4-7: Trading Game - The Path to Salvation

Carlos- United Human Faction- Day 33

            Carlos traced the cross tattooed on his wrist with his finger, wondering how his actions would be judged. He was a good man, but he had done terrible things. He was a murderer and thief, even before he had joined the Faction. He had transformed from criminal to vigilante, and he had Paul to thank for that. As much as his face had changed, Carlos felt no change in his soul.

            His computer lit up with a new message. It was a top priority message from Paul. He immediately opened the attached document.

PRIORITY ONE ORDERS

REPORT TO SAN FRANCISCO FOR RELOCATION

DO NOT LET THOMAS OUT OF YOUR SIGHT

            A Priority One message had to have come from Julian. They were being pulled out of Colorado, regardless of any rationalization or excuse-making. Thomas, reading over his "superior’s" shoulder, knew exactly what was happening. Julian wanted them out of Colorado. He wanted them somewhere they could be watched.

           "They have their plans and we have ours. Do yo understand why we're here, brother? This place is our salvation," Thomas whispered.

          Carlos was not so enthusiastic, especially considering how he knew Thomas had organized their small band of crusaders. He nodded his head nonetheless. Better to pray for God's help than argue with the devil.

Chapter 4-6: Trading Game - Preparing for the Push

Julian- United Human Faction- Night 28

            Julian finished his nightly report and logged off of the Faction network. Without Sharon keeping him from wearing the mask, he would be able to move much more easily, and once Paul transferred Thomas to the Canadian border, he would be moving as well. The East was calling to them. The White House was calling to him.

            His thoughts were interrupted by a call from his accomplice.

            “Julian, you need to hear this,” Paul mumbled frantically, transferring Julian to another line.

            “Sir, this is the White Sands Regional Commander. We’ve lost Texas and the Eastern half of New Mexico to Union forces. I’ve joined with survivors from the other regional armies and retreated to Socorro. We need orders, sir.”

            “Commander, do you have contact with the Generals of the New Mexico Offensive or Defensive Armies?” Julian asked, walking to his civilian car.

            “I can have him on the line in ten minutes, sir.”

            Julian waited. After twenty minutes, the General was finally audible. He was using a modified radio, and protocol dictated that he remain brief.

            “This is New Mexico Actual, send traffic.”

            “New Mexico, this is White Mask. Who is on the line, over?”

            “New Mexico Offensive and Defensive Actual, over.”

            “Defensive, bring both armies to the Arizona border and hold it. New Mexico is lost, but we will claim it again when the time is right. Offensive, you will take you army through Colorado and into Nebraska. You will have the entire Northern Offensive Force on your side. Good luck, Generals.”

            “Sir, one more thing. We came into contact with a Field Agent today. He claims that his partner defected and is now escorting a Union spy into our territory. We have confirmed reports that the defector has been in contact with an enemy Black Operations unit.”

            “Thank you, General. Send your reports in to Paul from now on.”

            Julian hung up and started his car. The loss of the southern states was exactly the kind of delay he had been hoping for. He needed to stall the Faction advance until more nations could be thrown into revolution. China, Canada, all of South America needed to rebel. The European Union would tear itself apart under the economic pressures. He needed to keep the Plan in motion. He needed his traitor to walk up to his doorstep.

Chapter 4-5: Trading Game - The Left Road

Jeremy- United States Senate- Day 28

            A thundering boom echoed through the facility in which Jeremy was being held. He and John understood their situation immediately. After only a few seconds, the sound of Faction soldiers’ boots filled the underground cellblock.

            “It’s time to move, John,” yelled Jeremy. “Where do you choose to go?”

            John revealed his expression. His face was twisted into a form that frightened even the passive Senator. Jeremy knew exactly what was happening inside his jailer. He could use it, as dangerous as it may be.

            “Soldier, get me out of this cage!” he yelled.

            John unlocked the cell door and took off Jeremy’s handcuffs.

            “We might need some weapons friend,” he continued.

            John looked him in the face. The contortion had disappeared, the bloodlust dissipated. He was back in control, for now.

            “We need to get out of here,” John whispered.

            The pair ran silently through the complex and into the garages. Most of the humvees were already in combat, so he was forced to select a truck instead. They quickly entered and started one of the unmodified pickups and sped out of the garage.

            “You have better control than I gave you credit for,” said Jeremy.

            “It takes a lot, but I can manage.”

            Johns voice was shaking as much as his hands were. He was being more honest than Jeremy had ever seen before. The veteran was at the brink of losing control again, and the team at the end of the road was not going to help. Jeremy could only hope the character built in John through the Second Korean War wouldn't jump out at the wrong moment.

            John slammed on the brakes the moment he saw the sheen of the helicopter in the distance. Jeremy could see his partner’s mind working as clearly as he could see the sun in the sky. They didn’t have many options. The area was a flat desert with no cover. Jeremy could pick ten places for a sniper to set up camp. The only place for them to go was into the enemy’s arms.

            “Think you can hold yourself together for ten more minutes?” he asked.

            “There’s nowhere to go but forward, is there?”

            Jeremy shook his head.

            They drove slowly up to the hovering barricade, making sure their hands were visible. Once they got close enough, Jeremy leapt from the truck.

            “Keep yourself calm, and we might just get through this,” Jeremy said cheerfully.

            The Senator walked toward the soldiers professionally. He adjusted his month-worn suit, looking straight toward his allies. John stepped out from the car, leaving his pistol behind. In less than a second, Jeremy was on his knees, bound by three brutish men. A fourth emerged from the helicopter holding a weapon Jeremy had never seen outside defense committee meetings.

            “This is no way to treat an elected official, rifleman,” Jeremy yelled.

            “Who the hell do you think you are, asshole?” the man with the rifle yelled.

            John drew his side arm and began running toward the operatives. Two of the brutes drew their weapons and took aim.

            “Stand down!” Jeremy screamed.

            The pair were taken aback long enough for their pilot, Jasmine, to recognize a familiar face.

            “Hold on!” she screamed. “That’s Senator Glass!”

            “Stand down,” Jeremy ordered again.

            John reached the scene, ready for a fight. Jeremy stood and wiped the dust off his clothes. He looked at the three who had forced him to the ground carefully before deciding that they were no longer a threat to him.

            “I’m sorry, sir. We didn’t have any ID on you when you walked up,” said the rifleman.

            “What’s your rank, soldier?” asked Jeremy

            “Major, Mr. Glass.”

            “Major, what could your mission possibly be that requires you to execute a lone man on foot without taking a look at his face?”

            “Search and rescue, Senator.”

            Jeremy was left speechless for several seconds.

            “Who exactly are you attempting to rescue, Major?”

            “Members of the US government held captive the facility to the East, sir.”

            Jeremy had reached the point where he had no response to give. He simply stood and stared at the Major. John reached the group and stood in military posture before his sworn enemy.

            “Sergeant, tell these men where we are going,” ordered Jeremy.

            The senator knew that John had not decided what their destination would be, but now he would have to decide on the spot. He had two options, to protect his friend and search the Colorado mountains for Jeremy's answers, or betray his last friend in the Faction headquarters in San Francisco. Jeremy could tell the second John made his decision, and he knew that he had made the right one.

            “Major, I’m escorting this man to San Francisco. We’re operating in deep cover in an attempt to reach the main servers of the Faction network.”

            Jeremy was proud of his captor. They drove past the barricade without another word. They would reach the city, but Jeremy would never see the inside of another Faction prison. They had someplace else to visit first.

4-4: Trading Game - Angels from Afar

Richard- Independent- Day 28

            Richard managed to hitchhike his way to the Eastern edge of New Mexico. The closer he was to John, the easier it would be accuse the man of treason. He could see the nearest Faction base in the distance. It was obviously captured from the US line, just like his driver had said. While others believed that to be an advantage, Richard knew better. The base’s weaknesses were known to every soldier to their East. As he walked closer, that fact became apparent.

            A pair of fighter aircraft appeared on the horizon. The Faction’s only deficiency was in its air force. All of the military aircraft that could have been taken were either destroyed in the first week of fighting or were flown away by loyalist pilots. While the pair of aircraft in the distance could have been the newest pieces of Faction hardware, the odds were against that possibility.

            The two missiles launched from the pair confirmed Richard’s assumption. The base’s entire air defense system was crippled in a matter of seconds. The weaknesses had been exploited properly.

            Richard rushed to the devastation, hoping that immediate aid would solidify his position as the betrayed individual. Just before he entered the base, a group of helicopters flew overhead. They were headed in the direction of John and his allies. Richard could only hope it would leave his prey alive.

4-3: Trading Game - International Operations

Sharon- United Human Faction- Day 27

            The Admiral’s fleet was almost ready to cast off. Every ship capable of making the trip across the Pacific was crewed and armed, and the small team of ground troops was as prepared as they could ever be. Sharon wandered the docks for three hours before she was ready too leave. She knew that she might not return from this trip, but she would go nonetheless.

            “If I know anything, I know you’ll make it back,” said Julian as he approached.

            “I wish I was as optimistic as you,” Sharon replied.

            Julian adjusted something in his pack, then looked back toward her.

            “We can’t fail here,” he said, coldly. “China is the largest threat to our organization. If they reach our coast, we will all be killed. That doesn’t just mean members of the Faction.”

            Sharon took the pack from his hands and dropped it to the ground.

            “I’ll finish the job,” she said.

            “We don’t need any more martyrs,” Julian said quietly.

            “I’ll come back. You said so yourself,” she replied with a smile on her face.

            Julian smiled with slightly less enthusiasm and embraced her.

            “Good hunting,” he whispered in her ear.

            He retrieved his pack and walked away from the docks. Sharon couldn’t help but feel frightened for herself. She felt frightened for her friends, both Julian and Paul. That mask Julian carried around had a tangible effect on him. When he touched it she could no longer recognize him.

4-2: Trading Game - Like a Movie Monster

Paul- United Human Faction- Day 26

            Sharon joined Paul in his room to prepare the final steps of her power transfer. The Southern Command would be Paul’s duty once she left for Hawaii. The transfer was simple enough, but they needed to keep to their paperwork and computer registration. They were official to the end.

            Once they finished, they sat back in unison and let out a sigh of relief. For now, Sharon’s job was done.

            “I think I’ll head down to the docks for a little while,” Sharon said, walking out the door.

            Paul was left alone to survey the success. He would be able to do the same for Sharon’s replacement when he arrived, but first he would test his abilities. He checked every record, whether he read the information was another matter, and then moved on to the border records.

            Karen had written the coding for their network, and she had written it well. The computers were constantly reevaluating the borderlines based on every ounce of information coming from front. From the full map, the lines moved slowly, but there were always meter-wide corrections being made. Paul was amazed by the complexity.

            He finally broke the spell of the border estimates and checked the Southern Command Console. There were several reports in the inbox that held no significance to him. The computer could deal with basic reports itself, but there were several that caught its attention. They were tragedies and casualties. They were losing more men than he had anticipated, but there was one individual left unaccounted for. He didn’t recognize the name at first, but when the photograph of the man appeared on the screen, he was taken aback.

            The man he saw was involved in too many parts of his job. Paul had been forced to clean up after his sloppy mob killings more than twenty times. He had changed the man’s status to “KIA” five times, and not once had he actually been harmed. He had been forced to console Carlos about the man’s complete lack of discipline. Just days before he had argued against Sharon’s promotion, and now his suspicions were finally confirmed.

            Richard was a traitor. Paul’s judgment had taken years to be proven, but now he had his chance. The chain of command was changed immediately, but Paul still doubted that his foe was truly gone. Richard would never turn against the Faction, that much was clear. He feared for the man who had filed the report.

            John would be in his prayers.

Chapter 4-1: Trading Game - Housewarming

John- United Human Faction- Day 26

            John and Jeremy reached their destination without saying another word to each other. The lines had been drawn, and there was no changing that. The new prison was far more professional than the offices where they had resided before. John was far more comfortable, and Jeremy was far less.

            John quickly filled out his paperwork and headed for the guard post. The guard turned the moment John entered the door.

            “John, right?” the guard began. “I have it written here that you were supposed to be coming in with an administrator of some sort.”

            “That’s why I came up here. You have the record of the administrator’s name, right?” asked John.

            “Yeah Richard Campbell?"

            “That’s him.”

            “So then, where’s the boss at?”

            “He’s a traitor. He tried to kill me and the prisoner. We left him in the woodlands.”

            The guard looked up at John, not believing what he had heard. There was no surprise; he had dealt with traitors before. His disbelief came in the form doubt. He doubted John’s story, and he doubted the worth of a single prisoner.

            John displayed his Field Agent tag to prove his sincerity to the guard. He looked shocked and immediately turned to his console.

            “Sorry, sir. I didn’t know,” muttered the guard.

            “It’s alright. Most of the agents stayed in combat, didn’t they?”

            “Yes, sir. The ones left alive, at least.”

The guard paused for a moment before asking his question. John braced himself for what was coming, knowing he would have to answer the question at some point.

            “If I may ask, sir, why didn’t you stay in the field?”

            “I’m sick of war. I saw enough in Korea, and I’ve seen enough here.”

            The guard remained silent as he finished his report on Richard.

            “Is that all, sir?” he finally asked.

            John nodded and left the station. He headed first to his quarters for some rest, then to his prisoner’s cell. It was still his job to oversee Jeremy, but he probably would have paid a visit even if it hadn’t been.

            The Senator was fiddling with something in the back of his cell when John arrived. As he drew closer, it became obvious that the object was a mounted laptop on the wall of his cell.

            “You shouldn’t keep things from people, John. Secrets build up in your arteries,” Jeremy said without looking away from his work.

            John didn’t question how Jeremy had overheard the conversation.

            “That little answer you gave over in the guard tower was an escape route for you.”

            “It’s not a tower,” said John, trying to distract his friend.

            “Sure it is. I can see it through the webcam. You know, these things aren’t made for one-way surveillance.”

            “It’s not a tower, I was just standing in it.”

            “Then why can’t you see the ground?” asked the Senator, displaying the same smile that had turned Richard against him.

            “The computer is tilted upward, Jeremy,” John replied, sighing.

            The Senator silently checked the computer, then altered the map of the complex he had been working on in the adjacent corner.

            “You didn’t satisfy my curiosity, and you can’t escape this time,” he said when he was finished.

            John looked away from the cell and tried to decide what he should or should not say.

            “I have a family. I never told anyone in the Faction that. I can’t let my kids grow up without a father.”

            “That’s part of it, now I want you to admit the other half.”

            John looked at the Senator with an expression of pure fear. He couldn’t hide what lay inside him any longer.

            “You’re the same as… him, aren’t you? You love this.”

            “At least I don’t have to say it myself.”

            “You need to accept yourself, John. If you sit here and try to keep calm and stay away from the action, they will find you.”

            John stayed silent.

            “What the hell did they do to you in Korea, John?”

Chapter 3-9: Castling - Without A Plan

Julian -United Human Faction- Day 26

            “I’m staying here while the rest of the Faction moves East. It’s not safe there like it is here,” said Julian.

            “I’m staying, too. The servers are here, and that’s my job,” replied Paul.

            “We’re cowards, aren’t we?” asked Julian, smiling.

            “At least we aren’t alone.”

            “That’s true, that’s true.”

            “You know, we could think of this like a chess game. We’re the king, and this is a rook.”

            “Maybe. But I wasn’t planning it like that.”

            “Are you saying you don’t know what you’re doing, Julian? That’s unnerving, considering the fate of the nation rests in your judgment.”

            “We never really knew what we were doing did we?”

            “Sharon did. She still does. I think she really believes in the cause, and not just for the novelty, like at the start. She wants what the soldiers want,” replied Paul.

            “I don’t share her vision. Not now.”

            “The Plan?”

            “Did she ever tell you about it?”

            “Sharon would never give me more than bits and pieces. She doesn’t agree with the ending, so I couldn’t get her to tell me about it.”

            Julian paused and eyed Paul’s burn. The skin of his neck was still healing, although that wasn’t a surprise considering the lack of care he gave it. It was obvious that he wanted it to leave a scar, another reminder of who he used to be, alongside the cuts running down his arm.

            “I didn’t mean Sharon,” he finally said.

            “I know Julian. I just can’t right now.”

            The two fell silent again. They were alone, even in each other’s company.