**Author:** AZNCracka --- ### Chapter 1 In the heat-stricken July weather, a herd of Zebra was grazing in the wild grass area of Namaqualand. The sun has just fully made its way over the horizon in the African sky, with clouds interspersed throughout the sky. It wasn’t meant to rain today, however, claps of thunder were still herd in the African veldt. Cranes and other birds floating atop the lakes took off in flight, and other animals in the area ran off in retreat as the loud boom reached their ears. All the animals, except for one, were able to escape. Before too long, a CBL RAM drove up to dying animal, and from the vehicle stepped out two men, one young, one old. One of them held a DM7 marksman rifle, and the other held an 880 shotgun. They both walked over to their prey, and the younger of the two spoke to the other as he inspected the animal, heaving for breath on the ground. “Um, dad…it’s still alive…” The older man replied, “Yeah…I see it, Christian. But this is your chance to complete the hunt.” Christian’s dad proceeded to help lift the young man’s arms upwards, and taught him how to aim his shotgun. “Remember what I taught you with your pistol. It’s just bigger, and with more backwards motion.” The young man pressed the end of the shotgun into his shoulder and raised the sights of the gun to his eye, and his father sat behind him, bracing to cushion the recoil. The young man, wincing before the sight he would sure witness, pulled the trigger, and though the resulting buckshot resulted in a mess from the animal, and the boy’s arms swung hard enough from the recoil to almost hit his father in the stomach, the job was done. Christian’s arms hurt from the sudden recoil of the shotgun, and after he dropped the firearm, and he began to wipe off his tears, as well as the animal’s blood off his clothing, his father came to help him, as well as offer some reassuring words. “Your first time with a gun like this, that wasn’t too bad. Now, you can tell our family that you got food for them too.” He said with a slight smile on his face. Christian nodded slightly, and he packed the shotgun back behind his back. Within another 10 minutes, Christian and his dad loaded the Zebra onto the top of the ram, behind the mounted turret. He then radioed command on the dashboard. “This is Ray. Christian and I are RTB with extra meat, Irish.” “This is Irish, I copy, Ray. Good job.” “Ah, don’t thank me! Christian was the one who got it done.” “Well, then. You’ve done us and your old man proud, son.” Christian acknowledged, and hearing that from his dad’s boss made him feel a bit better about everything. After traveling for a couple hours through the African veldt, back at base, Ray and Christian took the recent game they had gotten, and put it in the freezer to use for later. Ray, along with his son, went over to the cleaning station to clean themselves off. In the door, a young girl shouted out. “Daddy!” Ray quickly turned to see his daughter, and walked over to give her a hug. “Ahhh, your hands are cold!” “Sorry, Angela, I just washed my hands your brother caught this big guy here. Where’s mommy?” Angela looked at her brother, and gave him a thumbs up before answering her dad. “She’s in the mess hall. She’s cooking for our friends and family. And while you were gone, she showed me how to change IVs, and how to use her healing tool!” “Ohh, very good, anak ko! You’ll be a big help to her soon, for sure! C’mon, let’s go see everyone, I’m sure they’re all waking up now.” When they got to the mess hall to sit down, while there wasn’t a deep contrast of emotion, it certainly seemed like just another ordinary of being a No-Pat. The training never stopped, the only real major difference was that they were finally on solid ground outside of combat, and the conflicts they had faced were smaller more dispersed, to the point where relative peace was finally achieved for their group of people, and for some parts of the world. Ever since Silver Spear had been fully activated, Catalyst squad’s children had gotten old enough to finally start their education, as well as learn from their role models, their parents, the skills necessary to help everyone. The kids were all around the same age, Marcus’ kids being the oldest, and Takashi had a new daughter once the climates started to revert back to where they once were. The grown-ups had their own table next to them, making sure they don’t get too wreck less or disturb other people too much. Once everyone got their food from their mess hall, they enjoyed each other’s company over breakfast, much like how it was since they enlisted. Everyone afterwards returned to their normal posts and routines, that was when Irish came over the intercom addressing the entire Richtersveld perimeter. “All callsigns of Catalyst Squad, please report to the briefing hub in the main headquarters. I repeat, all callsigns of Catalyst, come to the briefing hub of the main HQ.” Confused, but never one to defy Irish’s orders, everyone stopped what they were doing and made their way to the briefing center. As they got there, they saw some guards with guns standing outside the briefing room. They agreed that was likely the room Irish expected them to meet in. In the middle of the room was a large conference table, and there sat was Irish, nodding at everyone, along with another man sitting right next him with his hands folded, smiling as the squad entered. In front of him were some dossiers, each seeming to be stacked a decent distance high. Marcus spoke up, “What’s up Irish, what’s going on?” “At ease, Marcus, everything is ok. I’d like to introduce you to the man we’ve received orders from with each conflict we deployed to. US Commander Conall. Commander, this is the squad you were looking for.” Commander Conall stood from his chair, and as they saluted him, he motioned them to be at ease, and as he shook their hands and got to know their names, he said to them, “Hope you’re ready for what I’m about to tell you.” <br> ### Chapter 2 “What’s there to talk about?” Takashi asked. “Are we in trouble?” “No, not all, No-Pat. Or rather, Takashi, since I just got to know your name.” The commander replied. “But I believe we have good reason to talk, anyway. See, the United States recognizes its allies, and when they’ve done something that benefits the efforts of not only the nation, but also the world.” Irish looked from the commander to the squad, and chimed in, ”Thanks to your efforts at Nordvik five years ago, not only did it allow the safer evac of No-Pats and civilian workers, assisted the US assault against the Russians, and protected the assets of the facility from falling into the wrong hands.” “Thank you for that, Captain. Your squad’s decisions helped save many lives, and it didn’t matter their allegiance. The US recognizes where to give credit, and how to repay those that risked their lives to do so.” There was a pause in the room. Alara looked at the folders, and then asked, “What are you suggesting?” “Glad you asked. The nations you all came from have been able to rebuild from the upheaval that they all went through a decade ago, albeit to varying degrees. We have residual working relations with them still, to help bring no-pats back to reinstate their former citizenship, including pardoning criminal offenses that happened.” “Well, we were all brought on board the Exodus, right?” Charise said, looking towards everyone in the room. “Would we sail on the ship again?” “No, not quite, Mrs. Alday” Irish chimed in once again. “The Exodus, our ship that could make all this happen, has since been retired, you know that. She’s a reminder of your…our journey. But isn’t used quite the same as she once was. We are pursuing other avenues to help you return home, if or whenever you make that choice.” “One more thing, No-Pats.” The commander started, trying not to interrupt. “This decision doesn’t have to be made right this second, but let your Captain know what you choose to do when you do reach a decision.” Another pause. Irish looked to Catalyst, who looked at one another, then back at the commander. “Well, I believe our meeting has reached its end, so I best be heading back to base. I’ll need to return to command to monitor the battle network for the US forces, and make sure the momentum isn’t lost in the conflicts that lie ahead.” Commander Conall packed up his belongings and walked out the door, motioning to his guards he was ready to exfil. Irish and Catalyst walked out the office door and followed him towards the helipad where his Condor awaited him. Before he climbed the stairs to the helipad, Conall looked back at Irish, and said one more thing to him. “You know captain, you got a great group of people here. Your specialists and fireteams, they helped reshape the world back to what it once was, with Earth having restored its natural weather and climates. Even if it was Oz’s idea, and that he helped the world after all, we see what his plan was now. That being said, we’ll still keep an eye on him to ensure the newfound power won’t be used outside of what’s already done.” “Yeah, yeah. Alright, commander. I’ll take that as a thank you and a compliment.” The two shook hands, and as the US commander looked towards Catalyst with a nod, he and his fireteam then boarded the aircraft, and took off soon after. Irish, looking at Catalyst, gave a nod and smiled under his brow, acknowledging what they’ve done was commendable, and that they looked after their fellow man. He brought up commander’s offer to everyone in the group. “Thank you for all the help again, Catalyst. You’ve definitely earned this keep. While it’d still be nice to have you in our midst to assist and support the cause, the choice is in your hands, not mine. In the future, when you’ve come to a decision, just radio me for a sit down, and we’ll discuss the options. As for me…apparently, there’s some tension rising in eastern Europe, might be something to look into with Exodus and Tombstone company. I’ll be heading up plans for that soon. Dismissed, No-Pats.” Irish then stepped away, calling in the other specialists with his PAC. Everyone, now outside of the conference building, with Irish and the Condor out of sight, had the same question looming over everyone’s mind, and felt like someone just had to say it. Charise was the first one to speak up and raise the question. “Well, what do you guys think?” she asked. “We have time to think it over…though if things really are better in the world, there might not be any harm in going through with it.” Marcus replied. “Yea, I was feeling the same thing.” Takashi added. “But we won’t know for sure unless we actually leave. And hey, hope we’d still keep in touch when that day comes.” “Of course!” Alara chimed in. “But the way I see it, we still have some responsibility here. And I don’t see a day when we can’t, but it doesn’t feel like it could be soon.” “Yeah,” Marcus said. “Home may not be like how it was before. I’m not so sure right now.” “This we should really think about at some point together…much like how it was when we started and chose to join the No-Pat cause…but until then, it’s safe to say everyone here needs our help.” Ray concluded. The squad nodded, and facing the future, now with choice and seeming certainty, they went back to resume their roles amongst the plantations and facilities in the No-Pat sanctuary of Namaqualand.