Silence followed. Kazuki glanced over at Lilly as Archius rolled his eyes.

"I'm not that young…" Archius said, shrugging and sitting down, taking out a report. "Hmm… missing explosives… probably criminals."

Lilly sighed as she gave Kazuki a stare. "She's not ready. You know that."

"She's not for combat," said Kazuki. He understood her eyes, she despised Eliza. It was somewhat understandable. A new girl? An outsider? Here? Kazuki hoped that they'd get along well.

"She won't last a minute in this industry. Get her the fuck out, before you kill her, you were lucky that Gabriel knew how to fight."

"She won't die." Kazuki intensified his own glare, his pupils penetrating through Lilly's skull. "She has a specific set of skills that I wish to utilise. And if any of them lay a hand on her... I will see that justice be done."

Lilly narrowed her eyes into an inquisitive glare, slowly realising something. "What do you want with her? Why her of all people? You know, some defectors say that you killed Tessie over a pink-haired girl… that's her, isn't it? Just what are you planning, Kazuki?"

"I'm planning nothing," Kazuki said, bluntly.

But his mind continued to race, he knew he was lying. Eliza meant far more than Lilly could even know. Kazuki's eyes thinned. "But I owe her this, no more questions. Understood, Captain?"

∗ ∗ ∗

'Understood.' Kazuki pulled back his pistol's receiver and he placed it back into his holster, picking up the SMG that was lent to him for the mission. He tried to pull back its receiver, only to have it jam.

"Tch…" Kazuki glanced up at Claire, Project Heimfall's commander and foremost medical expert, even though she never went to med school. All of her knowledge was gained through extensive learning.

She leaned one of the expendable rocket launchers on the side of the half-wall. She took a single glance down at the streets below, before looking up at the dark, sparkle-lit Sub Level ceiling. It was just enough to illuminate the rooftops. The pillars blocked A lot of light, substituting the light for auras of warmth and light from houses embedded into the pillars, hanging from above and from the side.

People who live and die in the Sub Levels will only know the ceiling as the closest thing to the endless freedom that the stars offer. Moving up was everything to them, the prestige of living on the surface was something to die and kill for. And many do.

But no matter how hard they worked and bled, this 'meritocracy' was far from rewarding. Claire looked up at Kazuki. "Sorry, Arbiter. I haven't cleaned it in a while."

Kazuki grumbled as he disassembled and reassembled the SMG near-instantly. It was a standard issue, so he already knew its blueprints. But he knew that for many things. He shimmied over to the edge of the damp slum roof, interconnected with many buildings up and down, tall and wide.

"We're ready," said Riharia, placing her rifle's bipod on the half-wall before glancing down at the half-bustling street. "How long do we have to wait?"

"Just wait," said Kazuki.

Claire shot up. "Oh, wow, waiting, let me guess: a week? I brought some films if you guys wanna watch some." She rummaged through her flak-armour vest-plate, pulling out a few holo-film cartridges.

Riharia let out a gasp of surprise as if an elder sibling had brought back home a fuck-load of sweets that they got from stealing their parent's pocket money.

It was a force of primarily Deltastring. The logic was simple. Deltastring had more manpower; they'll take the brunt of the attack. But Claire had to stay close. She's the closest thing he had to a personal medic. Claire stuck a few injectors into Kazuki's hidden exospine, with only the nape being exposed.

She shifted his hair out of the way. "Fucking hell, at some point there won't be any injectors that can dampen its usage," Claire said, her voice aching with worry.

"I'm sorry for making you do this," said Kazuki. He glanced away, he'd been getting more and more reliant on her. That must change. He can't let another get close. Close is where it hurts the most - when they are all torn away. When. Never if. Who else will be next, Kazuki asked himself. No one knew.

Luckily, the AGENCY has a clear objective. Once the real convoy was located, the Loyalists wouldn't stand a chance. Lilly's a field commander, more useful in the skies of the Sub Level than being deployed on the roof level. Cold vapours filled the air as floating platforms, high-rise slums and run-down structures filled Kazuki's vision when he glanced upwards. Anagora, at last. No fluff, just reality.

Kazuki turned towards O'Hara, sealing his helm-mask on, before looking off to the other roofs. 'All forces, make your final preparations. Spotters, status report.'

Looking across the low-rise rooftops, Kazuki could see scattered pockets of AGENCY mercs on many of them. Most wielded rockets but a few were holding onto more conventional weapons.

'They'll be here in a minute or so, Arbiter.'

'Alright. Give an update when you see them." Kazuki glanced towards the T intersection at the end of the small road - then at the operatives on the buildings above it. Despite what was to come down, the streets were still beaming with life. 'Cassia team, we'll be hitting on your mark. Try to keep civilian casualties to an absolute minimum'

'Understood.' said Cassia Team's leader as he waved over to Kazuki across the building. The previous op required precision and coordinated force. But this op? He needed firepower. He sealed his mask as he ducked back down. He always wanted to ensure things were coordinated well, Kazuki thought, too well. There's a reason why he wasn't chosen as Heimfall's leader.

"I wish I could have brought along a few others…" Claire lamented.

Kazuki snapped back, "I only need you."

"Wow… I'm flattered," Claire said whilst rolling her eyes. "I just can't help but worry about them."

"They'll be fine. If the removal of one team leader destroys the entire unit, then it never deserved to exist," Kazuki coldly stated.

Claire sighed. "I guess you're right, they'll be alright, they have Amyé with them, after all."

"Save being a nosey sibling later," said Kazuki, lightly tapping Claire across her vest-plate.

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She let off a small chuckle. "Let me guess, you were the type of single child to ask your parents for a brother?"

"No and no," Kazuki replied to her joke with utmost professionalism. "Sister. I preferred being a single child."

Claire shrugged. "I'll drink to that when we get back, right?" Kazuki gave a slow nod. "But shouldn't the ENFORCERs be patrolling these streets?" asked Claire, peeking her head over. The streets below were still populated, though dimly lit and covered in soot and a metallic smell. "And why the hell didn't we evacuate the civvies?"

"We were all Clandestine once. If things suddenly get quiet, they'll expect trouble. Given Clandestine's track record, I'll take my bets; that risking civilians now will save dividends later."

"Tch, you think those Forcies will do anything to help us?" asked O'Hara, "Trust me. They're in it only for the money. Doesn't matter if we all stab each other as long as they can line their pockets."

"What about the Unicorns?" asked Riharia.

Kazuki replied, "They won't come. The SPTU Task Forces prefer to stay far away from the Sub-Levels. I understand them."

ENFORCERs were always a pain in the back. And without Clandestine, it seems they've become more prevalent to fill in the power gap left behind. The chaos was foreseeable, Kazuki knew that. Everyone did. And still, they chose it, better chaos than Clandestine.

'Liz, just listen in, alright?' asked Kazuki, 'Don't worry. Harvest as much information and function as an auxiliary arm to Sato and Archius.'

'Ah, alright…' Eliza meekly trailed off. She will help the AGENCY, for now. He might as well teach her the basics of being an analyst - and a handler. With the recent chaos, he needs more of everything. And Eliza's capable, she's already solved some of the logi-team's problems.

Riharia was about to say something before the spotters highlighted themselves on the uplink system. 'They're turning the corner, Arbiter.'

Kazuki immediately shot into position as Claire and O'Hara placed the launchers over their shoulders. If they want to cripple the Loyalists, hitting their supply lines should work. They might be dedicated hardliners, but even the deadliest Loyalists is worthless without ammo and equipment. Afterlife… in the worst-case scenario, he'd prefer to be prepared for that encounter.

'All forces, ready up. Cassia Team, fire when ready.'

'Underst—"

Something caught Kazuki's spine; a jab of pain into his mind. A headache roared up, he shot back towards the hover-vans rolling down the street. Smoke rose. A single rocket was set alight from the side door of the van - directly at the building Cassia Team was on.

The rocket smashed into the building. Bullets started to fly. Debris flew up into the air. Civilians down on the street were caught in the crossfire of shrapnel and rubble. Smoke and dust kicked up and engulfed the AO. A collage of chaff and rockets spewed up forth, colliding with the buildings - sending debris, dust, concrete and blood up into the air.

Kazuki calmly ordered, 'Engage. All forces engage!'

Through the chaos and the dust and smoke, gunfire ignited. A simple glance at the reader on his aug-glasses showed high casualties from the initial salvos.

'No life signs on Cassia. KIA, continue with the mission,' said Archius. 'They'll try to reach the bridge. The other side is Kanrasa territory, let's not get shot down today.'

'Come on… Kaz…" muttered Eliza, not realising that everyone could hear her on the uplink. He ignored her words of encouragement. Putting her a screen away from him might prove to be problematic, he thought, this… will be embarrassing.

Smoke erupted from Claire's launcher as a projectile smashed into the electron-shield of one of the vans. She threw the launcher aside as the vans started to pick up speed. As the vehicles sped up, the rear hover-vehicle of the trio of vans was slammed directly with a hail of rockets, sending it up in molten lead and fire.

But before this small victory could be savoured, the clambering of steel behind them all stung at Kazuki's mind. A combination of senses caused his body to jerk to the side. He twisted around as he threw himself and Claire to the roof floor. And just as they made contact, Loyalists streamed up from an emergency staircase opposing them.

"Behind us!" Kazuki shouted.

Pandemonia ensued. Kazuki took the lead Loyalist out with his SMG. All the while, he scrambled upwards and off of Claire as bullets flew past him. O'Hara placed himself directly in the line of fire to protect Riharia. Claire staggered up as she joined in. But with every Loyalist killed, another took their place.

'Shit! Ambush!'

'They're here!'

Reports from the uplink gave it away, this was a set-up… a setup? Who leaked? No. This can't be a leak… His paranoia clashed with the necessity to fight as he glanced at Riharia. Was it even a leak? Did someone predict this whole operation? It… felt familiar. But no: correlation is not causation.

She was firing her rifle point blank at the Loyalists as they took cover behind large air ducts. O'Hara was dead.

'Shit! Watch out! Fuck…' Eliza trailed off. 'Riharia! Check on O'Hara."

He was dead. Died to give Riharia enough time. Kazuki wasn't filled with any feelings of sadness; It was just another dog tag to the collection. He quickly dragged himself behind cover as Claire snuck under a hail of bolts to join him.

Reloading her rifle, Claire sprayed erratically above as she suppressed the Loyalists, allowing Riharia to drag both herself and O'Hara's corpse behind a radiator exhauster.

'Hunter's dead! Leave him.' said Kazuki, over squad communications to Riharia.

'Dammit!' Riharia said, looking down at O'Hara, just then noticing the small pool of blood exiting from his open neck. His visor was cracked, showing Kazuki his splattered face. He spent a split nano-second prying his eyes off it.

'Vallé, intercept the convoy,' ordered Kazuki, a bullet whizzing past overhead.

Lilly, Vallé, responded, 'On it. Leave us with a few to kill when we get there.'

'Kaz, they're moving up on your position,' said Eliza.

It seems like she didn't get the memo about codenames - but he took her advice. He could feel the exhaust system kick into gear as he pumped cocktails of drugs into his bloodstream. He twisted up and leapt over cover, pushing his body forward as he kicked into the first Loyalist. An exchange of bolts sent bullets flicking off his armour, whilst his SMG peppered their armour with high-velocity explosive rounds.

Riharia raised her head out of cover and, with Claire, gunned down the rest of the Loyalist hounds sent on them. Kazuki immediately turned to Riharia. "Gambit, assist the other teams. Fight off the ambush."

"And you?"

"We'll go after the cargo. Get going!" said Kazuki, turning to Claire.

She nodded as they started chasing the vans. The extra endurance the exospines gave them helped. Greatly. Kazuki held onto the grip of his SMG with one hand. "We'll approach from behind. Keep up."

"And you don't get shot, m'kay?" said Claire. The remark skidded past Kazuki as he started into a run. His lacklustre response didn't amuse Claire as she ran after him. But what was she expecting from him? He never cared enough to indulge in useless small talk when unnecessary.

The two ran across the rooftops, jumping over alleys and running through the bacteria-infested puddles that lingered on the roofs, most of which had started to freeze. Loyalists clambered up buildings to try and stop the two, though none were able to match the experience of the two contractors. It was taking its toll, though. With each passing round from Kazuki's muzzle, he could feel his exospine slowly exhaust itself.

Luckily, their ambush location had far too many twists and turns. Kazuki looked down onto the streets. The vans were trying to make it towards the Sub-District bridge. They continued to slither along the road as the duo got closer.

Just as they turned the corner, a single missile smashed into the second van.

'The cavalry's here!' introduced Lilly, shouting loud and on the uplink.

'They're nearing the bridge…' Sato said worryingly 'Do not let them cross it!'

'You guys can do it!' Eliza added on.

Hesitation lingered. She was clearly out of her depths, Kazuki thought. Perhaps he misjudged bringing her. But once again, the logistics situation was a living nightmare. His bland observation led him to believe that Eliza was trying. Trying to help at best, trying to fit in at worst.

At least running an insurgency was far easier than running a small army capable of bringing down nations.

'Get after that final van,' said Kazuki, watching as a shuttle skidded down onto the rooftops. The gunners and escort drones turned any Loyalist that tried to fire at the shuttle into red mist as Kazuki and Claire jumped on board.