Chapter:6 Recruiting

"Don't play games with me."

Anastasia winced as Amina pressed the pistol harder against her head.

"I'm not playing games,"

she replied with a hint of irritation. 

"I don't know how you got here, but I assure you, this is my office. I've never seen you before in my life."

Anastasia couldn't help but wonder if there was something wrong with this woman. Could it be that the system had given her a defective product?

While Anastasia was contemplating the reliability of the system, Amina glanced around the office, taking in the sudden change in her environment. She quickly reviewed the details she had gathered during her first scan and came to a hasty conclusion.

"How the hell can a two-bit gangster like you abduct me and bring me overseas?"

Amina asked, her voice tinged with disbelief and anger.

Anastasia couldn't believe what she was hearing. This woman, Amina, seemed to be under the impression that she had been abducted by Anastasia, which was far from the truth. She decided to clarify the situation.

"I didn't abduct you, and I have no idea how you got here. I was just sitting in my office, and suddenly, you appeared out of thin air. I don't even know who you are."

[SYSTEM ERROR DETECTED]

A gleaming red sign suddenly appeared before the two women, shining brightly like a crimson ruby. Anastasia had grown somewhat accustomed to the system suddenly popping up in front of her, but Amina was quite jumpy. The sudden blaring sound made her whirl around and instinctively aim her weapon at the interface. However, before she could even pull the trigger, a sudden jolt of electricity traveled up her spine, causing her to faint.

Anastasia cautiously approached the unconscious woman, lightly nudging Amina's thigh with her foot to see if she would stir. When there was no response, she turned her attention back to the interface, clearly perplexed.

"Do you come with a warranty or something?"

Anastasia muttered, still baffled by the bizarre situation. The interface continued to glow crimson for over a minute before abruptly vanishing, leaving Anastasia alone in her office with an unconscious Mossad assassin.

As the interface vanished, leaving Anastasia alone with the unconscious Amina, she realized she had no idea how to handle this situation. She contemplated her options, feeling a mix of confusion and apprehension. She couldn't just leave an unconscious stranger in her office, but she also didn't know what had brought this woman here or how to wake her up. Anastasia decided to wait and see if Amina would regain consciousness on her own. In the meantime, she kept an eye on the woman, ready to react if necessary.

But it seems her worries were for naught as moments later, roughly five minutes, the system interface returned.

[TROUBLE SHOOTING...

[TROUBLE SHOOTING COMPLETE!]

[EDITING MEMORY!]

[EDITING EVENTS!]

[EDITING HOST'S MEMORY!]

[EDITING...

[EDITING...

[EDITING...

[EDITING COMPLETE!]

[RESTARTING NOW!]

And with another flash of light and a piercing pain in her head later the interface returned.

*

Name: Major Amina "Hawk" Khouri

Background:

...

Equipment:

- ...

Traits:

1. ...

Note:

- ...

Memory:

Amina's life took a different turn when she met Anastasia during her deployment in Paris. After suffering an injury due to unforeseen circumstances, she found herself under the care of the Silver Falcons, particularly Anastasia, who nursed her back to health. Amina, in return, played a pivotal role in helping Anastasia rise through the ranks to become a captain before eventually returning to Israel. This exchange of favors established a bond between the two.

In 1991, following her retirement, Amina struggled to adapt to civilian life and decided to join a mercenary group operating in Africa. However, her path took a dangerous turn in November 1992 when her mercenary group was ambushed during a mission that turned out to be a trap orchestrated by the CIA. The agency sought to eliminate former intelligence officers from around the world. Amina managed to escape by sneaking onto a passenger plane, ultimately finding herself in Thailand.

Once in Thailand, she reached out to a 'friend,' of hers, seeking safe accommodation and a new job. Little did she know that she was being double-crossed, and the CIA orchestrated an explosion at her hotel, attempting to eliminate her. Once they were assured of her death, they erased all traces of her existence from their database. Amina narrowly survived the blast, escaping death by a hair's breadth.

With her supplies reduced to ashes in the hotel explosion, Amina found herself stranded among strangers, cut off from her previous life. In a vengeful fury, she poked her 'friend' full of hot lead and began her search for a new source of income and eventually heard about Anastasia and the shootout in Roanapur. With her last reserves of strength, Amina made her way to Anastasia's office, only to lose consciousness due to hunger and exhaustion.

*

The revelation about Amina's background and her prior connection with Anastasia left the gang leader astounded. She couldn't believe how the system managed to manipulate past events into converging to bring them together once again, albeit in a strange and bewildering situation.

As Amina lay unconscious in her office, Anastasia contemplated the unexpected turn of events. She knew she couldn't simply leave her here, unconscious and possibly injured. Although they had never met before, Anastasia still felt a sense of responsibility to the woman who had once 'saved her life' and later helped her 'ascend to the position of captain.' Even though they have never met before.

She decided to let Amina rest and regain her strength, assuming she would eventually wake up. As time passed, Amina's breathing remained steady, a sign that she was on the path to recovery.

Meanwhile, Anastasia focused on the recruitment interface:

[Recruitment Centre]

- Monthly Limit (1/10)

 -Refresh in: 27Days21hrs10min (1st March 1993)

- Recruit ($1)

It looks like the next one would require a single buck to recruit.

With just a single dollar required for the next recruit, Anastasia was ready to take the plunge. She repeated 'Recruit' several times in her excitement. However, she suddenly noticed a new slot on the interface, positioned just below the 'Recruit' button. She realized that the system was prompting her to make a manual payment.

Anastasia quickly emptied her pockets, revealing their meager contents. Her forehead creased with frustration as she examined the items on her desk. She had a pack of chewing gum, three magazines loaded with .45 ACP ammunition, a cigarette box, a lighter, a pair of brass knuckles, a switchblade, 5 hundred-dollar bills, 10 ten-dollar bills, and a bank card. Yet, no single dollar bill or coin.

Anastasia couldn't believe her eyes as two more slots appeared on the interface. A Card slot and another one that seemed to involve an exchange of bills. This discovery left her both intrigued and confused. She hadn't expected the recruitment process to be so multifaceted.

As Anastasia inserted the bank card into the slot, a new interface appeared, prompting her for a password. The subsequent screens presented payment regulations, followed by a transaction request for 1 dollar. She carefully entered the required information, ensuring that her payment was processed correctly.

Another blinding flash of light later, a second card appeared in front of her,

The rugged figure of a man with a commanding presence, standing at about 6 feet tall, his physique is built for action, reflecting years of military training and combat experience. His most distinctive feature was his deep, penetrating brown eyes. His dark hair was kept short and practical, fitting well with his military background. In his forest green Army uniform, he carries an air of discipline and readiness.

*

Name: Corporal Diego "Falcon" Rodriguez

Unit: Batallón de Infantería de Paracaidistas 601 (601st Paratroop Infantry Battalion)

Corporal Diego "Falcon" Rodriguez served in the Argentine Army's prestigious Batallón de Infantería de Paracaidistas 601 (601st Paratroop Infantry Battalion), often referred to as the "Falcon Battalion." This battalion is known for its paratrooper operations, rapid deployment capabilities, and participation in various conflicts and operations.

Diego Rodriguez began his military career in the late 1970s, enlisting in the Argentine Army and subsequently joining the Falcon Battalion. He underwent intense training in airborne operations, including parachute jumps, infantry tactics, and special reconnaissance. He had been a participant in the Falklands War (1982) Operation Condor (1970s), and various Border Conflicts (1980s).

Equipment:

- Primary: FN FAL battle rifle, 

- Secondary: Heckler & Koch MP5,

- Sidearm: Browning Hi-Power semi-automatic pistol,

- Melee: Argentine Army combat knife, tactical combat knife,

- Armor: Standard paratrooper combat gear, including a parachute harness for airborne operations.

Traits:

1. Airborne Expert: Falcon is a highly skilled paratrooper, experienced in conducting airborne assaults and parachute operations.

2. Versatile Fighter: He possesses expertise in infantry tactics, as well as the ability to engage in covert reconnaissance, making him adaptable to various mission requirements.

3. Battle-Hardened Veteran: Diego's extensive combat experience has honed his decision-making skills and adaptability in challenging and diverse operational environments.

Note:

- Falcon is known to be prone to violent tendencies.

- In his early 30s, Falcon is rather laid back when not in combat or trouble.

Memories:

Diego is a short-tempered man, and this trait of his got him into trouble with one of the Mafias in Paris during his vacation in France. On his first day off duty, he killed two of the Dupont Family's runners when they tried to rob him in an alley.

Subsequently, he was hunted down by the Duponts, ended up being outnumbered, and shortly afterward was captured. Fortunately for him, the LeFevre were at war with the Duponts and Anastasia saved him from being sealed in a Vine barrel for his entire life.

In the year 1992, after leaving the army due to a violent bout he had with his commanding officer, he ended up in Roanapur, searching for a job. Heard the shoot-out last night and the unexpected name of his former beneficiary, and decided to see if she had any work for him.

He would be arriving shortly through the window.

"What window?"

Anastasia, bewildered by the mention of a "window," soon received her answer as a deafening crash echoed through the room. A burly figure stumbled into her office through the shattered window, creating a commotion that jolted Amina awake. In an instant, Amina tackled Anastasia to take cover behind a nearby sofa while leveling her pistol at the unexpected intruder.

Anastasia and Amina took cover behind a sofa, the loud crashing noise had startled Amina from her slumber, and her combat instincts kicked in immediately.

The burly man, Diego, who had arrived through the shattered window, appeared disoriented and slightly dazed as he tried to regain his bearings. He quickly realized what he had done and raised his hand in surrender.

"No need to get all pointy now,"

he said cautiously, his eyes darting around the room in search of other occupants.

"I'm only looking for your boss, Anastasia."

Before Anastasia could respond, Amina jumped in, her pistol still trained on the newcomer.

"Why are you looking for her?"

Diego noticed the tension in the room and realized he needed to tread carefully. He kept his hands visible and spoke in a calm tone.

"I heard about the commotion last night and a familiar name. I'm just looking for work, nothing more."

Anastasia exchanged a glance with Amina before lowering her gun slightly.

"Who sent you here, and what skills can you bring to the table?"

Diego straightened up, relieved that he was getting a chance to explain himself.

"No one sent me, but I heard the name of an old friend from the chaos outside. I'm a trained soldier, and I've worked in security before. I'm good with firearms, close combat, and strategy."

Amina considered his words for a moment, while Anastasia then holstered her weapon.

"All right old boy, you can put your hands down."