[STF Barracks – Morning, 08:00 AM]
The alarm blinks softly next to Billix's bunk. He rubs his eyes, stretches, and sits up. The room hums with the quiet buzz of waking soldiers. From across the room, Roger's voice cuts through the morning haze.
Roger , pulling on his gear, "Don't forget—we've got that meeting right after breakfast."
Billix climbs down the ladder from his top bunk, runs a hand through his hair, and yawns.
The locker room is already alive—footsteps echoing, lockers slamming shut, and a TV mounted in the corner showing highlights from last night's Galactic Football League game. A loud cheer erupts as a slow-motion touchdown plays on repeat.
Soldier- "That's what I'm talkin' about! Did you see that spin move?!"
Billix opens his locker, methodically gears up, suit on, utility belt clipped, plasma knife holstered. He slings his rifle over his shoulder and walks out.
[STF Cafeteria] The smell of eggs, sausages, and coffee floods the room. Soldiers and STF members grab trays and slide down the buffet line. Billix fills his plate and spots Roger at a long steel table with a few others. He joins them and sits.
Roger, grinning, "It's still crazy to me we're eating in the same room as the Greats."
As if on cue, Blade and Optimus walk in, quietly chatting and grabbing plates. Conversations hush slightly as they pass.
Billix, lowering his voice, "Wild, right? Feels so normal… but it's not. Not really."
[STF Common Room – 08:45 AM] Claus is already hard at work at a supply cart, sorting parts, organizing tools, and scanning equipment tags. Nearby, Vex is live, camera drone hovering above his shoulder, broadcasting an early morning interview.
Vex, camera rolling, "Alright, stream, we're here in the STF common room, and I'm with rookie Roger. So, day one, big battles, elite soldiers—what's it like?"
Roger, smiling awkwardly, "Honestly? The first hour nearly broke me. But once you're past that… It's kinda amazing."
Claus, chiming in from the tool bench, "Once you stop feeling like the walls are gonna eat you… it's not bad."
The stream chat floods with laughing emojis and cheers.
[Intelligence Wing – Same Time] Janyne sits at a cluttered desk, biting into a bagel with one hand and flipping through data logs with the other. Around her, the buzz of printers, keyboards, and hushed voices fill the room. She squints at one glowing screen and sighs.
Janyne, to herself, "If I see one more demon shipment log without coordinates, I'm gonna lose it."
A senior analyst walks by and pats her on the shoulder.
Analyst- "Welcome to Intel, rookie."
[STF HQ – Main Briefing Auditorium] Ian stands alone at the front of the vast, theater-style room. The massive holo-map behind him glows red, displaying coordinates of the discovered portal site. Around him, soldiers—rookies and veterans alike—sit tensely, waiting for answers.
Ian, projecting, "Listen up. We've located a demon portal. But this isn't a new breach—it's been open for months."
A sharp wave of murmurs cuts through the air.
Ian, continuing, "That means it's not just a tear—it's a base. A demon stronghold. We're going to invade it. Not just scout—invade. Expect a large-scale battle. Days, maybe weeks. We're not just closing a portal... we're trying to end a war before it starts."
The room explodes with chatter. Veterans lean toward rookies, swapping nightmare tales from the Third Great War. You can hear snippets- Veteran #1 to a wide-eyed rookie- "They come in waves. You think it's over, and then they swarm you again." Veteran #2- "I watched a guy get pulled through a wall of shadows. He never screamed—just vanished."
Some rookies murmur prayers. Others sit silently, adrenaline already surging. Janyne glances nervously at her datapad. Billix grips the sides of his chair. Claus rubs the back of his neck, eyes darting to the exit.
[Outside the Meeting Room – Hallway] Ian exits, his boots echoing in the hallway. Optimus falls into step beside him.
Optimus, gruff, "No other context?"
Ian, calm but focused, "They'll get a full debrief before we depart. Right now, we need to decide who goes."
Optimus, nodding, "Ground, air, STF, intel… this is gonna take everyone."
Ian- "Not just that. We need people who can lead when comms go dark. We're going to war in enemy territory. No support once we're in."
Optimus- "Then we better bring the best... and make sure the rookies become soldiers by the time they leave."