In his opinion, Private First-Class Jonah Simon had always found flaws with fantastical, and science fiction stories. Star Wars, Star Trek, Sleeping Beauty, Harry Potter, even Summoning Japan: all contained unrealistic and unbelievable circumstances ranging from a boy that can control powerful magic, to a whole nation that is whisked away into a world of fantasy.

With western media he found that it could be acceptable since each world is built within its own self-contained universe. However, when it came to some Russian novels he had read and many of the eastern media; the idea of taking someone from an ordinary world and throwing them to the wolves of some fantasy land was something he couldn’t stomach easily. Such people, primarily adolescent teenagers, often were over-excited shouting “This is what I was made for!” Or “I am the chosen one!” Such scenarios drained all his energy and made it to where he didn’t want to continue such a story.

Yet here he was—a world of fantasy surrounded him. And beside him, Princess Leccamaradel waited, looking out a nearby window with a bored expression. She was the pinnacle example of a fantasy story, the princess who would fall in love for a knight in white armor. Looking at her from the corner of his eye, the nineteen-year-old still wondered how she never had a large group of men fawn over her with her close female friends raising her to new heights.

Right… He was living in reality; he and the others were nothing more than service members living in a country not theirs with a member of royalty right beside them throughout their entire journey.

Knowing his life had taken a complete 180, the young man leaned against the wall he occupied within the small hallways he and the princess occupied. Just outside, children from Class A were engaging in an exercise using their magic; for a school that focused on engineering and new technologies, it seemed the academy, and furthermore, the government ran students through semi-militaristic training sequences. For what reason, he didn’t know, but it seemed whatever would prompt the people to do such a thing was well ingrained in either the history of the Federation or its culture.

Thinking to his oath of allegiance to the Federation, a part of him wanted to lower his hand and walk away. He wasn’t the most patriotic, especially towards America, but he was someone who did value the idea of one’s nationality and how they supported it. Working under the OMFS made him alienated to what he stood for.

Watching Princess Leccamaradel watch the exercise from the center of the hall, the young man couldn’t help but feel odd since she was just now one piece in a puzzle of many; Task Force Spare, Kilo Six, The Reclaimers… The squadron they were in was filled with odd people that came from all walks of life. Choosing to become a member of the 75th Ranger Regiment wasn’t always something he enjoyed, but the life he had throughout his career was something he wouldn’t trade no matter what someone offered him. She like the others he had served with had cemented herself into a part of his mind, as well as the squadron that operated without support in another world.

Being one that didn’t know how to proceed, Simon quietly walked to a door leading to the outside field where the students worked together with the advisors and Professor Naima. He was always to wait at the back of the room or shut himself away in his barracks; it wasn’t odd for him to seemingly “disappear” from public view both during deployments and his time stateside, and once again here he was seemingly being forgotten by the princess as she continued to look out towards the display of colored magic happening outside.

Walking out into the crisp breeze that blew over the whole Federation, Simon snuggly secured the slim black scarf that sat around his neck. His fingers slowly buttoned the thicker pea-coat looking jacket he had on ever since he graduated from the OMFS academy. His hazel eyes drew over the myriad of colors that spouted from several of the students as they were currently locked in target practice. A brief memory of Ranger School flashed over his mind before he shoved his hands into his pant pockets and leaned against the brick pillar that he had found nearby.

“Cold—”

Hearing a noise behind him, the young man turned his head as he realized something felt off.

“Sergeant. What brings you around here?”

“No need to act so stiff.”

Walking up to him, Sergeant Malkovich quietly stood adjacent to Simon as he adjusted the plate carrier, he had on with the two of his hands.

“Don’t mind me, I just wanted to swing on by. See what this side of the academy had to offer.”

“…Yeah, it sure offers something…” Simon said in a sarcastic manner while keeping his voice down.

“Shut the hell up.” Letting out a curt sigh, Malkovich ran his hand into the pocket of his shirt and withdrew a carton of cigarettes. Putting it in his mouth, he withdrew a specialty made silver lighter than used to light the bud. “—Field Commander has a special mission for us, and one of us will be working solo for a bit.”

“Huh…?”

“Apparently they found a mole.” Staying in his spot and continuing to explain the details of the mission that the Field Commander provided, Malkovich’s face expressions began to slowly scrunch in frustration as Simon listened to every word he said. What was being ordered was something the two and the others were unfamiliar with, but he spoke of what he was asked with no room for hiding his emotions.

“—They want us to watch that girl. Then kill her if we confirm her involvement with the data breach.”

Turning back to the field being used by Class A, Simon remained silent as his Sergeant expected an immediate response, even words of denial. He was left somewhat dumbfounded by the orders, everything that he was told didn’t make much sense, but it was clear that the Federation had something against this girl that had caused them enough trouble for her to be put under a watchlist by region 12. Going even as far as putting Gold Team, the countries premier counter-terrorist magician squadron on standby, it was clear that the data breach involved sensitive material or documents.

“Over three-hundred-thousand are at stake.” Sergeant Malkovich said taking another draft from the cigarette he held in his left hand. “The mission has a thirty-percent chance to succeed.”

Raising his eyebrow at the percentage provided, Simon shifted uncomfortably as he kept his eyes on the students that cheerfully crowded blue-haired boy wearing glasses. His bright smile provided a warm feeling to all those around. “So, I guess the question is if we would kill a child for the sake of this country…” He hummed, looking for a reason to leave.

“These people… They deserve a life. No matter where we go it seems our lives have been dedicated to either saving lives or ending them. I still can’t believe we’re in this situation to begin with even though I’m the one that brought up the topic of web-novels when we were in that shithole of a void.”

Taking in the sudden confession, Simon reapproached the conversation in a different manner, “Do you want to leave? Go back?”

“I can’t say.”

A small sigh escaped the sergeant’s lips.

“We swore an oath to defend not only the constitution, but the people of the United States. Without a country that stands with us, we have no other choice than to find something to latch ourselves onto. No matter where we go, no matter who we’ve served with, our brothers have always moved forward with the intention of saving those we love and protecting the innocent.”

Flicking his shortened cigarette, the ember laced bud fell to the ground into a small puddle of water that just laid below Malkovich’s boots.

“In this world we don’t get to decide who is innocent and who is guilty.” He coughed out pressing a clenched fist against his chest. “The least we can do is find the truth of whatever is happening… We can do that much before we find a way home.”

Adjusting the button-down shirt he wore underneath his jacket, Simon listened as silence once more filled the surrounding area. In the distance he looked upon two groups of people seemingly getting into a conflict…

Erupting in the distance, a large dust cloud formed where the students were standing as panic screams and alerted shouts echoed around the field. The small shockwave was quick, and it slammed against the walls and windows of the school thankfully causing minimal damage. Not sparing a second Simon and Malkovich sprinted forward with Lecca moving hot on their tails.

Breaking through the dust and snapping his hands to the pistol that laid dormant on his thigh, Simon watched as two students remained deadlocked with their blades clashing against each other.

“I’ll put you in your place!”

“C’mon! Let’s do this!”

Recognizing the boy with blue hair, Simon found it hard to believe he was showing such anger only after being celebrated by his fellow students minutes ago. Pressing the release on his holster, he withdrew his handgun as he kept it in the low ready. Across from the blue haired boy was a boy with raven-black hair. Looking to be the attacker the raven-haired boy pressed forward making his blade push the blue-haired boy’s blade to his throat.

“Stop! Both of you!” Malkovich bellowed while stepping forward leaving his hand on the hip-holster he had attached to his belt.

“Hey!” Simon called out as he spotted a brown-haired girl sprinting towards the two boys while outreaching her hands.

As the boy’s moved to retaliate against one another, their arms both grew with red and blue colors respectively as a large amount of energy flowed through their veins. Before a second explosion could occur, a familiar sight happened again: Princess Lecca rushed forward while raising her arm sending out a single beam of pure mana towards the trio’s feet.

With determined eyes, a pulse that was forced from the two boy’s blades was suddenly countered by Lecca’s nullification. The pressure was shattered like the sound of glass breaking, and Simon clutched his left ear with his only free hand as the distorted wave of wind slammed into his body.

Standing firm with her hand still outstretched, the white skirt and black-unbuttoned blazer Lecca wore fluttered violently in the wind as she kept grip on the line of mana that was tethered to her palm. Her silver hair was slightly dirtied, yet it shined in the clearing sunrays that beamed down from the cloudy blue skies above. Under the chilling winds, Lecca remained ready for the shadows of the boys sheltered themselves from the blast and the darkness that arrived with the second dust cloud that only covered the two.

Gazing from her covered position, the brown-haired girl looked upon the princess, seemingly entranced by the light that shined upon her every move.

“......” The princess remained quiet as a soft hum escaped her lips. Her brown eyes were drawn to a small dot on the young teenager’s hand.

“Boss?” Malkovich called out waking the princess’s sense back up.

“Stand down.” She ordered.

Feeling his heart pounding as he listened to the order through his only uncovered ear, Simon reluctantly lifted his right hand and placed his pistol into its holster. It took five seconds for Sergeant Malkovich to do the same, but soon enough the men returned to a ready position waiting for the moment for something to make them spring into action once more.

Watching, waiting. Only the soft breaths of the boys and the pounding heart inside his own chest were the only thing the PFC could hear as several instructors and Professor Naima moved and encircled the boys with their weapons by their sides.

Letting the tether attached to her hand go, the gentle strand of mana dissipated as it touched the ruined grass and dirt below. Her first steps were not towards the girl on the ground and not the two boy’s who were being overseen by the instructors.

“You.” Lecca said as she stood over the girl, the wind calming and gently shifting her white skirt.

“You can wield Nullification. One of the ancient arts.”

“What…” Simon let slip out as he stepped forward towards the two boys that had been successfully healed by one of the instructors. With Malkovich by his side, they restrained the two as Ms. Naima walked towards Lecca with a glare in her eye and a chip on her shoulder from memories past, she grasped a knife hidden by her dress.

“Ms. Araish…” The professor said gripping the knife. “May I ask where you have heard of that, and where you gained access to it?” She said in a soothing voice.

Knowing that the woman would charge at her if she provided any hostile intentions, the princess took a small breath as she calmed herself and rid the tension in her body. Gently turning around with both of her hands visible, Lecca presented her palm and held it upwards. “I was born with such magic.” She stated looking at the woman’s blade and materializing an exact replica made of pure mana. “I have the ability to create weapons, though the mana I produce has to come into direct contact with whomever I am targeting.”

The students that weren’t being moved to the nearby hospital or infirmary for check-ups slowly crowded around the group of people that stopped the second explosion, many looking at the princess-disguised- intelligence agent with interested and hopeful eyes.

“It seems your student works in a similar manner.” Lecca said with a soft smile as she winked at the nervous girl still lying on the ground. “We magicians are far-and-few, but we hold a special purpose in this world: with those that wish to do harm to the world, we act as the final shield that protect the innocent.” She said momentarily turning her eyes to Malkovich and Simon who were listening intently. “Compared to other magicians, we do not hold any special powers that let us take over a country in a single night. Even with my years of experience, I still struggle to create a field to prevent others from casting…”

Coughing and standing up from where he stood, the raven-haired boy stumbled over wiping his dirtied face. “How the hell did you disrupt the blast?” He asked in a worn voice as he almost fell to the ground only to be caught by the girl with purple eyes.

“I used a tether of pure mana.” Lecca explained. “It’s hard to explain, but when two waves of mana interact with each other, one purified, one concentrated, they cancel out.”

Seemingly satisfied by the answer he received; the boy walked off with the golden-haired girl that the group had encountered the day before.

“So,” Professor Naima began as she eyed the two moving towards the interior of the building while being escorted by several instructors, “Why did the OMFS hide this from us?” She inquired slowly moving to holster the knife she had withdrawn.

Doing the same and dematerializing the knife she held in her left palm, Lecca turned to the woman, “I believe the OMFS had their reasons…” She said, not sure if the government had documented her powers during the confrontation in the frontier. “Though, whatever it is now, I can assure you that me and the others are here to help the students.”

“Yes, I suppose that this event proves as much.” Professor Naima hummed.

“The world of magic is quite the strange topic to study.” Lecca commented as she looked at the grand academy that stood before her and the group that was gathered around her. “Sometimes, as of late, I wonder how our lives would’ve changed if magic were not to exist.” She said sending sly smile to the two magic-less soldiers that averted their gazes drawing some attention from the more observant students. “Still. Perhaps magic could be a blessing in disguise.” She finished turning back and walking towards the two men.

Being watched by the students as the two Rangers fell in behind her made the princess weary of every step she took. With a sedated heart, she kept pace, her every step echoing in the narrow corridors and hallways that scoured the entire academy. All around, students from all years and all classes walked by as they moved to wherever their next destination was. From backpacks, to folders, and weapons, each student moved with a purpose as they moved past the trio. Simon and Malkovich were both on edge of the students that carried broadswords, short-swords, and bows; their experience in Africa during the conflict against the TIPA made the cautious of every person, even children.

“Malkovich, we’ve got a lot of people and instructors moving with medical equipment all over the school…” Captain Thompson’s voice grew from the radio Sergeant Malkovich had attached to his plate carrier. Rasing his left hand and firmly grasping the device, much to the interest of the princess and Simon.

“Just a training accident.” Malkovich half-lied. “Something happening over there?”

Seemingly unconvinced by what the sergeant said, Thompson grunted before responding, “Either way, Mike has come back with news from the OMFS office downtown.”

“They want more? I thought we would give them the basics.” Simon said confused.

“Orders from the top: they want us to attend some ball in order to meet a government official to confirm our citizenship and status as intelligence agents. Beyond that, I have no idea what the event is going to have in store for us, Officer Phillips should be able to fill us in when we’re on our way tomorrow morning.”

“Tomorrow!?” Lecca exclaimed slightly shocked at the revelation.

“Rog’, see you soon Captain.”

“Yeah, meet back up at the brief room in twenty mikes”

“Ball?” Simon murmured loud enough for the other two to hear his voice.

Chuckling to herself, Lecca hummed as she voiced her mind, “It’s been over five years since I’ve danced with someone… I wonder whom I will choose this time…”

Cringing his face, Malkovich shared a glance with Simon who was equally as drained from the sudden words spoken. The two both knew who she would choose, and it took every fiber of their bodies to not suddenly say his name.

“I-I’m sure you’ll find someone.” Simon commented taking a deep breath to not suddenly burst out laughing.

Seemingly understanding the PFCs words, the princess kept her head forward as she tried to hide her flustered state. She rubbed her hands together as the three finally arrived at the resting room- turned briefing room. Corporal Richard was the only one present as he stood above a small cup and filter that contained coffee grinds. “Glad to see you guys made it. Hard an explosion happened at the field, Captain was going crazy.” He chimed as he poured boiling water into the secured filter.

“Still trying to get out of patrol duty, Corporal?” Sergeant Malkovich said with an edge in his voice.

Freezing, the man felt a bead of sweat run down the side of his head, “No Sergeant! Just was looking for a cup of coffee!”

“Coffee?” Like a switch, Malkovich’s annoyance turned into confusion instantly. Walking over to the still stiff corporal, he looked at the filter that he had just watched boiling water be dumped into. “I thought we all agreed on saving our packets until we found a way back to Earth?” He said skeptical of the burgundy colored just sitting within the cup.

“Yeah! Can you believe it!? The school said they sourced their beans from a local farm just outside of the capital.” With a cheerful voice, Richard moved to remove the filter and showed the piping hot liquid to the sergeant.

“Horses, coffee, ants, trees…” Listing off several items, Malkovich recalled all the things he and the others had seen since their arrival within the Kingdom of Yondel, and their subsequent journey through the frontier. Shaking his head, he rid himself of such thoughts as he turned to the young man beside him. “Got any more cups?”

“Uh…” Looking around the area, Richard was able to scrounge up three more cups made of pure steel. The make of the objects somewhat confused the sergeant as he slunk back into one of the many scattered seats around the room. He expected a technological nation that incorporated magic to be well ahead in all forms of technology, yet it seemed they had hit several roadblocks in some aspects of life. Rubbing the cup with his ungloved hand, he couldn’t help but wonder if the Federation had the opportunity to become a superpower like America, Russia, Afghanistan, India or China, but only time would tell, and he hoped he and the others would be long gone by then.

“Mike, what’s your status on the “interview?” Suddenly hearing Thompson’s voice over the radio, the Malkovich listened as the other three talk amongst themselves.

“Just finished up a few minutes ago. A liaison from the NIA was present, but they asked nothing regarding military technology, though they did go over the ammunition created by the old Sage.”

“I see… Did you happen to ask them about tomorrow’s event?”

“Yeah—some of them were surprised we knew about it, but Phillips was there to cover my ass.”

“That’s good.” Sounding relived, Thompson let out a sigh, “Can’t say what would happen if they knew that the Field Commander was keeping them in the dark.”

“I don’t know… But it seems that our line to one of the members within the government may be able to get us back to Earth…” Lecca froze in place as a small, barely noticeable frown crossed her lips.

“Alright.” Thompson ordered, “Get out of there before someone calls you out. We’ll meet back at the apartment block within the next two hours?”

“Got it Captain—those boy’s wont be able to keep up with us.” Sergeant Randall chuckled as he clocked off the radio.

“Rangers lead the way.” Captain Thompson finished as he too did the same.

Being handed a cup of coffee by the Corporal, Sergeant Malkovich let the blazing hot liquid touch the inside of his mouth. The sensation made him calm as he let his mind calm: the reality he and the others were placed in was something to be admired yet take into question at the same time. All the time his former high school friends tried to get him into web-novels or stories not from the west was something he wished he did before… Living in a world of fantasy was difficult for him to comprehend at times, but he had slowly begun to accept what this world offered.

Simon was in much the same boat. His opinions remained firm against such stories, but a part of him had began to open to the idea that perhaps something was out there waiting for humanity. Perhaps this was what was waiting, perhaps not. He wouldn’t know the answer and he never would; the least he could do was live day to day, trying to make sense of all the unbelievable occurrences Task Force Spare had come across.

At times all the men felt that their brothers, the Delta Force Operatives, Pakistani SSG, Night Stalkers, and other infantry units throughout the world watched over them like ghosts performing recon over their next targets.

Ghosts… Perhaps they did exist…

Simon quietly wondered how the ghost of PFC Green was doing in the heavenly blue skies above…

Publicly Available Information: Office of Military and Federal Security – Chain of Command:

The OMFS has an established chain of command that helps oversee in both intelligence and security operations throughout the Federation and beyond…

Director

Deputy Director

Head of Operations

Commander of Operations

Chief Commander

Field Commander(s)

Division Commander(s)

Commanding Officer(s)

Case Officers(s)

Field Officer(s)

Intelligence Agent(s)

Special Agent(s)

Field Agent(s)

Note – All Officers and Agents have some authority over one another during intelligence and security missions within the state and outside of the Federation. Cells are established for internal chain of command, but each unit can operate autonomously during high-risk missions beyond support of the Division Commander(s), Field Commander(s) or Chief Commander.

A Division is made up of 5 Squadrons. Each squadron is made up of 4 Teams. Each Team is made of 5 Cells:

Division: 1000 Personnel

Squadron: 200 Personnel

Team: 50 Personnel

Cell: 10 Personnel