Transcript of preliminary interview - prospect Wěi Chen

Subject: Wěi Chen (western naming order)

Registration ID: Marshal Steel

Defunct RID entries: Arc 4 (classified), Sergeant Steel

Military rank: Captain (holds no active command)

Birthdate: 28th April, 1979

Blood type: A+

Height: 6'1"/185cm (post mods, 5'9"/175cm pre-op)

Weight: variable

Classification: Type C modified human

Modifications: Neural interface port, osseointegrated modular options for full hand prostheses, osseointegrated modular options for transfemoral prostheses, osseointegrated shoulder, and arm prosthesis (left side).

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Transcript of the preliminary interview - prospect Wěi Chen

12th June 2001, Ft. Bragg, North Carolina.

Analyst: E.B Acker

Original video destroyed as instructed.

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Acker: Ah, good afternoon, Mr. Chen. I don't believe we've met before. That's the correct name, right?

Chen: It is. Why do you ask?

Acker: I just thought you looked disturbed; I wondered if the forms were faulty. It sometimes happens with...

Chen: With names like mine? It's fine. It was the Mr. that threw me; it's been a while since someone called me that. You're not military then Mr...? Ma'am?

Acker: E.B Acker will be enough. And no, I'm not military, but don't worry, I've got security clearance enough to handle what you might tell me. If you feel the need to be polite, you can call me Dr. Acker; that's delightfully neutral.

Chen: Understood.

Acker: Let me just check some formalities before we begin. According to your service record, you enlisted into the army in 1997, deployed to SEA as a helicopter pilot in 1998 during the withdrawal from Burma, awarded the purple heart in 1999, deployed to Yemen as an MBA pilot in 2000 and ongoing.

Chen: That's correct. 

Acker: Currently Sergeant, probably in line for another promotion soon.

Chen: I doubt it. I didn't even finish high school. They'll just hand out another medal and a pat on the back.

Acker: Is that bitterness I hear? 

Chen: You tell me.

Acker: I'm the therapist; my job is to ask the questions, not tell you the answer.

Chen: Huh. You're not like the other therapists I've worked with.

Acker: If I may be frank for a moment, have you had a fruitful relationship with your other therapists?

Chen: I haven't been looking for a relationship, just clearance to get back to active duty.

Acker: And that's what you want from me?

Chen: If you think I can still do my job and am not a danger to myself or my friends.

Acker: Are you?

Chen: No.

Acker: Do you know why you are here?

Chen: Because of what happened at Aden. It's regulation.

Acker: I wasn't talking about regulations. I'm talking about what you and your unit went through. I'm talking about what you did.

Chen: What was needed.

Acker: Is that what you think? I've seen the footage.

Chen: You have? That's new.

Acker: I'm not here to clear you for active duty; I take this seriously. I'm here to find out how it has affected you. That's why I'm not military. An outsider. Nobody will know what you tell me.

Chen: You know confidentiality doesn't apply to us.

Acker: I wouldn't be here if I didn't believe I could do my job undisturbed. Trust me when I say that your superiors won't get word of this discussion. Just a clean bill of health... if that's what you want.

Chen: I don't even know anymore. And I don't know if I want to play along without knowing your agenda.

Acker: But I do think you want to talk to someone.

Chen: You're not wrong. I suppose there's nothing people in charge don't already know. Or suspect. You've seen the footage?

Acker: I have. But that only tells one side of the story.

Chen: Not sure if there's another one to tell. We got shaky intel. We acted upon it anyway. Things went bad. People died—people who weren't supposed to be in the line of fire.

Acker: What do you think went wrong?

Chen: Like I said. Shaky intel. Quick decisions. Not mine. But I didn't protest. I should have; it didn't feel right, but not acting would have been bad if the information had been correct. Would have risked our position. It's always better to strike first, strike hard, and then sort out the aftermath.

Acker: Is that your motto?

Chen: Might as well be. We're not sent in when you need a soft touch; we're a spearhead. We were expecting armored resistance. Not... soft targets.

Acker: Soft targets. Civilians.

Chen: Yes. 

Acker: You shot a member of your squad.

Chen: Ah, that's why you're here; I should have known. Yes, I shot Kelley, he wouldn't stop firing, and I knew his armor would protect him. Mostly. I don't think he's badly injured.

Acker: He's not. But shouldn't the IFF systems prevent that?

Chen: Oh, those? We disconnect them when we take to the field. Slows down reaction time; out there, you need every second you can get if you want to stay alive. 

Acker: How do you feel about that?

Chen: I like being alive. I try to be careful. Mistakes happen. I can't afford to dwell on them or...

Acker: Or you end up here. With me. 

Chen: Yes. With you. I don't think you're a therapist. At least that's not all you are. You're trying to lead me somewhere, and it would be easier for both of us if you just told me where. I don't take well to subterfuge.

Acker: They told me you were sharp. Looks like they didn't exaggerate.

Chen: Then they should have told you I can take you out if need be, even without a gun. If I deemed you untrustworthy, nobody would question me.

Acker: Are you sure? You've started making waves. I might be here to make sure you don't drown.

Chen: Why?

Acker: You've grown disillusioned with your line of work, and I am here to see if maybe a change of position might be in order. Let's think of it as a job interview.

Chen: For what?

Acker: A non-military US government position, that's all I can currently say.

Chen: So you don't have to wipe my mind afterward. I know how your kind operates.

Acker: My kind? Ah, I see, no, no, you are wrong. I am not involved with -that- side of things; this an entirely different department.

Chen: Secrecy is secrecy.

Acker: It is, but right now, we are the ones holding all the secrets. You know nothing but a fake name and a friendly face. Why not give me a chance before you start dreading brainwashing?

Chen: Talk then. You seem to be fond of it.

Acker: Have you been witness to brainwashing then? Considering that was your first reaction? 

Chen: You wouldn't be here if you didn't know who I was, don't play coy with me. And yes, I have seen it done. Back in [REDACTED]

Acker: [REDACTED]

Chen: [REDACTED]

Acker: [REDACTED]

Chen: [REDACTED]

Acker: So you gave the order?

Chen: I don't give orders.

Acker: Anymore.

Chen: Those were exceptional circumstances. Lieutenant Powell had been killed; we had lost contact with command. Someone had to take charge.

Acker: And you did. Quite well, in fact. A Purple Heart and Distinguished Service Cross. Only the first one shows up in your official records.

Chen: I assume you have access to the unofficial one since you are making that point.

Acker: I do. Sergeant Wěi Chen, Special Forces, I'm told you don't like the term 'Green Beret.' Deployed as part of Task Force Trident from 1998 to 1999. Lost your hands during the Dawei massacre. 

Chen: Lucky I didn't lose more.

Acker: Indeed. Underwent cybernetic modifications at the JBLM facilities in 1999 and was handpicked to be a part of Task Force Arc when it was formed. Current codename 'Arc 4'. An impressive career for someone that young.

Chen: Young bodies adapt easier to extensive modification, and I am very good at my job. 

Acker: You are indeed. That's why we're talking. Very good at almost everything you've done. President of your local chess club. Quite successful on the Lacrosse team. Your high school records were impeccable; why drop out so close to graduation?

Chen: Family troubles, let's leave it at that.

Acker: You know we can't. We need to see if there's anything that can be used against you.

Chen: My parents disapproved of my... choice in partners. It's not something I'm proud of, but it's not some big secret. People back there know.

Acker: You look uncomfortable. What about people here? Do they mind you being gay?

Chen: I had a boyfriend before Dawei. He's dead. I try not to get attached anymore, but it's not something I'm ashamed of. Or make a production out of. I don't care what people think. Will that be an issue for you?

Acker: No. What your tastes are is no concern of ours.

Chen: Good, then drop the subject.

Acker: It can't have been easy leaving home that young. No high school diploma. New York isn't friendly to people without money.

Chen: It wasn't. That's why I joined the army.

Acker: After almost a year on the streets.

Chen: Yes. It's not like I was the only one. You know the housing problems with the Midwest refugees.

Acker: How did you keep out of jail? You were arrested for...

Chen: Because I knew how to handle authority, okay? The judge just saw a bright teenager from a good family who made a mistake. Stole some things on a dare.

Acker: You had money to post bond?

Chen: My friends had. I didn't want to get my family involved. It resolved itself.

Acker: Really?

Chen: What do you want me to say? That I've committed crimes? I have, but the biggest ones have been in the service of this government; I really think having been a teenage delinquent is irrelevant compared to that.

Acker: You have a point. Never been tempted to go back and get your diploma? According to my records, you were planning on becoming an engineer like your father?

Chen: I doubt civilian life would work out for me anymore.

Acker: I suppose that makes sense. You were seeing a therapist for a reason. 

Chen: For all the good that does. But, it's regulation. And I do follow orders.

Acker: When it suits you.

Chen: That sounds like an accusation.

Acker: Believe me, it's not. We are not a military outfit, but we do like to take advantage of military training. It speeds things up but can stunt independent thinking. We prefer people that can think for themselves.

Chen: Speeds what up?

Acker: How do you like the new MBA-80? I've heard impressive things.

Chen: Doesn't handle sand well. And you were changing the subject.

Acker: I was.

Chen: I suppose I won't get an answer to why?

Acker: The MBA-80 wasn't built for the desert; it is designed for urban environments. Compact. Flexible.

Chen: I know the loadout of my own armor.

Acker: Ah, I forgot. Future engineer. Here, take a look at this.

Chen: What is this? Mobile Armor specs? Not the MBT-80...

Acker: Not quite. It's a prototype, quite a bit more lightly armed, but...

Chen: I can see that. Doesn't look like a battlefield design. Rescue work? 

Acker: In a way. How would you like to pilot one?

Chen: I pilot what they assign me, you know that.

Acker: I do. I also know that you are not happy with your situation here, and I am offering you a chance to change it. Have you ever heard of the Rangers Initiative?

Chen: I do watch the news. 

Acker: You are going back to Lewis–McChord tomorrow for scheduled upgrades to your neural interface. There you will be met by one of my colleagues in a more official capacity. If you are interested, you will begin the process of applying for the Rangers, starting with a formal interview.

Chen: And this is?

Acker: This is just me verifying that it's worth approaching you. Your background is just what we are looking for, but the more human element can sometimes be lacking when dealing with military personnel. 

Chen: And you are to be the judge of that?

Acker: I am a therapist.

Chen: I get the feeling that's not all you are. Telepath?

Acker: You are sharp, but no, I'm not. I would call myself a good judge of character. Perhaps an empath if we're being generous.

Chen: I thought something was off.

Acker: What I do is not harmful; I'm just reading the signals you send out.

Chen: That doesn't make me more comfortable; I like my privacy.

Acker: I assure you, so do we. If it's any consolation, you are quite hard to read, but I don't get the feeling you have been dishonest with me.

Chen: What would be the use?

Acker: Quite right. Now, use the flight to think about what I've said. I can't provide you with any reading material yet, since I am here strictly in an unofficial capacity. 

Chen: I gather my superiors would not take kindly to you trying to poach me.

Acker: Correct. You might have made some enemies with your latest stunt, but you have your staunch defenders too. People that would hate to lose you. So let's keep it between the two of us, okay?

Chen: Will you be involved, or is your part in this concluded?

Acker: Oh, we will meet again. My job is team composition as well as recruitment. Anything that needs the human touch.

Chen: You mean the superhuman touch.

Acker: If you wish. Now, get packing. And if anybody asks...

Chen: They won't. Nobody likes to talk about therapy.

Acker: That's what I thought. See you soon... hopefully.

[interview concluded]