●　● Akkadia One, Eden Space Territories

Amelie hung up her call with Al as she reached for the remote to the TV display on the living room wall. She saw the words on the news ticker read “Active Terrorist Strikes in Colombia” across the bottom with the backdrop video being footage from aerial cameras looking over a burning building. She leaned forward anxiously, hoping not to see any news about Sam.

“-before the first reported attack,” the female announcer said to her co-host as the feed had started. “So what you see here is the only remaining footage we have of what seemed to be the focus of their attack, yet we can’t make any connections as to why the EMP bomb would be set off. We will await further reply from the SAU who has notified Colombia officials that they would send immediate military response to Bogota along with their disaster relief team.”

“So when you say EMP,” the male co-host spoke up as images brought up a technical page on the weapon’s effects, “this means the affected area is without anything giving off or using electronic signals. This in the end means that potentially the entire city is without essential services such as water, sewage, food, cooling, everything. The only services I believe that would still be available would-be emergency response services using vehicles from the previous war-time era that had proper shielding installed.”

“We can’t even get in touch with our team on site,” she added. “We will now connect with our members present in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo who are listening in on the briefing the SAU Secretary of Defense is giving as we speak.”

The screen then changed to a set of decorated officers standing at a podium surrounded by media. “We will find out those responsible as this affects millions of lives immensely. We have already sent out medivac airships to transport as many medical patients as we can, and afterwards we will use what we can to bring in water and food as needed until the infrastructure repair is finished,” the Secretary of Defense answered to a question he had been asked.

Another reporter stood to ask another question. “What of the terrorists themselves? Has anyone been identified or anyone speculated to have any involvement?”

“We are working actively to find any traces of evidence leading to the ones responsible. But you have to understand that working with EMP devices makes things very difficult as it destroys most evidence we could use, leaving almost no detectable traces behind.”

“What about any motives?” another asked.

“Again, we do not have any information on who or why at this time. We are working as fast as we can to get such answers.”

“Would this have to do with the protesting or any campaign to shut down protests, perhaps?” a third reporter asked from in back.

“Could you clarify, please?” the Secretary of Defense replied after some hesitation.

“The protests,” he continued, “they had been plaguing the city for the past while. Is there any chance that this act was to draw maximum attention to their situation? Or is it possible that an outside interest had reasons to bring a forceful halt to it all?”

“Sorry, but again, we cannot provide such speculation at this time.”

The screen changed over to multiple views of the raging protests across the capital area over the last week as the previous reporter joined back in. “These are the demonstrations in question, all demanding the return of fair ruling and enforcing of accountability within the branches of their national government. Most expected policies to return to the Confederacy days, even hinting that the Confederacy ever having been dissolved was the greatest crime against those in poverty. Elections for the senate seats and the governor weren’t set to begin until December this year, although this may be in anticipation of revolutionary changes at the polls.” He then took a moment to allow the screens to change to various scenes of LTAC involvement in the riots. “Paramilitary response to the demonstrations had been ramped up since, seeing use of modern lightweight mech technology more commonly known as LTAC warfare as means to suppress the crowds and the potential damage done. Replacing policemen, these machines were using tear gas and other non-lethal methods to disperse crowds before resistance upped their own forces, resorting to rocket fire, small arms fire, arson, and lately, much deadlier force.”

“Which is the sad reality for the many living there,” the co-host joined back in. “Each time the resistance fought back harder the paramilitaries fought back with even more force to contain. By the time international interest Hexa International’s security provider Infinity had gotten involved, which came at the heels of an MBI assault on the city, tanks and LTACs had already found ways into the city limits amongst other contraband weaponry. I can’t see why the SAU didn’t respond sooner to the threats, although it might be a jurisdiction issue. But at this rate, with the most recent activity, we can only hope-”

Amelie turned off the TV as she switched the screen back to the call function, redialing Al. When he picked up, she started back immediately with noted concern: “Did she not have her equipment shielded? Why haven’t we heard back from her?”

“First, I was surprised we had clearance to use a military grade LACOM equipped satellite over their space. But anyway, I learned that when Hexa was donated the LACOM technology they were not properly shielded as to cut costs. Such instrumentation needs military level spending to shield such complicated equipment. So, no, we don’t have a way to communicate until she is safely out of the perimeter of effect from the EMP and the jamming.”

“Yes, I realized someone was smart enough to use EMP shielded jamming tech. Something I would only expect to hear from old Union occupying forces.”

“We have been on that. We seem to have some incredibly well-equipped foreign interests involved. We know this as the last feeds we had from Sam and her crew were showing them up against more than twenty LTACs on ground. Before they got cut off from the grid, they did destroy or disable every LTAC upon contact, so we shouldn’t be worried about whether or not she made it out of engagement alive. I have already arrangements to speak with the SAU about getting her an escort to deliver her safely to Sao Paolo Spaceport since this time they will show up on site for us. Same plan, almost, just with these wrinkles making it take more time than it should have.”

“Sam has been strong, holding out after all this time. I guess we just need to have faith that she will continue to be as strong.”

●　● Bogota, Colombia

Smoke and steam filled the air surrounding the remains of the compound as firefighters slowly made their way out, carrying dozens of body bags along with other recovered materials. Sam had been sitting, watching from inside the Axiom with both cockpit doors open. Heavy thoughts had been flying through her head after seeing what she had, thinking to herself: They really just lost everything and everyone, just like that. To think they had incendiary shelled the place… How am I supposed to even talk to them? This is the kind of stuff I have zero training for. She then rested her face in her open hands, letting out a long breath. Images of the rifle-round-wrought dead body she saw earlier began to crop up as well, causing her to shiver. So much today I wasn’t ready for.

“Why are you hiding?” she heard a familiar female’s voice from just below.

Sam popped her head out to see it was Dani who, while wearing a long face, was attempting to cover it with a smile.

“Come down. Join us. You fought with us. Right?”

Sam slowly climbed down, having not expected any welcoming gestures after reading all of the heavy body language from everyone earlier. “Sorry, I… don’t think I have a place here at the moment. Everyone lost a lot.”

“We need to be together… in times like this. Come, walk with me,” she said with a continued fight against her emotions. They made their way towards the front gate where some of the men including Sebastian and Renzo were sitting, all facing the compound’s remains. “We stayed many many years living away from home in a place like this. There used to be three of this place. This was the last one. Now we feel it is like we will lose all of the city.”

Sam awkwardly placed a hand on her shoulder, still unsure how to comfort someone during a time of loss. “Did you have any family there?”

“My real family? Nobody here has family. Just people we know for a long time. They didn’t do anything wrong. We are the ones who do the fighting, and they all inside, they died.” She saw Sam about to attempt to say something out of guilt and stopped her. “No, I have seen this a lot my life. This is part of how we live. I want you to see, I understand you now. I wanted to talk to you about that. I see why you want to go home. This is why you need to go home, so you don’t have to live like us.”

Sam could feel the real, actual guilt take over. “Dani, I really am sorry. And I realize I have been selfish to say things the way I said them when I could have been more considerate. I really did want to help, though. I really did.”

“You helped us fight back. Everything your company gave us, it gave us a reason to keep fighting. We aren’t done yet. But I want you to see this,” she continued as she took Sam’s hand that was on her shoulder. “All of this. Please don’t live like us.”

[Bas, hold up!] The two heard, startling both of them as they turned to see Renzo walking after Sebastian. [That won’t do you or us any favors! You said it yourself, we wait here until the supplies arrive!]

Sam watched as he passed her with a sense of fierce determination that gave her a scare. “Sebastian? What’s going on?” He continued by without paying her a hint of attention. “Sebastian, wait! What happened?! Where are you going?!”

Renzo bumped past her, hitting her shoulder with his own as he sped up to catch up. [Hey, don’t ignore me damn it! You do this now? Then you do this shit on your own from now on! You hear me!?]

Sebastian continued without slowing down, heading straight for his parked LTAC. He felt himself dragged down suddenly from behind, tumbling down before having a chance to realize it was Renzo tumbling down with him. The two tussled for a few moments while Sam ran up screaming. Sebastian then broke free of Renzo’s grip and threw a punch across his face, causing him to let go. He stood back up and continued his pace.

Sam had stopped in reaction to seeing Renzo knocked aside before looking back to Sebastian who was now climbing the ladder up to the cockpit. She instinctively ran for the Axiom, knowing she would likely have to chase him that way.

[Don’t waste your time!] Renzo shouted to Sam in futility, standing up to wipe his busted lip.

Sam paid no attention as she hurried up and closed her doors, put her helmet on, and activated all mobility systems. “Sebastian, dammit what is going on!?” She waited another moment before trying again, only to see his jump-boosters go off as he headed northward on a course that took him at altitudes much higher than Sam had ever seen done before. She had no choice but to follow suit. She could hear one other LTAC take off behind her, but she paid no further attention. “I’m not letting you do something stupid! That’s what your brother was trying to say, right?!”

Sebastian watched his thruster capacity reach beyond halfway as he tried to spot his destination by eye, unable to use his navigation system. He then saw a clearing wedged between several taller buildings. He eased off of the boosters, coasting towards a parking garage that he was unable to land as softly as he wanted to, just having run completely out of boost capacity. The cars next to him shook as a cloud of concrete and other dust kicked up. He then walked up to the ledge, peering down at what looked to be an armored compound below. He ignored the screaming of the fleeing pedestrians below, taking aim with his rifle and let out strings of 10-15 round bursts from it, no longer utilizing the single fire system.

“What the hell are you doing?! Are you insane!?” Sam screamed out as she landed just behind him, barely placing herself between two parked trucks. “You can’t just shoot people up- stop it, damn it!” she persisted, making her way next to where he was. She looked down to see the bright orange hybridized rounds flashing down, tearing cleanly through the armored walls as dozens fled the building, screaming. She saw many were covered in dust, debris, and some even with blood spattered on them. “Sebastian…” She was unable to continue, horrified by the scene below. She thought to turn and force him to stop but couldn’t muster the strength.

Sebastian continued to pour down until the cooling alarm locked his trigger. He was breathing heavily and rapidly, sweat all around his gripped controls. As time passed, he started to tremble.

[I’m here for you, brother,] she heard Dani over the LOS comms. She looked up to see where she was but got interrupted by a brilliant green blast that hit the part of the main structure most weakened by Sebastian’s assault. She had used a full charge shot from her anti-MBI cannon from where she stood across the other side of the street. [The murderous bastards won’t mess with us ever again.]

“Dani! Wha- why!? Don’t-”

Dani then fired a parting shot from the underside of the cannon, sending an anti-MBI rocket into the larger, gaping hole, sending a column of fire and smoke upwards as well as right towards them. “They killed our boss. They killed the man that made us who we are.”

Sam heard the triggering phrase, instinctively waited for the debris shower to settle before ripping off her helmet, opening her doors, and climbing down in a fit of rage. She ran over in front of Sebastian’s Ap50, barely leaving her a foot of room between her and the ledge behind her. The smell of burning metal and building material burned her nostrils and the smoke irritated her eyes, but she fought through the sensations, staring down Sebastian as if she could see him through the doors. “Sebastian Navarre! Open your door right now, damn it!” she shouted at the top of her lungs. “This is not you! Open up!” She then jumped when the door locks disengaged, surprising her that he actually did as she asked.

He slowly climbed down and made his way toward the ledge just past her, once again startling her as he slung his watch that he had taken off moments ago at the building. [Fuck you all!] he hollered in a cracked voice, then ripped off the bracelet he had on the same wrist and heaved it in a similar fashion, causing him to lose his balance. He let himself fall to his rear end, stopping his fall as he caught the rest of his fall with his hands. He then leaned forward, resting his face in his arms he now propped across one of his knees.

This can’t be about revenge, she thought to herself, peering back over her shoulders, now able to see through some of the smoke. She turned and peered over the ledge just enough to see below, finding a gruesome scene of dozens of men who weren’t able to escape the blasts in time. Death hadn’t been anything seen in person until today, and the sheer number coming all in one morning was overwhelming. With her gaze still locked below in shock, she felt that she easily could have been a body like one of those below had she not been in the positions she had up until this point. She then remembered Sebastian and his actions, snapped out of it, and turned to him. She walked up, reaching out to grab both of his shoulders, kneeling down face-level with him. “Come on, let’s go, we can’t stay here long. There’s no way they don’t come back to get back at you.” Sebastian remained without response, still looking at the ground. “Hey,” she said with a subtle shake. It hadn’t been too long since she was in his shoes. “We need to hurry, it’s not safe here. Let’s get to a safer place, alright?” she continued with a firmer grip. “Hurry up, now, we can figure shit out later.”

He looked up as the words had triggered similar memories. “Go where? Where is there to go, now?” he said with a lost look in his eyes.

“You can follow me”, she said with some relief, standing back up. “Let’s get back to the drop zone. The old compound grounds are safe with Renzo and your boys still there.” She turned for the Axiom, taking a few steps before turning around again. “Or you can stay here, although I’d prefer you come back alive with me instead of given a concrete burial here.” Her patience started to sour in similar manners to before as well. “Really?!” She started back towards him and stood in front of him once more, about to speak. Her words that were just about to come out were cut abruptly by an explosion set off by a leaking fuel supply below the compound. It set her off to grab onto Sebastian, pushing the two of them to the ground, holding tight until the debris shower settled down, ears ringing intensely. As she started breathing normally again, she pushed herself back up enough to see Sebastian in pain. “Hey! Are you alright?!” she shouted, barely able to hear herself over the ring.

He started to cough but found the strength to roll over on his side, slowly getting up. “OK, maybe we should go now.”

Sam helped him up, assisting him back to the cockpit ladder. “Can you get up by yourself?!”

“I think so!” he shouted in return, slowly pulling himself up. By the time he had finally gotten in his seat, he looked back down to see Sam still there, waiting on him. “I am OK, I think.”

She held a thumb up as she backed towards the Axiom, then slowly turned towards it, seeing a group of men approaching her from the opposite side of the parking area. She froze immediately, realizing she hadn’t brought her PDW with her. “Oh, shit… Sebastian?!”

He turned on his loudspeaker as his Ap50 turned to aim its rifle at the advancing group. [Don’t even think about it!] He walked towards them, stepping between the displaced cars as they started to run. “Samantha,” he continued, “you are right. We need to go some place safer. Come on.”

“Oh, so now you are ready to go!” she said with an eye roll, hurrying back up into the Axiom’s cockpit. “Alright! Let’s get back to the drop zone!” She locked her harnesses in as she took a few long breaths, thankful to still have a place to return to. The two LTACs then boost-jumped back southward towards the stadium.

▽　▽　▽

Sam flipped her visor up and opened the cockpit doors to see her surrounded by more Hexa-marked vehicles and the three armored carriers from earlier. As she climbed down, she saw the man dressed in the director’s jacket and vest who she had met that morning, still with his helmet on. Ah, Director Braun, he’s still here… he didn’t bail, she thought along to a sour memory of when Marian had gone AWOL on her team.

“Ms. Knight! Glad to see you in one piece!” he said with a hand-shake and a pat on the shoulder. “Had been worried sick what was going on amidst this radio silence! What happened to the rest of the boys?” he continued with noted concern.

“They are all doing fine last time I checked, still back at the Galeano Compound… or what is left of it.” She then turned to see Sebastian approaching them. “He’s the only one that came with me. Needs to recuperate from… a lot.”

“Do we need to send medics their way? What about you two?”

“Don’t worry about us. If we need something, we will be sure to ask.” She then stepped aside to let Sebastian walk up to meet him.

“We much appreciate your services, sir,” the director said as he extended his hand. A few officers came up from behind them bringing water bottles, helmets, and vests. “Ah, here, take these. You need to wear this while you are here. No telling what could rain down on us until we get new LACOM equipment dropped off. But at this rate there is no telling how long we will be stuck here.”

Sam took the vest and helmet, putting them on quickly, then turned to see Sebastian having a hard time lifting his right shoulder. “Here,” she said as she helped pull the vest through and around to his other shoulder, zipping it up for him.

“Are you sure he won’t need medical attention?” the director urged.

“We will get him checked up on in just a minute.” She then took the helmet from the officer as she reached to put it over his head.

He took the helmet with an awkward smile. “I can put this on, thank you.”

“Well, I take it you had some serious resistance?” the director continued from behind them. “We heard the rounds your boys fired. Rang out from every direction it seemed with that echo going.”

“Yes, they took out more than twenty,” Sam responded before taking a long gulp from her bottle.

“Hot damn! That’s what I like to hear! To think it was such a shit show the other day with Director Channing’s drop. It’s almost like that whole damn thing was a setup! Those poor souls, may they rest in peace.”

She turned around and spoke with a serious tone: “Director, please excuse us. A lot of good people died today. Not ours, but, still…” She then tugged at Sebastian’s left arm, urging him to follow her to the bench by the near spectator seating wall. During their walk, Sam recollected on her first drop operation, comparing the scenery and the atmosphere to what everything had become now. What had once been seemingly smooth and orderly was now busy, bustling, and loud. Nervousness was replaced with soreness and weariness. For Sebastian, the anxiousness was replaced with too much of what he wished he didn’t know to begin with. Finally reaching the bench, they both let out a heavy sigh as they plopped down. Sam spoke up first. “What a real fucking day, huh.” She then tightened up a bit, slowly stretching her legs a bit further out. “Shit… forgot how much my whole body hurts. I hope these pills hurry up and get to working.”

He normally would respond to her frequent whining, but he felt more compelled to let her continue, especially as he noticed she had been struck by something near her neck and shoulder. “You… um… I want to thank you for saving me,” he said with an earnest voice. He then looked over to her, seeing her roll her eyes.

“Don’t start. I didn’t save anyone, and who knows what those goons m-” she paused as she felt his hand on the back of her neck. “Ouch!” she winced in sudden pain, feeling a sharp burning sensation run up the back of her head.

“Sorry, but I can see you got hit with something there,” he said as he pulled his hand away, fingers tinged with blood. “You get hurt a lot. Second time I see you bleeding,” he said with a chuckle.

She put her hand to where she now felt a lump on the top back of her neck, wincing once more. “Yeah? Well, this one’s your fault. You made us take too long.”

“But it could be worse if you didn’t save me there. That’s why I want to say thank you.” He had remembered that when they went falling to the ground immediately after the blast at the Rocha Compound, her neck was pressed against his cheek as debris started falling around them. “Whatever hit you, that was going to hit my eye. I would be half blind.”

She shook her head with an abashed smile. “Are you feeling a bit better, now? Can we talk while we have the safety of being surrounded by friendlier people?

He sighed as the smile disappeared, taking a moment to think, staring back into space. He took in another long breath, letting out another troubled sigh, attracting Sam’s concerned look. “I didn’t tell you much truth… or… facts about my family. Me, Renzo, and Dani, we all ran away. There is no draft. Me, and Renzo, we had crazy dreams of being someone to stop the madness. Dani followed. She didn’t want to be left behind. And Boss? People said Boss was no good man, but he was a good man to us. He became the father we never had. The Rocha’s always wanted him dead. Now they are the winners in this. And somehow, they got to him so easily after so many years no one ever got close.”

“But you still have your family,” she said leaning over, looking at him. “Sorry, I don’t know what it’s like to lose a father. But I do know what it’s like to lose a brother.” She put her hand on his shoulder again firmly. “You should be with them when you get to feeling better. They are hurting, too, I imagine, and you need each other.”

“Did you rethink what you will do with your life? I think your father needs you. And maybe your mother, too,” he redirected, looking her back in the eye.

She averted her eyes away to the ground in front of them. “I don’t know anymore. Ever since I set foot here, I have just been doing what I can in the present moment. Doing what I can to move on to the next step. I don’t even know where it’s taking me. I assume the SAU is bearing down on us as we speak after what happened today, which means I will get that escort promised one way or the other.”

“So, it’s decided,” he said with a forged smile. “It’s the best for you. You can get home, recover, and make the right decision when it’s the right time. I’m glad you made it-… glad we all made it out today.” His smile faded as time passed without a hint of reaction from Sam. “What?”

“No, I can’t just go home like this,” she said to his surprise. “I actually accomplished things for myself for the first time in a long time. I still have things to accomplish. I realize there are millions behind these walls affected by today’s attack. The SAU is coming, but so is Infinity. I can’t just walk away from my responsibility, just like I know you all aren’t.” She stood up and turned to him with a smile. “I can at least promise to help clean up. That’s part of my contract, technically, but… this is something I actually want to do.” She then put her hand out, helping him stand up. “I will decide more on what I will do with the mess called my life after we see Bogota recover from this. Will you let me hang around for that?”

“Of course. We are still partners for now, anyway, right?” he said with a smirk and a point towards the Hexa logo on his shoulder.