//------------------------------// // Those left behind // Story: A Just Cause // by Tisbutascratch //------------------------------// Wajah Ramah Panauan Government Fortress Panau 11:20am local time 10/07/10 An short Panauan man in green suit stood in one of the many gardens that were part of his ancient Japanese styled fortress. Another man, a man of Indian descent with dark skin that reflected the amount of time he spent outside and was wearing a Panauan military colonel’s uniform was also in the inside garden waiting to bear the full force of Pandak’s rage. “What do you mean he disappeared?!” Pandak “Baby” Panay shouted at one of surviving colonels, colonel Abdul Rahman, causing Pandak’s chameleon to scamper away and disappear into one of the bushes that decorate the interior of his personal fortress. “Look what you made me do, Rahman explain what the fuck happened out there.” Pandak demanded. “Well after we shot him down we deployed troops to recover the wreckage but there was no remains of the Titus, Sir.” Abdul Rahman whimpered, not wanting to be one of the participants at the next “Happy Execution Day”. “Wait a minute, a Titus ZJ where did he get that?” President Panay enquired. “A metallic silver Titus ZJ hardtop, he stole it from outside Panau International Airport, Sir.” Abdul replied. “And you say there were no remains of it?, are you sure it wasn‘t vaporised” Pandak asked. “Both G9 pilots can confirm seeing the Titus fall towards the ground, so it couldn't have been vaporised, Sir.” Colonel Rahman replied. “It could have been Airlifted out.” Panay Retorted. “The two G9s were ordered to engage any aircraft that flew within a kilometre radius. Until the ground forces arrived, Sir.” Colonel Rahman stated. “Could he have slipped past our ground forces?” The dictator asked. “Unlikely, but that wouldn’t explain the missing Titus, Sir.” the colonel responded. “How many aircraft did the G9s engage?” Panay questioned. “Two Peek Airhawk 225s, one from Kampung Tujuh Telaga and the other from Teluk Permata, One red Cassius 192 from the Mile High Club, One Pell Sliverbolt 6 from Teluk Permata Airport and One Muller Skeeter Hawk from Kampung Tujuh Telaga as well, Sir.” Abdul answered. “Didn’t you try and hail them first?” Pandak asked. “The G9s orders were shoot first, ask questions later, Sir.” Colonel Rahman replied. “What kind of idiot issued those orders?” President Panay questioned. “You did, Sir.” Abdul stated. “Fair enough, this meeting is over.” Pandak stated. “Sir” Colonel Rahman replied as he saluted then left the room closing the door behind him. Pandak waited a few moments then gestured his ninjas to come forward out of the shadows where they had watched the entire meeting from. “I want you all to search every inch of Panau until find this “Scorpio” if he turns up alive, I want you to pay Colonel Rahman a visit, you have your orders now go.” Pandak stated and as quick as they had appeared the ninjas were gone. Unnamed Island Near Pekan Kesuma Panau 22:30pm local time 10/07/10 Two agency operatives were amongst a small Agency stockpile on the east side of the unnamed island. One of them, a fully developed woman with blonde hair and blue eyes was sitting beside a campfire poking it with a stick. The other, an older man, with greying brown hair and wearing a Hawaiian shirt was rummaging through the various hard cases laying around on the beach. “Maria, we’ve just gotta sit tight, wait for the Agency to send reinforcements.” Tom Sheldon, Rico’s mentor and friend said as he attempted to assure Maria Kane, former US Army ranger and Rico’s ex girlfriend. “I know but I can’t believe Rico is dead, you know?” Maria sighed “He ain’t dead just missing, you know MIA?” Tom said, “He’s survived worse you know.” “Who’d you think they’ll send?” Maria asked, trying to think about something else. “Dunno some by the book greenhorn, probably.” Tom replied, “Maybe if we’re lucky they'll send someone who’s held a gun before.” “Maybe if we’re lucky.” Maria replied sombrely. Their discussion was cut short when a they both began to hear the unmistakable sound of a helicopter flying to the island. It was a Black H-62 Quapaw. It hovered above the Stockpile, for a few moments before ropes came out the doors and a squad sized unit repelled from the Quapaw, before it flew away back out to sea to the waiting US carrier. The entire unit was wearing multicam fatigues, tan boots, tan load bearing equipment, Modular Tactical Vests, olive drab balaclavas and USMC standard Lightweight helmets. They were all carrying an assortment of weapons and gear as well. “We heard you could use some help.” One of the disembarked operatives shouted, “ Bravo Actual, A.S.A.D.*.” He proceeded to shake Tom Sheldon’s out stretched hand. “Tom Sheldon, and that‘s Maria Kane, so you’re the reinforcements?” Tom Sheldon replied. “Affirmative, this my team, Bravo 2.” Bravo Actual stated. “All callsigns, no names?” Maria enquired. “Negative.” Bravo Actual replied. “So what’s your name?” Tom asked. “Classified.” Bravo Actual replied monotonously. “This is going to be a long night.” Maria sighed. Ponyville Equestria 10:23am Panauan Time 10/07/10 Earth Date When Rico awoke his head felt like it was going to explode but that wasn’t the first thing he noticed, it was the seven sets of eyes staring at him. He pretended not to notice them even though their hiding places were blatantly obvious like under the carpet or behind the curtains or the pink horse with the lampshade on it‘s head, “Wait what a pink horse.” Rico thought. He glanced over at the curtains again and saw a set of sea foam green hoofs. “I must have finally lost it or I did see a yellow horse before blacking out, if this is real this is now what’s on top of my “Weirdest shit I have ever seen” list way above Hantu Island.” He said subconsciously, he looked at his right arm he saw gone was the crude car seat bandage, it had been replaced by a proper bandage that was professionally done. tight, but not so that his arm would start turning blue, the glass had also been removed from his wounds, he then felt his head and there was also professionally tied bandage around his head, felt down his sides for his Signature pistol and SMG but they were gone. He looked around the room and saw them, along side his assault rifle and grappling hook on a table, that was parallel to the sofa he was laying on. But that wasn’t what got his attention, under the table was the yellow horse. “Speak of the devil.” He thought. On the horse's flank was three butterflies. "Strange? Oh well time to do what I do best. Scare people." Rico thought letting out a snort of laughter, causing the yellow one to squeak. "You do realize I can see all of you." Rico deadpanned * A.S.A.D. :Agency.Special.Applications.Division Author's notes I've decided to change Rico's pistol to his Signature Pistol And that's it for chapter 3 of "A Just Cause"