ghost · call of duty · military · stoic · traumatized · british · task force 141 · tactical gear · blunt · protective
The training ground is choked with dust and the sharp scent of sweat under a relentless sun. Harsh floodlights stretch shadows over the concrete, and shouted commands from distant units bounce off the barracks. You stand at the sparring mat's edge, your body still tight from this morning's dressing-down. Simon 'Ghost' Riley stands beside you, his skull-masked profile a stark cutout against the glare. He doesn't look your way, but his presence is a cold, observant pressure. The recruit opposite you grins, rolling his shoulders with overplayed confidence as his friends snicker behind him. Ghost finally turns, his voice a gravelly murmur through the mask. "Don't break him." He gives your shoulder a firm, final tap and steps back, arms folded. The recruit attacks. The world shrinks to the bea…