I let out a sigh. No matter, I’m sure it’s just something above my pay grade. Maybe once I’ve proven my loyalty for a few more years I’ll look back into it. I stand up and file the report away in the cabinet against the wall behind me. I head over to the small Bisolian shrine built into the wall of my office. I love the little mural above the shelf, depicting Solaris and Solanka shining above our world, gifting it with light and life. I bow my head in reverence and mutter, “May your light be my guide, so that I do not waste the gift of life given unto me. Liberty always, Solaris and Solanka.” The standard prayer that everyone in Libertaria knows always settles me if I’m troubled and it does the same here. I sit back in my chair, behind my desk, my mind clearer, when suddenly the door bursts open with a bang, and an out of breath aide stumbles into the room.
“U-u-rgent missive from Commander Trinak, Officer Icishan!” He shouts, holding out a small, square sheet of paper.
“Thank you, aide.” I say politely, taking the paper out of his hand. “Please catch your breath a moment before you head out again.” Without waiting for a response, I turn my attention to the missive in my hand.
URGENT SUMMONS
Officer Icishan,
There has been a tragedy in our fair city this night. Two whole squadrons have been discovered, dismembered. The records indicate that you were in charge of their operation._
As a result of this blasphemy, The Council has ordained I am to lead a force of soldiers to chase this disgusting aberrant.
You are to join me in this endeavour, whatever intel you have from your interaction with this filth interests me greatly.
Please attend the marshalling site at the east gate, no later than Twinrise.
Bisolian Commander Trinak
I read the missive again, just to be sure.
“T-two squadrons!? Dis… dismembered? Is this?…” I stammer in disbelief.
“Yes, Officer Icishan, the Commander put this in my hands himself.” The aide nervously confirms.
“Fine, you may go now, while I get ready.” I give him a curt nod and the aide rushes out of the room.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck.” I curse to myself, thinking back to the girl the two squadrons I was commanding earlier cornered. “How in the name of Solanka does that make any sense?”
Thinking back to the girl brings her face to my mind again. Seemingly nothing special, covered in grime, but there was something to her eyes. Yes you could see the terror in them, as you’d expect, but there was something else. A light in her eyes I’ve never seen before, almost like she was raging against something, but it was only in her eyes.
Shaking my head, clearing my thoughts, I glance at the window and see the Twinrise light already growing in the sky.
“Fuck, I’m going to be late if I don’t leave now.” I mutter and quickly gather my jacket, and put on my belt holster, which always has my Officer’s short sword in it. Patting myself down once to confirm I have everything I need, I rush out of the office and towards the eastern gate.
I approach the eastern city gate just as just as the twin suns have both cleared the horizon, just in time. For what I assume is supposed to be a pursuit group, there seems to be way too many people here. It wouldn’t surprise me if there’s close to 100 soldiers gathered in the square, and while not all of them will leave the city, that’s still the largest pursuit force I’ve ever heard of being assembled. Who in the fuck is this aberration we’re chasing?
I quickly make my way towards the largest tent I can see, as that’ll be the Commander’s tent. As I walk, I take note of the assembled forces. I can’t help but notice there’s barely any Squires here, and what few I can see are more likely to be here for logistics, not for venturing out with the pursuit force. Same with the Paladins, which are largely absent too. Most of the mustered forces are Knights, with some Officers commanding them. This an intense display of military force, and I don’t understand it. I know that the aberrant somehow managed to destroy two squadrons, but this still seems like overkill.
As I arrive at the entrance to the command tent, I can’t help but hope there’ll be some new intel that warrants all of this. With a deep sigh, I show my ID to the guards at the entrance and am ushered inside.
As the entrance falls closed behind me, and I step forward, I can’t help but notice how warm the tent is, compared to the morning chill outside. An aide walk up to me from a room to the side of the tent.
“Ah, Officer Icishan, you’ve arrived!” they say, guiding me deeper into the tent, which seems to have several rooms within. “Please follow me, Commander Trinak has been waiting for your arrival to do the morning’s briefing.”
I groan inwardly, it’s so very typical of him to make other people wait until everyone’s in attendance. I really hope they haven’t been waiting long, I really don’t want these people to be mad at me before we even set off.
Before I know it, we’ve arrived in the main room, where Commander Trinak sits behind a large wooden desk. Trinak is one of the largest men I think I’ve ever seen, broad muscled shoulders, atop a chest that is more muscle than anything else. Every inch of the man has been built for battle. To his side stands his personal aide and advisor, a tall man who doesn’t really interact with anyone apart from the Commander.
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I fall to one knee, right hand making a fist on my chest, showing deference to my superior. “Commander, I am here as requested.”
“Ah, brilliant. And perfectly on time too, Icishan! I did wonder if that aide would get to you on time!” He says, voice booming, before breaking out in laughter. “Anyway,” he continues, clearing his throat and nodding at me, “now you’re here we can start the briefing and get on with this whole damned business.” He briefly nods at his advisor, who steps forward and starts to talk as I stand back up.
“Last night, a homeless urchin was caught at a restaurant trying to steal food. When confronted she immediately fled and after the initial chase resulted in her escape two squadrons of Squires were mobilized to track her down and apprehend her. These squadrons were under the indirect command of Officer Icishan here. The idea was they’d get the thief and then Officer Icishan would arrive and ascertain what should be done.” The advisor grimaces slightly before continuing, “once they’d tracked her there was a short chase before the thief was captured, Officer Icishan arrived, decided that the best course was execution and left. Only, after several hours and no returning squadrons was the matter looked into and well, I won’t describe the scene that was found, there are images in the documents you will be given here, but I’m not sure I’d look if I were you.” He shudders, clearly affected by the images.
“Thank you Robert, that’ll be good for now, just give out those documents. The documents contain an info sheet on the aberration and some speculation on its ability. Also the aforementioned images, but I too would advise against looking too hard if you’ve already eaten this twinrise.” Trinak says, concisely moving us on. “Now, Icishan. I’d like you to just quickly talk us through your initial impression of the aberration and why you decided to terminate it.” He says, disgust laced through his tone.
“Of course sir,” I quickly responds, before carrying on, “when I got the message that there was someone I need to pass judgement on, the information I was given stated it was someone who’d been caught by an aberration scan and then apprehended after a short chase.” As I relate this to the group which I notice includes a couple of other Officers I don’t recognise and someone that has to be a Shining Bezerker, given their currently topless and I can see the white carving marks in their exposed skin. I’ve never been near one before and the trickle of fear at being near such a source of power is palpable. “Once I arrived, I checked with the Paladin in charge, who confirmed that the alert had been for an aberrant, but that she’d displayed no ability as of yet. I gave her a quick check, but nothing stood out to me, so I simply followed procedure for an aberrant with an unknown ability, quick termination. Then I left and went back to my office to write my report.” I fall silent, indicating I have nothing more to say.
“Thank you Icishan, I would say good work if what had happened didn’t happen. Right,” he says turning to the assembled group at large, “the only other thing to know is that just as the termination order was to be carried out the aberrant activated her aberrant ability and whatever happened next resulted in the absolute destruction and dismemberment of both squadrons. There were no survivors.” He gets up from his seat and walks around the front of the desk, pacing in front of it. “Clearly this affront, both to the Libertarian Front and the Bisolian Supremacy cannot be allowed to stand.” He stops pacing and looks at all of us in turn. “Please do read the information you’ve been given on the aberrant. Our group is to give chase until it is no more. No return until the job is done. These orders come from up top, from the Prime Blazar herself.” Commander Trinak tells us with the utmost seriousness, none of his previous levity present.
At these words, I find myself reeling. The Prime Blazar!? Why would she even be aware of some unknown aberrant escape? What the hell is going on here!?
Luckily no one else noticed my lapse, as everyone else is similarly affected by the mention of The Prime Blazar. The Shining Bezerker is on his knees, muttering under his breath in prayer. Not wanting to draw attention to myself I study the documents that have been given to me.
The first sheet in the folder is a single piece of paper with the aberrant’s basic info and what little intel we do have on them. There’s a grainy image of them, looking a little less like death warmed over than when I saw them. It’s name is apparently Paige and was dropped off at a local orphanage until aging out and then the record stops. Not a lot to go off of there. The next page is all the intel we’ve managed to gather and speculate on it’s aberration. Which is basically nothing. All the document really suggests is that her aberration ability is probably enhancement of some kind, leaning towards strength, and a guess at the aberration level says Level Blue, which is… not a level I’ve ever heard of before? I shake my head, I’m sure they’ll explain it when it’s necessary.
I turn to the next and final page and the instant I look, my stomach lurches. The page contains a number of images, all awash in red. A few of the images clearly show various, unattached limbs.
I close the file of documents and grip it in my hand as I take a breath to steady myself. I can’t believe this could happen, this much death is basically unheard of. After a few moments, I’ve calmed myself enough that my stomach feels somewhat normal, and I return my attention back to Commander Trinak and the rest of the group.
“So, that everything we have so far. You can all leave this tent and use the time to prepare to leave for what will likely be an extended trip. As you leave the tent you’ll be given directions to your place in this muster where you should stay until you hear the call to march out.” He tells us, his tone full of authority. “I will see you all next on the road!” And with that he turns back towards his desk and we start to file out of the room.
True to Trinak’s word, as I leave the command tent an aide hands me a small piece of paper with some directions to an area near the actual eastern gate. I quickly head there and find a small tent set up, with my name on a placard attached to the fabric. I head inside, seeing it empty aside from a small bench. Another sigh escapes me as I sit on the bench to kill the time until it’s time to march out.