"Well gather around and I'll begin. It all started when they reached Britannica…"
"Landing in York, they reported to Britannica's governor based in Londinium, present day London. They were the Legio IX Hispania, or the "9th Legion – Hispania". At this time, the Romans had already constructed Hadrian's Wall; a wall that split Great Britain in two."
Gathered around, the agents and the Colonel were listening respectfully. President Ellis's head swinging around to make eye contact with them, his eyes like flashlights in the evening's darkness
"They were sent north of the wall to finally suppress the wild, mainly pre-Scottish, tribes who raided the Roman lands." After taking another shot of moonshine, he put the glass down and continued. "That was the last time that anyone would ever see or hear of the legion again."
Hemorrhage popped in to ask a question. "What happened to them?"
"No one knows. Many believe that they were slaughtered to the last man. Understand that at the time, Rome was the greatest military of the time. Others believe that they realized they could make a new life for themselves and just stayed to make a family. When word reached the capital of Rome, it was decided that the north was just too dangerous, and no other Roman forces were sent to look for them."
"What do you think happened to them sir?" Raptor interjected.
"Well, I would like to think they died heroically. Defending their Aquila standard to the last man. Which brings me to my point. In a thousand years, no one will know what happened here. I doubt anyone's story, mine too, will survive. But that doesn't mean that all this isn't worth it. What all you have been doing will let this country rebuild. Never forget that. Promise me that, huh?"
All around him, the agents each gave a nod, silent, a show of respect for the history of the legion and their President.
"Umm, Hello. Am I in the right place?" A voice asked from the darkness. "I was sent up here from one of the officer's downstairs."
"It depends, who are you?" Manny asked.
"The name's John-Francis, last name Goochland."
"Your my new teammate?" Stryker asked incredulously
She looked him over. He was tall, very tall; standing around 6' 4". But his weight didn't match. He seemed to be on the heavier side; strange too, he had been an elite operator. As far as she could tell, his primary weapon was an M249 B, a standard issue Squad Automatic Weapon in the US Armed Forces; as with her team, he had it sparkling with different attachments. Strangely, his secondary seemed to be an assault rifle; a heavily modified SCAR-L. they were pretty much standard issue to all special forces' units. His sidearm was a P320 XCompact pistol.
"So your 'Thunderclap'?" Manny asked.
"Yessir!" He responded in a clean salute.
"I'll take my leave now." Ellis said before getting up and walking for the roof exit.
All the agents started to clean up, they had a mission tomorrow. Manny was bringing up the rear as he patted Thunderclap on the shoulder. "Welcome to the team son."
"Good. Fucking. Lord." Hemorrhage muttered to Raptor. They were both sitting opposite of their new teammate as he ate his breakfast, they were leaving soon.
Thunderclap had woken up 10 minutes after them, having only 15 minutes to eat before they set off. In that time; he had eaten 11 pancakes, 4 sausage patties, 10 strips of bacon, and three helpings of hash browns.
Raptor did nothing but nod in shared amazement. They didn't even notice Stryker walking up to the table.
"Hello? Hellllllloooooo?" Stryker was trying to get their attention. She finally grew tired and slammed her fists on the table.
"Oh god!"
"Holy shit!
Both of them exclaimed. Thunderclap hadn't even broken away from eating. All he did was look up from the table and stare at Stryker.
"It's time, get your stuff, we're moving out in one minute. I want everyone ready. Hemorrhage and Raptor were getting up from their seats to collect their stuff and bags when Thunderclap finally swallowed.
"Ready now ma'am." As he finished, he pulled up his bag and all of his weapons.
Stryker said nothing, she turned to her shocked agents whose mouths were agape.
"Well at least someone is ready to go." She sarcastically remarked.
Rising from the table, 'clap grabbed his plates and brought them to the mess staff. One cleaner grabbed them, muttering how now other people can finally eat.
Alpha Tango had departed from the White House and were traveling at a brisk jog to the safehouse.
"So, Thunderclap." Hemorrhage started.
"Yea?"
"When was the last time you ate?"
Raptor sniggered.
"Well I had three MRE's right before I went to bed." He innocently responded.
"All of you, shut it. Save the jokes for later." Stryker told them from the front of the pack.
"I am serious though ma'am, I did."
"Alright, okay, fine." Stryker gave up.
They reached the safehouse about an hour after leaving the White House and went to the comms station. Stryker reached for the mike.
"This is Alpha Tango One to Rallypoint Omaha, do you copy? Alpha Tango One to Rallypoint Omaha, come in."
"zzzzz…This is Rallypoint Omaha, go ahead Alpha Tango."
"Be advised, we've reached the haven. What's our status, do we have a green light?"
"Affirmative, I say again, affirmative. See you on the other side. Rallypoint Omaha out."
With that, Stryker turned to her team. "Let's go. Got a job to do."
With that, they left the safehouse as quickly as they entered and were so close to the arena. They took cover at the last block. Stryker started to give out orders.
"Okay, when it happens; I'll take overwatch on that truck, Hemorrhage, you and Raptor take up front line positions, Thunderclap, lay down suppressing fire. The only thing is we need to make a bang. But I wanna save our grenades."
"I got this." Thunderclap said before sprinting straight for an enemy that was luckily lloking the other way.
"What the hell is he doing?" Hemorrhage asked.
All of a sudden. Thunderclap pushed his SAW to the side, he continued to run full speed, the Hyena didn't even have time to turn as Thunderclap tackled him straight into a wall with enough force to crack his skull.
"Holy. Shit. Remind me to never mess with him." Hemorrhage commented.
"Agent! Fucking shoot him you useless fucks!" A Hyena shouted.
"Hey boss! I took care of it!" Thunderclap yelled.
"I'm gonna fucking die. I just know it." Stryker said to herself as the other two were rounding the corner. "I got Tweedle-dee and Tweedle-dum and Tweedle-fucking-shit-head on my team."
