[TIME: 0800]
[DATE: 2015-4-13]
[The following excerpt is an audio/video transcription from the Standard Operational Report 07 of Offensive Elimination Combat Squad 5.]
[...]
[The walls of the room are a solid, concrete grey. The floor is a solid grey. The ceiling is, too, a solid grey, albeit with a light.]
[Inside the room is a table. A microphone is set up facing one end, and a pencil and notepad are on the other.]
[Two men sit at the table. One is seated in front of the microphone, wearing a black combat uniform. The other is adorned in a brown sweater vest and a simple blue shirt and tan pants, with the pencil and notepad.]
[HANDLER RATT]: So, Agent "Butter", this is your... 7th operation report? [Ratt, thin and wiry with a tired, wrinkled face, adjusts his glasses as he prepares to write something on the notepad.]
[AGENT "BUTTER"]: Yes sir. The Fifth doesn't get deployed much. [The man lets out a deep laugh.]
[HANDLER RATT]: [Ratt notes that down on the notepad before looking back up at "Butter".] Was there anything strange that occurred during the operation, or was it all standard chaos?
[AGENT "BUTTER"]: Nope, nothing strange at all. One of OECS-3's guys sure bld a lot, though. Nearly got us a casualty. [He taps his fingers on the table.]
[HANDLER RATT]: [He writes something down on the notepad, before speaking again.] Hm. Anyway, if you would list the targets and goal of the operation, for the report?
[AGENT "BUTTER"]: [He straightens slightly in his seat, grinning.] I'd be glad to. Primary target was Werthston... Hal Werthston! That's his name. Guy used to be a shareholder, apparently. One of the few who took one of those tours in an O&R facility. Operations Command said we couldn't leave a loose end untied! [Butter laughs again.]
[HANDLER RATT]: [Without looking up, Ratt notes this down.] I see. For the report, what was the particular concern with this... Hal?
[AGENT "BUTTER"]: [He leans back in his chair, crossing his arms.] Apparently, the guy left as a shareholder after the tour first. Just two weeks ago Operations Command said they got ahold of some "potential incriminating evidence" against him. Something 'bout him digging up some old paperwork, making a couple calls, all that. Command put him up as a Priority 1 Target the next day.
[HANDLER RATT]: [Ratt nods slightly and glances up.] And the secondary targets?
[AGENT "BUTTER"]: Local mercs, probably just tryna make a buck or two off'a protecting Hal. Nothing remarkable. There were, ah... 7, yeah, 7 in total. Unless you count the dog.
[HANDLER RATT]: [He blinks before pausing to look at Butter and raise an eyebrow.] A... dog.
[AGENT "BUTTER"]: [Butter nods, chuckling a little.] Yeah, a Rottweiler. Big guy, but he was smart enough to run off when he heard the helos coming in. Probably the smartest off the whole guard team.
[HANDLER RATT]: [Ratt jots that down.] Moving on. Could you describe the operation's progression? Start to finish. For the report.
[AGENT "BUTTER"]: [He straightens up in his seat, putting on a somewhat more professional tone.] Alright. Standard breach and clear; Werthston was holed up in some industrial park, just a nice mess of old, abandoned warehouses. Operations Command had the guy's location; Special Communications found it for 'em. He was in the northeast building, so we split into two teams. First contingent went for diversion, lots of noise, smoke- just textbook stuff. Second contingent, the one I led, handled the breach.
[HANDLER RATT]: [Ratt interrupts briefly.] Your role in the breach?
[AGENT "BUTTER"]: Door-kicker. First man in.
[HANDLER RATT]: [Ratt writes something down, then makes a motion with his hand.] Proceed.
[AGENT "BUTTER"]: [Butter grins a little, then continues.] Once we got the door down, we got two of them wanna-be John Wicks in our faces. Definitely didn't expect a baton to the face. Hallway to the left threw us another two, same response. I think Beer might've broken one of their skulls. Anyway, Werthston had himself hidden in an office upstairs. One last guy was with him, more nervous than anything, honestly. Guy was shaking like a leaf in the wind. Shot down pretty quick.
[HANDLER RATT]: [Ratt's brow slightly furrows, although his gaze stays on the notepad.] And Werthston himself? Any resistance?
[AGENT "BUTTER"]: [Butter laughs a little before speaking.] Oh, he sure tried. Overturned a desk and hid behind it. Had himself a pistol, apparently- .38 Special, it looked like- and shot twice. Missed both times. Stress got to him, I guess. Well, then we disarmed him, and... well, you know how it goes.
[HANDLER RATT]: [He nods again, writing.] Terminated.
[AGENT "BUTTER"]: [Butter nods too, sighing a tad bit.] Terminated.
[HANDLER RATT]: [Ratt pauses his writing for a second to adjust his glasses.] And the near-casualty you mentioned earlier?
[AGENT "BUTTER"]: [He blinks before finally remembering and nods yet again, albeit looking slightly annoyed.] Yeah, second contingent guy got cut across the arm by one of the mercs. Guy apparently just jumped out at him. Deep cut too, probably would've bled out if Hitter hadn't gone with them. She got him patched up on-site; he'll be fine.
[HANDLER RATT]: [Ratt jots that down.] Any final observations about the operation?
[AGENT "BUTTER"]: [Butter thinks for a second, then shrugs.] It was a smooth operation. If anything, the dog got off the easiest. Smart mutt.
[HANDLER RATT]: [Ratt ignore the comment, finishing the report.] Very well. Thank you, Agent "Butter". That will be all.
[AGENT "BUTTER"]: [Butter stands up and stretches out his arms for a second.] Till next time, sir.
[Butter exits the room, with Ratt staying to wait for the next person.]
[END OF TRANSCRIPTION.]