"So Percy's combining nukes with a satellite? Is that even possible?" Sean was the first person able to speak after watching the video Nikita had found. It was a lot of information to take in at once. Sean and Alex had just survived a nuclear reaction at a plant, Division had killed nuclear scientists, and Percy had hijacked an old weapons defense system with plans to use it to torment the world. None of that should've been possible, yet it was. The plot straight out of a cheesy B-movie sci-fi was undoubtedly real. The rogues had reached a point in their war that was way over their heads. What the hell were they supposed to do with nuclear satellites.
"According to Project Cross Bow, yeah," Lamely indicating the staticky TV screen, Birkhoff explained the tech and computer science behind the satellite program and the use of nukes. The military had been on the right track when they thought up the defense system; they simply didn't have the technology in the 1980s to develop it. Division, however, had too much advanced technology. Percy could do whatever he wanted with it. Apparently, that 'whatever' was world domination. Of course he wouldn't settle for less.
"How do we shut it down? Can we shut it down?" Alex asked, attempting to not let panic choke her voice. She hadn't been able to understand what Birkhoff was talking about, the technobabble going over her (and the rest of the team's) head. Yet she knew Percy in charge of satellites and nuclear material was horrific. The team had to put an end to it immediately. Two of them had already almost been killed because of it. Who knew what the next attack might've looked like. They knew it'd be bad, though. It'd be so much worse if they couldn't stop it.
"It's running off ancient tech, unhackable. We'd have to break into Division to get it offline. It's impossible," Birkhoff tried not to sound pessimistic, but he couldn't see any other option. The team was screwed. They had finally crashed into a wall, and they couldn't find a way to climb over it. What defense even was there against nuclear material. Kendrick and the CIA were well aware of the threat; they were far better equipped than the rogues, and they still had no clue what to do. The best the team could probably do was run. Their only option left was to run far away and never look back.
Despite Birkhoff's bleak outlook that should've been heeded, Nikita was trying desperately to think of another way. She wasn't willing to give up. She had not fought for years, just to give up when it became too difficult. Everything she had done, everything the team had been through, would've been for nothing. She couldn't let that be their fate. The rogues deserved better. The bright future with happy endings they strived so hard for couldn't be given up. There was always another way. And after pacing around, forcing herself to think of alternatives, Nikita thought she found one, "I wouldn't say 'impossible'. We could sneak in there."
"'There' as in Division?" Michael didn't want to believe a single word his fiancée said. He must've misheard her. There was no way she was thinking what he thought she was thinking. He couldn't afford the luxury of being right, however. Nikita had had rash and insane ideas before, but that had to have been the worst. What she was proposing was suicide. Sure, the team couldn't just give up and run away. But they couldn't sacrifice their lives either. There had to be a happy medium. There had to be an actual solution.
"Did you hit your head?" Examining Nikita for any nasty blows to the head, Birkhoff wondered. She pushed him away, yet his doubt held firm. Breaking into Division was a one way ticket to hell. Dozens upon dozens of psychotic killers would descend upon them the instant the team stepped foot in the bunker. There was no chance of survival. And even if they could make it past the agents- which was incredibly slim- Percy would be notified of their presence instantly. He'd set off the next attack before they could stop it. They lost no matter what.
"I'm serious. If the only way to shut it down is from the inside, then we sneak in and do it," Call her a sore loser, beyond stubborn, an idiot, whatever, but Nikita wasn't going to lose. If their only option was to invade Division, then they invaded Division. It had to be that simple. Everything else around them was way too convoluted with nukes and satellites and Bond-like supervillains. The solution had to be simple. It was how it all made sense and it all seemed manageable. The team could still win. They still had to be able to win. What would happen to them if they couldn't.
"Yeah. And risk getting killed," Michael didn't care that his stress was so audible- let his fear rattle his words. He also didn't care that he was shutting down the team's best and only viable option. He had said it before, and he would scream it again, he couldn't lose Nikita. That was the worst possible outcome. So what if they went on the run and they constantly had to watch their backs for Division. At least they'd still be together. He'd much rather that, than lose the person he loved most.
"Ryan, is the silo still a viable point of entry?" Ignoring her fiancé, Nikita turned towards her partner and the only other former Division field agent in the room. Only Michael and Birkhoff had voiced their disapproval of her idea. Alex had stayed silent, having no idea which side to argue for; both had their positives and negatives. Sean was lost in thought, seriously considering the idea. And Ryan just stared between his fighting teammates. He had learned to keep his mouth shut during those arguments. He wasn't going to share his thoughts.
Mostly, he wouldn't do so because he knew Nikita was right. As insane and dangerous as it was, infiltrating Division was the only way to stop Percy. Ryan knew it the instant Birkhoff told them of their odds. The team couldn't allow the bastard to run around unchecked with nuclear material. That was why they had involved Kendrick and the CIA in the first place. No matter what hell Percy planned on unleashing, the team of rogues had to stop him. If it became a suicidal run, then so be it. The evil had to be defeated. Nikita's plan had to be followed through, "You can still get in and out through there, yeah."
"Then we sneak in, dismantle the harddrives, sneak out, and no one would know. The shaft leads directly to the server room. It's not that great of a risk," Pacing the room once more, Nikita tried to downplay the danger the team was facing. She knew if one little thing went wrong, they would lose everything. One or more of them could die, and that was a heartbreak none of them wished to experience. Yet they had to try. The rogues had always tried and persisted. They just had to try one more time- one more time then they could rest for good.
Shaking his head, Michael was determined to not let the topic go. There had to be better. The team could do better than make a suicide run at Division and Percy. If that was to be their last stand, let it be their last stand before they lived happily ever after. Death should never be an option for them. And infiltrating Division was death, it didn't matter how it was spun. The risk was too great to take. His fiancée had to see reason. She had to be rational, not just automatic, "Are you kidding me? It's a huge risk. If Percy catches you…"
"Then you can come with me and watch my back, while Ryan loops Kendrick in. He knows Percy best, he's worked with him for years. He'd be able to help the CIA track the bastard's play and do something about it. As for you, I'll need my partner by my side," Nikita interrupted. Her fiancé had every right to argue with her and fight the idea. Maybe eventually they could've come up with a better plan. Yet the team didn't have the time. Percy had all the power; he wouldn't hold back on that for long. The rogues had to strike immediately and with greater force than they had before.
Informing Kendrick, the CIA- hell- the whole government of Percy's nuclear capabilities was one way the team could jump ahead. It wasn't just them anymore. The rogues could have help. The thought was powerful enough to finally calm Michael (that, and Nikita admitting she always needed him). It also put the argument to bed for the time being. The team could keep building off the idea, and formulate a concrete plan. Sean was quick to insert his two cents. He was ready for whatever they could do to save the world, "I'm sure there's going to be outside security measures to take care of."
"Two agents in the farm above. Killing them would send Division an alert. But you and Alex could hold them up," Recalling the extra security measures that were put in place after she and Michael had first started their war against Division, Nikita informed Sean. She honestly didn't think the agents in the barn would be that much trouble. Alex and the Seal could handle them without problem. The two could be Michael's and Nikita's extra eyes and ears as they descended into hell. They'd be the perfect backup.
"Give us the intel and we can do it," Nodding in agreement, Alex sounded more determined than she felt. She was sure Nikita was right. They could save the day and themselves. There were just so many unknowns that could destroy them so easily. And with them separated on different assignments, and some of their skills not sharp enough to take on Division, the odds were stacked against the team. The rogues would have to bring their best, follow the plan exactly, and trust their new governmental allies. Only that could see them through.
"I gotta say, Nikki. This is the craziest plan you've come up with yet," Not ready to jump aboard the crazy train, Birkhoff huffed. As more information and ideas were shared, he was becoming more comfortable with the mission- it seemed less suicide run, more insane venture. However, he couldn't let go of his apprehensions. He knew all too well the monstrous and horrific things Percy could do. All of those would be inflicted on the team with extreme prejudice once they were caught. The hacker wouldn't sit behind his computer and let that happen. He was done being a bystander as his friends were hurt.
"I don't care, Nerd! I have been running, and running, and running all my life. I'm sick of it! We're attacking Percy, once and for all. He and Division end tonight. That's it," Nikita snapped, rounding on the nerd. Her anxiety and desperation had finally lapsed into lividity. She couldn't be conscious of everyone's anxieties and fears. She felt hopeless and uncertain as well. But that fucking mission was what the team had to do. Save the world, stop running, it was their one and only purpose.
"Right. Then we better get to work. Ryan brings in the government, Birkhoff quarterbacks from here, Sean and Alex get us in. Nikita and I will infiltrate," Michael diffused the tension by issuing orders. He was fully on board with the operation from that moment on. If Nikita wanted to stop running, then they were going to stop running. The rogues' fighting wasn't for nothing. Their enemies were finally going to pay. Sean, Alex, and Ryan nodded their agreement and took off to prepare for their last battle.
Birkhoff, on the other hand, lingered in the room with Michael and Nikita. Of course he would hop on his computer and provide the necessary tech support- the insanity of the operation had no relevance on whether he'd do that or not. But he had to say something to Nikita first. It wasn't so much of an apology; she understood his fear and why he felt the need to argue. He just wanted to get something off his chest first, in case that was it- in case that was the last time he ever saw his friend, "Hey, Nikki, I just want to say, if this is the last time we see each other…"
"Birkhoff, don't remind me…" Before Nikita could quip about her ass being on the line, and how she didn't want to be reminded that she was about to die, Birkhoff kissed her. It wasn't a deeply passionate or desperate kiss. It was simply an affection two close friends might share in a highly emotional moment. Afterwards, he even wished that the Force would be with her. The action expressed more than words could. He cared deeply about her, and she felt the same. Although they annoyed one another to no end, their friendship was strong. That care should be enough to give them hope.
"Mikey, you can kick my ass when you get back," As Michael stared unamused at the nerd, Birkhoff promised. The former analyst just huffed, and watched the nerd return to his computer. Nikita ignored the men. Her thoughts returned to the mission at hand, and the disastrous consequences that might arise. She was the one to insist they invade Division, yet a small seed of regret was beginning to bloom in her chest. What if she was leading those she loved most to their deaths. They had all agreed to follow her blindly, but what if that was the wrong choice. She couldn't lose her fiancé or her friends. They couldn't die either.
"This is insane, right," Nikita muttered, eyes downcast. Michael scoffed beside her, causing her to glance back up. He was glaring at Birkhoff, still annoyed about the kiss. She sighed. She wasn't talking about the nerd, though the kiss he gave her was surprising. She was far more concerned about the op. They were acting as though it was their last battle. But would it really be their last battle in a good way. Or had their luck run out, "I meant the mission. It has to work. I don't want to be the reason we lose all of our happy endings. I don't want to… my worst fear is dying in that hellhole without you."
"We're not going to lose our happy endings. You can't get rid of me that easily," Instantly grabbing his fiancée's hand in his, Michael placed a kiss on her knuckles. Nikita returned the gesture. She squeezed tight, needing all the reassurance he could give. Fear and apprehensions had to disappear. Doubt couldn't cloud their minds or their judgement. It was time for the rogues to kick ass and save the day, just as they had countless times before. Yes that time was different, but only because they were ending their war. Division would end, and they would survive.