Chapter Nine: Practicum (Part 1)

Days passed swiftly in the girls' student exchange programs and they learned many things. For Sig, she learned how to do CQB-HTH, fire different weapons, and perform tactical assaults. For Rico, she learned how to make her gun an "extension" and "part" of her body so that she can fire better. They also contributed knowledge to their classmates. Sig contributed what Rico learned and the girls at Seishou Academy learned how to do melee fights and not to rely on just one weapon.

A month has passed and there is only another month to go. All seemed well—or so they thought.


Social Welfare Agency Command Centre, Undisclosed Agency, Italy

Sections 1 and 2 of the Agency were having an emergency command conference under Madame Monica Petris, Minister of Defence.

"The Agency has been requested by the PM to protect a very important asset and figure—none other than the Roman Catholic Pope, Julius IV," began Petris, "this newly-elected Pope's recent audiences, letters, and statements are all anti-Padania. That naturally drew the ire of those terrorists."

In front of them, a video was playing showing Julius IV speaking.

"Instead of diving Italy between the poor and the rich, Italy must unite and help each other. Such a cause for division is morally unjustifiable and is to be condemned! Such a cause is a product of selfishness! It is further compounded by the use of force and terror making it a grievously evil act…"

"Intelligence suggests," Chief Lorenzo spoke, "that Padania seriously aims to kidnap this Pope or, should they fail in the attempt, assassinate him. We cannot allow such disaster to happen. Not only will we lose an asset but the very credibility and existence of the SWA is at stake."

"Is there any intelligence as to when will those Padania bastards do this feat?" Jean asked.

"Yes, Mr. Croce," Petris replied, "our level A-1 agent reported that the attempt will be carried out two days from now—during the Papal Mass and lunch for some dignitaries. They intend it to be public as a show of force and to instil fear."

"I see. Let me guess, the fratello teams will deploy shortly to augment security around the Pope?" Jean asked.

"Correct Mr. Croce," Lorenzo said, "however, there is a problem. We lack one cyborg. It will significantly weaken our force."

"We can use the exchange student," Jean replied.

"We cannot sortie an exchange student let alone not a cyborg. What if she dies? You want to end the diplomatic relations between Italy and Japan?" Lorenzo retorted.

"She may not be a cyborg but she is a gun. That could still be an advantage. If Padania intends the attack to be public and overwhelming, they will use an enormous force. We need all the help we can have!"

"What do you think, Monica?" asked Lorenzo.

For a while, Petris was silent. But she finally decided, "Jean is right. We need all the help we can have. We have to sortie this exchange student."

"But the Academy will never agree," Lorenzo insisted.

"Remember that the SWA and the Academy does not exist officially. Any casualties will be kept silent. No one would blabber anything. That means to say that we do not need to inform the Academy nor seek their consent," Petris argued back. No one countered her anymore. What she said made sense anyway.

"So it's settled then. Everyone. I want you to think of a battle plan in an hour. After that, be prepared to sortie in another two hours," the Defence Minister concluded.

Three hours later…

The three fratello boarded a black van and their destination was Rome.

"What is the plan, Giuse?" asked Henrietta once the van started to move.

"Since you are with the shortest hair, it will be easier for you to protect the Pope closer. You will wear this wig to conceal your hair and act as a choir member. I will pretend to be a priest and you will be my nephew. The two of us will protect the Pope up close."

"Marco will be a foreign dignitary and Angelica will be her daughter," Jean continued. "as for the Hirscher-Triela team, they will augment the Pope's personal security detail while we," and he looked towards Sig, "will be outside and monitor the situation there,

"Let me make this clear as early as now, Sig: this will be a very important and dangerous operation and I will be your immediate superior. That means to say you will follow my orders without question and hesitation. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Sir Jean," replied Sig. In the past few days, she learned the importance of obedience. Obey first before you complain, she reminded herself. "Just a question: do the superiors in my school know about this?"

Marco, Hirscher, and Giuse looked at Jean. The commander of the fratellos and the field commander for Section 2 had anticipated such a question. "Yes, they do," Jean lied casually. "In fact, they are proud and content that you would join such an important operation to hone your skills. Consider it your practical test. Once this operation is finished, your exchange student program will be completed and you can go home." The latter was not a lie. It was what the Command Committee decided with Petris assuring them that she will do the talking.

"I see," Sig replied enthusiastically, eager to see her friends at the Academy again.

Several hours before the Mass...

The group stayed at the Domus Sanctae Marthae thanks to the strings pulled by no less than the Prime Minister and the documents faked by the Agency. Before the operation commenced, the girls and the Handlers were in their "battle gears" already.

Giuse wore a black cassock with a sash around his waist. Underneath his clerical attire were a bulletproof vest, extra magazines, and a P90 SMG. Henrietta was completely transformed: she wore a boy's wig with brown partly curly hair and she also wore her choir dress-a red soutane and white surplice. Below her liturgical attire were also a bulletproof vest and her P239 with extra magazines.

Marco wore a formal coat while Angelica fashioned a black formal dress. Both of them had bulletproof vests and carried pistols (Angelica's was in her bag). The Jean-Sig and Hirscher-Triela teams wore their usual coat and ties including Sig who was dressed like Triela: formal pants, necktie, vest, and an overcoat. Concealed below were their weapons-an HK G3 for Triela and an SG550 for Sig.

Of course, their most important equipment was with them: communication devices. Each has an earphone implant and microphone in their lapels except for the Jean and Hirscher teams who used the normal Secret Service throat microphones.

Before they started to leave the Domus, Triela asked Jean if she could talk to Sig. The Handler agreed but on the condition of making it short.

"What is it, Triela?" asked Sig.

"Have you ever killed anyone, Sig?" Triela asked in return.

Sig's expression became uncomfortable and she said, "No."

"Well, listen to me. This is a dangerous mission. You may or even have to kill people. Thanks to our conditioning, we don't think much about it but I don't know about you-"

"I…I can't possibly kill!" Sig protested.

"Listen!" Triela shook Sig a little, "that hesitation will kill you and your friends. Remember this: it's either you and your friends or the enemy that will die. I am not hesitating in that moment and having myself and my friends get killed. Just think about that. But when the time comes, just pull the trigger."

Sig was silent for a moment before she gave an uncertain nod and said, "I'll do my best." Deep inside her, she wasn't ready to kill. I wish I won't have to kill, she thought.

Sistine Chapel, the Vatican

The Mass will be held at ten in the morning at the Sistine Chapel. Security around the area was tight. All tourist activities had been halted and roads were blocked by the Vatican police augmented by the Carabineiri and the Italian military. The dignitaries, which of course included Marco, were to enter using the Via delle Fondamenta. Marco and Angelica stood in the place assigned to them-near the aisle.

Jean and Sig were positioned outside in the Via del Governatorato overlooking the Palazzo del Governatorato while Triela and Hirscher were with the Swiss Guards guarding the exit leading to St. Peter's Basilica. Henrietta was already with the choir and Giuse, now also wearing a white surplice, was near Pope Julius IV.

The Mass started normally with the Pope, some cardinals and bishops processing in the aisle towards the altar. Their graceful and solemn strides were accompanied by the heavenly and angelic hymn of the choir. Giuse helped the elderly Pope Julius walk towards the altar. As the last member of the procession entered the door, the Swiss Guards closed it. Two guards guarded from the inside and four in the outside. Immediately, the Fondamenta was also barricaded by the Swiss Guards and military police.

Everything went normally but as the Mass approached the Kyrie a static filled the communications line.

"What's this?" Jean asked the Oberstleutnant or the Vice-Commandant of the Swiss Guards besides him.

"Must be an interference, sir," replied the stout Lieutenant Colonel.

"An awfully long interference if you ask me, please have it checked," replied Jean, a bit irritated.

In response, the Vice-Commandant ordered one Hellebardier to check the communications van.

Inside the Sistine Chapel Pope Julius IV chanted "Kyrie eleison". Suddenly, there were explosions and smoke filled the room. People fainted here and there

"Goddammit! Sleeping gas!" Marco shouted, "Angelica cover your nose and ready your weapons."

Giuse quickly pushed the Pope down and took cover behind the altar, both were covering their noses. Henrietta removed her wig and surplice and wielded her P90 and sprinted towards Giuse.

Gunfire filled the room. It was Hirscher and Triela shooting at the Swiss Guards who were wearing gas masks.

"Traitors!" Marco muttered. "Angelica, we'll move towards the Pope while providing support fire for Hirscher and Triela. Shoot at those wearing masks, they're Padania." And so they went slowly to the altar, Marco firing his Steyr TMP and Angelica her Steyr M.

"There're too many of them," Hirscher said while taking cover below a pew, "and the line has been jammed, we cannot ask for back-up. We'll die if the place stays shut. Triela, try to bust the doors!"

Triela nodded and fired at the front doors. Unknown to them, Jean and Sig were also engaging about a platoon of Padania terrorists, some of them Swiss Guards who defected. They barricaded themselves in front of the Sistine Chapel entrance to prevent entry.

"Don't hesitate to kill, Sig," Jean ordered, "we have to get inside that chapel! Otherwise, all of them will die there!"

But Sig didn't kill; rather she shot at legs, arms, or weapons. That itself made her uncomfortable, more so the thought of having to kill.

Jean heard rotor sounds approaching. He took out his rifle scope and saw an MI-24VD model Hind drawing near. It was with Italian Army markings.

"Finally, back-up has arrived," the Vice-Commandant shouted while taking refuge behind a slab of concrete.

The Hind faced the Sistine chapel and to the shock and disbelief of everyone it released a salvo of 57mm rockets and 30mm rounds on the roof. A massive hole appeared where the roof of the Sistine used to be and several personnel started to rappel down from the Hind inside the devastated chapel.