The War I Fought

The Decapitated Army, Part One

January 27th, 2029
6:00 PM
Atlanta, Georgia
Lamina International Forces Outpost Alpha
999 Operatives Remaining

     Thanastasia Lamina walked through the center of her extensive private military in an incredibly large conference room. The army of soldiers were broken up into two large ranks, facing towards the center. Every time she passed a row of soldiers, they would raise their salutes in respect.

     At the very front of the room stood the 49 Fauna Force members. Rocket Bear was closest to the center, and raised his salute with a smirk as Lamina walked past him.

     To his right stood Umbra, who looked prepared and brooding. She had cut her hair into a short afro, and had not stopped training once she had left the infirmary. She was ready to find her friend.

     Lamina turned to go up a small set of stairs leading to a stage at the front of the conference room. Once she had reached the stage, and had taken her position at a podium, all the soldiers in the room dropped their salutes and turned in unison to face her. She smiled gently. "Good Afternoon," she began, leaning down to a nearby microphone. The soldiers responded in one resounding "good afternoon". Lamina cleared her throat, before eyeing the army in a way that seemed like she made eye contact with each of the hundreds of soldiers at least once. "Today is a very important operation. By now all of you should have been briefed on the mission details. In 30 minutes time we will be commencing a dual mission. We will engage in a search and rescue, and an assassination. Your target, my Fauna Force, is to locate and extract White Bobcat. Once the extraction is complete, at your discretion, you all will invade headquarters to find and assassinate Mathis Numero, the CEO of Numero Private Militias."

     The soldiers shouted "yes ma'am", understanding their assignments.

     "Fauna Force, I am giving you command of this assault. Meaning that you are judge, jury, and executioner in the field. Kill who you want, interrogate who you want, capture who you want." She pronounced boldly.

     Only the Fauna Force responded with "Yes ma'am", Rocket's voice able to be heard over everyone else.

     "That is all I have to say. Take this last 22 minutes you have to ready your weapons, and your mind. Numero falls today. NPM falls today. Let the record show that on January 27th, 2029, Lamina International Forces engaged in the war ending mission, Operation: Executioner."

     With her last assertion, the soldiers broke out in a cheerful and excited uproar. Everyone in the room was battle-ready, but they were mostly happy to finally be able to end this grueling war once and for all.

     Lamina stepped back from the podium, walking down the stairs and back out from where she entered. As she passed a row of soldiers, they would turn and march behind her, an army of amped soldiers soon following her out of the conference room, before dispersing in different directions to prepare for the coming conflict.

*****

6:27 PM
Ma Wo's Chinese Cuisine

Chase and George sat on the same side of the booth, leaving the other side for their father who had yet to show up. Chase stared lazily at the glass of water before him, the straw smoothly shifting in position as the ice slowly melted around it.

George however, emanated excitement as he looked around the restaurant frantically for any sign of his father. Other customers saw him and grew slightly uncomfortable with the frequency at which he would throw his head around.

A tall, muscular figure approached the booth the brothers sat at. He looked down to the boys holding out his strong arms. His face looked to be an even mix of Chase and George's looks, and he sported a short black beard and bald head. The light of the restaurant illuminated his chocolate skin, as he smiled, showing two rows of perfect teeth. "Hello boys." The man spoke.