Chapter Text
5th of July 1944. Sword Beach.
Preparations were being made for their upcoming mission on Sword Beach, facing the Germans once again.
Caitlyn Kiramman was cleaning her sniper rifle, next to her, Jayce Talis, their weapon engineer.
“Nervous?” Jayce leaned over while putting away his notes.
“Not really.” Caitlyn said, letting go of her rifle and putting it next to her bag. “I wouldn’t say I got used to it, because you never get used to war, but…” she paused, looking at the ground. Her thoughts were racing. She’d seen too much horror already. Being a medic part-time didn’t help.
The wounds she stitched up, the broken bones she fixed, the limbs she couldn’t save. The look in her patients eyes were always the same - ‘please do something, tell me I’ll make it’. She always gave her all, yet, only so much was possible.
“You learn to live with it, finding strength in ways you never thought possible.” Jayce put his hand on Caitlyns shoulder, saving her from her thoughts that were spiraling. They’ve known eachother since they were kids, fighting side by side on such a battlefield was never what he imagined. Yet here they were.
Caitlyn looked over at Jayce, a weak smile forming. “Exactly.” She put the cloth she cleaned her rifle with away. “How are you doing?”
He let go of Caitlyn’s shoulder. “Fine”, he smirked in frustration “well to be honest, as fine as circumstances allow it. At least our weapons are running as they should, so I don’t have to worry about that – yet.” He smiled.
Caitlyn straightened her posture, her expression softening just enough to show encouragement. “That’s something, at least.” she said with a small, reassuring smile. “And as long as we keep moving forward, ‘fine’ is good enough.”
Suddenly the heavy double doors of their hideout swung open with a forceful clang, the sound echoing throughout the room like a crack of thunder. General Ambessa Medarda strode in, her presence commanding every eye in the room before she uttered a single word.
Her gaze swept across the gathered soldiers, her piercing eyes sharp enough to silence even the faintest murmur. She came to a halt at the head of the room, planting her gauntleted hands on the heavy wooden table with a resolute thud.
“Listen up, folks…” she declared, her deep voice cutting through the tension like a blade. A rare smirk tugged at her lips, equal parts ferocity and satisfaction. “Our awaited reinforcements have arrived.”
Her words carried the weight of authority and confidence, and the room seemed to shift, the air charged with renewed determination. The USA special units finally arrived.
“Make room for our two special units: firstly, the Vanguards.” Ambessa removed herself from the entrance.
A small group of people walked in, lead by somebody with bold, deep pinkish-purple colored hair and a sidecut. Accompanied by a girl with blue braids and a towering, intimidating guy with a beard. Following them was a team of soldiers, but the three of them were the most noticeable ones for sure.
“How about you give us a short introduction of your special forces team, Vi?” Ambessa gestured with her hand to go on. Vi responded with a nod.
"Alright, listen up!" she began, her eyes scanning the room of soldiers before landing on Ambessa. "This is my team. You’ve got your regulars, your infantry, your standard-issue soldiers. And then you’ve got us." She gestured to the figures behind her, each one standing tall, a silent testament to their deadly skills.
"First up." she motioned toward Jinx, who was practically vibrating with excitement, her grin as wild as ever. "This is Jinx—demolition expert and combat engineer, all-around chaotic genius. And the one who’s likely to make your day a whole lot more interesting, if you know what I mean."
Jinx threw a wink and a peace sign at the room, already eyeing the nearest explosive gadget she could play with.
"Then there’s Loris." Vi continued, her tone shifting slightly, but still with that tough edge. "Big guy, quiet, but when he hits, people know it. He’s got a knack for getting in, getting the job done, and getting out before anyone even knew what hit them." Loris gave a subtle nod, arms crossed and posture solid, exuding an air of calculated menace.
"And the rest of the crew…" Vi added, giving a wave toward the rest of the team, "well, let’s just say we all bring something different to the table, but together? We’re the kind of force you don’t want to face." Her eyes locked with Ambessa’s for a moment, a silent challenge and a mutual understanding passing between them. "We’re here to get the job done—whatever it takes. And if that means breaking a few rules along the way, well… that’s just how we roll. We’re happy to support you, soldiers."
In the room full of soldiers, Vi met Caitlyn’s gaze. The only critical one she’s noticed, scanning the faces and reactions of others. There was a flicker of something between admiration and a challenge in Caitlyn’s expression, which made Vi curious.
Caitlyn leaned over in Jayce’s direction "Well, it’s certainly… a colorful team." Caitlyn remarked whispering, her tone light but laced with a sharp edge of observation.
Ambessa continued again “Thank you, Vi. Certainly a competent unit, which will be of use.” Ambessa nodded. Vi nodded as well and her unit moved aside. “Let’s continue, our second special unit: the firelights.”
Ekko stepped into the room first, his posture relaxed but his eyes scanning every corner, always alert. His wild, yet carefully calculated energy was evident in the way he moved, each step a combination of confidence and curiosity.
"Firelights here, your high tech scout team. I’m Ekko, their leader." he said, his tone light yet intense. He was followed by a tall, slim soldier and their team. He took a step towards Scar, giving him a quick, almost approving look.
"This.." Ekko gestured to the imposing figure, "is Scar. Don't let the quiet attitude fool you, alright? He’s the kind of guy who gets the job done without a word. He doesn’t need to talk—he just acts. And when he acts, you’d better believe it’s with precision." Ekko’s grin flickered for a moment, the usual mischief replaced with something more respectful.
A quick glance toward the rest of his team, Ekko shifted, his voice taking on a lighter tone. "Now, the rest of the crew? They’ve got their own style." Ekko presented his team with a gesture and then glanced over at General Ambessa.
“Thank you, Ekko. Another addition to our already efficient team. Welcome our newcomers like you would want to be welcomed yourselves. They might be the reason you get to live another day.”
The room was quiet – the new arrivals filled up the space that was left. But not long after, conversations started to fill the room.
Vi headed towards the blue haired sniper, still curious about her reacting the way she did. She wanted to break the ice.
“It’s rather untypical to be a sniper AND a medic, isn’t it?” Vi got closer, with a cheeky smile on her face. She started to read the name on Caitlyn’s nameplate to see who she’s talking to. C. Kiramman. Kiramman?! Weren’t they the family behind the production of these new rifles they started using? And was this their daughter? Why would she be-
Vi’s thoughts got interrupted by Caitlyn’s answer.
"Unusual, maybe." Caitlyn replied coolly, her tone calm but carrying an underlying seriousness. "But not impossible." She shifted slightly. "I’ve seen enough to know the value of both perspectives. As a medic, you learn the human side of war. As a sniper, you learn how to remove the threat before it gets close enough to hurt anyone."
Vi looking at Caitlyn’s nameplate caught her attention, and she couldn’t help but notice the flash of recognition in the other woman’s eyes. Caitlyn’s lips curled into a small, almost imperceptible smile.
"Yes, Kiramman." she continued, her voice a touch more measured, but still composed. "We’re the ones behind the new rifles. But I wouldn’t expect you to know that. Not everyone keeps track of manufacturers during a war. Especially soldiers from the US”. She looked her dead in the eyes.
“And as you probably guessed, I’m their daughter. Family names don't define you. I’m here to fight, just like you." There was a subtle shift in her expression as Caitlyn let the tension melt away, a quiet but confident assurance in her voice. "Anything else you're curious about?"
Vi met Caitlyn's gaze without flinching, her trademark smirk tugging at the corners of her lips. She wasn’t used to being on the receiving end of such a direct, measured response, but there was something in Caitlyn’s eyes—something more than just the cool professionalism—that intrigued her. Vi, despite her usual bravado, was the kind of person who respected strength in others, especially when it was paired with a sharp mind.
She let out a small chuckle, not in mockery, but in recognition. "Well, damn, you sure know how to put someone in their place." Vi leaned in a bit, her grin widening. "But hey, I guess you're right. Family name or not, if you're here, you're here to do a job. And I respect that."
Vi straightened up, crossing her arms over her chest, eyes glinting with a mix of curiosity and something else, maybe even admiration. "I wasn’t trying to step on any toes, just curious, you know?" She gave Caitlyn another once-over. "A medic-sniper combo? That's gotta give you some kind of edge in the field. You’re not just playing the game from a distance. You get up close and personal in ways most people wouldn’t expect. You’ve got a hell of a balance going on."
Vi uncrossed her arms and took a step back, giving Caitlyn a nod of approval. "Guess I’ve got nothing else to ask. Just don’t expect me to start calling you 'ma’am' or anything." She winked, letting the tension fade into a more comfortable camaraderie. "See you in the trench, Kiramman. Also, try to keep that pretty boy of yours alive, wouldn’t you?” Vi grinned at Jayce, then at Caitlyn, turning around and going back to her team.
Caitlyn gave Vi’s retreating figure a wry smile, her expression softening with a mix of amusement and slight exasperation. She shook her head slightly. “I’ll do my best to keep him alive.” Caitlyn replied with a dry chuckle, her tone playful but with an underlying seriousness. She glanced at Jayce briefly.
Jayce couldn’t help but roll his eyes, though there was a smile tugging at his lips. “She seems like she’s one to talk. I’m perfectly capable of handling myself, thank you very much.” He paused, glancing back toward Caitlyn, a slight smirk forming. Jayce stepped toward his equipment, the mood lighter now, and Caitlyn couldn’t help but feel a little more at ease as they prepared for what lay ahead. The camaraderie despite the battlefield tension—was something Caitlyn was grateful for. They were a team now. And together, they’d make sure everyone made it through.
It was now time to get ready for tomorrow, D-Day was about to start and their mission has to end successfully.