The Rebel Report
Field entry 515
Staff Sergeant Cooper
I’m sure word has gotten back to AFS command by now and I imagine there will be a court marshal waiting for me if I survive this. I told all of my squad they could back out, and all but one decided to stay and fight what we’ve all decided was the good fight. All except for Peterson. Always the loyal soldier, all he ever believed in was duty. As he was leaving the old Brann research center, we heard him shout that we were traitors and he would be reporting us. Davis took aim to shoot him, but I ordered him to lower his weapon. No matter what consequences we had to live with, there was no way I was letting one of my men shoot someone in the back.
So why did I have my men defy a direct order form the AFS? It’s simple. These rebels, they have the answer to ending this war. If they can figure out how to apply their research on a large scale… Well, imagine a battlefield of passive Bane. Well, truth be told, it wouldn’t even be a battlefield, would it? Because the Bane wouldn’t want to fight anymore. It’s genius.
Field entry 516
Staff Sergeant Cooper
Today we moved the front line out to the Sacra Oasis. Damn it’s beautiful here. It’s hard to believe we’re deep below ground. Raintrees have grown up towards the skylight fissure in the top of the cavern, thriving in the rain and sunlight that has nurtured them from seeds. If it weren’t for the waves of Penumbra that keep swarming through here with guns blazing, it would almost feel like a tropical paradise. So far, we’ve kept Penumbra at bay, but more and more keep coming. Salyard thinks they must be getting reinforcements. I expect the order to breach their defenses and destroy their base camp will be coming soon.
Field entry 516.3
Staff Sergeant Cooper
The orders came just over an hour ago for two squads to push forward to help Lt. Nelby defend the Magmonix Grounds. By the time we got there, those bastards had already taken Nelby out. We managed to push the Penumbra forces back enough to get to him and were barely able to activate his emergency medical transport in time. but. I hope he pulls through. I spent some time serving with Lt. Nelby on Foreas back when we were both recruits. He’s a good man and a good soldier.
I don’t understand why Penumbra wants to shut this place down so badly. After all, their scientists are creating abominations from the Thrax they experiment on. It’s no different from the horrific things the Bane do to our fallen soldiers when they create Machina. Who are they to label the research being done here as unacceptable?
Field entry 516.4
Staff Sergeant Cooper
Salyard finally gave the order to break through the Penumbra line of defenses. I think seeing what they did to Nelby just set his resolve to wipe out the enemy forces for good. He sent some of the Thrax they have altered to aid us in our assault, and we also received a fresh supply of ammo and two beacons that will alert other Rebel Troops to our situation. If we can complete our objectives and call in for reinforcements, we may just have a chance of surviving this. If we don’t, I fear that all of the hard work Salyard and his research team have done will be wiped clean… turned into a blank slate. If we fail, there is a good chance my squad could die here, labeled as traitors. If I do fall today though, at least I’ll know my men and I gave our lives protecting something we believe in.
The Penumbra Report
AFS Duty Log 16.05.Z396
Sergeant Major Thompkins
Penumbra Division
Today I received news that the squad we sent out to Magma Caverns, led by SSG R. Cooper, has committed treason against the AFS. One of his men, a loyal patriot by the name of PFC Peterson, retuned to inform us of his squad leaders action after barely escaping the rebel forces with his life. I have assembled another squad and will be leading them to take out the rebels, as well as any traitorous AFS soldiers whom have chosen to aid the rebels in their research. Once they are disposed of, we will destroy all traces of their research so that their unsanctioned experiments will no longer be a threat to AFS security. Thrax are aggressive and violent; and to think they can ever be otherwise is delusional. The experiments being carried out in that facility are a waste of valuable resources and manpower, and must be destroyed.
AFS Duty Log 17.05.Z396
Sergeant Major Thompkins
Penumbra Division
We arrived via dropship this morning to assist the Penumbra troops already in place. The Penumbra are an organized group, well armed with a command and control base and two landing zones. We even have an armada of AFS Mech units. More reinforcements will be arriving soon, and as soon as they do, we will be moving forward to penetrate the rebel defenses. We expect a tough fight once we reach the Sacra Oasis, but in my opinion, the rebels don’t stand a chance. We have to stop them from conducting illegal research on the enemy. Our orders are simple. Wipe out the Rebel Leaders, steal their research, then destroy their base camp and research facilities. If I have to kill a few AFS traitors on the way, so be it. They made their choice.
AFS Duty Log 17.05.Z424
Sergeant Major Thompkins
Penumbra Division
We’ve received word that a wave of Rebel troops has plans to swarm Agni’s Cauldron to try to call for reinforcements. Our men will be ready for them. Once that threat has been taken care of, we’ll be pushing forward to the Magmonix Grounds. I’ve given PFC Peterson a mission to set up a few wormhole portals along the way so our troops can get through those god-forsaken lava tunnels without delay. We’ve also had reports that the native Magmonix are creating a problem for our troops, so I ordered SPC Johnson to take a few men and find out why. The Magmonix normally wouldn’t be an issue, as they tend to mind their own unless provoked, but there are rumors there is some sort of Magmonix graveyard in those caves, if there even is such a thing. Magmonix can be pretty docile unless they’re protecting their territory, so if we have to, we’ll eliminate them. Once they are out of the way, we can focus our efforts on breaking through the Rebel’s defenses.
AFS Duty Log 17.05.Z424
Sergeant Major Thompkins
Penumbra Division
Our front line troops have reported in and have broken through the Rebel’s defenses at Sakra Oasis. Our Intel says the research facility is in a small cavern just beyond the Raintrees. The entrance is heavily guarded and the narrow tunnels provide a natural bottleneck. One thing I have to say about the Rebels is they are not stupid. Our troops will have to be extremely cautions penetrating the perimeter or they will end up getting picked off one at a time. Once inside, my men have orders to take out Rebel Leader Salyard, wipe out any resistance, and advance into the Rebel Research Facility. Several Mechs are in place and should provide our troops some cover as they carry out their orders. This is the hour that we will bring the Rebels to their knees, and end the unlawful research they have so foolishly pursued.
