4

SECRET//PRIMECORP//NORIV

I approach the ops desk, my eyes instantly finding Courtney Meyers, the intel lieutenant, and probably my best friend. She's overseeing operations and communications for the team today. Courtney's usual role involves analyzing intel and briefing us before missions, but with two teams going on a mission, she's given the opportunity to fill in as the operations supervisor or as we call it, top-three.

It’s a big deal for someone of our rank and will look great when she's up for promotion.

Usually, one of the other team leads fills the position, but with a single team on station, they're required to be on active alert status in case of threats.

Everything has a procedure and protocol.

As I stride over and smile. She's engrossed in her work, her eyes glowing ethereally with blue mana as they scan multiple monitors displaying streams of data and communications channels.

The woman is a couple years older than me and has an unmistakable presence. Her head is shaved on one side, with the remaining long hair with its bright teal gradient cascading down the other in a rebellious yet striking display. Visible biosilv augments trace intricate patterns across her skin, adding an air of allure and a bit of a warning. Anyone with that many augments is dangerous, and Courtney isn’t afraid to prove it.

Despite her focus, she catches sight of me and looks up, her lips curving into a familiar grin that shows she's seen right through me. “Hey, Vandal! Running behind today, aren't ya?”

“Yeah,” I admit, a sheepish smile playing on my lips as I try to catch my breath. “Had to make a pitstop.”

Her knowing smile widens, and she leans in slightly, her voice a conspiratorial whisper. “Oh? Anyone I should know about?”

I can't help but roll my eyes at her teasing. “Just Mathias. I saw his boyfriend on the train today and was passing along a message.”

Courtney chuckles softly, her eyes glinting with amusement. “Fair enough. You know, I think someone wants to talk to you...”

I tilt my head. “What? Who?”

She smiles mischievously. “I shan’t say a word. I'm just happy they’ve finally gotten the courage to ask you out on a date.”

I groan, mockingly covering my face with my hands. “Not another one. Did you set this up, because the last one you sent me on…”

She laughs again. “This one will be better. Trust me. I’m pretty sure it’s someone you’ve had an eye on too,” she says with a wink and then nods toward the SCIF. “But, you better get going, Vandal. The mission brief has already started.”

“Yeah, I know,” I reply, feeling the familiar rush of adrenaline that always accompanies the start of a new mission. “Thanks, Court.”

She gives me a warm, reassuring smile as I head toward the heavy door, reinforced both physically and magically.

As if on cue, the door to the SCIF, or Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility, swings open, and Major Jerin looks out. His eyes instantly narrow when they fall on me. I wince in anticipation.

“Vandal, what are you doing?” His voice is icy.

I force a bright smile onto my face and answer, “On my way in there, Slider.”

With a swift motion, I slide off my interface and place it into the compartment bearing my callsign. I lock it securely, then nod at him. “Ready when you are, boss.”

His sigh  is heavy with impatience. “Get in here. The mission brief started five minutes ago.”

I wince again. “Sorry.”

“Just come on,” he says, his tone barely softened. I follow him inside, sighing as soon as he turns around.

The door shuts behind us with a muffled thud, I look back and watch just as the runes activate and start glowing a soft blue for most, white for some others.

The room is cool and dimly lit, a stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of everything outside. The main area here is filled with the soft hum of machines and the murmur of techs at their stations, analyzing data, monitoring comms, and coordinating logistics.

I follow Slider down the hall to the cramped briefing room with a small rotating purple light just above the door to signify that a higher classification of briefing is underway.

My entrance doesn’t go unnoticed. The six operators seated around the room turn their attention to me, and there's a chorus of jeers and playful jibes from my teammates.

“Look who finally showed up!” Red calls out, the big weapons sergeant chuckling in a deep tone.

“Did you get lost, Vandal?” Brick teases, the team sergeant has an amused look on his face, but I know he’s probably annoyed as fuck. He’s an older, fatherly kind of guy with greying hair. Which makes sense with his seven kids and even his first grandchild.

A cute little boy. Those chubby cheeks in all the pictures he shows off are adorbs.

I wince but don’t get to respond before the next person does.

“Vandal, on time as always,” Bubbles quips sarcastically, the blonde mage is our defender, and the team’s second in command.

At twenty-three, Bubbles is only a bit older than me, and as the only other woman on the team, she tried treating me like a little sister when I first accepted Slider’s offer to join four years ago.

At the time, she was only too excited to have another girl to hang out with, but I wasn’t too keen on the idea. After all, I had instantly crushed hard  on that woman. She was just so god damn gorgeous.

But I ignored my gut and we ended up going out and doing random shit all the time during those first few months.

Which made the whole infatuation thing so much worse. But she’s not gay, so like the bi-disaster that I am, I kept it to myself.

My cheeks still heat up every time I think about it.

Both fortunately and unfortunately, she grew a little frosty with the world after an incident six missions in. It was a near thing. I ended up saving her after she went into mana strain from holding off this massive acid spitting land wyrm  with her shields.

In the midst of the chaos, there was a heavy blizzard, and we ended up miles away from the others and fighting for our lives. The two of us had to work together to survive for three nights while air support was down due to the storm.

Eventually we managed to regroup with the team on the fourth day, and were evac’d to base.

Afterward she went through a rough patch for  about  six  months. She keeps it to herself, and while I see the icy looks she gives me at times, I never pry. It’s not my place. Everyone’s got their own shit.

Still, I at least try to ensure that she knows we’re still sisters-in-arms and I’ll always have her back.

I think that counts for something.

I raise my hand, taking the banter in stride, and flash a grin at my teammates. “I know, I know, fashionably late as always.”

Slider clears his throat, a stern expression on his face, and the room falls silent. “Alright, everyone, settle down,” he commands, his voice low and authoritative. He looks at me, his gaze sharp, and says, “Now that Vandal has decided to grace us with her presence, let's begin.”

I wince.

The team nods in acknowledgment, and I settle into the nearest seat. My heart races, and a buzz of anticipation fills the air.

Our team healer, Paradox, leans next to me. “If you’re having trouble sleeping…”

I shake my head. “I’m good. Thanks, Dox.”

He’s not the same healer that was in Slider’s team when we first met, but the Hispanic captain joined the group while I was going through my training. He’s the only healer that I’ve worked with since being on the team. He’s another one of those folks that have always looked out for me.

Although, I sometimes wonder if he just wants to use me as a lab rat for the different  ‘meds’ that the corp issues him.

I am a firm believer in magic healing only.

Dox can feed Red all the pills. That guy’s probably taken a few more than strictly suggested in his life anyway.

“As you are all aware, Arcan Corp has received intel about a new mana-well,” Slider begins, his tone serious. “Officially, our task is to assess it, determine its potential, and evaluate the risks. We need to secure the area and ensure that it doesn't fall into the wrong hands, or that aberrant monsters are formed. If so, we are authorized to smother it.”

He pauses, looking at each of us, as we take in the information.

The whole thing is pretty standard protocol. Some mana-wells warp beasts and monsters into an unholy frenzy, creating all sorts of nastiness. The worst of which give the monsters access to magic.

Smothering was where we use a special runic device that gathers white mana from an area and pumps it back into the well, essentially shoving it back into the ley line. The end result is a mana pool formed of white mana that will spread into the area and dissipate much quicker.

White, or colorless as some scientists call it, is the base type of mana. The one that governs reality. Untainted by the colors and their concepts.

The colors are something everyone learns, but those who are pursuing a future path in magic delve deeper as your core understanding of such concepts affects everything you do. It’s something I have to know as a hybrid, even if my magic is having technical difficulties. Paradox has tried to assess my core, but nothing he’s tried has worked.

He says it’s like there’s some type of barrier that closes it off from everything trying to see it.

I don’t even know what color my mana is… It’s something that’s frustrated both me and my doctors over the last few years to no end.

Especially when my class is what it is.

Thinking about mana-wells and colors reminds me of how my mom explained the different types of mana when I was little. While I learned the more official and standardized version later on, I always enjoyed her take on it more.

Mom sits on my bed, her hands weaving an intricate magical show of illusions and light. She smiles softly as I stare up at her in wonder. Then she tells a story, one of magic and mana,

“In a world where magic courses through the veins of reality, each color holds a unique significance, representing a spectrum of concepts that shape the very nature of everything around us.

“White is the foundation of reality. Think about the space around you and the way time flows. It’s like a magical realm where everything starts, and you can perceive the world in unique ways. White is like the secret behind all the amazing things you can see and experience.

“Red is for exciting days. Imagine brave heroes fighting for justice, protecting what’s right, and standing up against the bad things in the world. When they’re filled with fiery courage, they become the protectors of truth and the defenders of fairness.

“Green is the color of nature and life. It’s like being in a magical forest, where plants grow and animals thrive. Nature’s wonders make everything around us feel alive and connected. It’s about growing, surviving challenges, and making the world a better, greener place.

“Yellow shines like the sun and stars. It’s about finding redemption and peace after facing tough times. Imagine having a special vision that guides you wisely, like a dream that helps you see beyond the ordinary. It’s like wrapping yourself in a warm and comforting light.

“Black is the mystery of the night. When the world changes, and things seem to disappear, it’s like the night sky. But in the darkness, there’s power to transform and even seek vengeance when needed. It’s about seeing beyond what’s on the surface and using your mind to make things happen.

“Blue is for exploring your own self. Just like solving puzzles and creating amazing things with your imagination, blue is about using logic to figure out clever strategies. It’s like an ocean of ideas and innovation, where you can be as creative as you want.”

“Unofficially,” Slider continues, yanking me from my reminiscing, “we’re going to set up an ambush.”

He not only has my complete attention, but the rest of the team’s as we all collectively lean forward. “First, this briefing is considered secret, noriv, primecorp only.”

We nod. It’s to be expected. Basically, it’s a classified briefing, and no rival entities–but mainly corporations–are authorized to access the information. Primecorp is a designation that means even Arcan Corp’s wholly owned subsidiaries are restricted from this brief.

Clearly this is a bigger deal than we were first let on.

He continues, “We have reason to believe that raiders will also be interested in this mana-well . Intel suggests that it’s the same group that has been targeting the corp’s expedition teams.”

The room is tense, and I can feel the weight of the information. Raiding groups are always a wildcard, their actions unpredictable and often ruthless for all their relative lack of quality equipment.

Slider gestures to the young man seated nearby, an intel specialist who promptly stands and moves to the front of the room.

The illusion-based magitech on the table flares to life, and motes of mana swirl, forming a three-dimensional map of the area. He navigates the map using a crystal pad, and the terrain shifts, zooming in on the suspected location of the well.

He speaks up with a steady voice, “The mana-well is believed to have formed here,” he points to a section of the map. “Your operations area will be within a five-mile radius. We have intel that the raiders are operating from this general region.” He moves the illusion to another area of the map. “Based on their previous movements and targets, we expect them to approach from the wilds in the northwest.”

He continues, detailing the surrounding terrain and listing the various monster threats noted in the area. “Additionally, it’s recommended that the team not venture outside of the operations area. There’s a monster migration nearby which may pose a risk.”

One of my traits, [Tactical Insight] , helps me see patterns where others may miss when it comes to situations of an operational nature. Right now, it’s pinging very loudly in my head that something is off.

I raise my hand as my mind races. “Can you show the projected migration path?”

After scrolling through a few screens, the projection changes. A blob of pulsing red indicates where the swarm is. Next, three arrows in different directions come up along the western coast of the mitten. Two are far from Houghton. One follows the coast up along Lake Michigan, while the other angles almost on a direct path toward the ruins of Traverse City.

The last one stands out, it curves inward, heading toward the center of the mitten. It’s also the one nearest to our operations area.

“That one, the one furthest east. Why is that one there?”

“We believe the swarm is trying to avoid other monster concentrations near Tippy Dam.”

I stand up and move to the crystal pad, he steps back and I tap it. Slider and the others wait patiently. They know about my trait, and they know that when it’s acting up, that it’s usually a good idea to let me do my thing.

I scroll through the surrounding terrain, and narrow my eyes.

“What’s the assessment on whether the swarm is a threat to the city? The old state forest south of us is awfully close.”

The young man answers immediately, “We don’t have concrete data on that yet, but based on the current trajectory of the migration, it doesn’t appear to be a threat at this time. However, we’ll continue monitoring the situation. The forest is considered safe from monster habitation. The current location of the swarm is far from the city.”

Not that far. I knew how fast swarms moved. It could be here tonight if it…

My eyes widen as a thought hits me. I scroll back and look at the path that it has gone. It’s avoiding monster concentrations like the plague, it’s also avoiding known human settlements.

I can see why they would suspect these paths.

Next I scan through the terrain near us. Our city is south of Houghton Lake, Michigan and no migrations have ever passed through this area before. Our base however… it’s northwest of the city, directly west of the lake. We’re responsible for operations for the entire northern part of the mitten.

West of the base, there’s nothing but forest that sprouted up over the last two decades and it’s dense . The path that tries to cut through near where our mission is located is just strange. “What about the base?”

He looks at the projection thoughtfully. “The projected path takes into account natural inclinations and past movements of the monsters. The terrain this way is more difficult to navigate and would be a departure of the norm.”

I had to admit, that made sense at first look, but…

“What if they’re being directed?”

His eyes narrow and he almost seems to hold in a scoff. I can tell, I do it all the time. “With respect, a swarm cannot be guided or directed. They are a force of nature.”

I sigh and am about to retort when Slider steps forward, taking control of the room again. “It’s alright, Vandal. Command has plenty of people working this. I’m sure they will give your insight the consideration it’s due.”

The intel analyst gives a curt nod. “Of course, Major.”

I nod and return to my seat as a slight frustration fills me, but he’s the boss. Plus he’s right, we need to focus on our  mission, after all. I need to get my head in the game.

Slider looks back at the projection and hesitates for a moment but then he shakes his head. “Let’s go back to our own plan of action,” he begins, launching into the details of our mission. The team listens attentively, everyone’s focus is laser-sharp on the upcoming operations. As we return to the situation that affects me, I feel a mixture of excitement and anticipation coursing through me, something that’s quite common. I’ll start to get the pre-mission jitters after I head over to the equipment shop and get suited up.

As the briefing continues, I jot down notes, absorbing the details of the plan. My [Tactical Insight]  trait helps as I mentally go through my training and my capabilities, visualizing how I’ll approach different scenarios.

As with most teams, we have five riflemen. Being their lead, it’s my role to take charge of the ratings in a way that properly supports our team mages. Slider is our offensive mage with his beams of fire. Bubbles is our aptly named shield mage, and Paradox is the healer.

Soon I will join them. I know it.

I just have to get my shit together.

As the briefing ends, Slider dismisses us to get suited up.

I glance around to make sure no one wants to talk to me before I head out.