A special thank you to the talented "The Imperator 2 you" for allowing me access to two of his characters for this story. It is my hope that I will use both Hawkeye and Mercy in a way that lives up to how Imperator did.

"Jane, seeing as you've managed to defy all odds and make your 'Chimera Squad' work, the only question I truly have right now is what do you plan to do with further operations involving them? The Reclamation Program is, while admirable, still only in its early stages. You had a good first win, but you need more. And if you have a plan to get that, I want to help."

Jane, leaned back in her chair, shrugging silently as she continued to key away at her computer. "Truth be told, I'm already working on that part. A second version of Chimera."

"Does that mean the first is to remain, or be disbanded?" he asked, eyes narrowing, not accusingly, but questioningly.

"No, John. I plan to keep Chimera around as long as I can. They work well together. They earned City 31's trust. Stopped several plots. The works. They stay. But the one thing they lack is quite simple." She turned from her screen to Bradford, resting her forearms in the desk and staring at him steel-eyed. "Manpower. Chimera can't be everywhere. Even in City 31 that was something obvious to us. But what happens when other threats outside that city happen? Can't expect them to just pack up and move."

John sighed, shaking his head. "That's true. But you also can't expect every place to accept the idea of a Reclamation Squad posting up where they are. Problems or not, some of those stubborn bastards out there would never admit to needing help, even if their city was currently on fire and flooding at the same time."

Jane gave another of her shrugs, glancing at the screen again. "No. But like I have said to everyone from the beginning when I first started Reclamation, we aren't there to tell you how to run things. Not mine, or X-COM's style. But we do, stated off the record," she said while pausing to wait for Bradford to acknowledge with a nod. "We do get shit done. Just like when I was with X-COM and the Commander ran things. Whatever threat or problem needs to be dealt with, we do it. Simple as that."

She huffed in annoyance, clicking something on her screen. "And we don't let bureaucratic bullshit get in the way when we can help it. There's a fine line between respecting the city and those running it, and tackling the problems head on, consequences be damned. But I find we do our best work when we tread that line. Don't you?"

Bradford shook his head in annoyance. "The number of times you would completely disregard what I told you and go with your 'gut' became too many to keep track of. And it always worked out. But the Commander always warned about having a backup plan. Luck runs out on you. Having ten different backup plans usually doesn't."

Jane scoffed. "Different strokes. I respect the Commander, but I run things differently. There are people, alien and human, who want to do good. Stop bad guys, that whole thing. So I give them that chance. Much as I miss being the one out in the field fighting, I know I can help by being damned convincing to get them where they are needed."

John chuckled. "Convincing, eh? I don't think making backhanded threats is what I would classify as 'convincing', Jane."

She smirked at him. "It works though, doesn't it? Chimera succeeded. People were saved, the plots of the enemy were quelled. And now my only convincing is just showing them Chimera's accolades and grinning."

John sighed, but not one of annoyance. More endearment. With a small smile, he waved his hand around. "Alright, then. What's this next plan you have for me? Obviously you want me to sway some people with my old contacts. So whose tree do I need to bark up?"

Jane smiled warmly at him. "No one yet. Just letting you know of my new squad. Finally pieced them together. Much smaller, more of a Splinter Cell, you could say. Designed to deal with things in a more... under the radar fashion."

John's face contorted, not completely understanding. "But if you want people to rally behind your Reclamation and Chimera thing, doesn't it make more sense to have something you can show off?"

Jane shook her head. "Chimera is the poster child. Not that this less team will be less important. But we know, from experience, the value of having people who can deal with the more shady, underside of the world. Doubly so with the times. We aren't at war with ADVENT, much as they still have some devout followers. But those pockets are not so easily rooted out. And sneaking around requires us to be more delicate, but not any less lethal. And Chimera isn't exactly subtle, or delicate. Especially with Axiom in the field.

"And as for people hearing about them?" she continued. "The important people will know. But the general public can be kept in the dark. Blissfully unaware. It's far better that way. After the anarchy and dangerous times 31 went through, tact is the name of the game when we can get away with it."

John gave a teasing smirk. "Jane Kelly, I never thought I would see the day where you wanted to approach a situation with tact. Maybe your old age is finally making you more cautious."

A biting glare attacked him, only giving the older man a rumbling chuckle. "Jackass," Jane said.

Bradford finished his laugh, then sat up. "In all honesty, Jane, I'm all behind this. I like it. Having small groups was something that helped us years ago in the first war with the Elders. I know the Commander would endorse this, so I do too."

The warm smile on her face and calm posture told John she was happy to hear it, even when she told him, "I wasn't asking for your permission, old man. I was going to do it anyways."

"Right, sure. But, now, business. Do you have some people planned for the squad already? They'll have to be specialists, obviously. And X-COM can help with the resources needed, same as with Chimera. Could even start training them now, get them ready in a couple months." He made to continue, when Jane slid a few files towards him, grin so wide it made her seem almost shark-like.

"Already got my choices. Mixed squad, same as Chimera." She gestured for him to look at the files with a tap to the stack.

John let out a breath of air, taking the first and opening it. "Andal Brask, Hybrid. Served with the Skirmishers against ADVENT during the second war. Led a squad of his own. Knows tactics. Decorated. Solid all around. I can see why you wanted him. Not sure how you got him in the first place though. I recognize him. We asked for him back during the war. Skirmishers said they would rather cut their own throats than let us have him."

Jane smirked, crossing her legs as she leaned back. "I just asked nicely. He said yes."

John scoffed. "Unbelievable." He put the file down, grabbing the next one. "Aisha... no last name-ah, Viper. Got it. Let's see. Combat medic as of late, originally trained by ADVENT to be a stealth-based Search and Destroy unit. Saw several rounds of fighting during her time with ADVENT. Stealth specialty. Interesting. But what caused the change to combat medic?"

Jane folded her hands as she leaned on her desk. "I've talked with her, as I do with all my potential recruits. She killed lots, captured lots, and hurt lots with ADVENT. She was literally bred and genetically altered to do it. Which is why she has a darker pattern compared to most vipers. Found herself struggling with it. After getting her chip out and slowly reintegrating with society, she wanted to give back. Do something to atone. Found medicine was something she was both proficient in and enjoyed doing.

"But she still always knew she had the ability to fight still. Wanted to see if there was some way she could do both. Her file got passed on my desk during a vetting by a friend. Said I might like what she had to offer. And I did. She was expecting something simple, maybe a medic with the police. But when I called her in to interview for this team, she knew it was exactly what she was looking for."

"A snake with a conscience. Seen that before," John said, unable to keep the frown from his face. Jane was about to interject when he held up his hand. "I know that it's different now and that there were some... exceptions during the war. But old wounds aren't so easily forgotten." He tugged at his shirt collar, showing the two stark white puncture scars on his shoulder. "Getting bit by one makes it very hard not to expect them to just latch on and squeeze the life out of you. Just don't go asking me to give her a handshake."

Jane nodded in understanding. She was friends with a few vipers, after all. Different viewpoint from Bradford. At least he didn't seem opposed to her. He grabbed the next file. "Sectoid. Old one, too. Not like the newer, friendlier looking ones. Hope you don't mind me calling him an ugly bastard."

Jane chuckled. "No. Abe says the same thing himself. Doesn't help he has that big scar running down his face either."

John nodded in agreement. "Abraham Kiarus. What kind of name is that?"

Jane shook her head. "Told me he was give the name Abraham from a good friend, and Kiarus he never elaborated on."

"Well, he has good psionics. Decent shot. Not too many mission accolades though. Why choose him?"

"He has some history with subterfuge and information gathering. Getting information he needs without being caught or noticed. Most psionics are easy to see or detect. But Abe can keep his relatively unnoticed. Makes him a good choice for setting up without the enemy noticing him, or reading thoughts to get a gauge of the situation without jumping them."

John nodded. "Wouldn't want to be near him. I can tell you that much. Sectoids keep me on edge enough as it is, and this one doubly so."

"Every alien puts you on edge, John," Jane said teasingly.

"Not Mutons. Easy to read. Straightforward. I respect that. The others... not so much."

"Right, whatever you say, old man."

John groaned, taking the second to last one. "Wisp. No last name... wait... how did you manage to-"

"Get a Spectre? Long story. Lily or Tygan could tell you about the science of it. All I know, Wisp has some manner of sentience. Almost like an AI, but... not completely so. It's strange, because the ADVENT network is how these guys and Codex's functioned. But we took that down, and all the Spectre and Codex units with it. But Wisp here has a server somewhere else. Which is extra strange, because Wisp is the one and only thing on it now. Essentially the last Spectre unit on Earth."

John frowned. "And you just trust this... Wisp?"

"We know where her server is. She gave us the location of her own volition. Her only goal is to serve. So we asked if she liked the idea of being a peacekeeper and helping people. She seemed to like that. Agreed." Jane shrugged. "Not the strangest thing we've seen."

"No, it's not... but," he wiped a hand over his face and groaned. "I've seen those things in action. I didn't realize there was still one running around in the shadows."

"That's the point, John," Jane said with that cheeky smile on her face.

"And 'she'? Did she choose that?" John asked.

"Correct. Generally takes a more feminine form when not a free swarm of nanites. Decided to be addressed that way for simplicity in how her physical appearance was. I never questioned it." Jane then motioned to the last file. "But if you got caught off guard from that one, I think you really won't expect the last one."

John dropped Wisp's folder, slowly pulling the last across the table to himself. "If you somehow got a Berserker, Jane, I swear to god," he muttered.

He watched her ever growing smile as he opened the folder, then finally glanced down to begin reading. "Jonathan Salem. Only human. Poor bastard. Long range specialist. Stealth, subterfuge, guerilla warfare, and assassination. Sounds like a real treat. Wonder where he learned those."

"Says at the bottom," Jane added, barely containing herself from laughing.

"Trained by... Jane... you can't be serious." He looked at her with pure exasperation on his face. "How did you even... does he even know who he is working with? I have heard some terrible ideas from you, but this might be the worst of them all!"

"How did I think asking, and getting a Reaper to join the team was going to work out?" She cackled, jumping back into her old self when she had first joined X-COM so long ago. "Oh, John. Trust me, this man right here was the main reason I wanted to make this team the way it is. What better way to have an undercover, stealth unit than to have a bred, raised, and trained Reaper be a part of it?"

"Jane, they hate aliens. With a burning passion. I'm not a fan of most aliens, sure, and for good reason. But Reapers? You'll be lucky if he doesn't enter the room with them, gut them, and then cook them over an open fire! There's a damned good reason they aren't allowed much sway in political affairs. They have some of the strongest anti-alien sentiment in the world."

Jane nodded, calming down somewhat. "Which is why it's much more impactful to know that one is willing, and excited to work with his new team, isn't it?"

"So he knows?"

"Made sure it was the first thing I told him. He wasn't bothered. Seemed quite happy. Which, let me tell you, not what I was expecting in the slightest. I had planned for him to storm out of the office right then and there. Instead, he scooted forward, asking what exactly he had to do to get in." She waved at the file, still held in John's hands, but mostly forgotten by the older man. "I did vet him first, make sure he wasn't planning on joining just with the intention of running my unit into the ground. He seems like he has a good head on his shoulders."

John tossed the file onto the desk haphazardly, a deep sigh racing past his lips. "I just don't know how someone raised by Reapers would not be disgusted by aliens. And to want to work with them. I don't... I wouldn't trust that, Kelly. Maybe Volk got annoyed at X-COM ignoring his protests to human-alien relations and this is his plan. Like I said, you just got your foot in the door with Reclamation and Chimera. Don't let this rip it down now."

Jane scoffed at him. "Nothing ventured, nothing gained. And besides, I have a damned good feeling about him, and the group."

John groaned, running a hand over his short, white hair. "Not the gut feeling again. This is a gamble."

"A good one," she countered.

"If and only if it works. Otherwise, you'll be up shit creek without a paddle." He leaned forward in his small chair, resting his forearms on his knees. "You sure you want to go forward with this team?"

"Already signed the paperwork. They will be assembling and shipping out tomorrow." She turned to her computer screen, typing quickly, occasionally moving the mouse and clicking something John could not see.

"Signed? What, have they already been assigned a city? Someone was willing to take them that fast?"

"Correct. City 79, located on the East Coast. A similar sort to City 31. They have been having some issues recently with the local and foreign criminal organizations. Being a port city with a massive influx of shipping going out and coming in from around the world, lots of dignitaries, criminal and otherwise, have their own various interests there. Not to mention, like 31, 79 is a city with a melting pot of different species."

"Have a couple of friends who mentioned that in passing. Said there were plenty of dangerous happenings in 79. But I hadn't seen much besides that. Let me guess, mayor is mostly covering it up?" John asked suspiciously.

"Correct. Him and several of the higher-ranking officials. Or, rather, trying to. It's a good destination for tourists, and people just trying to start life anew. Makes it a hot spot. But not if it's being ripped apart by the criminal underworld. So, I offered to send the new squad to help. Keep the city appearing as pleasing and functioning as possible out in the open, but still try and rip out the bad behind closed doors." Jane scoffed. "Naturally, they told me I was overstepping and that everything was fine and being handled."

John crossed his arms. "So what changed?"

Jane frowned, shaking her head. "Big firefight between some of the criminal groups. Out in broad daylight. People were hurt, couple of them were killed there or died to their wounds later. Kinda hard to cover that one up. They ended up relenting then, but only because I'm sure their wallets started to hurt after that, and their campaign support is going to take a big gut shot in a few months, especially if this keeps up or, god forbid, gets worse."

John scowled, a grumble emanating from his throat. "Figures. Well, least you're taking advantage of it. Doubt they would have invited you otherwise."

"Probably not. But I take every chance I can get. This was no exception."

John leaned back with a grunt, feeling his old bones creak slightly. "I'm curious about only a few more things though, Jane," he said.

"What you got for me?" she asked, not moving her face from the screen.

"You planning on running this group, Reclamation, and Chimera at the same time? Or did you have a plan to let someone else take the reins. You also still have the rest of Reclamation to run. Can't exactly just pick favorites. People will start to talk," he said with a smirk.

She nodded to him. "Course I have an idea on how I want it to go." She turned the screen, facing it towards John. "You remember Hawkeye, of course?"

John chuckled, crossing his arms. "No shit. You got him to agree to help run it? How did you convince him? Far as I knew, he and his... are they officially married?" he waited, seeing Jane nod to him. "Right, he and his wife, they weren't really settled down too much, from what I remember. Wanted to see the world together. Some elongated, unofficial honeymoon type thing. But they finally made it official, then. They finally done with their sightseeing?"

She smiled warmly at him, turning the screen back to herself. "Yes, they have decided to settle. Had finished traveling about a year ago. Settled down with their daughter but hadn't really found a place they felt was right. I reached out, offered him the job. He only agreed after I made sure plenty of easements would be made to help his family transition in, as well as keeping them safe. Moving across the country isn't easy. Especially with a little girl."

Bradford let out a breath of air. "Daughter. That's... incredibly strange to think about. But it doesn't surprise me." He seemed uncomfortable with the topic, waving his hand and switching it back to business. "So Hawkeye will be running the new squad in 79. I'm sure he'll do a good job. He held his own damned well with X-COM, well before his wife joined up. Those two were a menace to ADVENT in the field. Will it just be Hawkeye running the squad, or will Mercy be helping him out?"

Jane shook her head. "No. Mercy, while having a role in Reclamation, is mostly there to help people integrate into society. After all, she's got experience with it. And she likes the work."

John nodded. "That's good. Well, I guess I only have one more question for you then." He leaned forward, clasping his hands together and narrowing his eyes. "Does this new team have a name yet?"

Jane once more turned the screen to him, showing the familiar shaped emblem he had seen for decades. But instead of an X like X-COM, or a sword with a lion's visage like Chimera, this one gave him pause. A creature he couldn't place. It was a horned monster, short fur adorning the body, and it was roaring, a knife piercing through the top of the skull.

"What's that thing supposed to be?" he asked.

"A mythological creature. Figured I would keep the theme, just like with the Chimera. It's a creature said to hide in the darkness. Waiting to strike and drag it's victims away to eat them. Fit pretty well with the whole stealth unit approach. Plus, a good way to strike terror into those who know they've earned their ire."

"This beast have a name?"

"A Bauk. The symbol of Bauk Squad. And the last thing criminals will ever see."