Stryker had her evening meal with her team and then to the bathhouses. She and Jennifer had another fun conversation, this one about what food they missed the most from before the shit had hit the fan.

"You know, as weird as it sounds, I miss Big Macs. I am not one for living to eat, I am more eat to live but lemme tell you some'em, a Big Mac used to hit the spot sometimes." Raptor was amused by the little things that Stryker missed. Raptor had missed all the usual ones like Thanksgiving, but Sarah was one much more interested in the little things.

After their shower, Raptor had gone back to the bunk area to work on some personal things. Stryker was sitting at her workstation when Manny approached.

"Sarah! Earlier you asked for another agent. I've gathered some ideas up. First is Agent Lara Sanford, callsign "Hunchback". She just got in a couple days ago and was slated to join Kelso's team. Secondly, we have Christina Zazel, callsign "Bulwark". Lastly, and this one is still yet to arrive, we have Agent John-Francis Goochland, callsign "Thunderclap", he reported to us that he won't arrive until around late tomorrow or early the next day." Manny handed her the stack of files.

"Thanks, let me read these over and I'll choose by tomorrow."

"Understood, just do it quickly, once Kelso gets her hands on 'em, she doesn't like them to leave."

They both chuckled, knowing when Agent Reed tried to do some lone wolf stuff, Kelso let him hear it at the end of the day.

Manny was walking back up to the first floor when Stryker called him.

"Manny, get some sleep, promise?"

Surprised at the attention, he nodded.

"Promise."

I'll just look at these tomorrow.

Stryker got up and went to her bunk. Tired, she fell asleep quickly after.


Hemorrhage woke around 0515. Unlike his teammates, he went to bed early, so he got enough rest. Walking up the stairs, he headed to the mess and sat at one of the many tables that decorated the room.

"Sorry agent, we're still cooking the breakfast, we usually don't start serving until around 0600." A mess hall officer told him when she saw him sitting alone.

"Oh it's alright, I just like to gather my thoughts, ya know?"

The mess hall officer just nodded and quickly went back to work. What he didn't see was the other agent coming into the room.

"Morning ugly." Raptor sarcastically remarked.

"Meany pants." Hemorrhage retorted in a child-like tone.

They sat across from each other in comfortable silence for a while. Whether from just trying to mentally prepare for the day or thinking about stuff, they kept to themselves. Around 0545, Hemorrhage broke the silence.

"Hey, what do you think of Sarah?"

"If you're trying to find out who she is into, trust me, she isn't into you."

"That wasn't it. I mean, she seems like she is always looking over her shoulder. When we woke up together in the clinic last week, she didn't see me, but I saw her. She seemed close to tears. Whatever it is, only Manny seems to know." Hemorrhage wrapped up his conclusion.

"Now that is something that catches my eye. It seems Sarah and Manny have some sort of connection, noticed it?

"You know what, yeah, I do now that you mention it."

"The other night…"

"Shhhh! Here she comes, act normal." Hemorrhage quickly interrupted her.

"So, how'd everyone sleep?" Stryker asked as she sat down next to Raptor.

"Fine."

"Okay."

Both of them looked like they were hiding something, but Stryker was too hungry to bother and just turned and went to get her plate, it had just turned 0600. No matter who you were, Agent or JTF or a militiaman, the cooks did not let anyone get some early.


After eating their breakfast, they were approached by Manny.

"Agents, I got your assignment for today."

"I swear that man doesn't seem to sleep." Hemorrhage muttered as Raptor nodded in agreement.

"What is it, do we need to prepare for an extended operation?" Stryker asked, ignoring her teammates quips.

"I am sending Alpha Tango to the Jefferson Trade Center. It's a two-part mission; one, find and reactivate the SHD node beneath it so we can connect with agents nationwide; and two, find Agent Espinoza, he was a member of Agent Kelso's team when he went dark on the very same assignment."

"Understood. Expected resistance?" Stryker asked.

"We don't have much intel, but scouts report the place is infested with Hyenas. Which is weird, that's all True Son's territory. Be on guard."

"Copy. We'll contact when we complete each objective. Oh, can you give me another day to look at the files, I was just too tired to look at them last night?" Stryker responded

"Sure, that's fine. It's not like I have to do paperwork for it or whatever, that's the one thing that I don't miss much."

Stryker nodded and turned to put on her ballistic vest. Hemorrhage went over to the quartermaster, Coop Denison, to pick up some extra ammo while Raptor was adding the last drops of oil to her pistol and assault rifle. Stryker gathered them up.

"Alright. This mission could help us reestablish the SHD network, as such, I want no jokes." She gave a look to Hemorrhage who held his hands up in mock surrender. "And I want everyone to be on guard, you heard what Manny said, we could be walking into anything. Questions?"

When she received no response, Stryker nodded and turned towards the exit.

"Alright than, let's do this. Alpha Tango, move out!"

They disappeared into the sun from the White House's basement exit.