The legionnaire put out their spent cigarette as they pulled out another. They looked out from the tower window at the city down below. The sight of children was something to behold. Except that these were legionnaires that were still in training or were stationed to guard the city. Kar’shan, the city of children, as it was often called. To some it was a myth, and to these fellow legionnaires it was their home. The sight distracted them from the birds’ incessant racket. The smell of the cigarette replaced his nostrils with the distinct odor of bird feces. They let out a puff of smoke as another bird arrived. The bird perched itself as the legionnaire pulled out the message.

-... ..- .. .-.. -.. / ..- .--. / .. -. / .-.. .- -.- . / -.- .-. . - .- / -.- -. .. --. .... - ... / --- ..-. / .- --. .-. .. .--. .--. .. -. .- / .... .- ...- . / -... . . -. / -- --- -... .. .-.. .. --.. . -.. / -. --- .-. - .... / --- ..-. / .-.. .- -.- . / .- .-.. -- .- .-. .-. .-

27396-11386-BB

The message was written using an encrypted language that made it difficult for the Dolsurians to decipher. At least as far as they knew. The legionnaire did not not know the contents of the message, but there was one thing that they recognized. That was the Blackbird insignia at the bottom followed by a list of numbers.

“Blackbird…” Said the legionnaire as they put the message back into the tube, and raced down the stairs to get it decrypted.

The legionnaire reached the acquisition’s office where there were dozens of legionnaires decrypting messages from all over. The legionnaire knocked on the office door.

“Come in.”

“Sir we’ve just received a priority one message. It’s from a Blackbird sir. We need to verify it’s authenticity.”

“Give the message here.”

The legionnaire handed them the message. They looked over the message for a minute before they pulled out a form, and filled it out.

“I want you to take this message, and the form to the Signals Intelligence Office. They’ll take care of the rest.”

“Yes sir.”

The legionnaire left the building with all due haste. They raced down the street to the Signals Intelligence Office which was located just one block away. The legionnaire walked into the building, and stepped into the offices where there was a large table with a map of Karash and Dol-Sur. Legionnaires surrounded the map as they moved small figures back and forth. Each legionnaire that surrounded the map was handed a paper by another legionnaire then they would move a piece on the board.

“Somebody move the pieces back on the Zibellian Line. Our charge was ineffective. We were unable to break through.”

“Were they decimated?”

“They suffered ninety percent casualties. These are a combination of knights and paladins by the way.”

Then the pieces were moved back.

“Any of you smartasses bet on the knights and paladins?” Yelled a legionnaire as the pieces were moved back.

“FUCK NO!” Yelled almost everyone in the entire room collectively.

“Damn straight! Always bet on the legionnaires.”

The legionnaire moved past the hall until they reached the main office. They knocked on the door.

“It better be good news.”

“I’m not sure sir.” Said the legionnaire as they walked inside.

“What is it?”

“Here.”

The legionnaire handed him the message and the form signed by the head of acquisitions.

“Blackbird huh? Well then you can run along now. I’ll take it from here.”

“Sir.”

Intelligence Officer

The intelligence officer looked at the encrypted message. Standard protocol when receiving an encrypted message from a Blackbird was to verify the identity first followed by verification of information. The first was rather easy and simple as all one had to do was cross reference past messages from the same Blackbird to ensure that it was them and not a forged signature. Because forging a signature might be easy the second step, and always the hardest was to verify its veracity with other pieces of intel. Since Signal Intelligence received multiple messages of troop allocations, movements, deployments, and such they would have to cross reference with those pieces of information to see whether or not they could act upon said information.

The officer made their way down the building towards the basement, where they keep archived Blackbird messages. The officer reached the archives which were sealed behind a reinforced metallic door with a dozen armed legionnaires.

“Sir!” All the legionnaires stood at attention.

“At ease. I need to get inside to verify the identity of one of our Blackbirds.”

“Right away sir.”

The door itself required thirteen keys to open in a specific sequence. One was held by the Signal Intelligence Officer and the rest by the legionnaires that stood guard. If one obtained the keys they would be unable to get inside without the proper order. When the vault door unlocked four legionnaires pulled open the massive reinforced door.

Inside were shelves filled with boxes that contained almost every secret the legionnaires held dear: secret bases and outposts, military operations past and present, details on legionnaire squadrons, and of course Blackbird operations among other things. The officer walked inside the vault where upon they made contact with a podium that had a directory of where the files where located. They trekked down the narrow hallways as they looked for the section with information on the Blackbird operatives and operations. They reached a series of boxes with a series of numbers followed by the letters BB. Finally he found the boxes with his specific Blackbird.

They pulled out one of the boxes and opened it. The file was an after action report of Operation Daggerfall.

Purpose: Operation Daggerfall’s objective is to determine the best methods to infiltrate Liebe, and the royal palace. Upon determination of said method further evaluation will determine whether legionnaire elements deployed shall engage in assassination, espionage, and infiltration.

[Re-purpose]: Upon continued heavy losses at the hands of Dol-Sur’ use of Spyre’s machines Operation Daggerfall, and legionnaire assets special tasks group (STG) dubbed Kavahn shall redouble their efforts in infiltrating the royal palace. Upon successful infiltration Kavahn Legionnaires shall remove control scepter for immediate termination of Dol-Sur’s army. All other objectives such as the assassination of the royals, military officials, and Sovereign Knight Sethos are considered secondary and unimportant.

Overview: Intelligence provided by Blackbird operative 27396-11386-BB assisted Kavahn Legionnaires in infiltrating the palace for the completion of their mission. Only five Kavahn Legionnaires survived from the thirty sent in. Amongst them was Corporal Hyewon, Sergeant Onyx Albion, Private Adren, Private Layton Fruhm, and Corporal Yahniv. Sergeant Albion successfully completed his mission along with legionnaire survivors from other regiments, and one civilian.

Response: Upon further examination we can confirm that infiltration is possible, but not for the foreseeable future as Dol-Sur will undoubtably enhance security protocols.

For further reading please consult Battle of Tofar After Action Report.

The officer put the file back, and sifted through looking for any other relevant documents. At least he knew that the Blackbird operative was responsible for assisting the Kavahn Legionnaires with their mission. He pulled out another box, and grabbed another file. This file was on the Blackbird operative themselves.

Blackbird Operative 27396-11386-BB

Current Occupation…

“No fucking way… They’re… Well I’ll be.” The officer set the file back in its place along with the box.

The officer left the vault and walked back to the offices to verify the information that had been sent. He entered an office that had several dozen legionnaires deciphering messages as they tried to make a dent in the large stacks of paper in their respective desks. The officer stood in the center of the room.

“Everyone listen up!”

The legionnaires stopped everything, and looked at him for their instructions.

“We have just received a Blackbird message that reads as follows: BUILD UP IN LAKE KRETA KNIGHTS OF AGRIPPINA HAVE BEEN MOBILIZED NORTH OF LAKE ALMARRA. I need everyone to verify with other pieces of intel to verify that the Dolsurians are mobilizing the Knights of Agrippina, and are attempting to build their strength at the island of Kreta. Now get to it!”

All the legionnaires shuffled through the papers past and present looking for any piece of intel that corroborated the Blackbird’s message.