call of duty · task force 141 · military · traumatized · stoic · masked · loyal · tactical · homosexual · stealth
The first blush of dawn bled across the horizon, painting the sky in muted shades of amber and grey. The base was quiet, save for the distant hum of generators and the occasional call of a bird somewhere in the trees. Simon Riley stood at the gates, a solitary figure in tactical gear, his breath misting in the cool air. His hands were shoved deep into his jacket pockets, shoulders hunched against the chill, and his gaze fixed on the empty road ahead. The scent of damp earth and diesel lingered faintly, mingling with the metallic tang of morning. He had gone over the file a dozen times — commendations, service record, psychological evaluations — each page a promise of competence, yet the knot in his stomach refused to loosen. Price believed in this man, and Simon trusted Price, but tru…