[Midge913]

The skyline of Chicago was looked like it was on fire, the light of the setting sun casting the whole city in an orange glow. Had he not known better, he would have thought the view, taken in from the top of the sixteen story building where he stood, reathtaking. A huge gust of wind, laden with fierce cold and the promise of snow, whipped down across the building top, sending clutter and debris swirling in small whirlwinds, but the cold was lost on him. Mearly a sensation to be catalogued and processed, his mostly artificial body feeling the chill only as an afterthought. Glaring down into the streets and alleys below caused a vicious sneer to cross his face, his slate grey eyes as cold and the elements around him. Down there was the corruption and bigotry of a tyrants regime, down there people walked in huddled masses, minds clouded by the poisons they unwittingly ingested, sheep to the slaughter and slaves to a Government that cared naught for them. A regime of religious tyrrany and oppression, a regime that would soon fall if he had his way about it.

Colonel William "Odin" Forsythe, stood atop the building that contained his teams safe house and for the first time in his long life he saw true hope for a better future. He was one of only three people who knew what his mission entailed and the thought if its success brought a fierce, feral smile to his lips. This war, this war that had become his life, was soon to turn in NAFI's favor. His team was the best of the best, they would succeed, an opportunity like this would not present itself again. It was time to gamble everything... Too long had they played from the shadows while the wolves stalked among the sheep. He smiled even more fiercely at the thought.

Turning from his view, he saw that Major Augustin "Thor" Castelan waited for him, his friend's short frame belying its strength, fervent anger burning in his jet black eyes. He could tell that his second in command chaffed at being kept in the dark regarding their task, it had been the first time in close to 30 years that Odin had kept the details of a mission from him, but he bore it with the same unwavering dedication that he approached everything else. Falling into step next to the Colonel as he walked through the roof access door and proceeded to climb the steps down to their operation center, Odin watched his friend's eyebrows raise in surprise as he all but whispered to his companion, "Come old friend, lets go end this war."

With an effort of will, he activated his implanted com device, his voice now loud and steady, anticipation gone replaced by cool purpose, "Nightstalkers, asssemble for briefing in 5 minutes."

***​

(OOC: I may have failed to mention it in the myriad of information that I have put out to you guys, but every Valkyrie team member has a set of implanted coms devices as a part of their enhancement. Received signals are inaudible save by the person or persons receiving as the signal is pumped directly into the brain, but sent transimissions are still able to be heard depending on your chosen level of volume.)

Loki(Santaire) & Cue Ball(CaptainFatty): You two sit in the Operations Center of the Safe House, this abandoned building that NAFI agents have used for close to 30 years, monitoring communications between the team, and any incoming and outgoing messages from NAFI command. For the most part things are quiet, no real chatter of any kind and you two have taken out a deck of cards and are playing smoking, relaxing, whatever your characters would do in down time. Chat amongst yourselves regarding the hush hush nature of this mission. How do your character's feel about the speed at which you were shuffled off to Chicago? How does the lack of information sit with your characters seeing that in all of your previous missions Odin has been rather forthcoming with details. Your conversation is eventually interrupted by the Colonels radio traffic regarding an upcoming briefing. Seconds after the Colonel stopped speaking, Loki, you notice that a live streaming video com from the Halls has just been sent, oddly requiring the Colonels authorization codes. This is something else new that you are not used to. Shortly after the Colonel's announcement the rest of the team begins to filter into the room in pairs.

Osiris(Jackinator) & Spectre(Lord Ramo): You two pulled sentry duty. You are both out on the street, decked out in civilian gear, in front of the building, that contains your safe house. As you walk, non-chalantly in a patrol of the buildings parameter, you cant help but notice that the street, even though it is one of the less boulevards of the city, is fairly packed with people. Most don't look up or make eyecontact, their eyes dull with the effects of the drugs they have been given and the mindwashing propaganda they have been spoon fed. How does this environment make you guys feel? Sgt. Hale does coming into ACS territory once more cause any particular thoughts and feelings, especially given your history with the regime? You note during your patrol, that a group Civil Enforcers, hard looking men armed with their stun batons and non-lethal grenades, have passed by this location 2 times in your 6 hour shift. You remain unnoticed in the crowd, but the fact that the CED (Civil Enforcement Division) is even patrolling these streets now, where in years passed they have not, puts you on your guard. Do you two discuss anything regarding the hurried secretive nature of your newest assignment? Does the lack of informatio regardin your task cause you any concern as in times past Odin has been very forthcoming with information? Your patrol is eventually interrupted by the Colonel's announcement, and you two make your way back up to the Command Center as quickly as you can without avoiding notice.

Poet(Angel of Blood) & Graham(Karak the Unfaithful): You two drew supply duty. As you two labor away in the basement of building, taking inventory of weapons and supplies, you both find yourselves flustred at the rapid nature in which the team was deployed. Things in the supply category are a wreck, hastily thrown together and unorganized, but you throw yourselves into the work with the dedication befitting the seasoned soldiers that you are. Do you talk amongst yourselves regarding the secretive nature of the mission you now find yourself undertaking? Normally the Colonel is rather forthcoming with information, but this mission seems to be more clandestine than normal. Does this cause you any consternation or worry? Over the course of the day you have gotten the supplies organized and catalogued, and loaded into the unmarked vans that the team will be using to travel in should travel be necessary. You are just sitting down to a smoke or a shot from a hip flask, whatever floats your characters fancy, when the Colonel's transmission cuts across the radio. You two make your way through the building to the command center as quickly as you can.

Buck(Anilar) & Fenris(Komanko): You two have been assigned Recon duty and are currently hunkered down ontop of a smaller, 5 story tenament house that sits next to the larger building where the safe house is located. It is cold, but it is all a days work for a Valkyrie. As you watch the streets and the surrounding buildings you see Spectre and Hale pass by you occasionally as they make their meandering patrol around the building, and you are slightly concerned at the number of CED forces that you have seen out and about over the course of the day. Not only have there been enemy patrols on your block, but another team of Civil Enforcers is walking an overlapping patrol two blocks over. Though you haven't found any listening devices anywhere near the building, a single surveillance ballon drone floated by right around the 4 story of the building that you are now perched atop, it did not float high enough to cause any chance of it spotting you, but the amount of ACS surveillance and patrols compared to the last couple of times you have bunkered down in this particular safe house is a bit disconcerting. Does this increased activity, or the secretive nature of your current mission cause you any trepidation? Usually the Colonel is rather forthcoming with details, but this time everything has been very hush hush even for a clandestine outfit such as the Valkyries. Do you two discuss any of these things or just contemplate them in silence as you watch the area around you. Eventually the Colonel's transmission cuts across the radio, and you gather up your things and make your way back to the Command Center.

Thor(Deathbringer): As you watch the Colonel survey the city below, what thoughts are running through your head? Odin has been rather stand-offish in the last couple of days, and your teams abrupt departure from The Halls, without a word about where you were going or why has stirred you to irritation. Usually your friend is rather forthcoming, especially to you, about the details of the missions the team undertakes. Usually they spend sometime planning, collecting supplies, and laying the groundwork for an op, but not this time. This is especially concerning to you as the mission appears to be leading to the team going deeper into ACS territory, something that Valkyrie teams don't just do on a whim with no prep work. How does all this sit with you? As the Colonel rouses from his introspection, he starts for the roof access door and motioning you to follow him, lays a bombshell of a statmen on you? How does it make you feel that the mission you are on seems to be one that may be a deathstroke to the ACS? What does the Colonel's apparent certainty that this mission will effectively end the war make you think and feel? Left with these thoughts you follow Odin down into the building to the command center.

***​

All: As you make your way into the command center, you are met with the familiar sight of the gleaming consoles, and laptops. Some hardwired into the center, others carefully hooked into the place by Loki. The large room is actually comprised of several smaller offices, that over the years NAFI agents have taken over and expanded. Knocking down walls, and adding the equipment needed for one of the Valkyrie teams to carry out there covert operations. You are all gathered before the Colonel and the Major walk out of one of the stairwell doors that lead to the roof and as Odin looks expectantly towards Loki, he sees that the Cyber-Tech already has the vid screen pulled up, and is awaiting the Colonel's authorization codes (Santaire if you could just write a blurb in your post covering pulling that up that would be awesome). Walking over to the console, Forsythe types in a rather long series of characters, and with a chime the large vid screen flares to life, the image of General Stephen K. Bauer, taking up the majority of the screen, you can tell by the few things visible behind him, he is sitting in his private office.

"Evening Will," The general begins, his tone conversational and friendly. "You and yours make it stateside alright?"

"No hitches General, we arrived at the safe house undetected. Everything secure and quiet on your end?"

"Yes, indeed, Tuggs has everything locked down on his end, though he is in a right state that I haven't shared the details of your departure with him. NAFI believes that you are in Mexico, and for the time being it is going to stay that way." The general said, the last a clear command.

The colonel grimaced and shook his head, clearly uncomfortable with the way things were playing out,"I am not sure I understand the need for all the cloak and dagger where our own people are concerned, but you know the politics there better than I do. Its your play."

Sitting down so the rest of the team was visible to the General, "Go ahead General, they are all here."

"Right," General Bauer starts, "I imagine you are all wondering why you have been kept in the dark about this current assignment and once I lay it on the line for you, you may understand the nature of the situation a bit better. Up until this moment the only people who have had access to this intel is myself, the Colonel, and the operative who brought it directly to me. This mission can change the course of this conflict boys and girls, and it wouldn't do to stir false hope for the resistance. Even for you, the best of the best, this is going to be one for the books. Fires and frying pans don't even begin to describe what you will be heading into."

Rummaging around on his desk, out of view of the camera, the general find what he was looking for, raises a large cigar to his mouth and bites the end off of it before slowly lighting the end. "Loki if you would?"

(Santaire a data file starts to blink in the upper left hand corner of the view screen, and porting the images to a separate viewer you open the file)

Springing to life on the screen next to the vid viewer, a series of blueprints, supply documents, and requisition orders start to fly by in sequence. You all can tell that they are for a facility of sorts, but the nature of which is lost in the sea of documents.

"What you see there is everything the operative brought me. What you are looking at is the target that is going to crack the ACS open. If you would take the time to look through, you will find that this is an entire history, layout, and personnel assessment of the two facilities where they manufacture, produce, and pump all of the drugs that the ACS uses to control its people into the water supplies. The memos, documents, and communications are all from the last several years and basically state that due to lack of personnel and scientists, their manufacturing facilities and distribution centers were all moved to two locations. The first, is right there in Chicago, the second is a bit trickier. We have discerned that it is in the Mississippi river delta, somewhere in Alabama, but the key thing is we know where to start looking. We have been unable to get any real details as to the drugs, distribution and manufacturing in close to 30 years, but know we know right were to hit the ACS, hit 'em in the nads and watch them crumple."

He took a long draw on his cigar, looking at the team with eye blazing in triumph, "We have had folks working on a neutralizer for the ACS drug cocktail for several years now as you know Will, and our boys here think that it is ready for use. So here is the score folks," the General continued, "Your mission is actually a four pronged assault. 3 targets there in ACS Territory, these two distribution plants and the Cardinal himself, the old bastard, and then we are going for the whole shebang. You will be heading back south of the border Will, a long list of targets from the Cartel families. We are going to destabilize the whole continent again my friend, and we are going to take back the place foot by foot. I am tired of waiting and I have a majority of the Council vote behind me. I have been told that if we have the opportunity, if something presents itself that can change the tide, I am to act with total authority. Well here it is my friend, we are about to start the End Game."

With the last statement the room fell into complete silence.

(For this update I want you all to mainly deal with what your characters are feeling, especially what you think about the mission you are on. Next update the action will start so don't get comfortable. I hope you enjoy the RP!)

 

[deathbringer]

The world burned before him, flames sending coiling tendrils of smoke rising in undulating curls.

Flames glittered in his jet back eyes, dancing around the icy cold hatred that lingered in their infinite depths, the thin line of his mouth was cast in a twisted spiteful sneers even as his fingers caressed the barrel of his revolver, a single fingers snaking in a loving caress from the graceful loop of the trigger to the gaping maw.

His eyes moved across dilapidated buildings, the wreckage of homes and livelihoods, the crumbling memories of happiness and prosperity, of what this country had once been, of what it may one day be again.

At the lip of the roof stood a figurehead of that dream, a leader, a warrior and inspiration... a friend.

The figure turned from the abyss, his eyes filled with fervor, with the light of possibility, a marathon runner that could see the tape flickering in the wind before him.

The eyes softened with a tinge of sorrow as they his own, pained by the information he hid from his comrade, by the strain the knowledge placed upon the bond between them.

He had not been easy not slumbered in the dark and accepted somethings where not for him to know as better men and better friends would have. Yet he was not a good man, he was a killer and a Castelan, nay ,he had bucked and kicked, poked and prodded snarled and raged, pulling rank on subordinates to get every report he could lay his hands on.

Nothing, even as he fell in step beside the Colonel, he let out a low growl, the deep rumble of a tiger as an unwary traveler placed a foolish foot upon its tail.

The colonel gave his a wan smile even as they passed through the access door, the softest of whispers even as the feverish glow poured from his eyes

"Come old friend, lets go end this war."

His eyebrow raised in surprise, was that the seriousness of this mission, was what they embarked upon now enough to end this war, to end the chaos.

What then?

What when there was no one left to kill, what next for Augustin Castellan, how would he survive amongst society, with the burning rage that seered inside him, how could he go on. He had been fighting since he was born, instilled with a burning hatred for his enemies, cutting them down one by one since he could remember, his fathers loathing so deeply ingrained upon his blood stained soul, could he ever forget.

He cast a glance back even as they descended along the steps, though the flames dancing in his eyes were his own, a burning brazier of spiteful fury.

There would always be someone to hate.
_____________________________________________________

He leaned against the wall, gently slumping next to the door as he glared at the pict screen before him, the wizened face of the general as he addressed them.

The head of the military, his superiors superior, the man that had awarded him third in the chain of command.

Fucking idiot.

Everyone knew he was no speech maker or problem solver, he led and expected them to follow, if he told them to stand til they fired penultimate bullet he expected them to come back with a single round in their magazine.

Perhaps that was the reason, if Baur and Forsythe went down, they would have lost their leader and their figurehead, that was when they needed someone that would stand and fight, no matter the odds, that expected nothing less than complete discipline.

The whole thing reeked of Forsythe.

Perhaps the general knew that if Forsythe went down he was already dead or would probably die avenging the bastard that killed him, so it was irrelevant.

Baur spoke with grim passion, refusing to show his hope, manifesting it as stately intent and calm confidence, speaking of a plan to end this war, a plan that held around the nightstalkers, the best of the best tearing this fragile equilibrium asunder and allowing the resistance to regain control.

Yet they weren't trusted to know, to hold their emotions, he wasn't trusted.

A second snarl even as Baur concluded his speech the following silence broken by Thor's low growl even as he strode from the room

"As long as its not another ballsup"

 

[Santaire]

Ethan Clancey, codename ‘Loki’, sat opposite his old comrade Eric ‘Cue ball’ Smith. The pair of them had got out a pack of cards but both had given up about halfway through and so Ethan idly messed about with nearby computer systems. It was child’s play but he was so bored that he toyed with it, testing it to the limits. He was strangely unnerved by Forsythe’s withdrawal for the colonel had never before withheld any information from his Valkyrie team. Thus this lack of info had caused Ethan to constantly second guess himself. They were in Chicago, one of the most powerful ACS cities and one of the most securely guarded with no Intel on what they were after.

It was only personal honour that kept Ethan from hacking into the NAFI to discover what the hell they were doing and satisfy his own curiosity. That, and the threat of retribution. As it was he had pulled up a system screen and was watching the comings and goings of the citizens outside the base through the safe house’s security cameras. There was Sergeant Victor ‘Osiris’ Hale and Captain Holly ‘Spectre’ Besson in civilian clothes patrolling the front of the house. On a rooftop adjacent to the safe house he spotted Sergeant Howard ‘Buck’ Payne and Specialist Pyotr ‘Fenris’ Volkov on Recon.

Ethan still didn’t know what to make of Fenris. The man was Russian and was the most solitary person Ethan had ever known. Ethan was a man who led a lonely life with few friends but even by his standards Fenris was untrusting. The only man the scout came close to trusting was Forsythe and even the Colonel did not know his full story. Indeed the solitary Russian was the only team member who Ethan wouldn’t be sure about if it came to a matter of life or death. He himself would save Fenris, but would Fenris save him? That was the question that haunted the Cyber-Tech and he wished to learn the answer before it was too late.

Supply duty was being dealt with by Sergeant Ryan ‘Poet’ Anders and Specialist David Graham. He and Eric were the only 2 without an actively assigned task. However Forsythe no doubt knew that Loki was always doing something. Currently, as well as monitoring the area, he was double checking all system connections and security systems, ensuring that to ACS sensors they appeared to be just another house rather than a facility sheltering some of the best soldiers in what had once been the United States of America.

A brief communication from Odin alerted him to a meeting and shortly afterwards the members of the team began to file into the room. Ethan shut down his systems and watched them. They appeared relaxed but he could see the tell tale signs of tension in every one of them. It was unconscious, a clenched fist or a muscle twitch but it was there nonetheless. Forsythe entered and was followed by Major Augustin ‘Thor’ Castelan. Ethan gave the major a nod and Forsythe a swift half salute before settling back into his seat.

Ethan’s eyes flickered before opening with a flash of blue. His hands twitched in the air as he used his cybernetic implant to pull up the vid-screen, both hands flat with the palms outwards before curling the fingers and moving them up. He scrolled along the screen until he found what he was looking for, an inbound message that required Forsythe’s code to unlock. Odin glanced at him and Ethan gave a slight nod to show he was just awaiting authorisation. The colonel typed a series of digits into one of the computers and the message opened. Inside was a nugget of information, a real time stream from General Bauer.

He placed his hands around the info and pushed them forwards and outwards, projecting them onto the huge wall screen set up for that purpose. From the items behind the general Ethan could see he was in his private office. "Evening Will," The general began, with a friendly tone. "You and yours make it stateside alright?"

"No hitches General, we arrived at the safe house undetected. Everything secure and quiet on your end?"

"Yes, indeed, Tuggs has everything locked down on his end, though he is in a right state that I haven't shared the details of your departure with him. NAFI believes that you are in Mexico, and for the time being it is going to stay that way." The last words were evidently a command and Ethan almost flinched. Not only were the details being kept from them but almost no one in the NAFI knew of their current location or objective.

Odin grimaced and shook his head before speaking with distaste obvious in his voice “I am not sure I understand the need for all the cloak and dagger where our own people are concerned, but you know the politics there better than I do. Its your play." Forsythe sat down so that Bauer could see and be seen by the rest of the team before continuing with “go ahead general, their all here.”

"Right," the general started, "I imagine you are all wondering why you have been kept in the dark about this current assignment and once I lay it on the line for you, you may understand the nature of the situation a bit better. Up until this moment the only people who have had access to this intel is myself, the Colonel, and the operative who brought it directly to me. This mission can change the course of this conflict boys and girls, and it wouldn't do to stir false hope for the resistance. Even for you, the best of the best, this is going to be one for the books. Fires and frying pans don't even begin to describe what you will be heading into."

Rummaging in his desk just out of their vision the general produced a cigar, lit it and then looked at Ethan. “Loki if you would?” A data icon began to blink in the upper left hand corner of the screen. He twisted his hands and placed them around it before opening it and viewing the files within. He projected it onto the screen with flick of the wrist so that the rest of the team could see. Springing to life on the screen next to the vid viewer, a series of blueprints, supply documents, and requisition orders start to fly by in sequence. Ethan realised that they were for some kind of chemical facility with a purpose unknown to him.

"What you see there is everything the operative brought me. What you are looking at is the target that is going to crack the ACS open. If you would take the time to look through, you will find that this is an entire history, layout, and personnel assessment of the two facilities where they manufacture, produce, and pump all of the drugs that the ACS uses to control its people into the water supplies. The memos, documents, and communications are all from the last several years and basically state that due to lack of personnel and scientists, their manufacturing facilities and distribution centres were all moved to two locations. The first, is right there in Chicago, the second is a bit trickier. We have discerned that it is in the Mississippi river delta, somewhere in Alabama, but the key thing is we know where to start looking. We have been unable to get any real details as to the drugs, distribution and manufacturing in close to 30 years, but know we know right were to hit the ACS, hit 'em in the nads and watch them crumple."

He took a long draw on his cigar, looking at the team with eye blazing in triumph, "We have had folks working on a neutralizer for the ACS drug cocktail for several years now as you know Will, and our boys here think that it is ready for use. So here is the score folks," the General continued, "Your mission is actually a four pronged assault. 3 targets there in ACS Territory, these two distribution plants and the Cardinal himself, the old bastard, and then we are going for the whole shebang. You will be heading back south of the border Will, a long list of targets from the Cartel families. We are going to destabilize the whole continent again my friend, and we are going to take back the place foot by foot. I am tired of waiting and I have a majority of the Council vote behind me. I have been told that if we have the opportunity, if something presents itself that can change the tide, I am to act with total authority. Well here it is my friend, we are about to start the End Game."

The general closed the screen and Ethan cut off power to the viewer. He shut down his own personal system and grinned suddenly. Finally they were going to defeat the ACS. He had devoted most of his adult life to destroying it and now his dream was to be realised. Things just kept getting better and better. He stood and walked over to Forsythe before speaking quietly, both as a question and to draw Forsythe’s attention away from Thor. “Colonel, if these things are what we think we are why are they sending just us. Surely it would be better to send other teams so that we can take out everything at the same time. I understand that if it goes wrong then our forces would be deeply disappointed and dispirited, thus easier to defeat by a determined and well trained enemy. In our advantage this would mean that they would not be able to increase security around these areas while we prepare to hit the next target…”

 

[Anilar]

Howard "Buck" Payne was watching the people on the streets, he couldn't help himself see them as modern day zombies. Emotionally oppressed and brainwashed, to believe they lived a good life. It was a little wonder that people still loved and children was playing in the streets.
But people seem even more suppressed and downtrodden today, and Howard couldn't help but believe it had to do with the high presence of enemy soldiers patrolling the streets, something was off Howard could feel it. And it didn't help there had been a surveillance balloon had floated by a story down, its sensor package employed to watch the streets and not up. Noone was looking up at the grey cold sky, not even the soldiers.
It had been something Howard had learned early in life, look up often so you don't get caught by cave ins, stone slides and similar threats. Something cityfolks didn't learn.

But Howard still made sure he was not easily visible from the streets, hiding in various piles of junks as he patrolled around on the roof, junk that had been left by inhabitants of the building and squatters. Various valkyrie teams that had used this staging area, had shifted the junk around so it also made excellent cover, if a firefight were to break out.

Howard also spent his time analyzing the other nearby buildings, where he could hit them with grenades from his launcher, to make part of the buildings and the walls collapse, if they were to be used by enemy soldiers. The many years of missuse and lack of maintenance starting to show in the walls, many windows covered with old cloth rags or hammered in boards. In area was a symphony of grey, grey buildings, grey clothes, grey junk, grey trash, grey bricks, grey soldiers, grey weather. Only the occasional red head or black skinned individual breaking the colour scheme. The area lacked laughter or angry voices yelling. But there was no colour, just the monotone life and colour of a suppressed people that haven't realised they were being suppressed.

His squad mate Fenris the russian soldier, was up on the roof with him opposite the base building. His green eyes scanning the streets, he was one of those men in the world, that needed to smile some more. But Howard somehow felt a little safer with him on the team, his ability to infiltrate and silence enemy sentries and clearing the way for the team was invaluable, and there was noone better among the Nafi valkyries.
Howard was in no doubt if there was someone who would survive this mission it would be Fenris.

A mission that they didn't know was about, reminding him of his days as a ordinary soldier. The missions where they had followed valkyrie teams into the field, where they should guard foward staging areas or provide diversions to the infiltrating valkyrie teams. Where only the valkyries had known the objectives of the mission. Howard just knew it could only be big very big, and for some reason it made him smile. There was no doubt that what ever the mission was, it would make a difference in the lives of the Nafi and the suppressed american people.

"Nightstalkers, asssemble for briefing in 5 minutes." the colonels voice sounded in his ear. Together with Fenris, Howard left the highground of the roof, went down to the apartment in the basement where a Nafi spy was living, guarding a secret tunnel into the base building complex. Activating the various security features as they walked in silence.

Entering the briefing room Howard threw a quick salute to his superiors, and with a big grin towards Odin "Guess its time to know what all the cloak and dagger was all about." Leaning up against the wall Buck's smile just became bigger and bigger, as the scope of the mission became clear to him.

"Yeah im gonna go make so much fireworks out of those installations, there gotte be so many chemicals in those facilities I hardly have to bring my own toys. BOOOM BOOOOM BOOOOM of DOOOOOM BUCK IS ON IT SIRS" Howard excitedly shouted as the general winked out on the screen. His smile positively provided the lightning in the room.
Grabbing his backpack Buck started to go toward the stairs down to the supply depot, to get some toys.

 

[Karak The Unfaithful]

Specialist David Graham stood at the entrance of the basement, where all the supplies were stroed, observing the mountain of supplies that stood before him. He groaned to himself at the thought of having to shift through all that and sort it all into organised piles.

David turned to the man with him; Sgt. Ryan 'Poet' Anders, he is your average Valkyrie team member: lots of muscle, lots of guns. David might have been intimidated but when you work with these kind of men you get use to it, besides the medic usually gets some respect.

"Its ganna take us ages to sift through this lot" he said "we may as well get started"

He walked towards the mountain of junk and picked up the nearest object to him, a box of ammunition casually dumped at the edge of the mountain, most of its contents spilled out over the floor.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

As the day wore on the two men talked a little but David mostly kept wondering how had NAFI, an organised military unit, let this place fall into such a state. Probably years of battle-tired men dumping weapons and supplies in this room, there only desire a *** and whiskey.

After completing the impossible task to the best of there abilities David decided to relax, he proped an old crate against the wall and used it as a chair. He lit himself a ciggarette and looked forward to the prospect of relaxing...

...then the Colonel's voice sounded over the radio and ordered a meeting at the command centre.

"damn, looks like the Colonel's finally ganna tell us whats going on"

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

David and poet made there way to the command centre and barely had time to walk in before he began....

...when the Colonel finished the room fell into silence, many of the other men were open-mouthed and suprised, including David.

The end of the war? could it be true?

David's personal ambition was to bring some kind of lasting peace to the country, this was really something for him: to know he could make a difference and eventually stop the mindless violence that tormented this world. Of course he knew there would more enemies but he didn't care, not one bit.

A grin spread across his face, he suddenly felt an new strength flood through him. they were going to end the war.

 

[CaptainFatty]

Eric leaned back in the chair, protein bar in one hand, loaded revolver in the other, as he watched Ethan mess with the computers. These taste like shit, he thought for the thousandth time as he took a bite from the protein bar, the poorly simulated chocolate taste stimulating his tongue. The rice and curry was so much better. He swung out the cylinder, revealing the untouched palladium core, taunting him with its perfection. He wanted to get out there and hurt some ACS troopers, get some blood on his hands. He even contemplated tackling Ethan. His enhanced mind would allow him to register what is happening before he even hit the floor, and he was always a good fight, their spars usually ending with Ethan on top. The only problem with itching for action was that they were all unaware of what action they would be getting into.

He didn’t mind the secrecy though. He was a weapon, and had rarely been unprepared for the situations that his superiors had thrown at him. What the mission actually is was something to be anticipated, a reward for his patience. He couldn’t help but throw a few guesses out there though. It would have to be a game breaker to have so many people in the dark, and it wouldn’t be an easy one if they dragged out the best of the best on such short notice.

He hoped it was something game breaking. Having to watch the oppressed people drag their feet through the streets, completely unaware of the situation that their government has them locked into. It was disgusting, sickening and Eric hoped he wouldn’t have to allow it to stand for much longer.

“Nightstalkers, assemble for briefing in 5 minutes,” came the colonel’s voice through his com device. Finally, this was it, the moment he had been waiting for.

The pair headed into the command centre, splitting up on arrival so that Ethan could man the consoles. When they all arrived, the general’s face was brought up and he quickly sped through a friendly introduction with the colonel. Even before the general gave them descriptions of the plan, Eric had a grin on his face. Change the face of the conflict, eh? The general continued to talk, explaining the documents, the mission and their objective. He could hardly believe what he was hearing. This could not only change the face of the conflict, but end it. Remove ACS control of their people and they have nothing. And hitting the cardinal himself?

Years of discipline were the only thing that allowed Eric to keep his composure. Grinning so wide it almost hurt, he looked around at his comrades, the men and women he was going to end it all with. Some were grinning as he was; others had their mouths open in shock. Suddenly, Howard opened his mouth, shouting his excitement so the whole facility could hear.

 

[Angel of Blood]

The supplies were a mess. Weapons, equipment and stores were scattered all over the basement, not even closely resembling any sense of order. Poet surveyed the mess with a look of incredulity. How it had even began to end up in this mess was a mystery to him. Before deploying to here he had personally made sure all the supplies were loaded on in order to stop this sort of thing from happening.

Hermes, the team medic clearly had the same feelings "Its ganna take us ages to sift through this lot" he said "we may as well get started"

He then stepped forwards and picked an ammo box, which promptly flew open, spilling its contents all over the floor. Poet let out an exasperated sigh “So not only did they leave all this in a colossal mess, but they didn’t even secure the damn boxes properly”

He took a calming breath, before looking around at the mess once again. “Ok. Let’s start with the weapons, get them all together and secure them in the cage, then we’ll move onto the ammo and work our way from there” He then moved over to the first weapon crate he could see and easily picked it up, his innate strength complemented by his bionic arms made moving the heavy crates no problem at all. He opened the crate in the weapons cage to find that it was coincidently his own weapons. He took one of his pistols and its accompanying holster and secured it to his thigh. The building may have been more than secure, but you could never be too sure in their line of work.

“Well that’s one box down I guess”

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Hours later, they finally packed the last of the stores away to one side of the room. Pulling up an empty crate, he sat opposite Hermes, placing another box between them to act as a table of sorts, he quickly devoured another protein bar, his enhanced metabolism required him to eat alot more than most men would on average. He went to pull out a pack of cards to start a quick game with Hermes, but before he could the Colonel summoned them for a briefing.

Poet stood up and donned his beaten leather jacket “Roger, Poet and Hermes en route, out”

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He remained calm and impassive as the details of their mission were finally revealed to them, though he frowned in Bucks direction as his excitement got the better of him. The implications of their mission were huge though, if they were to succeed they would change the face of the war as they know it. Though a mission like this was obviously not going to be a walk in the park, something most would call a ‘one way’ mission. The Nightstalkers had already done their fair share of ‘one ways’ though, but even then this one would surely be one of their most dangerous yet.

He looked in for Odin and Thors thoughts and orders before commenting himself.

 

[Jackinator]

(OOC: gonna go with a curve ball and try out some first person if that's ok )

Jostling, heads down, eyes dull, shoulders slumped in submission, yet I was alone in this tide of people. Most purposefully ignored me, the few that did look up looked down at their feet again in fear. I almost shook my head in disgust, I wasn't the enemy here, but then they weren't to know that. In my expensive looking, well tailored suit I was spot on for every stereotype of high ranking ACS officials. Tall, clean shaven, and with that certain cruelty around the eyes and jawline I'd inherited from my father, it wasn't quite a physical cruelty, just something that suggested itself. I hated it, it had led to... this, the crowds parting like a stream against the rocks.

You would think that someone would have stopped me by now, but then few ever did. An enforcer patrol passed by, eyeing me warily from across the street, they didn't cross, although it was rare to see the wealthy in this part of town, they didn't want to risk that I might be someone from the shadowy heights of the ACS hierarchy. I strolled, almost nonchalantly around the building, that relaxed, careless walk that still somehow instilled a sense of authority. Something else I had inherited from my father. I was frustrated, we'd been deployed at the heart of our greatest enemy, but not told why. Although I had to admit I was glad to be out in the field again, I had been going somewhat stir crazy back in the NAFI settlements. I hated being cooped up away from the action, when I knew I should be out here. But then it had been my own fault.

Almost unconsciously I glanced at my hand, cybernetic gauntlets they may be, but that hadn't helped when I'd fucked up. I flexed it slightly, I.. just hadn't... reacted. I didn't know why. After all those years, I couldn't do it. I resisted the urge to pull my pistol on the retreating backs of the enforcers. I had no doubt I could take them all, but it wouldn't help, I'd just have fucked up again.

I snapped myself back to reality, realising that it was the second patrol I'd seen on this sentry shift, I'd never seen them patrol these streets on my previous stays here. The regime was becoming more and more oppressive, cracking down hard on any dissension, not that it hadn't always done that.

"Unusual activity from the CED Spectre", I spoke, my voice inaudible to any not standing beside me, which, given my apparent status, was none. But the advanced implants in my throat and larynx picked up the vibrations easily, transmitting them through to my fellow sentry. I had no doubt she had already taken note, but I was uncomfortable with my current train of thought and attempted to distract myself with conversation.

"Roger that, Osiris, it doesn't feel right seeing how we don't even know the mission yet. Keep an eye on them, if they come back again then we'll inform the Odin that we may have been compromised. "

"I agree, but I wish I knew why we were here, I hope they have nothing to do with it, its not like Odin to keep us in the dark."

But before either of us could continue we heard the Colonel click in on a separate command channel. "Nightstalkers, asssemble for briefing in 5 minutes."

Without a word I wandered casually around to the back of the building, before quickly ducking inside a small, hardly noticeable service door. I was in the briefing room less than five minutes later, hardly noticing the quiet hum of technology. I was concentrating on Forsythe, the man who had brought us here, the man who, without which, many of us would not even be here. My hand flexed again, I shoved it in my pocket.

"Evening Will," the General began, casual and informal. "You and yours make it stateside alright?"

"No hitches General, we arrived at the safe house undetected. Everything secure and quiet on your end?"

"Yes, indeed, Tuggs has everything locked down on his end, though he is in a right state that I haven't shared the details of your departure with him. NAFI believes that you are in Mexico, and for the time being it is going to stay that way."

Forsythe was clearly uncomfortable with this however, "I am not sure I understand the need for all the cloak and dagger where our own people are concerned, but you know the politics there better than I do. Its your play."

He sat down, clearing the field of view so the General could see the rest of us. "Go ahead General, they are all here."

"Right, I imagine you are all wondering why you have been kept in the dark about this current assignment and once I lay it on the line for you, you may understand the nature of the situation a bit better. Up until this moment the only people who have had access to this intel is myself, the Colonel, and the operative who brought it directly to me. This mission can change the course of this conflict boys and girls, and it wouldn't do to stir false hope for the resistance. Even for you, the best of the best, this is going to be one for the books. Fires and frying pans don't even begin to describe what you will be heading into."

He searched in the drawers of his desk for a moment, before emerging and raising a cigar. He bit the end off before calmly lighting it. "Loki if you would?"

The screen next to the General's image flickered to life and a series of blueprints, supply documents, and requisition orders flashed up, each more puzzling and at the same time more enlightening as it was replaced by another. It was clearly for some sort of large base or facility, but the exact nature was lost somewhere in the bewildering array of files and documents

"What you see there is everything the operative brought me. What you are looking at is the target that is going to crack the ACS open. If you would take the time to look through, you will find that this is an entire history, layout, and personnel assessment of the two facilities where they manufacture, produce, and pump all of the drugs that the ACS uses to control its people into the water supplies. The memos, documents, and communications are all from the last several years and basically state that due to lack of personnel and scientists, their manufacturing facilities and distribution centers were all moved to two locations. The first, is right there in Chicago, the second is a bit trickier. We have discerned that it is in the Mississippi river delta, somewhere in Alabama, but the key thing is we know where to start looking. We have been unable to get any real details as to the drugs, distribution and manufacturing in close to 30 years, but know we know right were to hit the ACS, hit 'em in the nads and watch them crumple."

He was triumphant. "We have had folks working on a neutralizer for the ACS drug cocktail for several years now as you know Will, and our boys here think that it is ready for use. So here is the score folks," the General continued, "Your mission is actually a four pronged assault. 3 targets there in ACS Territory, these two distribution plants and the Cardinal himself, the old bastard, and then we are going for the whole shebang. You will be heading back south of the border Will, a long list of targets from the Cartel families. We are going to destabilize the whole continent again my friend, and we are going to take back the place foot by foot. I am tired of waiting and I have a majority of the Council vote behind me. I have been told that if we have the opportunity, if something presents itself that can change the tide, I am to act with total authority. Well here it is my friend, we are about to start the End Game."

I had listened quietly as the General outlined our mission, it wasn’t going to be easy, but then nothing in this job ever was. Then I heard Howard’s exited outburst, the man was irrepressible, I raised an eyebrow to Ryan as Howard left. Augustin had already stormed out, his mood black and thunderous, as usual. Not that it had put a damper on the room. Howard wasn’t the only one celebrating the targets revealed to us. David and Eric were grinning hugely, while myself and Ryan remained impassive, along with Ethan, although the Cyber-tech’s question was pointed and valid. I looked on in interest, waiting for whatever response Forsythe would produce, although it would have to be good to satisfy Ethan’s powerful and inquiring intellect…

 

[komanko]

OOC: Dunno if its my best or no but still I think it came out quite interesting in some parts. Anilar I recommend that you read your part as I found this twist quite nice, just thought of it now

The grey sky reflected against his green eyes, he scoured his surroundings, exactly like he was trained to do. He scanned the streets below looking for anything out of the ordinary, hell, he didn’t have to look, everything seemed out of the ordinary this time. Increased patrols, recon balloons, surveillance teams, everything was there, everything was out of the ordinary.

Luckily they could be easily spotted, especially to a trained eye like Fenris’s. They were like dots of color amongst a sea of grey. They moved like flies caught in an empty jar, buzzing around, flying around, not resting for a moment. While he was cautious at first all this caution disappread when he noticed the behavior of the ACS and CED forces below, they weren’t looking for someone and they surly didn’t know of what really was going on around here.

They moved to quickly, they weren’t restless like men before an ambush, they weren’t cautious and fearful, the stink of death did not emit from them. They were clean, no intention of killing on them, yet. Like the rest of the townsfolk below, they were sheep, all led by their “superiors” which were sheep as well, there were nearly no wolves at these times, only a handful, yet those handful… They were dangerous, mysterious, unknown… Figures to be feared.

He shook away these thoughts from his head and returned to duty, even though his senses told him that there is nothing to fear he still had a job to do and he had to keep his wits about him and be on guard.

He looked to his left, he looked at the large building which was the Nafi’s safehouse, so easy to spot, not even hidden and yet unseen. The best hide spots are the ones which are plainly visible, that was true, and no truer example could be given. A magnificent trick and yet such a simple one. The building itself, although large and imposing was not at the best shape, some walls began to crumble, like the rest of the buildings around them no color was left, only grey, like the sky, like the citizens. It blended perfectly with the surroundings, none could suspect without previous knowledge.

A sudden gust of wind caused him to narrow his eyes in order to continue seeing. Some might’ve called it a freezing wind yet those obviously did not traverse frozen wastes for several years. They knew nothing of cold. Before his mind could return to these dark memories Fenris quickly looked around trying to find something else to focus on.

He looked down and continued watching the citizens below. They were shells, empty husks, stripped of dignity, honor, and will. Mindless fools. They were enslaved to the will of others, too weak to cry out in pain and fight for their freedom, too afraid. Fenris was like that once, no, he was not, it was someone else, it was not Fenris. He watched as people continued moving, each going to his pointless job just to return tomorrow again. They were all colorless, dead inside. Most of them would’ve killed themselves if they weren’t afraid of death more than of life. Such a mistake, death… Death was simple, forgiving, warm. It did not question one’s moral decisions or ways of life, it simply embraced you, hugged you, taking away the pain and worries. Life was the evil twin, life was harsh and unforgiving, an endless struggle which was bound to fail. If one truly wanted to be free he would embrace death, call for it, cry for it, beg for it, and when he does not fear it anymore it is then when one is free.

Again brooding dark thoughts, a grim smile spread on his scarred face, always with the brooding thoughts. Hell, he could be rich if he would’ve received coin for each dark thought that passed through his head. He sighed, damn thoughts…

His thoughts returned to the civilians once again, how could he blamed them for their inactivity, they were so drugged that they barely felt anything anyway, how could he expect them to act and revolt against the tyrannical regime, it was pitiful and yet pathetic at the same time, the government couldn’t watch them all, why didn’t any of them think about just not taking those drugs, were they so weak willed? His mixed feelings for the mindless sheep confused him, he could not understand their mentality, did they find safety in numbers or simply safety in ignorance? He could not tell and this annoyed him.

He looked to the other side of the building quickly spotting Buck, it’s not that he was hiding either but still Fenris referred to noticing him as spotting him, he referred to all prey like that. He was smiling, though he was always smiling so that was hardly surprising. Buck… Buck was one of the hardest individuals Fenris had to confront. He… He was everything that Fenris was not, he was everything that Fenris did not have, he was everything that made Fenris hate himself. A gem in a broken, degenerated and cruel society, a kind soul, an innocent child in a way. Always caring, always helping, Fenris watched him several times when he went to help the people below. Always being kind and warm, he did it so bluntly, so calmly and regularly that it made Fenris’s anger boil each time. How could one live like that, how could one still be so caring in such a dead society.

He looked at Buck and his face twisted in a snarl, his first instinct was to throw some downgrading insult at the man, spit in his face if needed, snap him out of his happiness. Yet he restrained himself, he was not an enemy, and the world did not need more brooding and depressive individuals like Fenris anyway.

He was satisfied with a simple nod towards Buck, his face emotionless trying not to betray any of his thoughts. In a way such pureness of heart nearly broke Pyotr’s will to live… He was so corrupt, he was as dead as the husks that walked the streets, the only difference was that in his death he was serving death while they were simply slowly dying without doing anything.

They were summoned, a call from Forsythe, the packleader. None could refuse, neither did anyone want to. He nodded towards Buck again, seeing if he received the message as well and then quickly gatherd the junk they left and threw it into a garbage bin. He never left traces of his presence, not even in such safe zones. After that he moved out, heading to the Nafi’s safehouse, heading anxiously, ready to discover the secrets which were kept from them upon arrival.

Everything was organized quickly and after a short delay the screen flickered on, it was the general, the head sheep, yet one disguised as wolf to show off strength. It did not fool anyone, the real wolves were they, the general, he could do nothing, only his forces did his jobs.

Finally, after the introductions and friendly talk they cut to business, finally was the purpose of the mission revealed, in it was revealed to be a challenging one. Four stages for one mission, not bad, though certainly there would be more than, things always got screwed up somehow. He sat in the darkest corner of the room, his contact lens off, his black as night eyes watched carefully everyone’s reactions. In a way that was creepy an in another… Still creepy, he knew that many found the black eyes disturbing, yet he did not care, he found them quite intriguing especially when no one knew the cause for it.

Naturally his body began to create his chameleonic camouflage, he noticed this process yet he did not do anything to stop it. If his opinion was needed he would be asked, until then he will watch, invisible, silent. Still, it would be a glorious hunt for a great cause.

 

[Lord Ramo]

Holly stared through a sea of bodies, her eyes focused on the targets in front of her. The NAFI team had been deployed in absolute secrecy to Chicago, a ACS hotspot. She moved through the crowd like water, blending perfectly into the crowd so that she could move unnoticed by any surveillance equipment the ACS had deployed. Even as she walked she kept her eyes on the CED squad, armed with non lethal weapons they would be relatively easy to take if they had spotted her.

But they hadn't, it was just another patrol, though she wasn't glad to see that they had passed for a second time in her six hour shift on sentry duty. In fact if anything it aroused her suspicion more. She itched to pull out her concealed pistol, open fire on the group, but she wouldn't dare. She was a professional, a member of the most successful Valkyrie team there was.

Holly was the third in charge of the squad, a captain. She had a responsibility to the rest of the squad. She sighed as she completed another circuit of the building, she was restless. Obviously this mission was big or else she and the rest of the squad would have the mission parameters.

However they had been kept in the dark, something which both frustrated and intrigued her. If the mission had anything to do with hurting the ACS then it was a given that Holly would do her best to ensure they hurt, after what they had done to her old squad it was the least she could do.
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"Incoming!" Holly yelled as a rocket hit near their position. The ACS had bombarded their position for the past half hour, hoping to soften the dug in NAFI team that was stalling their advance. Lt. Holly ducked behind the makeshift barricade as the explosion happened, she and the five men under her command spread along a line. The rest of the NAFI squad and their commander had the only other way the ACS could go, though they only had intermittent contact.

She recovered, aiming down her sights as the ACS began their third advance. "Book, Ice, we got incoming towards the south east building. If they get there they have overwatch on us. I want you to get there first take them out how copy?" She spoke into her mike as she took aim on the lead ACS soldier. "Roger that Spectre, moving." She heard before she opened fire, three round burst impacting on his chest and knocking him off his feet dead. Elsewhere along the line she could hear gunfire as Granite, Trojan and Shield opened fire on the ACS.
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"Unusual activity from the CED Spectre" The voice in her ear snapped her back to reality as Osiris, her sentry partner spoke up, though she couldn't see him in the crowd she knew that he would be watching them as well.

"Roger that, Osiris, it doesn't feel right seeing how we don't even know the mission yet. Keep an eye on them, if they come back again then we'll inform Odin that we may have been compromised." She replied, keeping an eye on them as well.

"I agree, but I wish I knew why we were here, I hope they have nothing to do with it, its not like Odin to keep us in the dark." Came his reply, but before she could answer she received a message from Odin, "Nightstalkers, asssemble for briefing in 5 minutes."

Holly turned, heading down one-side of the building. She went round back and went in the back entrance, just in case they were being watched and she headed to the briefing room, knowing that Osiris had already gotten the message. Now maybe was time to find out why they were here in the first place.

She entered the command room, taking a seat with the others before a big screen in front of them flickered into life. The general appeared on screen, speaking to the Colonel before outlining the mission. Holly stared at the screen, could it be that they were going to end it all?! Finally they would take out the ACS and the other enemies of the NAFI, finally she would get here revenge.

Buck let out an excited whoop, obviously pleased with the mission. Holly snarled as she turned to him, "Stow it Buck, its not over yet." She nodded at Odin before turning and moving out of the room. She headed to check on her gear, as she analysed what she had just been told. If they were successful it would be a masterstroke for the NAFI, and a chance to avenge the five names tattooed on her back.
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Holly ducked back into cover as she pulled out her side arm, her palidium core in her assault rifle had been used up, as had her shotguns. She was down to her cybernetic implants and pistols. Trojan dove into cover next to her as gunfire flew over her cover. "Spectre, Ice says they are bringing up more ordnance, has the commander told us to fall back yet?" She shook her head at him before answering "Trojan, tell Shield, Ice and Book to dig in the building. We need to hold that or we are all screwed."

She was thrown off her feet a second later, a huge explosion taking up her sight and she could barely hear over the explosion. She rolled off her back, standing up slowly as she turned to survey the damage. She could see Trojan and Granite, both getting to their feet near her, the building to the south east was nothing but rubble.

She had three men in that, and now they were gone, a second shell from artillery taking out the remains of it. She screamed her anger out as she opened fire with her pistols at shadowy shapes, ACS soldiers taking cover as three of their numbers were gunned down.

Granite rushed over to her, grabbing her and pulling her back, Trojan laying down covering fire. She let him lead her away for a moment, before her hearing returned. "Trojan pull back, we need to regroup." She said hoarsely as Granite let go of her, both of them covering Trojans retreat. "Negative Spectre, I'm hit bad. You go to the fall back point, I'll buy you some time." Came the reply, Granite ushering her away from towards the Fall back point.
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Five names on her back, Book, Ice, Shield, Trojan and Granite.

 

[Midge913]

Update #1

Loki(Santaire), Hermes(Karak), Cue Ball(CaptainFatty), Poet(Angel of Blood), Fenris(Komanko), & Osiris(Jackinator): With a glance in Thor's direction, Forsythe turns to face Loki. After a moments pause, during which he flipped through several of the documents on the vid screen once more, he spoke, "I asked the same question Ethan. It all comes down to the fact that we don't quite know exactly were the second facility is. I issued the orders this morning to the Guardian Angels and the Thunderbirds and Major's Nelson and Clark are now tasked to scour the country side in Alabama, Mississippi, and Lousiana looking for it. They have been told it is a new weapons manufacturing plant and the specifics of the facilities nature have not been given to them. Without an actual location the General feels that it is best to act quickly and decisively on the intel we do have. I have also activated the Dark Knights and the Shades. They are moving toward DC to recon the Cardinal's compound, they are going to do the leg work on that end giving us on the ground intel of the Cardinal's security forces, updates to the compound, and ACS military assests in the field there for when we arrive in a couple of weeks. We take a stab at the Cardinal every couple of years and they see this attempt as nothing out of the ordinary."

Taking a cigarette packet from his front pocket, the Colonel tapped one of the cigarettes loose and lit it before continuing, "Don't worry boys we will have back up at our other locations, but here in the Windy City we are on our own. Hopefully the teams down south will come up with something by the time we rendezvous with them. Once we crack this first nut the ACS will be scrambling to get on the defensive, I don't intend to give them the time to batten down the hatches and dig in. This comes directly from the General boys, no one is to be told of the exact nature of this mission until he lets out."

Taking a long drag on his cigarette the Colonel stares up at the view screen, now displaying a blue print of the first floor of the chemical facility, and all of you are swept up in the fevor that seems to radiate from the man. His last words echo through your secure coms channel, "Nightstalkers. I want you all geared up and ready in ten. Full mission briefing will be then. Let's go hunting folks."

Thor(Deathbringer), Buck(Anilar), & Spectre(Lord Ramo): Several moments after leaving the command center you hear Odin's radio traffic, "Nightstalkers. I want you all geared up and read in ten. Full mission briefing will be then. Let's go hunting folks."

All: You all head to your various rooms, you each have one in the building, as well as the the supply room to stock up on gear. What are your charaters's doing, thinking, and feeling as they gear up for this mission. Do you go about your business in solitude or do you seek out your squadmates and discuss what is going on. Spend sometime doing any pre-op rituals or preparations that your character does and then make your way back to the command center for the mission briefing.

***​

All: As you come back into the command center you see that Odin has also adorned himself for action. He wears tight form fitting black body armor, his twin revolvers ride on his hips, and you can see his sword, assualt rifle, and shotgun, resting on a table nearby. Despite his age, he looks like he could take every one of you in this room in a fight, together or one on one. His easy sense of comraderie erased by a hunters gaze, fire burns behind his eyes, and ever movement he makes is graceful yet strong. There is a reason that Odin has held the military wing of the resistance together for as long as he has, he presence radiates surety of purpose and abosulte authority of command.
Taking seats around the room, Odin will direct you to data slates seated in front of you. Despite the haphazard seating arrangements you are unsurprised to find the slate bearing your name at your chosen chair. Forsythe is the kind of commander that knows his troops inside and out, and your years of service under him have brought you all close as a unit.

"Well boys and girls, this is it. The start of a long road to the end of this war and we are going to do this one by the books." he directs you to follow along with him in reviewing the information contained in the slates. " I have pared down all that drudgery the general sent us, and have included the things that I think will be the most pertinent intel for our purposes. It appears that the ACS has recently upgraded its security systems, so Loki I want you to learn everything you can about them as fast as you can. Most of what they have done is there, the system is still archaic by our standards, but it doesn't mean that the don't have nasty surprises in store for unwanted guests."

"The biggest issue I think we are going to face on this one is we don't know exactly how many ACS personnel we are going to be dealing with. One report say s only a couple of dozen security personnel, a mix of CED and ACS military, another indicates that it is closer to a hundred with support personnel. The reports indicate that the process of production and distribution of the drugs is almost entirely automated so there shouldn't be a large civilian presence aside from a few maintenance and sience workers. I don't want to go into things blind though, we need to do a bit of recon."

Shifting his gaze to Thor, Odin continues, "Take Poet, Buck, Fenris, and Hermes. Get me up to date intel on the outer perimeters, guard personnel, and layout. Maybe Fenris can get a few of those Spy Drones inside to get a good look around there to. I want you rolling with in the half hour."

Taking in the troopers that he hadn't mentioned, "We are going to shut this place down and move our forward operating base to safe house A39-B. It is closer to the facility and less conspicuous. The increased CED patrols in the area have me a bit on edge, especially with what we are going to be attempting. I want to limit our profile. Loki stay hooked in here until the we are ready to go. Tap into ACS surveillence and see if you can't help the Recon team with available intel. Cue Ball you and I are going to tackle the supply room, get everything you can packed into the vans, you should have enough room. Osiris, Spectre, clean this place. I want all traces of our presence erased, then get down here and help Loki tear down the system in here."

"Do what we do people, we are all in. Dismissed."

***​

Thor(Deathbringer), Poet(Angel of Blood), Buck(Anilar), Fenris(Komanko), & Hermes(Karak): Gathering your supplies quickly and efficiently, an excersise you have done many times before, you find yourself pulling out of the underground parking facility of the building 20 minutes after the briefing with Odin is over, Poet is driving the van. You make your way slowly across the city, taking a circuitous route around areas that you know from having been here before are ACS hotspots. As you come into the industrial district of the city, you get a glimpse of Lake Michigan as you start down into the district proper just as the sun is falling below the horizon. Turning down a side street, the one you need to take to get to your staging point, you see that the way ahead is blocked by two military vehicles. There is nothing that says they are there because of you, but you can go no further without encountering them. Thor will need to decide if he wants to find another route around, if he wants to park somewhere near by and try and make it the two additional miles to the facility on foot, or if he wants to brave the check point with the fake papers you all have. [Deathbringer: If you decide to brave the check point make the decision and give the order but do not cover the interaction with the Military personnel in this update]

Loki(Santaire): You are busy hacking away in the command center. You have managed to get a good feel for the security system installed in the chemical facility, easily finding the backdoor access points, the archaic machine unable to keep up with your processing capabilities let alone what you are able to do with the high powered system in the commmand. You are even able to get a few video feeds pulled up from inside the compound itself. Thinking that Odin had asked you to see if you could assist the recon team in anyway you scroll through a series of stolen surveillence camera feeds and find their van heading down the street toward an apparent military check point. You are about to radio the recon team, to tell them that you should be able to fabricate even better cover identities for them, when all of a sudden the lights in the building cut out, the power to the main computer suddenly severing your connection with the external feeds. Proximity alarm systems in the buildings internal system, which is still wired through your integrated systems start flaring to life for you, but the audible alarms in the building do not sound, you try to radio the rest of your combat team only to find that the frequencies are filled with static. What do you do? You know that Odin did not want any part of this system to fall into the wrong hands and since you were going to be tearing it down anyway do you destroy the system? You have your weaponry but remember that gunshots would draw attention to the team if this was a false alarm, though you doubt for some reason that it is one. You also know that Osiris and Spectre were starting their cleaning job from the top of the building down, do you go meet with them? You need to make a decision and act on it.

Osiris(Jackinator) & Spectre(Lord Ramo): You have made it through the the first couple of floors of the building starting from the top down, picking up discarded equipment and the few sniper hides that are located there. There isn't a lot to do on these floors as the Valkyrie teams that use this building are pretty good about covering their tracks, but still a loose pack of playing cards here, a cigarette pack there, are all tell tell signs of their presence. You are about to step out of the stairwell on to the 12 floor when the interior lighting in the building just cuts off, and emergency lighting does not kick on. Trying your radios you find that you are unable to reach any of the other Valkyrie team members that you are with, the frequencies just filled with static. You have your weapons with you, but remember that gunfire would draw attention to the building faster than you would ever want, and in the event that this is some sort of false alarm you don't want to go giving away your position. Spectre you will need to decide how you two proceed. Do you head to the Command center to rendezvous with Loki on the 5 floor to help him tear down or destroy the rest of the buildings system? or do you try to make it to the basement to get with Odin and Cue Ball? [Ramo make the decision and give your orders but you will not arrive at either location until the next update]

Cue Ball(CaptainFatty): You are in the supply room with Odin packing things into the two waiting utility vans parked on the loading dock in the underground parking garage of the building. You have packed all the weapons, ammunition, and medical supplies are about to start packing the last of the food supplies when the lights in the structure go out and emergency lighting does not come on. Odin immediately jumps on the radio, "Loki, what is going on?" but his inquery is met only with static on the radio frequencies. "Spectre? Osiris?" he attempts again with negative results. From the level above you in the parking structure, the one that leads out onto the street, you hear the grinding and wailing of something cutting through wood and metal and the sound echoes eeriely down the ramp to the dock. Odin looks at you as he unlimbers his sword, "I am not sure what is going on Cue Ball, but it doesn't sound like friends dropping by for dinner. If we encounter enemies close combat and darts only. No noise." He says rolling back the sleeves of his BDU shirt to expose his weapon gauntlets, the dart gun sliding out with a quiet hiss of hydraulics, "We hold the loading dock until the rest of the team arrives." The last both an order and a statement of fact, surety in your combined skills evident in his voice. "Move." He says and makes his way up the ramp towards the next level.

 

[CaptainFatty]

"Nightstalkers. I want you all geared up and ready in ten. Full mission briefing will be then. Let's go hunting folks." Forsyth’s words seemed to stick with Eric as he left the command centre. This was really it. They were going to bring down the ACS. The thought was with him the entire way to his room as he almost skipped with excitement. He kicked the door to his room open and stepped in, heading for his cupboard. Throwing the doors back revealed his armoured fatigues, the uniform that had probably saved his life more times than he’d like to admit, the lightweight alloy designed for maximum protection and far better than what most ACS troops were given. He threw a few punches into the vest, the metal plates ringing against his bionic fist. After throwing his armour on, Eric grabbed a protein bar and headed towards the supply room, eager to retrieve the weapons that he would use to kill the ACS with.

The first thing he noticed upon entering the supply room was how neat it was. David and Ryan had done a damn good job of cleaning it and everything was easy to find for once. Eric went to town, loading himself up with weapons and ammunition all the while thinking about what they were about to accomplish together. Freedom. The liberation of an oppressed people. He had always hated being on sentry duty, having to stare into the blank, almost sad faces of the people while being unable to do anything about the ACS patrols that wandered the streets. Well no more, he thought, slamming a fresh magazine into the heavy machine gun and throwing it over his back, it ends today.

Sweeping a few ration packs into a large pouch, Eric headed for the command centre, happy that he was ready for any situation Forsyth deemed necessary to throw him into. The Colonel himself was geared up and ready to go, his very presence commanding loyalty. Despite Eric being physically larger than the Colonel, he knew there was no chance he could beat the man in a one on one fight, perhaps not even ten on one. He was a god on the battlefield and the greatest leader he had known. If they were going to destroy the ACS, he was glad it was with this man. He took a seat and looked around at his squad mates and noticed the fire hadn’t died in their eyes. Most of them were just as eager as he was about ending this although some were unnervingly calm. Looking down at the data slate, he began to flick through the information that Forsyth had prepared for them as the Colonel went through the briefing. They were to move closer to the facility and scout it out, beginning what would be their most ambitious and potentially difficult mission ever. Eric knew they could do it though, the men and women he had served with all these years plus the Russian, a man that, because the Colonel trusted, he could trust, would have no problem with the trials ahead.

"Do what we do people, we are all in. Dismissed."

“Sir!” Eric nodded in reply to the Colonel and followed him down to the supply room where they were to pack everything into the vans and move to the next safe house.

Once everything but the food was packed, Eric sat leant on a shelf, opened protein bar in hand. “Sir, once we’ve scouted this place, are we gonna-“ he started speaking but was cut off by the loss of lighting. When the backup lighting didn’t come on, they knew something was wrong. Forsyth tried to contact the members that were still in the building to no avail. They were alone for the time being.

"I am not sure what is going on Cue Ball, but it doesn't sound like friends dropping by for dinner. If we encounter enemies close combat and darts only. No noise." Forsyth said after hearing the grinding sound from upstairs. As the Colonel readied his weapons, Eric did the same, drawing his knife, activating it and sliding the dart gun out of his weapon gauntlet. "We hold the loading dock until the rest of the team arrives. Move.”

“Roger that,” Eric replied, following the Colonel up the ramp. He didn’t need the last order, if the troops were hostile, they wouldn’t lay a hand on the pair that moved to oppose them, he was sure of that, “they won’t get near the dock.”

 

[Jackinator]

Victor 'Osiris' Hale

I stooped to grab an errant cigarrete butt, tossing it into the duffel on my shoulder, despite it's relatively small size there was almost nothing in it. The previous teams had been fairly efficient before they moved out, he'd only found the odd ruffled pack of cards and one collapsible hide on a corner balcony. Our mission was playing on my mind, I knew why we had to do it, why it was only our task, but it didn't mean I was happy about it. I knew how important it was, but that was why I couldn't quite get it out of my mind. I had enough understanding of how they worked to know that having only one team responsible was a risk that we didn't have to take. I half-smiled to myself, but then we were the best, the closest to a guarantee the NAFI had.

Perhaps it was just the situation on the streets preying on my mind, I kept getting drawn back to the patrols I'd seen. I remembered men like that, on the rare occasions when my father took me with him to work. Hard men, dull, uncommunicative, but good at inflicting pain, a complete contradiction to the appearance of my father. He had been smooth talking, intelligent, likeable. I'd never seen him with 'enemies of the state', but I'd read enough reports.

The lights flickered, and died. I snapped back to reality, frowning at myself, I hadn't been on active duty for over a year but that was no excuse for my disengaged attitude over the last few days. I paused in my clearing as the emergency lights failed to go on, we were used to the regular powercuts and fluctuations in the local lines, but the backups ran independantly. I pulled my pistol from it's holster, pulling out a silencer from a belt pouch. I screwed it into the barrel, we couldn't risk weapons fire being heard, but I wanted to be prepared. It wasn't an old style, of the kind that only dropped the report by a few decibels, but one of NAFI manufacture with advanced sound dampers along it's length, it gave it an odd, knobbled look, but meant that shots from it were literally whisper quiet.

I slid it back into it's holster, but left the strap unbuttoned, then unslung my hatchett from the back of my vest. It felt heavy and familiar in my hands, offering some small measure of comfort. Then, I slung the duffel onto my shoulder and began to move towards the stairwell, the odd bits of evidence up here were acceptable losses, especially if this mission went well. But if the ACS could get their hands on the equipment in the operations room it would be catastrophic.

I tried to contact the other team members in the building, but despite the nature of our communications, locked channels, codes, back up frequencies, every channel was filled with static. There was something up here. Holly was bound to be heading for the control room as well but the stairs would take to long. I stopped at the elevator and powered up the hatchett, sliding the blade between the doors, before turning it off again and working them open. I gazed into the darkened lift shaft, my vision, sharpened from my implants and upgrades easily picked out a path down the wall.

I swung down off the slight ledge, working my fingers into cracks, using the supporting girders to drop fifteen or twenty feet at a time. Dropping lightly on fingers and toes. I nearly slipped at one point, dust spiralling down from where I'd dislodged it. I swore under my breath as I swung out from the wall, legs swinging. I threw my arm round, catching a ledge so I hung spread eagled with my legs swinging below me, grunting, I heaved myself up a fraction until I could get my feet back on the support. Enhanced I may be, but a multi-storey fall would still give me pause for thought.

I stopped when I reached the floor of the operations room, forcing the doors open and stepping out into the corridor. I hefted the hatchett into a throwing stance, and advanced cautiously down the hall to the operations centre...

 

[deathbringer]

Preparation was a ritual, every single movement needed to be perfect, if he was not perfect, the mission would not be perfect. This was his moment, the single moment of calm, like the snipers final breath before the shot, the archers moment of tension as he held the string taught.

The point where one is no longer human, he is the weapon in his hands, his body was the weapon and he must become at one with it.

His reflection scratched gently at its shoulder, tracing a long line of puckered scar tissue, fingers gentle and delicate over the hard muscle. He closed his eyes, nostrils flaring as he inhaled, he wa.....

Emotion clouded him and he let out a low snarl, falling forward he slammed to the ground and his muscles corded as he pushed himself up arms tight to his sides muscles bunching. Extend, repeat, extend, repeat, he burned away the burn of Forsythe's gaze, the searing heat of reproach he had felt as he left the room. He fought against their mistrust, that he had not been trusted to know, to know of the hope burning in their hearts.

Extend, repeat, extend, repeat, he shouted curses at the walls, growling grunts of anguish came through gritted teeth as his heart pounded, a dull rhythmic metronome thudding against his chest.

Then the anger was gone and he lay upon the floor, sweat running in rivers down the deep groove of his spine.

He was left with hate, the one emotion that could never be burned away, it's scars seered into his soul with flame, the possibility for forgiveness ashes that blackened his heart.

He clad himself, every motion was slow, a ritual before the mirror, he watched as he placed his vibro blade within a sheath strapped to his left thigh, the stun batton in a long holster along his right. He watched every detail, pictured it in his mind, remembered the locations of his blades, of his pistols, engrained them in his mind. They were but extensions of his arms.

Fully clad, he breathed, let his lungs fill, let calm bubble over the hate, a brook running through molten lava, it burned away.

The eyes opened to stare at the door, a low hiss as he stood their hand upon the handle, a mantra of hatred

"I am hate, i am the weapon of destruction. None shall stand before me. For my father and those that have lost their father I shall kill. For my mother and those that lost their mothers I shall avenge til the world is whole again."

The door opened and he faced the blank corridor

"Blood cleft it in twain and blood will mend it again"

His tongue flittered across the sharpened spurs of his left fist and the iron tang filled his mouth a leering smile spreading as he strode away

"be it mine or the blood of my enemies, i shall not be found wanting"
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Forsythe, held them before he even opened his mouth, his sheer presence defying his age, the feeling of something unconquerable, undefiable, a beast that could not be caged.

Others sat in the scattered seating yet thor perched himself against the left wall, still a little surprised to find a data slate sitting their waiting for him, his eyes flicking idly over it as others filed in, words leapt out at him, yet nothing grabbed his attention, his mind flowing over the diagrams, etching memories in his brain.

He read on, Forsythes words rebounding off the burning hatred inside him, til the tone changed directed at him and his eyes lifted to meet the colonel's gaze.

Good, they would be doing the recon. His list of trusted personel was a small subset of this room, namely himself and Forsythe, reliable personel, the entirety of this room minus the russian.

The boy had skills, but he wasn't a fan of slippery things he couldn't always see.

The rest of the world could go screw themselves, the intel that had lead to the ballsup had come from a reliable source and that had left good men dead and Forsythe bleeding to death a force of irate assholes on their backs.

He would never forget that day, never, not til he died.

The team to go with him included the russian, he couldn't complain, something you couldn't see was a good thing to have on a recon mission. A medic was always useful if things turned sour, plus they could not make noise here, if things got nasty and murder had to be done, always good to have someone who knew how to make cover up obvious signs of foul play.

Poet was dependable to the last but Buck always made him shit himself. See an orphan and the bastard always looked like he was going to go awol and blow the whole thing.

Always one.

He'd have taken spectre if the choice had been with, she was poet with tits and a marskmans badge. Devoted to the cause with a body to match but considering their cover, he understood the reason she was being left on cig butt duty.

They said women had an eye for detail, being fair it was probably because women gave a fuck.

He said nothing, he never did, there was nothing to say, he just met Forsythe's iron gaze and smiled.
_____________________________________________________

The van ran smoothly down the road, about 10 blocks away two military vehicles sat, squat ugly things.

Poet could have them both from 100 meters if he chose, single grenade laucher shot onto the engine of the first, ignite the gasoline, fire, burn, death.

The checkpoint caused him little thought and he leaned back as he eyed it up watched the military personnel, lean and efficient, their stance bored and annoyed as some were admitted some turned away to try their luck elsewhere.

What to do, ample time to turn, the papers they were given done by Nafi and checked by Loki, so often excellent, 95.3% effective the tech boy said.

Thinking annoyed him, he preferred to talk but this was his decision yet the silence gnawed at him, so he spoke, his voice low and gruff

"I think the colonel has made it abundantly clear, this is the endgame. This is no fuck up territory."

3 options, go through, go around, park up and footslog it

"I dont think I need to go through the obvious with you, but as were in the endgame and I have such a beautiful voice...."

he wasn't walking, their cover was workman on a non existant project, workman dont walk to work.

"This is a no combat operation, if we get spotted we walk away, if we do get our blades bloody, we sure as hell clean up and make it look like the most innocent of accidents."

Going through had its merits, it would test the Id and mean for the real thing the boys on this checkpoint would know them already, familiarity allowed you to get away with so many things, people relaxed if they knew you.

"A single person mia in a high priority area like this could make it fucking difficult to crack when we come here for the real thing"

if they got denied who cared, but he'd prefer to avoid as much acs contact as possible, use the papers when they really had too, plus a little detour would allow them so see how many of these checkpoints there were per mile, how much manpower the acs was willing to blow on this place.

5 blocks away he put the radio to his mouth hoping to call Loki to get some monitoring on com networks, maybe a little intel on the number of roadbloaks.

Static hissed, no connection.

That settled it

He wasn't going in blind, not if the ACS knew where they where, or who they were. No risks

"Take the next right Poet. Command centre frequency is offline, either its jammed or Loki's already packed up and left. Either way were on our own"

His mind was made up and his tone moved from irritable condescension to hard intensity

"We've got time on our side and the more information we get the better. We're two miles out so we can start off with a perimeter scan and try and judge the number of road blocks the acs are putting out, if we can get a roadblocks per mile approximation, we know roughly how many personnel are going to be coming back at us once we blow the compound. It also means we know which roads they probably wont be using when were slipping out."

He gave a little growl

"If we have no choice but to push through a roadblock, Fenris, I want you in the hatch down below, if things get ugly, at least we have a safety net."

his eyes turned to the little ruski

"If we are turned away, when we turn this hunk of metal around you reckon can you roll out and disappear without detection?"

 

[Karak The Unfaithful]

David prepered himself, making sure everything was in perfect condition, he wasn't going to take on the ACS with faulty equipment. He had his armour ready, medical equipment, shotgun and all that other crap that you have to take but hardly gets used.

He couldn't stop thinking about the day ahead, a million things could go wrong; the intel could be off, the ACS setting a trap for them...
a million things.

Hopefully nobody would get too badly hurt and give David a well-earned break but considering the scale of the mission, he doubted it.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The van moved across the smooth road surface with any trouble, easy going so far.

He sat in the van, not really feeling or thinking anything. With him was Buck; a cheery kinda guy with a whole of load of explosives. Thor; the officer incharge of this little group, he was...different. Poet, the guy who had helped him clearing up the supplies. and finally, Fenris, a russian guy, nobody seemed to to keen on him.

That was it, the squad, everyone else were doing other things to do with the mission, wether they were also cramped in a small van he didn't know.

Thor was giving orders to poet, who was driving, David didn't care that much because it was not in his place to care. David was a medic, the saviour of life in a battlefield full of death limited only by the tools and equipment NAFI provided.

Which is why he didn't care what Thor was saying, it was his job the heal and mend and not anything else.

 

[Lord Ramo]

Holly moved through the building quickly, heading to her private arming chambers and quarters. She knew that the Colonel would give the order soon, suit up and report back to him for duties. She wanted to move out soon, make the ACS hurt bad before wiping out the rest of the NAFI enemies. She entered her quarters quickly, moving straight over to the chest that kept her combat fatigues and armour.

She changed quickly, combat fatigues taking place of what she had worn while she had been patrolling outside. Her light body armour she pulled on over the top, it was light and allowed a lot of movement, as well as some protection from small rounds. She took from the bottom of her chest a pair of dog tags, placing one around her neck and the other in her boot.

"Nightstalkers. I want you all geared up and ready in ten. Full mission briefing will be then. Let's go hunting folks."

She sighed as she grabbed her balaclava, donning it before her helmet. She finally put on her shooting goggles, allowing her to shoot in dusty conditions. She strapped her vibro kukri to her leg, and her two pistols to her hips. Finally, grabbing her assault rifle and slinging her shotgun over her shoulders, she headed out of her room and off to the briefing room.
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"Well boys and girls, this is it. The start of a long road to the end of this war and we are going to do this one by the books. I have pared down all that drudgery the general sent us, and have included the things that I think will be the most pertinent intel for our purposes. It appears that the ACS has recently upgraded its security systems, so Loki I want you to learn everything you can about them as fast as you can. Most of what they have done is there, the system is still archaic by our standards, but it doesn't mean that the don't have nasty surprises in store for unwanted guests."

Holly followed his trail of thoughts with the information provided on the data slates by the colonel. It would be a challenge but she was up to it, as was the rest of the team she hoped.

"The biggest issue I think we are going to face on this one is we don't know exactly how many ACS personnel we are going to be dealing with. One report say s only a couple of dozen security personnel, a mix of CED and ACS military, another indicates that it is closer to a hundred with support personnel. The reports indicate that the process of production and distribution of the drugs is almost entirely automated so there shouldn't be a large civilian presence aside from a few maintenance and sience workers. I don't want to go into things blind though, we need to do a bit of recon."

Shifting his gaze to Thor, Odin continues, "Take Poet, Buck, Fenris, and Hermes. Get me up to date intel on the outer perimeters, guard personnel, and layout. Maybe Fenris can get a few of those Spy Drones inside to get a good look around there to. I want you rolling with in the half hour."

Holly almost stood from her position. She was annoyed she wasn't going with the others, she could have provided overwatch for them, and any chance she could find out anything that would be useful to help her harm the ACS in anyway. She stayed quiet though, and was glad that she had her face mask on, so that no one could tell her annoyance.

"We are going to shut this place down and move our forward operating base to safe house A39-B. It is closer to the facility and less conspicuous. The increased CED patrols in the area have me a bit on edge, especially with what we are going to be attempting. I want to limit our profile. Loki stay hooked in here until the we are ready to go. Tap into ACS surveillence and see if you can't help the Recon team with available intel. Cue Ball you and I are going to tackle the supply room, get everything you can packed into the vans, you should have enough room. Osiris, Spectre, clean this place. I want all traces of our presence erased, then get down here and help Loki tear down the system in here."

She almost sighed, great she was on clean up duty.

"Do what we do people, we are all in. Dismissed."
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She moved through the rooms, making sure no evidence of them remained whatsoever. Even though it wasn't the most glamorous of jobs, it was a fairly important one. They could not allow the ACS to know that they were operating in the area so she did the job seriously. She had progressed through the floors quickly, as had Osiris. In fact she had just finished the floor, and headed to the stairwell when the lights cut out.

She waited for the back up lights to come on, but when they didn't she frew one of her pistols. Obviously something had gone wrong, had they been found out? She tried to raise first Odin, then Osiris on the radio but all she got was static. She broke into a run, heading for the command room. Odin could look after himself and they had to ensure the command room was completely wiped. She drew her blade and holstered her pistol, she didn't want to attract attention to the building and her fellow Valkyrie members.

 

[Anilar]

Howard made a quick salute to Holly as she scorned him for his enthusiam, a apoligizing smile on his lips. Buck didn't let it bother him, most of the people on the team had skeletons in the closet or heavy bagage from there past, but Buck had come to trust that everybody would do there part. He was no shrink or fortune teller, so all he could do was be there for them and smile.

Buck had no problem about being ready in 10, he was allready ready. He always went on sentry duty completely ready. So he spent his 10 minutes in the supply depot, filling a bag with some choice explosives. A few pouches with 10 bricks of plastic explosives each, detonators securely packed in hardened cases. A roll of explosive cord, fuses and a couple of claymore mines. Some extra grenades in the pockets of the bag, a few small shaped charges, and he was set.

In the command center Buck was not surprised to find a pad with his name, where he sat down. The Colonel going through the briefing, his presence of authority complete. Scrolling through the data, Buck went for any details he could find of the buildings and structures they were to assault. Layout, powerlines, storage areas and similar. As usual there wasn't much intel on the materials the structures had been made of, thou he suspected old time hardened concrete buildings. Which did have a tendency to survive even large explosions and bombardments. Luckily Osiris and Buck had a tendency to come up with the right solutions to that particular problem. Buck would let the soldiers and the scouts handle the intel on the security issues. Listening to all the questions, Buck kept quiet, if what Buck needed to know wasn't in the intell, he would have to find his information in the field together with his explosives.

As the recon team left the building, Buck was thinking to himself that he was still surprised how it could be, that fully armed soldiers in bodyarmour, just covered with some loose fitting rags of workers, could get through ACS checkpoints even with faked identity papers. But it did mean that he was not afraid to bring his bag of explosive, was the vehicle stopped with the intent of a search, there would be a hundred things that would give them away anyways. Buck guessed that the soldiers was also drugged, and therefor not so observant when it came to roadblock searches and similar.

There wasn't much talking as the van drove through the grey urban jungle, but as the closed in on the perimeter, they spotted a roadblock up ahead. Thor started to speak mostly to himself it seemed, but a order was given and a question asked, they were to drive around the perimeter, and count roadblocks. Buck released one of his little spidery marbles, he had modified it to release a heavy smoke cover if needed. He rolled down the window a little, as the van turned up another road, letting the marble climb outside of the vehicle, up under the building materials that was a part of there cover.

"Sir" Buck said directed at Thor "I have deployed one of my marbles for heavy smoke cover on the roof of the vehicle, just give the order if I need to deploy it. If we don't want to use up Fenris scout drones, I can deploy one as a set of eyes we leave behind, thou the range I can see through them is much less than Fenris Drones."
Buck had no doubt that thoughts along those lines was allready going through Thor's mind, but Buck had been trained to present any options he had to his commanding officer. If you didn't present the trivial and straight forward options, how could a officer trust that he would be presented with options, if a situation had went right into the drain.

 

[Santaire]

Forsythe turned to face Ethan. "I asked the same question Ethan. It all comes down to the fact that we don't quite know exactly were the second facility is. I issued the orders this morning to the Guardian Angels and the Thunderbirds and Major's Nelson and Clark are now tasked to scour the country side in Alabama, Mississippi, and Lousiana looking for it. They have been told it is a new weapons manufacturing plant and the specifics of the facilities nature have not been given to them. Without an actual location the General feels that it is best to act quickly and decisively on the intel we do have. I have also activated the Dark Knights and the Shades. They are moving toward DC to recon the Cardinal's compound, they are going to do the leg work on that end giving us on the ground intel of the Cardinal's security forces, updates to the compound, and ACS military assets in the field there for when we arrive in a couple of weeks. We take a stab at the Cardinal every couple of years and they see this attempt as nothing out of the ordinary."

Forsythe took a cigarette from a packet and lit it before continuing "Don't worry boys we will have back up at our other locations, but here in the Windy City we are on our own. Hopefully the teams down south will come up with something by the time we rendezvous with them. Once we crack this first nut the ACS will be scrambling to get on the defensive, I don't intend to give them the time to batten down the hatches and dig in. This comes directly from the General boys, no one is to be told of the exact nature of this mission until he lets out.”

Forsythe took a long drag on the cigar before staring at the blueprints for a short while before he spoke again, broadcasting to the whole team. "Nightstalkers. I want you all geared up and ready in ten. Full mission briefing will be then. Let's go hunting folks." Ethan nodded and left the control centre, heading to his small quarters. Once there he shrugged off the casual clothes he had been wearing and pulled on his combat fatigues. Over it he fitted his armoured Bodyglove and trench coat. He pulled on his black gloves and dark tinted sun glasses before leaving the room.

He headed down to the supply area and noted that it had been sorted out by Hermes and Poet. He took his SMG and Pistols first, slipping the pistols into their holsters and the SMG into its case before strapping them into place. He picked up his extendable stun baton, checked the charge before strapping it onto his leg. Finally he took hold of his sheathed Vibro Blade. He slide it out, examined the blade before slamming it home and strapping the sword into place. Now armed and armoured for battle he moved back up to the control room in preparation for the briefing.

Once everyone had arrived they sat in their places and Forsythe directed them to the Data Slates in front of them

"Well boys and girls, this is it. The start of a long road to the end of this war and we are going to do this one by the books." He directed them to follow along with him in reviewing the information contained in the slates. “I have pared down all that drudgery the general sent us, and have included the things that I think will be the most pertinent intel for our purposes. It appears that the ACS has recently upgraded its security systems, so Loki I want you to learn everything you can about them as fast as you can. Most of what they have done is there, the system is still archaic by our standards, but it doesn't mean that the don't have nasty surprises in store for unwanted guests."

"The biggest issue I think we are going to face on this one is we don't know exactly how many ACS personnel we are going to be dealing with. One report say s only a couple of dozen security personnel, a mix of CED and ACS military, another indicates that it is closer to a hundred with support personnel. The reports indicate that the process of production and distribution of the drugs is almost entirely automated so there shouldn't be a large civilian presence aside from a few maintenance and science workers. I don't want to go into things blind though; we need to do a bit of recon."

Shifting his gaze to Thor, Odin continued, "Take Poet, Buck, Fenris, and Hermes. Get me up to date intel on the outer perimeters, guard personnel, and layout. Maybe Fenris can get a few of those Spy Drones inside to get a good look around there to. I want you rolling with in the half hour."

Taking in the rest of them he said, "We are going to shut down and move our forward operating base to safe house A39-B. It is closer to the facility and less conspicuous. The increased CED patrols in the area have me a bit on edge, especially with what we are going to be attempting. I want to limit our profile. Loki stay hooked in here until we are ready to go. Tap into ACS surveillance and see if you can't help the Recon team with available intel. Cue Ball you and I are going to tackle the supply room, get everything you can packed into the vans, you should have enough room. Osiris, Spectre, clean this place. I want all traces of our presence erased, then get down here and help Loki tear down the system in here."

"Do what we do people, we are all in. Dismissed”

Ethan stayed in the control centre as the others filed out and opened up his vid screen. He tracked the recon team’s progress via cameras before moving on to hacking into the ACS system. It had been updated but he found the back door easily and entered the system. He passed through the files, saving those that looked interesting and avoiding those that contained viruses. Bored, he switched to activating the few remote cameras. The Recon team was approaching a checkpoint and he went to radio in.

“Thor…” he began but was suddenly cut off by a rush of static. He checked his vid screen, nothing. He had just been cut off. “Odin… Spectre…” he tried but was greeted by nothing but static. “Damn,” he cursed and froze for a split second while he processed the details of these new circumstances. He had 2 viable choices; go and meet Spectre and Osiris who were near the top floor or begin to wreck the control room and strip out all incriminating equipment and systems. Ethan went for the second option and moved quickly and silently to one of the wall stations. He placed one of his revolvers on a desk to one side before beginning to gently ease the wires from their sockets.

While he worked his eyes scanned the room and the sophisticated organs in his head began working, transmitting data to his mind about the occupation of the surrounding buildings. He closed his yes momentarily and when he opened them they glowed blue and he could see the electric pulses radiating from everything that was consuming energy. He sensed the computers and, very faintly, the other members of his team. He continued with his work but kept his gaze fixed on the doorway as he waited for someone to enter…

 

[komanko]

Wolf spoke to sheep, hunter to hunted, Fenris found it peculiar that Forsythe communicated with the general so casually, it seemed so wrong that a wolf should be bound to a sheep by ties of friendship or respect. He snorted his displeasure, though the general was a sheep in Fenris’s opinion Forsythe did command respect and as such he should not be questioned about his ties with the general as peculiar as it was.

They both continued speaking, it was Forsythe’s turn to speak now and it seemed, through his words, that the location of the second facility was not known yet. How did they expect them to take over the facility if the location wasn’t even known… Fenris sighed at those words, he had a feeling that they would have to search for it themselves.

The discussion was finished, the general gone now, back to his duties. The wolves were left to hunt. Forsythe decided that it was the time to reassure them, telling them that they will have back up at the future locations… Useless information, there was nothing to fear, nothing to be reassured about, if it would seem that the enemies numbers are enormous the solution would be simple and easy, thin their ranks, exterminate, cull the weak. The weak were everywhere and as such weakness was found everywhere.

His ear flickered as it caught the sound of inhaling, Fenris’s attention was caught by Forsythe’s habbit, a single cigarette hanging loosely from in between his fingers. Bad habit, a wolf shouldn’t make his risky life even riskier. It can prove to be suicidal. Not to mention it created a habit, habits were weakness to be exposed by the enemy, soft spots to be used against one. Fenris could not afford such weakness, one such as this would being swift death.

His mind drifted away as he thought about the millions of grey people, all smoking the same poison, yet Forsythe was different, why would he fall into the same pit of hopelessness… It was beyond him…

Finally they were dismissed, Forsythe dismissed them in order to gather them, an ironic thing yet necessary for those who weren’t ready. Fenris was always ready, he did not need anything, all he needed was implanted inside him in the form of alternation and experience. Even without his weapons he was still the herald of death, his footsteps silent as the flight of an owl at night, his breath silent like that of a dead man.

He stood up, the chameleonic effect quickly ended as his skin returned to its normal color. “That’s a bad habit colonel.” Fenris said and pointed at the cigarette before he left the room.

After a short walk Fenris reached his room, as ironic as it was his room was even greyer then that of a normal person, lifeless one would say. Grey walls, grey floor, grey ceiling. A chair, a bad, a small closet. That was all, his stuff he always kept here, he did not trust others with his stuff, it was too risky, one could lose it, misplace it, and when it is most needed it shall be gone. No… He couldn’t trust someone with such things.

Without further thoughts Fenris began to pack his things, after he finished with the regular things as clothing he moved to his weapons. He should be armed and ready. His revolvers were placed in their holsters on his waist, both his swords were holstered on his back and his assault rifle over his shoulder. As usual he hid his knives, his most trusted weapons, his deadliest one, a surprise to any overconfident opponent.

When he was finished Fenris say down, closing his eyes he breathed in and out slowly, it was his secret ritual, his depressive anguish. “I offer up my body and spirit to the endless void of death, I commend my spirit to your could grasp and my body to this earth.” Such a depressive ritual, it brought memories racing, his first mission, his first kill, his whole life... His whole death… If he would’ve dwelled on such thoughts a little longer he would’ve realized that he never truly lived, all of his life was surrounded by death. But to dwell on such things was to invite madness, and madness was a weakness to be exploited by the enemy, this he could not allow. His cold calculating side took over quickly and he finished his ritual “May the deaths I inflict come and hunt me after my life is over, may the families forgive my most grievous sin…” His heart wrenched as pictures of his murdered family surfaced in front of his eyes. They were gone… Long gone…

++++++++++++++++++

A short trip back and Fenris was in the command center again, he looked around inspecting his squad members, everyone looked ready, their spirit soaring ever higher. He looked at each one of them until he was caught in the wolf’s gaze. From across the room he saw Forsythe, both locked eyes in some sort of a mutual understanding, a bestial nature was within both of them and each sensed it on the other. If Fenris was a wolf then Forsythe was the alpha male, a leader of unquestioned strength and skill. Fenris would proudly serve under him.

Everyone sat down, and as such, so did Fenris, although sitting down was the last thing he wanted to do now. After he cast his soul once again to its death he wanted nothing but to spring on his prey and slit his throat. He was ready to hunt, not ready to be lectured but such a position demanded certain requirements and as such he sat down.

Forsythe was enthusiastic, hopeful, in a way he might have even seem desperate. He wanted this to end, he so desperately did and while his talk seemed, it left a lot of room for doubt and uncertainty. Because of Forsythe’s desperate need to end this conflict it seemed that he decided to not leave anything to luck this time, he wanted everything to be perfect, to be sure, yet such perfection… It takes the fun out of the hunt…

Fenris’s eyes gleamed in anticipation when Forsythe said that the security systems were upgraded, it would be more challenging hopefully, manslaughter, it was a child’s game, anyone can kill a man, but to take it into the level of an art was something completely different. Different game, different rules.

Yet as much as it seemed that Forsythe wanted this operation to be perfect it still looked like they are missing a lot of information to help achieve such perfection, after discovering that the security systems were upgraded it was also noted that they have no information on the amount of personnel in the facility. This was getting more and more interesting by the minute, he could feel his heart racing with grim anticipation. Only through blood could he ever make the grim and grey existence of his feel more sufferable…

As if someone was listening to his thoughts Forsythe continued and said that he was to go, along with some of the others to get an up to date intel on the outer perimeter. It seemed that his life’s purpose is about to reach its glorious ending, beginning so many years ago and now… Now he will be able to repay his debts. Looking behind him he could nearly see the trail of bodies which he left in his wake, so many dead and dying, so many maimed and injured yet they were all silent, afraid of the wolf that claimed that pile… A fiendish smile spread on his face and his green eyes gleamed maliciously.

++++++++++++

Fenris was waiting for the past ten minutes, it seemed that not everyone were as excited as he was towards this glorious hunt. Not all shared his twisted vision of glory yet none of them was eternally locked in a prison of anguish only to be released to hunt. He growled in displeasure, they were taking way too long.

Finally they were here, their stuff packed as was Fenris’s. They all got inside the vehicle, it seemed like this time Poet would be driving. They drove in a circle, their way much longer, yet a lot safer… Each moment seemed like eternity for Fenris, his senses were on the edge, so sharp that it was painful. The grey sky and grey walls of the buildings around him seemed to be reeking with life, too much life, too many pointless lives which will not lead anyone anywhere yet it was not he who chose the targets, and as such those common civilians, those puppets on strings would live another day, although he would be doing them a favor by ending their lives, they served no purpose…

The ride went on and on, it seemed that they were driving really carefully as Fenris noticed that they were going around the major activity points of the ACS. He let out a near silent growl, these were the most disgusting sort of people, a hybrid between a sheep and a wolf, sheep’s that served wolves as guards, pfft, that was pathetic. Their lives should be ended at sight, they had no reason to live, they lived to serve others, they didn’t enjoy the hunt, they didn’t marvel on the taste of blood, empty husks with no real guts. He narrowed his eyes in hatred as he watched them pass the ACS patrols, another time… His blood lust knew no bounds…

Suddenly they stopped, he watched from the window of the van, then he saw the reason for why they stopped. Two vehicles were blocking their path, they were not opening fire against them, it seemed that they were not expecting them nor awaiting them, was it a trick by the ACS, was there a mole in the organization? It wasn’t possible, only a handful knew of their plan… Yet if there was… Then it must be one of them! No. It wasn’t possible, he have never seen such trickery from the ACS they were too simple, they couldn’t pull off such a plan.

He heard his name, it resounded several times before he realized that someone was speaking to him. He blinked several times, his focus lessening, the world seemed to change in shape but his hearing was coherent now, he did not realize until now how much focused he really was.

He looked at Thor, his hungry eyes reflecting from Thor’s cold determined eyes, he didn’t speak, words were useless, he nodded and moved back towards the hatch, he would be ready if the need arose. In total silence he will drop out of the hatch, he will move like shadow itself, his skin will mimic his mind’s eye, and in but a moment he would be gone, ready to scout and wreak horror and paranoia on the enemies senses.

 

[Midge913]

Update #2

Thor(Deathbringer), Buck(Anilar), Poet(Angel of Blood), Hermes(Karak), & Fenris(Komanko): As you all drive in a circle around the perimeter of the chemical facility, you find several interesting points of intel. First off there is a roadblock at each of the 7 streets that lead into the facility. Each is manned by two humvee like vehicles each vehicle having a compliment of 3 men. The all carry standard issued m4 type carbine weapons popular with the United States military for the last 200 years. The weapons are far inferior to your own compliment of arms, but the men who bear them carry them with a relaxed proficiency of professional soldiers. You have not been able to get a close enough view of the compound that lies about a quarter of a mile behind each of the check points other than to see that the facility itself is surrounded by a concrete wall with secured, gated entrances along each of the main approaches. After observation of the 7 roadblocks you believe that the one coming from the southeast would be your best bet. The soldiers there appear to be less capable. The rarely turn away vehicles, and over half of them are seated away from the checkpoint, playing cards at a makeshift table. As you continue along, Fenris you notice that for the last several minutes an unmarked black sedan seems to be tailing your movements. The car is totally non-descript, fits in well with the rest of the traffic flow, but the fact that it has turned the same directions you guys have puts your nerves on edge. Thor it appears that you have all the intel that you are going to get by doing a perimeter check. Do you brave one of the checkpoints at this time, or do you try to find an abandonned building or secluded alley in which you can dump the van and go in on foot. You don't know what is going on with the sedan that Fenris spotted. Do you use caution and try and act more normally than before, or do you lure the sedan into an alley and attempt an ambush? Thor make your decision and issue your orders. The rest of you react and comment on what your characters are seeing. Buck what do you notice about their arms and munitions that you feel might be pertinent information that the Major might want to know? (Anilar the rifles they carry are as I said standard M4 type assault rifles, but you can tell that they have been well cared for by the soldiers that wield them. Each having a variety of accessories to optimize their use. You also can tell that the humvees are equipped with weapon mounts, but that they do not seem to bear the heavy weapons that would go there at this time.) Poet what do you think of the solidery? They look like they have training but what do you notice about them that you feel would be important to mention? (You pretty much have free reign here, just remember that they look like trained and experienced warriors). Fenris what are you thinking and what points about the sedan and the soldiery catches your marksman's eye? Hermes what imput do you have to the situation? [Thor once your decision is made begin to enact it, but again, if you approach the road block stop before you begin interaction with the military personnel there. That will be for next update.]


Cue Ball(CaptainFatty): As you sneak up the ramp to the next level at the Colonel's side you begin to hear the chatter of other individuals on the level above, your enhanced hearing making them audible well before they come into view. You hear the rumbling of several engines above and place them as heavy trucks or large SUVs. What strikes you as odd is that you can barely understand what they are talking about as they seem to be speaking in rapid spanish. That bit of information doesn't sit well with your new house guests being ACS. Looking to the Colonel you see that he is listening intently to the conversation going on above, he puts a finger to his lips and make a gesture that tells you to stay where you are for a moment. After what seems like an eternity he ghosts across the intervening ramp and sqauts down next to you, "I don't know what the fuck happened Cue Ball, but those are soldiers from the Mendoza Crime Family. From what I can gather they noticed Spectre and Osiris while they were on patrol. I recognize the name of the piece of shit, Rudolfo Ruiz, that is leading them and it is obvious he is out for revenge. Spectre killed his brother in Mexico about 14 years ago. What the fuck are they doing this far into ACS territory. The last thing we need is a war with the Cartels while we are trying to sort out the ACS. I am hoping that he assaulted us here without informing the family. We need to hit them hard and silent, we don't need the whole weight of the Mendoza's to fall on us right now." A sudden noise catches Forsythe's attention, and he clams up, listening. It sounds like there are several sets of boots walking down the ramp to the level you are on now. "Silent and final," Forsythe whispers to you before melting into the shadows on the wall opposite you. Sure enough seconds later three large individuals walk down the ramp, all armed with shotguns and small automatic pistols. From your concealed position you watch as the move just past you and the Colonel. Your heightened hearing hears the shot of the dart, where the victims of the attack are clueless, and one of their member crumples silently to the floor as Odin explodes like a panther out of the shadows where he had been hiding, grabs the second by the side of the head from behind and with a vicious twist breaks his neck. This leaves one for you, silence him quietly. [You of course would have leapt into action as soon as the Colonel fired his dart, so act simultaneously with his second kill. Just take care in how you kill this one, actions have consequences.]

Osiris(Jackinator): As you make your way down the hall way, you are surprised when a man, short dark haired and dark skinned, comes barreling around the corner of and intersection. He is just as surprised by you and he raised his shotgun to fire. You are a hairs breath faster and you react with your hatchet, flinging it through the air directly at him. Luckily for you his shotgun jams, and the round does not go off and he crumples to the ground, dead before he falls, your hatchet imbeded in his forehead, smoking slightly at the edges of the wound as the blade does its work. Taking a moment to listen for further intruders you hear nothing, so you take the opportunity to examine the body. He is definitely hispanic, which does not jive with your knowledge of the ACS and their military assets, but what would the Cartels be doing this far into ACS territory. You still need to make it to the other side of the building to meet up with Loki so move cautiously, there may be more enemies about.

Spectre(Lord Ramo): Travelling down the stairwell to the floor where the command center is located you keep your senses up and move cautiously down the stairs, taking two at a time, though you make very little noise as you do. This is a good thing because when you reach the 6th floor (you started on the 10th, and the command center is on the 4th) you hear to voices filtering up the stairwell. What strikes you as very odd is that the men are conversing in rapid spanish. You have no idea who it is that is currently in the building, but you are willing to bet that it isn't the ACS. Slowing your pace you come around a corner, just peaking past the edge of the wall, and see that there are two men climbing the stairs toward you. The both carry large shotguns and have small automatic pistols holstered at their waist. Whoever they are they don't belong here and they are armed. As the walk you hear one of the mention the name Rudolfo Ruiz and you are forcibly reminded of a mission into mexico roughly fourteen years ago. You now know beyond a shadow of a doubt that these men are Cartel soldiers. Silence them and move onto the command center. You have the drop on them so you shouldn't have any issues taking them out before they are able to get off a shot, and it does not appear they have radios so them alerting any allies is all but impossible as long as you are quick and quiet. [Ramo get with me over on MSN and we will talk about the mission and history that is pertinent.]

Loki(Santaire): You furiously work at disabling NAFI systems and hardware and as you do some you are able to tap directly into some of the surviellance cameras that are placed around the building. Multi-tasking like this is a breeze for you and you find that the building itself has 32 cameras that you are able to access remotely giving you a view of floors 4 and below. In the parking structure you see three large black SUVs and around 8 men, all carrying large shotguns and pistols, roving around, and a 9th man who wears two ornate looking pistols in shoulder rigs. He looks vaguely familiar to you and as you access your systems you place a name with the face. Rudolfo Ruiz, lieutenant in the Mendoza Crime Family. What the cartels are doing here is a mystery to you, but you work all the faster to disable and destroy evidence and NAFI intel. You see Odin and Cue Ball dispatching several Cartel soldiers in the lowest level of the garage by the dock, as well as Osiris take one out on the other side of this same floor. Unfortunately you can't get a visual on Spectre. As you flick through the camera feeds one by one, you find one that looks at the main door into the command center and you see that there are two enemy soldiers advancing on your position. You think that Osiris will be able to intersect them before they make it into the room, allowing you to deal with them together, but you are not 100% sure. If you had to take a gamble you would bet on Osiris making it. The only weapons that you have that would not cause a raucus are your baton and your sword, but you don't think that you could dispatch both enemies before one got a shot off, alerting the other cartel soldiers as well as any ACS personnel that were nearby. What do you do? Wait for Osiris? or try to take them both out solo before getting back to destroying the system? [Your choice will have consequences so choose wisely]

OOC: Angel of Blood- if you are able to post please do so. I would like for you to cover the last update, but you only need focus on the part when the recon team leaves headquarters and after that.