Henry's speech has left us even more uncertain about the possibility of saving D.C. On the one hand, it's comforting to know the citizens of the city are behind us now that they know who and how capable we are. On the other, it's concerning just how deeply descended into chaos the city is. Four rivals tearing each other apart, but three of them have one common enemy: Us. Henry himself didn't sound very optimistic about our chances of success. Sarah is the most open about feelings out of all of us and even she's trying to hide how worried she is.

Our walk back to the White House has been rather speechless apart from Kelly quietly singing bits of a German marching song and a thunderstorm developing off in the distance. The cloud cover is giving us a welcome break from the sun, and the light raindrops are slowly cleaning the sweat, blood and dirt from our clothes.

"In der Heimat wohnt ein blondes Mägdelein

und das heißt:

Erika." Kelly sings warmly as a thunderclap slowly rolls over our heads.

"Dieses Mädel ist mein treues Schätzelein

und mein Glück,

Erika."

"What does all that mean?" Roxwell asks curiously.

"It's a German soldier singing about his girlfriend back home." Kelly explains happily. Her voice does have a way of lightening the mood, no matter the circumstances.

"It sounds familiar." Sarah says, likely tearing herself away from her own thoughts on the situation. "Isn't it called 'Erika'?"

"Yes. It was a popular marching song amongst the German Wehrmacht, though their current soldiers occasionally sing it."

"You've been there?" Roxwell prods. A bolt of lightning lights up the sky for a split second, followed by more thunder soon after. "To Germany?"

The guardsman nods. "It's where I spent most of my time in the Army." After a few moments of silence, she begins to sing again.

"Auf der Heide blüht ein kleines Blümelein

und das heißt:

Erika."

"Deine Stimme ist schön." Sarah says after a moment, receiving a big surprised smile from Kelly.

"Gotta learn sometime." My partner says with a modest shrug.

"Du bist süßer als Schatz." Kelly replies with a laugh.

Sarah gives her a look from behind her honey lollipop.

"I doubt that." She says with a grin, making them both laugh.

Silence envelops our group once again as we continue towards the White House. I widen my strides to catch up to Faye towards the front. She idly looks over the flare gun she was given with the same concerned expression she wore earlier.

"What are you thinking, Faye?" I ask innocently.

For a time, she doesn't reply, as if she didn't hear me. She finally speaks up several paces later.

"This feels wrong." Faye says quietly. For the first time since I met her, I can hear genuine fear and uncertainty in her voice. "The very people we're supposed to be protecting will be fighting alongside us. By firing this gun, I'll….we'll...be throwing civilians into battle." The normally driven and fearless Agent turns the flare gun over in her shaky hands. "I don't like it, Jay."

"It's not all bad." I say hopefully after a moment. The rain begins to come down harder, and I glance back to see Sarah and Kelly stopped in the road, arms outstretched like a scene from 'Holes'. Sarah removes her hat and lets the water soak through her hair, and Kelly soon does the same with her JTF cap.

"These civilians aren't helpless like back in New York." I turn back to Faye. "They're organized. Trained by Odessa from what Henry told us. We're in even fewer numbers than in Manhattan now. We need the Militia. And they need us to lead them."

"Think of it as like 'Red Dawn'." Sarah pipes up from behind me. "The first one from '84, anyway."

For once, a comment from my companion doesn't anger Faye further. Instead, she simply stows the gun, stuffing it into the holster Henry gave her for it. It hangs on the side of her Go-Bag, and privately even I hope we never have to actually use it.

"Ah. Here we are." President Ellis steps away from the windows and directly to Sarah, shaking her hand tightly. "I wanted to thank you personally. If it weren't for you and yours, I'd still be at the mercy of those filthy Hyenas." He turns his attention to the rest of us.

"I am honored….and humbled to finally meet a member of your elite organization. Let alone seven of you!"

"The honor is all mine, Mr. President." Sarah says somewhat shakily, appearing slightly starstruck.

Glancing around, I see the other Agents Ellis was referring to: Alani, a close friend of Faye's and the main reason we're here. And Thomas, a rather loud young man from Boston who sounds an awful lot like former President Kennedy. The former stands near the door to the office, while the latter has taken a spot on the other side of Roxwell. Jay stands with Sarah in her usual spot, while Faye stays off to the side, closer to Alani. All of us stands in some form of At Ease.

I feel so small compared to all of them. Like a common UNSC Marine must feel standing next to a SPARTAN. The Agents around me can move mountains, all of them with almost as much power as the President himself, and here I am. Tiny, to the point of insignificance.

"We all owe a debt of gratitude to the Division," Ellis continues, Sarah politely stepping back from him. "and the sacrifices you've made to keep this country together." He looks around at all of us, his gaze pausing on me for a moment.

"You're the 'Doer of Deeds' as Roosevelt once put it." The President pats Sarah's shoulder warmly. "Now it's my responsibility to direct those deeds towards an even greater good. Agents Kelso and Murphy have told me of some of your exploits in Manhattan." The Agents in question quietly nod in response. "I'm glad to have folks with your skillset on our side. As Agent Lau has informed me, samples of a broad-spectrum antiviral medication were sent to D.C. as a 'Continuity of Government' measure. Created in Manhattan...by all of you." Faye and Sarah nod excitedly.

"Unfortunately, we don't know where the medication is. It certainly never arrived. The shipment was likely stolen somewhere between Manhattan and here." Ellis looks at Manny. "Mr. Ortega tells me that the True Sons have been acting more aggressive recently, likely the result of some type of bolstering to their own group. Possibly even-"

"-Stolen Green Poison medicine." I blurt out. After a moment, I glance around at the several pairs of eyes looking my way.

"Precisely." Ellis says, as if he's already accepted my unspoken apology. "But regardless of who stole it, the only way to open the containers is with principal level clearance codes. Codes that only I have. I need the briefcase I was carrying aboard Air Force One."

"We believe the True Sons have that as well." Alani says. "In the Capitol Building."

"Get it back." The President says bluntly. "I don't care how, just get it done." He takes a seat behind his desk. "If we're going to get this city, this country, back on track, we're going to have to do things that are...unpopular." Ellis looks around at all of us. "But I'm not here to woo voters." He says with a chuckle. "I'm here to get shit done. As I'm sure all of you are." We all nod in unison.

"Oh yeah." Thomas confirms.

"Hey, Manny." Alani pipes up. "I think it's about time we show our new friends the...special items that Coop has stored away."

After a moment, Manny nods in agreement. Around me, the other members of Xray Team glance amongst each other in confusion.