======
-1421 Military Hours
Base Camp, Operations Tent.

"Is that your final assessment Major?" I commented with arms folded.

With eyes remaining angled downward onto the digital map, Fullerton replies, "I'm sure of it given your unit's combat footage."

He emphasizes his point with a finger tracing a specific sector, "The hostiles didn't pursue your team past a certain distance from that settlement."

I give the Major an affirmative nod, "Fair point sir." His statements are deeply rooted in logical reasoning, lacking any flaws as far as I'm concerned.

It didn't seem all too hard to believe they were acting as guards. In retrospect, all of their moves could be argued as being purely defensive.

Due to those things, the researchers will not be allowed to venture any deeper than a hundred meters inland.

Another factor to hinder exploratory efforts, and to think this was just the tip of the iceberg.

Feeling a weary sigh coming, I smother the urge to release it. "Is there a term given to the hostiles now by any chance?"

At my inquiry, the man in charge of the exploratory division speaks up.

"Official names are still being discussed, but from the footage your soldiers have forwarded. We have been inclined to call them behemoths for the time being."

"Got it...." I pause, shifting my focus back to Fullerton, "We'll be using that term in radio communications from now on."

The Major shoots me a glance, immediately figuring out my intention. "...Understood."

Several minutes later, after ironing out the details of my team's report, the debriefing eventually transitions into planning a full on operation.

There is a firm consensus amongst everyone in the tent, the behemoths need to be dealt with.

Multiple proposals are drawn out on how to deal with the perceived threat.
My men listen closely with attentive eyes and ears, adding only the occasional suggestion or nod.

Robert cuts in with a suggestion, "We'll need the drones to find them first before doing anything."

"Agreed, have them switch to thermal to pierce the foliage. " I pointed out, directing that statement to the operators on the drone command station several feet away.

Drone coverage on the island is mostly external, but by switching to their passive infrared sensors, they can easily pierce the canopy.

In tandem with its motion detecting system, anything with a heat signature will be fair game to be detected.

"Fireteams Angel and Castle will be providing additional support on this operation." Fullerton remarks much to my initial confusion.

James speaks out on the inconsistency, "Aren't they relegated to escort duties sir?"

"They're being temporarily reassigned to the strike force, " Fullerton answers, "I know for a fact SOG operatives like you won't be caught off guard by unforeseen circumstances."

After a serious pause, the Major adds more to his statement, "You people are the best response we have right now, we need to deal with them here and now before we regret it."

"Understood sir." I nod, fully supporting Fullerton's opinion.

Silence dawns in the operations tent once more, drawing out a semblance of peace.

Cutting away that silence, is a firm voice. "We have a response from Tartarus, Operation Splinter Shield has been approved by the Administrative."

It came from the woman handling communications.

"Lieutenant..." Fullerton shoots me a certain look, wearing the expression with an easily decipherable message.

"Got it," I order my team into a loose formation.

The calm demeanor I had flairs up with a hint of excitement. A firm grip is made on my weapon as my team heads outside the operations tent.

With the gears set in place, all that is left is to turn them.

======
-1442 Military Hours

Base Camp, Airfield.

The journey to the improvised airfield is made in silence. Heavy duty construction equipment pattern the route in an organized fashion, their colours contrasting strongly against the dull gravel lining the coasts.

They are the most basic yet most essential of the machinery to be brought here, easily outnumbering the rest of the specialized equipment scattered throughout the small fledgling exploratory outpost.

The base is still in its infancy, but already I could visualize its permanent layout based on the exposed wires and freshly excavated holes.

With the airfield close to the shores, the soft breaking waves of the ocean were audible to my ears. But the organized hustle of human activity remains the highlight of the ambiance as my team awaits the arrival of our fellow SOG Fireteams.

The minutes pass, and the sun's glare dims significantly. A look up reveals a heavy formation of clouds, looking ominous and grey.

Judging from the carefree winds blowing against my visor, it's heading in this direction.

"It's gonna be a wet evening." I evidently realize, drawing mutters of acknowledgement from my team.

A soft nudge from the left breaks my focus on the inevitable storm. "They're here."

My eyes zero in on the incoming figures. Eight operatives, all emitting cold professionalism, are walking towards our position, their strides speaking highly of their confidence.

The operative at the front introduces himself, mutual respect present in his tone, "Gabriel Brown, Castle team leader." The accent is Australian, no doubt about it.

"Jerome Simmons," I reply in kind, "....Fireteam Desert, we've got quite a mission on our hands."

My words are met with a subdued chuckle, "No kidding..."

With formalities out of the way with Fireteam Castle, I turn my attention to the unit I've had the honor of working alongside with in the early days of the deployment.

"Fireteam Angel." I greeted them as a whole with a healthy amount of respect. Narkis Hadar stands at the forefront, rigid stance telling of his distant demeanor.

Being the respective leaders of our team, we exchange looks of acknowledgement. No words were needed as we were already familiar.

It has been a while since we've interacted, but the camaraderie between us is still going strong, much to my satisfaction. As lethal as we are, we are still human. I take great pride in the bonds we forged.

Douglas takes the initiative, updating our fellow comrades on the situation back on the mainland, "We have the go ahead from Tartarus, they've sanctioned this mission."

"We're aware don't worry."

"That's good, we're all set to proceed then." I turn my head to the rear, resulting in a brief smile hidden by the visor.

Three JU-29 Humming Birds have been requisitioned specifically for operations such as this. They are small, able only to carry at most six men. Employing a transverse rotor system, these things certainly carried the hallmarks of being a futuristic military helicopter.

The smooth curvaceous airframe serves not only to mask its radio signature, but also to break up its silhouette when it operates at night.

In contrast to the larger AH-86 Jaguars which are geared towards patrolling friendly airspace, the Humming Birds fill in the more delicate niche of rapid insertions in unknown territory.

"Alright, one team in each bird. Let's hustle!" I eagerly climb into the small passenger bay, carefully minding the rotor above.

The engine starts, pushing the rotors on both sides into action with a deep hum, one of the notable traits of the JU-29's intended role.

Gravity pulls me harder against the seat as the ride takes off into the mid afternoon sky. The space inside is quite limited, but I find the isolation to be soothing.

With the skies brimming with clarity, the Humming Birds race onward with considerable speed, their predatory forms prowling just above the canopy.

With my hands tracing the rail weapon out of a tinge of boredom, I decide to set my sights outside.

Tiny horizontal slits make up the windows, providing little more than a peek at the blue tinted sky.

Through these windows, my eyes catch the accompanying JU-29's break formation. Their updated courses will bring them to slightly different destinations, as planned.

Determination wells up in my gut, prompting me to switch off safety. Several clicks resounded nearby, my team following the example.

Things are about to get busy. I must give it my all, that is what I expect from myself.

A serious voice chimes in, breaking my inner focus, "Several drones have zeroed in on your targets, sector E-11 to the southwest, stand by.....ETA to DZ is 3 mikes." It came from the pilot.

"Final checks!" I called out, getting my team to inspect their own respective gear.

There is no such thing as being too cautious. Words to live by, especially given what this career entails, I'll never get tired of honoring that saying through my actions.

As the seconds tick down to arrival, various precautions are taken to ensure the risks of equipment failure are kept to a minimum. The more advanced something is, the more reason it has to fail.

Suit systems are green. My rifle and pistols are all good, tungstun ammunition for the former is more than sufficient for prolonged combat.

The deep hum of the rotors serves to put my mind at ease, making sure irrelevant thoughts are kept out of the equation.

As the landing skids touch the ground, I pry the sidedoor open, wasting not a moment getting out.

I bring the GD-45 in line with my eyes, scanning from left to right with razor sharp focus. Fields of vibrant green cover my vision, so far the drop zone is clear. The unkempt terrain and surrounding vegetation immediately screams possible danger.

I crouch out of pure instinct, ordering my team into a defensive formation, providing cover for our ride as it retreats up the canopy and onto the safe embrace of the sky.

Without needing any physical input, my suit systems immediately reach out to all affiliated devices in the vicinity.

A Tactical Uplink is soon established with the nearby recon drones after the handshake protocol is complete. The on-board computer handles the incoming strings of mobile data, sending the relevant information to my Heads-up display in real time.

So far the only animals in the immediate vicinity are a group of frilled raptors, harmless bipedal pack hunters. These velociraptor-like creatures are not much of a concern given their size.

I wave a hand forward, deciding to give out orders through gestures from this point on. By the end of the afternoon, I expect nothing but a sense of accomplishment and four dead behemoths.

Both Castle and Angel are still within communication range thanks to the drones acting as relays. We're about to box our targets inside this valley, the very thought sends a warm wave up my back.

A smile tugs at my lips. I love the thrill of combat, there's no denying it.

======

-Local Settlement

Disappointment, an emotion all too familiar in recent times.

"Lumina...yet again you stray from my expectations." I chided my only daughter with a frown as I lead her into the house, watching the light in her eyes dim with each passing word.

"I-I'm sorry father....." She expresses her regret with a new wave of tears running down her cheeks. When confronted with a sight such as this, I could never muster the courage to stay mad.

Regardless of the passage of time, Lumina will always remain my beloved daughter. One of the two candles in my life.

I release a sigh, bringing her close for a hug, disregarding the mild wetness on my chest.

"Go and get changed..." I merely whispered, feeling a nod brushing against my body. "you reek of the forest and sweat."

"I sense troubles within you, I expect you to tell me what thoughts reside in your mind in due time."

An untold amount of time passes until she finally gives a response, "....okay." She loosens her grip, wiping the remaining tears off her eyes.

Lumina still has her duties with the Church of Life, the waves wait for no one. "The bath has already been prepared...go now my little seed...." I end with a warm smile.

She flusters under the weight of my teasing, "D-don't speak of that title....I'm not a child any longer!" She responds with a pout, making my smile grow wider.

As much as she denies it, I knew deep down she loves being called that. Nothing escapes a parent's attention when it concerns their children.

"Hmph....I shall prepare for my duties." Warm silence takes over as Lumina retreats into the bath with the pout still on her face, not matching the happiness seeping through her tone.

With my daughter out of sight, I release a weary sigh. Something is troubling her thoughts, of that I am certain. She has always taken to the woods as a means of escaping her duties, but she would always return with a solemn smile.

This time, all I saw of my daughter was a face stricken with confusion. What could have surprised Lumina to such an extent? It is a question I sadly do not have the answers to, but perhaps in due time that will change.

Before I could ponder more, the door opens, revealing the beautiful visage of my lovely wife.

The sunlight perfectly highlights the soft upward curve of her lips, as her dress softly flutters against passing wind.

The sight of Maira alone, is enough to send my heart racing with happiness.

I snake an arm protectively around her waist, "Are you still having these visions my love?"

Worry overtakes my emotions as her face morphs into one of tiredness, "Yes...they continue to haunt me," Maira admits, pausing to rub her temple, "even as a seer, these visions happen too often."

She continues on, much to my intrigue, "My fellow seers on the other islands speak of the same visions as well, something will happen." I nod at my wife's revelation, guiding her to a seat.

"Then it is clear the future has been set into motion, " I reply, taking her hands into my own, "but, a gathering of soulless dragons from beyond the ocean, with bladed wings....I find such a vision hard to believe. "

"Indeed...but visions do not lie."

The future seems to have unbridled uncertainties. But as of right now, I remain at peace with my wife secured in my arms.

I decide to break our embrace, to gaze intently at her soft featured face, "Lumina should be done with her bath now...." Happiness is the only thing I've known ever since I've met her.

"She has ignored the call of her duties once more..."

"Again?" She affectionately rubs her cheek against my shoulder, "our daughter seems to take after you, despite her role as a priestess."

"Of course," I smirk in response, "let's send her to the church once she's changed."

The eternal peace that has been prevalent throughout the islands, I pray it remains in the coming days.

But because there is no telling what resides beyond the watery borders of our existence, I fear these prayers of mine are futile.

======

-1502 Military Hours

Steady footsteps are taken as my team advances up the ridge. In a time like this, my train of thought is dictated by logical reasoning alone.

Gravity fights against the ascent, but the adrenaline running through my heated blood allows me to quell the mild discomfort.

The battlenet springs to life with a stern voice, "All teams report in..." Local command seems adamant on making sure everything is going as planned.

"This in Angel One, we're in position and standing by for-....." I filter out the responses of my fellow comrades, putting my focus on the peak above. The top of the ridge is just a couple dozen more steps away.

"Team Desert, what is your sitrep over." That's my cue.

I activate the radio, willing my legs to double their output, "We're currently heading north north west up the eastern ridge. We'll have visual contact with the hostiles as soon as we're on top. ETA to that is less than a mike over."

"Understood out..."

Pausing for a brief moment, I turn my head to the rear, "Double time it, we're almost there." That is the signal my men needed, inciting all three to power through the last couple of steps.

The scenery that awaited my team at the peak is nothing short of astonishing. We had a bird's eye view of everything underneath the partially obscured sun.

Grey clouds drape their long shadowy silhouettes onto the ground, making the scene all the more alluring. My eyes had a million dollar view, and I'm inclined to wholeheartedly agree in spite of the mission currently taking place.

The grass back on Earth didn't grow as green as it did here, it is in this moment I finally saw a glimpse of why the Administrative went through all the effort just to set up shop here.

Catherine would have loved to see this....

Despite our diverging path in life, my little sister still shares the same interests as I do. I'd reckon it's in our genes.

"Kickass view this is," Robert points out the obvious.

"No kidding, but we're not here for that," Douglas reprimands him.

I motion for everyone to go prone, putting aside my thoughts. "Agreed, focus on the targets for now please."

"Command, this is Desert One actual, we're in position," I report in.

"Acknowledged...stand by."

My eyes narrow their focus to only include the targets of interest, 900 meters to the west.

The behemoths, all four of them in their glory, and not a single hint of damage present from the prior contact.

My visor assigns a red glow around their vaguely humanoid forms, a result of their status as confirmed hostiles.

"Keep that sniper at the ready..." I promptly reminded James. This time, we're gonna make sure to completely take them out.

"I'm already waiting for the word."

I smile upon hearing that, "That's good."

After seeing the peaceful greenery, it slightly pains my heart to know rockets will soon be fired into the forest. Our response will forever taint this land with humanity's oldest and perhaps most refined profession.

Our well versed ways of fighting....

As if taking my uncertain expression as a cue, the radio crackles to life. "All units assume attack positions. Fire at your discretion."

"Wilco." From my elevation, I pinpoint the distant forms of Fireteam Angel and Castle on the ground, smartly utilizing the cover of vegetation.

Predatory focus is now put on full display, giving my usually stoic eyes a glint of menace. With four prototype GD-45 assault rifles and a potent Anti-Material sniper rifle added into the mix, my team had the firepower to dish out some serious damage relative to our unit size.

The same can be said for the two SOG fireteams assigned to this mission.

As my finger hugs the trigger, my audio receptors pick up a faint hum in the distance. "Friendlies to the west," Douglas mutters to my immediate right.

I made a brief smile in response. So far everything is going as planned.

The approaching specks on the sky slowly gain more detail, allowing me to pick out the distinctive airframe of two Jaguar attack helicopters.

With the buzzing permeating throughout the area of operation, the fully armed pair begins their attack run. The assault is now underway, it won't be long before the Jaguars unload their arsenal.

From their advantageous positioning high up in the skies, they unleash a thick salvo of dumb fire rockets from their side-mounted pods, leaving thin trails of smoke in their wake.

Joining their destructive act, are the chin mounted 20mm autocannons, completing the deadly duet the Jaguars were sent here for.

"Keep the heat on 'em!" I bellow out the order, giving my men the go ahead to let loose their weapons.

Fire and smoke fill the area where the hostiles once stood, the place has been heavily terraformed. Trees fall under the onslaught, splintering their remains over a wide area. Nature's beauty has been completely scarred with our weapons of war.

Hovering overhead with a clear sense of supremacy, the attack helicopters flaunted slowly around the site, surveying the area with no opposition to challenge them.

All this happened in a span of ten seconds, this amount of power is something I've grown accustomed to, over the many years. Every once in a while though, the efficient brutality of modern weaponry catches me off guard.

A quick scan through the smog reveals the targets to be in pretty bad shape. Scratch that...they are totally eviscerated. Looks like a textbook example of overkill.

"Desert Four actual to Albatross 2-1, outstanding work boys. All targets are confirmed down," Robert informs the pilots, a tinge of satisfaction clearly evident in his voice.

Deciding there is no longer a need to go prone, I gesture for my team to get up. The issue with the behemoths have been dealt with, the explorers will have free reign on the island....all except the southern-most sectors.

Not much Intel was gathered last time we were there. "Lets go gentlemen," I tilt my head towards the slope.

My team carefully traverses down the steep ridge, meeting up with Fireteam Angel further down south, leaving Castle behind to secure the remainders of the humanoid stone giants.

No doubt a team of researchers will be airlifted in to study what they are, I have full faith they will get some answers to the storm of questions currently brewing in my head.

The exploration division is a crucial piece to this operation, that I won't deny. But as I look to the soldiers walking alongside me, I knew for certain we were just as important.

We step into the unknown not with eyes filled with wonder, but with trepidation guiding our every step. Not everything is rainbows and joy, especially when it concerns something we absolutely have no information about.

Anything with a risk involved, we handle it without complaints.

With the clouds above stealing away the remnants of sunlight, eight highly accomplished operatives march into the unknown. Our lips are sealed shut in professional silence, as there is nothing to gain by talking.

That settlement better prepare itself, we'll get that damned information by any means necessary. Rain or sunshine, nothing will stand in our way.

Duty....above all.

===end===