The Initiate

[Sentrosi]

Part I

Your skin begins to crawl as you wait outside the enemies stronghold. Lying under an old tree on Hossin with a million bugs swarming all over you isn't what you signed up for. You wanted a place with the rest of the unit's elite; Manitou, Hamma, Marsman, Cyber, and you wanted a cool nickname the rest of the squad got; Ivan, Jouster, Spee, KaozReign....

"Noob! Stop shaking like that. You'll give away our position!" a harsh southern accented whisper that can only come from the Special Operations Commanding Officer, KaozReign. Funny, you were just thinking of him.

He begins to search the ground to the front of him. Acan should have been fairly quiet, as you recall the briefing before the HART drop. Reign flashes some hand signals and you see the Executive Officer of the Special Operations Squad, Sentrosi, slowly moving forward across the bog. His tag-along is another "noob" everyone calls Eine. You start to wonder if that's his true name or just a nickname the DragonWolves gave him. Sentrosi and Eine begin to move off in a southeast direction; KaozReign and yourself move directly south, into the peat bogs.

The sacred colors of the Terran Republics army, red and black, is now nothing more than the color of mud after you crawl out of the bog and start into Acan's SOI. Your internal comlink displays the information and you feel, rather than see, KaozReign signal a stop. More hand signals from Sentrosi confirms a feeling you've had since this operation started; someone was watching. Reign signals you to pull out your Supressor as you see him pull his Cycler out. Eine has his Supressor out and Sentrosi pulls his own Cycler out. You hear whirs and clicks coming from Reign's helmet. He looks back at you.

"Noob, I need you to keep an eye on the western turret. If you see anything, don't shoot. Relay the information via the hand gestures we taught you to Sentrosi. He'll take things from there. I'm going to move forward to see if I can flush him out."

You nod and watch as Reign pushes the bramble out of his way and makes his way toward Acan. You are certain that the Smurfs who are at that base now can hear your heart thumping without the aid of an Audio Implant. You train your Cycler at the western turret, and wait.

And wait

And wait some more.

What feels like an hour has passed, and Reign hasn't even made it to the grassy knoll that Acan sits on. You wipe away the mist that has gathered across your goggles when, out of the corner of your eye, you spot a shimmering. You activate your Darklight and confirm an enemy Infiltrator has started to sneak up to Reign's position. You're obscured enough for him not to notice, you think. Because you'd probably have an NC Mag-Cutter slicing through your back.

You switch off your darklight and look over to Sentrosi and Eine. They both are looking toward the base, and not behind or over to the side. You see Sentrosi then start to turn his head toward you. It's at that point that a shaft of sunlight pierces the canopy of trees. You know that the glint off of Sentrosi's goggles caught the eye of the Infiltrator. Switching on Darklight again, you begin to see the Infiltrator pull his Repeater out and train it on Sentrosi. Only 2 meters seperates you from him. You reach into your own holdster to pull out your own repeater when you hear the sound of a knife piercing flesh. The Infiltrator has decloaked and now is falling backwards, a Chainblade lodged deep within his throat.

You catch him just as he is about to fall into the water and make a huge splash. Gently, you lay him under the water, find some rocks to hold his body under the water, and remove the Chainblade from the exposed, and now bloody, neck. Looking up, you see Reign and he makes some small gestures with his hand, signalling you to keep the knife. You place the knife inside your weapons belt and swing your Supressor back up to position.

[NoSurrender]

good

[Sentrosi]

Part II

I look over and see Reign's hand raise up, knife in hand, and throws it. Next I see is a body shimmer out of thin air and fall backwards, only to be caught just before the water. Smartly, noob hides the body under the water and assumes his watch of the western turret.

I activate my Audio Implant and listen for anymore enemies. Bad idea. The sound of a million insects buzzing makes me instantly flick off the Implant. Instead, I rely upon my years of experience and use my sight to look for hidden enemies; scoping out possible sniping places, watching for any small wave of a branch or ripple in the water. I motion for Eine to stay on my 6 as I start to crawl out of the bog and onto dry land.

The insides of my Reinforced ExoSuit are full of mud, water and probably two or three different types of insects still not chronicled at the Sanctuary Science Lab. I carefully bring a broad leaf up and cover a fire ant mound, and crawl across it. Eine takes a leaf as well and continues on the path.

I swing my way back around to the eastern part of the base. I look to Reign who doesn't see me right away. His eyes are ever watchful, trusting nothing but the sheer instincts that have molded this guy into the soldier that he is. He notices me, gives me the signal to start the approach and starts in at a dead run towards the north entrance to the base.

Eine and myself begin our trek across 50 yards of exposed ground. Each second outside of cover means another second the Smurfs can see us. Reign and noob are hugging the wall near the huge vehicle entrance to the Bio Lab. Eine and myself are at the wall as well. Activating my Audio Implant again, I hear nothing out of the ordinary. The base appears to be empty. This is a good thing; Intel division finally got one right. Yet, why is my stomach turning in knots? Reign taught me to always trust my instincts.

I start to walk forward when I notice why the base appears to be empty. The ground in front of me is littered with mines. I stop my foot mid-stride. Below my heel is one of those mines. Right now, I have two choices. I could just step on it, exposing the team to any enemies who might be lying in wait or fall backwards into Eine, cushioning my fall. I decide that Eine can make a good mattress and fling myself backwards. Eine catches me, helps to balance me, and begins to work on disarming the mine.

Eine makes short work of the mine and starts to crawl forward. Noob also begins to crawl forward and begins to disarm mines that are in our way. While a Jammer nade would be helpful here, it would give away our position. Most enemy is alerted when several mines go off at once and their implants do not work.

The plan is to take out the Generators here, in an attempt to relieve some of the pressure the other TR outfits are having just to the east of Acan. Trying to gain a foothold on Hossin is always tough, but the NC have been a stubborn bunch lately. Each and every base we gain as we march toward their Sanctuary brings us an increase in losses. Thanks to the Sanctuary codes that Spee gave us before his defection brought renewed vigor to the battle-weary Terran Republic troops.

"Sentrosi, move toward the stairs on the western edge, I'll take the Southern stairs. Sweep forward from that position and head toward the Gens. I'll head down and though to the Spawn Tubes. Blowing that should bring some NC to this position. We'll lay our mines down and head directly west from here. Our pickup point is along the river. Ivan and his Deliverer should be there for the pickup."

"Copy that Reign. Rendevous point uploaded to my mini-map. Good hunting."

"Close all comm now."

I gave him the cut-off signal and begin toward the western stairwell. The Bio Labs are the only structure that had the gens and the Spawn tubes seperated by more than two levels, making coordination and logistics a pain. Eine and myself are basically on our own until we reach the river. Each Spec Oper knows that it could be his last mission, at least until we respawn back at our base. It's never a good feeling, and my insides hurt for at least an hour.

The sound of the REK working to allow us access to the Generator room the only sound in the quiet afternoon. The door opens. We make our approach and then something strange happens to us; we both begin to feel massive cramps in our stomachs and migranes that almost black us out. It is then I realize that a Pain Module has been installed here. I also realize that someone is here, inside the base. Someone who installed this module while we were outside. We scramble to head out the door. Narrowly escaping, we head toward some cover and begin to self medicate ourselves.

"Sir, I thought Intel said that no modules had been installed here."

"Well Eine", I say as my shallow breathing slowly returns to normal. "sometimes even our Intel division screws up."

"True, but any longer inside that field and we'd be dead!"

"Yeah. Eine, turn on your darklight implant and have a look around."

I hear the telltale click-whirrr of the implant being activated and watch with my normal eyes, scoping the perimeter. With no way of warning Reign, this was going to be one of those days.

[KaozReign]

I'm the CO for CDL Spec Ops? Sweeeet.


Good stuff.

[Ivan]

And I'm the lame ass taxi driver.

hehe Great story Sentrosi.

WooHoo! This make 3 different Fan Fic stories i'm in.

[EineBeBoP]

Kick ass dude. I didn't know you could write
Bit strange how you switch from N00b to yourslef, but i got the bigger part in Part 2, so I'm not complaining ;0.

Stupid fsking Intel

[AztecWarrior]

Holy SHIT BALLS! SECOND PERSON!

Keep going Captain Original!

[Sentrosi]

Part III

"Damnit, something doesn't feel right."

Reign whispers back to you as you head down the stairs toward the Spawn Room. The CO of the Dragonwolves Special Operations squad opens a door and quickly hides behind a crate. Not expecting Reign to move off to the right as quickly as he does, you stand still for a moment.

"GET YOUR ASS DOWN NOW NOOB!"

You come to your senses and duck behind the same crate Reign has. Not a very good first impression you think as Reign consults his mini-map.

"Sonofabitch, damn. When we get back to HQ, remind me to choke Swifty for this crappy intel, ok?"

You agree and inquire what the problem is.

"Damn Cong got a Pain Module installed here. We're not going anywhere til Sentrosi and Eine can blow that Generator. Sentrosi has a Thumper with him, but it won't do him any good without about 5 medkits or a med applicator."

You remember that Eine had a medical applicator and pass that on to Reign.

"Glad we have at least one person with that. I've got a bad feeling about this."

You and Reign wait patiently for the generator room to blow. The waiting feels like hours. Reign begins to fidget with his weaponry and has rechecked his ACE units multiple times. This gets you feeling very nervous as well, and so you start to double check and recheck your Supressor and Repeater.

Suddenly, you hear the door open. You bring your weapon to bear behind the crate, following the noise coming from a soldier dressed in Blue and Yellow. The crate is far enough away from the main door that the soldier doesn't bother with it and proceeds down to the other end of the room, near the BioLab's Implant Installation room.

Reign motions you to holster your Supressor and take out your Repeater. He does the same and you both crawl toward the Implant Installation Room. Waiting just outside the door, you cock your sidearm and enter.

"Hey Peace, is that you? Damn, these tubes make me very clausterphobic."

You run to the Implant Tube, and raise your Repeater. Reign moves off to the side of the tube just as it opens up. A very startled NC Soldier is looking right down the barrell of your gun at your eyes.

"Shut up, remove your helmet, step out of the tube. Do it now else I am going to permanently remove one of your kneecaps." Keeping your eye on your victim, you see Reign quickly remove the helmet, knife, Pistol and Gauss Rifle from your prisoners hands.

As he steps out of the tube you eyes pick up something on his back. You have just captured a CR5. Reign smiles approvingly as he looks over the helmet and motions you over by the door. After examining the helmet, Reign gruffly turns the CR5 and looks him straight in the face.

"Now, I'm only going to say this once. I'm going to need you to Global to your empire that the Pain Module can serve a better purpose over at Ghannon. You are to report that you are taking the Module there and need no cover, as your squad has arranged for transport for you. You are to repeat that with no deviation, else my friend here will permanently screw up your matrix and kill you. Do we have an understanding?"

The CR5 only nods in agreement. He seems like a cocky sort of soldier, almost like he refuses to see what is inevitable. Reign hands the CR5 soldier his comlink out of his helmet. The CR5 puts the headset on and adjusts the microphone. The NC soldier then inhales slowly and begins.

"To the New Conglomerate. Malone here. I'm going to be taking the Pain Module out of Acan and transporting it to Ghannon. There is no cause for alarm, as this order has been passed down to me from the Commander of all NC Forces. No need to assist or pickup, as I have a squad on the way to help me deliver the module. That is all."

"Malone, huh? Noob, you just captured an old Terran Republic commander. I think I'll add a gold star to your performance today. Wait til Hamma hears about this!"

"Hamma? As in Dragonwolf Hamma? You're part of THAT outfit?"

"Yes, now be a good little traitor and go up to the Generator room. Remove the module and walk out. My friend and I will be assisting you. You won't be needing this anymore either." Removing the comlink from Malone's head, he gives a shove toward the door.

"My friends are already on the way. They know something is up."

"I highly doubt that. You see, while I had your comlink I installed a small frequency filter, blocking all sideband frequencies except for your Global Frequency. And, unless your telepathic, which I doubt considering telepathy requires a brain, and well, you just don't seem to have one, you haven't been in contact with any troops around here. Now, get going."

[Sentrosi]

Part IV

"What's next Sir?"

I look down at Eine and back at the Generator Door. Strategies for dealing with this start forming in my head. I motion Eine to step away from the door.

"Eine, I'm going to go inside and launch as many plasma nades as I can at that Generator. I'll need you to stay out here and heal me up. I hate doing it this way, but the only other way exposes us much more than this. Now, as I run in, your job will be to be a lookout. I need this top area to be clear before I come out, else we're respawning back at Dragonwolf HQ and have to answer to Reign. Understood?"

Eine nods and assumes his postion behind a barrier. I quickly check over my Thumper loadout and start to head toward the door. Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I catch movement near the top entrance to the base. I quickly drop my Thumper and raise my Cycler, train it on the door and watch as an NC soldier is pushed outside, followed by Reign and the noob.

Lowering my rifle, I whisper, "What the hell is going on?"

Reign smiles and claps the CR5 Commander on the back. "This is Malone. He used to be one of the Terran Republics CR5's, until he betrayed us and came over to the NC. He's been gracious enough to assist his old empire in dealing with this current situation."

I motion Eine to stand down and walk over to Malone.

"You're lucky that I don't shoot you right here and now traitor."

"Why not? C'mon I know you want to. But I think you're just too chicken to do it. Much like that assault on Cyssor you were a part of. You just couldn't pull that trigger, could ya? I lost a lot of faith in the Republic when one soldier can't shoot the enemy."

"Extenuating circumstances Malone. I'll tell you later, while you're awaiting trial back at the Republic Sanctuary."

Reign motions to me to cut the small talk and shoves Malone inside the door. "Oh, and to make sure you do what is needed to be done, I've rigged a boomer inside your backpack that will screw your matrixing code just before it blows. You screw us, we screw you harder. So, do as we told you to do and no harm will come to you."

Malone walks inside the generator room and extracts the module. As he walks out, Reign quickly moves inside the room. Eine, noob and myself quickly move in as well.

"You bastard! You said no one would be around here. What the hell are those Vanguards doing here?"

"Honestly, I don't know. Let me have my comlink and I'll find out."

Reign looks at me and then motions noob to guard the prisoner while we move toward the back of the generator room to confer.

"What do you think Sentrosi? What are our options?"

"Well, " I begin, "we really don't have a lot. We could just walk out of here with their newest CR5, but hostage situations always involve messes, and that's not what we're about."

"I agree. So, what's our options?"

"We allow him to use the comlink. But we run a risk of him talking via Broadcast. We do that, and the Congs are going to know something is wrong. Or we could just let him go right here and now. Have him walk out with the Pain module and have him go toward Ghannon, like he said on global. We do that though, and he's going to say we're here. We'll have a platoon of NC surrounding this room in no time."

Reign puts his hand to his chin and thinks some more. "What would happen if we decided to allow him to leave anyway? It's not like he's going to betray us...."

I interrupt him. "Reign, we're talking about a traitor already. He'll jump ship the moment we lay eyes off of him. Also, I'm not about to let that idiot slide away from me again. He's got a whole lot of time with me reserved in a cell back at Sanctuary with no guards around it."

"Sentrosi, personal feelings aside. We need to get out of this fast. This mission is already compromised. We need to do what we came to do and get out...."

[Black]

Nice story Sentrosi keep up the good work

[EineBeBoP]

Kicks ass, but i actually carry around about 4 or 5 medpacks, instead of having a med cert. close enough, and its your story anyways

Keep going!

[Sentrosi]

Part V

"I think we're past the mission Reign. I think we need to get out of this alive if possible."

You are looking at Sentrosi and KaozReign as they try to decide what to do. Your hand is on your Repeater right at Malones face. Malone looks smug and arrogant; you just want to wipe that smile right off his face. Your finger starts to get itchy and your hand begins to shake uncontrollably. You put the gun down for a split second, realizing you're tensing up.

It's all the window that Malone needs.

You head suddenly feels like its been hit by a Sunderer. You see stars and feel yourself falling backwards. You hit the ground hard and black out.....

[NoSurrender]

i love anti malone stuff!!!

[Sentrosi]

Part VI

Ivan looked worried.

Normally, TerribleIvan, or Ivan as he's called amung his outfit members, is very calm and calculating. He knew something was wrong though, and that always made him twitchy. It also gave him a bad habit of talking to himself.

"Maybe if I scramble beta code again, I can get a signal through to their scrambled comms." Ivan began to input the code string together on the communications rig and began to broadcast.

"Sentrosi, Reign. Can you read me, Over."

Static.

"Reign, this is Ivan, come in please. Over."

More Static.

"Hmmmm, nothing. Perhaps I should radio into base ops."

"Feldercarb, I do that and they declare them MIA/POW and then they negotiate. I can't let my friends down like that. Besides, if Reign ever came back and knew I could have rescued him, and didn't, he'd have my hide for a winter blanket. Ok Ivan, think. What should you do."

This musing went on for about a half an hour with still no word from the forward Ops team. Yet someone was listening.

[Ivan]

Alright I want to know who is ease dropping on me. I hope they didn't hear me call the barnyard love sex phone line on Sentrosi's credit card.