[i]"[color=00a651]Gods above, I'm not drunk enough for this[/color]."[/i]

The thought soared through Captain Teller's thoughts as SSGT. Enrico Salvini blared [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KDAxUYzkF4&feature=player_embedded] what he called the team's theme song through the SQUADCOM[/url] as the team dropped rebels with the practiced ease of veteran elites. UASD had been sent on this mission, cleaning out mercenaries and rebels from a hideout in the temperate portion of Hell. Supposedly they were too quick to be caught by a normal strike force of infantry, so they'd sent a UASD team with CAS from a CR-11 "Crow" gunship. Sadly, however, it seemed intel had overestimated the enemy, they were green-as-grass rookies, hardly worthy of a UASD team's attentions, leaving them nothing to do but drop rebels in time with the music.

[i]Bang bang, they shot them down[/i]

"[color=39b54a]Look at em fall Cap! These suckers can't take the heat baby![/color]" 

Whooped Salvador Silva, the squad's heavy gunner as he held his LGFMG by the bipod, pouring bursts into anyone who brought their weapon in target.

[i]Bang bang, they hit the ground[/i]

An enemy sergeant, trying to rally his men, fell with a gaping hole in his chest where his heart should be, ice spreading over the dead man's body to the horror of the men around him. 

"[color=0076a3]Target down. Re-positioning.[/color]" Came the call of the squad's resident non-human, a Yuki-Onna from an island in Japan whose name James had never been able to pronounce. She went by Yukiko, and her mastery of both ice and her Precision Engagement Rifle was fearsome.

[i]Bang bang, they torched the rest[/i]

"[color=00a651]Move it Rangers, we need to drop em fast not in style![/color]" 

Captain Teller shouted as he lead the squad forward, gunning down any enemies in their way. The squad methodically cleared the camp, the enemy being found to have almost no weapons worth writing home about. Pipe guns, makeshift ARs, nothing that could even scratch the high-quality suits of Ranger Battle Armor the squad wore. So, the team spread out, and Teller found himself clearing the last structure of the compound on his own. Just as he resigned himself to an easy sweep and clear, breaching the entry way with a door breach charge, he found a pair of hands grabbing his chest plate from within and hurling him into the interior wall.

His helmet gave him a rapid update, the armor had held as it was meant to, but what bothered him was the flashing warning light in the top right of his helmet, telling him what he already knew. There was a devil, a blasted delta, here, and intel had neglected to mention it. Said devil stood over the Captain, seeming cocky as he drew a sword, obviously glowing with some foul magic, and pointed it at the prone Captain's neck.  "[color=0076a3]You Rangers sure are easy to bait. All it took was the offering of some basic human cattle, easily replaceable, and I have a team of UASD here! Marvelous! I shall enjoy picking each of you apart, starting with you Captain! Any final words?[/color]"

This devil was insufferably cocky and he was about to pay the price for that. Teller could see by his squad's helmet cams, displayed prominently in his lower left vision, that Yukiko had drawn a bead on Teller's would be killer. Not to mention the others of his team had obviously stacked up outside, not that Teller intended to deprive himself of this. This would be good, killing a delta always was, for that brief moment of pure outrage as they realized they'd been outplayed. Not to mention that killing a delta always made Teller feel a little better, like maybe the world still needed his washed up ass, so he intended to enjoy this.

Lifting his visor so the delta could see his face, but leaving his SQUADCOM transmitting, he said with an insufferable grin "[color=00a651]Bang bang.[/color]" 

In time with his words, a pair of gunshots rang out as Yukiko took out the man's knees. Getting to his feet as the devil screamed out in pain as ice formed around his wounds, locking him to the ground, Teller said with a smile "[color=00a651]Go ahead and cry. Let me tell you a secret about you, and your rebel friends.[/color]" Drawing his LE-21 pistol, and now to the sound of Enrico's song emanating from his suit's external speakers from outside, Teller uttered with two pulls of the trigger "[color=00a651]You're all about to die.[/color]"

Teller thought that was it, mission over, time to exfil, when the weather turned against them. A storm rolled in from seemingly nowhere, rain lashing down and lighting striking. The team made sure their suits were sealed, to make sure to stay dry, as Teller reported over his long range COM "[color=00a651]Torchwood this is Spartan One, OBJ Freebird is cleared out. Inclement weather rolled in, will advise when EZ Primary is green for a bird.[/color]" 

Not even listening for the acknowledgment, Teller opened his mouth to bark orders when, from the storm, a pair of civilians emerged holding a lantern. Teller couldn't help the twinge of pride as his men spread out, training their weapons on the newcomers. Wisely, the apparently civilians came to a halt, their hands calmly raised in surrender.

"Captain Teller! Would you please relax your men? I assure you we mean no harm!" One of them called, a young woman with more than her fair share of charm called out. Teller chuckled, unworried by her knowledge of his name and rank since both were displayed on his armor, and called in reply, raising his voice slightly to be heard over the storm "[color=00a651]Afraid not, as there aren't supposed to be civilians in this sector. What're your names and what is your business here?[/color]" 

The very same woman replied "Ah yes, I suppose that is a good opener isn't it? I am Amelia Rosenvalt, and my partner here is Déaglán Ó Foghladha, and we've come for you Captain."

As if to punctuate this statement she briefly jiggled the lantern she held, briefly catching the Captain's eye before it came to rest on her again, eyeing her and her compatriot for weapons as she continued "Tell me, Captain, have you any interest in partaking in a..fighting tournament of a sort?"

"[color=00a651]Nope, now get out of here.[/color]" came the simple reply from the Captain, sighing inwardly. It seemed these Deltas had resorted to sending recruiters out to get people to participate in those blasted tournaments of theirs. It was odd to try and recruit humans, especially Rangers, but he supposed it was a logical step. After all, if you wanted to fight deltas, why not try to recruit the very people trained to do it?

"Sir, you should reconsider! After all, this tournament has a reward unlike any you could imagine." Teller sighed at this proclamation but motioned for her to continue. He wasn't sure why, but he felt curious about this, though his training warned him something was amiss. They'd been trained to resist magic practiced upon the mind and, while James felt nothing trying to interfere with his thoughts, something still didn't seem quite right. Regardless, the woman continued

"Captain, this tournament comes with a prize that has no value, for it is priceless. This tournament can grant you one wish, any wish." Now, that got the captain's attention and he took a step towards the group. 

"[color=39b54a]I don't like this boss, something isn't right with these guys.[/color]" Teller heard Salvador say as he took another step. Looking the woman dead in the eye, or at least near as he could with the triangular face plate again covering his face, he uttered "[color=00a651]Nothing can grant my wish, kid. Now get out of here.[/color]"

As he turned to leave however, she whispered to him "You could go home again Captain. This wish could finally end your war. Don't you want that, Captain? A home to go back to?" 

Teller was brought up short by the seemingly casual utterance of his heart's deepest desire, to go home. Slowly turning to her, he watched her grin with what Teller believed to be a hint of smugness. She must've known that would draw him in and, without another word, she turned and began striding back into the storm with her partner, beckoning the Captain to follow. After a moment, Teller did so, barking over the protests of his men "[color=00a651]Hold here. Salvini, deliver the formal notice of my resignation to the Captain, you're team lead now. When this storm clears, take the bird home.[/color]" Without another word, Teller shut off the COM as he followed the pair through the storm. Soon it began to clear up, and James expected to see the grassy plains of Hell, perhaps a vehicle or teleportation circle in the distance. Instead, however, he found himself in an entirely new environment, a massive structure looming in the distance and the sound of water lapping at a shore not too far to his left. A quick inspection told him he was now on an unknown island, and most assuredly not within the AO of the raid he'd just conducted. Nearly speechless, James uttered a pre-war movie quote he found most appropriate

"[color=39b54a]Holy shit...I'm not in Kansas anymore.[/color]"