ASSAULT PROCESS

BERNARD Guerrilla Fighter HOSTILE

Juan D. Guerrilla Fighter HOSTILE

Juan G. Guerrilla Fighter HOSTILE

Antonia Guerrilla Fighter HOSTILE

Angie knew that the longer she looked at the enemies standing there, the more information she would get about them. Right now she could only get the basics. Silent as Marley & Marley’s ghosts, Flanni came up beside her.

“Could you make any more noise?” She ask him. “You used to be stealthy.”

“I also didn’t have a level 3 character with no skill points,” he whispered. “What do we have?”

In front of them was the processing plant- the place where Carmen and her rebels were bunkering in. The briefing said that the three story building was part factory, part packing facility. Stuff came in, got worked on and then readied for shipment off world. Angie had expected big and gray- generic factory building. Maybe there would be some windows to let a little bit of light in and save on energy costs. Inside it was one, maybe two levels with high ceilings. Kind of like the warehouse they had assaulted the other day.

Her guesses about this building were close. Many factories didn’t waste a lot of time or money on aesthetics, but this building had improvements. The outer walls were painted. Not just colors, there were huge murals. On one long side of the building was a beautiful beach scene. Waves, cabanas, a board walk, children playing in the surf and building sand castles, sunbathers, even a life guard. The painting was as gorgeous as it was unexpected. The other sides sported different murals.

Marring the view were the four Guerrilla Fighters standing guard. Only Bernard was standing in the open. The others were behind some kind of cover. Angie glanced at the mini-map. None of the guards had black skull icons. A black skull meant the enemy was tons of levels higher than the player. These were just red, hostile, icons.

Looking at the scene in front of her, she could see blood on Bernardo’s leg. He was near some crates talking to Antonia. Antonia was crouched behind the crates. It was too far to hear what they were chatting about.

BERNARD Guerrilla Fighter Sergeant HOSTILE

Wounded. Limited mobility.

“Wounded,” Angie said softly. Some games would let you see each person/mob/bad guy/monster/creature/whatever’s hit points and hit points remaining. This game just graded player’s health by adjectives- barely wounded, lightly wounded, wounded, severely wounded, critically wounded. The problem was, wounded meant something different for Sergeant Bernard than plain old Guerrilla Fighter Antonia. One shot might finish off Antonia. It might take five non-critical hits to knock Bernard out.

More observation time would get them more information. More observation time also meant they had more time to setup inside or escape out the back. Angie’s team could observe two sides of the building. SouthHaven and his depleted team could watch, but not cover the other two sides. They needed the Southern Assault Team to watch the other side of the building effectively.

“Don’t wait,” Flanni said.

He doesn’t want to lose out on more XP., Angie thought. IF we assault before Southern Assault Team arrives, more glory, XP and loot. It’ll make the teams look better. More points from the judges. But it could give Carmen and Maresa and the suitcase a chance to escape.

“Assault Six this is North Assault.” Angie called over the radio. The captain’s call sign was Assault Six. “Captain Bukowski, we are preparing to attack the building. Request Southern Assault team accelerate and guard the back door.” Angie hoped she made the right call.

Her radio responded. “North Assault, this is Assault Six. Angie you are approved to assault in figures two minutes, I say again begin your attack in two minutes.”

“Northern assault begins attack in two minutes, acknowledged, out.”

“You are the hammer, Southern assault is the anvil and what is left of special detachment will pop up in the middle. Do your best not to kill the tunnel rats. Over.

What’s left of the special detachment? What the hell does that mean? “North Assault acknowledged.”

“Go get ‘em Angie. Assault Six out.”

“North Assault Out.” Angie turned the radio to the unit channel. “We attack in 2 minutes. First shot assignments are coming. Everybody shoot at your target and charge. Heather, drop some explosives on them.” There was a flurry of people acknowledging. Angie turned to Flanni. “Can you get a signal from the special detachment?”

“Why?” Flanni was already checking on his system.

Angie had run a check on her system. She got three signals- the missing signal was from Mark.