Deimos

“I was there when Rainbow began. I’ll be there when it ends.”

Gerald Morris was born in Birmingham, Alabama. He was close to his godfather, a military veteran, who would sneak Morris off to Western matinees and gun ranges. Discovering sheriff Bass Reeves in a history book was a watershed moment for the young Morris, giving him an idol for years to come.

Morris spent significant periods with the Special Forces and the ATF. A standout, he eschewed promotions to hone his practical skills and complete an MS in Inorganic Chemistry. His role in dismantling the [REDACTED] criminal organization made him a priority recruit for Rainbow’s first iteration.

As the team’s demolitions expert and a cornerstone operator, Morris was key to its early successes. He was demoted from team lead when he became outspoken about the operational limitations that come with government oversight. He and fellow operator Daniel Bogart were thought killed in Operation [REDACTED].

The circumstances of that event have been called into question since Morris’ capture at Emerald Plains.

Morris’ arrival has had a toxic effect on Specialist morale. Tensions are high. I believe that his capture offers us a unique opportunity. On a personal level, to define who we are, who Rainbow is. And, more pressingly, access to intel that will identify those who supported him. Nothing can be more important than that. The clock is ticking.

I am concerned about Jordan. He has burdened himself with the responsibility for Rainbow’s failures. Speaking frankly as his friend, it is not his cross to bear. As operators in the field, there is little we could have done differently given the circumstances we faced.

This is the Deimos effect. Our trust in each other is being tested. Adding to the turmoil is an unspoken acknowledgement between Operators that the man in that cell is one of the best soldiers the Rainbow program ever produced. His skill is apparent in how he moves, how he speaks, and how he thinks. Before we became aware of his terrible actions, Morris was an aspirational figure, a legend. It is difficult to come to terms with. I cannot shake what he said at Emerald Plains, “Rainbow is already dead.” I’ve seen enough this past year to know it isn’t an empty threat. We have little to act on as he spends most of our interrogations in silence and this deadlock has led some to suggest what I consider a reckless gambit: involve Deimos in the mission against his backers. Who in their right mind would green light that initiative? And yet, suggesting this to him has produced our first instance of actionable intel.

Could what we need be obtained with him in the field? An impossible choice that has split Rainbow down the middle. Now, more than ever, we need the leadership of a Six. We may not have a clear path forward, but I remain hopeful. Because the strength of Rainbow, the strength that has always defined us, comes from our shared purpose: to do whatever it takes to protect those who need protecting.

-- Captain Yumiko “Hibana” Imagawa, Viperstrike Squad Leader