Personal History
When the leader of the Covenant Organisation faces trouble, they inquire about the whereabouts of their carrier strike group. When the United Territories Committee encounters difficulties, they seek updates on the status of the 8th Squad of the Security Bureau. Thus, this elite special forces unit, the finest within the United Territories (and arguably the most formidable on the planet Nox), earned the moniker "Task Force Fleet". Yet while Earth boasts ten carrier battle groups, Nox possesses but one such squad. Elena, aged merely twenty, commands this elite force under the codename "Flag-Bearer". A resolute and astute leader, she maintains unwavering composure and decisive action.
Towards her subordinates, Elena maintains the appropriate demeanour expected of a leader, yet she genuinely cares for the wellbeing and condition of every team member. She excels at unlocking their potential and boosting morale. This fosters trust in her judgement among her team, with younger members even idolising her. In external dealings, she maintains an unassuming yet assertive stance, actively securing the team's rights and operational autonomy. While certain factions within the Union perceive the 8th Squad as a rogue unit of arrogant warriors, Elena's approach is one of restraint. She avoids confrontation, seeking only assurances and understanding within established protocols.
Whilst rumours of the 8th Squad's deployment were indeed sufficient to send many rabble-rousers fleeing in terror, Elena maintained that empty reputations served no purpose in protecting the team. The only things one could rely upon were thoroughness, caution, decisiveness and courage. She placed great importance on conducting exhaustive reconnaissance, gathering as much intelligence as possible and planning meticulously before acting. Once operations commenced, she would lead from the front, mobilising initiative to address any contingency, ensuring both victory and safety.
Elena constantly balances undertaking arduous missions with safeguarding her team members and thus far she has managed this exceptionally well, never subjecting her team to significant casualties. Should the situation become utterly critical, she would most likely prioritise the team's safety. The Bureau's senior leadership is well aware of this: only the most crucial missions warrant the deployment of the 8th Squad, yet rarely are these missions so vital that they necessitate the sacrifice of these elite special forces operatives.
Elena's efforts to preserve the squad's integrity appeared excessively cautious to outsiders: for instance, though their numbers had dwindled to a point where all could fit in a single vehicle, Squad Eight would never do so. Elena was particularly intent on ensuring Claudia and herself travelled in separate vehicles, thereby preserving an experienced seed.
Elena was selected for Squad Eight whilst still a rookie constable. The rationale extended beyond her exceptional aptitude and potential to encompass her outstanding sense of justice, ambition and restraint in the use of force. The space race plunged the United Territories into severe anarchy. Elena's home was ransacked, her parents beaten into disability by rioters, while she narrowly escaped harm due to her young age. This experience fostered a deep hatred for crime within her, fuelling her desire to gain the strength to protect herself and her family.
When Elena first joined, Squad Eight was even more formidable than it is now: both frontline combat and support units comprised seasoned Union Special Forces elite. The team operated with seamless coordination and a protective, almost patronising attitude towards new members. Consequently, Elena spent most of her time assisting and observing, as her seniors judged she required considerable further training.
However, Squad Eight was far busier back then than it is now. Perhaps because experienced Union veterans came too readily, the United Territories Council treated the special forces elite as a jack-of-all-trades and a propaganda poster, assigning Squad Eight numerous non-essential tasks. They even demanded the squad frequently make public appearances within the United Territories and the Republic to reassure the populace, going so far as to require Squad Eight to train the Republic's Defence Forces. Consequently, whilst returning from a Ruvilian Defence Force camp, Squad Eight's vehicle was overturned by a massive roadside bomb, inflicting heavy casualties among the team members, Elena alone survived because she had remained behind.
Subsequent investigations revealed that the bomb had been the product of a violent clash between citizens of two knightly domains, originally intended for an enemy militia. The domainers' conflict had inadvertently harmed the Earth Gentlemen, bringing disgrace upon the knightly lords. Over two hundred militia members were consequently hanged. However, the remaining veterans of the 8th Squad were so disheartened by the incident that they chose to withdraw.
The Committee had no choice but to entrust Elena with rebuilding the 8th Squad, whose conditions were that the 8th Squad henceforth retain the right to refuse non-essential assignments and that she retain complete control over the 8th Squad's personnel and operations.
Personal Report
When the President of Vespucci faces a crisis, the first question is always “Where is the nearest carrier strike group?”. When the Joint Region’s Administrative Committee is in trouble, they always turn to the the 8th Squad as their ace in the hole. The Entente may have 12 aircraft carriers, but on planet Nox, there’s only one professionally trained special forces unit by Earth’s standards—and the heavy responsibility of leading that team falls to Elena.
“Elena dedicated her entire life and passion to the squad: she cares deeply about each team member’s mental and physical well-being, assigns the most suitable tasks to each individual, holds strict training standards, and leads by example. Before every mission, she thoroughly gathers intel before making any decisions—never fighting battles she’s not confident in. And once the operation begins, she always takes the lead, adjusting plans on the fly to command her comrades.”
A native of Unity City, Elena lived through the turbulent period before and after the collapse of the Union, when the Joint Region fell into anarchy. Her home was looted by rioters, and her parents were beaten so severely they were left permanently disabled. Fueled by a burning hatred of evil, Elena joined the Security Bureau with the firm resolve to fight crime and restore the peace and beauty of her childhood memories in the Joint Region.
Thanks to her exceptional sense of justice and ambition, Elena was assigned to the elite 8th Special Operations Unit—a team much stronger than its successor, the 8th Unit. At that time, its frontline combatants were all seasoned veterans, and Elena could only sit on the bench during operations. The Administrative Committee regarded the 8th Unit as a shining emblem of the Joint Region, frequently dispatching them across the territory to reassure the public. But during one such return trip from Ruvila, the 8th Unit’s convoy was destroyed by a roadside bomb, causing massive casualties. The post-incident investigation concluded, embarrassingly, that the explosion was a result of an armed clash between two local villages over personal grievances, who accidentally injured the passing 8th Unit. Crippled by the loss, the unit’s strength could no longer be restored. The remaining survivors, demoralized, retired one after another.
It was then that Elena picked up the fallen banner. After the 8th Unit was disbanded, she was assigned to form a new team, the 8th Squad.From the very beginning, shaped by that bloody lesson, Elena demanded the rejection of all non-essential missions.Even now, Elena values the safety of her team members more than the completion of any objective.The higher-ups in the Joint Region are fully aware of this, but considering the irreplaceable value of Elena's rebuilt team, they can only allow her to do things her way.
Interviews transcript
Interviewee: Claudia
"Elena always keeps her distance from me during operations.
Some dumb desk jockeys think she doesn’t like me.
No—
I know she’s just scared we’ll be killed by the same grenade."
Interviewee: Lisa
"Big sis Elena always insists,
‘I will absolutely guarantee the Warant Officer safety!’
Though honestly, big brother isn’t that fragile———
Looks like that one mistake last time really hit her hard."
Interviewee: Stella
"I knew it~ the Warant Officer is really good at syncing with this kind of 'rough standard-issue gear’...
But maybe it’s okay to let yourself go once in a while~
And indulge in some personalized, thoughtful service~
Looking forward to your next visit~"