Weaver's Entry #1

[Xander]

At the Barrier, the border of The Zone.​

( ** is first-person reading, ** is third-person reading.)
​

** It's been a few weeks since we've been near the barrier. We were mostly waiting on orders, and in the process, we got accustomed to the local village outside of the walls, around fifty kilometers or so from here. The people were nice, welcoming. As long as we were respectful, they respected me and my team. We mostly ate and drank with the locals, if not that, we would talk amongst ourselves about what we used to do and prepare our equipment for the journey. I miss my home, but I'm here because of it. So I can't back out now, not ever. I'm Weaver, the Team Leader. We have 5 others, Boyko the demo-expert, Melnyk the Marksman, Koval the navigator, Sandman the weapons specialist, and Georgia the civil affairs specialist.

** All 6 of us are here for our own reasons, some with shadier pasts than most but I don't have the right to judge. Mine? Both of my mother and father are very ill, because whilst I was off fighting a war for my country, my hometown had been quarantined off due to a chemical spill by a careless corporation. This effected both of them, and they have a lot of medical bills in to being treated. My brother and sister have been taking care of them and doing their civilian jobs at the same time. So when I got back and heard what happened, I didn't hesitate to put what I experienced and was trained to use, to the highest bidder. They haven't been able to get a vacation for themselves, so if I can afford them some time? That's my dream. And when I'm done here, I'll go home to be an engineer, make a career of it and have a family. I'm tired of fighting and watching men die. But for one last time, I'm willing to do it again. Not for the sake of my personal wealth, but so that my parents can be free from their illnesses.

** But last night? We finally received our orders. 'Head into the Zone and investigate'. We left the village we were sent to in the early morning, not even saying our goodbyes to the locals. All 6 of us left, under the guise of being 'tourists' with our large hiking bags. But once we insured we were alone, we got into our real gear before we hit the border. This uniform and body armor, I was used to something similar but not anti-radiation equipment. But I didn't make the calls here. If I had to be prepared for it, I wouldn't go against what was advised from his higher-ups. As everyone got prepped, we hooved it to the border, a specific section in the wall that was recently built up, but least guarded by a few guards. Though these border-guards were who we were meant to meet up with, and we let Georgia do the talking, since her charms and presence put the guards at ease, which lead to quick talks of passage. But as she came back, she spoke up.

** Georgia waltz back, glancing over her shoulder a few times at the border guards as she comes back to the crew. Once out of earshot, she'd speak up towards the others and say, "Hey, Boss. Guards giving us the green-light to go on through the maintenance tunnel, which is a straight shot to the other side. But uh- he spoke about hearing some shit a few hours again. And not only that, warns us of helicopter patrols at night around sun down, so we don't have a lot of time."
** Weaver nods his head as he'd reply, "That's fine. Helicopter patrols were expected, anyway."
** Sandman glances to the others, concern in his voice that comes through his mask's speaker, "Are we not going to be worried about what they heard, that Georgia didn't elaborate about?"
** Georgia retorts, "I didn't say what it was because they didn't tell me. And they didn't tell me, because they don't know what they heard. They've never been to the other side, apparently."
** Koval pipes up finally, joining the huddle of mercs as he'd say, "So our supposed contacts to let us through heard something from this unknown place. Not unheard of. Especially with the size of their walls. I say we just keep going, just be on guard."
** Boyko joins the gaggle-fuckery of a huddle, nodding in agreement with Koval as he'd say, "Aye, best we keep goin'. No reason to turn back now. We knew we were walkin' into th' dark when we accepted this job."
** Melnyk came up, and quietly nodded in agreement to Boyko's words, not much of a talker right now.
** Sandman glances around the group, speaking up with a cautious tone, "Maybe, but we /just/ got here and we're already being warned about the unknown. I'm just saying, nothing wrong with us backing out now."

** And after Sandman said that, the 5 out of 6 them divulged into a 7 to 10 minute long debate on what they planned to do, the odd man out being Weaver. The border guards glancing over, mostly with impatience as they'd rather have the foreigners out of their sector as soon as possible. But eventually, Weaver speaks up just loud enough to be heard over the debate.

** Weaver speaks up, "Alright, we've talked long enough, and I rather not be target practice for some rookie guards. If you don't want to go in, you don't have to. Each of you have a chance, now. You can turn back around right now, and go home. I won't stop you and I'd understand why. But if you've had such concerns about it, you should've spoke about it back at the village. I'm going in, and if you're going through with the job, follow me. Otherwise, I'm happy to of met all of you. But we've got a schedule to keep."

** I waited for a few moments, looking over the 5 of them. None of them spoke up, none of them walked away, nor did they back down after what I said. I gave them a knowing nod, and would turn around, as all of us walked up to the guards to be taken to the maintenance tunnel to head through. I really wish that they didn't follow me in, as I now know I've damned them all.