Saint HeleneBoard

King Marshall Harbour Aerodrome, Federal Territory

Canineia’s biggest military airfield was finally starting to see some peace after a few hectic weeks. Between the Emnarian aircraft threatening the mainland to the interception of ships and other planes over the Eastern Tysemny the air base was constantly hearing sirens going, jets taking off and orders from the capital. Finally, though after peace talks with the Emnarians things had calmed down. Many people who operated the airfield were finally able to relax and not worry about an all-out war, going back to deploying patrol squadrons and cargo planes. However, there would be an important order for the base commander coming from the ARF arriving shortly.

In the Administrative offices Brigadier General Brownleaf was on the phone with his superiors in the capital, the rank was extraordinarily high for a base commander due to the fact that the base was a highly important asset to the Air Corps. He looked through some papers on his desk with confusion.

“No I don’t have any planes going towards Merilia, I have a flight going towards Narag but that’s it. I could have a flight go to the Osean Inlet Flotilla; they’re heading back to assist the blockade there but you’ll need to be quick to catch them……. What do you mean you need to put ARF Troopers on a flight to Merilia?”

The General sighs as he holds the phone away from him

“Mars get in here please” he shouts out to ensure the Major on the other side of the door could hear.

An officer steps in and stands ready.

“Alright It’ll be done General, bye” The Brigadier General said as he puts down the phone. “Have we got any flight paths to Merilia?” he asks the Major.

“Yessir, we have no flights going towards there though”

“Well get one, the Red Berets are travelling to there to assist in the war.”

“Why didn’t they go with the Flotilla?”

“Because the Senate is slow, now get one of the Dalmatian Mark 3’s ready please”

“Right away Brigadier General”

The Major turns around and goes to complete their task.

Later in the evening the ARF force would arrive in full and board the Merilia bound flight. The Red Berets were known throughout Canineia has having the best hunters of the Canine species. Everyone who hunts for sport or recreation dreams of becoming one. So therefore, it made sense to send them Merilia to combat guerrilla soldiers. A decision made by the Senate and Security Council with the help of the Eternal Dominion and Merilian scientists.

Alongside the ARF force though would also be some Royal Canine Security Bureau agents, looking to gain more insight on Merilian insurgents including the cadetists, to ensure that none plan to attack the homeland.

"Your highness, the press wants to know some of your thoughts on the Brotherhood and how you plan to keep them away."

"Eugh. Questions, questions questions!" The level-headed King huffed. "I've been backed into a corner, since where the main operations are located are outside my control. The secluded region none of our forces can reach." Mark sighed.

"Forgive me for asking this, but if the Brotherhood seems as small as the Royal Investigation Comittee says, then why are we investing time into their little game?" Helen asked.

"Because they run around the country like the Knights of Yore, from the Islands to Masonsville, they are harassing and killing innocent citizens, trying to throw a wrench in foreign relations, in the name of a foolish pipe-dream. I am confident they will be dealt with in the coming weeks, I can assure you that, Helen."

Helen nodded and went to address the reporters. And the door shut, leaving the King to be deep in thought once more.

 
 Another explosion rang out somewhere far above the operating room, made minute by the multiple thick layers of concrete in which it dissipated. The quiet hum of machinery and the soft beeping of monitors soon resumed their dominant place in the cold air of the room.
Petar Kozlov didn't pay any attention to it. Leaning forward, he gently closed the bodybag placed in front of him in an audible zip. The wide-eyed face of the lifeless body lying there disappeared. His two assistants took the bag from either end and lifted it; despite their large stature they seemed to have great difficulty moving it, grunting in their effort. They dropped it with a thud onto a cart, with which they quickly drove away, with a throbbing squeak of wheels, leaving only Kozlov and another engineer in the room. The latter, a woman in a long white lab coat, was diligently destroying documents in a shredder. 
 
"Lana, please, when you are done with the papers, begin the booting up process for our 'patients'." She nodded back at him without saying a word.
Kozlov remained motionless for a brief moment, his hands firmly placed in front of him, on the metal table now free of the inanimate body that had been lying there.
In the recess of the heavy doors, the shadow of a silhouette appeared. Kozlov turned his head towards the newcomer.
"Ivo."
“Sir,” he began, in a monotone voice. "We don't have much time left before they get here."
"They're a handful. But maybe more will come. Let's hurry, I'll escort you."
 
Ivo Roptatič.A kopecian, he was the new"voivode" of the Odvažni, one of these small, colorful veteran units who had served under the Peninsular Empirebeforediscretly returning to Merilia with the start of the civil war. The anti-partisan experience they acquired there was more than useful in the hunt for political opponents and guerrillas, and here as in Fusea, mass graves multiplied in their wake. All in all, therefore, men whose services were useful in providing a close guard for cadetist dignitaries. 
Ivo brought his hand, encircled by an iron rosary, to his forehead, adjusting his black karakul; the symbol of the Odvažni which adorned it - a long dagger crossing a heart from top to bottom - cast metallic reflections. Bringing his arm down, he then slipped his thumb into the wide belt of purple fabric that wrapped his lower abdomen.
His uniform seemed out of time, happily mixing modern elements with pieces straight from the ancient Merilian revolution. His body armor, articulated metallic plates covering a layer of kevlar, evocated eastern osean medieval antiquities, carefully repainted with urban camouflage, while his legs were covered by broad black zouave pants which narrowed into the top of standard issue military boots. He seemed dressed as if for a military parade in an era of history that never existed. His weapons contradicted each other; a yatagan sabrehung on one side of his belt, while over his other shoulder was the strap of an automatic rifle. And around his neck, like his interlocutor and the scientist who accompanied him, hung a gas mask.
 
His very face betrayed something of an attachment to a fashion belonging to neither past nor future. His angular head, cracked with craters and gashes, gave the impression of having been shattered and then glued back together crookedly. But when you looked at him, what stood out most was his fine mustache, abruptly shortened on his right side by a large Mensur scar, which, starting at the corner of his lips, deformed Ivo's mouth to freeze it into a grin. 
 
In the absence of serious adversaries to fight, these men, rather than indulging in drinking and orgies like so many others among the cadetist soldiers, had preferred to cripple each other in the manner of Weisserian aristocratic fencing.
Ivo, noticing that Kozlov wasn't answering, cracked the fingers of his hands one after the other, before continuing. 
"I'm afraid we'll have to abandon the rest." He nodded towards a corner of the room; two forms lying on additional metal tables, alongside which Lana now stood. "Should we destroy them?".
 
 The cadetist engineer looked towards the two naked and inert bodies, plugged into devices closely monitoring their vital signs. Long wires lied on the floor, twisting and coiling there like vipers, connecting the consoles to exposed synthetic brain stems in which they were directly plugged.
 
Kozlov stepped closer, laying his fingers on their thin synthetic skin, barely disguising the web of circuitry beneath, metallic servo muscles and titanium bones, and, far deeper, the spark of life, a supercharged nervous system connected to organic gray matter - almost an unnatural excrescence on the tip of the biomechanical body, a cordyceps growing within the armored cranium. Kozlov's hand tenderly caressed the bodies, following their curves, slowing as they passed the joints and seams. They were cyborgs. Having been awakened from their deep sleep by Lana, they entered a paradoxical phase. They were dreaming; intensive simulations designed to assess their performance before activating their body interfaces. 
 
 Made up of parts of very diverse origins, imported more or less legally into the country through bribes, blackmail, and theft, their serial numbers erased, they were clandestinely assembled. The Merilian collapse had only greatly slowed down the holy trinity of kombinats - Wrola, Karbor, Vulkari - in the pursuit of their research in biocybernetics, although it had taken a particularly illegal - and unethical - turn. As the head of research and development in Wrola, Kozlov had been the main proponent of those projects. They never succeeded, however, due to lack of funds, tools, and experience, and the low interest expressed in the context of the civil war from the point of view of the most conservative elements of the military commissariats. The few bioroids deployed as bodyguards or assassins had ultimately been failures, their cost outweighing their benefits.
 
 And now, with the aerial bombardment destroying the majority of the facilities, and then those unknown attackers coming out of nowhere to pursue Kozlov, the project could only go on indefinite hiatus.
 
The chief engineer's first reaction had been to go here, into the bowels of the Wrola complex and its armored basements, built to withstand airstrikes during the last war. The laboratory had to be moved, and everything else erased. Time was, in any case, running out for the purple phalanxes of the Merilian nation.
 
Kozlov seemed to come back to reality for a brief moment, processing Ivo's suggestion. "No, no. That would be a waste. We had other plans."
He placed himself next to Lana, in front of the control panel which monitored the state of the sleeping human machines. They were going to wake them, Ivo realized.
The cyborgs were seized with spasms. Their eyes shot open, wide as if emerging from a nightmare, but their faces remained expressionless. They stood up. Their limbs twisted like those of puppets as they tried to gain their balance on the ground, swaying and tilting; the gyrometric canals serving as their internal ears struggled to prevent them from collapsing on the ground. Gradually, however, the steps, uncertain and heavy, gained in agility, and the pantomime ceased. 
 
The smirk on Ivo's face accentuated itself when, once one of the bioroids was stabilized, Kozlov approached it to embrace it. The engineer brushed his lips against the cyborg's forehead, and, passing his hand into the back of the cyborg's neck, pulled out the connections that fell like manna. Kozlov spoke to them, whispering, for a few moments. He was undoubtedly transmitting instructions to them, but the veteran could hear nothing. 
 
The cyborgs paused to process the information. Synchronously, they pivoted towards the door and began to move. They made no sound, except the tempo of their steps. They ignored the veteran as they passed him.
 
Ivo's ear crackled. The last body had finally been loaded into the helicopter.
 
"It's time. They are only waiting for the three of us now."
 
 "Very well, he replied before putting on his gas mask. The other two imitated him. 
You can give the signal. Let's seal off this place." 
 
Somewhere above the laboratory, a man dressed in a uniform similar to Ivo's put on in turn his gas protection, hiding a face covered in tattooed psalms behind a smoked visor. Grasping with both hands a large valve connected to an imposing white tank, he leaned forward to open it. With a loud hiss, its colorless, heavier-than-air content - phosgene - poured like a torrent through the corridors of the complex. A few days later, remote detonations would collapse the concrete roofs of the concrete laboratory, ensuring this place would never be seized intact.
 
 The trio hurried on, the voivode in the lead, a torchlight in his hands, taking the stairs two at a time. Soon they arrived at a helipad, and the low ceilings gave way to the black canvas of night. Although the complex had been deprived of most of its exterior lighting in the strikes, the fires that had broken out here and there obscured the stars behind the smoke and the orange glow of flames. On the landing strip, a few soldiers surrounded a hind, the same type as the one that brought the assailants into the company. Its blades were turning in a deafening whirlwind. 
 
Kozlov, out of breath, paused as Lana climbed into the rear of the vehicle first. He took one last look at the industrial complex behind him when gunshots rang out around them.
A pair of figures stood out against the orange glimmers, on a roof overlooking the helipad. They fired in the direction of the helicopter; one of Kozlov's aides, hit, collapsed to the ground. "We need to go, now!" Ivo yelled, almost throwing Kozlov at Lana in the helicopter.
 
Almost immediately, the machine rose into the air. Its nose gun activated, delivering a burst toward the figures who threw themselves to the ground while the automatic cannon chipped away small bits of the roof and the facade of the building. Without loitering any further, the helicopter dashed into one of the columns of smoke overlooking the factories. 
 
 
- - -
 
The bioroid saw at his feet the suffocating and writhing body of a man, gasping for air, his face contorted in pain. Feedback loops followed, lightning bolts running through the overclocked cortex, struggling to maintain homeostasis. The man was unarmed, he was ignored and straddled over; he soon stopped moving. 
They strolled in the abandoned facility, and soon reached another flight of metal stairs. In the night both eyes saw perfectly and scanned everything around, identifying shapes, measuring distances, jumping jerkily in their sockets.
 
 The body-patchwork, asexual and androgynous, felt on its surface the corridors' cold atmosphere with mathematical precision but was insensitive to it. A heady smell of freshly cut grass permeated the atmosphere. Invulnerable to the gas, olfactory receptors threw the information in the dendrites of the sensorium, the analysis of which was communicated to the cognitive apparatus. Somewhere inside, stimulated by the cascade of signals, a ghost expressed... a vague reminiscence. 
 
At the corner of a hallway, they heard the muffled sounds of voices, talking in an indecipherable language. At the other end: several silhouettes, which immediately aimed their weapons at the cyborg. One of them shouted something, in a stentorian voice. At this distance, it was difficult to identify which one was the transmitter, especially since their faces were protected from the combat gases. Rays of data exuded from their body. They were as if they were naked, unable to hide anything from the digitizing eye of the machine. 
 
After a few times, the same voice rang out, even louder. This time, however, it was in intermerilian.
 
"Stop moving, and raise your hands, immediately!"
 
 The bioroid's processor was running at full speed; the mass of new information was processed as quickly as possible to manage this unexpected peak in complexity. Finally, a decision was made, and the biomachine raised its hands.
 
And kept moving.
 
7 meters.
 
The two soldiers, who had imperceptibly relaxed when they saw the arms being raised, tensed again when they saw their vis-a-vis resume their march.
 
6 meters.
 
The order to stop was repeated and ignored. The soldiers could now see through the darkness and the visor of their masks that something was not normal.
 
5meters. 
 
One of the men spoke to the other in the code of his unknown language. The tone was harsh, the volume high, but betrayed no fear. Years of drill had allowed them to consistently rely on their hard-earned training in any situation, rather than giving way to panic. 
 
4 meters.
 
Fingers tightened on the triggers, while the bioroid lowered their arms. In a burst of phenomenal energy, they jumped towards the soldier on their right to close the distance as quickly as possible. The tile plate that had supported this release of energy suddenly broke, unable to withstand an impact as strong as a ramming car launched at full speed. In mid-flight, a burst hit their side, almost causing them to lose balance; translucid liquid coolant splashed as the armor-piercing bullets made their way through the armored chest. The detectors watching over the internal temperature went into overdrive; the biological processing unit, alerted, threw instructions into the nervous circuits intended for a redundant cooling system which proved to be inoperative. The bioroid were back on their feet in a fraction of a timeslice.
 
A second burst was avoided with a quick lateral leap. In a few loops of their cycle of instructions, they came into close quarters with the first man having shot, standing on all fours, arms and legs like the limbs of an aberrant humanoid spider. The second man, the one with the stentorian voice, now couldn't shoot without risking injuring his comrade, but the latter was reactive enough and pointed his weapon at the bioroid's face, at point-blank range. With a violent blow of his foot, they deflected the weapon; the bullets ended up in the ceiling, showering the two fighters with white dust. The man quickly freed himself and delivered a lightning blow with the butt of his rifle to the bioroid's forehead. Their wirings jittered as the gray matter was stunned for a short moment, and a veil of artifacts covered the cyborg's vision. 
 
The man tried to move aside to give his partner a window of opportunity, but the bioroid caught up with him in a flash. They dealt him a brutal blow to his temple with the edge of his hand, sending him collapsing to the floor. That was all that was needed for the second soldier, who fired a new burst of armor-piercing bullets.
 
The bioroid's brain went dark - its skull and neck torn apart by the projectiles.

Sarlum Sighs Before sipping her coffee. "It is proof That the Republic is less.... Favored. But perhaps if The Imperial Family was to be guaranteed A spot in the Kirstan it may calm them. Recently I received Several petitions For Sol To become Emperor. For thousands of years The Naragian Royal Family has ruled Competently, Honorably, And Most of all With dedication to the people."

Theodora steps up. "I Think what they want is stability. The First Republic was so unstable They fear it will repeat itself. I think we should rewrite the Constitution Instead of The Mess it is Right now We write it For a stable Nations. For the benefit For the people Not just the Nation."

Sol Stands up laying a Document on the Table, "This is Something I And Theodora Wrote. The Kristan has already approved it."

(We the People of the United States of Naragia, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of Naragia.

Article I
Section 1
All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Senate of the United States of Naragia, which shall consist of a Senate.

Section 2

When vacancies happen in the Representation from any State, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies.

The Senate shall choose their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.

Section 3
The Senate of the United States of Naragia shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof, for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote.

Immediately after they shall be assembled in Consequence of the first Election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into three Classes. The Seats of the Senators of the first Class shall be vacated at the Expiration of the second Year, of the second Class at the Expiration of the fourth Year, and of the third Class at the Expiration of the sixth Year, so that one third may be chosen every second Year; and if Vacancies happen by Resignation, or otherwise, during the Recess of the Legislature of any State, the Executive thereof may make temporary Appointments until the next Meeting of the Legislature, which shall then fill such Vacancies.

No Person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of Sixteen Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United States of Naragia, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen.

The Consul of Interior of the United States of Naragia shall be the Head of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided.

The Senate shall choose their other Officers, and also a Consul pro tempore, in the Absence of the Consul, or when he shall exercise the Office of Consul of the United States of Naragia.

The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the Consul of the United States of Naragia is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present.

Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States: but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law.

Section 4
The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Senate may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of choosing Senators.

The Senate shall assemble at least once in every Year, and such Meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall by Law appoint a different Day.

Section 5
Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members, and a Majority of each shall constitute a Quorum to do Business; but a smaller Number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the Attendance of absent Members, in such Manner, and under such Penalties as each House may provide.

Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly Behavior, and, with the Concurrence of two thirds, expel a Member.

Each House shall keep a Journal of its Proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting such Parts as may in their Judgment require Secrecy; and the Yeas and Nays of the Members of either House on any question shall, at the Desire of one fifth of those Present, be entered on the Journal.

During the Session of Senate, shall, without the Consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other Place than that in which the Senators shall be sitting.

Section 6
The Senators and Representatives shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States of Naragia. They shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place.

No Senator or Representative shall, during the Time for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil Office under the Authority of the United States of Naragia, which shall have been created, or the Emoluments whereof shall have been encreased during such time; and no Person holding any Office under the United States of Naragia, shall be a Member of either House during his Continuance in Office.

Section 7
All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the Senate. The Consul may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills.

Every Bill which shall have passed the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the Consul of the United States of Naragia; If he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such Reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections, to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become a Law. But in all such Cases the Votes of The Senate shall be determined by yeas and Nays, and the Names of the Persons voting for and against the Bill shall be entered on the Journal of each House respectively. If any Bill shall not be returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the Same shall be a Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Senate by their Adjournment prevent its Return, in which Case it shall not be a Law.

Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrence of the Senate may be necessary (except on a question of Adjournment) shall be presented to the Consul of the United States of Naragia; and before the Same shall take Effect, shall be approved by him, or being disapproved by him, shall be repassed by two thirds of the Senate, according to the Rules and Limitations prescribed in the Case of a Bill.

Section 8
The Senate shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defense and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States of Naragia;

To borrow Money on the credit of the United States of Naragia;

To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States;

To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;

To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;

To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States of Naragia;

To establish Post Offices and post Roads;

To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;

To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;

To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations;

To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;

To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;

To provide and maintain a Navy;

To provide and maintain a Air Force;

To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;

To provide for calling forth the National Guard to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;

To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Military, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Army according to the discipline prescribed by Senate;

To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of Government of the United States of Naragia, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings;–And

To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.

Section 9
The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Senate prior to the Year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a Tax or duty may be imposed on such Importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each Person.

No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.

No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion to the Census or enumeration herein before directed to be taken.

No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any State.

No Preference shall be given by any Regulation of Commerce or Revenue to the Ports of one State over those of another: nor shall Vessels bound to, or from, one State, be obliged to enter, clear, or pay Duties in another.

No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from time to time.

No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States of Naragia: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.

Section 10
No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; pass any Bill of Attainder, ex post facto Law, or Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts, or grant any Title of Nobility.

No State shall, without the Consent of the Senate, lay any Imposts or Duties on Imports or Exports, except what may be absolutely necessary for executing it's inspection Laws: and the net Produce of all Duties and Imposts, laid by any State on Imports or Exports, shall be for the Use of the Treasury of the United States of Naragia; and all such Laws shall be subject to the Revision and Control of the Senate.

No State shall, without the Consent of Senate, lay any Duty of Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of War in time of Peace, enter into any Agreement or Compact with another State, or with a foreign Power, or engage in War, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger as will not admit of delay.

Article II
Section 1
The executive Power shall be vested in a Consul of the United States of Naragia. He shall hold his Office during the Term of four Years.

In Case of the Removal of the Consul from Office, or of his Death, Resignation, or Inability to discharge the Powers and Duties of the said Office, the Same shall devolve on Second Consul , and the Congress may by law provide for the Case of Removal, Death, Resignation or Inability, both of the Consul, declaring what Officer shall then act as Consul, and such Officer shall act accordingly, until the Disability be removed, or a Consul shall be elected.

The Consul shall, at stated Times, receive for his Services, a Compensation, which shall neither be encreased nor diminished during the Period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive within that Period any other Emolument from the United States, or any of them.

Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:– I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of Naragia.

Section 2
The Consul of Exterior shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy And Airforce of the United States of Naragia, and of the National Guard of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States of Naragia; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.

He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States of Naragia, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Senate may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.

The Consul shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session.

Section 3
He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States of Naragia.

Section 4
The Consul of Interior, Consul of Exterior and all civil Officers of the United States of Naragia, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.

Article III
Section 1
The judicial Power of the United States of Naragia, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Senate may from time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services, a Compensation, which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office.

Section 2
The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United States of Naragia, and Treaties made, or which shall be made, under their Authority;—to all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls;—to all Cases of admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction;—to Controversies to which the United States of Naragia shall be a Party;—to Controversies between two or more States;—between a State and Citizens of another State,—between Citizens of different States,—between Citizens of the same State claiming Lands under Grants of different States, and between a State, or the Citizens thereof, and foreign States, Citizens or Subjects.allot one of them for President; and if no Person have a Majority, then from the five highest on the List the said House shall in like Manner chuse the President. But in chusing the President, the Votes shall be taken by States, the Representation from each State having one Vote; A quorum for this Purpose shall consist of a Member or Members from two thirds of the States, and a Majority of all the States shall be necessary to a Choice. In every Case, after the Choice of the President, the Person having the greatest Number of Votes of the the people shall be the Vice President. But if there should remain two or more who have equal Votes, the Senate shall chose from them by Ballot the Vice President.

In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, and those in which a State shall be Party, the supreme Court shall have original Jurisdiction. In all the other Cases before mentioned, the supreme Court shall have appellate Jurisdiction, both as to Law and Fact, with such Exceptions, and under such Regulations as the Congress shall make.

The Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment, shall be by Jury; and such Trial shall be held in the State where the said Crimes shall have been committed; but when not committed within any State, the Trial shall be at such Place or Places as the Congress may by Law have directed.

Section 3
Treason against the United States Of Naragia, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.

The Senate shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.

Article IV
Section 1
Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State. And the Senate may by general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, Records and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect thereof.

Section 2
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.

A Person charged in any State with Treason, Felony, or other Crime, who shall flee from Justice, and be found in another State, shall on Demand of the executive Authority of the State from which he fled, be delivered up, to be removed to the State having Jurisdiction of the Crime.

No Person held to Service or Labour in one State, under the Laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in Consequence of any Law or Regulation therein, be discharged from such Service or Labour, but shall be delivered up on Claim of the Party to whom such Service or Labour may be due.

Section 3
New States may be admitted by the Senate into this Union; but no new State shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or more States, or Parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Senate.

The Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property belonging to the United States; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed as to Prejudice any Claims of the United States, or of any particular State.

Section 4
The United States of Naragia shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.

Article V
The Senate, whenever two thirds of The Senate shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of All States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Senate; Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article; and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.

Article VI
All Debts contracted and Engagements entered into, before the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the United States of Naragia under this Constitution, as under the The Federal Goverment.

This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States of Naragia which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States of Naragia, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.

The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States of Naragia and of the several Individual States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States Of Naragia.

Article VII
The Ratification of the Conventions of All Ten States, shall be sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the Same.

First Amendment
Senate shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Second Amendment
A well regulated National Guard, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Third Amendment
The Consul And Senators Shall Serve only Two terms in office Before having to retire from the Senate.

Fourth Amendment
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Fifth Amendment
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or Air Force, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Sixth Amendment
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

Seventh Amendment
In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed Fifty Celestials , the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States Of Naragia, than according to the rules of the common law.

Eighth Amendment
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Ninth Amendment
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Tenth Amendment
The powers not delegated to the United States of Naragia by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.)

Astril Nods. "Let us approve this."

The Constitution was presented to the people who Ratified The Constitution With two thirds majority of the population.

Foothills of [REDACTED] Mountain, Waupun.
August 2nd, 2024.

The early afternoon sun blazed down upon my small body, its strain on my light-bronze complexion evident by the numerous freckles on my arms, nose, and cheeks. As I sat on top of the remote turret of the olive green VGO MKIII armored scout vehicle in which I commanded, my black, cat-like tail began to swish back and forth idly, as a popular tune from my days as a university student came to mind.

“Hmm, hmm, hm-hm, hmmm~”

I hummed idly to no one in particular, as my legs dangled off the side of the turret, swinging back and forth idly to match the tempo of the song I was humming. I felt the sun’s warmth upon my mostly-exposed legs, as the only thing covering them were two worn black knee pads, and my uniform shorts, dressed in the signature Waupunese woodland green fractal geometric camouflage pattern, which only extended down to my mid-thigh. While I personally don’t like the unwanted gazes it brings from my male counterparts here in the Army, they seemed to have grown sparser with time, and are most definitely worth not roasting to death inside of pants during the deathly-hot days we can get during the summer. Some may call it “unprofessional”, but me? I call it practical. A soft breeze suddenly tickled my black, cat-like ears that adorned the top of my head, as my short, black hair which extended down just down to my chin, seemingly began to dance around itself, as if it were a ballerina attached to a flagpole. A pair of silver-framed aviator sunglasses wrapped around my dark brown eyes, as I gazed out into the wild expanse of the forest before us, taking in all of the sights, sounds, smells—Everything that made this place a complete different realm compared to the monotony and madness that is human civilization. I took in a deep breath, feeling the fresh mountain air fill my lungs—Something you don’t get to experience in any of the big cities that dot the archipelago, nor while being stuck inside one of the many office rooms of the stuffy barracks buildings on base. Above me, I heard the familiar call of the Waupunese Snow Bird, as I saw an example of it flying above, but something struck me as odd.

“Hmm…” I squinted my eyes as if to get a better view of the medium-sized bird, its bright white coat built for the snowy extreme winters of the Dominion.

“…Don’t thems usually shed their white down for a lighter brown coat in the spring and summer?”

“…I’s wonder why it gots all dat white left in it…”

My peaceful and ponderous monologue was suddenly interrupted by the voice of one of my squad members.

“Ay, Kapitän! Whut t’ing troubles ya?”

I look over to my left, and see a male soldier with a darker complexion than most Waupunese, much like mine, indicating that he, too, is from the mountains.

“…Nut’in much, jus’ lookin a’ dat snow bird. Ain’t dey ‘ppose ta be brown dis time a year?”

“Aye…” the tall and slender Katsu man looked up into the sky, seemingly as if to study the bird that was circling above.

“…Ya know, Kap,”

“…dere’s dis legend of w’ere da Goddess Luna, da ‘Guardian o’ da Forest’, will follow folks around as dey go t’rou’ da forests out of curiosity.”

“…Dere’s funny drawing online about it—Folks makin’ her out to be like a curious puppy following dem around in da woods,” the man chuckled.

“Soo…” my voice gave off my innate confusion.

“…whut dat ha’ to do wit’ da white bird?”

“…Com’on Kap, yer one o’ us ‘Eers! Yer tellin me yous nevah ‘eard o’ Luna?” His voice and face had surprise written all over it.

“…” my silence to his question seemingly prompted him to continue.

“Maaaaaaan… bless yer heart, Kap…” he sucked his teeth as if to scoff at my ignorance.

“Ay, Soldier, I’s watch what I’s yap about over yonder…” I warned with a somewhat sharp and serious tone. Truthfully, I took none of what the man said to heart, but discipline must be maintained while on duty.

“…Aye, apologies, Kap,” the man quickly straightened his tone and posture, before continuing.

“…A-Anyways, Luna takes different forms ta watch ovah fellas from a distance. Dey could be anyt’in’ from wolves, ta cats, squirrels, and even birds.”

“Whut dey all gots in common is dat dey are all solid white like da snow, wit’ bright golden eyes. Dats how ya can tell if she’s followin’ ya!”

My gaze shifted from the man, to the bird, then back to the man. As if by some comedic cue, a white splotch of liquid suddenly dropped from the sky, landing on the man’s kevlar helmet with a small *dink* sound. The man noticed this, as a look of confusion overtook his face. I immediately realized what had occurred, and began laughing hysterically.

“BUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! AY, E’RYONE LOOK! SERGEANT BIRDBRAIN ‘ERE JUS’ GOT SHAT ON BY DA FOREST GODDESS!”

My legs and tail swung back and forth wildly as the joy spread all throughout my body, with a smug smile overtaking my face, tears filling my eyes, and my stomach becoming sore as I continued to laugh.

“Oh you’ve gotta be kiddin’ me…” The man frantically took off his helmet, examining what had hit it, before realizing I was, in fact, not joking. Two out of the three other members in my squad, who were just lounging by some nearby trees, came by to check out what the ruckus was about, before also joining in my laughter, calling him names like “Sergeant Birdsh*t”, “Sergeant Birdboy”, and “Sergeant Birdbrain”, as he frantically searched for something to wash off his helmet with.

“Oh, me stomach…” my laughter slowly dissipated, as my mid-section became sore, and I wiped the tears from my eyes.

“Ahahahahoooooo mannn…”

“Dis sh*t be crazy, man!”

“…By the Gods, dat comedic timin’ was amazin’,” I took in a deep breath and sighed, attempting to calm my mind from the laughter. My gaze then drifted over to the only other person in our squad that wasn’t with us. Actually, “person” probably isn’t the best way to describe them, it……she? Regardless, the last member of our squad was a Vortex-Angel Technologies (VAT) manufactured SAKA Model Beta. Her black and grey metallic appearance makes her most definitely not among that land of the living, even as much as her almost life-like synthetic face tries to show otherwise. She has a tall, and “muscular” build, standing at roughly 180cm in height, rivaling the majority of men in overall body size. Heavy grey plate armor surrounds her metallic body, as she held a large 12.7mm anti-material rifle of foreign design, yet domestic make. She stood next to a large tree, inspecting her large rifle seemingly for any defects. The short black hair on her head mirrored my own in length and style, minus the Woltsu-like ears and tail she also adorned. Her eyes were a bright cyan colour, reminiscent of the moonlight illuminating and reflecting off of the surface of the vast and endless ocean. Her face suddenly turned upwards a bit towards me, and our gazes locked. Her eyes studied me as if I was some sort of foreign creature, making a mental note of everything about me…but I suppose that I am doing the same to her, going on this long monologue about her appearance, and all. A sudden crackle from my radio interrupted our mutual studying of each other, as a voice male came through.

“Nomad, this is Overwatch, what’s your status, over.”

I picked up the radio attached to my belt line, and clicked the talk button, before speaking into it.

“Overwatch, dis Nomad. We’s hard at work keepin’ a lookout ovah da forest ‘ere. Whatcha need?”

“Do you have live ammunition?”

My face scowled in concern, as I held up my empty hand to tell everyone else to shut up, as they then did, listening intently at the radio.

“…Yes? What seems ta matter?” A bit of hesitation and confusion was evident in my response.

“…There is an abandoned lumber mill about two clicks north from your location that has been marked as ‘highly suspicious’ by the Gendarmarie, and Provinzmarschälle. They have sent out a request for some reconnaissance ASAP, as the nature of this situation could be extremely dangerous if not solved soon. Expect armed resistance if spotted, over.”

“…Copy dat, any mo’e info on what we’s lookin’ fo’?”

“The only information we have is that the inhabitants are likely heavily armed and dangerous given the nature of their situation.”

“…Riiiiiight… da mo’e vague da info be, da better, I s’pose. We’ll radio in once we’s get dere, ovah.”

“Roger.”

I then turned to the rest of my squad, before yelling out my commands.

“Aiight team, ya heard da man! Suit up, pack up, and let’s roll!” I grabbed my black and grey DMR that was laying down next to me, before hopping off of the VGO armored scout car, and making my rounds around the campsite, making sure no trash was left behind. Once satisfied with my findings, I joined my squad in the VGO in the back, sitting in the middle portion of the bench seat as I was the smallest in stature of my squadron. Due to the lack of many creature comforts within the interior of this 4x4 vehicle (such as sound-deadening materials), the 6.0L V8 turbodiesel engine can get pretty loud in the cabin, so we all put on our headsets to communicate with one-another. After a quick microphone-check, the driver, a human male with light brown hair, expertly controlled the four-speed manual transmission with a separate lever for the high and low gearing, as we set off towards the destination, forging our own path through the endless expanse of the wilderness, with no civilization in sight. As we made our way closer and closer to the destination, an ominous feeling slowly overtook the entire squadron and I, as we all fell silent, joining the already silent SAKA android. Parking at the base of a hill, we dismounted, and slowly walked up the somewhat steep and slippery hill up to the crest, where we all laid down and observed the abandoned sawmill. I then grabbed my radio and spoke into it.

“Overwatch, dis Nomad, we’s at da location, ovah.”

The radio crackled to life, as the same male voice emanated from it.

“Roger. What do you see?”

Extending out the bipod at the end of my DMR, I took off my sunglasses, and scanned the area using the maximum 6x zoom on the telescopic scope, before relaying what I could see through it.

“It’s definitely an old sawmill, but it ain’t completely abandoned. Dere’s tons o’ fresh tyre tracks, and other signs of life here…”

“…Ayuh, jus’ spotted a patrol of three tangos armed wit’ rifles. Whatevah dis is, dese folk don’ wan’ no one ta mess wit’ it.”

“10-4, continue to document what you see, be careful not to alert anyone tha—.”

The distant rumble of a large diesel motor emanating from the muddy vehicle trail leading up to the sawmill complex was heard, taking my focus completely away from the radio. Unbeknownst to us, the SAKA android silently made her way away from the formation, and wandered off into the woods below.

“…radio in when you—”

“—Nomad, priority,” I interrupted the speech from the other end of the radio, a serious tone overtaking my voice, as a similar expression overtook my face.

“Nomad, proceed.”

“We’s pickin’ up sounds from a large diesel engine comin’ down da trail towards da complex. Any words on if dat be da feds? Ovah.”

“…Those are not our correspondents from the government, as they are still at least thirty minutes away. Stay out of sight at all costs, and continue to monitor.”

*BANG* *BANG* *BANG*

Without warning, three loud shots rang out from within the woods behind us, startling all of us present. I looked around to see where the threat was, and noticed the SAKA android being not among us. Putting the pieces together, I quickly realized that the android had wandered off, and shot at the approaching vehicle, as I no longer heard its loud engine. I then frantically spoke into the radio, as incoherent yelling came from the complex below.

“…Sh*t! Too late fo’ dat, we’s been spotted! Ya damn robot disappeared and shot at whatevah vic wuz approaching us. We’re engaging the enemy, ovah.”

“Copy that.”

I put my radio back onto my beltline, before barking out orders to my squad members.

“Aiight everyone, pick ya targets, and we’ll engage from here. Dat damn robot went off and blew up whatevah was approachin’ us from da trail, so be mindful o’ dat.”

“Roger!”
“Yes, Kap!”
“Roger dat!”

We all aimed our rifles at our targets, before simultaneously opening fire, eliminating one after another, as they scrambled for cover. They eventually found our position, as bullets began whizzing overhead, our distance seemingly towards the end of the range for their particular weapons. I adjusted the magnifier on my telescopic scope down to 4x, giving me a wider visibility on my marksman rifle, as one of my squad mates, Rixian, gave us covering fire from her WI-2005 LMG, letting 7.62x51mm rain down upon our enemies at 750rpm. Quickly adjusting the fixed-position modular stock’s chinrest to fit my needs by extending it upwards a couple of notches, I looked through my scope, picking off enemies as they rushed outside, while simultaneously seeing possible entry points into the facility. A familiar loud bang of the 12.7mm anti-material rifle being used to quite literally tear the enemy combatants in half was heard, as I saw the SAKA model Beta approaching the complex from the road. I then pressed a button on the earpiece I was wearing in my left human ear, and spoke into it.

“Let’s push up. Use the trees as cover while we slowly advance down the hill. Stop at the first building—The one with the brick chimney on top,” I slung the rifle strap overtop of me once more, as I stood up behind a tree, collapsing the bipod, and using the vertical grip located just before it.

“10-4.”
“Copy.”
“Roger!”
“Ayuh!”

Bouncing from tree-to-tree, the squad and I slowly moved our way down the hill, eventually regrouping at the designated meeting point behind the first building.

“Stack up, we’re gonna clear this first building. SAKA, you kick in the door, then we move in, got it?”

Everyone nodded in approval, as I secured the rifle strap around myself, and pulled out my UCP 5.7 pistol with a compensator, and a laser sight, as the SAKA approached from behind, before kicking the very worn door open, sending it flying off its hinges, and into a man leaning against a stack of wood. Quickly finishing him off with my 5.7x28mm pistol, we entered the small, one-room building, clearing it with ease. Looking around, we found that the building was used for storage of various supplies, including a suspicious amount of ropes, chains, and cleaning chemicals.

“Aiight, SAKA, kick open that door, and we’ll throw smokes out there. Then, we run for the stacks of wood in between us and the main building. We then slowly make our way to the entrance on the second floor up the ladder.”

The SAKA did what she was told to do without even a shred of hesitation, as we then threw out three smoke grenades into the open field, letting them expand, and cover our advances forwards to stacks of logs. Once we had successfully reached our new cover, we waited for the smoke to dissipate, before taking out a few more combatants, clearing a path to the rusty, yet somewhat sturdy ladder that led up to the second floor. I holstered my pistol, before climbing up the ladder, minding my step as I went up. As I got up to the top, I peaked over the ledge, and saw no threat, so I climbed the rest of the way up, then unholstered my pistol, reloading as my squad mates also climbed up.

“SAKA, you know what to do.”

Without hesitation again, the robot kicked down the door, pushing in with a pistol of the same make and model as mine. We followed her in, before clearing the first room.

“Rixian, Birdbrain, Ash, you t’ree go left. I’ll take da clanker wit’ me, and we’s push right. We’s meet back up down yonder at da main entrance on da ot’er side o’ da buildin’, got it?”

“Copy.”
“Roger.”
“10-4.”
“Ayuh!”

We split up, clearing room after room in the maze of old and worn hallways, minding our steps as holes were apparent through the rotten floorboards. After a few rooms of empty disuse, we had finally gotten a clue as to what this place was used for, when I opened a door, and cleared a small room, only to find a metal chair with a corpse strapped to it with chains. The man was soaking wet, and an extension cord lay near his feet. I quickly checked for a pulse, but found none, as expected.

“…Cold. Fella’s been ‘ere fo’ a while…”

I looked around the room some more, finding his shirt to be a sort of brownish maroon colour from dried blood, as well as different rusty tools lying on a table against the wall, as well as some documents.

“…Was dis a damn torture room?”

“…F*ck me…”

“…May da Gods ‘ave mercy on his soul…”

I slowly backed out of the room, returning to the hallway. The next couple of rooms were the same, with a middle-aged man in one, and a woman of similar age in the other, wearing a hospital gown.

“…Why she wearin’ a gown?”

“…Did dey steal ‘er from da hospital?”

I noticed a particularly pungent scent coming from the woman, as well as a large puddle of blood underneath her legs, stemming from her waist.

“…Dat’s…”

“…F*ck…”

“…”

“…I…”

My eyes suddenly widened, as I ran my hand over her stomach, her greasy, long black hair just grazed the end of my fingers.

“…It’s not there…”

“…Dere’s a chance it could be…”

“…sh*t…”

“…where is it?!” I frantically began to look around the room, searching every crevasse, hoping with all my heart to find what I was looking for.

“Kader Kapitän*.—GAH!”

The sudden appearance of a robotic female voice through my earpiece startled me, before I pushed down on the button to respond.

“Y-Yes, SAKA?”

“I have found a surrendering combatant. Requesting assistance from an organic superior, in order to adequately handle this situation as per protocol.”

“Where are ya?!”

“Two doors down from your location, on the left. Approximately thirteen meters away. The door is open.”

“Got it, headin’ dere now.”

I quickly made my way out of the room, and down the hallway, before entering the room, to see the towering robot training her pistol at a small bundle of dirty towels resting on a table. It was then that a faint crying noise began to emanate from within the towels. My eyes widened, as I quickly shoved my pistol into my holster.

“SAKA, stand down immediately! Guard the entrance!”

I rushed over to the table, where my eyes met the gaze of a small human infant, wrapped up messily within a few towels that looked like they hadn’t been cleaned in years. The baby began to make a faint crying sound as I approached, its voice cracking and extremely hoarse. I quickly rid myself of my rifle and vest, setting them off to the side, before swiftly unbuttoning the long sleeve uniform shirt I wore with the sleeves rolled up. I then took it off, leaving a dull green muscle shirt the only thing covering my top, before expertly wrapping the camouflage shirt around the baby, setting it back down in the pile of towels. Putting back on my plate carrier vest, and slinging the rifle over my back once more, I picked up the infant, holding it close to my chest as I had learned to do many years ago with my little sister when she was a baby. In spite of the baby being a human, my Katsu instincts immediately kicked in, and I began to purr softly, holding the baby close to my chest, as I gently rocked my upper body back and forth. Slowly the baby stopped crying, and eventually fell silent, looking up at me with eyes mimicking the colour of the midnight sky. I gave it a gentle smile, holding back my tears of relief upon finding the child alive, and seemingly unharmed from everything that had happened here. With my muscular arms fully exposed, I situated the baby in one arm, holding it securely, as I then took a pair of earplugs out from one of the pockets in my vest, squeezing them, until they were able to be small enough in order to somewhat fit within the child’s ears, noticing the paleness of the baby’s skin.

“…Sorry hun…it ain’t perfect, but it’s bettah dan nut’in’…”

As my purring subsided, I held down the button on my earpiece, before speaking into it.

“Overwatch, dis is Nomad, come in.”

“Nomad, this is Overwatch, we read you.”

“We need a medic airlift ASAP. We’s got a newborn ‘ere dat is dehydrated, and without a mother.”

“…A newborn?”

“Yes! A damn baby! We’ve cleared out most of the facility, and it’ll all be taken care of by da time y’all get here anyways.”

“…Copy that, Medivac requested. ETA is thirty minutes.”

“How long ‘til da feds get here?”

“ETA on that is approximately five minutes.”

“10-4.”

“…Ya hear dat e’eryone? Clear your sections as fast as possible, and push to the meeting point. We’s got precious cargo ta protect!”

“Will do.”
“Roger.”
“Copy.”

I unholdered my pistol once more, turning to face the large feminine android.

“SAKA, you lead. You’ll clear rooms as we push to the meeting point.”

“Affirmative,” the robotic female voice replied, quickly turning away from me, before training her pistol down the hallway, and moving out. I followed her out, standing vigilantly in the hallway as she expertly cleared the rooms. Finding no more enemy combatants, we rendezvoused safely with the others, who immediately took note of my new attire.

“Sheeeeeeeeesh! Sun’s out, guns’ out, eh Kap?” Rixian teased, poked my visibly toned upper arms, with a decent amount of muscle showing.

“…I knew she was a damn body-builder…” Birdbrain replied, a look of surprise clinging to his eyes.

“Oh shut ya trap, I ain’t dat toned!” A slight blush due to embarrassment clung to my cheeks. Our fun time was suddenly interrupted by the baby beginning to cry again, which I quickly holstered my pistol, and began to gently rock my upper body back and forth once more, purring softly until the infant once again fell silent.

“…And she’s a mom too? Damn…” Birdbrain remarked, to which I shot him a deathly glare, making him shut up.

“…Let’s get out there ‘n’ greet the feds, dey should be ‘ere by now.”

We opened the door slowly, and stepped outside, only to be met face-to-face by the government agents pointing their weapons at us for a moment, until they realized who we were.

“Com’on fellas, we’s already been had enough guns pointed at us tuhday!” I spoke loudly, alluring a response from a female detective of whom I recognized.

“…Sorry about that, Trail, can never be too cautious, ya know?”

I gave her a warm smile as I walked closer to her.

“Ayuh, I’s know dat dearly!”

“Heh, you never changed one bit!” She gave me a knowing and proud smile, taking off her black-framed aviator sunglasses, allowing me to see the pale blue eyes which adorned her pale face, matched with her long, rose-gold hair. Her gaze then turned curious, as she noticed my combat shirt wrapped around the baby.

“So is this the little one we’ve heard about?”

“Mmhmm. We’s currently waitin’ on a whirlybird ta take us to da hospital ta get her—or him—checked out. She looks ta be a bit dehydrated, an’ we’s bettah be safe dan sorry, ya know?” I offered up the baby for her to hold, to which she took it.

“Yeah… I’m assuming the mom is…?”

“—Cold,” my expression turned stern, as did my voice.

“…I-It’s a damn labyrinth o’ torture rooms in there…”

“…some of them occupied wit’ dose we were too late to save…”

My expression turned somber, as did hers.

“…Hey, don’t beat yourself up about it, okay, Trail? You did the best you could. You saved a life today, you should be proud of that…”

“…Yeah, sorry Maxi…” I offered up a smile filled with conflicting emotions, which was soon interrupted by the baby beginning to cry once more.

“Give it ‘ere,” I extended out my arms, safely clutching the baby once more, as I offered it a warm smile, gazing into its eyes. This seemed to calm it down, as it once again fell silent.

“Seems like it likes ya…” Maxi chuckled.

“Heh, I guess so…”

My gaze turned to the sky, its pale blue hues mixed with the white clouds that dotted its lower layers, gave it a peaceful feeling, one that I very much enjoyed—Especially after what we just went through. Even with the scent of gunpowder staining the air as I took in a deep breath, the warmth of the sun seemingly translated to my demeanor, as the warm smile I put on just for the sake of the infant in which I now carried in my arms, stayed put, and even expanded a little.

“…You good, man? Yer kinda spacing out here…” Maxi asked.

“…Oh, yeah… Sorry, jus’ takin’ in da scenery ‘round us…” my voice was slightly distant, as my focus was not entirely broken off of the stunning landscape around us. Nature, almost completely untouched by man, is the most beautiful thing this world has to offer—Not love, nor people, nor even simple companionship can even top the pure beauty of nature as it is. I’ve always been weird like that, I guess…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nine years earlier:

A smaller, thirteen year old Trail was reading a book peacefully in her room, the open window letting in the scent of the outdoors, to which she thoroughly enjoyed. This peace was suddenly interrupted by the shrieking voice of her older sister from downstairs.

“TRAIIIIIIIIIIIL!!!! DERE’S A SNAKE IN DA DAMN HOUSE!!!!!!”

“COME GET IT, PLEASE, FOR THE LOVE OF—EEP IT JUST MOVED!!!!”

Trail sighed, closing her book in disappointment. Her skin shares the same complexion as her older self, however her hair was very short, and shaved on the sides, leading to a very boyish look, as she made her way downstairs in an oversized dark green tank-top, and short-shorts.

“COMING!” She yelled, as she quickly made her down the stairs. Once downstairs, she finds her older sister, who looked to be in her late teens herself, with her black, cat-like tail all puffed up in defense-mode. She then looked down to the dark wooden floor of the kitchen, only to find a hatchling Waupunese Snubnose snake, with a beautiful normal-type colouration, consisting of a light brown base, with dark brown and black spots all along its back and head. It was in a defense mode as well, flattening out its head to look more triangular in order to mimic a viper in appearance, as well as shaking its tail as if it contained a rattle like a venomous rattlesnake would.

“…Dis is what yer afraid of?”

“…Bless your heart, Sis…”

She slowly approached the tiny snake, before crouching down just in front of it to get a better look at it, causing it to begin to hiss at her.

“Oh he’s not happy, hehe. What’d ya do to it, Sis?”

“Th-That’s not important, just get it ouuuuuuut!!!” Her voice was laced with panic.

“…How’d ya survive out ‘ere dis long if dis is what ya t’ink o’ snakes?” Trail sighed.

She then reached out, and tried to scoop it up with her hand, only to be struck by the coiled Snubnose, as it watched her hand’s every movement.

“Ohhh, yer a spicy lil’ fella, aren’t ya? Hehehe…” A smug expression formed on the black cat’s face, as she went to pick it up again, this time succeeding, as the infant snake struck at her once more, leaving a small bite mark in the side of her thumb.

“AHHHHHHHH!!!!” Her big sister screamed, leaving Trail’s black, cat-like ears to fold flat against her head in discomfort.

“…Holy sh*t, woman. It ain’t dat big of a deal!” Her voice was heavily stained with annoyance and frustration.

“You screaming like dat ain’t gonna change jack sh*t.”

“…I’m telling mom you swore!!” Her big sister commanded angrily.

“…Aiight, den I’s jus’ gonna go ahead an’ leave dis cute lil’ buddy in yer bed after ya go ta sleep. How ‘bout dat?” She calmly held up the very angry hatchling snake towards her big sister, who suddenly ran away up the stairs when it struck at Trail’s other hand that she kept near it.

“…Dat’s what I thought…” A proud smirk ran across the girl’s face, as she then looked down at the snake once more.

“…Okay lil’ guy, time ta go back outside where ya belong!” She walked over to a sliding glass patio door, before putting on some very dirty sandals sitting next to it. She then opened the door, and stepped outside, making her way down a set of wooden stairs, and over to the vast woods that surrounded their house for kilometers in all directions. Trail squatted down, and set the snake in a bundle of leaves on the ground, before slowly walking away, watching as the snake still maintained its defensive posture.

“I’d love ta play wit’cha some moah, but I’s don’t wanna stress ya out no moah, mkay?” She smiled warmly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Present Day:

“…Yo, Trail…” Maxi’s voice pierced through my thoughts, asy gaze was focused completely elsewhere.

“…The helicopter is here…”

“…Hm? Oh, right, yeah. Sorry,” my focus was now set on the helicopter currently approaching the field in front of us.

“…I’ll see you around, yeah?” My voice was distant and a bit somber.

“…Of course. I’ll buy you a drink when this is all over, yeah?” Maxi offered up a smile.

“…Hehe, yeah, thanks…” I gave her a warm smile, walking towards the landing helicopter.