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Quick catch-up for those who are up to date and got caught in the hiatus:
-Sam and Sebastian's return to Colombia as part of their break from duty was cut short by an assassination attempt on their lives, which ended in a failure as Renzo and Dani aided in their escape. Kaylen, revealing her connection with the Underground group known as Enrai, had them brought to safety in Bahia Blanca, Argentina.
-Hexa leadership, hesitant but eventually approving of the hand-over, allowed new information leaked in from Rex's Underground to be used to seek out Reaper in an attempt to strike back on their own terms. Kaylen would continue to coach up Renzo and aid Sam in her transition to what would eventually be piloting the inbound Arondight (an integral piece to the still-ongoing Operation Excalibur) while Sebastian and Dani heal up from their injuries.
-Rex's liaison meets up with the group and provides transportation into Buenos Aires' Federal Capital District, which is where Reaper was shown to be located.
-Sam and Isaiah's mother was captured as she attempted to stop Isaiah herself, failing and being held captive. Rex catches word and allows time for the joint Enrai-Rex task group to readjust their plans, making it clear that the mother's revealed past steeped in espionage would be too risky to leave in harm's way, especially given the Underground-relevant/sought-out knowledge she seems to possess.
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Final Half of the Buenos Aires Arc
Counter-Operation: Big One
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With a click of the hatch operating switch, the cockpit to the retooled and restored Ai20 sealed itself off from the sticky, humid air that had added to the ever-increasing amount of willpower to keep focus and breathe properly. Sam had lately felt as if the cockpit was her safest space; it was always as if this was the one place where she alone could control her fate. This time, however, nothing but fear of the worst outcomes reared its ugly head for the first time in months.
[Ella is ready,] spoke Kaylen’s voice through her headset. [Waiting on Enzo and Eunice.]
Sam paused as she held her harness straps in hand before letting out another heavy breath. I feel like I don’t even know who my mother is anymore, yet…
[Enzo here, all systems checked, everything on standby.]
…it’s like I don’t even know why I’m so scared for her. If she’s really who they said she was…
She shook her head, readjusting the tightness to her shoulder harness straps as she recollected Kaylen’s words earlier about the dirt they picked up on Amelie’s past, namely her existence as “Angel.” Sam had so many questions, but the fear of not getting to ask them continued to suffocate her amidst the already high tension in the air.
[Eunice here, ready whenever the call comes.]
And while she knew she had the comfort of those she could trust most nearby, it was from those she didn’t trust that had her feeling compromised, like a sitting duck in a pond with the only semblance of protection or cover being the riverside warehouse roof above their heads. Only time would tell the level of legitimacy to the plans Rex’s connections had for them.
[Alright, that’s my squad ready,] Kaylen added in as Sam lowered and powered on her visor.
[Movement from sector A-1-2,] Enrai’s voice abruptly joined in with a crackle as everyone’s attention snapped in. [Reaper is still on the move, now on foot, and out in the open. All forces hold still, this has to be a trap.]
Wait, what!? He’s exposing himself?! Sam somehow knew that couldn’t be right. She remembered the briefing she received earlier about him taking a ride toward the SAU assembly hall, but everyone assumed he’d mask his identity at some point.
“This is Rex,” joined the second digitally disguised voice to even more of everyone’s surprise.
Sam then remembered how real this was. Rex knew Reaper, that was his go-to guy before. Enrai and Rex are seriously in on this for real, aren’t they. Shit…
“Confirmed reports. Reaper was riding with SAU Chair Representative Oman Orsi, now accompanying him up the main entrance way. All forces remain in place,” Rex continued with heightened firmness in his voice. “Do NOT approach! Anything out of line will compromise our attempts to locate Angel’s location and may compromise her safety as well.”
Sam immediately tossed her visor back and pulled up her watch, thankful they had reception from their below-ground level location. She quickly flipped to a local broadcasting station’s social media page and began refreshing, looking for any new updates. “Emilia, do you copy?” she spoke out to Kaylen, hoping not to cause too much of a stir.
“Yes, Ella.”
“Have everyone check whatever broadcast station is most likely to report on that big SAU meeting. I got the worst feeling this is more than a trap. If this really is Reaper we are talking about, he must have something huge for him to be willingly showing his face in public like this.”
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Not more than two minutes passed before Sebastian came on the line: “Ella, check ATB’s live stream. Search for it and look, they are already interviewing him.”
Sam felt her pulse pound harder by the second, knowing every time her brother was involved on any larger playing field, the most unexpected, worst result would always come about. “Checking now.”
[-With the Representative here? What is your connection?] The reporter’s line was cut into as the feed began, shown to be walking up to the main entrance alongside Isaiah.
Orsi, however, firmly stepped in with a hand up to block the microphone. [He will answer only to the chairmen and the committee when addressed, thank you.]
[Excuse me, sir,] she then asked as she pointed the microphone towards Orsi instead. [Were these demonstrations gathering here in anticipation for your proposition?]
[Everyone here is here for the same reason,] Orsi scoffed as he pressed forward. [Who isn’t concerned with the wasted money and organizational efforts by the residing chair nation?] He continued in his reference to Brazil, which had assumed the supervisory role over the union since its formation.
“This is bad,” Sam nervously spoke to the open channel. “This is real bad.”
“I don’t know,” Kaylen joined back in, unconvinced of anything major. “He’s been a bit of a wild card since way back from what we’ve gathered. Let’s sit back and watch since we have no other choice, anyway.”
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Isaiah was seated at the left of Orsi at his table amongst a sea of over three dozen tables, each filled with representatives of the twelve nations making up the union. The SAU assembly was soon called to order, hearing one of the commissioners stating the agenda which eventually led to a specific point that caught Isaiah’s full attention.
[And third,] the commissioner continued, [will be the motion to suggest change in the selection process of the governing seat.]
“I assume you are still alright moving forward with this,” Orsi quietly spoke aside to him.
He could only take in a deep breath and continue to hide his body’s desire to clam up, evident by the slight tremors running through his fingers. He finally worked out a whispered response: “This is where all the roads of our efforts lead to. It has to grow from here.”
He clasped his notes in his right hand, constantly shifting his focus between the various speakers’ podiums and his jotted-down thoughts, all the while making slight corrections and adding key points he listened in on. His eyes occasionally glanced in the direction of his watch which he rarely wore, but the screen remained blank of any notifications. Soon, however, showtime came as he felt his stomach turn into a heavy knot.
[As for the next motion,] the commissioner spoke out again as he shifted his eyes towards Orsi’s table. [We have a collection of signatures from six countries’ representatives to welcome a course of action to the assembly floor. Please, Mr. Orsi, if you may.]
Isaiah felt the stares of millions immediately beam down on him from the broadcasting cameras he knew had to be pointing in his direction, even though the intention was to allow for Orsi to make his opening comments.
Father, I hope you’re not watching. Same goes for you, Samantha. You all have more important things to do. His thoughts only momentarily shifted towards his mother before snapping back to Orsi as he leaned over to speak into the mic.
[Chairman and Commissioner,] he spoke after clearing his throat. [Thank you for allowing us to share some… concerns and some… information that will make a case for what we believe is important for our union’s future stability.]
Isaiah looked down at a message that popped up on his watch. “Head up,” read the text from Marian. “You look great.” It wasn’t much, but the token gesture did breathe a bit of confidence back into him.
[Now,] Orsi continued as he turned to the representative assembly. [Those of you who have opposed our direction we have taken to put my beloved nation at the forefront of bearing responsibility for steering our union down the proper course, I will answer your doubts very quickly. But do not leave it all to me, for I have here a witness who can share much more impactful discoveries and evidence for the Chairman and all listening.] He then motioned towards Isaiah as he looked back at the Chairman. [Mr. Chairman, permission to call for a testimony from my registered guest speaker.]
[Granted, Representative Orsi,] the Chairman replied with a nod.
All eyes fell immediately on Isaiah as he stood up to take the podium prepared for people such as himself. With each step, he could feel the weight of the thousands, possibly millions of viewers watching with an anticipation he could not read nor calculate. This was the set of steps he took into the world that had him at such unease; this was the reality he was seeking to help create that he knew he had no way of controlling what would happen after this point.
“Greetings, Assembly of the South American Union,” Isaiah started with a nervous clearing of his throat. He tried to keep his eyes looking over the crowd without looking back at his notes too much, but he strived to push forward either way it ended up, for it was now too late to turn back. “My name is Isaiah Knight of Akkadia One. I was once employed by Hexa International in recent years, but most notably, I served as a pilot for the Akkadian Navy and for the former Eden Casares Union last war. If you are asking yourself, ‘why was I brought along by Representative Orsi here,’ that is because I bring to you evidence for the setting up of an inevitable repeat of that exact previous war in the coming years.”
Gasps and mocking jeers quietly but markedly filled the room that very instant.
“In a few moments, I will share with you what I have collected over the past year. But before that, please, ask yourself this as well,” he continued with a look toward the Chairman over to his right. “What is the one thing the Earth of today shares in common with what the Eden Casares Union in space did ten years ago?” He allowed the assembly a moment to hopefully ponder his question. “Does anyone have the math to show the GDP disparities between the former Confederacy of last decade and now? And the same disparities between the Nations of Space both then and now?”
“Please, Mr. Knight,” the Chairman grumbled in his best English before someone could step in and speak out of place. “Make your points while you are on the clock.”
“Yes, sir,” he quickly responded with a look back at the assembly. “They are mirror images of each other. In the past, Earth sought to destabilize Space and keep it under control. War broke out as a result, but another war later, peace was attained. Now, Space has sought to destabilize Earth in hopes to monopolize markets in a way to secure indefinite stability.” He felt the increasing amount of scoffs and reactions of surprise building, but he pressed on all the while feeling his throat grow tighter by the moment. “I have with me documents Mr. Orsi has kindly shared with the assembly just now showing the amount of Global Currency Credits Hexa International has obtained since opening business on Earth last year under the guise of Infinity. I will continue to point out through each major event how Hexa has successfully utilized global instability to sell its products in a way to secure its use and perpetuate economic dependency, and I will also show you how a loose organization known as the Underground for the restoration of the confederacy has slowed Hexa’s progress just enough… just enough to buy time for the SAU to be the first to take a step in preventing another war.”
[Excuse me,] one representative from Brazil contested with a lit marker at the corner of his table. [You were quick to speak of this Underground many in our political circles have all heard of as of recent. Do you realize there are no realistic means to provide statements from verifiable sources when the entire network is made of untraceable aliases? The very definition of unreliable sources? Please don’t come here to speak of make-believe stories.]
“Yes, sir, I understand your concern.” What Isaiah knew he had to say next was unavoidable, and his heart fell further into his stomach as his lips moved again. “The time has come for the Underground to surface… To come out into the open. I-” It was like he began to black out slightly, forcing him to take a quick breath and try again. “I have here with me the leader of Bishop’s Underground, and I am Reaper… Codename Reaper, formerly of Rex’s Underground and now bringing you work I have collected from within the Underground since last calendar year.”
And he had barely finished his sentence before several representatives shot up from their seats in collective and vocal outrage.
Here we go.