[b]January 1st[/b]
[b]2017[/b]
[b]One hour before D-Day[/b]

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[center][h2][b][u]BERLIN[/u][/b][/h2][/center]
[center][i]Taskforce: Viperstrike[/i][/center]
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Underground in the Berlin test site, the Foxhound taskforce winds down for the rest of the day, their experimental suits are warm after another test run. Lieutenant Mikkel Edwards, Sergeant Erik Winters, Corporal Aaron Klaus, Corporal Kris Eurich, Private Friedhelm Munch, Private Wilhelm Munch, all the members of taskforce Viperstrike, they were testing the new personal multipurpose, enclosed battle armor. The armor was supposed to be used for the exploration of new, unexplored worlds. They served as both an exploration tool for their mobility in the field, and a weapon of war, as the suit was equipped with state of the art equipment from other countries, including but not limited to, Lasers, Hunter Seeker missiles, Self-loading mortars, grenade launchers, railguns, advanced solar cell power power pack, and multipurpose snoopers.

Viperstrike was one of the taskforces that were created to test and use the suits, there were -of course- others, Taskforce Sharkfin, Taskforce Greyhound, Taskforce Ludwig, Taskforce Charlie, Taskforce Firebat, and Taskforce Foxhound. The Taskforces were all made up of representatives from each country, Viperstrike was the Germanic Taskforce. The suits were reaching a point where they would no longer be experimental; they were two phases away from finalizing the project. The Phase they just concluded was user safety, it passed with flying colors. The next two phases are ease of use, and Combat Endurance. Ease of use will tackle whether a completely new pilot could understand the controls in a single sitting, while the Combat Endurance phase attempts to ascertain how long the Suit could last in a full combat mission. This will be simulated by harsh terrain, several targets and objectives along the entire course which resides in West Austria.

“You think they’ll give us some time outside for today?” A hopeful tone echoed in the underground barracks, the Taskforce had been in the test site for at least a week testing the User safety, pushing the suit to the limits. There were no casualties, and most tests were conducted without the pilot inside the suit for additional safety measures.

“I don’t think so…” His brother replied, he carried a grim expression, he was sat down on one of the barracks’ beds watching the time, “Won’t be long now, the world will change after today.”

“Yeah, and we’d finally get to do some field testing.” The Sergeant butted in, he carried a condescending tone, just the usual army banter. The Sarge grew up somewhere in the country side, that was where he decided to join the army after seeing them conducting training operations nearby. He was fascinated.

The Lieutenant glanced at them from the end of the room, sitting at a table, cleaning his equipment. “Cut the chatter, and get some shut eye. We won’t get enough of it later on.” The authority and the firmness of his tone led the room to go quiet for just a moment.

“Yes sir!” the room boomed in reply, they respected the Lieutenant, he’d been in combat drops overseas. He has seen action in Africa, Somalia. Deep combat scars all over his body remind the team of that. If there was one person who could lead the Taskforce, it was Lieutenant Edwards.

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[center][h2][b][u]AUSTRIA[/u][/b][/h2][/center]
[center][i]Remote Country Side[/i][/center]
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Major Johan Erwin, commander of the 5th Wiking panzer division, conducting training exercises in Austria. “Two, Four, and Six, advance on the left flank, first tank squad, spear formation, third squad, shore up our right flank!” the barking of the young German officer crackled in every tank’s radio. The countryside was mostly flat, forests and shrubbery broke up the landscape, the tanks that were ordered to move on the left flank did so precisely, the squads that weren’t advancing, fired on their faraway targets, “Fire for effect!” Erwin shouted into his radio, and in an instant the air cracked with the cacophony of cannon fire. Looking through the commander sights, Erwin then shouted again, “Direct hit, advance advance advance!” The tanks rolled forwards, the ground shook in their wake, Johan Erwin looked at his crew, and signaled, “All good?” the crew responded with two words, “All good!” Erwin was pleased with today’s performance.

“End of exercise!” He shouted as they drove to their nearby staging ground and outpost. Their tanks were state of the art, the Germanic Republic provided tanks for most of NATO’s members; these included the Leopard 3 alongside the Puma IFV. The 5th Wiking Panzer division was outfitted with Leopard 3a1’s, Puma IFV’s, Anti-air vehichles, and mobile artillery, accompanied by a dedicated Panzer Grenadier division. When they got to the staging ground, Erwin and the others conversed about the Legacy gate.

“Bah! Legacy is a hack! I’m willing to bet you that they probably do some shady business underneath that Science bullshit.” One of the crewmen shouted, obviously anti-Legacy.

“I’m inclined to agree that Legacy hasn’t been completely reasonable...” Erwin started, “But by no means am I willing to believe that they are doing anything illegal, at least not without proof.” He sounded humble, as if he were the same rank as everyone else.

“Commander, with all due respect, but I would rather they get investigated already! The leniency that we give them is far too much.” The crewman stated again, this time joined with the murmuring agreement of the people gathered around, eating and drinking after a long day’s exercise.

“Aye, but that leniency is only because we know Legacy has the capability of fighting back…” Erwin glanced at his tank, stealing a look, as if indicating for everyone else to notice. “Look, our best tank, we have approximately 7,409 of them active at the moment, nearly half of our current arsenal, and one of Legacy’s tanks can take that all out.” He looked back at the crewman and asked, “What do you think you would do when faced with such odds? Of course, I am speaking in hyperbole but it’s true… The attrition rate would be too high.” Erwin spoke as a tactician, trying to impart his knowledge to the crews of the Division.

The Division’s members looked at each other, not sure of what to make of the Major’s statements. “So, they don’t investigate because of the possibility of retaliation and the ramification of such a response?” One crewman asked, he was just a private.

“Bingo!” Erwin said, “No matter what you think, we’re not just expendable machines, we’re needed to keep the country safe, and if a large portion of us dies, we all lose.” Erwin’s expression turned sour, “We’re this country’s first and last line of defense. Hopefully we will never have to use our weapons to defend it. Make your lives count if we do.”

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[center][h2][b][u]SWEDEN[/u][/b][/h2][/center]
[center][i]Stockholm[/i][/center]
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“Field Marshal! What a surprise!” the voice of an old man echoed in the empty hall, Erikson turned to look at him, “Ah, General Brandon Dross! What a surprise indeed!” he replied, with an elate expression.

“What is the Field Marshal and secretary of defense doing back in an empty hall in Stockholm?” Brandon asked, talking as if Erikson was an old friend. The General was in charge of the Garrisons in Sweden, and Erikson used to serve under him.

“Visiting for the new year. I don’t like it in Berlin right now, this Legacy business gives me a bad feeling.” Brandon looked at Erikson, as if Erikson said something surprising, his mouth beginning to form a crescent smile.

“Here I was half expecting that you came back for me my old friend! Ahaha!” Brandon shouted, laughing as he went.

Erikson cracked a smile, “Let’s go to the current Garrison here in Stockholm, I’d rather be at work while I’m here.” He said. Heinrich Erikson was not the sort of man who went anywhere for holidays. He preferred to be at work, not the hassle of the holiday rush, he was however happy that he was back in Sweden, his place of birth.

When they got to the garrison, it was well equipped, properly maintained, and the soldiers well trained and properly dressed. “I see nothing has changed here since I was promoted.” The Marshal stated, “It’s almost as if I was here five years ago.” They walked through the grounds and talked about how the past five years went. The Garrison went about its daily business, just now finishing off the morning drills. They were now heading towards the mess hall for lunch, “The gate is about to open. Tune in on that soldier!” Brandon barked, one of the soldier in the Mess grabbed the remote and changed the channel to tune into the news in Berlin.