The Next day...

The moment Kate's eyes shot open, her eyes focused on the time. 02:00. She turned in her bed to get comfortable. She laid against the pillow for what seemed like hours before she couldn't stand it anymore. "I've gotta go somewhere", she thought out loud.

Kate crawled slowly out of her bed. She dressed herself in her casual combat attire of a olive drab tank top and BDU trousers. She laced up her boots and grabbed her blue beret. She stepped out of the room and descended down the stairs until she was finally outside. The cool night-time air instantly gave her goosebumps. The deck was lit up by a few lights, but the moon trumped out all of them. Coffee was the first thing that flooded her mind once she inhaled the scent of the salty breeze. Coffee sounds damn good right now.

Kate took a few steps out on deck until she caught a patrol in her peripherals. Still slightly sluggish, she made her way over to the three men that conjured together. "Good morning."

"Oh! Sub-C!" They were all startled. "It's 03:00 what are you doing up so early?!"

"Couldn't sleep." She responded, shrugging her shoulders. "I'm going to run to the mess hall and make some coffee. Any of you want some?"

"Nah I'll pass, thanks though."

"I'm good."

"Are you guys crazy?" The man who initially spoke with her questioned the sanity of the other two. His code-name was etched as Dolph. "Sub-C used to be a barista before the war. It would be an insult to turn down her coffee!"

"Whoa, are you serious?! Really Sub-C?"

"Yes, back in England. I even had my own little shop." She said, giving them a smile.

"Really?! We're sorry ma'am. We'll take a cup of coffee!"

"Whatever you say." Kate shrugged, just letting them think for themselves. "Be right back." She walked off toward the mess hall. After retrieving four cups of coffee, she returned to the deck with all four cups on a plastic tray. "Here you go."

"Thank you ma'am!" Dolph said happily, grabbing one of the four identical coffees.

"Ahh, it tastes so good!" Another Legionnaire said as he took a sip.

"Yeah! Who knew military coffee could be so good?!" The third Legionnaire reinforced his friend's claim.

"Don't mention it." Kate smiled as the three men took their drinks. She placed the tray comfortably under her right armpit as she walked away from the group with her hot coffee in hand. She waltzed over to the edge of the platform that was closest to the housing and sat. She placed her coffee down next to her and let her legs hang off the edge. If someone wanted to get rid of me, now would be the perfect time. She laughed at her thoughts and picked up her coffee.

"Sub-C?" A familiar voice called out from behind her. "It's odd to see you up this early." It was Rosal.

"Rosal." Kate greeted. "Mornin'. You're not here to get rid of me, are you?" She joked.

"Not this time, although this would be the perfect opportunity. Mind if I join you?"

"No, go right ahead." Kate nodded her head to the spot next to her as she returned her gaze to the dark ocean.

"Getting enough sleep?" Rosal asked out of nowhere.

"Are you turning this into an appointment? I'm going to have to raid the Captain's stash for that..."

"Good one! Haha! No, I just noticed the dark circles under your eyes and the paleness of your skin. That's all." He smiled at her joke.

"Good observation, that's why you're the head of medical." Kate took another sip of coffee. "How's that…umm…let's say, patient? How's she doing?" She asked.

"She's healing fairly well, but it's a fight to get her to stay in her damn bed, now that she is awake. Although, I have to say, I admire her willingness to move forward and get back in the fight."

"She seems very active." Lydia agreed. "I wonder what she can bring to the team once she's all better."

"Same. Her presence could peak up the morale of some of our men. No offense, but we like to see women around base."

"No, no, I get it." Lydia took a sip of her coffee. "You know Rosal…Going back to the sleep thing..."

"Hm?"

Lydia took in a deep breath and continued to stare into the ocean. "I had one hell of a nightmare. It was the Battle at Camp Bastion, only we lost the battle in my dream."

"PTSD can show its face in many forms." Rosal nodded at Kate's willingness to share. "You're not stuck in that camp and whoever was out to get you in that dream isn't out to get you now."

Kate sighed. "Yeah, your right. We have a lot at stake. It might just be from stress."

"No doubt. You should go back and get some rest." Rosal sounded sincere.

"Not with coffee in my system." Lydia chuckled to herself, moving her grip in a circle so she could swirl the coffee contained in the cup.

"Alright. I've got to get back. I started early today because I knew Miss Wounded was going to be a handful." Rosal stood up from his seated position. "Good luck."

After wishing her well, he walked off to the medical platform. Kate only sighed and looked back at the never-ending ocean. After eventually finishing her coffee, she found herself in the kill room the R&D team had finished the night before. It was built with a tactical simulator as well as a firing range; the perfect training area. With a 1911A1 in hand, she fired away at the dull target stationed before her.

Lethal shot after lethal shot, the bullet holes all started to blend together. Something felt amiss. Was it because of the nightmare? Or was something else on her mind? As she wasted the bullets there was a ringing that penetrated her eardrums. Someone was giving her a call on her radio. Kate placed the pistol down and received the transmission. "This is Iris, over."

"Iris, good." It was Scotty…it was nearly 06:00 and he didn't sound tired at all. "Listen, I'm going to be sending the team another member. He has vital information about the enemies we're dealing with. Once he arrives, be sure to give him a warm welcome."

"Got it."

"And one more thing. I got wind that there was an armored vehicle unit headed to increase security over to the mountain complex I'm en route to. I need you to gather some men and head out there before they arrive."

"Got any intel where they're at?"

"They're about ten miles west of the captives location. That's all I've got."

"I'll ask the Intel team about the area when I get the chance. You can count on me, Captain. Over and out."

"Over and out."

He was so simple to talk to. Nothing shook Scotty, nothing at all. With the threat of a new World War on their shoulders, it seemed he would be a little shaken by something…that just wasn't his character. Kate stretched her arms and walked up the flight of stairs that led out of the kill room and onto the deck of the base. She assembled four men and briefed them of their future task. "The Cap'n needs us. Make sure we pack the helo with everything we need." Kate ordered out. "We cannot fail this mission."

"Yes ma'am!"

"Oh Shite, hold on!" Kate had forgotten that she wasn't wearing her webbing. She nearly bolted back to her living quarters. Once inside, she changed into a dark green garb with a brown harness. To her surprise, the door slid open after strapping on her harness.

"Hey." Draco said. Who else would be brave enough to walk into her room? Kate sighed once he stepped in the door and took her by her shoulders. He turned her around to face him. "I couldn't just let you leave with a sour attitude like that." She wanted to say something, she just didn't know what. He removed one of his hands from her and moved his sunglasses to the top of his head. "Why don't you tell me what's going on in that pretty little head of yours, huh?"

Kate huffed like a child, that made him chuckle. "Draco, I gotta go, this mission is important."

"It can wait for two minutes." He pressed.

"Fine." Kate sighed. "I had a nightmare. First one in a while. It wasn't a flashback…it was different."

"How?"

"It was Camp Bastion." Lydia frowned. "You were in it, and your decapitated head was thrown in my face by a Goliath. That doll that Percy killed…she pinned me down. I couldn't move. It was…"

"Hey, I'm here." Draco pulled her into an embrace she didn't know she needed. "I'm not dead, the Sangvis aren't here and they're no threat. They're long gone, alright?"

Kate exhaled shakily. "I can't believe this...I must look like a fool..."

"Look at me..." Draco pulled himself back and slipped his right hand under her chin. "Kate, nothing like that is gonna happen to me. You hear me? I've got both my legs, both my arms, and hopefully there's a perfectly healthy Scotty you could come back to. I'm not going anywhere…and neither is he..."

"Good." Kate sighed in relief. Draco let go of her chin and stooped down to her height, catching her body in a hug. She instantly gave in, shutting her eyes and hugging him back. Draco parted from the hug with a small smile running across his face. "Now I'll let you go. Keep your comms on. Try to remember one thing..."

"What?" Kate asked, confused.

"We are all in this together..."

"Yes sir." Kate nodded. Draco stood back from the doorway allowing her to walk out on her own. He didn't follow her to her surprise. She found her way to the heli pad, the Iroquois waiting patiently for her arrival. The four other men were sitting inside as well. "Sorry about that guys. I'm here!"

"Welcome aboard ma'am!" Sheppard called out from the pilot seat. "Strap on in and we'll head on out."

"You got it!" Kate sat down and buckled herself in.

"This is Conan, departing Legion HQ."

Kate sat back in her chair and sighed, looking at the other men who appeared equally as bored. "It'll be a few hours before we arrive, make yourselves comfortable. We're gonna fly in soft." Sheppard said from the cockpit.

Kate held a thumbs up and rested the back of her head against the metal behind her. No telling what armored unit was making their way across the island...it was only a matter of time.

They had been walking for hours, taking some breaks to drink out of their canteens or snack on some Rations. It sure was a lively group; they didn't get tired easily.

It was a few more hours of walking until a new Legionnaire named Caracal jogged up beside Kate. "I don't get it."

"Don't get what?" She asked.

"How could someone like you end up in a place like this?"

"Someone like me? You're pushing your boundaries Caracal." Kate plainly stated.

"I mean, you're so beautiful. You're so fragile…you don't belong in a world like this."

"You don't know a thing about me. I've killed more people than you have looked at..." Kate kept walking, keeping her answers straight.

"I can know a few things."

"I can let you know that you're going to blow our cover. Return to your position, Caracal. Now." She sounded irritated, which sent him backing up right away. Jesus Christ. Her eyes nearly rolled far back enough to see her own insides. The next few miles were boring as hell and grew colder the more time passed.

Through the dense leaves, Kate could see the sun was setting beyond the horizon. A pinkish hue covered what little sky she could see. The ground below her suddenly started to gently quake beneath her. Vehicles were approaching…a trail must be nearby. Kate held up her right hand and signaled the men to form around her. "Do you feel that? We're getting close."

"Right on time." Caracal said.

"Exactly. We'll have the cover of night to take them by surprise." Kate nodded. "Killifish, Eagle…you guys have the charges?"

"Yes ma'am." They nodded.

"Alright. The route their taking has to be nearby, by the vibrations, I'm guessing to our west. Let's stay on their trail. They have to be stopping to camp soon. You know what to do when we get there. Let's move out."

They remained on the trail of the patrol unit for a few more miles. Just to Kate's liking, they stopped to make camp. Taking cover in the dense forest that surrounded the trail, Kate and her team filed themselves behind cover until the targets were settled in.

Armored vehicle transport was right, she thought. Two cargo trucks and two tanks in the front and rear. Whatever they were transporting has to be important. No doubt they were weapons. About half an hour passed before the group was quiet from chatter. The lights were still blaring from the tanks and trucks…probably on the look out for intruders. Kate turned her body to face Killifish and Caracal to her right. She motioned for them to take the tank in the front. She ordered Eagle and another Legionnaire named Catfish to take on the tank covering the rear. It was Kate's job to disarm the trucks and soldiers in the middle. "Let's move." Kate motioned her hand for the mission to commence.

Staying low, Kate surfaced from the cover of the trees and rolled between the two cargo trucks before the tank's turrent behind the trucks could turn and spot her. She moved into a prone position and crawled her way under the cargo truck that was second-to-last in line. She positioned herself under the truck, looking for the fuel-line. Ahhh shit, I don't know cars. She took her radio our of one of her pockets and dialed to Klaus's frequency. "Klaus?" She whispered, placing the radio back in her pocket. "Klaus you there?"

"Kate? Is that you? Why are you so quiet." Klaus voice finally answered.

"Not now. What does the fuel line in a cargo truck look like?"

"Usually they're the clearest-looking ones." Klaus answered.

Kate looked around, finding a tube that matched the description. She took out her utility knife and grabbed a hold of the plastic-like tube. She cut it and let the gasoline waterfall to the dirt below. In the background of her ear piece, she couldn't help but hear the voice of a woman! It wasn't Paz or Amanda…not the right accent. She almost sounded French. "Klaus, who is that?"

"Oh!" He sounded nervous, like he had been caught doing something. "You just heard our newest recruit, Cécile. She was part of the Spec Ops team that was held captive. It's good Scotty found her in time, she had just managed to escape the facility."

"Was? Anyway, I'll make sure to introduce myself when I get back." Kate whispered as she started to crawl toward the second truck.

"That's IF you get back!" A foreign voice yelled out. Someone latched onto her ankle and started to drag her out from under the vehicle.

"Shite!" Kate cursed.

"Kate! Kate?! What's wrong?!" Klaus's echoed through her ears. She could hear the shuffling of more footsteps surrounding the vehicle. She kicked her other leg into the hand of the woman that had apprehended her. The foe abruptly dropped her leg, allowing her to roll back to the middle of the truck. She unsheathed her knife then her right hand went to her pistol…but she stopped before she could wrap her fingers around the hilt. If she were to fire her gun now, she'd be done fore.

"Perfect fucking timing." She cursed to herself.

"Kate, what's happening?!" She ignored Klaus in her ear. Then, there was an explosion. It wasn't one of the tanks firing, Killifish must've detonated the charges on the tank in the front of the convoy to cause a distraction. Kate flinched and swiftly crawled out the front-end of the truck, away from the tank that was still active. She quickly maneuvered under the second truck, it seemed like the enemies had stopped paying attention to her. She rolled onto her back when under the new truck, she could feel the heat of the explosion radiating from the tank ahead of her. She took out her knife one more time and cut the line that fed gasoline into the truck.

Keeping her knife in her right hand, Kate checked her surroundings. "Come out! I know you're here somewhere!" A man shouted. "We have your friends, come out or else!"

Fuck. Kate thought to herself. I refuse to let my men be hostages. She holstered her knife and gripped her pistol. To her left, there were no soldiers stationed. She crawled out from underneath the vehicle and vaulted into cover behind the closest tree. She distanced herself enough to still hear what was going on. "Kate, tal-" She couldn't listen to Klaus at this moment, she pulled out her ear plug and stuffed it into one of her pockets.

Kate took out her knife again with her left hand and raised the blade into view. She tilted it to examine the surrounding area behind her. In the reflection, she saw Eagle and Catfish on their knees with four armed hostiles behind them. If only I could cause a distraction so they can use Hand to Hand. Kate bit her lip and closed her eyes. She peered over her left shoulder to determine how far away they were. A Good five meters away from her. She reholstered her knife and sighed.

Kate began to pat down her tactical harness pockets, remembering the items that she brought. She felt a M67 frag grenade in her right hip pocket. She dug into the small pack and held the explosive in her hand. If they planted the charges, this could take out the tank and give them a window to escape…but if they didn't she would risk killing them…and herself in the process. Kate frowned. She fondled the grenade in her hand, feeling its rough surface.

Kate took in a deep breath and brought her right hand to her left, pulling the pin out from the grenade. She removed herself from cover, exposing herself to the enemy. "Hostile spotted!" One of them shouted, the rest readying their guns. Shots began to fire and whistle all around her. Kate tossed the grenade under the tank, the area of effect should trigger the charges if they were placed. Her eyes instantly focused on Eagle and Catfish who had stood up and began to throw down with the four hostiles that stood behind them using CQC now that they were distracted. "Get outta there!" Kate shouted to her comrades over the gunfire. The grenade was going to blow any second!

Unfortunately, the tank turrent had swirled around and aimed its cannon right at Kate. She was staring into the black barrel of the rolling death-machine. "Ahh fuck." Kate vaulted herself out of its line of sight just before it fired a blast in her direction. The loud explosion was heard next, the exact same moment that the cannon shell hit the ground. The tank went up in flames! They had done it! Dirt fell from the sky at the impact from the blast.

"Sub-C! Sub-C! Are you ok?!" Catfish called out.

"Y-yeah!" She shakily shouted from the adrenaline coursing in her body. She stood up from her prone position and dusted off her uniform. "I'm over here!" There was a small crater about five feet from her, she definitely woulda been done for had she not vaulted away from the tank.

"Everyone's down! No hostiles!" Kate heard Eagle announce. Kate revealed herself and couldn't help but laugh at the sight of her four buddies across the road.

"You lucky bastards." She shook her head, wearing a big smile. She waltzed up to the men sprawled out on the dirt road. They looked dead tired from the brawl with the Sangvis grunts. Despite their exhaustion, they jumped to their feet the moment they saw their leader.

"I'm so happy you set those charges. Mission accomplished." Kate said, taking off her balaclava and dusting off her beret.

"We fucking did it." Catfish sighed with relief.

"Someone call Conan." Kate opened the pocket she stuffed her ear-piece in and lodged it back into her ear. "Draco, can you read me?"

"Kate?!" He sounded like a mess. "All I could hear was gunfire and explosions! Klaus was hysterical! He came bursting in the command tower, screaming about how the mission went south! What the bloody hell happened?!"

"Long story, but mission complete. We hit a snag, but no one was injured." She nodded at her team.

"Glad to hear you're alright. There's something I have to tell you. You need to come back to base right away."

"What is it?" Kate pressed on.

"I'll tell you when you get back." He said nonchalantly. "Oh, and Scotty is back by the way. Klaus told you about Cécile before he lost contact, right? Well he came back with her. He's going to be using the next few days to rest up before continuing onward. He rescued another Spec Ops soldier that says We still has some time before the other captives moved to a new location."

"Sounds good." Kate smiled to herself.

"Holy shit." Caracal gasped. "Sub-C, come look at this." Kate turned her body to see the men standing outside of one of the cargo trucks, looking inside the covered trunk.

"What is it?" Kate asked, moving closer to the men. She squeezed in-between the men and peered inside the vehicle. A mountain of packed guns, grenades, and other weapons were piled neatly in boxes. "You've got to be shitting me."

"Looks like we hit the jackpot." Killifish chuckled. "Let's load all this out." He and the other men worked to load all of the cargo out of the trucks and onto the dirt road. Kate helped for the few crates, then decided to stand guard over her team.

Kate radioed to Sheppard to check on his position when they were done. "Hey Conan, you have any room for a few crates?"

"Ehhhh, depends on the size of them ma'am." He responded.

"Good answer. I'm gonna call for another chopper."

"I radio one in for you. Same LZ?"

"You got it." Kate confirmed. "Alright team. I need one volunteer to stay here until the next chopper. We're taking these supplies back to Legion HQ."

"I'll do it." Eagle stepped forward.

"Alright Eagle. Keep your comms on and stay in contact." He nodded. It wasn't too long after that when Conan touched down. They piled what supplies they could into the chopper before hopping in themselves and strapping in. "That was a close call, you guys." Killifish sighed.

"It sure was. Thank you for your swift actions, Sub-C." Caracal nodded towards Kate.

"I'm not going to lie, saying I was acting on a whim. I'm just happy you planted those charges. Just one grenade wouldn't have destroyed that tank." She replied, telling the truth.

"You almost took a cannon to the face for us. That makes you alright in my book." Eagle's voice chimed in, he had been listening on the radio.

"Heh, yeah." She frowned. "I hope you learn from this experience how south a mission can go so fast. Espionage is important to get in and out of mission without being detected and without the enemy knowing we're coming."

"Yes ma'am." They all replied, even Eagle.

"But other than our little hiccup, it was a mission success, that's all that matters. We probably saved the Captain tons of time by putting a snag in their defenses. The sabotage made it look like it was from some rebels or something. Nothing they would suspect from a Spec Ops Group that's been on their tail."

"Improvise for the win." Killifish held a peace sign.

"Improvise for the win." Kate repeated, holding up the same gesture.

Author's Note- I am attempting to write in a third person perspective. Let me know if it works better, or if you prefer Scotty's POV. Anyways...time for some R&R chapters! I mean how wouldn't relax when you have a goddamn base in the middle of the Pacific!

Thank you for all your views and the reviews! I'm new to posting my work, it usually stays locked inside my journals. I hope you stay tuned for more of the Fun!