West Potomac Park

World War II Memorial

Sarah

Later that day…

Under a drizzling rain and setting sun, we set out from the Levee checkpoint to the sinkhole Alani had found a few days ago. Behind us, a large force of JTF, Militia, and True Sons mutineers have assembled, all being led by Captain Blackburn, from the team we rescued from the Dark Zone. They lie in wait for our signal, which will be followed by a mortar bombardment of the compound from the Washington Monument. Once the diversion group has BTSU's full attention, our infiltrator group will blast in from below and head for the Control Center in search of Ellis, Schaeffer, Kayhill, Radek and anyone else from the leadership. Shots from Sergeant Li from her spot on a building on Constitution Ave. will help the assault whenever she can, and she'll be able to radio in incoming threats.

At least, that's the plan on paper. I personally doubt even God knows how we're going to pull it off.

Kelly, Roxwell, Upton, Thomas, Finnigan, Alani, Faye, Miller, Lazka, Jay and I enter the area of the memorial. Everything, including us, is soaked from the rain. A haunting feeling of Deja vu sweeps over me. The last time I was here, I was working for Black Tusk. I passed this place, headed for the Washington Monument.

"At least this time, I won't be killing civilians." I say to myself. Shuddering off the feeling, and some excess rain water from my hoodie, I quickly move to Jay's side. She's slowed down to gaze at our target.

The Tidal Basin has been slightly upgraded. A pair of hastily constructed guard towers watch over the entrance, with search lights slowly sweeping back and forth. Jay gazes through her rifle scope and confirms that each tower has a sniper and a machine gunner.

"Think they should be hit now?" I ask. Jay thinks for a moment, before nudging Faye and pointing to the towers. The Agent in question nods.

"Those lights pass our infiltration spot too frequently for us to get in." She says. I nod and key my radio.

"Valkyrie, Shadow One." I say quietly.

"Go ahead." Li's spotter Parker answers a moment later.

"We've got your first targets." I begin. "Two towers by the main gate. Two occupants in each. They'll see us on our approach. Engage quickly, suppressed weapons only."

"Valkyrie copies all. Stand by." I glance back to the dark, silent buildings on Constitution Ave. Everything is quiet for a moment, before a pair of muffled gunshots fly over our heads.

Meanwhile…

Sgt. Rose Li

OAS Headquarters Building

Corner of 17th and Constitution

"...quickly, suppressed weapons only." Agent Green says over the radio.

"Valkyrie copies all." Gaz answers as I screw the suppressor onto my rifle. "Stand by."

Rain patters the windowsill as I rest my bipod on the table I'm seated behind. Gaz looks through his rangefinder, then points to a hand drawn map on his notepad. "Target:" He says. "Reference the main gate, four fifty, guard towers on either side." I adjust my scope. "Two occupants in each." As the lens focuses, a gunner and a sniper come into view. The gunner sits behind a minigun, leaning against it and puffing away at a cigarette.

"I got 'em." I mumble, panning to the other tower. The men inside appear to be playing a card game, one of which has his back to me.

"Take 'em fast. Fire when ready."

I focus on the card players first, who seem to be having a casual conversation judging by the body language. With my scope, I'm able to see the cards one of them has.

"Huh, pair of Queens." I muse. "He's probably about to win." As the other man begins to set down his cards, I squeeze the trigger. The bullet cracks through the air, entering the back of the first man and exiting the other. The playing cards fly around for a moment as the men fall. The first lands face down on the table, the second falls backwards out of his chair and to the floor.

"Nice shot." Gaz comments as I cycle my rifle bolt. "The other two didn't notice." I pan to the right to see the other men in the same spots they were in. Taking aim at the sniper as he raises his binoculars, my shot rings out, sailing through the night and striking the man square in the head. I quickly cycle the bolt again as the gunner looks at his dead friend in a panic.

"Down. Get the other. Fast." The gunner gazes out into the darkness with fear in his eyes, ducking next to the machinegun.

My next strike hits home before any alarm can be raised.

"All down." Garret says with a nod, turning to the radio.

"Shadow, this is Valkyrie. Targets down. Clear to proceed." As the words are spoken, Alani takes the lead towards the sink hole with me close behind. Suddenly, one of the searchlights pans over Alani and she freezes for a moment, causing all of us to stop and wait. The beam continues past, with no sign of response from the occupants. Jay quietly lets out the breath she was holding as we continue.

Just like the pictures showed, there was a shallow, muddy sinkhole in the middle of the World War II Memorial. We hop down one by one, with Faye taking up the rear. Before she comes down, she reaches for her radio.

"Shadow to all units." She hails the other teams. "We've reached R.V. Alpha. Disciple, prepare to advance. Excalibur, begin bombardment when ready."

"Excalibur to Valkyrie, sending two rounds down range. Confirm splash, over?"

"Copy, Excalibur. Send it."

"Shot, over."

The dull thump of a mortar firing passes over, then another. Followed a few seconds later by thundering explosions overhead. Some small rocks and loose soil rain from the ceiling. Up above, it sounds as though someone kicked a hornets nest into a high school gym locker room. Panicked shouting can be heard from the Black Tusk soldiers up above.

"Splash." Valkyrie confirms. "Good effects. Fire for effect, over."

"Shadow to Disciple." Faye orders. "Begin advance. We're setting the breaching charges, over."

"Excalibur copies. Beginning bombardment. Out."

"Disciple is Oscar Mike."

"Well, here we go." Kelly says shakily.

Runoff from the surface pours into the hole we dropped into, streaming through the cave and making puddles around our feet. Shells continue to land in and around the Black Tusk compound as the Joint Task Force begins it's assault.

A/N - Hey there folks

Anyone who is friends with me on Xbox Live will know that I've been playing lots of both Division games. The reason for that (and the fact that the last update was woah three months ago?!) is inspiration. Sad to say, I'm losing steam when it comes to this story. I don't intend on abandoning it by any means...There will just likely be long pauses between updates.

Interest sometimes withers when it comes to fiction, or it gets captured by something else. For me, that interest has drifted to (brace yourselves) anime. Yep. You heard right. Your beloved author is a weeb. The anime in question is the lovely Girls und Panzer series, which I may or may not be cooking up a future fanfic for. If anyone's interested, I have (several) chapters ready for posting.

Fear not. More updates for this fic, as well as the Assassins Creed one, are coming soon. Until then, stay safe and be well.

See you next time, Agents!