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[sub][h3]SOLDIER Base; In the Halls.[/h3][/sub][hr][indent][color=9bab9e][i]I[/i]t was Home, but then it was not.

It was gilded steel and forged iron, it was stone and bolts and fissures of concrete mass flush against components of metal and alloys archived from craters. It was frigid and yet warm, steam hissed and walls thrummed with the plethora of energy confined into its’ bulk, and palms braced against their surfaces yielded the glimmering sanction of technology beneath it in holographic scans and sequences of numbers — codes, she knows them into variations of numerical prose and letters, she can speak in their tongue akin to the way she would articulate a common conversation. Evangeline knows every nook and space and every hallway is defined into her memory as an endless journey that blend seamlessly into the next, it’s like Home, but it’s not, and somehow that’s not right. It isn’t a yearning or a yawning abyss of sickness that implores her to travel back to the homestead, but rather a peculiar twinge that doesn’t evacuate from her mind no matter the amount of purging she attempts. Applying into every exercise she can attend, every class and career that stimulates the path of the Saboteur that she has been selected for to dismantle and wear down the foes of her govern. All attempts are thwarted by something that cannot be defined and she knows of only one technique that can temporarily smother its’ wavering existence. 

Laughter: an obtuse, overbearing happiness that plagues her smiles into ear-splitting likeness and befitting the perpetuation of a manipulator that one often dubs a Cheshire. Such comes naturally and easily, swept into with vigor and cheer and a disposition that banishes ill-intention when a glamouring simper carves into pallid cheeks. Adorned with her perpetual smirk, she was a golden incarnation and wreathed in an abundance of energy and exuberance and slid well into her penchant despite the garnishes of SOLDIER savagery. The two extremes melded well into one another, procuring an interesting mixture of light and dark, kindred to her bi-coloured eyes spliced into sable and cerulean. 

Such was her state of wardrobe with a pallid skirt that fluttered around thin ankles, pooling with her loping strides that turned into skips and flouncing cheer. She hummed to herself, eclipsing the silence of one of the deeper hallways that ran through the SOLDIER base, burying so deep into the ground and forming a network of considerable size and potential. Golden trinkets chimed as merry composers to her steps and hums traveling down hallway after hallway. Suffering from a fickle and disloyal insomnia often found her dancing across the compound to assuage away her restlessness, sometimes never submitting until well within the dawn hours where most of SOLDIERS were already awake and tending to their first exercises. Thus, everyday had become a routine: skip away the dark hours meant for the wicked and the lovers; tend to her daily dose of various medications prescribed from the Dr. Faye, and attend her training regiments - a plethora of them, there was. It was a well enough schedule that Evangeline had taken to with finesse, dabbling her usual endeavors with constantly checking in on Hally, and sometimes sparring with fellow SOLDIERS to bolster her weaknesses and lack of defenses. 

In which would be the intentions of today; a particular session of brawling with another user who implored the use of long range weaponry had ended within a stale mate, causing Evangeline to pout petulantly for hours, brooding and hiding within the dismal heap and refuse that was Henri Rainer’s bedroom. Which she had followed up by cleaning and purging the assigned quarters with a manic, golden whirlwind that was herself, singing to the top of her lungs, swishing around in a skirt and hair piled atop her crown whilst she tossed trash bags into the hallway, much to the despairing sense of the SOLDIERS living in the same corridor. The event had occurred three or four days ago, but the event still bore fresh within her mind as she loped down the halls, glancing to her feet - bare, and embellished in golden trinkets - and tried to count her skips until she had to turn at another corner. The further she flounced onward, assuming that she was traveling without intent or purpose, noises filtered in through intercoms, chimes and static that signified the time and the result of a droning, monotonous buzz that heralded most SOLDIERS to rise.

So dawn had broken over and she had been up since the yesterday afternoon after her usual visits with Hally. Evangeline though quietly hummed to herself continuously and pivoted on her toes on another bend to locate the stairwell that would take her up into another hall that ran across from the residential quarters. Her slight fingers of callouses and nails painted an eye-searing blush brushed over railing and pipes, scraping steel as she went and felt the coolness of the fabric fluttering over her arm. A sleeve of white billowed down from her shoulder compacted in an ebony pauldron that fitted to the cinched armour around her torso. Silver laden buckles gleamed from overheard fixtures and shined at the button resting in the hollow of her throat that fastened the collar of her corseted wears that she usually donned for in combative exercises. Softness hidden beneath harsh extremities, with layers upon layers of complexities - this was SOLDIER Evangeline to a fine tee. 

Bounding up the stairwell, two at a time [Hally would scold her, she knew!] and smiling obtuse and bright at her fellow SOLDIERS rising from their rooms, the golden dame fluttered fingers and lashes in greeting; setting down the hall with slower gait, but merrily all the same until glaring hues of white and red blared across sable and blue. Evangeline paused mid-stride and angled her head curiously at the projection of profiles and identities, she recognized only few from sparring and classes and her lips blossomed into a grin of cheek-caving proportions and sliced dimples into the plume of her cheeks when she saw Henri’s number and profile displayed, shortly interchanging to another name she didn’t know - but she cared not! Recognizing the sequences of her own numerical calling, she spun, grabbed the nearest SOLDIER at her flank [some poor, random bloke] and squeezed her slender arms around their mid-section in a cheerful vice.

“Ooh, I’m going on a mission with Hally!” She chirped in their shocked addled visage, peering happily and deep with her bi-coloured eyes before she giggled, weaving her arms back to her sides and turning on her heel to skip in direction of the Council Room. Evangeline knew exactly where it was located, having traveled nearly every corridor of the SOLDIER base, excitement boiled over onto the planes of her countenance, glimmering and glowing with the sheer amount of jovial infliction that loped her steps quicker, nearly into a manic sprint.

What fun this would be![/color][/indent]
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[sub][h3]SOLDIER Base; Council Room.[/h3][/sub][hr][indent][color=e4ebef][i]P[/i]eering pools of frigid azure tacked onto every SOLDIER that filed into the chambers, each mutely sized up and compared to the stats in her mind and the statistics that were configured into text that Kim had provided shortly after the announcement. Magdalena leaned against the broad arm of her husband, sharing quiet whispers and opinions as they scrutinized each of the conjoured candidates. Some were trained under their very departments, creating swells of pride in their breasts and small, secretive smiles that were shared across lashes and gestures. Olivia saddled up beside Magdalena, quietly gesturing to a couple of her own proteges and was met with a silent nod as they awaited the entire gathering to assemble. 

Each was unique and then alike in their specifics and prowess, complimenting some whilst off cast from others, Magdalena felt a fond memory stir in the bank of her memories and while quaking a familiar warmth in her cavity of a frigid heart, it erupted a peculiar expression across her brow as the personal qualms of these SOLDIERS were displayed. The former scientist’s sudden burst, and the quips and jeers to follow caused Rene to snicker, amused by their banter, but Olivia and Magdalena remained silent and nearly sullen when the weight of something visibly waned their expressions. Kim quietly tapped on the thick shoulder of zher brother, producing the later to rein in his chortle when Magdalena quickly stepped forward, only to be surpassed by a whorl of white and blonde all smudged in hues of ebony.

A loud, exuberant screech tore across the hearing and fractured the previous hilarity, happiness expressed across the imp-like face of the girl that Magdalena knew as one of her own Saboteurs as she launched across the gathered crowd and into the arms of the man whom everyone had mocked previously for much desired cleansing and showering. Laughter bubbled from her pallid throat as she gushed, manically motioning with her hands and tugging on the man’s arm to illustrate her excitement further. The sudden and searing emotion gave the Elite SOLDIER pause before Rene — commanding his rich baritone — immediately called them to attention.

“Enough SOLDIER, we have much to detail you on and our time is limited.” He barked at her, brow lowered of his eyes of peridot and fixating them on the blonde suddenly silent and pinning him much the same with her eyes. A wealth of silence descended until she chirped, literally, and bounced over the table where others were beginning to take seat and promptly sat down on the edge, next to the settee where the scientist saw down immediately after — feet swishing and stirring the pale fabric of her skirt.

“Thank you dear,” Magdalena muttered and approached the assembly. “We have summoned you SOLIDIERS here for a critical mission that was just ordered by President Rayne himself,” she carried on, flanked by her fellow Commanders.

“We have evidence to believe that SeeR forces have crossed into Galbadia and are attempting to set up a base somewhere within the tundras north of here.” She pointed to the sphere above their gathered heads, a red symbol blazing to life on the surface of the miniature model of Viera. The symbolic weave of lines curling into one another was the official representative of SeeR since they had heralded their banner to the world in a protest. Magdalena gestured further and the entire module lit up, projecting the images outward to engulf the entire surface area of the table, illuminating the council in hues of blue. The small Commander procured a peculiar wand from the depths of her slight, ebony armour, a piece of technology grafted entirely for this grid of Viera as she penned in a potential route, along with various others with the Dalmastice government sigil burning ever—blue on the map.

“We’ve deliberated over paths that you can take once you reach Luan, all leading to the same town where some of the front line in the Dalmastice army have been deployed to so that we have a base of operations. So far, the first few reports have detailed no spotted activity in the landscapes, no suspicious personal, or any records in the check points and patrols on the Galbadia line that touches with the Maridum and Quan—Ma canal.” Olivia provided, adding her voice to the myriad of lines and highlighting of pale circles and other symbols that Magdalena summoned upon the holographic image projected to them.

“The town is called Mrihl, a small settlement, no more than a trading hub for the Shyps that bank at the canal here,” Rene tacked on, indicating for his wife to zoom in on the map, expanding the plains and details of the state that was Zalera. “While not the capital, it is a crucial point should SeeR gain foothold near the trade zone. The Baron of Mrihl has offered room and board for you and the front lines while you scout out the SeeR enemy.”

“But, do not be fooled,” Kim muttered, setting down the sheaf of paper in their grasp whilst pairs of eyes settled upon them. Almost soft spoken, they continued. “SeeR sympathizers might already be located in Mrihl and should your location and purpose be leaked out, we might lose our chance to capture the rebel forces.”

Magdalena nodded, settling down her electronic pen to address their subordinates. “We’ve also come to believe that there is...” She paused, voice faltering just so as she had to amend the information she was ordered and instructed to give them. She almost uttered the truth, wanting to let it carry in a whisper, but she felt eyes from somewhere above, in the shadows of the upper section of the council room that was accessible by the stairwells on either side of the chambers. She reaffirmed herself and pitched her voice low. “We believe a deserter of SOLDIER has taken to their false, smuggling them back and forth through the check points and stations and into Galbadia. I express that you practice caution, use what you’ve learned here to try and locate them. Detain any rebels that you can, but do not kill, we —”

“If I may, Commander Abendroth-Faye,” a voice boomed from above, seconded by the clack of pristine shoes that led up to the presence that was Rayne whom had been silently observing the council and debriefing. A tense atmosphere engulfed the Elite SOLDIERS, causing the air to crackle with a mysterious energy that even caused some of the others to stir and fidget.

“We do not show leniency to SeeR, one glimmer of weakness and the whole lot of the wretched rebels will be upon us.”

“But, sir, if we simply kill all that we find, we may lose objective of the deserter and the possibility that there is more than one. A few SOLDIER contingents have gone missing in the past year, without any sign or indication where they might have gone.” Olivia voiced, followed by Magdalena who tacked on:

“If we can detain and interrogate them it might lead us to the missing SOLDIERS and the one who sent —”

“Silence Commanders!” Rayne boomed, his voice carrying with it a finality that struck the bubbling, cheerful blonde situated on the edge of the table. Her posture went rigid, along with the gathered SOLDIERS. Rayne turned frigid, ruthless eyes upon the assembly then.

“You will [i]put[/i] down any of these rebels that you come across, that is a direct order from me. I will not tolerate these SeeR to infiltrate Galbadia and I will not give them a chance to slip away. Fail to locate and dispose of them will result in a punishment that will befall upon you,” his stare cut towards the Elite. “And you.” 

With no other words to spare, President Rayne departed from the council, silence: heavy, encumbering, and literally burning with profound energy that followed suit. Magdalena clutched at her husband, trying to rein in his temper that was flaring alive and blossoming across the rough planes of his visage in a sheer, festering fury. Even Kim, a true employer of pacifism appeared cross and almost livid, zher face illustrating uncharacteristic rage.

“We are SOLDIER, it is our job.” Was all the Magdalena whispered, barely caught by her husband and beloved comrades before she addressed the rest of the gathering then. 

“You will be deployed, firstly in one of the land crafts on location that will take you across state of Luan to the checkpoint at the border, from there you’ll cross into Zalera and head due North, North-West to Mrihl on foot. Your objective is to locate SeeR and.. Rid of them.” She directed, her voice wavering in conviction and pitched oddly, as if attempting to bolster the barriers of something deep within.

“You have approximately an hour to prepare yourselves, outfit with what is deemed necessary and meet at the deployment dock number four. Once there, you may relay through introductions to one another, and a transportation unit will also be awaiting for you. Dismissed!” 

And thus, the mission debriefing ended.[/color][/indent]
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[sub][h3]SOLDIER Base; Council room.[/h3][/sub][hr][indent][color=9bab9e][i]E[/i]vangeline was still perplexed and fidgeting with the President’s former display, addling her, and her now-comrades and effecting even her commanding officers. Her fingers had reached down, looped tight with Hal’s gesture, and cinched into an incredibly vice as the rest of the meeting had carried on. Time that had passed even had her nails, pink and distracting, to dig into his the darkened membrane of his skin until the council was adjourned. A breath she had not realized she had been containing whooshed past sallow lips and whistled past the barrier of teeth and tongue. She hopped down from the table, trinkets chiming and seemingly oddly, eternally jovial despite the aforementioned intensity. She was about to embark, to perform the required prepping and sprucing of SOLDIER garnishing and fetching her weapon and gear from her quarters and the armory when her Saboteur Commander suddenly approached her. Accompanying the small, hellacious blonde was a man Evangeline briefly, and barely recognized, only able to deduce the familiarity to that she had attended stealth regiments and practices with him. 

There was only silence and a quiet whisper, a sequences of numbers and codes that they both were able to recognize and pick up on, translating into a message that she had not been able to speak aloud of before.

“The deserter is a Saboteur, like you both, and goes under the code name of Moroii. I implore you to take caution, keep and eye out, and if you can, try to keep him alive. Moroii is a dangerous foe, and will most likely be deep within hiding. But the only way to tame a Saboteur, is with another Saboteur, and this is my personal mission and command to you both. You may share this information with your associates if you wish, but not until you are away from the Base.”

Evangeline immediately bristled with excitement, nearly bouncing and leaping within place when Magdalena departed, having relayed her mission effectively and vacated the chambers with the rest of the Commanders. She spun around, facing her associate and swept her bi-coloured state over the presentation of his initial impression. Donned in armour, face adorned in a plume of facial hair and eyes that were deep, secretive almost — guarded. She beamed a wide, glamoring simper and reached out with slight fingers, circling her gesticulations around his cheeks and slid pale digits through the mane of scruff and facial hair as a greeting.

“Not as impressive as Hally’s but it’ll do.” She paused, canted her head to one side and listed her weight in the same direction, studying and scrutinizing. “It’s [i]you[/i],” Evangeline chirped and discarded her touch, whisking off to the side and flouncing her departure on the chime of golden accessorizes and a jaunty tune, immediately flourishing into a skip and a bounding stride — [i]she just couldn’t wait![/i][/color][/indent]