A/N: Hey everyone! For those of you reading this for the first time, this story can be read without reading the prequel, Reins of Leadership, but Reins of Leadership is worth reading for the history of several original characters. I also think it's one of the best works that I've published, but I guess that is not a reason to read it.

To those of you who have read Reins of Leadership and are looking for the sequel, here it is...after nearly 5 years (sorry for the delay everyone!) As you may guess, life got in the way. It also took some time figuring out exactly what I wanted to write about. I haven't written too far ahead, as my time is much more limited now, so I'd like to see how much interest there is in the sequel. if you're still interested in finding out more about what happens after Reins of Leadership, please leave a review and let me know! Based on interest, I'll continue to update.

Also, if you would like to nominate a country for a mission in this story, please do so in a review. There will be a handful of missions that will take place all over the world. I haven't quite decided which countries, so I'm open to ideas!

I may be looking for a few beta readers. If you're interested, please PM me, or mention it in a review.

The title is also a working title. I may change it later.

Thanks!

Prologue

Undisclosed Location, Middle East – 2020 (Right before Reins of Leadership)

A shot rang through the air, sending a scout down. X5-600 did not need to move any closer to know that 271 was gone. Not even transgenics could survive headshots. How could they have not seen the sniper? More importantly, how did the enemy know they were coming? The enemy was prepared for them. Their plan would no longer work.

600 had seen tough odds, but this was new. Often times, Manticore had the advantage. Often times, things went according to plan. Up until now, he had never had his plan foiled so quickly – before the mission began. But Manticore training pushed through, and he acted quickly to the sudden change in events. Through a series of quick hand signals, he told several of his troops to retreat. A smaller group moved forward, but away from the sniper's likely line of fire. As the commanding officer of Unit 8, he was responsible for getting everyone out in one piece. This would have to work.

600's earpiece cackled briefly, which he found odd. Command did not communicate with them until a mission was over, especially while in enemy territory. A few seconds later, it cackled again and echoed two numbers. "4-6."

Everyone on the team heard it, and the group 600 just sent forward looked back at their commanding officer, knowing this situation was...unique. Without hesitation, a new series of orders were given: Retreat. Rendezvous at Point Delta. Their mission had been compromised. They could only hope that their enemy did not intercept Command's message and understand its meaning.

A few minutes later, the sound of a missile fired from a rocket launcher was heard spiraling in their direction. Unit 8 quickly scattered, diving into cover. By the time all of them were running towards the rendezvous point, gunshots could be heard, and very faintly, they could make out their enemies at a distance. There were a lot of them, and they were vastly outnumbered. This normally wouldn't be a problem if they had the advantage of stealth, but today was no such day, and the heat-sensing turrets would prove troublesome.

114 blurred, zigzagging in between trees in a circular direction to pick up 271. Manticore would not want any soldier left behind, and everyone counted on him to retrieve the fallen. He was the fastest on the team. 409 tossed a few grenades to provide 114 some cover while 321 fired off a few rounds from his MP-99, taking down a few enemies approaching their location. To his surprise, a few minutes later, the injured soldiers stood right back up, advancing towards them. 321 continued shooting, slightly annoyed now, and aimed a few careful head shots instead, hoping it was enough to take them out, forever. Fortunately, it worked. 261 was waiting for them a few feet ahead, taking out some approaching enemies as she hid behind a large boulder and provided cover fire. She learned from 321 - aim for the head.

591 had never had such a challenge before. He was now cursing himself for choosing the slowest sniper rifle that Manticore had available. To his credit, it did have a higher magazine than the other options, but it was still ridiculously slow considering the number of enemies he was trying to pluck off. As most of his teammates got out of the killzone, he started packing up his stuff and headed towards the rendezvous point to join them.

600 was heading towards the rendezvous point when he saw 056 take a bullet to the leg. 356 and 705 quickly rushed to help him, but they too were gunned down. He turned his attention to the turret that had been hidden in the trees and aimed a grenade in its direction. A loud explosion later, 600 was by the 3 fallen transgenics and assessing their wounds. 356 had a bullet go through her shoulder and kidney while 705 had a one in her thigh and arm. He quickly helped 705 up.

783 saw the three fallen and went to help out, providing 056 and 705 support so they could walk. 600 picked up 356 and blurred to the rendezvous point. It was only a few hundred meters away. As he neared, he saw Manticore forces waiting for them, some of which had been sent out to help with the fallen and provide cover fire. He knew he could count on Command. He gently placed 356 down and allowed the medics to treat her. 600 then headed back to look for others in his unit that were in trouble.

When all of Unit 8 had arrived to the rendezvous point, they headed home. Those with more severe injuries were airlifted first. The others boarded hummers, protected with bulletproof windshields.

600 looked further into the distance as a helicopter pulled away from the site. Smoke rose to the sky in the distance, making it clear the damage that had been inflicted on the compound.

He replayed the scene in his mind, trying to figure out what went wrong. It was his fault 271 died. He should have seen this coming. How did the enemy know? What did he do wrong?

He felt a slight sense of guilt for leading his unit into what seemed like a death trap, but that feeling was pushed aside as his Manticore training surfaced yet again. He was a soldier. Emotions make a soldier weak. Emotions are forbidden. What's done is done. There was nothing more he could do. His team tried its best to overcome the odds. They were just better.

600 considered that thought. Manticore soldiers were supposed to be the best. The trainers kept reminding them of that. How could this happen?

Director's Office, Manticore

600 stood at attention in Renfro's office for debriefing. He was not happy with the results of the mission, and he could tell Renfro wasn't happy either.

"At ease 600. Unfortunately, we received new intel shortly after you deployed. The enemy had been tipped off to your presence by a rogue Manticore scientist."

"It's unfortunate we were not informed sooner." 600 knew not to question what happened. Command had a good reason for everything they did. It was not his place to ask. "My unit sustained severe injuries."

Renfro nodded. "Yes, I was informed. I'm sorry to hear that the enemy managed to make contact."

Renfro's words made 600 uneasy. It almost sounded as if it was his fault they did poorly.

"As a result of all casualties sustained, I'm pulling Unit 8 from active status. Those in your unit unharmed and qualified for solo ops will have assignments coming up to determine how much our enemy knows. What happened this mission cannot happen again. Those in your unit not qualified will be reassigned to help X6 units currently preparing for their SAP (Skills Assessment Period)."

"Yes, ma'am." 600 did not like this news. Inactive status usually was looked down upon, since it meant they would not be contributing to Manticore's overall mission. His unit would be disappointed.

"You are dismissed 600."

600 saluted and left. He first went to the infirmary to check on how his injured soldiers were doing. He could only hope that the director would give him a chance to prove they were quite capable of completing the mission had the enemy not been tipped off.

Interrogation Room, Manticore

"Johnson. I've been receiving reports about a secure Manticore channel distributing information about classified Manticore operations to interested parties listening on Russian servers. These servers were used to obscure signals originating from the Middle East. You wouldn't happen to know anything about them, would you?" the director asked.

The young scientist nodded frantically in hopes of persuading the director of his innocence. He had heard the rumors of several scientists that "accidentally" ended up in car accidents or suffered from heart attacks. He could only hope Renfro wasn't planning this for him. "No, ma'am. I'm unaware of any such activity, ma'am."

Renfro nodded, but she still did not believe the man. A few guards approached him and roughed him up, making sure he had a split lip before they left him alone again.

"It was under your account, with your credentials," Renfro began. "Surely you can provide some light on this topic."

The man was in tears now, scared for his life. "Please...I'm just a scientist...I have a family...I didn't do anything!"

"The evidence all points back to you," Renfro informed.

"I swear, it wasn't me! Someone must have hacked my account!" the scientist exclaimed.

"I'll give you some time to think about it," Renfro stated. "I'll be back."

Renfro exited the dark room, leaving the man to his thoughts. His sobs were silenced as soon as the door closed. She knew the man was innocent...but they needed a fall guy. Unfortunately for him, his performance had been less than satisfactory this past quarter. It would have to be him.

Undisclosed location, Middle East

"They came just as you said they would," a man began the phone call.

"Did you get what you needed?" a woman asked.

"No, they were too good. They got away before we got the chance."

"I see. There will be other opportunities, however."

"Of course. We had a deal."

"I'm aware. You owe me something."

"Not until I get what I want."

"That wasn't the deal."

"If I don't get what I want, you don't get what you want. It's simple."

"Be careful who you cross, Syed."

"I could say the same for you, Liz. We'll be in touch," Syed said, hanging up.

His desk was a mess, cluttered with paperwork accumulated from the past few months. After a few minutes of searching, he found what he needed. He quickly dialed the number on the sticky note.

Johannesburg, South Africa

Jacob stood before an arena, watching the Red Soldiers train. In the past few months, his team of scientists managed to increase the life span of the Red Series soldiers, but only by another 6 months. A few years ago, he heard rumors of a Project Manticore developed in the US. That rumor was later verified when he sensed Manticore soldiers operating in Africa: assassinations carried out to perfection - made to look like accidents. Manticore was developing a name for themselves, offering jobs for a low price, or even free, in an effort to demonstrate their supremacy. That was when the hunt began for Manticore technology. Jacob found it difficult to actually acquire any information, even with all the money he had to offer.

As it turned out, Manticore often got to the willing scientists before he had a chance. Then he found out about the '09 escapees. Unfortunately, those soldiers learned to escape and evade better than he could have expected.

His cell phone rang, pulling him from his thoughts.

"It's Syed," the caller introduced.

"Yeah?" the man said.

"The mission failed. Manticore soldiers pulled out before we had a chance. Are you sure we can trust Renfro?"

"I never said anything about trust. We just need to play along until we get what we need."

"And if she decides to break off our agreement? We can't beat them."

"Renfro won't waste time on us."

"We can't be certain."

"Don't worry about it. I have something of hers she doesn't want getting out."

"I hope you're right."

"Just get what we need."

Direcotr's Office, Manticore

Renfro placed the phone on the receiver after her call with Syed and called in a technician. "I need all the information we have on Syed Hussein - strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes, current associations...everything!" Renfro ordered.

"Yes, ma'am," the technician replied with a nod. He quickly left to fulfill her request. Rumors of another scientist being kept in the interrogation room kept many of them on alert and wary of what they did. No one wanted to be next in line for questioning - very few returned from interrogation the same way, if at all.

A few minutes later, a transgenic arrived in her office from the psy ops division. Perfect timing, Renfro thought.

"I need Mr. Johnson to believe he sent out a message on our secured channel and that he had contact with Syed Hussein," Renfro informed the transgenic. "He's currently in holding room C."

"Yes, ma'am," the transgenic replied. After a brief salute, the transgenic left the director's office and headed to the holding room. Over time, these manipulations became easy. It was like second nature. At the same time, it was getting a bit boring. Sometimes, she wished she could be out with the other soldiers running the obstacle courses. Instead, she spent most of her life indoors, in the sub basements of Manticore. Most of the time, it was dark and dreary. There were very few windows in the sub basements.

Every now and then, however, she has a chance to see sunlight. It just isn't often enough. Her main job is to handle interrogations or to rewire the brain to believe something that didn't happen. It wasn't always easy. Her earliest years at Manticore were filled with pain, guilt, and many punishments for not being able to do what they wanted. She has been more careful now to obey their wishes. She has no desire to return to those days and could only wonder what this poor guy did to receive such a sentence from the director.