The members of Alpha Tango had made it to the last block between them and the Jefferson Trade Center when a dust storm hit. None of them could see beyond maybe ten feet. It made it hard to breathe and see but they soon entered the center and went down the stairs underground.

"Whew. That shit is annoying." Hemorrhage commented.

Stryker was all business at this moment and would have none of it. "Shut it. Stay frosty, we don't know what we are expecting."

They moved through the complex corner by corner, quickly but precise. They found themselves before a small atrium which had some escalators at the far end.

"I've got eyes on four hostiles; two assault, one rusher, and one thrower." Raptor quickly called out targets.

"Copy. Raptor take the rusher and I'll take the thrower, Hemorrhage, you take the two assault. Got it?"

"Copy."

"Copy."

As quickly as they finished, Stryker opened fire, putting a .300 Winchester round through the skull of the thrower. The rusher barely had time to react as she herself was lit up with semi-automatic rifle fire from Raptor's ACR. Simultaneously, Hemorrhage had put two 12-guage shells into the first assault and another through the last from his AA-12. The whole engagement lasted no longer than a few seconds at most.

"Move out. Check your corners."

"Affirmative."

"10-4."


They had just finished fighting through part of a parking garage when they came upon the SHD Node Security Room. At the bottom of a staircase was a massive vault-looking door. The blast residue around the door made it obvious that someone had tried to enter but they hadn't gotten in.

"Hemorrhage take point." Stryker ordered.

Hemorrhage started down the stairs checking his corners. "All clear."

Stryker and Raptor followed and after reaching the bottom, she motioned for the other two agents to take up positions by the door and the staircase, Raptor taking the stairs and Hemorrhage. Stryker held her watch to the screen.

"Agent of the Strategic Homeland Division detected. Scanning. No rogue designation detected. Please stand back." A voice from the door reported.

After a few subtle clicks and hisses, the door swung open. Hemorrhage immediately entered, sweeping the area.

"Detecting Agent conducting sweeping operations. This node has not been physically tampered with. Detected unwarranted hack from an unknown source; 4 weeks, 3 days, and 17 minutes ago."

That worried the agents.

"Uh boss, what the hell is it talking about?" Hemorrhage questioned.

"Unknown. Give me a sec." Switching frequencies she contacted Manny. "Come in Rallypoint Omaha. Do you copy?"

"This is Rallypoint Omaha. We hear you. Go ahead Alpha Tango One."

"Be advised, we have secured the node. The local ISAC defense server reported that no physical harm or tampering had been done. Apparently it was hacked about a month ago from an unknown source. Sending you the audio now. Be advised, we are moving onto the secondary objective. Alpha Tango One out."

"That's strange. We'll analyze the audio and send some agents to complete the lockdown of the node, Rallypoint Omaha copies all. Good luck."

Stryker turned to her compatriots. "Alright, it's time to save a fellow agent. Stay frosty and focus. Understood?"

After receiving nods, she nodded as well. "Good, let's move out."


"Watch it! Turret to the left!" Stryker called out.

"Deploying drone!" Raptor called out over the sound of heavy gunfire.

Hemorrhage had found closer cover and was putting shells down range, the distinct 'Clack-clack' sound lighting up the very echo-y parking garage. Stryker was started by picking off targets but switched to her HK416. They finally silenced the last of the Hyenas.

"Move out."

"Hello? Is this thing on?" A strange voice came over their comms.

"Who the hell is this?" Kelso came in over the radio.

"I'm Coyote and your friend here was kind enough to give it to me. Wanna say hi?"

Alpha Tango and Kelso & Manny heard someone who was definitely struggling.

"You hurt him; you die." Manny said very calmly over the radio.

"Listen here ya little shit. I want you to pull back those annoying agents of yours and no one has to die." The click at the end illuminated that she was done.

"Agent." Kelso had established a connection to Stryker. "Get me Espinoza. I want him outta there."

"I'll take care of it. Alpha Tango One out."

Alpha Tango quickly rushed through the rest of the building.


The agents found themselves on an elevated position overlooking a vast indoor courtyard. They started to open fire on all the Hyenas standing below. After clearing out most of them, a voice called out to them.

"Hey assholes. What him back? Here, have him."

The agents stood in horror as 'Coyote' put a 9mm round through his head before throwing him off the edge, falling until he hit the floor with a distinct 'splat'.

"Agent. I want you to kill that woman. With EXTREME prejudice." Manny ordered, in a voice that barely contained his rage.

"With pleasure." Stryker countered.

Alpha Tango sprinted up the stairs and rushed out in the awaiting courtyard filled with hostiles. All tactical thinking left their minds; they focused on only one thing, the piece of shit who just murdered one of their own. They finally killed the rest of the druggies leaving Coyote alone. She tried to move cover but received a bullet through her leg from Raptor. Stryker approached her with her pistol.

"No, no, no, no, no! Please, mercy!" Coyote whimpered, showing her true, coward-self.

"Got none left to give." Stryker said before putting three rounds into her head. "let's go."