That had probably been their first actual tactical movement while on Corneria. They had even gone as far as to set up a tactical command post to keep track of the two teams. M-TAC has put their teams into position to get ready to raid the Darkness Clan's headquarters, while DCTU and it's sister team, had set up shop two blocks away from the hostage warehouse.
"Man, this doesn't feel right." Mei began, putting on her bulletproof vest, making sure to check that her plasma and laser deflection device was on and working. She strapped her holster to her leg, sliding the Colt in a moment later after checking her clips and rounds.
"What do you mean?" Jackie asked, do the same thing as Mei.
"I just always pictured working with Fox and Krystal when we did this."
"It'll be hard, no doubt. But… we can do it."
"Ready to go?" Bryan asked, loading the last of the shells into the breaching shotgun before pulling on the strap so that the shotgun was diagonal across his back, barrel down. It had settled next to the opti-wand, which was on his back in the same fashion.
"Ready as I'll ever be." They said at the same time, doing a last once over of their gear.
"Alright, we're waiting for TOC to tell us that M-TAC has started their raid. We'll move in with stealth until we get to the building. After that, we'll play it be ear."
The group nodded. They were a lot smaller than they were when they had first landed on Corneria. Ivan and Dean were still in recovery, leaving only Mei, Jackie, Bryan, and Brea when it came to the original team. However, they were joined by Brea's element, Katt, and Falco Slippy had opted to stay in the command post which added another seven or eight. But that was good, they were small in numbers, but they sure as hell made up for it.
As for now? They advanced into previously discussed positions, hiding in the shadows, ready for their signal. Bryan felt two taps on his back, the silent signal for him being covered by another team mate. Judging by the claws he felt, it was Brea.
He took another step forward before holding his fist up, telling them all to stop as he pulled the Opti-wand from his back, he clicked it on - pushing on last button in order to turn on the heat vision view.
"Alright guys, I've got about fourteen unknowns. Check your fire, call your shots, and be sure to give compliance issues before shooting - you know the rules."
"Copy chief."
"Roger that."
"TOC to Entry Team, Delta One and Delta Two are in position. M-TAC says their raid will start in ten minutes. Hold tight."
"This is Delta One, I have the entry team spotted on the grounds. They're clear and covered."
"Delta Two - I've got multiple guards on the roof of the building and on the grounds around it. Also, it would appear that there are at least six people inside the warehouse. The only entry point I can see is through the roof."
"TOC to Delta Two, Copy. Entry Team, any ideas?"
"Yah," Bryan began into his earpiece. "someone call Military HQ, get us the tank."
"Slip says that they've got a landmaster. It'll take six minutes to get it there, we can run it through the wall."
"Copy TOC. We'll be waiting."
He ducked back into the shadows, securing the opti-wand to his back again.
"This is the part I hate, the waiting." Brea mused, Bryan looked over his shoulder, even if the black feline was in the shadows, her eyes were still visible.
They didn't have to wait long. A few moments later the low rumble of the tank pulling into the district was heard. Hearing the tank moving forward, the radio chatter began.
"Entry Team, this is TOC. Delta team will be taking silenced shots at anyone on the roof. Brea's element will handle anyone outside the complex while DCTU will move into the complex through the hole in the wall. Falco and Brea, you'll be with DCTU to even the teams out. Good luck - god speed."
"Copy, what's M-TAC's Status?"
"They're waiting for you to start your assault. That way its less risk of the terrorists there to figure out what's going on."
"Copy TOC. Lets get moving guys. Just like we planned."
They began moving forward, the Tank on the front line, providing cover for the DCTU agents. Slippy pulled it to a complete stop just out of sight of the warehouse, but enough to where he could gun it and take down the wall.
"Waiting for orders."
Bryan pulled the wand from his back again, checking for the wall they were going to hit.
"They wall is clear slip. They're all at the other end of the warehouse."
"Copy, ready when you are."
Bryan looked over his shoulder at his team mates. Each one nodded their readiness.
"Go, go!"
The tank's engine growled as it sped forward, ramming the wall down. Brea's element began shooting at anyone outside while DCTU rushed the hole.
"Police! Arrest warrant! Get down!"
"Moving forward! Trailers!"
"Contact! Hostage found!"
Shots were exchanged outside between Brea's element and the suspects. The only suspect they had spotted inside so far had laid his weapons down upon the hole appearing in the wall.
"Mei, all clear!"
"Brea! Hostage and suspect compliant! I'm clear!"
"Jackie, in position and clear!"
"Falco, all clear here.
"Entry team to TOC. We've got a suspect and a hostage. Both secure with no injuries. Make a call to Officer Moran, she'll want to know her kid is safe."
"Copy entry team. Continue on."
"This is Element Two, outside is clear. We've got multiple suspects down or DOA. None of these guys gave up with a fight."
"Copy."
"Stack if up guys." Bryan said, pointing at a newly built door that lead to what looked like a small office space. Bryan pulled out the wand a final time. "I've got four unknowns."
"Ready when you are." Mei said, readjusting her ballistics helmet slightly.
Brea tapped the keypad, finding that the newly built sliding door was locked from the inside.
"Guys, need a charge here."
"Think the breaching shotgun can get it?"
"Nope, slider. Gonna need a C2."
Brea concluded, looking at him out of the corner of her eye.
"Swap with me." Mei said, tapping Brea on the back. Mei kneeled down on a knee pad, placing several C2 charges on the door. They were going to blow the entire thing down, and she knew exactly how to do it.
Mei counted down from three on her fingers before clicking down the detonator, blowing the door of its hinges.
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"DCTU started, lets get moving!" The shout was heard over the helmet cam of one of the M-TAC members. Moran sat in the CP, listening to both teams over the radios.
"Entry team to TOC. We've got a suspect and a hostage. Both secure with no injuries. Make a call to Officer Moran, she'll want to know her kid is safe."
She was almost in tears hearing the agent's report. "He's safe." Her partner reassured her, taking her into his arms for a moment. "It's over… its finally over."
"Entry team to TOC!" Bryan's voice shouted again. "We've blown the second door, I've got a hostage and a suspect down! Need medics. The hostage is okay, but the suspect is in critical condition. I've got a second set as well, both are secure. But, both hostages are wearing some sort of bag over their head, its duck taped good, we're…"
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"…not touching it until medics get here." Bryan called into his radio. "Put'em on safe and let'em hang. We're done."
"I'm not touching that one, can't mend broken bones." Mei said, referring to the hostage with the dislocated shoulder, stepping back out the door to retrieve her kit to begin working on the first suspect.
The outer team had come in to remove the suspects while Slippy sat on the landmaster outside, watching them being led out one by one.
"Bryan!" Jackie suddenly called, making him turn around, his hand moving to his holster out of instinct. "Look at this!" She said, pointing behind the chairs, Bryan stepped around, finding two tails poking out the back.
"Orange and blue…" He whispered to himself, turning around a moment later in a hurry.
"Falco! Give me your pocket knife!" He said, holding his hands out to catch it as it was tossed to him. He flicked it open, working gingerly around the sides of the bags.
"Oh my god…" Brea whispered, seeing one of the blue ears poke out the top after a moment. "It… it can't be…"
"Fox! Krystal! They're alive!"
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"Entry Team to TOC! Entry Team to TOC! I need an escort for two hostages! I repeat, we've got to VIP hostages!"
In the command post, Moran listened on again.
"Copy, clarify."
"We've got Fox and Krystal in here! They're not dead!"
"What! Entry Team confirm!"
"Mei here, what the hell is going on?"
"Fox and Krystal are still alive. We're looking right at them. She's a little out of it, but he's wide awake. Looks like they had them bagged and gagged."
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"You guys okay?" Bryan asked, falling off onto a knee in order to assess his shoulder better, Brea began to assess Krystal's status.
"My shoulder hurts. And she's been silent for a long time." Fox said, Bryan watched as Fox's good hand grabbed his arm. He bit down on his fangs as everyone heard a pop.
"I've had to do it before." He commented, moving it around to make sure it was back in its place.
He was on his feet a moment later, wobbling slightly. "Krystal. Come on…" He said, slapping her cheek slightly. He continued to plead for a few minutes before she opened her eyes slightly.
"Fox… what's going on…"
He smiled up to her. "We're going home, Krystal."
Krystal's eyed opened right up as she looked around the room. Seeing everyone standing around her with big guns she guessed they must have raided the warehouse. Fox hugged his mate close, picking her up. He was lead out to the landmaster where Slippy was waiting for him.
"F-f-f-fox! You're alive!"
Meanwhile, TOC was calling out over the radio.
"TOC to M-TAC, Mission Complete, copy?"
They were met with static.
"TOC to M-TAC, copy?"
"Officer down! We're taking heavy causalities!"
"Copy! Medics on alert!"
Looks were exchanged amongst the agents and squads on scene.
"TOC to M-TAC, status report. Do you copy?"
"I repeat, TOC to M-TAC, you guys okay? We've lost visual on your cams."
Mei gave Bryan a worried look, he in turn, turned to Jackie.
"How much ammo did we bring?"
"Enough for a three week war."
"Good." He replied, turning to the team. "Guys! Restock and get ready to roll. We're moving to assist M-TAC."
"DCTU to TOC, responding to officer down call, code three."
"Copy, we can't get any contact with them at all. Last known location was on the fourth floor. Just a floor below the stronghold."
"Copy." Bryan said, jumping into his unit, the other units lined up behind his, their lights flashing and sirens starting up.
"Dispatch to TOC and all Field and Patrol units, we are on a city wide tactical alert BCC on TAC 1. That our highest alert."
"TOC, we copy."
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"Fall back! We're taking fire!"
"Where are they shootin-"
"Jack! Respond!"
"Man down!"
"Check the radios!"
"They're all dead!"
The shouts were barely hear over the gun and plasma fire. Both sides exchanged fire, and both incurred heavy loss, thought M-TAC more than Darkness. TOC was trying to get through to them, but some sort of jamming device had kicked in after they had cleared the third floor. They were cut off without back up, only gargles were able to get through the radio.
By the time any of them realized it was an ambush, it was too late. They were taken hostage, or killed.
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"Alright guys, we're rushing the doors when we get there. Last known contact was the third floor, probably a jamming device. Grab you heat and night vision, we'll cut the power. Copy?"
"Copy that."
"Ok."
"Lets do this."
"Good luck guys." Fox's voice came over the radio, it must have been from the ambulance.
"Dispatch, we are on scene and beginning assault."
"Copy."
Doors were slammed and combat boots met pavement as the ran for the doors.
"Alright, cover the room, check for survivors. Basically, two and two." Bryan said, pointing around him at the bodies.
He felt the tap on his back, telling him that he was covered. They moved around the room in teams of two, checking for survivors.
"I've got nothing but DOA's."
"Same here." Falco commented.
"Nothing different for me." Mei reported.
"Not a living soul." Jackie finished.
"Next floor up." Bryan said, pointing towards the stairs.
They had cleared the next two levels without incident. Though any of the terrorists they had found were dead until that point as well.
"Entry Team to TOC, anyone got the power?"
"We cut it when you entered the first level."
"Back up generators?" Brea asked.
"Probably." One of her team members scoffed.
"Alright, we'll adapt." Bryan finished. "Stack up on that door - open, bang, and clear. Also, toss in some CS and Stingers. We'll hit them with the full barrage." He continued, pulling out the opti-wand and scanning through the door while he talked. "We're looking at about fourteen moving bodies, tons on the ground too."
The team got into position, Brea had halted the entry in order to press her ear to the door, she could hear them talking through it.
"Oh man! What a massacre! They didn't stand a chance!"
"Oh yah. Boss says that that should be the last attack for the day. He says that the only other team to probably attempt to get in here would be DCTU, and he says that they would take the rest of the day to plan their attack."
"Donny said he saw some flashing lights out front. Though the vehicles looked unmarked. You don't think its them do you?"
"Nah, man! Stop worrying! Its probably a security force trying to keep us in."
"What should we do?"
"Hell if I know. We should just crash in the lounge. They've got some food there, its going to be a long night."
She turned back to the team. "Man, they've spotted our units, but they don't suspect its actually DCTU." She whispered, finishing placing the breaching charge Mei had handed her.
"Good, we can take this floor by surprise then."
"Last floor boss." Mei corrected.
"Right two below, four above. Six. Alright, lets make it count. Blow it, lets get moving."
Brea nodded, taking a step away from the charge. The door flew open and the grenades were tossed in. Various yells and curses were heard among the compliance shouts from the officers - shots were fired and in moments, every suspect in the room was down.
"Check for survivors!" Bryan yelled, checking around a corner.
"Man, the entire M-TAC team was wiped out." Mei said, standing back up after kneeling down to check on a fallen comrade.
"Wait… we're missing their commander." Brea said, looking around the room again.
"She must have been taken… alright, we'll split up. Mei, take a few and go that way. I'll take the rest and head for that hallway. If you find Akita or Jillian, call over the radio."
"Got it."
"Get moving."
Mei tagged a few of the element's members and began down the hallway. Meanwhile, the rest of the team began moving towards the original hallway. It had only taken a few rooms before they had found the main office - the secretary's desk was a dead give away. And once again, the wand was used to look under the door.
"Entry Team to TOC - I have two contacts in the four-one corner of the building. Its a corner office. One appears to be Akita... can't get a fix on the second, though he or she appears to be struggling against some bounds." Bryan whispered into his radio, being all to weary of the fact that Akita might hear them.
"Copy. Proceed with caution."
"Lets get a C2 charge and some CS in there."
"Got it boss."
The charge was placed on the door and the countdown started. Brea had already jumped the radio, telling Mei's team that they had both targets and were beginning their assault. She had responded that her team would continue clearing out the remaining rooms on their end.
The countdown had ended - it was now or never.
The door burst open from the blast and the canister was tossed into the room, filling it was tear gas in seconds as the assault team entered with weapons high.
"Police! On the ground!"
"Hands up!"
"Clear!"
"Akita Ra Van, you are under arrest." Brea began, handcuffing Akita roughly. Bryan was checking on the M-TAC staff sergeant.
"Hey, you alright?"
"They... they're all dead..."
"She's going into shock." Brea announced, handing Akita over to Katt who gave him a good whack on the head before pushing Bryan out of the way.
"Get Mei here! Right now!"
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"Order! Order in my court!"
The noise died down to a dull roar before dieing out completely.
"Akita Ra Van, you are charged with uncounted acts of murder, treason, and conspiracy to overthrow the government. How do you plea?"
"Not guilty."
The entire court room was once again ablaze with yells that died out as the gravel was banged on the desk.
"I said order!"
"How can he plea 'not guilty'! Everone knows he did it! You fucking liar!"
The courtroom fell to a hush as someone else was yelling now.
"We all saw it happen! You killed them all! The attacks were planed and carried out by you and your people!"
"Order!"
"Change your plea! You lying bastard! Change it!"
"I will do no such thing."
"I said order!"
The DCTU staff and 'family' was sitting in the back of the room, each watching the scene unfold. Though they weren't ready for what happened next. A gun was pulled from under the yelling fur's jacket as he rushed the bench, pointing it at Akita.
"I said change it!"
Bryan exchanged looks with the team before getting up, just as four shots rang out.
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"During the trail of the century, Akita Ra Van was attacked and killed in the courtroom by a distraught family member of one of the victims of the Darkness Clan. The Darkness Clan was run by Akita Ra Van and was the result of many, many deaths over these past few months. And, thanks to the men and women of our Military and DCTU, all of Corneria can sleep peacefully tonight, knowing that they can wake up tomorrow without fearing a terror attack. This is..."
"Anyone else troubled by the fact that he died on our watch?" Katt asked, looking around the room.
"Not really... he did kill thousands. He tried to kill us, and Ivan's in a coma because of him... nope - no sympathy here." Falco responded, setting a drink down in front of her.
"I don't know... guess I should be slightly bothered by it..." Bryan admitted, just as Brea came into the room.
"Guys, I have an announcement to make. I'm not who I say I am." She began, taking deep breaths.
The entire room exchanged glances before shouting back at her. "We know!"
"What?"
"Well, I confirmed it for myself when you asked to borrow my Do As Infinity CD's." Mei said.
"I've known since I met you." Krystal added.
"I've known for a month." Fox commented, pulling his mate closer to him.
"Same here." Katt followed up.
"I've known since you came over here." Falco said.
"Dean told me he's known since Ivan told him." Slippy said.
"And Ivan found it out by the way you talk." Fox added.
"You've all known? And no one said anything?"
"We just figured you would tell us when you were ready." Krystal commented.
"We also know you have a crush on some one." Katt continued, grinning so hat her fangs were bared. "No fair! People need to tell me these things!" Brea protested. "But really, everyone is fine with this? It doesn't feel weird."
"Not at all."
"Well then... i'm going to take a shower." Brea finished, heading up the stairs. Bryan looked out over the room. "You guys are evil."
"And you need to go confess something to a certain someone." Mei tossed back, hiding her smile behind a book.
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Bryan had stepped out onto the balconey, though to his surprise, he found Brea leaning over the egde, watching the city below.
"Its amazing how everything gets back to normal so quickly." She said, not turning around to face him.
"Yah... bet you didn't see that coming? Everyone knowing..."
"I guess I kind of did. So? What do you guys plan on doing now? Without Earth around to go back home to... you're stuck here."
"What do you mean 'back home'? Far as i'm concered, we've protected it, saved it, lived on it for some time - Corneria's our new home. Sides, since Pepper let us set up shop here and continue running like we always did, we'll be around. No doubt we'll still be facing some threats around here."
"Just like old times?"
"You could say that..."
"What's changed?"
"Well… you're in a new body, Ivan's still in the hospital… we're living on a planet full of furs… lots of stuff."
"I guess." She sighed. "Oh well, what can you do?"
"Nothing."
"Hey guys!" Jackie was calling from the sliding door. "We're heading out to celebrate, think you to can pull apart long enough to drive there?"
It had been now that the two realized how close they really were. They jumped back before nodding at Jackie. "Yah, lets go."
Walking back through the living room they passed Krystal who watched them closely before grinning up at Fox.
"I told you." She whispered.
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"Alright, alright! Ready? To DCTU and Star Fox on their victory over the Darkness Clan once and for all!" Bill called, raising his glass in the air. Everyone responded happily as they clinked the glasses around before drinking it down.
"One more!" Fox called out. "To the team for saving me and Krystal."
Once again they clank and drank.
"And a final toast to those who can't be here with us tonight. They'll be with us always." Mei finished up, downing the rest of her drink.
"Who wants another round?" Falco called out.
"Dispatch to all units. Unknown situation in progress, possible hostage situation. Advice."
"Our shift has been over for six hours." Jackie stated, looking at her watch.
"So?" Katt asked.
"She's right. One more fight for the night guys?"
Xxx End xxX
Insert action movie theme here…
A/N Last chapter guys, what did you think? I know, probably wasn't the best but… eh - it'll have to do for now. I was almost going to end this by adding some pairings but… I didn't feel like anyone was quite ready for what I wanted to do so it'll have to wait.
See yah round.