The Start Of Something Great

Welcome Aboard

Carver's Point of View

I walked slowly around the MCS Dawn, taking in the unfamiliar sight of the ship. I'd never seen anything like it before, but then again, Arthur, the commander, didn't seem like your typical leader. His reputation alone was enough to make anyone curious about the man who commanded this impressive vessel. As I walked, I came to the mess hall, where soldiers were already gathered around tables, eating and talking in quiet murmurs. I grabbed a tray of food and sat at a random table, my mind still processing the shift to this new ship, this new life.

"Morning," a grunt greeted me as he looked up from his food.

"Morning, everyone," I replied, nodding to the group.

Another grunt glanced at me, sizing me up. "You new here?"

"Yeah, just got restationed," I answered casually, taking a bite of my food.

"Ah," said the first grunt, "well, if you haven't met the commander, he's sitting right next to you."

I turned, startled, and found myself staring at a man in a pilot's uniform. He hadn't said a word, just quietly eating his meal, but there was no mistaking the authority in his presence. I blinked, recognizing him immediately.

I stood and saluted, "Sgt. Jacob Carver, sir!" I said quickly, my voice sharp in my surprise.

The man—Arthur—looked up and returned the salute. "Put your hand down, Sergeant. Welcome aboard the Dawn."

I dropped my hand, but the question still lingered. "Why did you select me, sir?"

Arthur paused for a moment before answering. "I'm starting a new role on this ship. I heard you were good. Before I invite you to join this team, I need to see what you're made of... on the ground."

I stood there a moment, still absorbing the weight of his words. "Yes, sir." I saluted again as he stood up and walked away.

A grunt across from me, a broad-shouldered man with a no-nonsense look in his eyes, leaned forward and grinned. "Looks like you might be joining my group. I'm Chief Warrant Officer Kaleb Bossac."

"Good to meet you, Kaleb," I replied, standing up. "But I'm going to find my quarters."

"See you around, Carver," Bossac said, his tone friendly, but his eyes already shifting back to his food.

After a few minutes of wandering, I found my quarters and quickly set to reading up on the mission I was about to undertake. The briefing was straightforward, but the stakes were high. The operation was called Dawnbreak, and it involved breaking into an IMC compound on the frozen, desolate planet of Erberus. Our job was simple—steal everything we could. The rest of the details were specific but necessary: Squad Inferno, led by Arthur, was to attack the compound head-on, drawing attention and providing a distraction for Shadow Team to infiltrate and steal the intel.

I skimmed the rest of the briefing, absorbing the facts, the objectives, and the roster. I was to be part of Squad Inferno. With a mix of grunts and experienced soldiers, we would go in heavy and fast, using ten drop pods and the backup of Commander Arthur's Titan to break through the enemy lines.

I glanced down at my standard IMC armor—dark, utilitarian, and covered in faded logos. I'd scratched off the IMC insignia and replaced them with Marauder Core SRS logos. It wasn't the most subtle change, but it was practical, and the armor offered more protection than the militia's gear. I stripped off the armor and threw on my standard uniform, then climbed into my cot, exhausted. The next day was going to be a long one, and I hoped it would be successful—few casualties, if any.