Across the busy hangar, Sebastian was back out of his Ap50, standing next to a mobile maintenance table while holding a rifle in one hand and an oiling cloth in the other. A number of components disassembled from the receiver of the rifle were laid out on the table as he meticulously oiled and inspected each part before carefully replacing. His mind kept creating images of what it must have been like for Sam to have found a way to unjam her rifle and escape with her life that morning. He heard the various survival stories from many, but the one of hers rang the loudest, and being unable to speak of it directly to her only fueled the concern.

The band that created the song he overheard back at Akkadia One had been playing on loop through his headset since starting his preparations, and as that same song started playing, he unknowingly stood there in still, steady silence, looking over the reassembled rifle.

[That thing’s not going to jam, bro,] Andre chuckled as he walked up, realizing now Sebastian may not have heard him. [Yo,] he continued, waving to get his attention.

[Oh, I’m sorry,] Sebastian replied after being startled a bit. He reached over to click his earpiece speaker off before continuing. [What’d you say just now?], asking as he tried to hide his irritation towards him that hadn’t faded since their earlier argument.

[I said,] he added as he leaned over the table, looking at the mess of cloths and tools. [These don’t jam, so… what are you doing? I mean, have you never used a caseless gun before?]

[I know. These aren’t like the Deimar models Sam had to use, but it makes me so nervous thinking about it.] He then looked up at him with a forced, weak smile, wanting so badly to speak his mind once more but couldn’t find the excuse. [Besides, nothing with moving parts can be said to never jam. Do you really trust it not to in a time of need?]

[Whatever, man,] he huffed as he stretched and popped his knuckles nervously, looking around before looking back at him. [I wanted to, uh, apologize for being an asshole again like always… you know, from earlier,] he awkwardly stated while tapping his hands on the table. [I did finally talk to the others, and uhh... hoped you and me were still cool as well?]

Sebastian thought about a response for a moment, taking in a deep breath in the meantime. And then it hit him; an excuse to say what he wanted. [I just want you follow my orders. We all can retire after today, alright?] He saw the discomfort arise, not minding one bit, however. [Are we cool with that agreement?]

Andre finally offered his hand after an awkward pause. [Gotta do what I gotta do.] And with some of the air cooled off between them, he let out some of his built up anxiousness through a sigh, looking around at the frantic preparations still underway. [Did you also withhold that huge bombshell about Sam’s little artifacts she brought back that went with your gatherings?] He immediately followed it with a gesture, waving off the poor joke. [No, but in all seriousness, I never would’ve guessed you two of all people would help by chance link the PRC with all of this bullshit. It’s no wonder the military here is all mobilized. Leaves us open, but maybe we are overreacting? I mean, the whole country is on edge… in a whole terror right now.]

Sebastian almost couldn’t believe he was hearing what he thought he heard, making it clear with his returned gaze. [The Cloak only wants us. I really don’t give a shit about the PRC knowing that the rest of the world powers will do what they must. Besides, if it’s anything that major, I’ll just check up on that on the news tomorrow. If we survive, of course,] he huffed as he started putting on his plate carrier, strapping it in to Andre’s surprise.

[You’re planning on piloting in that thing? How do you plan on breathing?]

He could only shake his head after pondering a response. [… Just go and load up,] Sebastian shot back as he turned, grabbing his rifle and heading for his Ap50.

.

And from the control room, Sam couldn’t help but constantly peer over at the monitor that showed Sebastian’s prep area. She saw the exchange between Andre and him, and it didn’t take much for the switch inside her heart to activate; Despite the endless, ongoing feelings of dissatisfaction and betrayal alongside other indescribable feelings that itched her core, seeing Sebastian looking that fed up with someone had her sold on the notion that Andre was up to no good.

And so, for the time being, the ability to deflect her frustrations toward something more apparent and seemingly antagonistic helped her focus. She might feel guilty for having such thoughts if one was to make her more aware of it and how contradictory it would all seem, but after seeing how in the end Kerry had stuck through so much with her, how Devin came through all of his promises she never thought held much water, and how Sebastian never exactly gave up on anything yet, it only left that one man as a mental target to take out her frustrations upon.

“Kerry,” she spoke through her headset as she switched channels. “I see others making a move to wear your plates rather than stowing it away. I’d suggest you see if it’s something you can pull off.”

“Trying that right now, actually,” Kerry responded after a moment. “That was Devin’s call to us less than a minute ago.”

It was things like this that reminded Sam the mixed feelings she had about Devin as well, and how while she felt happy Kerry had someone so devoted and mindful, at the same time she was a bit jealous. Not so much in Devin as an individual, but having someone like that in her life. “Well, not one bit surprised,” Sam replied with a wry smile. “Did everyone get that memo?”

“Only the ones on board. You need to check on Sebastian and Andre, I think.”

“Ah, I saw Sebastian already doing that hence I shouted back at you. I’ll tell Andre.”

“Thanks!” She then took a breath after seeming to have finished her struggle with the plate carrier. “So, you just… resorting to spyin’ on your boy instead of telling him what’s really up?”

Sam winced, both at the thought of doing so, and also towards the feeling of being cornered with the question. “I… can’t right now.” She didn’t realize until right then how she left herself open to that call-out. “Anyway, let me catch Andre real quick.”

But when she switched channels, she then cut the connection and reached into her pocket to click a button, reconnecting her to the back channel. “Devin, if you’re on the line still, thanks for always keeping an eye out for us.” She felt no guilt in skipping over her offering to reach Andre, feeling much stronger about other obligations.

“Nah,” he replied with a chuckle. “I got you to thank for everything working out for us so well. You know,” he continued as he let out a grunt as if he was putting down something heavy. “If it wasn’t for you bailing so many of us out that day, I wouldn’t be reunited with everyone like this. I never imagined making my exit the way I did, but yet, I always imagined my return would be at the right time somehow. Keep a good eye out for us.”

The sincerity wasn’t always in his eyes, it was even in his voice. This was what she wished she could feel from Sebastian, and the feeling sank in her soul deeper and deeper.

“You know it. Wish I could be out there with you all.”

“Come on, Sam,” he chuckled again. “You’ve been with your gang too long to speak like that. Give it a ‘y’all’.”

She couldn’t hold in her own chuckle, thinking of how Kerry would’ve said it, entertaining the image. “Alright. Yep. Wish I could be out there wit’ch’yall.”

“Pfft…” he laughed out, drawing a light-hearted cringe from her. “That… was terrible, never mind.”

But before she could answer back, a familiar series of chimes sucked the spirit of the conversation right out of the building. “Shit,” she mumbled as she turned to the screen board. “There goes the L-Tracker. Show time.”

“Well, get to it!” he added while she heard him close his cockpit doors. “Let me check in with Kerry one last time!”

After feeling like some of the life-altering trauma that plagued her morning had been eased up just enough to see some light at the end of the tunnel, the darkness of the approaching unknown started to drag out the sense of helplessness. Ever since arriving to this country, every approaching opponent came with her handicapped. First was with no communication. Then, with no direction. Next, with no visuals, followed by one with no weapon. Now, she has no LTAC. No Axiom. No feet on the ground.

“Everyone lock in!” Al shouted from across the busy room.

And it hit her; she did have her father there. He was there in spite of how much she disdained the fact he was hiding critical information from her as he had all her life. No matter how much she could hate him for it, he was there. She knew he could’ve easily stayed in his office up in Akkadia, choosing instead to stick his head out in the thick of things for her.

“Keep sweeping for heat and compression signals- don’t get too fixated on the L!” Al continued on, sitting down and grabbing a headset.

It’d be easy for her to sit back and hope everyone would negotiate their way through whatever was coming without a hitch, but knowing Isaiah was out there, she felt like no instrument or sensor in the world could help her assist them in what could be certain death if not handled or read properly.

“Getting better readouts on the L-Tracker signals’ origins!” one of the field techs shouted out in the background as she stood up.

“Pin point the source first! We should have time for it!” Al answered back, now switching around some of the screens to bring up a better view over the regions of concern.

Heart once again racing, she jogged up to the screen board to get a closer look at the L-Tracker readings to see them closing in from the north and south. Only four readings?! That can’t be right! Is this a trap!?