke, "Be not afraid. We are allies…"
A Sangheili. An Elite. She whispered, "Sir, this is the scariest fucking moment of my life," with a clear eastern accent. She shook her head, clearing her thoughts, then looked around and watched more Sangheili jump out of the Dropship, ranging from members clad in the dark-green armors of early Elite 'Minor' ranks, basically Privates, to a pair of Majors leading the formation, clad in orange, ornate armors bearing the Swords of Sanghelios Emblem on their shoulders.
She looked at the Elite that had saved her and told him, "... If you guys had any idea how cool this is for someone who's played the games," as her voice cracked. She smiled, "I-I'm Alina. What's your name?" and her face glowed red, both out of fear as she heard the crack-pop of plasma rifles and repeaters firing and striking flesh and out of joy.
"Kheza 'Zadom," The Elite bowed his head, "A pleasure to meet you, soldier… Though I must say I still cannot wrap my head around your strange entertainment…" before he heard a screaming enemy Centurion charging them. Without even looking, he slashed from left to right diagonally with his Energy Sword and the soldier fell to the floor.
Yeah, no, Alina was pretty stoked to see this. She understood now what that one girl, Shino, from HITMAN-3 must've gone through when she realized the fact that, yes, they were working with the UNSC and the Elites. The girl told the alien, "Y-You guys are kind of one of my favorite friendly aliens, so…" and smiled awkwardly.
He huffed, but it almost sounded like an amused snort, "I see… I suppose I am glad to hear that," before looking at the Romanian officer that had stepped out of his vehicle to come greet them. Putting a hand up to his chest, he said, "Greetings, Major. My commanding officers are there," and he pointed at the two Elite Majors guiding forward the Swords…
… This was a very strange time for all involved, honestly.