Time: 03:41- Southern CA Guard Armory, Main Office's.

.

..

…

The one of many things that Colonel Woods hated was being up at this unholy hour. It was the ass crack of night, and he would rather be sleeping right now, instead he was graced with the presence of one Agent Samuel T. Rodgers, a Major of the Eighth-Echelon.

Currently himself and the Major were seated in the Colonels main officer an average sized room with a wooden floor, and walls that held only the USCA flag, and holographic pictures of his many years in the service of the 1st FAD.

The agent, Major Rodgers, stood across from the Colonel, who was seated behind his desk, he was bleary eyed, and would rather be sleeping, but he was well aware of the pull an E8 Agent carried, and could have the Colonel scrubbing latrines, or worse.

But as a Colonel, he had enough clout of his own, enough that he could voice his opinion. "With all due respect, Major." The weary Colonel drawled. "I'm losing enough sleep as it is with the killings and disappearances, couldn't you take up whatever this is about with the District General?"

"I assure you, Colonel Woods, that this is a perfectly legitimate reason for your rest to be interrupted."

"I understand that much, if someone from E8 is here that that's reason enough for me to put everything else aside, but what I don't understand is why you came to me instead of my superiors?"

The Agent nodded, "Fair question, and if I was able to divulge the reasons as to why, I would most certainly do so, but unfortunately, I cannot. I am to keep all parties involved on a 'need-to-know' basis, you see."

"I see," He sighed, he hated not knowing the reasons for things, knowing as much as he could was one of the reasons he was such a good District commander. "If that's all, then can you tell me why you are here in the first place? Why do you require my assistance?"

"That, I can tell you." The agent sat himself down comfortably across from the Colonel.

"I am here is in regards to the recent disturbances in this area." This piqued the Colonel's interest, he had been hunting for leads surrounding the events, he had hoped for a quick and concise end to the investigation, but instead it had been dragging on for months, he was getting nowhere, and was losing good soldiers.

"I've read the reports, the public one, and the official one- might I add that you've done a splendid job in maintaining civil stability," The Colonel took a small amount of pride from the compliment, but that was overshadowed by what followed.

"Now, before I begin I must remind you that as of this moment, this base is now under my jurisdiction by the order of E3 command."

'E3?' The colonel thought to himself. 'Don't they deal with Biological Warfare?' Something nagged at him, he was suddenly uneasy with the thought of E3 having a hand in this. On the other hand, they were asking for his cooperation instead of leaving him out and going ahead with whatever plans they had.

"I'll make it simple, and I'll be concise: This city, is now under quarantine. No Ship's come in, and none go out, without my permission."

The Colonel blinked, Quarantine? What for! Why?

"Secondly: I need you to cut back on the number of night patrols, the last thing we want is-"

It was at that moment when the door to his office slammed open, and in stumbled two of his soldiers. The Colonel was quick to stand, while the Agent merely glanced over his shoulder, but after years of frontline service, the Colonels' sharp eyes caught the most infinitesimal flinch in the agent's right hand hovering over a semiautomatic SSI.45.

"He's on edge, a knifes edge." The Colonel noted, it took a lot to shake an Agent.

The colonel didn't know why, but through that act alone, he sent a ripple of fear down his spine, he's seen all the horrors war had to offer, and faced them all without blinking, but this Agent…

"Sir!" The larger male, a Sargent, was the first to speak. The Colonel knew this one; he was in the 287th, a good man. "Sir, we…" But words failed him, he noted the recruit, she stunk of Urine, and was shivering, she clung to the Veteran soldiers arm weakly as her legs failed to support her own weight.

"We- we saw this, thing- dead patrol- monster- it- it." It was the girl who spoke first though, her voice was soft and trembled, she couldn't even look up or stand, but her words seemed to catch the interest of the Major.

"Privet, would you stand?" The colonel doubted that anything other then rest and a trip to the psych ward would get the young maiden to stand, but this Agent was full of surprises, as well as dark secrets.

His words seemed to reach through her blanket of madness that threatened to suffocate her in its clammy binds. His voice grabbed her and pulled her back to reality, gently, it did not thrash her, or break her; it lifted her to the surface like a feather floating on water.

"Charismatic SOB, now, are you?" The Colonel stifled a pessimistic grin, it was no time play games.

She shifted her vacant gaze upwards, her helmet had long since fallen off and rolled away during the break-neck sprints through the streets to find their way back to the safety of the inner walls of the guard armory.

She met his faze, her previously lifeless eyes sparked back to their former selves, her emotions returned from fear to an unsettled but intact bashfulness, and with a great effort, she managed to rise on her weak legs, shivering, but with aid from the Sargent she managed to keep her footing.

"Y-yes… S-sir…" She still clutched at her partners arm, hands a white knuckled grip on his shoulder.

"Why don't you tell me about what happened?" Agent Samuel T Rodgers asked, offering a small innocent smile that was plenty false to the Colonel, but it seemed to be enough to work on the Privet.

She struggled for words when none came to her, but when she managed to speak, she need not say anything else. "It… It was eating them…"

A chill shot down his spine, and the colonel met the Agents gaze.