Subject: Corporal Rush James Matthew
Gender: M
Age: 32
Occupation: State Employee

Interviewer: R E D A C T E D
Gender: R E D A C T E D
Age: R E D A C T E D
Occupation: State Employee

In the following transcript based on the interviews taken, the interviewer will be termed as 'A' and the interviewee will be termed as 'B'.

===BEGINNING OF TRANSCRIPT===

-door open--chair screech-

B: Sir!

A: Tsk tsk, Corporal Matthew, you don't need to salute m-

-NAME REDACTED-: At ease.

A: -chair drag- Could you atleast pretend to not be State Defense, -NAME REDACTED-?

-NAME REDACTED-: Old habits die hard. -chair drag- Sit, Corporal.

B: Sir. -chair drag-

A: -exhale- So, Corporal Matthew, how have you been doing? I see no magcuffs.

B: Our team turned ourselves in voluntarily after Terra ran. They saw no reason to cuff us because we don't pose a threat or an escape risk.

A: I see. How's it been so far, Corporal Matthew?

B: Please, call me Rush.

A: Rush, it is. How's it been? They treating you well?

B: Yes, sir. We've been placed in the basement cells and there has been no untoward behaviour from the other soldiers or guards.

A: That's good to hear. Sentiments amidst soldiers and guards hasn't been the best since Terra killed that Sponsor.

B: Permission to speak, sir?

A: We are here to listen to you speak, Corp-I mean, Rush. Be free. Speak your mind. No need for permission.

B: Yes, sir. I just wanted to add that sentiments amidst all the soldiers in our residence hasn't been the best towards Terra for about half a year now.

A: From what I hear, it was on its way up.

B: Yes, some of them were seeing Terra in a more... favourable light ever since her return from New Artoca, but there are several still unconvinced.

A: That's to be expected. The Rebellion cost us many good soldiers and comrades.

B: They didn't know she was the Angel of Death, sir. They just saw her get taken in for questioning a few times and just made up their own minds about what she had or hadn't done.

A: The intel she provided led to the death of several sol-

B: She was as devastated and surprised an any of us! She had no hand in Willowwood!

A: Can you prove she didn't have a hand in it?

B: Can you prove she did?

-NAME REDACTED-: She did provide the information.

B: Voluntarily! She was taken hostage by the Rebellion!

A: Indeed she was. But can you be certain she didn't turn herself in?

B: Terra would never betray us! She's fought beside us! We know she is!

A: Not well enough to see her premeditating a murder or preparing to run from the State apparently.

B: I... She...

A: No defense?

B: Terra doesn't kill for no reason. She had a reason.

A: And what would that be?

B: I... don't know. She never talked about.

A: And if she talked about it, what would have been your course of action? Answer honestly. It's for your and your teammate's sake.

B: Terra is... too smart to do that. But if-if she did, I... -exhale- would... turn her... in...

A: You don't sound very convinced.

B: I would... turn her in.

-REDACTED NAME-: Repeating it will not convince us or you any better.

B: Terra is from Section D. She's probably been exposed to radical ideologies from a very young age. It would be understandable after the State killer her own remaining family, but I would still have to report it. General Robyn was having us keep an eye on her and any changes in her behaviour over the past weeks. We reported in daily.

A: And were there any changes?

B: Uh... sir, to understand this, you'll have to know that Terra hasn't been the same ever since her parents died.

A: How so?

B: You'd have to know her for that.

A: I don't. Try your best to explain.

B: Terra... I think a part of Terra died with her parents. Their... passing away being so close to the her brother's death anniversary affected her to a point none of us could reach her for a week. She shut herself inside and didn't emerge till we told her there was a mission. And then Mikha-

A: Sergeant Vasiliev after-action report about how she was... -pages turning- taking headshots. Yes, HQ Commander Malcolm noted it very well. He suspended her pending grief counselling.

B: Yes... that.

A: Why did only Sergeant Vasiliev notice this?

B: There's a reason he's Sergeant and we're still Corporals. If anyone one from the three of us had potential to go that high, it is-uh-was Terra.

-NAME REDACTED-: Indeed. General Robyn did mention offering her a job as her aide.

B: Oh. General Robyn is being interrogated too?

A: Everyone who we believe Terra was close to or acquaintances with.

B: I see.

A: On that note, any other acquaintances or close friends Terra ever mentioned? Anyone from... Section D or Section C?

B: No one in particular.

A: What about that one family she's known to visit? I believe your team has been there too.

B: She goes there because she feels guilty for leaving their son behind in the Rebellion. There's no other reason. The only kid they have left hates her.

A: And the parents know that she's-

B: No one apart outside our team or the State know. By that, I mean- no one. Terra's too smart to breathe a word about who she is.

A: I see. She's known to be acquaintances with a local thug by the name of 'Maker'. Ever met him?

B: No. Just his lackeys.

A: So, Terra has?

B: She was dragged in for a round of intimidation when she showed her face in Section D after her parent's names were cleared. He always trying to extort money from her, or get with her. There's no love lost between them.

-NAME REDACTED-: So, no chance they would team up?

B: She would rather chew off her own leg. The bastard is so obsessed with her, he even sends her gift baskets.

A: What now?

B: Gift baskets. He sent one with flowers in it a while back after meeting Terra. Clearly meant to intimidate her again.

A: Was there a message with the card?

B: I don't remember. She tore it and threw it away.

A: The flowers?

B: We checked them for bugs. She dumped the basket.

A: If there's no love lost, as you say, why did she keep the flowers?

B: Snubbing the gang leader in a place where you still have people you care about living- it's not a good idea.

A: Anyone in particular she cared about?

B: No... No one comes to mind.

-NAME REDACTED-: You do know lying to the State or hiding crucial evidence will get you executed?

B: For hiding evidence? It's a bit too much, sir.

-NAME REDACTED-: We're put State's Statutes on Terrorism No. 143 into effect in the case of Terra Carai. Her actions against the State cost us in several different ways and we do not take that lightly.

B: I... I see. So, even civilians...

A: No mercy, no forgiveness, no second chances. Lawyers have no play in cases like this.

B: So the State's playing judge, jury and executioner?

A: You don't sound too pleased with the fact.

B: I-I'm not saying I'm against it. It's just-I just-It seems correct for what she's done when I think about it.

A: It's our justice.

B: O-Okay. I swear I'm not withholding anything. We all turned ourselves in. We didn't know anything about what Terra was planning. I swear. This came as a surprise to all of us. She was just... She was just supposed to be going in for a routine check with Dr. Blue today.

-NAME REDACTED-: Such a bright mind. Shame it was his last appointment.

B: She... She killed Dr. Blue?

A: She made him overdose on painkillers. He might never wake up. Any idea where she might have gotten those?

B: The only meds she had were from Dr. Blue and those were for her ribs. She mentioned once that they're too strong for her.

-NAME REDACTED-: Dr. Blue notes said he gave the right amount based on her body type. She might have been lying to you.

B: No. Those painkillers knocked her out for twelve hours at a time and even when woke up, she would be slurring her words for a few hours even if she didn't know it.

A: So, you're saying Dr. Blue is a liar.

B: Dr. Blue is a selfish, sick man with no interest in the Terra's health. He's only obsessed with her mutations and has delusions about being her best friend. He thinks she should worship him because he made her.

A: I see you don't have a good view of that man either.

B: For good reason, Terra told us everything he done to her- including killing her, putting her in a coma, getting her tazed twice, taking tissues from her and keeping her unconscious for ten days. That man has no conscience.

A: Watch your mouth, Corporal Matthew. He might be a doctor but he's still senior to you.

-NAME REDACTED-: Dr. Blue's... attachment to his subjects is well known. It's supposed to be endearing.

B: He's creepy.

-NAME REDACTED-: A perspective you're certainly entitled to. I just want to confirm the basic gist of what you've told us so far. -pen scratching- You say you did not know what Terra was planning. Correct?

B: Yes.

-NAME REDACTED-: She has no particular acquaintances she's close to apart from the team?

B: Correct. And Lionel, but he's...

-NAME REDACTED-: Condolences for your loss. The thug known by 'Maker' sent Terra a gift which you checked and were certain contained nothing, but flowers?

B: Yes. You can check for yourself. Garbage day is tomorrow.

-NAME REDACTED-: I'll... take that into consideration.

A: -fingers drumming- So, Rush, before we conclude the interview. Is there anything else you'd wish to add or tell us?

B: An ending statement? -chair creaks- Sure. Uh... Terra... is not an inherently bad person despite what she's done. She has had always had a reason for her actions. She... She's my best friend and I am still struggling to come to terms with the fact that she killed a man who she loved in cold blood. I don't know the reasoning for it, but she has one. I know my suggestions don't really matter, but I think you should look into Lionel Mackenzie. There has to be more to him than what he is. Terra does not kill without a reason.

A: A commendable stand for your 'best friend', but I'm going to suggest something too. I suggest you stop considering her a friend and put in your mind that she's a rogue operative and a traitor, and a murderer with several counts of murder on her head. Her record has been reinstated and orders for her are now shoot-to-kill. -chair screech- Better forget that she was ever your friend and stop calling her one too if you wish to continue being a State soldier. I doubt the residents in that building of yours think any better of you now than they did of Terra.

-NAME REDACTED-: No need to be that harsh. The bonds formed during the missions a team goes on are unbreakable. Corporal is however, smart enough to know to keep his mouth shut about whatever beliefs he has in regard to his friend. Aren't you, Corporal?

-silence-

B: Yes, sir. Terra is a traitor... to the State.

-NAME REDACTED-: Smart boy. -chair screech- Terra was clearly not the only one in your team who might have made it to Sergeant someday.

A: -footsteps- Stop dawdling. -door lock clicks- We have more interrogations to get through.

-NAME REDACTED-: I'm coming. I'm coming. -chair screech- At ease, Corporal.

B: Sir. Thank you for your time.

-footsteps--door lock click-

===END OF TRANSCRIPT===

Interview Notes:

Cooperative. Might be telling the truth.

Section D acquaintances- might be hiding something. Check with informants.

That one family- son named Marcus assumed to be a Rebel- Terra an unwanted reminder?

Mentioned guilt as reason for visit. Background check on family. Especially the child he mentioned.

Maker- thug- relation to Terra?

Maker-police reports- might have used Terra as a messenger/mule- connection exists- check with informants and local police

Defensive about Terra. Understandable. They served together for almost a year.

Dr. Blue- disgust bordering on hate.

Lionel Mackenzie- seemed to be close to the team too. Girlfriend's friends.

Regret at not being present for a grieving friend obvious. Suggest counselling.

Holds Terra in high regards- suggest retraining.

Keep on watch until mentioned otherwise. Might know something.