Prologue - Negotiations

Warning: Much exposition awaits. Please fight through it for Chapter 1.

Date: 05September 2021

Location: US White house, Oval office (Secured)

A conversation is being held between a C.I.A agent and the US President.

Agent Slate: "Mr. President, I have just received the demands from that rogue soldier."

US President: "Demands? What are they?"

Slate: "First, he demands that we leave his family out of this. If we do that then he promises to cease the attacks on us."

US President: "Well unfortunately until we know what the hell he is, and we've got control of the situation, backing off is not an option."

Slate: "While I do understand your position Mr. President, I implore you to take a more strategic approach and enter negotiations with him."

US President: Enraged by Slater's recommendation, the President raises out of his chair and slams his hands on his desk. "YOU KNOW HOW MANY OF OUR MEN HE'S KILLED?!"

Slate: "ARE YOU FORGETTING WHO ATTACKED FIRST?! We sent those men to their deaths fighting someone or something we don't even understand! From the beginning, he told us that all he wanted was to talk! It was us who dragged his family into this and now others are suffering the consequences!"

US President: Reflecting, the President sits back down and takes a deep breath, "You're right. Contact him and setup a meeting, meanwhile I'll have any future attacks called off. In two days we begin negotiations."

2 Days Later

In a conference room in an undisclosed area, a young man of age 22 sits at an oval shaped table with the Director of National Intelligence and a few congress members to his left and right. Right across from him sits the US President with other world leaders on monitors behind him.

X: "Excuse me for repeating myself, but I'm glad that you finally agreed to hear me out. Oh, and by the way please don't try anything stupid. (menacingly) Or you'll continue to regret it."

US President: "I swear on the families of those we've lost, we will not try anything against you. I guarantee you we only wish to talk."

X: Slightly irritated by the remark, "Hmm, nice to know."

Congressman #1: "If everyone is ready, I believe we should begin."

X: "Understood. My demands and conditions are as follows. First, my family must be left alone. Know that no matter what, this is nonnegotiable and that regardless of what happens today, if you don't adhere to this I will f**king kill you and everything you ever loved. Understood?", his words and piercing look in his eyes, sends chills down the spines of all the gov't officials.

US President: "Fine, consider your family untouchable. What else?"

X: "Second, Imma need you to stop sending units to attack me. I also need y'all to take back the ones you sent before and get them home."

Congresswoman #1: "What Soldiers?"

X: "The soldiers you sent to kill me and my family. I didn't kill them, I just apprehended them and took'em to a secluded area."

Director: "Wait. How and why did you do that?"

X: "The how, I'll leave to your imagination, but the why? Two reasons. First, because I don't wanna kill everyone that comes my way. Especially those led by irrational and impulsive idiots. Second, as a way of showing you just how powerful I am as well as my intentions. I'm not here to fight you, I'm here to help."

Agent Slate: "Sir, I ask that you please state your final demand.", he says fearing that the longer this goes on, the more X will insult the officials.

X: "Right. This one I had run by Agent Slate himself, as well as your C.I.A Director. I want a team; an individual unit created and ran by me."

US President: "Why in the hell would we agree to something like that?"

X: "Because you… better yet, the world needs it."

Congressman #2: "And what makes you so sure of that?"

Director: "If you don't mind Sir, I think it best for me to explain the purpose of your idea."

X: "A'ight, you got the mic.".

Director: "Thank you. Now (he stands and begins pacing), it's no secret or at least amongst us and the other world governments, that there is an evil that has been growing in our world. A darkness that has been allowed to grow and extend its grasp to the corrupt officials of government and community. Of course I'm speaking of the International Terrorist Organization known as R.E.A.C.H. For years they have been accumulating more and more members while also gaining the allegiance of smaller terrorist groups. Not to mention the unknown number of people they've planted within our governments. It's thanks to this, R.E.A.C.H has been able to operate in near complete secrecy using the names of the other groups as fronts. Overall, when it comes down to it, we are painfully… pathetically lacking in any solid information. Now before you ask, that's where this Task Force comes in. They will be designated to the handling of anything pertaining to R.E.A.C.H. That means shutting down bases, locating weapons, and sniffing out the insiders. The ultimate goal? Locate the head or heads of R.E.A.C.H and eliminate them."

Congresswoman: "Excuse me for interrupting but what, may I ask, was it that got you thinking that a task force led by you was a good idea. I guess what I want to know is, how can we trust you to lead our soldiers into combat and not go AWOL? And lastly how is it you know of R.E.A.C.H?"

X: "Well first off, my team is going to be formed from members of different countries in order to…"

US President: "Wait a minute. Why would you need…?"

X: "Because, interrupting asshole, we need to build better cohesion with other countries in order to better our chances of taking on an enemy who's got their foot in everyone's doorway. Oh, and to answer how I know, between attacks I was approached by two of their recruiters whom of which I did kill after gaining information." Agent Slate approaches X and whispers something to him.

Agent Slate: Whispering, "Sir, I advise that if you want this to work, you should stop insulting them and present to them a viable argument.", he then backs away.

X: "My apologies for my harsh language and rude behavior, I'm just deeply passionate about this project."

US President: "Excuse me, but why did you kill two valuable assets?"

X: "My reasoning? I did so in order to increase any possible leverage I might have. Think about it, right now you all hold the cards. It's a little unbalanced don't ya think?" X receives icy glares across the room. "Now, for possible recruitment, the Director, Agent Slate, and I, along with other world leaders, have already compiled a rough list of possible members. In front of each of you are 8 files all of which contain information on the team's potential candidates."

Director: "Now if you'd allow me, I'll introduce the…"

Congresswoman: "Actually Director, we would prefer if this young man would introduce the candidates himself along with his personal explanation for the choice."

Director: "Understood, Sir if you would."

X: "Yes. Well first, we have:

- Sergeant First Class Ronald F. Curtis

- Male

- Age 34

- Black/Nigerian American

- U.S Army

- U.S Special Forces

Seeing as this is a small Task Force, I want him and his expertise to lead this team along with me. He has the most experience, so I'll learn from him. Next is:

- Agent Ivan Claude

- Male

- Age 37

- Caucasian-Russian

- Federal Security Service

Although I originally wanted to find a former member of the KGB so as to have a little inside information on our enemies, I was strongly advised against that idea by our Agent Slate, as it could lead to possible insider threats from intel leaks. Plus, he believed the formulation of the team was already risky. So in order to compromise I suggested an FSB Agent who possessed great knowledge of his agencies predecessors. He also possess great leadership skills and knows Systema; a combat style I'm interested in. Next:

- Longwei Liu

- Male

- Age 34

- Chinese

- Special Operations Forces

- People's Liberation Army Ground Force(retired)

An interesting fact about Ex-Corporal Liu, he is a young Master of the Five Animal Styles in Shaolin Kung Fu. Not to mention he is also versed in the style of "Silat", considerably the deadliest form of Kung Fu.

- Corporal Daniel Niyol Damon

- Male

- Age 24

- Native American

- U.S Marines

- Cyber Security Technician

Next:

- Private First-Class Gabriela Garcia

- Female

- Age 22

- Mexican

- Mexican Air Force

- Pilot

Next:

- Private Elena Diaz

- Female

- Age 21

- Mexican

- Mexican Air Force

- Explosives Expert

And lastly:

- Christian Arne Kane

- Male

- Age 23

- Norwegian/Caucasian

- Hunter/Sniper

"As for that last file, just ignore it. Japan refused to allow his candidacy seeing him as too valuable an asset to lose. Other than that, what are your thoughts?"

Congressman: "Let's say we go along with this; how can we know for certain that this team you stitched together will work?"

X: Now talking to the world leaders as well, "How about this. You give me and this team 1 year, no, six months to produce results. Within that time, if we fail you can disband us, and I will willingly become a government weapon."

U.S President: "Agreed"

X: (That was quick!)

Congressman: Surprised, "But Mr. President shouldn't we take time to think this through?!"

U.S President: "Right now we have nothing against R.E.A.C.H; they're crushing us. And though it pains me to say it, in front of us stands something they don't have, a human juggernaut. Young man, can you guarantee you won't cross us?"

X: "Don't worry about that; if I do go out of control, my team will have orders to stop me by any means. Think of it as a safety precaution."

U.S President: "Understood. So what would we call this unit, Mr.?"

X: "Oh, just call me Xerxes. As for the unit, how about X-Unit, ya know something simple."

Operation: Negotiations

Status: Complete