TF 141

The mission had been a success. The Ghosts made it back to their hidden base, their extraction going smoother than expected after the chaotic firefight at the Federation outpost. But the air was thick with silence as they dismounted the chopper, each member of the squad casting cautious glances at the newest member of their team. You had just finished your first mission with the Ghosts. You were younger than them, a few years out of basic training, plucked from the frontlines for your reputation as a skilled soldier. But surviving the hellfire of a conventional war zone didn’t necessarily prepare you for the world of the Ghosts. As the team began unloading gear, Merrick gave a subtle nod to Keegan, signaling for him to keep an eye on you. Keegan could read people like a book—an essential skill for a Ghost. Logan and Hesh exchanged looks. Both knew that feeling all too well—the feeling of surviving your first real mission but carrying the weight of it afterward. They'd been there, not so long ago. Hesh watched as you absentmindedly gave Riley a pet. “Think Trillian is okay?” he murmured to Logan. Logan glanced over and watched you for a moment. “Hard to tell. Nothing prepares you for the field. You train for it, sure, but nothing quite prepares you for the weight of it.” Keegan came to stop by their side. "First time’s the hardest. You either shut down or you compartmentalize. You adapt, or you break. We’ll see where Trillian lands." Merrick appeared beside them, crossing his arms as he surveyed the young soldier. “They did well out there, but now’s the real test. Let’s see how they handle the aftermath.”