Prologue:

February 9th, 2035. 2 PM local time.

"Excitement continues to build up across the planet in anticipation of the 13th anniversary of Unity Day!" A reporter was live on TV by a monument to the Emergence Entity. Unity Day was the holiday designated by the Emergence Entity government to celebrate the transition of its precursor, the Articles of Alliance, into the form Griffin knew and hated. The monument was at least a dozen meters/yards tall, a gold-colored statue representative of a human and a humanoid being holding hands together and side to side. "Thousands line up at the site of the Ebony and Ivory Concordat, celebrating the formation of the Emergence Entity!"

Another reporter was doing his job on the other side of the city. "Keeping their promises, the Emergence Entity built dozens of new Miracle Clinics in select cities despite attacks from fringe elements. Operations are thankfully remaining unaffected." The massive crowd cheered the arrival of Secretary Scarlett Sable, who acted as the voice of the Emergence Entity and thus the representative. She appeared as a youthfully gorgeous green-eyed redhead who used her features and charisma to charm the spectators. The male reporter announced her arrival, beaming with excitement. "Now here she comes, Secretary of the Emergence Entity...Scarlett Sable!"

She spoke in a smooth and clear manner, addressing the crowd. "A number of dissidents and malcontents repeat the mistakes of the old world. Striking our friends from the other side of existence, who only bring friendship and cooperation. Yet these tiny actions cannot break the bond between us and the Al'San. Your quality of life and safety matters to us the most! Not even I can understand why these malcontents keep attacking. Thus...I humbly ask that if you see something, say something!"

Applauds rang as a response to the last sentence. She blushed as she curtsied. The popularity wasn't without nuisance; her mailboxes, both electronic and physical, received floods of letters from adoring fans. After she left the audience, Sable wrote a note to herself on how to handle it. The note read: "Arrange a raffle by next month."

Mission 1: Operation Stone Gorge

Two days later...

"Alright people, we acquired a prime target to fill up our supplies! Now that we got the coordinates, we're deep striking right into a supply convoy. Local resistance sabotaged, so 90% of the forces have been neutralized. The rest we just have to clean up."

Commander John Doe briefed the Griffin volunteers on the mission. Since the Emergence Entity favored subterfuge over brute force, the hidden convoy was exposed by the rebels and promptly sabotaged. As the convoy was caught in the woods, they were trapped indefinitely. This means it was a ripe opportunity for Griffin to plunder and pillage. This was also a test to see if the new recruits were up to snuff.

Ronan oversaw the new recruits. Differing backgrounds meant a calculated risk: A ragtag bunch of misfits. What some lacked in training, they compensated with grit. He, Shahab, and Laleh boarded the VTOL transport. All three were ready to raid.