The rumble of the line of military vehicles can be heard far over the soft hills north of Florence. On the side of the trucks and troop transport is the generic GDN logo, the Global Defense Network, visible. Headlights cutting through the night as the Convoy drives over broken Roads and countryside paths.
Inside one armored truck sits Melissa beside Alexander. Her black hair is shorter now and tied in a high ponytail. Her eyes seem hollow, still with heavy eyeliner, they build a striking contrast to her pale nearly white skin. Black combat fatigues still seem too loose on her skinny frame. Alexander beside her is the opposite. His barrel sized chest, the rose skin and perpetual smile give him something jolly. Where her fatigues hang too loose, his seem too small, the armored vest they all wear looking more like something from a child's costume on him.
The Radio cracks “...repeat, the Rhine line has fallen. Ghouls under the Crimson Concord pushing Frankfurt...” then a moment later “Berlin command confirms total communication blackout with Warsaw and Prague sectors.” there is a heavy silence in the truck as the communication stops. Romy or Section Leader Isabella Romano stopping the feed. The shorter women with deer brown hair and caramel skin, that always looked like she has fallen from a recruitment catalogue thanks to her category 2 complexion, presses her lips together. Because of the Transformation Zones and the vampire activity most sections have now a category 2, or bronze rank as the term gets more and more popular, leader. “Europe is on fire again” Alexander says to break the silence “guess some things never change” “at least this time they don't pretend they are human” Melissa agrees. “Right? Is more honest that way.” he grins. Melissa gives him a small humorless smile while Romy looks irritated from one to the other... he takes it as a victory.
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The convoy keeps moving, other trucks carry military personnel, essence magicians and network ritualists. In the distance black smoke hangs over a small town, Melissa watching the murder of crows above it.
“You feel that?” she asks and Alexander nods “its silent...” they push their auras out. Hers humming faintly a sound no one hears but all feel, low and mournful like a far-of choir. His solid, strong and ready, an avalanche about to happen. But the only signs of life are the people of their convoy “its like the world waits for the other shoe to drop”
They stop near an abandoned gas station, the designated rendezvous point. Wind whistles through broken windows and the sound of boots stomping on the ground echo's as sections, support staff and military secures a perimeter. They get out, as Romy meets with the Director of Tactical Operations. Anton Bernardi, the small man with broad shoulders and square chin is the only silver ranker in the convoy. Alexander and Melissa stand guard close to them. “Think the informant will actually show?” his posture relaxed like they are about to buy gas and not on a mission “If he doesn't, someone else will... someone that wanted us to believe he would.” she looks at him her face dark. She sees him grin wide as he pats the red thorned vine on his shoulder “See? That is why I like you. Always the optimist.”
