Operations that began during the night were something that he appreciated. During the day, he'd rather keep to himself and stay hidden from the world until night fell. The shade that fell over the lands was peaceful, and it kept him sane as he recalled the many nights he spent as a child looking up towards the stars. He was once destined to reach such faraway lights, yet his dreams disappeared as he traded a lab coat for a battle dress uniform, a pencil for a rifle, and a cooled building for the bitter cold nights.
Jacob Green, Private First Class, 75th Ranger Regiment. He remembered his name over-and-over. That alone kept him going for the three weeks he and the other members of his squadron had been on this planet. As a technical and computer savvy person he had always had an unending hunger for information. Due to his nature the majority of people he met left him alone, even his family. He wasn't one for physical interaction with other people, yet it was human nature that required him to speak to someone even if they would be alienated.
Rustling in his seat, all Green could remember was the final phone call he had with his grandfather. The old man was a quiet person much like himself. He was the only person that could truly understand him, and yet their last call wasn't even a hello or goodbye.
Beside him was Sergeant Randall, Mike Randall. The NCO had looked over him since he entered the 75th Ranger Regiment, and in turn an almost father-son bond was formed unintentionally. Though he was no more than six years younger than the sergeant, his experiences during their time together; long talks during patrols, stories shared over crappy MREs, and exciting challenges during live-fire exercises were all memories he held fondly.
Unlike before however, Sergeant Randall seemed unnerved for some unknown reason. Compared to the others, only he and Lieutenant Patterson had gotten used to the new environment, and in addition they had received positive reception from the people at the castle, yet it was almost as if a wall of distrust was being built around him. It was almost as if he was forcing himself to adapt to this new world.
Mike had always told him that soldiers were not made to fight wars, but they were created to protect something or someone.
Perhaps his struggle was that everything he once protected was now gone. Forever more he would search for something, yet he would never find it. He had no home, no family, no country. Just himself and his brothers beside him.
"Alright everyone, listen up!" At the front of the room, Captain Thompson, wearing full kit stepped in front with Princess Leccamaradel, and Captain Orwell behind him. The room fell silent as Thompson brought out a map, and a blue marker from his pack.
"I welcome all of you to the kingdom's campaign against the Demon Lord and his army." Thompson said as he placed the cap on his marker and stepped aside to let the light shine on the map, "We "Holy Knights" members of the 75th Ranger Regiment are going on a special reconnaissance mission behind enemy lines. Our area of operations is the frontier, and we will be accompanied by the three knights encountered at Bishmark, with Princess-Cheiftian Araish leading us."
"Gentlemen." Lecca said as she stepped forward. Compared to the earthly colors she had been wearing recently, she was adorned in a loose white skirt with sturdy and tall brown combat boots, with her torso being covered by a puffy white shirt and a well-made leather vest. Her silver hair was tied up in a bun. "I once again thank you for choosing to help us in these uncertain times."
This comment gained an amused snarl from Sergeant Malkovich and Corporal Richard which she ignored.
"Our intelligence gathered from local recon pickets throughout the frontier has been sketchy at best, so King Aldrecht as tasked all of us to perform a recon mission on the Demon Lord's armies. This will take up to a month as our secondary objective is to help local settlements with any major problems they may have."
"As much as I would like to accompany you all to the frontier, I have duties to attend to here at the capital." Captain Orwell said turning everyone's attention to him. "Your primary mission is to recon the enemy but be reminded that this is more of a direct support mission to those settlements in the frontier. I don't know how you people handled dealing with citizens and non-combatants, but I expect you all to uphold the proper values that the kingdom holds as well as your own nations."
"This is no different from our previous missions in Africa and Hatti." A tired Thompson said as he drew their attention to the map on the wall. "Weapons will be tight the entire time we traverse the open fields and sandy beaches. By the time we reach our destination, a local contact will help us resupply, but it be best of us to not expend more ammunition than we have available, I.E the 180 give or take another 100 that we all have equaling to around 1360."
Consciously grabbing one of magazines filled with the ammunition Great Sage George created, Green licked his lips as the men began to gather the bags around them, with Thompson closing the briefing with directions, "Head towards the carriage at the rear entrance in five. Mike, Green, I want you to escort the Princess and her belongings until then."
Apprehensive of being escorted by the two men, Princess Lecca was quick to argue against the order, "Captain, I require no escort. I can take care of myself…"
"Sergeant." Thompson said ignoring their commanding officer, "Make sure she gets here in one piece. Too much has happened to warrant otherwise."
"Sir." Mike said as he picked up his pack and threw the straps around his shoulders.
"Mike." Lecca looked the sergeant in a small hope that he would stand against his superior.
"Sorry Lecca, but it's safer this way." He explained as he tapped Green on the shoulder snapping him to alertness. "C'mon PFC, we've got a package to deliver."