Bryan woke up to the sound of an alarm going off. He had dozed off on the couch and was now being shaking, violently, by someone.

"Get up! There's been an attack!" Krystal was yelling at him.

He rubbed his eyes before rolling onto his side... and off the couch.

"Whenever your ready, we'd like to go." By the sound of her voice, Brea wasn't in much a mood either.

"What's going on?" Bryan asked, snapping to his senses and pulling himself off the floor.

"Dracous called a few minutes ago, Aramov's troops have stormed Military HQ. They picked the worse day to do it too since most of the base's troops are out on assignment. Only a few select reserve troops were left behind." Falco said.

"Didn't James' trip to the base happen today?" Krystal suddenly asked, looking around for an answer, worried.

"Oh my god..." Brea gasped.

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"I need you to stay behind the line!"

Cops were yelling at the press as the DCTU convoy rolled past.

"As you can see, the police have called in the big guns today. DCTU, Corneria's M-TAC on the go, has arrived to take control and eliminate the threat." Bryan had overhead the reporter as the drove under the line and past him.

"Alright guys, we've got high ranking officials, workers, and school children in that building. There is just no room for error today." Bryan stated, looking out among his own troops. "And it gets better. Two of our own are trapped inside that building. They've noted that almost fourteen pounds of Syntax is planted around the building. We all know what that can do."

"Wait a minute." Mei broke in. "Who's inside?"

"Well for one, Bill. Not to mention that Katt was here dropping off paperwork." Bryan answered, noticing Mei's glance at the building. "It's safe to say that they won't be targeted since they're not really an official part of our main DCTU group." He said, trying to put her fears at rest.

"Also, we're going to have to ask Fox and Krystal to sit this raid out."

"What?" Fox yelled. "Why? That's our kid in there!"

"Exactly. You have way too much emotion in there. We can't risk you getting yourself killed." Brea responded, putting a hand on his shoulder. "You trust us, right?" She asked.

"Today is going to be a very big day for us guys. Even with the troop presence, we're going in groups of two, three at max. Split into your elements and get into position. We raid in half an hour."

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"Now look," Silver said, pointing to the blue prints of the building. "Camera and CYPHER surveillance tells us that no one is roaming the compound past the main offices. This also tells us that the hostages are being kept in one of the two floors for the bomb shelter below the Military base. Anyone outside that place is a guard."

"What's our mission directive?" Jackie asked.

"Simple. Sweep and save. Kill any terrorist, save any hostage. We do not take prisoners today. With a single exception, Aramov. If we can, we take her alive."

Bryan felt a tap on his shoulder, only to find who he least expected behind him.

"Carmen! What are you doing here!"

"I came to help. Listen, Aramov's troops are tried to an extent. Chances are most of her higher ups will be with her in the bunker, along with the explosives. However, she isn't that smart with demolition. Knowing her, the main charge will be there, but the smaller, more damaging charges will be up in the main base." She paused. "How is this stupid, you may ask? Cutting power to the upper floors will disable the smaller charges. As for the main charge? If you can get into the bunker, a simple jamming signal will take care of the main charge. Explosives aside, her patrols are your main concern. If they're a 'natural' soldier, then a simple kill shot will do it. Cloned? Use some sort of electrical charge to short out the wiring in their brain." Carmen said.

"Like a tazer?" Mei asked, holding her's up.

"Exactly. Since they're all controlled by her, they receive live orders via COMlink. Short them out, or destroy the hub, you're set."

"Thanks." Bryan said. "Now, get back behind the barrier."

"What, not even a kiss on the cheek?" Carmen asked, only to hear a low growl coming from Brea. "Easy! I was only joking!" She said, heading for the units.

"Lets get moving." Brea said, grabbing Bryan by his arm. Silver following them, securing the straps for his vest.

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"Everything is clear and the smaller charges are disabled." Mei reported, pulling her knife from the throat of a guard that got a little to close to her. She wiped the blade on her camouflage pants before putting the knife back in it's guard.

Dean was so used to the spray of blood to follow that he didn't even cringe.

"Copy. We're just about set here too. See if you can't get that elevator up and running."

"I hear that boss." Mei said, heading for the computer terminal to her left. She plugged a small device into one of the ports and typed a few commands into the computer. A few seconds later it beeped twice.

"Elevators are back on-line. Though the displays aren't They'll never see us coming."

Meanwhile, Bryan, Brea, and Silver were done clearing General Pepper's office.

They were just about to walk out the door when Brea stopped in her tracks.

"Smell that?" She asked, looking back in on the office.

"Actually... yah, what is that?" Silver asked, looking in the same direction.

"Smell's like Katt's perfume." Brea answered, looking at Bryan sideways as he sniffed the air.

"I can't smell it."

"Yah well I can... and it's still strong... She's around here somewhere." Brea said, looking around before bolting to the farthest corner of the room, looking at a couple of the framed documents.

She slung her rifle over her shoulder, grinning as she turned the degree sideways and the trap door slid open. Bryan and Silver entered with their flashlights on their weapons on and forward.

Katt covered her eyes as the light blinded her, her other arm gripping the child in her arms tighter. She cringed fearing her end until the light was lowered and her eyes focused a little better.

"Heh," She said with a sheepish grin. "Hey guys... working hard?"

"Yah, you two alright?" Silver asked, kneeling down as Brea entered the room too.

"Yah, Pepper showed us this when the first shots were fired. They took him away though... Bill too."

"We'll find them. You sure you're alright?" Bryan said, reaching for his radio.

"Positive."

"Guys, we've found Katt and James. They were held up in a hidden room in the General's office. No sign of Pepper nor Bill though. Intel says they were taken into the shelter."

"Copy. Trailers incoming."

Bryan nodded. "Alright, stay out of sight you too. Got it?"

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The occasional access light was the only thing that lighted up the tunnel as the ten or so agents rode on top of the elevator.

"Alright guys. We're going to face heavy resistance in tight quarters. We may suffer a loose or two... but if you guys didn't know that or didn't accept it, you wouldn't be here... would you..." Bryan said.

A collective nod and sigh took over the group.

The elevator came to a stop and the doors below opened. They looked at each other from a last time before any of them spoke.

"Anything anyone wants to get off their chest before we rush in?" Brea asked.

"Yah, actually." Mei said, turning to Dean. "You're a real pain in the ass some times, you know that? But... I wouldn't want anyone else covering me." She finished. Dean simply nodded in agreement.

"As for me? I have to say that my life was normal until I met you crazy people. There was no furs, no daily gun fights, and diffidently no fire throwing wolves... but with all that said... I really can't imagine things any other way." Jackie said, being sure to point out Silver.

"You know Bryan... you never did answer me." Brea said, leaning into him slightly.

"That's true isn't it..." He said, an arm going around her shoulder.

"Well, since it's a possibility that we're both the last people we're ever going to see... want to answer me now?" She asked. Bryan just shook his head.

"If I keep you waiting, you'll fight harder to stay alive." He said with a grin, jumping through the access panel and into the elevator. already firing shots.

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"The police are raiding!" A guard called out before his skull exploded due to the impact from a round fired from Brea's M4. Everyone was firing full force, covering as the other reloaded and so on.

Bryan felt a few rounds impact his vest, and they stung, but he kept moving forward. They turned another hallway and kept moving, killing guards as they went.

It was a complete war zone down there. Shots were exchanged at a rapid pace between the forces as DCTU advanced foot by foot. Bodies littered the ground as they hit the set of doors that would lead down to the second bunker floor.

"Dean, Mei, Jackie, and Falco. Hang back with the hostages. If our intel is right, only Aramov and three of her generals are below. Get the hostages out. Got it?"

"Only three of you, Bryan? You sure?" Mei asked. "What if our intel is wrong and there's more than that..."

"Then our names will be appearing on the Fallen Hero's Wall outside our building, right next to Kyle's. Now go!"

The four nodded, jogging back to the hostages. Bryan turned to face the door, taking a deep breath to calm his nerves.

"This is it guys. We go in, we shoot and kill, or we die. If you're scared, now's the time to say so."

Silver just grinned. "You kidding me? I live for this. Sides, there isn't anyone else I'd rather die next to with honor then you guys."

"What about you Brea?"

The feline gulped, taking a step forward before mumbling something and kicking the door with her boot, effectively opening it. She stepped inside, crouching in the stairway, waiting for the males.

"What did she just say?" Silver asked, turning to Bryan and noticing the look on his face.

"Semper Fi." He repeated, following her in.

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"Think they're alright?" Mei asked as they rode the elevator back up with the hostages.

"I say as soon as we get these guys to the barricade we come right back down." Falco said, noticing Dean cradling his shoulder. "Something wrong?"

"Looks like my adrenaline rush is wearing thin. Looks like I took a hit." He said, applying pressure to stop the bleeding. Mei handed him a bandage. "Yah well, don't die yet. Bryan would kill you if you did."

Dean grunted and nodded in response.

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Brea was panting hard as she gripped her rifle tighter.

"Man! That was a firefight!" She called over to Bryan who nodded and looked over his shoulder.

"How you doing, Silver?"

"I'll be fine." The wolf grunted. "Just a scratch... and if not... who's complaining?"

"You know... you three have been noting but trouble to me." A voice came from behind the closed doors ahead. The opened to reveal Aramov, safely behind some sort of shield.

"Ah, the head bitch herself." Brea grumbled, her rifle ready to fire.

"Put a leash on your cat." Aramov chuckled to Bryan, only to jump as four rounds bounced off her shield.

"It would appear that you have taken out more of my men... I am most displeased."

"What can I say... they were fools to follow you." Bryan threw back.

"Maybe." And she brushed the hit right off. "But they are dead, so they have no say."

She pushed a button and the shield flickered as the doors shut slowly.

"I have a chopper waiting for me, I really must go." She said as the shield disappeared slowly and four shots were heard.

Bryan flinched at first, only to realize he wasn't hit. Though he could clearly see Aramov grinning. He looked over and almost tossed his lunch.

"Brea!" He yelled rushing to her side. She was breathing, thankfully, but the shots looked painful.

"I'm fine." She whispered. "You only die once." She reassured him.

Bryan turned to see the elevator Aramov was stationed in starting to move up. The heavy steel doors starting to close as well. He looked back at her as the door swung open and Mei, Dean, and Jackie all rushed in.

Bryan layed Brea back down for Mei to take care of as he ran to the doors. He looked back one last time, whispering so only Brea could hear.

"Yes."

And with that, he jumped the gap, grabbing on to the service ladder, just as the doors slid closed.

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A/N: Second to last chapter here! Last one will be longer, this one is just setting up for the last one.

For anyone who doesn't know, or is wondering, Semper Fi means 'always loyal' or 'always faithful'. It's used by the US Marine Corps as a way of saying that you're never alone on the battlefield. It's hard to explain it in text without conveying the deepness of the meaning to anyone who's ever heard it and understood the meaning as deep as some do.

Anyone in a high risk job, such as an Emergency Service or SWAT, or even in the Military as well knows just how much these words mean to you when it comes from a teammate.

Till next time.