Chapter 7: Wrath
We interrupt this program to bring break news, a few hours ago simultaneous attacks across several cities in America came under attack by the terrorist group called the True Patriots.
Cities that have been confirmed to be under attack are San Francisco, New York City, Chicago, Great Lake City …
Despite early responds from the National Guard, the True Patriot has managed to push them back …
I just received word that the President has ordered military troops to reinforce the National Guard, only time will tell if this military action will end the True Patriots campaign.
Anderson mansion
Royal Woods, Michigan
The moment Sarah saw the news, she tried to call every single one of her children and Aaron who happens to be at Great Lake City for a business deal. Sadly, none of her calls went through even the ones to the Casagrandes.
She then called her former CIA handler for an update on the situation in Great Lake, unfortunately all she heard were bad news.
From what she gathered, the situation in others cities is improving thanks to the intervention of the Rainbow Six, Fourth Echelon and United States Ghost Recon unit but this also meant that they are now stretch thin due to the number of attacks and cities that do not have their support, have to make do with their local National Guard until the military can arrive to reinforce them and sadly Great Lake is one of those cities without support.
"I wish I say I have good news Sarah but I don't have any. I've already done all I can to divert a military company to Great Lake, any more and other cities will be left without any support. I-I'm sorry." Said the handler and hang up.
'It's not enough, it's not enough to stop The True Patriots.' Was all Sarah could think at the moment. She has the means to help liberate Great Lake City but an operation of that scale would likely get her in trouble with the upper echelon in The Division.
It was then Sarah realized one simple truth, the one truth that she has denied since she joined The Division. "ISAC connect me to my commander."
"Alert! Contacting of commanding officer will require level nine clearance. Please authenticate." ISAC requested.
"Authentication code Alpha One Six Seven Whiskey One." Sarah responded knowing that doing so means there's no turning back.
"Standby … Standby …. Code accepted, Agent Huntress. Connecting to Commander Hudson, Gabriel. Please procced to a room with a camera."
Sarah immediately went to her study, closed the door and the curtains completely darkening the room. A few moments later, a projection of her commander appeared in front of her.
"Sarah? Is that you? I was wondering who is bold enough to contact me. You know protocol, we are not to speak to each other unless –"
"Unless its for dire situation I know I swore the oath remember!" Said Sarah cutting off her commander.
Gabriel hasn't seen Sarah for a long time but seeing her outburst was a nostalgic sight though he has heard that she has become more calm and mellow since she adopted children, by how much he couldn't tell.
"Sarah, calm down. If you are asking me to authorize activation, well I can't do that. You and I both know that only the president can give that order. I'm sorry Sarah."
Sarah already knew that Division agents cannot be activate without a presidential order which is why she has to play her one card.
"Gabriel waits, what if I can get that order?" said Sarah.
Gabriel couldn't tell whether she was joking or not but then he began to remember that Sarah doesn't joke when its business. "Ok I'll humor you."
Sarah smiled knowing that she now has an opportunity and she know that it comes with a price. "ISAC connect us to Executive One."
"Standby … Standby … Connection established."
It was there when a projection of the president came into view, at first, he demanded to know why an agent called him but then he noticed it was Sarah who contacted him and readjusted himself to a calmer demeanor.
Sarah gave her case to both the president and her commander, explaining that activated agents can help bolster the National Guard defense at cities without any counter terrorism agencies aid. Noting on the fact that some agents are already present in some of the attacked cities.
Both the president and Gabriel can't help but agree that Division agents help hold the line but the president noted that activating agents would likely cause backlash to his administration and was going to decline activation until Sarah interrupted him.
"Wait Mr. President, you don't have to activate all the First Wave agents, you can do a selected activation of those near or in the cities and by doing so will help your image."
The president was confused at first but then Sarah explained that with the True Patriots attacking the public would look to him and with the activation of selected agents it will boost image by telling people that The Division was created for such circumstances.
The president ponders his options right now. It is true, the activation of Division agents would help alleviate the current situation and to activate a few First Wave agents would still keep their strength a secret but a decision like this needs the aid of his advisor.
"Give me a few moments, I need to speak my people about my option." The president then disconnected the connection leaving on Gabriel and Sarah alone for the moment.
It was a tense situation, neither side had anything to say to the other that is until Gabriel decided to break the ice. "Sarah, can I ask? Why are you so desperate to get an activation?"
Sarah didn't know how to answer as answering his question may put her intentions into doubt but she decided to tell the truth in the end. "My children Gabriel. It's because of my children are being held captive in Great Lake."
It all make sense now, her near irrational behavior and her determination to be activated, it was all because of her concern for her children's safety.
Sarah went on to explain herself and Gabriel listens intently, from what he gathered. Sarah concern was primarily on her children but what got his attention was how the True Patriots operate and that is the fact that they never take prisoners unless the person is of value.
With that knowledge in hand and combining it with the news about Great Lake City's situation, it didn't make sense. A few people taken hostage made sense to Gabriel but nearly the entirely city population, it didn't add up.
"Sarah, are you thinking that the cell in Great Lake has gone rogue?" Asked Gabriel.
"it's a possibility but I can't shake the idea that this maybe a target movement against me." Said Sarah which made Gabriel confuse.
"Look at it this way commander. What is one way to cover up a target of interest without rouse suspicion? The answer is to make it big enough scene that it would mask it. Hence the hostage taking."
It was then it hit him. He remembers a case that was similar to what Sarah just said, a crime where a few people were murder to mask the identity of a single target.
"Wait Sarah, are you trying to say that your children are the target?"
"That and anyone that I've ever love and care for. Something tells me that whoever is leading the Great Lake cell is likely someone who I had fought with when I was a Hunter. When I lead the offensive against the True Patriot back in the day."
When people joined the Division, their history is checked thoroughly. He is aware of Sarah history, at least most of them. He has read files on her history has a person who rose through the ranks until she became a lieutenant at a young age and her work against terrorism both in the middle east and beyond but he doesn't know of her role as a Hunter, that part was mostly redacted and she was mostly classified a wet work mercenary under a CIA contract.
Gabriel wanted to know more but by then the president had returned from his meeting and have made a decision.
"Agent Sarah, me and my people have talked and we have come to a decision." Said the president causing Sarah to wait with anticipation.
"I will approve activation." Both Sarah and Gabriel were happy to hear the news but the president continued. "But only for you."
It was a shock to hear, that he was only approving Sarah activation but the president requested that he be allowed to explain himself.
"I understand that this is not the outcome you desired but this is for the safety and security of both our nation and The Division. Making the organization known will not benefit us, your secrecy is paramount so our enemies will never get the drop on us." The president paused for a second to collect himself.
"But if one agent is activated, it would just seem like you are still an asset under the CIA. Given your history with the True Patriot. So, this is the only option you got and if you accept, I can divert the military support to Great Lake to other cities. So, agent do you accept your mission?"
The president waited for Sarah's reply while Gabriel was trying to process the absurdity of the proposal as he is practically telling her to commit suicide. Gabriel was about to help Sarah declined the proposal but she beat him to it.
"I accept the mission Mr. President and thank you." Said Sarah sternly to Gabriel's disbelief.
The president sighed as he was hoping that she would decline the proposal but now he has no choice but to grant her wish. "Very well agent from this day forward you are the first Division agent to be activate. You will protect our country from threat both foreign and domestic. All of our resources will be at your disposal and you will have command over all military or intelligence, only I, your commander in chief will be above you. Good luck to you agent and Godspeed."
Once the president cut off his line. ISAC alerted Sarah of her activation.
"Agent activation received. Agent Sarah Anderson, callsign Huntress is now activate duty."
With her goal met, Sarah is about to sign off until Gabriel wanted to tell her something.
"Sarah, wait for a moment. Are you sure about this? The only support you'll have is the National Guard. You …. You might die." Said Gabriel worryingly.
"Only the National Guard you say? Even if they are not as well equipped at the military but when used in the right way, even they can finish the job." Said Sarah as she signed off.
Gabriel was now less worried but the look in her eye before she signed off gave him chills. It was one of who has seen and given death, one who cannot be trifle with.
Two hours later
Great Lake City, Illinois
Captain Leon and his team of National Guardsmen, like every other National Guard were called to arms to defend or retake cities under attack by the True Patriots.
He and his men had managed to fight their way past the city's bridge and towards the city center when they are now bog down near the residential area. They tried several times to push through but the True Patriots have their position well defended.
Now all Captain Leon and his men can do is bunker down in one of the buildings and tend to their wounded and defend themselves from attacking True Patriots while awaiting military reinforcements. Little did he know he was about to receive more bad news.
"Come again? Corporal repeat what did you just say?" Said Leon in disbelief.
"T-The military company that was heading here, said that they were being divert to another city sir."
"B-But did they say whether another company is coming?"
"I'm afraid not sir, they said we might get some support but they sound unsure about it. I-I think we are on our own sir."
This was not what Captain Leon had expected to hear especially since he and his men are not in a good position right now. It was then a large explosion is heard outside.
"Captain Leon! The True Patriots are making a big push towards Checkpoint Five!"
Captain Leon immediately told his men at the checkpoint to pull back to his location but then other checkpoint from one to four are also experiencing similar situation.
The situation seem dire to him as the enemy has now surrounded them with little options left, Captain Leon ordered the rest of his men to pull back and prepare for a final defense.
When the last of his men have arrived and his injured are now as safe as they can be inside the building and now all they had to do is await the enemy to arrive.
It didn't take the True Patriots long for them to arrive and the numbers were greater than Captain Leon had expected, he and his men began to fight back but with each fallen enemy, they also take one of their own.
The situation was already grim for them but now it's getting even grimier but despite the situation Captain Leon and his men are prepared to die even though no support is coming, they would gladly die for their country.
Just then they can hear the distinct sound of a hummer coming towards their direction and then one of his men spotted something flying over their position. Captain Leon could see what it was but whatever it was, it was small but fast and then all of a sudden, one of the incoming True Patriots forces from checkpoint four had their position carpet bomb and then the ones from checkpoint five.
Captain Leon then spotted a black colored hummer coming in at high speed behind the True Patriot forces coming from checkpoint three. They began to open fire on the hummer but it didn't deter its approach one bit, instead it seems the driver is returning fire until he came ramming into them though the driver wasn't able to dispatch all of them but the ones who avoid the incoming hummer were quickly shot and killed.
The hummer came to a stop and positioned itself to form a barrier in front of the True Patriots from checkpoint two. The driver came out of the hummer and it seems to be a woman in her late thirties wearing a bulletproof vest and carrying all sorts of equipment.
"Are you the one in charge?!" said the woman who is now talking to Captain Leon.
Leon who is still dumbfounded about the situation took a few seconds later to realized the woman was talking to him. "Y-Yes that's me."
"That's good to hear. Gather your men and focus on those two chokepoints. I'll handle this one." The woman ordered.
Wanting to know who she was first but Leon had to prioritize the current situation first and ordered his men according to the woman's instruction.
With the pressure of being surrounded gone, Leon and his men were now more effective in defending their position but he still can help but worry about the mysterious woman. Once in a while, he would look over his shoulder to see how she was doing and to his surprise, she is doing better than expected.
A few minutes later, the last of the attackers finally fell and Leon and his men cheered in happiness that they have somehow survive the assault.
Once his men have settled down, he ordered his second in command to do an ammunition count and the number of casualties while he decided to speak to their savior.
Leon gave her a good look; she does look young for her age and she is highly familiar with her weapon from the way she is checking it but what caught his eye is the equipment she has.
One look like some kind of miniature automated turret and another is some kind of drone which could be the thing that was doing the carpet bomb. The equipment was surely advanced but he has never heard of any agency with that level of equipment, the only equipment that was unremarkable was a mask, a blank featureless mask that is sitting on the left side of her head.
"I can feel you staring at me. If you have something to say then say it and make it fast, I have a job to do." Said the woman.
Leon was taken aback by her abruptness but compose himself enough to talk with her. "Firstly, let me thank you for saving me and my men and secondly I need you to identify yourself. You said you have a job to do? Which organization do you represent?"
After the woman was done checking her equipment, she turned to Leon looking at him sternly. "My name is Sarah Anderson. My callsign is Huntress and I represent The Strategic Homeland Division or The Division for short."
The Division? Leon has never heard of the Division before he was about to ask her but she gave him a gesture telling him that the information is above his pay grade.
"Just know that the President has saw fit to activate me to assist with the situation here in Great Lake City." Said Sarah
"Activate? You mean there's more of you? How many are there?" Asked a soldier
"Sorry that information is classified." Said Sarah bluntly.
Leon and his men didn't like her answer especially since she represents an unknown organization whose existence is acknowledge by his president but then he remembered that she did save his life and that of his men, even if he didn't like the answers he got, he knows she is here to help.
"Fine, I don't like that you are keeping information but I do acknowledge the fact that you are here to help. Please tell us what to do!" Said Leon much to his men shocked.
Leon's men didn't like his decision to follow Sarah's instruction but he argued that without her help, they would have died and that silence any further grievances.
"I give you time to tell the rest of your men. I'll wait here till then." Said Sarah.
Leon nodded in acknowledgement and went to do as she said and just as he expected he was met with resistance but ultimately, they relented to his orders.
Leon then went over to Sarah with the few able-bodied men he had left and awaited her instruction. "We're ready for you ma'am."
Sarah looks over to Leon and his men and was slightly disappointed that there were so few but decided that she could make it work as she always have with the least number of resources.
"Ok everyone here's my plan." Sarah began to describe her plan as best as she can, by the end of it some found that it was reckless especially for her part.
"Ma'am are you sure about this, I can send some of my men to help you." Said Leon.
"No, your men will just slow me down. It's best I move alone, that way I can rescue the captives faster but it will only work as long as you have the True Patriots full attention." Said Sarah.
What Sarah said made sense but it still worried Leon that she was going in on her own and he insisted that she at least take two of his men with her.
Seeing that Leon was unwilling to relent, Sarah agreed. "So, are you all clear on the plan? Are you all ready? Once we leave, there's no turning back."
"We are ready ma'am!" Cheered Leon and his men in unison.
Sarah led Leon and his men to their target, the new Great Lake City sports stadium where the captives are being held and the bulk of True Patriots forces are based at now. Where her friends and her children are being held right now.
What will happen in the next few hours, she doesn't know but she knows what she must do and that is to save her children and put an end to this threat once and for all.
Sports Stadium, Great Lake City, Illinois
The sports stadium is one of Great Lake City's grandest marvels, it was constructed to help house the local sports team to practice or play their matches and now it is a place where terrorists are using as their base and where they are keeping nearly all the city's populace.
The bright side of this situation is that both the Casagrandes and the Anderson children are being held captive together and that the True Patriots has yet to harm any of them or any of the captives. They even placed minimal guards which is an odd behavior for vicious group of terrorists.
"If no one is going to say it then I will, don't you think it weird how they haven't done anything to us, well aside from capturing us." Said Ronnie Anne
Everyone did think it was weird but no one had an answer aside speculation.
"Hmm I have a theory." Said Lisa who now has everyone's attention. "It's likely that we are bait that might be why we are mostly unharmed."
It sounded ludicrous but at the same time somehow sounded just right, the only time that someone was harmed was on TV and he was only given a bruised nose.
"If we are bait then who are we bait for?" Asked Carlota.
Lisa pondered the question for awhile and can only come to one conclusion. "I believe it may be our mother."
"What!" Everyone exclaimed in unison causing one of the guards to shout at them to keep quiet.
"It's just a theory guys but I can't deny the fact that mother once mention she fought against a terrorist group that eventually led to a manhunt for her which in turn caused to led an attack on said group. I believe the True Patriots was that group." Said Lisa
The Casagrandes had no idea what she was talking about, so the Anderson children explain to them about their mother's history and after listening it was shocking to hear.
"I-I didn't know she had a hard life." Said Maria
"How could we, she was a reserve person back then and now I know why." Said Arturo.
"Does Aaron know? Does he know what she been through?" Asked Frida
Aaron Keener, ever since he first came into their lives, he has been like an uncle or a second father to them. Whenever he is free, he would help take care of them when they were younger especially the younger Andersons.
It was shocked to them, when he revealed their mother's secret but they were glad in the end as it helps them be closer but they knew that both of them didn't tell the whole story.
When they first came to the city, they were surprised to see Aaron even more so in a business suit. They of course invited him to join them for thanksgiving to which he promised to attend after he finished his work.
It was all joy and happiness by the time Aaron arrived, Rose Casagrande invited him in and gave him her signature Casagrande welcome with a bear hug and mountain of food. That all ended by the time the True Patriots launched their attack.
The news reported the attack and that they were rounding people up. Aaron immediately told everyone to start running and make their way to the city exit. they got into their cars and drove as fast as they could but by the time they got near the bridge, it was already jammed with a sea of cars.
They tried to make their way on food but the True Patriots arrived on the scene and begun capturing anyone behind them. They ran as fast as they could but when Lily fell and Carlitos tried to help her up, the True Patriot had already caught up to them.
Aaron tried his best to fend them off but there were too many and they were eventually captured.
When they first reached the stadium's entrance, the guards single Aaron out and escorted him somewhere else, until now everyone has no idea what has happen to him.
Suddenly the door slammed open and the guards were dragging a man into the room and tossing him like a baggage onto the ground.
Arturo and Maria hurriedly ran to the man and were shocked to discover that he was actually Aaron who has been badly battered and bruised all over.
"Fix him the best you can doctor. I want him to be conscious when she arrives." Said a gravel voice.
The voice came from a man who is standing at the entrance of the door although he was wearing the same outfit as the rest of the guards. Everyone in the room can tell that he is the leader of this True Patriot cell.
"How could you be so cruel! This man is barely breathing as it is!" Said Maria.
The man just chuckled at her statement as if he had heard something funny. "Then I wasn't hard enough on him. What he is feeling now, is barely any close to what I feel every day."
"Why?! Why him?! Why do you harm him so badly and leave the rest of us alone?!" Asked Maria.
The guards seemed like they were about to restraint Maria for her defiant attitude to their leader until he signaled them to stop with a raise of his hand. After that he remove his balaclava mask to reveal a badly burned face and then he removed his gloves and rolled up his sleeves to reveal badly burned arms.
"You wanted to know why; well, this is your answer."
Seeing his head and arms are both badly burned, Lisa deduced that likelihood his entire body is equally the same and the burned man saw the look in her eye and smiled menacingly.
"You are a smart little girl, you are right, eighty percent of my body is badly burned and its thanks to your mother."
Both the Casagrandes and the Anderson children were shocked that Sarah would do something so savage.
"D-D-Don't you dare twist the narrative y-y-you scum." Said Aaron who now is awake.
"Oh, by all means then please tell us, tell us how Sarah did this to me." Said the man gleefully.
Everyone turned their attention to Aaron who is struggling to sit up even with Arturo and Maria's help. Once he felt comfortable, he began telling the story of how Sarah, Aaron and the burned man met.
As it was the burned man name is Ian Knight and he was the son of a senator who joined the army at the same time as both Sarah and Aaron with ambitions of his own to be a senator himself one day.
Aaron described how close they were during training and were assigned to the same squad but that all changed on a certain day. It was the day Ian was chosen to be squad leader for civilian rescue mission.
They were told to evacuate the local hospital but the enemy had gotten to their location early. The sight of Ian's men being killed one after the other was too much for him and he ran leaving Sarah, Aaron and the rest of his men behind.
After that Ian was put on trial and Sarah agree to testify against him. He was charged with desertion and remained in jail for the remainder of his tour.
After that most of his history was a mystery that is until the day Sarah had retired from military service and decided to be a mercenary. According to Aaron, Sarah and Ian met again as enemies and by that time he was already a member of the True Patriots back when they were at the height of their power.
Ian was part of the crew that were assigned to hunt her and her men down, they had expected to put down a wounded animal but instead it turned out to be a trap by a vicious pack of wolves.
Ian then explained that Sarah had tracked down the True Patriots main base of operation and from there it was a one-sided slaughter. Some tried to hide, others begged for mercy and most tried to fight back and by the time they were done. They set the place on fire burning everything down.
"I survived that horror because of the fallen bodies of my comrades who were stacked on top of me but obviously I did come out unscathed." Said Ian.
Ian went on and told everyone he spent years afterwards to help rebuild the True Patriots but it was mostly so he could have his revenge on Sarah for destroying his life and killing his friends.
"Well can you blame her when you killed her friends first!" Said Lola much to everyone surprise. "You blame her for everything but in fact you actually brought upon yourself, your desertion, your scars and everything else. You say revenge but you are just being pity right now. If anyone has any right for revenge is my mother!"
It was a surprise to the Anderson children since Lola hasn't been on speaking terms with their mother since the incident. It shows them that despite her indifference she still loves Sarah as her mother, it was only her stubbornness that prevented her from showing her true feelings.
Ian was about to say something back but then one of the guards whispered something into his ear and he let out a very creepy smile and not long after an explosion could be heard.
"Well, it would seem your mother has arrived. Can't keep our guest of honor waiting." Said Ian and left laughing manically.
Hearing news that their mother and a rescue team are on their face filled them with hope but also fear as they knew that their mother is now walking into a the lion's den.