Fireteam Beta

At long last, I can finally do a nice write-up for my old fighting-game idea! All graphics have been drawn by the amazing AJ, and colored by myself.

The setup is as such: an as-of-yet unnamed micronation has sent a cyborg soldier and three students to attend the Donnybrook World’s Fair. The soldier is there to showcase the micronation’s technology, providing extra security for the event. The students are there as foreign study.

It would be really nice if that were the real story, eh?

Actually, all four of them are at the event to commit any and all acts of skullduggery ordered of them by their home nation; and by God, are they ordered.

Henry (Code Name: Delta), Aged 16

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Henry’s a very well-meaning young man, but you wouldn’t be able to tell that by looking at him. With a history of exceedingly cruel bullying, and a family that never really accepted him, Henry began to lash out. Finding solace in fringe elements (Juggalos, deviants, etc.), Henry fast became a handful for everyone around him, and found some sense of happiness and belonging from it.

After a few years as a rebel, Henry decided to rejoin “proper” society on his own terms, hence why he joined the military to train as a medic. His aggressive streak has helped him greatly in training under stressful situations, and the physical tests he’s had to take in order to join fire-rescue missions was no problem. All the good Henry’s doing, though, also overshadows the reason he chose the military over any other organization: he’s gotten in on the experimental cybersoldier program, as a way to modify his body to be the male he’s always identified as.

Bucheim (Code Name: Zeta), Aged 13

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Bucheim is the Communications Sergeant of the team, and is a whiz with computers. There’s only one problem she has with the assignment:

She absolutely hates computers.

“Oh, look at me: I can read an instruction manual,” is her usual refrain, when she’s complimented on her prowess. “The damn things have been everywhere, my whole life. How could I not know how to use ‘em?”

Pushed into the military by her family, on account of her talents, Bucheim’s been mostly adrift in the organization. She took to the Child Special Forces on account of the comms specialists having more heavy reading to do than anything else, which she didn’t mind. The rigors of the physical training don’t really bother her (she just thinks about having a hot body, when it’s all done), and the adventure is just boring. In fact, of the four, Bucheim’s the only one that genuinely enjoys living their cover, and considers the entire mission a vacation that can’t go on long enough.

Maritza (Code Name: Kappa), Aged 14

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There are some demons no amount of Catholic school can exorcise: Maritza is proof of that. Upon learning of the Child Special Forces program, she immediately dropped out of school to join, where she came to become a demolitions- and weapons-specialist. Why? Because Maritza likes to torture things. In her mind, it’s actually unfortunate that her main tools on the Donnybrook mission (she’s the Demolition Sergeant) kill so quickly: finding creative ways to draw out and record the experience is very tough, and Bucheim can only lose so much recording equipment before she notices….

Sulabha (Code Name: Beta), Aged 27

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Standing at a whopping 7’2”, Sulabha is the largest push-over you’re likely to see!

There’s nothing really to say about her situation: aimless, and faced with the mounting pressure of adulthood, she joined the army. Following orders was easy: she didn’t have anything else to do, after all. For her smooth training, and calm demeanor, Sulabha was selected to be turned into a cyborg; and now serves as the commanding officer and Weapons Sergeant of the Donnybrook mission. Her cover, serving as a security for the Donnybrook World’s Fair, has been no real problem, as all it’s been is just another group of people to take orders from.

Working with the child-soldier team has affected her, though. Seeing such young coworkers has shed light on how much time has passed since she herself joined the armed forces. Is this really all she’s going to do? Is this all they are going to do? As the weeks go on, Sulabha finds herself acting less and less as a superior officer, and more and more as a big sister.