David: Sir.

JC: What is it trainee, we should be maintaining silence as much as possible?

David: Sir, I believe I have found our way in.

I point out the ladders leading up to the base of the statue.

JC: Good work trainee, you just saved us a lot of time and energy. I'll make sure to note this in my report. Alright team, follow me but watch your step on the containers and stick to the edges to keep the sounds of your footsteps to a minimum.

JC leads the way up the ladders, leaving us in his dust as usual but we followed him up to find the crates moved to the right position to let us climb the bits without ladders. Metal crates on metal containers and I didn't hear a sound, JC wasn't this stealthy when I played him. The only tricky part was where we had to jump from one container to another. It was only about one and a half meters, just a big step really but three stories up makes you rethink simple things. Kovit didn't even think twice and just pasted me stepping over the gap with ease. Taking a quick breath I followed along with Adam and Jill.

JC was waiting for us just before the wall with 2 unconscious NSF agents on the container and him watching over the ledge with his rifle. As we arrived he stepped down.

JC: Trainees Cox and Haines have you completed small arms basic training?

They mumble something and shake their heads no causing JC to sigh and wonder aloud how they were allowed into to the field. He gives them a quick rundown on safety, loading and using the two pistols he gives them. He follows up with the obligatory don't put your finger on the trigger until you are going to shoot and don't use it or point it at anyone unless he tells them to.

JC: I've cleared the way along this side of the statue but there are still guards to our left so when I give the signal one of you will proceed over the side wall and to cover directly in front of us, quickly and quietly. Ready?

We all nod and he looks down the statue to the left of us before giving a signal and Kovit goes over the wall with ease and moves off. I'm up next and finding it not as easy as Kovit made it look but still doable. I make it across the open area and take up position next to Kovit at the statue base. Soon the others make their way over to, JC had to boost Jill but we all made it to cover no problems.

JC lead us down the wall to the entrance of the statue and as we close in someone calls out.

NSF: Who's there?

JC: It's just us.

NSF: Huh, who?

The NSF steps through the entryway only to be pistol whipped by JC and held up as a shield when JC moves around the corner gun up. I follow him in reassured by the lack of gunfire.

Statue entered, distance restrictions to JC Denton removed.

After this new surprise, I check my interface to see the requirement for staying within a hundred meters from JC is crossed out since we are in the statue. JC drops the NSF agent and starts mumbling to himself before turning back to us.

JC: I've just received intel that Agent Hermann is being held downstairs. He should be fine while we finish the mission but we have been asked to retrieve him to prevent any unexpected mishaps if possible. The question is are you four capable of dealing with the increased objectives?

Kovit like always seems uninterested but Adam and Jill are shuffling about nervously trying not to be noticed. Thinking about it, the map has been identical to the game so Gunther should be in the same spot, from here it is actually an easy rescue as long as we have some lockpicks and multi-tools.

David: Shouldn't be a problem sir. I have actually been to the statue before, back in the day so I think I know where he would be held and a safe back way to get there. As long as you have a couple of lockpicks and multi-tools and know how to use them we should be fine.

JC: Really trainee? Explain yourself.

David: If we follow this hall down the stairs up ahead it leads us to the lobby downstairs. To the right of the lobby will be the back rooms, Agent Hermann should be held there.

The problems we are likely to face are NSF in the lobby and back room as well as electronics defences such as cameras. Like you said earlier the NSF should be focused on the front square. Other than the guard you disabled before no one else has come by so they must feel safe inside here. If we scout the stairs and lobby we should be able to find a way down if they are focused towards the front.

There wasn't a door to the back rooms that I remember but if there is something now I remember a large air vent in the northeast corner of the room that could fit us and you could hear the people in the back office through it so I believe it would get us there.

So if you have a few multi-tools for cameras and a few lockpicks for doors, I have some training with computers and could handle them if need be. All together I think it is doable under those conditions.

JC: My Infolink support's intel agrees with you on the layout and air vents. I should be carrying sufficient equipment for security. It sounds like a reasonable plan and worth at least following for now. Good work trainee. Form up team and follow me to the stairs. I'll quickly scout the lobby and we will proceed from there.

Bonus Objective added – Rescue Agent Gunther Hermann alive within 45 minutes – Team receives 1000 points and D rank reward each.

After 45 minutes Agent Gunther Hermann is no longer safe

Objective added – Agent Gunther Hermann must survive – Team receives -1500 points and D rank reward each if failed

We all flinch except Kovit who turns to me.

Kovit: Changing the script means more rewards and more risk. I do hope you know what you are doing.

Jill: Stop making things harder.

Well shit. I hope the scouting goes well. We all move to the top of the stairs and just as we arrive JC returns.