Author's Note

Hey everyone! These interlude chapters will serve as foreshadowing for future events, so while it's not necessary to read them, it does set the stage for some coming plot points. It also gives me an opportunity to get some stuff out faster and with less stress of making a 3000+ word chapter.

Thinking about doing one of these every ten chapters or so!

Hope you all enjoy!

Interlude 1

"An' when Ah tell ya Ah fuckin' hate yer guts, know that Ah mean that, Ah really do!"

Laughter explodes across the comms. Specialist James Davenport leans forward in his chair, stroking his stubbly chin with a wide, toothy grin. His dark eyes look across the cabin, a joyful mirth gleaming within, staring at the subject of his amusement. Private Aimé Decuir sits beside him and tilts her head back, restraining her dreadlocks with a band, smiling all the way. Sergeant Frank Gaines moves down the middle of the cabin, holding onto the grip above, checking on his troops. His movements are smooth and sharp, his eyes of the same quality, grey orbs peering down at the men and women serving with him. His questions to his individual soldiers are heard by none but them, the music and the humming of the helicopter drowning out most of his words.

Specialist Davenport adjusts the microphone attached to his headset, bringing it closer to his mouth with a cheeky smirk. He leans back and inspects his target, readying his counter-attack, his pale lips pursed in anticipation. Gaines walks past them to speak with Lieutenant Andre Abioye and Captain Miranda Sho.

"I think I'd be a good step-daddy to you; I'd love your mom just right, in all the right ways too," he declares.

Private Matthew Haddock shakes his head, bringing a palm up to his mustached face. He looks surprised as he inspects his palm. He looks back up to Davenport and his mouth drops open. Davenport leans forward, his smirk disappearing.

"Whut..." Haddock says, looking at his hand. Slowly, all fingers save for one fall down, and the hand is brought forward with a rigid motion. He inspects the finger with a look of faux-surprise, and shows off the finger to Davenport. Decuir laughs and Davenport can't help but grin at the antics. He leans back.

"Everyone shut it, we're over the bayou now, check your weapons." Gaines growls over the headset.

He looms over Decuir, "turn off that shit." She nods and flicks off the radio.

Everyone aboard the Sea Stallion, save for the two officers, goes over their gear. Various implements of long-range combat, infrared laser attachments, night-vision goggles and magazine checks. The sound of clicking, racking and jingling fills the cabin as all of the soldiers check over their equipment.

"Uh, Sarge, ain't we got better shit to do than fuck with the swamp people? Like fightin' off the infected?" Haddock asks.

Gaines looks back two the two officers and gives a nod before perching himself above the seated Haddock. The poor private tries to squirm away but can't get very far, Gaines propping up a leg over the man. He leans down, scarred face and set jaw threatening to lunge forward and snatch away the life from the Private. He kicks off from the Private and looks to the rest of his team.

Their expressions betray they feel the same way regarding the situation. Gaines knows that every one of them would much rather be fighting elsewhere, that they have families and friends in danger at this very moment.

"We've been given orders to assault SCP-4476. Weapons free, search and destroy. That was in the briefing. What they didn't tell you is that we're looking for someone in particular. Enitan Sabatier. Lieutenant?" He turns to the African man.

Abioye pulls a small photo from his vest and hands it to the Sergeant. Gaines holds out the photo for the team to see.

"This man is the reason we're here," he states quietly, scanning the group for reaction. "Karcist Enitan Sabatier. He's mostly kept to The Darkwater Lodge in New Orleans, but disappeared during 2480-Incident Gamma. Doesn't make sense that the Karcist would flee the city now does it?"

The cabin stares back to him, watching intently.

"Joining us on this operation are Captain Sho of the GOC and Lieutenant Abioye from MTF Nu-7."

"Nu-7?" Davenport whistles, "shit, I don't like the sound of that."

"We have approximately two hours to grab this guy and get him back to Site-93A."

Decuir leans in and pulls up her neck gaiter over her mouth.

"Sergeant, ehm, what exactly is happening in two hours?"

Gaines stands up straighter and takes off his helmet. He feels over the cover, the tough nylon and the velcro straps. He looks over to the GOC Captain, who then stands from her seat and takes hold of the grip above. The team turn over. Abioye's head dips. Haddock whispers something to Decuir.

"Deployment of a tactical nuclear device, sanctioned by both the Global Occult Coalition and the SCP Foundation."

Everyone goes silent.

"Fuckin' toldja."

Davenport blinks and swallows, then looks at the panel beneath his feet. His leg starts bouncing. He looks back to Captain Sho.

"A nuke...?"

She nods solemnly, hazel eyes pointed to the floor. He looks back to the Sergeant.

"How... how bad are things getting out there? I-I thought we were containing-"

"There are at least two SK-BIO Type 005 structures in Louisiana that we know of," Abioye says calmly. "one more in Arkansas, two more in Mississippi. It is unknown how deep the Sarkic influence goes. There were three Type 005 structures outside of Atlanta when it fell. We know the infected congregate to these areas. Our intel suggests that these structures serve as a command post of sorts."

"Which is why we're burning the thing ta the ground," Haddock deduces.

"Fuck," replies Davenport.

A silence descends upon them. Decuir shifts in her seat. "It is good you are not here, mama," she murmurs.

Davenport opens his mouth to say something, but the lights shut off in the cabin. A red light settles over the troopers as they do their last minute preparations. Davenport takes a photo from his wallet and pushes it against his face before stashing it in his vest.

"Arrival to LZ ETA thirty seconds," the pilot says over comms. "Seagull-2 to Blacktower, we're approaching Landing Zone Bravo now."

A moment passes. The pilot thumbs his microphone button twice but doesn't say anything. Everyone undoes their harnesses and slings their gear on.

The light goes green and the ramp begins descending. The rest of the team stands.

"What are we looking at in terms of resistance? I thought Neo-Sarkics and Proto-Sarkics quarrel, no?" Decuir asks.

"No idea," Gaines states, "stay frosty." He slaps his helmet back on and brings his night-vision goggles down.

"Ah'm ice-cold, baby," Haddock drawls.

Davenport shoots him a glare. Haddock smiles back.

"What can Ah say? Ah'm made fer this shit."

They exit the helicopter and charge down the ramp. The ramp closes and the Sea Stallion lifts off, its rotors whirring to life, turning and rising into the air. Gaines steps forward and motions for everyone to follow him. He raises his rifle, motions forward with his left-hand, then he and his team disappear into the muggy bayou.