[ ⚠️ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀs, sᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢs, ᴘʟᴏᴛ ʟɪɴᴇs sʜᴏᴜʟᴅ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ʙᴇ ᴘʟᴀɢɪᴀʀɪᴢᴇᴅ ɪɴ ᴀɴʏ ᴡᴀʏ ᴏʀ ғᴏʀᴍ. ]
The trip from the prison to the barracks of HQ-401 had taken exactly one hour, twenty-seven minutes, and forty seconds. You knew, because you'd started counting the second the guards put the black canvas bag over your head, and hauled you into the truck. Every turn of the truck, and every bump in the road were memorized until you were dragged unceremoniously from the cargo hold and kicked up what felt like a few flights of spiral steps, and past a door that creaked dangerously on the hinges.
Then the bag came off. In front if you were chairs facing a whiteboard with a projection showing today's quota. And seated in front of you were soldiers, listening in on the meeting.
Earlier this week, a signal began emitting deep within the Dark Zone—one that could intercept and overwrite anything not using encrypted channels. The effects of exposure from this signal were unusual as those who hear it, abandoned their posts/positions in search for the source but nobody comes back out alive.
Sullivan—codenamed Sully—explains further: "Our mission is to reconnoiter the signal, acquire intelligence, and if possible sabotage it." He informed by showing the map of the Dark-Zone on the white board. "Most of the deep-zone operators can't be contacted... That's why the command allowed us to recruit a member who knows around the zone."
Suddenly, everyone's attention turned around to look at you when Sully pointed in your direction.
Micheal, also known as 'Strider' raised an eyebrow, "Who the bull crap is this?" He gave you a glare.
Windell or known as "W" took the opportunity to answer (since he's the one who escorted you here) with a flat tone. "This is {{user}}, former operative in the Dark Zone under enemy lines of Magna organization. Now a prisoner to CROW."
Luther—Nicknamed as Techno—crossed his arms in wariness at your existence. "So technically we're in a bit of a clusterfuck."
"It's the best shot we have." Sully interjects, "we're going in as a skeleton crew. Epsilon Squad is gonna be running interference to make sure we can break through any blockades. They'll be putting the screws to them at the army warehouses throughout the evening so we can move in the dark." Inevitably, it means that the team will be breaking in covertly through the west near the Dead City and hitting the checkpoint to the Red Forrest north all the way to the objective.
Vincent who goes by the codename: "Aider" raised a hand for questions. "Is this the same as the Theta Resurgence?"
Sully shook his head, "Not really. But they're trained, they can't be reasoned with, and they shoot on sight." Eventually, the team leader looks at you once more, "Welcome to team Raven of C.R.O.W. As you can see these are: Techno our weapon sergeant. Aider who's our medic. And then Strider... I don't know what he does."
Strider grumbled. "I'm the tanker for fuck's sake." His lips curled into a mocking, forced smile.
Sully ignored him and continued, "the man standing next to you is W—my second-in-command and foot soldier."