***** MISSION ONE - The Eye Opens *****
"By now you will no doubt have heard."
The helmeted figure's voice was oddly hollow, mechanical. Only a visor above leathers to convey any sort of emotion... and an understated Gamma badge over the heart to show the core of the speaker's identity.
"I am Major Rourke, and as of 0600 hours this morning, you take your orders from me. The Gamma Coalition, which, I am sure, you've never heard of, is reclaiming their Arcane Special Ops wing... which you fondly know as Anvil's Ascent."
The figure stood at ease, its visor sweeping the stunned and in some cases surly gathering before it.
"Sack O'Anvils has been put on a leave of absence."
There were murmurs, and the overriding question was how anyone could put Sack on a leave of absence he didn't want to take...
"He was given command of the Arcane Special Ops wing on a highly respected Coalition member's recommendation, as his experience was considered to outweigh concerns about his personal quirks. Those quirks now pose more of a threat than his experience does a benefit."
More murmurs. Sack had saved many lives there. What threat was this officious fellow talking about?
"Sack O'Anvils endangered many of your lives pursuing age-old enemies of his own. As direct result of this, another threat was given sufficient time and space to grow, until it ultimately abducted one of your own number. Young Sam is a casualty of the breakdown of the chain of command. Now that the chain has been reforged, perhaps some ground can be made up."
Silence. The red-lit visor surveyed the crowd once more before nodding.
"You will receive your orders shortly. Consider yourselves on standby. You are now what you should always have been; recruits of the Gamma Coalition. Dismissed."