SPEAR-0 - Winter Soldier

[Provingmedusa]

<:: DAGGER-9, SPEAR-0 Reporting STAB-TEAM 50 Surgical Strike Complete. Insurgent Base Expunged and Secure. One Friendly Flatline. We are JET 1-0 ETA 15 Cycles. ::>

<:: Roger That. RIPCORD for advanced directives. ::>

<:: Understood... ::>

Another mission out in the middle of nowhere.

I don't mind it. I like the snow.

Things here are tightly-knit. Have to be out here.

Lets see what these directives are...


<:: - Siege of City 24. SPEAR-0, Amongst others of you will be re-directed and deployed at City 24 in District 19, an Industrial District. Orders imply it will be close to the frontline when the siege begins. Prep accordingly. You're to leave in 5 Cycles. ::>

An array of acknowledgement among the Delegates there resounds from the room as they file out to prepare.

We board the train in relative silence. I pat myself down, checking that everything is in order.

Weapon and Ammo, check.

First-Aid Items, check.

Uniform Upkeep Gear, che- wait... I left my cloth back at base...

Fuck.

<:: Siberian Team? Welcome to City 24. Here's your briefing: ::>

<:: In the coming days we're expecting a Siege on the City as a whole. We suspect that... ::>


A siege? How's that even possible?

No matter. We'll push them back. They don't stand a chance.

.....

Would it KILL these people to clean their uniform around here?
​

 

[「🖤 Morpho-Syntax 🖤」]

 

[Provingmedusa]

<:: We're going out to secure a crash-site that may contain food and other various items. STAB-TEAM 87, no more than FIVE delegates including Ordinal. ::>

<:: Roger that. SPEAR-0 is prepped and ready to go. ::>

I feel at home in the snow.

The low visibility.
The near silence of our foot-falls on the powdery snow.
The calm orders of an Ordinal, followed by the rest of the team executing them sometimes wordlessly...



<:: Where the hell did you come from?! Turn around, face the silo, Campbell! ::>

<:: What the fuck is happe- ::>

What the FUCK?!

WHAT HAPPENED?!

HOW DID I GET THERE?

TELEPORTATION?

Surely not...

Why were they so... casual about it?

All it took was one woman and most of them lowered their weapons.

Why didn't they kill me?



<:: Another good day today. Job well done. STAB-TEAM Dissolve. ::>

<:: Roger that. ::>


Potatoes?
Well. Food for the Auxiliaries is a good thing.
Means they can keep fighting.

Nothing like a bit of R&R after a long day.
The near silence of the Canteen.
The distant voices and gentle snowfall.

I feel at home in the snow.​

 

[Provingmedusa]

We've officially began to carry out Surgical Strikes on the Insurgent's bunker.

Just like Siberia.

I like it. Nothing's changed.

Found an SVD. Used the ammo. Shame I'm not permitted to use this...​

 

[Provingmedusa]

"You will be heading to these co-ordinates with the Specimen. You'll be on guard duty. Nothing more, nothing less. You may encounter Anti-Citizen forces. Expunge anyone who spots you."

"I can't remember almost anything from that day. It's just all... gone."

"I get flashes of places that are... not of this world. Structures that defy our laws of physics... things that couldn't possibly exist."

"Images of creatures I've never seen before..."

"There's a gnawing in the back of my brain."

"Words sit at the tip of my tongue..."

"I've not had nightmares in... a long time. Yet they haunt me once more following that day."

"They said I looked nothing short of a corpse when we got back to base in our dropship."

"It's a miracle of technology and faith that I'm still alive."

"AAAAAAAUUUGH! I'M OUT OF SPIKES! I NEED A REFRESH FAST! GET AWAY FROM ME! SOMEONE HELP ME!"

"It's probably for the best that I forget what happened that day."

"This is the one time I will forget... I still need to remember."




"Who knows what's out there?"

 

[Provingmedusa]

<:: So, what is this thing we're looking for? A blue crystal? Right... ::>

<:: Ordinal, SPEAR-0, SWORD-2, SWORD-4, SWORD-6 have visual on the building. ::>

<:: Copy that. Inject the building. ::>

<:: Roger. Injecting. ::>

<:: Ordinal. I've got eyes on what I assume is the Sample. Moving to retrieve... ::>


<:: WHAT THE FUCK? AGH- IT'S GOT MY HANDS! SWORD-4, CUT THIS SHIT OFF ME! ::>


<:: I've got the other two figuring a way out for us-GAH! I'm going to try and get a sample while it pulls me in! ::>


"<:: Affirmative, SPEAR-0. Sacrifice code is in effect. Proceed to extract sample - if not able, expunge said sample. ::>"

The pain was insurmountable. It was like being struck by a god damn Vortigaunt beam except the pain was ten-times worse and it lasted over a period of ten seconds. I counted every one as I reached for that sample.

Yet... it felt oddly familiar... a distant feeling.

I survived the experience, even that new Ordinal was surprised. "Remarkable" he said...

But when did I get electrocuted like that before? I can't seem to remember...


<:: Ordin-al... mission complete. I've got the Sample... Full Te-argh- team ripcord. Ordinal, we need cover. ::>

<:: Affirmative. Ripcord. Smokes down. ::>

My hands are still numb. At least I got out of it alive.​