The Start Of Something Great

In Memoria

Buck's POV: Jan. 14 0918
Daturn, Saso City

I grabbed a cold pop from the fridge, shut the door, and headed for the living room. Flopping onto the couch, I clicked the TV remote to turn it on, and the news station immediately grabbed my attention.

"Yesterday evening, we witnessed another shootout, this time at Kanpaki Plaza in the Rino district. This marks the first mass shooting in over three years. A total of eleven people were found dead both inside and outside their rooms. Local authorities have confirmed that the deceased were connected to the local Russian Mafia, a faction that originated from Earth."

That caught me off guard. I hadn't expected such a big incident—especially one tied to the Russian Mafia after so long. As I processed the news, my phone buzzed with an incoming call. It was Carver.

"Buck, did you see the news?" His voice came through immediately as I answered.

"Yeah, I saw it. Can't say I'm too upset. Glad those Mafia guys are gone," I said, stretching out on the couch.

There was a pause before Carver responded. "I guess you're right. But I've been thinking. When do we get to head out again? I'm getting antsy here."

His eagerness made me chuckle. "Soon, Jacob. Soon."

That didn't seem to satisfy him. "I'm just ready to get back out there again."

I thought for a second before responding, "I'll talk to Arthur and ask him."

Carver's tone lightened. "Yes, sir." He hung up after that.

Grabbing my keys off the counter, I headed out the door and made my way to the garage. I walked past my Samson, parked in its spot. It was more than just a vehicle to me—it was a part of who I was. I slid inside, put the key in the ignition, and turned it. The engine roared to life, like music to my ears.

I backed out of the garage and made my way south toward the Militia dockyard. The city of Daturn was peaceful, with sprawling districts and the occasional hustle and bustle of the streets. As I passed Jackson's Bar and Hotel, I noticed two people in Oni half-masks walking in. Something about them looked off, but I didn't have time to dwell.

Five minutes later, the massive ships—MCS Dawn and MCS Phoenix—came into view. I pulled into the dockyard checkpoint, where a soldier with "MP" on his uniform asked for my military ID. After a quick check, he waved me through.

I parked outside the MCS Dawn's drydock, stepping out and heading toward the elevator. The familiar hum of machinery filled the air as the elevator made its way to the bridge. When the doors slid open, I stepped into the chaos of engineers and technicians working hard to ensure the ship was ready for action.

A short walk down the hall led me to the bridge. I was surprised to find Arthur, Dev, and two people I didn't recognize.

"Not interrupting anything, am I?" I asked.

Arthur smiled and waved me in. "No, not at all. Actually, we were just about to brief you."

Curiosity piqued, I moved closer to the map they were gathered around. It was an island marked on a map of Holly.

"Where is this?" I asked.

Dev, who had been standing by, answered. "It's one of Holly's smaller islands. We've received intel that the IMC has a testing facility there, specifically for some alien tech they found."

The screen flickered, revealing an ancient-looking jump drive and a sleek ship design next to it.

Arthur spoke again. "We're planning to infiltrate and steal the tech, giving us the edge over the IMC."

Before I could respond, Dev added, "Sarah Brigg's orders were clear: gather intel, and if the tech is too dangerous, we're to destroy it."

At that, a woman in a flight suit stepped forward. "That's where my squad comes in. We have two stolen IMC bombers ready to attack the base."

Then a large, grizzly-looking man with a deep scar under his right eye took a step forward. "If we fail, you'll be the backup."

Arthur gave a knowing look and introduced the two. "Meet Gina, the leader of The Hornets," he gestured to the pilot. She bowed slightly. "And this is Tom Dempsey, commander of the Tank." Tom gave a quick salute.

I looked at Arthur and Dev. "What's the name of this operation?"

Arthur gestured to a chair. "Sit."

I sat down, and the room grew quiet as they prepared to explain.

"The name of this operation is Operation Grizzly," Arthur said, a hint of a smile on his face.