The screen flickers softly, barely even noticeable. But even that soft light carried a weight that changed the trajectory of the world more than we would know it. But before that change something must first be said.
"-This just in-"
A silence hangs in the air as the news anchor looks left as if verifying what she just heard out of her ear piece.
After a moment it settles.
"Good evening, or depending where you are watching from, morning." The anchor, Lila Rain. A well known figure on a major news network. Leans forward a little more than usual almost as if trying to morph through the screen and take a seat right in front of you to help bear the news that is about to take place. "As of March 8th, 2052. Reports of hostile engagement from U.S. forces stationed in Iraq have thus been confirmed to unusual findings as well as casualties with already confirmed KIA forces".
Not good, best way to put it out there.
Behind the anchor, the usual digital backdrop didn't bother being subtle tonight. Satellite overlays, heat signatures, as well as red zones pulsed like a heartbeat that seemed to get faster by the minute. The map of Iraq ceased to look like a country anymore and proceeded to look like someone took a knife to it.
"Earlier today" she continues, voice straining slightly despite the years training, "U.S. forces experienced hostile engagement in the Al-Anbar corridor. Intelligence suggests involvement from the group unofficially referred to as 'The Crescent Veil'.
This led to a pause, one that made nerves rise through the screen.
"And as for casualties, is specialist Guss Rover".
And just like that was another silence. A picture of Guss was quickly brought up onto the screen.
The sound of what seems like glass being dropped and shattering on the floor sounds from your next door neighbor's house. Or maybe that was just your imagination playing tricks.
The feed on the screen cuts briefly. A recording begins to roll. Guss, in uniform yet relaxed appears. laughter rings out not from him but the surroundings. From the looks of it Guss is younger than you first imagined. At this point its almost as if that's always the case isn't it?
"I mean yeah, its hot out here," Guss begins to say, while squinting from the sun rays beaming over his face. "But I grew up fixing engines in a garage with no AC in 100+ degree weather. so this? The only difference is I'm outside and not working on an engine".
You see Guss give a slight grin, while you hear someone on the other side of the camera give a light chuckle.
With that the screen flickers back to the studio, Lila giving a light shuffle, almost as if she was caught red handed not expecting the video to cut so suddenly. After a moment you hear her begin. "Specialist Rover was part of a reconnaissance unit deployed to monitor insurgent movement tied to The Crescent Veil. Early reports indicate the group has expanded its operational capabilities. drones, cyber interference, even unconventional tactics we're still trying to understand".
She hesitates, before continuing. "There are rumors, I suppose that by now they're not entirely local anymore. Foreign backing, off-grid tech, things that don't show up on the usual radars. But that's speculation. For now."
Speculation. Sure.
The ticker at the bottom keeps moving without a care in the world. STOCKS DIP. HEATWAVE ALERT IN MIDWEST. NEW VR SERIES BREAKS STREAMING RECORDS. Life keeps stacking headlines, doesn't it? Even now.
Another clip. This one quieter.
Guss again sitting on a crate, helmet off. Night this time. Darker than usual yet millions on millions of stars staring right back at him.
"People think it's all noise out here," he says quietly. "Gunfire, explosions, whatever. But honestly? It's the quiet that gets you, the in-between as they call it. After a while you start thinking too much."
He scratches the back of his neck, glancing away. "Anyway. Tell my brother I'm still waiting on those 20 bucks he owes me." With that you hear a laugh before the clip ends.
Back to Lila.
She exhales before starting another auto fed line in front of her. "The Department of Defense has not released full details regarding the incident. However, sources suggest the engagement was sudden, with high levels of coordination not usually seen. Specialist Rover's unit was reportedly outmaneuvered."
Outmaneuvered, for the ex military and other specialists that word lands heavy.
"Efforts are ongoing to stabilize the region," she adds, though even she sounds like she doesn't fully buy it. "And to better understand the scale of The Crescent Veil's reach."
"I" She stops herself, before starting again. "I know we say this often, too often. But behind every name is a person. A life that didn't expect to end in a headline."
She steadies herself before continuing.
"Guss Rover was 27 years old."
Twenty-seven. That's all the time he got.
Somewhere, a phone rings. Somewhere else, it doesn't.
"As for his family." Lila glances down, just for a second too long. "They have asked for privacy regarding Guss".
Of course they have. What else do you ask for when the world suddenly knows your pain yet they cant feel the same pain?
The screen dims slightly, transitioning into a muted graphic. His name again, GUSS ROVER. Bolded and final.
But the broadcast doesn't end.
It never really ends.
"Coming up next," Lila says, voice slipping back into that practiced rhythm, almost mechanical now, like flipping a switch, "we'll discuss what this escalation could mean for global security, and whether this group poses a broader threat beyond the region".
She pauses, before saying one last thing.
"And to Specialist Rover's family, wherever you are tonight, we're thinking of you."
with that she gives a small nod.
The camera pulls back, lights soften, the map fades replaced by ads queued up and ready to go, because of course they are.
And just like that.
The world moves on.
Or at least, pretends to.
As for you?
You decide to move on to the next channel.
Yet one thing that you or Lila don't know is the world is about to change.
Phone calls spike after the news.
Guss's family answering calls from family and family friends that were introduced by Guss to begin with.
Friends calling other members of Guss's unit that weren't with him on this particular operation.
Higher ups calling military officials demanding answers.
This my friend is where chaos for our world officially began.
And the cause of that? One man.
One man named Guss Rover.
_______
_______
That's it for this chapter guys. I'll tell you this don't expect a chapter everyday, I will be doing this one on my free time. If anything maybe 3 or 4 a week depending on my mood.
I have a lot of plans for this one so stay tuned.
One last thing there will be a few chapters before we even get into the 40k plot so don't pressure me as I will not be rushing things.