The nigh-invisible Steel Valkyrie moved the last half-mile down the path, and then slid into the woods off to the left when she saw her objective in sight. Carefully, she moved forward with as much stealth as she could muster. It was difficult going at times due to the underbrush, but she used the center's lights and the occasional bit of moonlight filtering through the forest canopy to help her find her way.

Several minutes were spent traipsing through the woods until this point, but they were minutes well spent. Hidden securely, Kara took stock of the parking lot and the visible portions of the building interior.

The anti-ballistic glass doors were shot full of small holes, racks resembling spider webs radiated outward from the impact zones.

The gun battle was intense at one point prior to the current situation. However, the occasional flash of light and slightly muted sound of gunfire told Kara that the battle was not yet over. Even as she sat off to one side, she saw another round slam into the ballistic glass.

Heightened visual acuity allowed her to see movement whenever light flashed inside the darkened room. So far, there were at least four crouching figures aiming at one, perhaps two, hidden figures behind the reception desk.

She could not reliably determine who was a defender and who might be an attacker, however. Her acuity and ability to recognize targets quickly was one thing. The ability to recognize whether that target was friend, or foe, in such a manner would take more situational awareness than she currently possessed.

Not long after taking up position, Kara noted a side door opening. The angle of her view was such that she could see a bit of the side of the building as well as the front. The sight of four gun-wielding feminine forms carrying people over their shoulders like sacks of grain could not be ignored. These invaders were committing more than theft. They were kidnapping and ransacking the place.

When they dropped off their load in their truck they went back inside. Kara's eyes narrowed, "Must have more inside to gather up."

The windows of the truck were darkly tinted. She could not be certain if anyone remained hidden inside as a guard. If the raiders were intelligent they would have a guard on the truck, and possibly a driver ready to move out as well.

She performed a quick assessment and did the math. Kara guessed there would be at least ten enemy combatants. The number of fighters in the entrance seemed to make little sense unless the larger group was the aggressor and they were currently in control of the facility.

Determining that she'd acquired what information she needed, Kara radioed her master. "Master? I have spotted four known enemy combatants and believe there may be six more. They are heavily armed. How do I proceed?"

Her communicator crackled to life not long after. "Do you see anyone at risk presently?"

She blinked at his concern for the welfare of another. It did not seem like him to take the safety of other's into account. Kara forced the thought aside, before replying back. "Yes. There may be between one and four security personnel attempting to fight off combatants. There are also at least four combatants transferring captured prisoners."

"How are they transferring the prisoners?" called his curious voice.

"They are piling them into a large truck," said Kara.

"Can you disable it from your position without giving yourself away?" he asked her after a moment.

She considered briefly then replied. "I cannot. However, it would not take long to relocate and take out their tires."

John remained silent for a moment then replied. "If you can do so without being spotted, take out the tires. If you are not certain who is a combatant, and who is security do not fire upon them."

He paused for a brief instant then spoke again, "Tell me when you're done, and then remain hidden. Do not press the assault further until you have confirmation to continue."

"Understood," said Kara, a grim smile on her lips.

The Steel Valkyrie began moving into position, even as John spent a few moments fiddling with his radio equipment. The ASDF response team should arrive within the next ten minutes if their response time was the norm.

He heard two muted shots off in the distance. Less than a minute later his communicator crackled to life with Kara's voice. "Objective accomplished. Awaiting further orders."

He considered the protocols he'd heard on various military classes and television shows. He spent his six month sojourn in the selective service when he turned eighteen. However, that was a lifetime ago and he'd never seen any real combat action. It was hard to recall everything from that time period. This led him to respond with a simple, "Follow previous directives. Will contact with further instructions."

"Understood," said Kara before she went silent.

It was time to take a risk. John sent out a call on the police band using his tamer number, and found that it took two minutes to receive an answer.

"Tamer 65790-B, this is ASDF 1-12 out of Hillsborough. Please state the reason for your call. Over," said a tired sounding man on the other end.

He responded back with, "ASDF 1-12 Hillsborough, Tamer 65790-B, my team is currently answering the all call at site 112. I have a situation report. Over."

The dispatcher was silent for a moment then responded back in a tone that spoke professionalism, "Tamer 65790-B. This ASDF 1-12 Hillsborough. Be advised you are now responding to call sign T-Alpha and the response team enroute will answer to ASDF-Alpha. Acknowledge. Over."

"ASDF-Alpha, T-Alpha, acknowledged. Over," replied John. The codename change sped the information exchange nicely from that point onward.

"T-Alpha, ASDF-alpha. Please transmit situation report. Over."

John filled the response team in on the situation as Kara had related it to him. Their response was an acknowledgment and a directive to withdraw from the area to a safer location so that they could rendezvous with a secondary dispatch team.

John acknowledged their directives and called Kara over their communicator with an order for her to fall back. He followed that up by calling out to Tera and Mindi as well. Several minutes passed before Kara arrived, but once she was on-site their part of the current mission ended. John pulled out of hiding and drove off to the rendezvous point to await the secondary ASDF team.