Ignis was supposed to be a fortress, David Harding thought. He and five other people stood watching the distant burning city through noting but a glass window. Those around him watched in horror as the capital building to the city was engulfed in orange-red flames. All over the site firefighters rushed to the scene with their engines trying to stave off the encroaching fire from reaching any other building. Death and destruction littered the entire city, and for once, the president of the Federation wished he was back in the nation’s capital city mulling over endless waves of paperwork. It was a horrific sight witnessing the aged, brick building burning away into nothing but ashes. From what he understood there were numerous victims held within, and now their bodies were to merely turn to cinder as the lives they once held simply faded away. David had become accustomed to the reality the Grim Reaper brought. And all he could do was watch Death take hold once more, and there was nothing he could do to stop it.

Some part of him wanted for all this to simply end, and it was leading to thoughts of war. Logical thinking was quickly being replaced by emotions, and this was dangerous; war brought hate, and there was plenty to go around already.

“President Harding,” To the call of Captain Oliver Thompson’s voice, the man turned away from the window.

“Agent?” Just beyond the OMFS captain that he had recently been introduced to—five other agents stood around the room with their weapons drawn and rested against their bodies. They had taken refuge inside of a governmental federal accounting and economic management office. Those that were still inside was nothing more than a skeleton crew that worked with private security to lock up and prevent the loss of any critical information found within, but lucky enough the fires of the riots that broke out through the city had yet to reach their precinct on the south side.

“Dimond Squadron of the 2nd Tactical Response Group have just extracted from the underground network and are moving to Ignis Medical Hospital for treatment of wounds sustained during their raid.”

“And the status of target Raven?”

“No joy on priority target, but three, unknown weapon systems were destroyed during the raid leaving his forces crippled and open to apprehension.”

“So, he’s still at large. That fucking bastard.”

The one responsible for all the turmoil happening within Federation and against the Kingdom of Yondel had escaped once more. Even more, there was evidence to suggest that Raven had long left Zivaland before the onset of the attack on the nation’s critical power infrastructure. No one, not even the NIA knew what the rogue hero had planned for the Federation or Yondel. His actions were spiritic, unorganized and from a first glance it only seemed that the mad man wanted to cause as much direct harm as possible. President Harding knew better though. Project Forerunner; something that would tip the power balance of the world was discovered during one of the first raids to find Raven. Decipherers had discovered an increase of attention onto the Frontier, more particularly a sector that had been designated a “Dark Zone” by the Federation. This was a place where all expeditionary personnel experienced communication breakdowns and fought against the fiercest of hostile factions, both ancient monsters and deadly human splinter organizations.

The Mobile Security Force (MSF), was initially created to secure and contain the unknown elements within the Dark Zone, but as of late they had their hands tied with investigating and hunting down rogue agents of the NIA and OHFI and containing the unstable situation throughout the Federation.

“Mr. President?” This time Lieutenant David Patterson stepped up keeping his unfamiliar rifle close to his body.

“Please tell me those weapon systems had nothing to do with the attack on the power plants.”

“No. They have no direct relation to those attacks, sir.”

Good. This allowed the president to split his forces accordingly. He wouldn’t have to commit any military personnel to secure the gear, and now he could let the NIA walk all over the experimental technologies to research them and disable them. What worried him wasn’t that this technology that could be used as a weapon of mass destruction existed, no that was par for the course at this point. If the Kingdom of Yondel had access to this weaponry or the means to research and develop them then the Federation would be brought down on its knees as they would deploy such horrors in the event of war. Raven, the rogue hero was the progenitor for a larger attack, and now the time allotted by the clock was rapidly running out.

“Mr. President, we need to get you out of here. The situation had rapidly deteriorated in downtown Ignis.” Thompson suggested pointing at the orange glow that encapsulated the city.

“Where?”

“We head north to the federal emergency bunker.”

“No. Get me to the congressional building. We are not running away from this.” President David ordered as he flashed a look towards the destroyed and burnt tomb that was slowly being revealed by the early morning light that cut through the unending dark.

“Sir, the area’s to hot.”

“Thompson, you know I have to do this.”

David saw the annoyed and disappointed look in the OMFS captain’s eyes. A simple explanation wouldn’t get him out of this shit-show, and there was little he could do to quell the growing riots unless he decided to use force against the civilians he swore to protect. In part he felt responsible for the deterioration of his nation. Terror attacks had sprung by 700% and now his in action to make the Kingdom of Yondel responsible for all this horror was finally beginning to bite him in the ass. “Let’s go gentlemen time to get to work!”

As he was the first one out the room, David held his breath as he raced to the elevator at the end of the hallway. He could feel Captain Thompson’s eyes boring into the back of his head. The captain had been jumpy ever since he was suddenly assigned to presidential duties, more specifically being the intelligence field agent that answered directly to the leader of the Federation. David had known officers like him during his short time as a Marine all those years ago. He could only hope the man would get himself together and be the feared captain that was spoken of in the many stories his secretaries had told.

Moving swiftly ahead of him, the presidential guards formed a perimeter around David as they moved to reconnect with team two that was waiting with the vehicles in the front lot of the accountant building. Walking from the heated interior into the brisk cold of the early morning made David shiver and press his eyes close as he tried to retain any warmth before it was diminished into nothingness. He wanted to awaken back in his home; awaken in a dream where he, Amanda, and their soon to be child would live a peaceful life far away from anything that would have the possibility of destroying the nation. Was such a dream too much to ask for? Yes, of course it was. Once more he would fight for a chance to live another day, and by the time he had opened his eyes in the security of the armored car that had been brought up by his agents, the distant orange glow reminded him that there was still much to accomplish before any child could grow up ignorant of the greater world.

“Mr. President, NIA Director Junes and National Defense Continuity Coordinator Yuki Price are up on REC-P.” One of his agents said handing an object over his shoulder.

Picking up the Radio Electromagnetic Communicator, a supped-up radio that was nothing more than fancy brick, David turned up the volume as his vehicle convoy moved at a steady speed towards the city of Ignis.

“Director, it’s not everyday that the NDCC wants to speak with me.” David took a sharp breath as he prepared himself for the following conversation that would arise in the desperate moments.

“Sharp as ever Mr. President, but I’m afraid time for pleasantries have long passed. Coordinator Price wishes to speak to you about the response to the attacks that have occurred over the last two months.”

“Of course. Put her on the line.”

“Mr. President.”

A feminine voice spoke on the radio.

“Price.”

“Sir, the Senate has convinced recently about the current state of national security and the crippled status of critical infrastructure throughout the nation and they have come to rely on Resolution 3-5-7 which will grant the them the authority to initiate a first-strike against the Kingdom of Yondel without your express permission. The Federal Court of Appeals have come to their side and the Supreme Court is soon to judge their actions in accordance with the War Initiation Act.”

Pressing his lips together and letting out a heavy sigh, David knew that any more resistance that he could muster to fight the Senate would be for nothing. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to punish the kingdom for their actions and lack of responsibility for their once proclaimed hero. There was too much at stake in both nations to warrant a war. For Yondel, intelligence pointed to them searching for a famed “Demon King”, Thompson and his fellow foreign soldiers added that much to the bigger picture. The Federation was looking to secure the Dark Zone in the Frontier, yet this growing conflict against Yondel had claimed many lives and the two nations were yet to engage in open war. Someone was pulling the strings behind what was going to turn into another global conflict. It had happened before and it will happen again, but David was using all the resources he could to uncover this monster that wished to see the world burn. No one in the Senate nor the military could understand his actions, so why would any governmental representative from Yondel even attempt to reach out to stop this madness?

There was nothing to gain from 200 years of pure silence. Yet time continued without missing a single beat.

“Price, you have to understand that this situation was going to rapidly deteriorate no matter what I did. I knew the Senate was going to pull this under me. If they want to launch a war against the kingdom right across our border, then so be it. You are the only one outside of the NIA and OMFS director that I’ve spoken about the threat held within the Frontier. Project Forerunner is just a cover for something we don’t understand, and I hope that you can direct at least someone to the Dark Zone so we can figure out what the hell is going on in there.”

He had to be sure that the men under his command did not stray from the mission. It was at the point where reasoning wouldn’t fly and al he had to show for evidence was recorded tapes and a few maps that could easily be written off as useless information. To David it was more than enough to warrant him activating the MSF and have them deploy alongside the remaining NOGS and Airborne troopers that were still loyal to the chain of command. He needed men that would walk into the night and eliminate the threat before they even though of returning home. It needed to be done, and if he hadn’t have taken that oath and spoken the words that would invoke the legacy of his presidency he would be ground-pounding with all his fellow brothers-in-arms.

“I’ll see what I can do, Mr. President.”

She seemed apprehensive.

“I understand that the Senate will have your hands tied, but this is the least that I could ask of you. Thank you, Coordinator.”

“Any time, sir.”

The line went dead. David surmised that the NDCC just used the NIA director to contact him.

“The entire government is against me right now?”

“Yes, as always, Mr. President.” The agent driving the vehicle responded.

“Well, what else is new.”

Within the next ten minutes the convoy finally reached the congressional building within Ignis. The immediate area had been cleared of practically everyone with exception for the presidential guard who stood around the entire complex wielding their new and more advance sub-machine guns. Scanning the area through the tinted windows, David was able to spot another twenty or thirty Sailors and Soldiers patrolling the grounds in disheveled combat uniforms and walking the perimeter with their bolt-action rifles. The majority of the men that were moving to secure the area had been working alongside first responders for over twenty-four hours to clean up and retrieve anything that might have survived the blaze that even now was still tearing through Ignis. What was once considered the crown jewel of the Federation was nothing more than ash and rubble.

“Extra security?”

David’s words went unanswered. Stepping out of the vehicle, the president noticed the large swaths of civilians operating out of makeshift tents helping those that were mortally wounded from the sudden attack. There working amongst them were young teenage boys who were dressed in combat unforms. They were the youngest that the Federation could ever hope to muster for their volunteer armed forces. Each of their young faces showed no emotion as they worked side by side moving body bags to trucks gathered nearby.

“Phoenix is on the move.” Speaking into his wrist, one of the agents helped guide the rest of the protective detail towards the front of the building.

Between the firefighters and paramedics that ran in and out of the building making sure the bricks weren’t going to suddenly break and collapse, the president and his entourage were concealed in the mist and steam that emanate from the once lively city.

The roof of the building had burned away and collapsed. Within the senate chambers was only recognizable by the stone desks that were set up, but everything else was completely gone, burnt away, and replaced by the scorches of the flames and black soot. Ladders and hoses were littering the grounds, and pools of water collected only to be tainted by ash and soot that floated down from high above.

The brave men and women that instantly responded to this horror saved many lives. Though they now stood in silence and solidarity. Twenty-five lives were lost. That had a paramount effect on the morale held between the first responders.

Reaching a center point at the stairwell entrance, David brushed his hands over a nearby railing that was covered in both ash and soot. It collected on his hand and painted his skin in ugly colors as he looked at it with his blue eyes. How may people would have to die before something was done? His actions led people to their deaths, his people. Sending no more than a company’s worth of military personnel to the Frontier wouldn’t stop any war, and this counterterrorism movement and campaign he had begun was beginning to fail at the seams. This attack on Ignis, no matter how small it was, showed that this was no war on terror, it was a fight for survival. And here the Federation was being put on its backfoot, ready to accept another blow from the enemies that surrounded it waiting for the moment to exploit a weak link in the defensive wall his predecessors had built over the ages. This story of survival began with the foundations in the Frontier. A Hero was once more standing on the doorstep of his nation to tear it to pieces. The royal family that once made up the legendary Empire was no more, and all he had was the people beside him.

Perhaps war wasn’t the answer, not even the solution.

Sometimes, you need to join those that wished to do harm and turn their words against them.

“Don’t let those agents come back for a single resupply! Take all the ammo you’ve got! Get the spares to the front line!”

“Right away, sergeant!”

Cutting through the large crowd, fifteen supply vehicles of the 12th Logistical Support Group rushed ahead heading southwest deeper into the city. The president and his entourage watched as the men rushed forward without hesitation or fear. Their words grew concern amongst the crowds gathered.

“What the hell is happening!?”

Captain Thompson, Lieutenant Patterson and the other OMFS agents moved towards the command vehicle of the unit that was passing by.

“Lieutenant! What the hell is going on?” Thompson shouted.

“Got a horde of demons moving through the underground, Dimond Squadron, 3rd Platoon, 5th Platoon, and seven other CBRN units are already engaged!”

“What!?”

David caught on to what was happening. The experimental weapons below Ignis was not a fluke nor a simple test. Raven intended for the weapons to tear a hole in the Federation’s defenses and allow an invasion of demons from the Frontier to slaughter the people.

“Get me a line to Lieutenant Bridgers! We need to know what the fuck is going on!” Patterson quickly sprinted away as he shouted at a nearby communications post set up by the Federation Navy.

“You hear that, Zivaland!”

Everyone froze in place as David’s voice echoed throughout the empty streets. Much to the dismay of his protection agents surrounding him, the president exposed himself as he climbed onto of a large wooden crate and revealed himself to everyone present.

“To those who don’t know my name is David Harding, current sitting president of this Federation! I call to all of you, all active duty, reserve, and first responders! Your fellow countrymen are fighting a war that has yet to be declared, but I would be damned if I let this hidden enemy fight in the dark and aim to harm your countrymen! We are in open combat! A new enemy wishes to bring this very nation to its knees!”

A large crowd began to form around the president. Civilians, first responders, and military personnel all gathered around the man speaking to them.

“We are engaged in multiple combat sectors, many that you don’t see to this very day! But this enemy, they have brought the war to your homes! The aim to kill you all! But this something we must all fight! To ensure our survival as a people, and to keep the will to see the next day! Many are tired of war; you have all lived through it since this nation’s very founding. This is not a time to back down and allow our enemies to walk over us! How many more children must be killed before we say, that is enough! This Federation welcomes all, but not those that wish to cast their shadow and hide in darkness!”

Whispers spread amongst those gathered.

“I will be the light that brings this very Federation to a better tomorrow! We will not be saints, but we will send our enemies to hell and be the very monsters the world once painted us to be! As the highest ranking officer in the entire Federation, I will lead this great nation at the front, no more hiding in shadows biding our time!”

Cheers began to erupt from the military personnel gathered.

“We will destroy this world if it grants our children a fighting chance!”

Stronger shouts began to emerge from everyone present. Men and women began to cheer as the president watched his people with a silent gaze.

“The counterattack has officially begun! To those who wish to fight, follow me!”

As a large group counting around almost 137 men following their president while the rest stayed behind to continue the mission to triage and help those recovering from the attack, Thompson and his fellow OMFS agents trailed behind as they began the march towards the NIA headquarters found deeper in the city.

The captain bit the inside of his mouth and looked directly at the president as voices echoed in his ears.

“Lost communication with Dimond Squadron!”

“We’re pulling back! NIA HQ, we need backup, now!”

“Cover the left flank! We’re taking casualties!”

“Second Company, do you read!?”

“Damnit!”

“Get in there!”

“God, damn it, get in there!”

“Hang in there a little longer!”

“Push the assault! Keep the line here!”

“All Federation forces in our sector, this is Agent Randall of the OMFS! Hold your positions, reinforcements are on the way! We’re going to win, don’t let these bastards bog you down!”

Publicly Available Information: Mobile Security Forces:

The Mobile Security Forces [MSF] is a decentralized, autonomous paramilitary and law enforcement agency endowed with executive powers and specially made rules of engagements that are often immune to any legal constraints. Activated by the president of the Federation of Zivaland, specially trained operators that often work in CBRN [Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear] environments, these forces undertake suicidal missions against enemies of the federation. They are the very definition of plausible deniability and are authorized to do whatever it takes to complete their mission.

The MSF is a highly classified unit and much known history of the unit is redacted or simply does not exist in the Federation national archives.