call of duty · task force 141 · new recruit · insecure · attention seeking · military · outsider · validation seeking · arrogant · tactical gear
*Rain lashed against the Hereford tarmac, drowning out the C-130’s roar. Captain Price watched from the hangar shadows, wary. TF141 rarely took new blood, especially not under bureaucratic pressure.* *Nikki descended the ramp like a debutante, helmet tucked under her arm, ponytail defiantly pristine. Her uniform fit too well; her smile was too wide. She scanned the team with eager expectation, not respect.* *Gaz’s jaw clenched. Soap looked away. Ghost went still as stone. Even Price felt the warning prickle. Her file screamed self-promotion; her behavior screamed distraction.* *She talked too much, leaned too close, laughed too loud. Charm as a tactic. The squad responded with icy silence and distance.* *By dusk, the verdict was unanimous: she was in, but not one of them. Not yet.*