Stealth Specialist || Simon Riley

Briefing

The next week or so on base goes pretty smoothly. No crazy new activities. No major health issues or injuries, thankfully. My bruise has healed quite well, and I no longer have much pain at all. Some residual discoloration lingers on my hip, but I feel much better, and I can move freely.

We partake in group training about twice a week, from what I can tell so far. I'd been banished to just being a spectator while I healed, but it's been quite fun spending time with my new team and bonding during training. 

Ghost hasn't spoken to me much over the last week, though. It seems like he's avoiding me to some degree. I'm not sure why, but I've definitely noticed it. He's only spoken to me during training, nothing else. And his communication has been even shorter than before, which I didn't know was possible.

But maybe he's avoiding everyone. Soap says it's a little strange for him to eat most of his meals in his office alone. Not sure what's going on with him. Maybe he's just going through something. 

Nonetheless, I feel much better both physically and emotionally. I feel like I'm really becoming a part of the team, and I've bonded a lot with Soap and Keegan. I feel like I can really call them friends now. 

It makes me smile.

*

6:30 am

My alarm blares loudly, waking me up at my normal wake up time. My morning routine has become quite concrete over the last few days. 6:30 wake up, shower, get ready, eat a breakfast, and ready to go for 8:00 call. Although I still don't have much responsibility on base yet, I'm glad I've solidified a wake up schedule for myself.

Today, though, is exciting. Price has ordered a meeting for everyone in 141. Today will be the first brief about this big mission I've been recruited for. This mission has been kept under wraps from everyone in 141 for many months now, but today Price will finally reveal what we'll be doing for the next ten months. 

I stand up from my bed and stretch gently. I gather my things and head down to the showers, eager to feel the warm water wash over me. I finish up quickly and ready the rest of myself before heading over to the cafeteria for a steaming cup-o'-joe and something to munch on. 

Price wants everyone ready to go in the briefing room at 8:00 sharp today. Normally, he's pretty lax about tardiness when it comes to the minor events he has planned for everyone. But this time, he's serious. He wants everyone's full attention at 8 am sharp. 

So with that, I rush to complete all of my morning routine tasks before making my way to the briefing room quite early.

So early, in fact, that nobody is here yet. 

7:43 am

I find a seat near the back of the room and play around on my phone while I wait for everyone else to file into the room. One by one, the guys shuffle in the room and find a seat. The first one, unsurprisingly, is Keegan. In getting to know him, I've learned that he is a stickler for the rules and likes to follow orders exactly and without fault. I guess it's the former US Marine in him to be like that.

After him, the rest of the guys filter in just before 8:00 hits. All except for Ghost. Price walks in at 8 sharp and sets up his presentation.

"Mornin', boys," Price addresses the room. "... and girl." I smile at the inclusion.

The door creaks open slowly, revealing a Ghost slithering into the room a minute late. He makes no effort trying to be quiet as he waltzes to the back of the room and plops himself down in a seat.

"Everyone here?" Price says, scanning the room. "Looks good... Alright, so we've kept this all under wraps for quite some time, as you all know." Price clears his throat as he shuffles through a manila folder filled to the brim with sheets of paper.