Chapter 1: Treason

Main Elevator, Underground Research Base

May 2517

"Saber to all teams, report." called Sam. Sam Marshall was the commander of the 132nd Special Operations Unit, also known as the Ghosts. The 132nd was one of the few Black Ops units that Alliance permitted to operate without oversight. Originally, the 132nd was conducting Counter-Insurgency ops on remnants of the Independence movement or "Browncoats" from the Unification War.

"Alpha set." "Bravo ready" responded the Ghost teams. While conducting these ops, the 132nd noticed a pattern forming. This pattern consisted of the rebels holding evidence of atrocities committed by the Alliance during the war. "Charlie ready." "Delta set."

However, 2 months ago while conducting a raid on a rebel safe house, the Ghosts discovered something horrifying. The rebels were collecting info on an Alliance Black Ops program that focused on creating psychic supersoldiers. Before this discovery, the 132nd was already becoming disillusioned about serving the Alliance. They believed that a government that was willing to commit these heinous acts for no reason wasn't worth dying for.

The intel recovered on that day proved to be the straw that broke the camel's back for Sam and his troops. It was focused on the programs one and only test subject, a young woman named River Tam. It detailed the experiments done to her in an attempt to make the the ultimate killer. It sickened Sam as he read the files. Brain surgeries that attempted to rid her of emotions, drug cocktails that were injected to make her more susceptible to brainwashing and other procedures too horrible to describe.

Furious, Sam went over to the squad overseeing the prisoners from the raid. "Sergeant, were you able to find out who was in charge of this group?"he asked. "Yes sir." responded Sgt. Gomez. Turning towards the prisoners, Gomez shouts " MR. WINTERS, FRONT AND CENTER!"

Glancing over at the group of 15 men and women sitting on the floor under armed guard, Sam watched as the man identified as Adrian Winters stood up and walked over followed by 2 Ghost troopers.

Winters was an average looking man, about 5'7'', slim with some muscle, crew cut hair and a slight limp in his leg from a wound sustained in the Unification War. Since the war ended, Winters had always been with the Resistance movement. He moved from cell to cell, training its members how to stay out of the Alliance's grasp. A few year have passed since he joined the Lazarus Cell. This cell was tasked with gathering intel on atrocities committed by the Alliance during and after the war. Whenever a cell comes across this kind of info, it gets passed on to Lazarus, who will record it into their records and make off-site copies in case the original is lost or destroyed.

Winters was promoted to head of the Lazarus Cell when its original leader was killed in a shuttle crash. Some believed it to be the work of Alliance Special Forces, others thought it was a genuine accident. Whatever the cause, Lazarus needed a new leader. A vote was held by the group. When the results were announced, Adrian Winters was picked by unanimous vote to lead the cell. When asked why him, the members responded that he had the necessary skills and mindset needed to lead. Being the former Captain of Bravo company, 1st Battalion, 57th Overlanders Regiment didn't hurt either.

"You asked for me Commander?" stated Winters with a little venom in his tone. The 2 troopers escorting tensed up on hearing his tone but relaxed when Sam motioned to them to let it slide.

"Easy Mr. Winters, I just have a few questions. How you answer them will affect what we do with you and your cell." said Sam. "what do you mean?" asked Winters. "Depending on your answers, it could mean freedom for you and your colleagues or lifelong imprisonment in an Alliance Black-Site."

Sam focused back on the present when Echo and Fox teams reported in. Opening an encrypted radio channel, Sam began to brief his troops.

"Saber to all teams, listen up. You all know what we're for, the extraction of River Tam. All of you have read the files on the atrocities committed by the Alliance, especially the one that has us gathered here to day, to commit an act of treason." The Ghosts troopers didn't even flinch at the word when it was spoken. Sam knew this as he continued. "When I brought up my idea to stage a rescue for Ms. Tam, I did not anticipate all of you choosing to stay with me. Even when I gave you the option to leave with enough funds to start a new life, you stayed. For that, I thank you."

Taking a moment to gather his thoughts, Sam continued his briefing. "Now, as you all know, this op has all our forces committed. This includes the Mikasa, our Jaeger-Class assault ship and its shuttles. There are 2 groups, Groups 1 is our group consisting of teams Alpha thru Fox. Group 2 is our airfield suppression unit. They're split into teams as well, but with the designations Alpha 2, Bravo 2 and so on."

For the next 20 minutes, Sam explained what each team was tasked to do. Group 1 was tasked with the research base. Alpha team lead by Sam was tasked with rescuing River Tam with her brother Simon, who was posing as an Alliance Official on inspection. Alpha's 10 man team was acting as his close protection detail. Bravo team was tasked with destroying the armory and eliminating any personnel I the barracks. 20 men were assigned to the team. Charlie team consisting of 10 troops was to secure the control room and prevent the underground base from contacting the outside for help. Delta's 20 troopers were the extraction point. The primary extract was the main entrance, the alternate was a maintenance shaft. However, If the alternate was used, priority was to extract River and Simon at all costs. The rebels assisting the unit was nearby ready to extract them when needed. Echo was the perimeter team and rear guard. The 25 man unit would be posted in areas near other teams in case reinforcements were needed and to engage any hostiles who manage to breach the base. Fox's 15 man team was tasked with destroying the base's main power generator to disable the security systems and allow the rest of the unit to evac when the VIP was secured.

Group 2's objective was to suppress the airfield near the base to prevent reinforcements from being deployed. The 100 man unit would split into 7 teams. Demo teams would target the fuel tanks for the aircraft and the aircraft themselves along with the anti-air defense systems. The rest would take control of the control tower, admin buildings, barracks and armory. Once the demo teams were done, they would regroup and form a perimeter to repel hostiles until the extraction of the Tams was complete. They would then evac by shuttles to the Mikasa along with Group 1.

When Sam was done with the briefing, he asked if there were any questions. " Sir? What are the ROE for this op?" asked a female trooper. "Rules of engagement is that all armed personnel in the base are to be considered hostile. Any other questions?"Sam said. The Ghosts responded with a "NO SIR". With the briefing done, Sam only had one thing left to say "Saber to forces; Operation Silent Hope is a go."

Simon was a confident man. When working as a trauma surgeon on Osiris, he had confidence in his ability and training to save lives. However his confidence seemed to elude him at the moment. He was currently riding in a elevator surrounded by a squad of elite operators led by a man, around his age, who seemed to let nothing faze him. When the resistance contacted him about River, he was ecstatic. For 2 years, he was searching for her, spending every coin he had to rescue her. Now he had a chance to fulfill a promise he made long ago.

The Resistance told Simon the details of his sister's location and what was happening, they stated upfront that it would be dangerous and costly. He had to be committed to this, otherwise there was no point his life and theirs. He didn't hesitate to say he was all in.. he would do what was necessary even if it cost him his life.

For the next few months, he spoke with the rebels, making plans and sending funds when needed. He was checking his finances when the rebel leader, Carter, contacted him with some strange news.

According to Carter, an Alliance Black Ops group has caught wind of their operation. However, instead of disrupting it or attacking Simon and the rebels. The leader requested that Simon allow them to conduct the raid. Simon asked him why he should, the leader known as Sam responded that they were the Tam's best hope for getting out of that base alive. After some thought, Simon agreed. Everyone came together and decided on a plan.