Chapter 1: Welcome to Haven

“Welcome to Haven… The Bastion of human revival. The symbol of the COG’s undying strength. The icon of our race rebuilding hope for all.”

That was the message that constantly repeated over the many loudspeakers that surrounded the armoured citadel known as “Haven”. What used to be a large city dedicated to the wealthy and fortunate, with an economy, history and artistic flare that could rival Halvo Bay, had been converted into a new sanctuary for the humans… and a new military headquarters for the COG.  A new Jacinto of sorts.

Haven was merely it’s adopted name, the city itself used to be called “Capitol One” It and it’s twin sister city “Opulent Capital“, or “Opulent C” as it was known, were a stone’s throw away from the Gorza dunes, the neighbouring wasteland of the Deadlands.

Fortunately, Haven had been completely free of Locust attacks, but that wasn’t to say security was a priority. The largest force of COG Gears, Cyron Troop and cadets from the “Onyx Rebirth” project policed and protected the city.

Haven had been chosen to be the new capital for the COG and humanity not long after the ICM of Azura failed to destroy the Lambent. Mainly because it and Opulent C had, amazingly, survived the worst of the Human-Locust War, from Emergence Day to the Hammer Strikes to the Lambent Pandemic, both cities had endured and continued to stand tall.

The streets were packed with soldiers, some were just milling about, others on routine patrol. Though a large amount of them were escorting tanks, trucks that carried weaponry and other units to key locations on the outskirts of the city - Something was happening, and the armed forces didn’t want to be caught off guard.

A lone Cyron Enforcer rushed through the streets, ignoring all that was going on around him. He was making a beeline for the heart of Haven. A gigantic courthouse like building, one that made the infamous court house of Halvo Bay look like a toy model. This building played a number of roles, including military HQ, courthouse and a prison.

The front doors of the courthouse swung open and out stepped one Colonel Victor Hoffman, escorting by a large cadre of COG Gears. Ever since the Azura failure, Hoffman had become a de-facto Commander in Chief for the army. He had rule over all the COG Gears and Cyron forces. Well, the ones that allied themselves with the COG anyway, he still couldn’t get a hold of the more reclusive Cyron Cells. Luckily for him, the majority of Cyron Cells were eternally loyal to the COG.

Hoffman also transferred himself and all forces from Anvil Gate to Haven, figuring this psuedo “new Jacinto” would be a better place to inspire hope. While that all sounded fine and dandy, Hoffman couldn’t help but to feel the strain of pressure getting to him.

As Hoffman walked down the stairs, the Cyron Enforcer stopped him, saluting as he did.

“They’re arriving now sir.” The Enforcer reported, his voice masked by the vocoder built into his helmet.

Hoffman nodded and turned to his escort.

“Dismissed boys, I can take it from here.” Hoffman ordered.

All the Gears acknowledged this with a salute, then they all went off in their own directions. Hoffman allowed the Enforcer to escort him towards a nearby helipad, where a King Raven Helicopter would be delivering some expected arrivals.

As the Enforcer and Hoffman went down the street, they passed an Onyx Guard walking alongside two COG Gears. The Gears looked at the Cyron Enforcer and huffed disapprovingly.

“I really can’t stand those guys.” The first Gear uttered.

“What do you mean?” his friend asked.

“Those Cyron guys, I hate having to work alongside them here.” The Gear explained. “The give me the creeps, and what’s with the masked voices?”

“Zip your lip private.” The Onyx Guard snapped. “Like em or not, the Cyron Troops are here to help us. Besides, security is a lot more efficient now that they’ve bought their troops and technology here.”

“Whatever.” the private huffed.

Meanwhile, Hoffman and the Cyron Enforcer arrived at the helipad. A few more Cyron forces were leaving the area, clearing away for the Raven. Hoffman could spot the Raven in the distance, getting closer and closer every second. Eventually, the Raven was hovering over the helipad, making a slow and careful descend. Hoffman waited a few seconds for the Raven’s blades to completely stop before moving forward. Before he did, he dismissed the Enforcer, who nodded before leaving.

Out of the Raven stepped a tall, middle aged but well kept man clad in light combat armour, with a long beige coat over it. This man was one Donald Ryan, one of the few members of the “COG Elite” left, and noted for refusing to go to Azura like all the others. Ryan had been made a link between the COG and Cyron. A role Lieutenant Pierce once held, but had been M.I.A ever since the second battle of Azura.

Tagging alongside Ryan was a Cyron scientist, a fairly short, but healthy looking man with a goatee and glasses. He was known as Dr Sarasman, and was a key figure for the second ICM project, which sadly failed.

Finally, behind them were two Onyx Guards. LeMaire and Schneider, Donald Ryan’s personal bodyguards. Once thought to be the last two Onyx Guard alive, the pair had since played the leading role for the Onyx Rebirth Project - A plan to retrain and revive the Onyx Guard.

“Colonel, we came as soon as we got your transmission.” Ryan announced, shaking the Colonel’s hand. “You said this was urgent?”

“Thank you for arriving at such short notice Councillor Ryan. I’m afraid it’s bad news.” Hoffman explained. “It would be better if we were at the courthouse.”

Sarasman looked around and could see for miles all the soldiers preparing weaponry and defences like another war was about to begin.

“Expecting trouble, Colonel?” Sarasman gulped.

Hoffman escorted the group off the helipad and walked them down the streets towards the Courthouse.

“There have been unusual Lambent movements reported yes.” Hoffman replied. “We’re just buffing security, just in case.”

“Shouldn’t be too difficult to keep them away from here.” Ryan added. “Their wild mutants, so sense of direction or guidance.”

Sarasman wasn’t sure about that comment, the attack on the ICM facility seemed a little too good for “wild mutants”, but for now, chose to keep quiet.

“Anyway, Colonel, is this about what was happening at Opulent C?” Ryan asked.

“It’s partly that yes.” Hoffman replied. “The suspected Lambent site was destroyed yes, but not by us…”

Ryan stopped everyone for a second, dreading what Hoffman would say next.

“… by The Soul Killers.” Hoffman sighed. “They massacred the entire garrison there, then used OUR weaponry to destroy the site.”

“This is getting to be too much.” Ryan shuddered. “Does everyone here know?”

“I’ve yet to break the news to them.” Hoffman replied uneasily.

“Find a way soon, sir!” Schneider spoke up. “News travels fast, especially if it’s Soul Killer related. Remember, nobody buys that ’Stranded myth’ nonsense.”

By this point, the group had arrived at the steps of the courthouse, Hoffman stopped them at the foot of the stairs to explain the second piece of bad news.

“The other reason I called you down here was because you need to see it to believe it.” Hoffman started. “We’ve got some kind of Locust sympathiser in the cells.”

Everyone took a step back, it felt like they’d just been struck by a high speeding train.

“Yeah, I know. A Commando unit picked him up, he protested his innocence. Saying stuff like, he’d met the new leader of the grubs, and that she wasn’t like the Queen and that they wanted peace.”

“Even though Soul Killers are still butchering our boys?” LeMaire huffed. Ryan raised his hand to keep his bodyguards quiet for a minute.

“It gets worse… he’s one of our own.” Hoffman ended. “A Gear.”

“Show him to me!” Ryan demanded.

Hoffman nodded and escorted the party up the stairs, passing various COG Gears and Cyron Troops along the way. When they reached the front doors, an Onyx Guard saluted them as they stepped inside. LeMaire and Schneider, however, stopped to look at the Onyx Guard.

“What’s your name?” LeMaire asked.

“Kenneth sir.” The Onyx Guard replied.

“You seem tense Kenneth, is all okay?” Schneider quizzed.

“Just nerves I guess, I’m fresh off the Onyx Rebirth program.” Kenneth explained. “It’s my first post… actually, it’s the first post for a lot of us.”

“Don’t worry, you’re in good hands.” LeMaire replied, patting Kenneth on the shoulder.

“Thank you sir.”

“Call me LeMaire, that’s Schneider.”

Kenneth nodded and let LeMaire and Schneider pass, they quickly caught up with Hoffman, Ryan and Sarasman, who were waiting for a lift. The lift went down to the prison block, and was guarded by two Cyron Titans.

When the lift arrived, the party stepped inside. Luckily there was enough room for all of them to fit inside. Though a little bit clunky, the lift swiftly took them down to the prison block. With a bid of thud, the lift stopped and the doors opened.

There seemed to be one security checkpoint, but after that, there was row after row of prison cells. Barred doors and all. Despite being a Prison block, the area was remarkably well kept, it had clean floors, sturdy walls and bright lighting. Further reinforcing the mantra of “Everything in Capitol One must be perfect.”

A lone female Onyx Guard waved them in as they walked past the security checkpoint. All the cells seemed empty, save for one near the back.

“Here he is.” Hoffman announced. “Councillor Donald Ryan, Doctor Sarasman, may I introduce…”

Ryan and Sarasman peered into the cell…

“… Madison Carmine.”

Hoffman wasn’t exaggerating, it was a COG Gear indeed. One of the eye pieces of his helmet had been broken giving the three a good look at his eye and reddish hair. He didn’t have any other armour other than the gauntlets and his boots. Though he was wearing a jumper and some civilian looking trousers.
“A Carmine…?” Ryan gasped. “Has he spoken since his arrest?”

“Not really, after a while, he kind of stopped talking to us. Figured his words weren’t getting through to us.” Hoffman explained. “His trail is coming up soon.”

“Trial?” Ryan asked.

“I know what you’re thinking… will this be a repeat of Loomis’s disastrous trial?”

“Y…Yes, but I’m confident here, it shall not suffer the same fate.”

Meanwhile, Sarasman was looking at Madison Carmine with great interest, almost like he was analysing him, trying to uncover something.

“Colonel, do you have a file on Madison Carmine?” Sarasman asked. “I’d just… like to know more about him.”

“Yeah, along with what he’s been saying and a few other things. You want to read? He’s due for another evaluation anyway, you could take over.”

“Yes, thank you.” Sarasman nodded.

Hoffman escorted Ryan and Sarasman away, but LeMaire and Schneider hung around for a bit. Through their masks, they shot dirty looks for a little while, but then milled around the prison.

---

Sarasman had been granted use of a small office, where various files on physical and mental health checks of the soldiers stationed in Haven were. He’d been granted private use of the office while he read Madison’s file.

With great fascination and disbelief, he read through various comments made by Carmine when he had been arrested.

“Claims to have met new Locust leader… claims she wants peace… claims to have befriended Locust named Devek… claims to know… The Soul Killers?!”

---

“So… Grub lover…”

Madison looked up and spotted the two Onyx Guards, LeMaire and Schneider, hanging outside his cell. Obviously, the two thought they could pry him for a bit.

“You lost faith in humanity? Grubs brainwash you? Help us out here.” LeMaire hissed mockingly.

“Wealth? Power?” Schneider added. “What made you turn your back on us?”

“I ain’t in the mood to talk to you.” Madison snarled. “Anyway, you’d never believe me.”

The two Onyx Guards muttered to each other, deciding what to do next. Hang around a little more? Nah, not worth the time.

“Sarasman’s going to have a hard time cracking you, huh?” LeMaire scoffed.

“I doubt even he would get any answers.” Schneider added.

The two Onyx Guards turned when they heard the lift coming down again. When it arrived, Sarasman stepped out, holding a file and the keys to Madison’s cell.

“All yours Doc.” LeMaire announced.

They both then left the area, Madison could hear the heavy boots echo all the way. Sarasman opened up the cell and stepped inside, closing the door as he did.

While Madison was sitting on his bed, Sarasman sat down on a chair and faced Madison, the file open on his lap.

“Let me guess, you’re going to ask me about the things I’ve said?” Madison asked.

“Yes, but I shall ask in a more civil manner.” Sarasman replied. “I’m supposed to be giving you a psychiatric evaluation, but I’m more interested in what you’ve been saying.”

“It’s true Doc!” Madison protested. “Lacouna, the new leader of the Horde, she wants peace! They all do!”

Sarasman stared at Madison, he wasn’t exactly impressed with that claim.

“You claim that you were separated from your squad, and you forged through fire, a friendship with a Locust Beast Rider you call Devek.” Sarasman read out. “You then say you, as you did just now, you met the new Queen of the Locust, one Lacouna.”

Madison sighed, this was going to be painful.
However, Sarasman’s look went from sceptical to curious.

“Where is Devek now?”

“I don’t know, we got separated when the commandos caught me.” Madison said. “We’d been on the run from Lash and the Lambent and…”

“Slow down there Carmine!” Sarasman interrupted, holding his hands out. “What do you mean?”

Madison took a deep breath.

“Okay, most of it is sketchy at best, but here’s what I can remember…”