Interview with A. Howard
Spoiler:
Open Transcript: �Who is Alan Drigger?�
[Enter Sergeant A. Howard and USCM Interviewer]
Interviewer: Make yourself comfortable sergeant, we have a long discussion in front of us.
[Howard proceeds to chair, sitting down and lighting his cigar with one of the matches on the table.]
Interviewer: Now, I want you to start from the beginning. Who is.. Alan Drigger?
[A few moments of silence passed.]
Interviewer: Sergeant?
Howard: Yeah, yeah. Alan Drigger.. The Butcher of the Outer Rim.
Interviewer: How did you meet Alan Drigger?
Howard: It was during the height of the Space Nam� war� me and my squad were sent to scout an area of the god damned ****s territory.
Interviewer: Please refrain from using racial slurs.
Howard: Yeah, yeah.. I lost a lot of friends on that day.
[A few moments of silence passed, as Howard took a long puff on his cigar.]
Howard:.. Me and my squad were passing through the jungles, when I heard.. three- no wait four shots. An SVD I believe. When I reacted, my entire squad.. they were all dead.
Interviewer: Dead? From just four shots, you�re telling me your entire squad was dead?
Howard: The man has the aim of a God. He only misses his shots when he wants to. He could�ve killed me then.. God I wish he had.
[Howard slams his fist onto the table, before taking a deep breath.]
Howard:.. the fucker toyed with me. He toyed with me for fourteen days after that. You ever see the movie, enemy at the gates? Old ass movie from the 21st century. Two snipers, duking it out in Stalingrad.
Interviewer: I see, and did you ever see Alan Drigger?
Howard:..
Interviewer: Sergeant?
Howard: Yeah, I saw him alright. The crazy fucker.. he had two red eyes, that shone through the darkness of the jungle. Those eyes.. they still haunt me til� this day. He had.. grey hair? Short. Very short hair.
[Interviewer scribbles down notes.]
Interviewer: Continue Sergeant.
Howard: It was a long fourteen days. I went through countless ammunition, and.. at the end of those fourteen days..
Interviewer: Yeah?
Howard: I shot him.
Interviewer: You mean you went through hundreds of rounds of ammo, and only landed one hit?
Howard: You try having a sniper battle with a fucking ghost.
[A few more moments pass as Howard takes another huff on his cigar.]
Howard: It was.. as though he wanted me to shoot him. I locked eyes with him, for just one moment, through the sights of his scope. He had a.. sick smile on his face from what I saw, and I took the shot. Right through his scope, into his eye.
Interviewer: So wait, you killed him?
Howard: Killed him? Don�t be naive. I immediately went to the building he was in, M4A3 in hand, and breached into the room. All I found was his sniper, blood, and a note.
Interviewer:.. and the note said?
Howard: �Better luck next time Sergeant�.
[The room was silent once more, this time for a few minutes.]
Interviewer: I.. think that�s enough for today, Sergeant. Thank you for this insightful meeting.
[Howard got up, putting his cigar out.]
Howard: He got away from me one time, and I won�t let it happen again.
[Howard leaves the Interviewer in the room, alone.]
Close Transcript: �Who is Alan Drigger?�
Interview with R. Wilkerson
Open Transcript: �Howards Obsession with Drigger.�
[Enter Private First Class R. Wilkerson and USCM Interviewer]
Interviewer: Take a seat son.
[Wilkerson nods walking to the chair, sitting down after a brief moment.]
Interviewer: Tell me how you met Sergeant Adan Howard.
Wilkerson: Some time ago, he was transferred into our squad. Word was he was the only survivor of his last squad.
Interviewer: How did he generally act?
Wilkerson: He mostly kept to himself, while on the ship. He just had this essence of..what's the word..I guess he just seemed like he was taken up by something.
Interviewer: Explain that, what do you mean?
Wilkerson: Eh..he was just always studying something in his off time, looking through notes, pictures, no one really got too involved with him. Don�t get me wrong, he�s a great person to have in your squad, when he�s not obsessing about that man..
Interviewer: That man? What man?
Wilkerson: Alan Drigger..
Interviewer: What has Howard told you about Alan Drigger?
Wilkerson: He told me about what happened to his old squad, how they were wiped out by a single sniper. He spoke about it with this..aggressive tone. He talks about Drigger like he�s some
sort of god, like he�s unkillable.
[A couple moments of silence pass]
Interviewer: Go on, Private Wilkerson.
Wilkerson: He keeps saying the next time they meet it�ll be for the last time. That he won�t let him get away with it again.
Interviewer: Do you believe his obsession will conflict with his duties in the field?
Wilkerson: No, he knows when it�s game time.
Interviewer: Do you think Howards mental health is being affected?
[A long pause goes by]
Interviewer: Private?
Wilkerson: No.
Interviewer: You don�t think he�s a liability, you�d trust him with your life?
Wilkerson: I would.
Interviewer: I see Private, I think that�s all I need. I�ll schedule another Interview if I have any other questions.
[Wilkerson nods, standing up from the chair walking out of the room.]
Close Transcript: �Howards Obsession with Drigger.�
Interview with E. Mei
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachmen...73/Drigger.pdf
(made by swirlykins and it's p well done)
Space Nam'
Space Nam'
Space Nam', a colony founded a few years back by Vietnamese pioneers, soon flourishing with people and like Vietnam back in sol', except on a whole planet. It was a nice little colony starting out, but sometimes history repeats itself. Eventually after some years of silence, Space Nam' declared themselves a sovereign power, and had shot down a United Americas freighter passing through their space. From there, the Space Nam' conflict took off, and perhaps the reveal of one of the galaxy's biggest monsters..
Space Nam', 2183
Adan Howard, once a little suit for the company turned grunt for the corp, went boots deep into Space Nam', and soon rose to the rank of Sergeant, given his own squad to lead. Howard was sent on more stealth-like and sabotage missions, but after acquiring his sniper, was put on more assassination efforts. He never truly recovered from his past as a child, but strived to move on with his life, to make a name for himself.
Howard's squad was composed of a few friendly faces, corporal Elena Mei, corporal Lane Riker, private first class John Donable, and private first class Everett Ackerson. Together they formed a rag-tag group of yellow colored bravos. They were normally sent in before the main force, to try to secure intel' for the initial assault.
Space Nam', New Saigon 2183
"Hey sergeant, you think anything will actually come out of this conflict? I mean, what do we actually gain from kicking their asses?" John was walking alongside Howard, wielding his M41A MK2, looking around the area while smoking a cigar. Howard simply shrugged in return.
"We don't get paid to ask what happens after the war, we just do what we're told."
"Well, I guess you're right. Just sometimes makes ya' wonder if we're doing the right thing." He was met with silence from Howard as they continued back to the marine camp. The main marine encampment in New Saigon [which was the name given to it by the USCMC forces when they first landed in the city and established a foothold] was situated in the middle of the city, filled with multiple armored personal carriers, Cheyenne drop-ships, and a few UA-571C sentries. It was well fortified, and had a few platoons of marines as the first landing force on Space Nam'.
As the two entered the first tent, they were greeted with a few smiling faces. "Look whose finally back."
Everett Ackerson, a young eighteen year old man who had freshly signed up with the corp to fight in the conflict. "We got any new orders?" asked Howard, moving over to his cot and taking a seat on it, removing his helmet. Elena Mei nodded, pulling out a little clipboard she had on her lap.
"Yeah, we're supposed to scout out and patrol this section of the jungle, command hasn't informed us of any other information besides it might have hostile VCs-"
"Some gooks to blast?" snickered John, then stopped after seeing Elena give him a death glare. "Ehm.. yeah, some hostile VCs."
".. as I was saying, other than some potential hostile VCs, no other information was given to us boss."
Howard nodded, lying on his back after climbing fully onto the cot. "That means get your rest now boys and girl. We'll move out in a few hours." They all nodded, and went to do whatever they were wanting to. Howard thought about his squad, as he stared at the roof of his tent.
Elena Mei. A young Sino girl, couldn't of been over twenty one. Quite a looker, but very serious. She always got offended when John would burst out with the word 'gook', which he did a lot. A good medic, with a good heart.
John Donable. A young man, around twenty or so years old. Was still very immature, always cracking wise jokes or some racial remark about his enemy. He enlisted, in his own words, 'just to kill gook fucks.' A good soldier to have watching his back.
Lane Riker. A twenty three year old man from.. who knows where. Guy had some sort've accent, but that didn't bother Howard. He was a kind man, just like Elena. Always there for morale and emotional support when needed most.
And finally, Everett Ackerson. The youngest of the group, eighteen years old and fresh out of bootcamp. He had little to none combat experience, and was still very new to the idea of war. Everett tried to act tough, maybe to impress Mei, but everyone in the group knew that he was the most scared. Nonetheless, he's a good part of the team.
Howard sighed, rolling onto his side and staring at his sniper. Something.. just isn't right. Something doesn't feel right about this mission. Given little to no information, being sent in the dark, and given only a few hours to prepare and rest were three things Howard hated. Nonetheless, a good soldier follows orders, and that's what he does. As he closed his eyes, he drifted off listening to Lane Riker try to defuse a situation between Elena and John after John once more spewed the word gook, and Elena had attempted to triple quickclot him as a punishment.
A smile rested on Howard's face, the last one for a long time.
Space Nam', jungles, 2183
Crunch.
That was the sound the branches and leaves made as they marched on in the near dark of the jungle.
"God, I fucking hate jungles, did you all know that?"
"Yeah Riker, we heard you the first fucking thirty times."
"Keep it down you two." Howard was leading his squad through the dense jungle, sighing. Lane and John grumbled a bit, but kept their pace up. Everett covered the rear of the group, and Elena was in the front next to Howard.
"This is weird Adan, I don't remember seeing any sort've installations or anything in his part of the maps."
Yeah, that was a bit weird, but i'm sure command had a reason to send us here.
"Just keep your eyes peeled Mei, report anything you see or hear." Howard had a bad feeling. He knew something was wrong.
Everett was extremely quiet in the back, gripping his M41A tightly. "Y-Yeah sarge I.. I feel like something is wrong. We should head back-"
Lane stopped, and the group stopped with him. "Do you hear that?" The group went quiet, listening to the air around them.
"Uh.. no? Riker, what do you hear?"
".. exactly, I don't hear anything sarge. Nothing but our own footsteps. You'd think there'd be some sort've critters hooting in the night right?"
He brought up a good point. It's the middle of a jungle, near sunfall. There should still be some sort've- what was that?
Howard stopped, and the moment he stopped he regretted it. He had seen something he's seen a hundred times. A glint of a scope. It was as though time slowed down, and Howard was unable to move, frozen in his position. As quickly as it started, it was over. Four sniper rounds went off, and as Howard could finally move, he fell to his knees.
I.. I wasn't.. shot? But..
He turned his head, his mouth slowly hanging open. His squad. The people he swore to guide and protect were all in pools of their own blood around him. As he got up, he turned and ran to Everett, the youngest of the group. "S-Sarge? Is.. is tha-.. I.. I don't feel so g-good sarge.." Howard looked over Everett, a single shot to his gut, piercing his armor and expanded inside. There was already blood all over Howard.
"E-Everett, Everett stay calm. Stay with me Everett, alright?" Howard looked down into Everett's eyes, as Everett looked back up, his eyes slowly glazing over. "I.. I was.. shot.." he slowly reached up with his hand, placing it around Adan's head, "I.. I d-don't wanna die s-sar...sar..." Everett's hand fell limp, dropping to the ground beside him.
Howard after a few moments stood up, looking over his squad, the corpses that remained. Lane, a direct shot to his head, hopefully killing him instantly and not slowly such as Everett. John, a shot that pierced his neck and knocked him onto his back. Elena had a shot to her stomach, and wasn't responding.
He heard a crunch in the distance, and looked up immediately. What he saw, he'll never forget. Two red eyes, staring right back into his own. Two red eyes, the two that belonged to the man who killed his squad. His new family.
Howard pulled out his own rifle, and after shakily radioing in about what had happened, began pursuit of the man into the darkness of the jungle..
The Drop
U.S.S. Almayer, 2186, 1600.
Howard sat in the semi-lit room, sitting in his chair taking a drag of his cigar, looking at the man sitting across from him. The office he was in was full of medals, commendations, and pictures, one main one of a specific requisitions officer with light blue hair, and a bright smile to warm most hearts.
�Sergeant Howard, in just a few hours, we�ll be reaching high orbit above LV-624, and you and your squad will be among the first to touch planetfall.�
The man across from Howard was a big boned blonde male, Captain Heinz Mueller. �Is that why you woke me up early boss?�
�No, there�s something else. Something feels wrong here, I just can�t put my finger on it.�
�I feel it too Captain, but don�t worry. My squad hasn�t let ya� down yet, and we won�t be letting ya� down anytime soon.� Adan flashed his bright smile, putting out his cigar. �Besides, if it�s just a few terrorist, it�ll be a quick operation.�
The Captain sat there in silence for a bit, pondering it all over in his head, before nodding. �Don�t disappoint me Sergeant, you�re dismissed.� Heinz waved his hand, and spun around in his chair, while Howard stood and saluted, before walking out the door.
After a brief walk across the ship, Adan found his way back to the canteen, where he found his squad all sitting around the table eating and joking around. He smiled for a moment, watching as Petrov and Dee picked on Wilkerson by throwing their stale protein bars at him. A young women with light blue hair looked up at Howard, smiling and waving him over, which he accepted.
�Hey sergeant, was wondering when you�d get out of that meeting with the boss.�
�Yeah, the Captain just had some minor concerns he wanted to bring up with me, nothing big.�
Petrov perked up, looking over at Howard. �It�s nothing to do with us right Howard?� Howard responded with a short laugh. �Nah� Petrov, you�re doing good besides your shit aim with the smartgun.�
Randal snickered a bit, and then ducked to avoid another protein bar chucked at his head, before speaking up. �Then why�s the Captain concerned? It�s just another typical colony-gone-dark scenario. Worst comes to worst, we gun down a bunch of stupid radicalist farmers, easy.�
Dee sighed, leaning back into his chair with a huff. �Yeah, easy until I have to put your arm back on you with duct tape and splints.� Randal laughed, then stopped, then laughed again. �Yeah right Jackson, good joke.�
Dee responded with a solemn look at Randal.
As they all broke out into a bit of laughter, Howard leaned back in his chair, watching them all crack jokes and have fun with each other. He closed his eyes, and smiled, except when he re opened them, he was back in his squad�s tent in Space-Nam�. He paused, seeing Lane and John pick on Everett, cracking jokes, while Elena turned and smiled at Howard.
�You okay Adan? You look like you�ve seen a ghost.�
He fell out of his chair, and when he stood up, everyone was staring at him.
�Adan, you alright?� Zoey was out of her seat, extending a hand to him. He grabbed it, pulling himself up and coughed. �Yeah, yeah i�m good. Just, kinda zoned out.� He smiled, before turning around. �I�m going to go check on my gear, you guys finish your breakfast.�
Howard walked out of the canteen, cursing at himself, while Zoey passed a concerned look over the rest of the squad, who shrugged off the encounter..
U.S.S. Almayer, 2186, 2100.
Howard sat in his prep, holding his sniper rifle tightly. He was fully kitted out in his uniform, armor, and boonie hat, along with his all-black face paint. Howard hadn�t exactly shaken off the experience from earlier, but he tried his best to put it behind him, taking deep breaths and walking out of his prep.
He met up with Zoey, who flashed a smile at him and elbowed him in the side. �So, drinks on you after the op� Howard?� Howard returned the warm smile, nodding. �Yeah, this time only though.� He bumped into another marine, backing up and apologized. The man turned around, and fixed his beret on his head. �It�s alright-, oh hey there Adan.�
Tal Ravis, a man who was equally as well known in the Falling Falcons for his superiority in stealth operations and attacks. �Hey there Ravis, long time no see. You on first drop duty as well?� Howard nodded, as Ravis joined him and Zoey as they walked down the hall.
�Yeah, me and my squad are dropping on the other side of the colony, while you land at the first LZ. Don�t worry Howard, i�ll try to leave some kills for ya� and your squad.� Ravis jested, before waving his goodbye as he jogged to the Normandy. �Yeah, good luck..� Howard trailed off, shaking his head and walking up the ramp onto Alamo.
His squad sat aboard the dropship, each with their own respective loadout and gear, sitting quietly in the back of it. Adan took his spot next to Zoey, resting his sniper on his lap, closing his eyes. He felt a hand on his shoulder, and he turned his head and opened his eyes, beginning to say something. �Yeah, wh-..� he cuts himself off, seeing Elena smiling at him.
�It�s alright Adan. Don�t worry about it, it�ll be a quick operation like the last one.� She tilted her head a bit, putting on a worried look. �You don�t look so good though.�
Howard shook his head, blinking a few times, and looking at a worried looking Zoey. �What�s wrong Adan? You�ve been acting real strange ever since we woke up from cryo..�
He sighed, rubbing his face and leaning back in his seat. �Yeah.. yeah i�ve just been thinking about my old squad a lot today. Some days are worse than others, but don�t worry bout� it Speck. Let�s just get through this operation.� He smiled at her, and then nodded towards the others of his squad.
Petrov had a solemn look on his face, his smartgun resting on his harness, while Randal and Dee bickered about something irrelevant, and Howard sighed, looking up at the ceiling. Just another quick operation.
alright gamers it's time to restart the thread and get the story going again, i'll try to update it every now and then but i'm a slow writer xoxo
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