Prologue

He stood there, at attention.

In front of the sleek and minimal wooden desk.

Staring at the nothingness in front of him, the only movement he made was the beating of his heart.

"Chief Warrant, Genna Viri…"

With a monotone, raised and unnerved voice, he replied:

"Yes, sir!"

Genna Viri was in front of the commanding general of the First Division; more informally, and commonly, referred to as "Special Forces".

The General was sitting at his leather chair, looking over an overfilled binder, laid out in front of him.

Scars seemed to fly every which way over the general.

Slits across his cheek, valleys of scar tissue running across his neck and hands, majority of his eyebrows missing and patches of hair missing due to large burn spots; and grey hair, trimmed as best as possible into a high and tight.

Wearing the standard issued fatigues, patches and badges filled many spots, where blends of green and brown would have been.

"You, are truly something else."

He flipped a page in the binder.

The General had his hand on his head, as if experiencing a headache.

"You have no family… no friends to speak of… yet here you are, seemingly chipper and without a damn care in the world."

Viri continued looking ahead.

The General raised his head and saw this.

Waving his free, right hand, he motioned Viri to his chair.

"Rest… actually… just have a seat."

Genna Viri's stiff posture relaxed, his arms unclenched, and he moved to the wooden seat laid out next to him.

Now, looking back at the binder, he continued:

"You, Chief, I have no fucking clue as to how, enlisted at the age of four…"

He flipped the page again.

The paper was full of ink, listing out all achievements and medals he earned.

"And… you are currently… only… seventeen?"

The previously dead eyes on the decorated and aged General bulged open.

"How in the world… you… were a drill sergeant… you're currently an amphibious caliber ranger… and first sergeant for a mechanized infantry company… before entering the Special Forces as a warrant..?"

The General looked at the paper, then back at him.

"You have just finished your Warrant Officer School, which proceeded after Special Forces Academy, somehow automatically moving to Chief Warrant Two… and as prescribed, came to me as dictated, by your orders."

The General stood up.

On his uniform was the name "Soren."

"Well, I'll fucking be. Welcome to the Special fucking Forces, Chief."

Genna Viri nearly sprang from his seat, raising his completely outstretched hand to his right brow, to salute the General.

"Thank you, sir!"

The General followed right after.

As soon as General Soren dropped his salute, so did he.

Soren moved from attention, dropping back into his leather seat.

"Alright. Get the fuck out of here, chief, your paper orders will be handed to you by the staff sergeant waiting outside. You will be moved to the battalion headquarters, I believe."

Genna's dark red hair spinned with his about face.

Robotic and stiff, he walked out of the room.