* ● ● Belgrano District, Buenos Aires, Argentina, SAU
[Cramer Bunker, opening main hatch,] Sam heard an Enrai Underground operator over their encrypted channel call out as she felt the mechanical vibrations hum throughout her body. Eyes remaining closed during the wait, she struggled but for the most part maintained her focus on the directives given out moments ago.
[Assume no one on the streets knows we’re on the move, which yes, this is new for us,] Enrai’s voice spoke through Sam’s recollections. [Move with care, but move quickly, and do not- I repeat, do not arm your weapons unless Emilia or myself clears you specifically.]
Her eyes opened to a bright beam of sunlight pouring into view through her visor screen, realizing the main hatch had finished opening. Her fingers trembled furiously through the suffocating anxiousness and nervousness, but the goal was all too clear.
[You are only providing cover. Recon and alerts are top priority, conflict is our last-ditch option, especially without the aid of Infinity’s project equipment. Don’t count on its availability until after the second phase, if we even get that far.]
“Aquí Ella, iniciando despliegue,” she firmly recited her mobilization signal lingo she picked up from others during past experiences, pushing forward on the control sticks as her feet stamped both pedals to the floor.
Three others quickly followed as the three Ai20 units jumped from beneath an area filled mostly with stored-away trains in a clearing between two major neighborhood subdistricts.
[Team Three, Cramer Group away,] the same operator’s voice added. [Team Three, La Pampa Group steady en route to Rally Point A.]
[All units,] Kaylen’s voice then joined in from that same command center. [Decryption activity detected. Orders are to switch to LACOM effective immediately and set for contingency plan 0-0-2.]
Nothing surprised Sam anymore by this point. It was instead somewhat satisfying, even if to a guilty extent, knowing any bit more of what was going on behind the scenes all this time. Who she used to perceive as all the same enemy was now using that same chillingly efficient coordinating system to help and serve her instead.
Though I never knew the Underground had such layers to it with such different approaches and mindsets.
Pushing out the flashback to recollections of extremist-level violence that she couldn’t imagine Enrai’s Underground pursuing, she clicked through her settings, turning off her team radio and switched over to line-of-sight laser communications, effectively cutting herself off from the headquarters and placing all faith in the two in front of her.
She then remembered the last time she utilized communications like this; it was after they were unknowingly hit by an EMP.
[Eunice,] Renzo called out to Dani as they touched down on a stretch of open grass right alongside a set of railroad tracks. [You head the guy. 0-0-2. You know where that drop point is?]
[That’s the one thing set most in my memory right now, don’t worry,] she responded, triggering Sam’s recalling of an incoming weapons crate described in a message relayed from Raphael Lucian back at Hexa’s Headquarters.
[Well,] Renzo continued. [I got the feeling we’re going to need it at a really bad time.]
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
Yeah, I bet he’s right.
Sam had more flashbacks that instant, almost as if she was carried back to her first group outing with Renzo’s crew back in Bogota when Hexa provided their first Ap50 outfit for use in that lone counteroffensive operation. She remembered feeling slighted when told Renzo would lead, and felt even more heated when he didn’t listen to what she thought was better advice.
She inadvertently smiled for a brief moment in a vulnerable way, humiliated but also comforted by the notable difference in maturity between now and then.
[Hey, Cruella,] Renzo called to her as she snapped back to reality. [I know you hate blind comms. I’ll pass the request to open our lines back up if any bogeys show up at the scene- I mean, better to have our lines open to anyone willing to send help anyway they can, even if we get listened in on.]
“Thanks.” The offer only further solidified her readiness to follow. She had her skills to utilize and that was good enough.
This is their back yard, almost.
“And good idea. Mr. Lucian or even Mr. Vrey from Hexa might be listening if we have to make any emergency calls since I know they’re relying on us big time with this whole mess,” Sam continued as their open stretch of grass was about to run out, all on collision course with a series of city blocks and rail crossing intersections.
[Alright, enough talk,] Renzo called out as they hit jump point, altitude climbing as they saw their trail vectors point to the next landing zone, only two away from their destination at the northern edge of the Palermo District.
And as expected, each jump point they approached was met with collective panic from the passersby, both on foot and by car, as each sailed overhead. It was a far cry from Bogota where Sebastian and Renzo seemingly carved their way through traffic, but she deduced that without the locals being accustomed and not having proper markings and emergency lighting made the difference. It only made her nerves even worse, thinking of the possible collateral involved with their movements, but with no pre-war era-style powerlines clogging the streets it made the process smoother in the end as they reached their destination.
Renzo held them up one block away as he allowed Sam and Dani a chance to slowly move into place ahead. [Awfully quiet, save for these civvies over here yelling back. I bet Bishop has everything in the world set up waiting for us,] he quietly fussed to the two of them.
[I spotted the drop point from here,] Dani added as she turned to face their backside, seeing a highlighted zone above a two-story tall shop as she recalculated how she’d approach it in that certain case.
“In place. Powering drives down,” Sam spoke out as she let out a nervous breath. The hum from the other’s LTACs soon followed suit. She fought back memories that went on during the EMP incident months back, breaking her silence quickly after. “Weapons are off, but…”
[Yeah,] Renzo nervously added, reading the air. [I agree. Put the rifle safety release on two-tap.]
All three had their LTAC’s hands at the ready by their left hip-mounted rifles, trying not to appear overtly menacing to the public but not ready to be caught off-guard, either.
Renzo continued his firmly suggestions: [The police should have been notified, but no telling who’s in Bishop’s pockets, either. Keep your eyes and ears wide open.]
[No need,] Sebastian’s voice popped up, throwing them all off.
Sebastian!? How?!
[Ba- I mean, Elijah, how are you on our laser comms?!] Renzo fussed out of confusion.
[I just sat down here with Emilia and she opened up a temporary umbrella there where you are, using laser nodes to get a temporary communications perimeter set up. Just stay within a five-block radius and we can communicate.]
[But,] Dani interjected. [No need to what?]
[Emilia already tapped into the police network. There were apparently a number of hostile units inbound on your position but some ground teams from Rex are intercepting them as we speak to buy you all time. Focus on the mission.]
Those reassurances helped Sam shake off some of her tenseness, but the inevitable was still looming. “Got it. Thanks for the big update,” she answered with a forced smile through a grimace. Come on, Mom, hang in there.
[Team One is ready,] Emilia’s voice then joined in with a sharp hint of urgency. [Remus has the go sign. Eryx, do you copy? Eryx and your team, move in. Go. Next, team three, you’re…]
The sudden and suspicious tailing off of their orders had Sam about to explode, as was with her two partners. “Emilia, are you still there?”
“Shit, team three!” Kaylen burst back over the line with a sudden switch in both her language and her energy. “Watch the skies! Rifles ready- something’s picked up on radar headed out from the sea surface to your east!”