"In another moment, down went Alice after it." Sarah mutters. "Never once considering how in the World she was to get out again."

Further into the hole, the group found what was once the pumping station that kept the fountains at the memorial above running. Mazes of pipes criss crossed on the ceiling, water leaking out of more than a few. Following one long hallway, Roxwell finally finds the end.

"The compound is right above us." He observes. "ISAC, scan the soil integrity around this spot." An orange ring of light flares out of his Smart Watch.

*SOIL INTEGRITY CATEGORIZED ON A FIVE POINT SCALE* ISAC reports. *WEAK POINTS MARKED*

All around was mostly red or dark orange, but the reddest part was at the very end of the hallway.

"Perfect." Alani says. "Sarah, set this on the wall. Preferably near the ceiling.

"And you order the shortest member of the group to do that...why exactly?" My partner asks, taking the small bundle of explosives from Kelso.

"Because I know you want in there more than all of us put together."

Sarah shrugs.

"Fair enough."

As the rest of the group takes cover, Sarah places the explosive on the wall in a spot that would be about eye level with Roxwell. She only just avoids using her tippy toes to reach, before tapping a button and jogging back a few paces. "Any questions? No? Good."

"Uhh…" Kelly begins. "I have a-"

"Fire in the hole!" Sarah ignores the guardsman, tapping a button on her watch.

"What in the name of Jesus, Joseph and Doggystyle Mary is going on now?!" Commander Schaeffer demands as the command center rattles from another explosion.

"We appear to be under attack, sir." A man near the windows responds.

"Really? No shit, Sherlock!" Bardon snatches the binoculars away from the young soldier. "By who?! Who would have the stones to hit us here?!"

"Mortar bombardment would suggest the True Sons, sir." The lookout begins, while Schaeffer glares at him. "But all out assault indicates Hyenas. The absence of fire means the Outcasts aren't involve-"

"Would you cut the analytical shit and get to who the fuck it is?!" Schaeffer bellows.

"We… w-we don't know, sir." The man stutters after a moment.

"Then find out. Quickly. I'd like to know ahead of time if we need to withdraw."

"Poor form to say something like that in front of your client, isn't it, Mr. Schaeffer?" President Ellis asks from across the room.

"I don't care if I'm saying it in front of President Scroob." Bardon snaps back. "Withdrawl from the Tidal Basin, and from D.C., might be necessary."

"You'll do no such thing." President Ellis steps forward, while others in the command center flinch as a mortar lands close by. "I brought you and your people here to bring order to D.C.. Not to run away when things got too hard. The Division didn't run away."

"The Division had more resources than I do now, and they still failed. Then, more showed up, and things got better, until you made me start killing them." Schaeffer glances at Ellis. "Remind me why?"

"Because of my one problem with the Division: Checks and Balances, or lack thereof. SHD has unlimited power, with nothing in the way of accountability. Maybe they were making progress, but the chance of them taking over the city, the whole country, was too big a risk. The Division needed to be exterminated."

"And now they're attacking us." Lieutenant Kayhill announces from her desk.

"WHAT?!" Bardon demands.

"Units have reported multiple individuals involved in the attack using Shade Tech, and sporting Smart Watches."

"Well, make them the priority. Do not let them inside the compound."

"They already are, sir."

Schaeffer drops his binoculars and raises his hands, squeezing the sides of his head as if he was trying to crack his own skull. The exhausted and enraged commander could feel his blood boiling, to the point that steam was erupting from his ears. After a deep breath, he steeples his fingers and points them at Kayhill.

"Where are they?" He asks as calmly as possible.

"Barracks. They're closing in on the Cure."

The commander nods. "Wyvern!"

Milla paces into the room, stepping around a light fixture falling from the ceiling. "Sir?" Bardon looks at her sharply.

"Kill them. Don't let a single Agent get past you. And if they best you, don't let them take you alive."

"It won't come to that." Radek says confidently, readying her weapon and jogging towards the exit. "I already have a plan."

"I wish I had your optimism." Bardon mutters as she leaves.

"Now, Commander." President Ellis continues. "Do truly hope that you aren't serious about leaving Washington."

"We may not have a choice." Schaeffer admits as he turns around. "I've lost too many men and resources trying to root out all the ne'er-do-wells in this cesspool of a city. The Factions, the JTF, Militia, Division Agents, Rogue Agents..." He lets out a sigh. "And that's not including the remnants of Green Poison and DC-62 chemicals that I lose whole squads to once a week. What I have isn't enough, and I don't think any amount will be. To be honest, Mr. President, I don't understand why you want this place back so much. D.C. is a Godforsaken warzone. I've seen D.M.Z.s with better quality of life." Andrew narrows his eyes at the man. "Why not just go somewhere else? Like Camp David, or the Cheyenne Mountain Complex, and have your own little utopia? You'd have us for protection." He adds.

"No one is leaving D.C.." Ellis declares. "Neither you, or your little Boy Scout Troop, are leaving, unless I say otherwise."

"Hey." Schaeffer says defensively. "Boy Scouts don't have Robot Dogs with mounted weapons."

"The Division don't deserve to have this city all to themselves, with an entire population to subjugate. With the power to kill anyone they want, and take what they want, with no consequences. Black Tusk will eradicate them, and their Goody Two-Shoes Militia minions, with, or without your leadership."

"What the Hell is that supposed to mean?"

"It means that you're on notice, Commander." Ellis says with a calm, level tone. "Fail here, and the last thing you'll see is a bullet from me."

Schaeffer tilts his head. "Is that supposed to make me fall in line like a good little Patriot?" He challenges. "Look!" An explosion rattles the window he gestures to. "The Division is here! Kicking down my front door! I'm doing my best with what I have. If you think you can do better, be my fucking guest."

"What's stopping you from requesting more support?"

"And how would I get them? How does that saying go? 'You get what you pay for'?" Ellis was aghast.

"So you're going to let the Division trample your defenses and not lift a finger to call more backup, for a reason as petty as money?!"

"What would you rather me pay them with?"

The fire in Ellis' eyes was mirrored by an actual fireball erupting from the base's fuel depot.

A/N: So, it's been a minute, huh?

I started playing The Division 2 again recently. And while I haven't gotten to the Black Tusk invasion yet, it has rekindled some inspiration for this fic

State of The Union has sat dormant for so long, that the saved documents have all deleted themselves. It's been over a year since my last update, and quite a bit has happened since then, real life-wise

I've been working alot, so I haven't had much time for writing anything, lately. Followers of mine will know of my dip into anime, with that whole Girls und Panzer boogaloo. More updates to that are coming

Special welcome to new followers RoseLion90 and SuperSwanky69. I know GuP and ACME brought you two here, but welcome to the circus, either way

More to come, hopefully. I'll be honest, I have nothing for this thing storyboarded. I know how everything is going to end, but getting there is what's tough

Something like:

1. Take down Black Tusk

2. Corner Ellis, Kayhill and Schaeffer

3. ?

4. Profit

Thank you to everyone for your patience. I haven't forgotten this fic. It just takes forever for me to get the opportunity to write something, and tonight I had a few hours to throw this chapter together. Thanks for reading. See you out there, Agents!