[OLD] Thus Hank Fought There (Gate X Fem Hank)

(6) The All Unknowing

(4487 WCT)

Fun Fact: This setting is a Spec Ops: The Line reference.

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May 4, 2000
Ext. Helicopter
Dubai
1300 Hours

The wind carried grains of sand, causing them to brush against my face as I sat in the passenger section of a little bird. This was a common annoyance in the hazy desert, even from so far up.

A scenery of dilapidated skyscrapers stuck up from the ground in all directions, managing to tower above the helicopter's passage like vultures preparing to feast on their deceased prey.

These buildings belonged to no other than the city of Dubai, or at least what was left of it.

The aircraft I rested in glided across this once great capital. That is if you call slave labor by such an adjective, for that's what Dubai was before *this* happened.

Me and my three peers wore dark tactical attire; including matching IOTV vests, MICH/ECH BTE helmets, Kevlar gloves, balaclavas, and orange tinted goggles.

Various white stripes of paint vertically lined our inky vests, masks, and headwear.

A crude coat of orange covered our shoulder pads. Atop this paint donned white symbols, the right side being a number by the name of "33" with the left harboring a drawn opened-mouth skull.

Similar to all members of Zulu Squad, our outfits shared similar fates of weathering. This was a normality for anyone spending such a long time in this hellish city.

Moving my head towards the cityscape beneath, I stared down into what lay below.

An endless red sandstorm.

It was hell incarnate.

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November 8, 2004
Int. Tent
Alnus Hill
0630 Hours

My eyes opened to stare blankly at the roof of a green tent, droplets of sweat trickling down my forehead.

I then slowly rose up to sit upon the side of my mattress.

Looks like it was one of those dreams again... at least it wasn't as bad as the others.

Swaying my head to return to a state of authenticity, I began my daily routine of getting prepared for the long day ahead. Making sure the time was 0630, I got to work.

Upon exiting my personal tent, I was greeted with the early morning sky.

A single blazing ball of fire that was the sun made its away above the cloudless magenta horizon. Seems like this was another thing the SR had in common with our own world.

Moving onto a road made of leveled dirt, a map was pulled out from one of my pockets. The paper was unfolded before my eyes looking through its contents.

A bit of scanning this depiction refreshed me on where the diner from two days ago was. Putting the map away, I transversed towards said place.

My time there was spent eating a delicious potato omelet. It was strange how we managed to have such good cuisine when the SR was just discovered last month.

I soon left the concession to take a stroll around the base. A few more places were visited before I went back to my tent, this was when I started to pack the necessary belongings for the trip ahead.