The base was in a small hurry as the days passed by and they received no news from Homeland Security. It has been almost five days since the news of the White Mask group was discovered and yet they were stuck in the base hardly doing anything. Six being painfully aware of the situation tried remedying the operators.

"If we don't get to move in soon on the White Masks, we're going to track down the Cartel in Mexico and try to get a lead from there." Six casually explained. "The Cartel should be easy to identify based off of outside knowledge and more of Boleslav's help."

"What about when we get clearance to act in California?" Eliza asked. Mike didn't say a word In the room, looking at a popped up map of California. The room they were in was darkly tinted, full of screens and whiteboards showing pictures taken of the campus.

"We'll move in in California first then, Mexico will be next. Either way, we'll be active in both in the coming weeks. Six out."

The screen shined to black, Mike finally shifted and spoke. "Sounds a lot like spring break."

"Haha, very funny," Ash said. "We need to think this through. How do you suppose we infiltrate the university?"

"We can't just evacuate it?" Mike suggested. "It'll be a lot easier than dressing up as kids."

"If we evacuate it, the White Masks have a heads up and can escape or attack during the ensuing chaos of having 42,000 people leave," Eliza pointed out.

Mike grunted. "What's the rules of engagement like for these kids? I think they're pretty young to take up arms against whoever they're angry out."

Eliza leaned on the wall, arms crossed as she contemplated the morality of the mission. "They chose to take the fight and create a revolution, so they'll see what a revolution will bring."

"The world's more fucked as it goes," Mike shrugged. "What're a few fewer idealists gonna do?"

"That's a dark way to think of it," Eliza raised her brow. "These kids are half of our age."

"Like you said; they wanted a fight, we'll give them a fight. I'll let you set up the plans." Mike walked away from the away from the room. Eliza didn't stop him as the door behind him shut. She sighed and pulled out a chair to sit down on.

These were basically kids fresh out of high school, if not barely a year or two into their lives out of their hometowns. Why they would take up arms to fight for a generally frowned upon form of government is anything but nonsensical. Just what did they learn in these universities?

Eliza pushed the thought out of her head. She can worry about that later, right now she has to focus on the task at hand.

The most obvious thing to do was to go in guns blazing. That'll look terribly bad for coverage and kills Rainbow's reputation. They can evacuate the school, but that'll give the baddies a chance to attack or escape like she concluded. They could stalk around campus for a few days, posing as college students or staff and find out more from the kids.

It was the cleanest, effective, and clear way to go about. These kids aren't dumb though, they could easily see pass their personas and find out what they are. After all, they deal with Narcs and undercover cops all the time.

Eliza turned around when the door knocked, Mike standing out with Aleksandr. He waved hello, and pulled out a chair, resting his feet on the table. "Cohen, old friend, what's the plan?"

"Ah, your highness," Eliza mockingly replied. "Just preparing for your arrival. Mind the mess."

Aleksandr let out a healthy chuckle. "Ah, why thank you."

Eliza smirked. "The plan is basically just to infiltrate the students, find out what they can, and bring back any info they could. Fair and simple."

"Hm, you think our operation team will blend in easily?"

"As students, it's a stretch. I'm hopeful that we can pass by as Staff or technicians working on the campus security system."

"Do you know much about this Berkeley college?" The Russian asked, rubbing a hefty chin. "I've only heard tidbits on local news."

"I don't," Eliza admitted. "There are a few Americans who do, native Californians."

"Right," Mike nodded, "I know Meghan and Miles are from California, Isaac said he's from there too."

"Let us ask them from an insider's perspective, they're bound to know something."

"Not a bad idea. Mike, call them in and tell them to meet in the planning room."

Mike quickly dialed his phone and left the room to converse. Aleksandr nodded gently to the action of the plan. "Good, maybe we can solve this easily for once."

Eliza smiled. "I wouldn't count on it."


The three operators entered the room with little fear or suspicion. They knew why they were called into the room, they just needed to know what a Californian knows about Berkeley.

"Ah, you're all here," Aleksandr welcomed. "Take a seat."

"Like you need to tell us," Miles replied, pulling up his chair. Meghan and Isaac took their chairs in as well, ready for the conversation.

"Now that you're all present we'd like to ask you some questions regarding the mission locale," Eliza said, bringing up a map of California. "Most importantly, about Berkeley."

"What isn't there to know about the Bay Area?" Meghan joked. "They're all tools."

"You've got that right," Miles smiled.

"Yeah, we can rip on Bay Area all day," Isaac chuckled.

"Tell us about Berkeley specifically," Ash asked. "What's life like there?"

The three Californians pondered for a few moments as the thoughts of the infamous college took hold. Isaac was the first to speak, a quick realization that needed no call out.

"Berkeley is a very liberal and progressive place," Isaac said. "Finding a 'radical' college group there is gonna be easy, but finding out which one there will be tough."

"A lot of the students there are communist or hard left," Meghan added. "I don't think many of them will betray their movement's main force unless it affects them. So, students, there could be hard to interact with."

The two turned to Miles, who spoke soon after. "If they find out that Rainbow managed to infiltrate a school group for the sole purpose of bringing them down, regardless of their threat, it'll be an uproar."

"That's true," Isaac nodded. "They throw riots and protests for the littlest things."

Miles added his thoughts. "Unless you want to get info, you have to work with the counterculture group of Berkeley, and that group is—"

"—the more conservative side of the campus." Mike deducted.

"They're the key to uncovering on who's who on the arms deal," Isaac said. "Considering they're a tightly packed minority group they'll be easier to be a mole on the campus."

Eliza nodded. "That's good to know, thank you for coming. You can leave back to whatever you're doing."

The three operators nodded and began leaving the room, closing the door shut behind them. Aleksandr rubbed his chin with his palm, feeling it's growing stubbiness. "That was productive."

"Truly," Mike said. "What's our plan for Mexico if Homeland Security doesn't give us clearance."

"Similar to our recent mission in Germany: Find the location, scout it, and retrieve an HVP and leave," Eliza began to explain. "We're hoping to get some assistance from the Mexican Government."

"I thought the Mexican government was corrupt as hell," Mike pointed out. "They sold out some of the original operators when Rainbow was first taking form."

"They're the best we got. I doubt the people would want to help gringos out of their own personal safety."

Aleksandr stood up. "Da, it is settled. We take two teams and try to hit them both at the same time, kill two birds with one stone."

"We don't have clearance for Mexico or California yet. I'm just saying that if we get Mexico first we're going to Mexico first." Eliza clarified.

"Then we get two teams when they both clear, one south and one north. I'll let my boys know to pack for the warm climate," Aleksandr stretched out his shoulders. "Do svidaniya."

As soon as the door closed Mike turned to the Israeli woman. "Do you think we're heading north or south of the border?" He got up from the wall, making his way to the door in front of him.

"Does it matter?"

"No, but the Russian had a good idea. Sending two teams for a big operation makes good sense, we can get more done in shorter time."

Eliza sighed. "I suppose, I'll take it up with Six."

"You better," Mike gave a sly smile. "You're her favorite."

He closed the door leaving only Eliza in the room. The silent atmosphere was enough for her to drive her to start working on the plan. She grabbed a few markers and began to uncap their tops. She drew lines and circles pointing to where they would attack, defend, or spy in Berkeley. This mission was important, and no detail would be left undiscovered.


A/N: Much smaller update. I'll be taking longer this upcoming weeks due to school and spring break, hence the length of this chapter. I promise to get right into the new operation next chapters.

Nothing other than that. Leave a review and have a good day

-Mister Bombastic