2.35PM
Nexus Commercial Bank
Lobby
"You," shouted Signum, jabbing her finger toward Shamal. "There are four large blue bags that were delivered this morning by courier in the staff's lounge. Bring them here, two at a time."
Shamal climbed to her feet, nodded, and set off.
A moment later she had returned with the both sets of bags, dropping them in front of Signum. Signum nodded and indicated she should stand with the others before spinning the strap on her gun, so the rifle rested on her back, and kneeling down. She unzipped both bags and began pulling folded grey clothing from them, dumping them in a pile upon the floor.
"Ok, everyone, we want you to get changed into these clothes that we are generously providing," said Zafira. "So, start getting undressed."
People looked at one another before begrudgingly beginning to remove their outer garments, and were handed in turn a grey boiler suit, and a balaclava identical to those worn by their captors. Several minutes passed before every hostage was changed, and they all presently stood in large clusters, looking indistinguishable from one another. Signum pulled a few toy AKs from the bottom of the bags, which looked at distance as authentic as the one she had strapped to her back, as well as ten pieces of body armour.
Nanoha and her team pulled on the armour before handing the remaining ones out at random to those similarly proportioned to themselves in the crowd of hostages. Those who got some armour were also given a toy gun and instructed to mimic their captor's movements unless otherwise notified.
"Perfect," said Nanoha, pleased. "Now, we have to wait until the vault's timer is disengaged. This time should be used to barricade the front entrances; this is the only convenient entry point for a CT unit, and we need to discourage them from using any easy entrance route bar the one we want them to. Vita, it's time for you to do as planned."
Vita nodded, clicked her Glocks safety on before pocketing it, and set off to the offices above the lobby.
X
2.40PM
SWAT Armoured Rescue Vehicle
En Route to Crime Scene
Fate adjusted her goggles and mask so they sat as comfortably as was possible, and turned to face her squad.
Team Red sat to her left, Tia and Subaru, and Team Blue to her right, Erio and Caro.
Their briefing was broadcast to them via radio, and routed through the ARV's speaker system.
"We have a tough call-out here. Approximately forty minutes ago at fourteen hundred hours several heavily armed individuals took control of the Nexus Commercial Bank. We believe there are four suspects. Surveillance has managed to gather a number of either hostages or suspects are wearing body armour, but we cannot be sure of their identities. I must stress that you do not fire until fired upon. They do not however, appear to be in possession of gas masks, so deployment of CS gas should be considered effective deterrent."
The voice paused while facts were checked.
"They have not presently made any demands and the only communication with the negotiator has been to say that any approach to the bank by police forces will result in the execution of one hostage. No request for an extraction vehicle has been made. It appears they are focused on gaining access to the bank vault, which operates on a timer, thus they can make no move on the vault until sixteen hundred hours. This means that they will be entirely focused on barricading themselves until that time, and that any move on the front of the bank will result in heavy casualties. Also, any appearance of SWAT is likely to make them feel uncomfortable, regardless of whether you approach or not. Thus, you will keep out of sight until if and when the decision is made to go tactical."
Another pause.
"CCTV footage inside and out of the bank has been cut off, but we have gathered from CCTV footage taken from the main entrance of the bank who should presently be inside. The file held by your team captain has captures taken from this footage showing to some degree who entered but did not exit the bank up to twenty minutes before control was seized by the suspects. The file also details all employees of the bank that should be on duty today. However, due to the fact that the suspects have now also dressed the hostages in the same attire they are wearing, we cannot be sure who is a suspect and who is not. Not only does this mean that we have no idea who the suspects are, but neither can we utilise snipers, and you must carry less than lethal secondary weapons. That's all from us. Good luck."
It was Fate's turn to speak.
"I want everyone to familiarise themselves with the layout of the building. We cannot identify suspect from hostage, but I still wish everyone to at least memorise the employees presently on duty, although we cannot rule out that one or more could be collaborating with the suspects. As for our load out…"
She paused and sighed.
"I want the Alphas, Tia and Erio, to carry MP5s with noise suppressors, and the Bravos, Subaru and Caro, Nova Pumps. Alphas use FMJ rounds, Bravos, twelve gauge; we have potentially armoured suspects. Everyone should forget stingers; I want you to have two CS grenades and two flashbangs each. The Bravos should carry an Optiwand each, and the Alphas a door wedge each. Everyone should carry breaching charges."
Fate turned her attention to the card file she held in her hands, and opened it. She took out some poor quality printouts of captures from the CCTV footage taken before the bank's security systems were switched off. Looking carefully at each, she scrutinised the faces of the few distinguishable people. Reaching the last picture, she saw something that dredged up old, abandoned feelings.
That hair, tied back just so… That posture… Those eyes.
Forcefully forgotten memories that she didn't want flooded back.
This is not possible.
X
3.55PM
Nexus Commercial Bank
Outside Bank Vault
"Is everything in place upstairs, Vita?" asked Nanoha, her voice sweet.
Vita nodded.
"And, Signum, is the lobby ready?"
"It is."
"Well, in five minutes we'll be able to crack this vault. Vita, have some of the hostages come down to assist me in emptying this thing. And have Signum bring the manager down. Signum, you better head back up to the lobby and ensure Zafira is ready. Make sure he understands that when the negotiator inevitably attempts to contact us to see how our raid on the vault went, and to offer a vehicle for extraction, that he make a number of threats against hostages, and then a lot of noise. Just see that no-one gets hurt, okay?"
X
4.12PM
SWAT Command Post, Outside Nexus Commercial Bank
Decision Made to Go Tactical
"Right, gunshots were heard from within the bank three minutes ago after a negotiator failed to regain contact with the suspects. The hostages are now believed to be in great danger, and the subsequent decision to go tactical has been made. We are going in. I've selected the roof as our entry point; a police chopper will be here any minute to get us up there. We'll be rappelling down," said Fate to her team, her tone urgent.
They all nodded to her in response. After Fate's attention turned to the skies, Subaru looked at Tia, and Caro at Erio.
Subaru spoke to her close friend first. "I'll be watching out for you, Tia."
"And I for you. Don't get shot. And don't, whatever you do, shoot me with that Nova."
"Poor Tia still can't make a joke." Subaru would have stuck out her tongue if her mouth wasn't covered by a gas mask.
Erio patted Caro on the back. "You okay?" he asked.
Caro checked her shotgun, then her gear, and nodded. "Fate is an experienced team leader. We'll be fine."
A police helicopter descended, creating much noise and a roaring wind. The team of five clambered into it, before being whisked into the sky.
The helicopter circled the bank's roof once. Fate patted the pilot's shoulder. "Vice, it's clear. Take us down."
Fate rappelled down onto the bank's roof with Tia and Erio, who were quickly followed by Subaru and Caro. As soon as they were down, the cables were released from the helicopter, and Vice took it off and away.
"Element, stack up on that door," commanded Fate.
The team moved up to the staircase door that would lead down into the bank. Tia and Erio were up front, on either side of the door, with their suppressed MP5s, and stood closely behind covering them with identical shotguns were Subaru and Caro. Tia tried the lock. "Door is locked. Confirm breach?"
Fate readied herself to dive in just behind Tia once they made entry. "Negative, mirror under the door, and then pick the lock."
Subaru came forward, switching to her Optiwand, which she unfolded before sticking the camera under the door and rotating it so the attached screen displayed the staircase. "Stair case is clear." She moved back into place and switched back to her shotgun.
Tia hung her gun across her front, took her kit from her belt and picked the lock in seconds. "Lock picked."
"Enter and clear," said Fate.
Erio took the door handle and pushed the door open, and at once Tia was through, gun pointing around the corner, followed by Fate, and then Erio, Subaru, and at the back, Caro. They descended to the floor below, pausing before stepping out into the carpeted corridor.
"Caro and Subaru, mirror around both corners. Alphas, provide cover."
Both directions were checked.
"View is clear."
"Clear to the left also. Only one door here."
"Red, stack up on the door. Blue, cover the corridor behind us."
Erio and Caro moved out in the corridor, and Tia and Subaru moved up to the door.
"Door is unlocked."
"Mirror under the door."
"One suspect."
"Open, deploy CS, and follow it in."
Tia opened the door, Subaru pulled the pin from one of her CS gas grenades and threw it in, and Fate rushed past them. They followed her at once.
The suspect coughed and gagged.
"Drop the weapon!" screamed Fate. "Hands in the air!"
"OK, OK!" cried the suspect, dropping their gun and falling to their knees. "I'm not one of them; they told me to stay in here with this thing!"
Fate rolled her eyes. "Tia, restrain him."
Tia nodded and slung her submachine gun across her front, withdrew some restraints from her pocket, and tied the suspect's hands.
Fate spoke into her radio. "Command, we have a restrained suspect here…" A tap on her back interrupted her. "Ah, just a moment."
She turned around, only to face a worried Subaru holding the suspect's weapon.
"Captain, it's plastic. It's a toy."
Fate closed her eyes. Great. We have ourselves false suspects.
"Command, it seems the suspect was equipped with a toy weapon. This must be a trick to deter us from firing upon alleged suspects." Fate turned to her team. "Make sure to check your damned targets, okay?"