Springvale Elementary School

Later that evening…

"I send you to the Super Duper Mart to help the police pacify a food riot." Charles eyed his direct subordinate, who was seated in Corporal Christian Hawke's impromptu infirmary on the first floor of the school. The medic from Second Squad was stitching a cut on Veronica's temple. "You return two hours later, wounded, with three injured cops and six dead civilians. I hope you can fill in the blanks between those two events, Lieutenant."

Hawke glanced between the pair, but didn't say anything.

Veronica may have only been gone a few hours, but she felt exhausted. She was sore from where she had hit the ground, and where she was stepped on. She had a throbbing headache. Worst of all, she felt soul-crushing guilt for what had happened at the market.

Taking a deep breath, Lewis began to explain.

"I take full responsibility for it, Sir. I tried to take the initiative and speak to the crowd directly, but it only made them angry. Then I allowed us to be outnumbered by not having Second Squad deploy." When Hawke stepped back and reached into his medical bag for a Med-X dose, Lewis looked down. Her scuffed and dirty armor stood out on the otherwise spotless floor. "I gave the order for the boys to have rounds chambered, and told them to 'Do what you need to do'. The shooting was my fault."

Maitland rubbed his chin in thought. Considering the action itself, Private Greene was looking at a stint in jail, and Martinez and Lewis would catch Hell for being his direct superiors. In practice, when one also took the circumstances into account, the men were clearly in a position that posed risk to life and limb. When such a thing happens, government personnel have discretion to act as they see fit to protect themselves, their compatriots, and the public.

"All respect, Lieutenant Lewis, but I disagree." Captain Maitland said, catching the young woman off guard. "By all reports, the crowd was given multiple lawful orders to disperse, and to stop advancing towards you and your men. Private Greene acted just as any of us would have. In fact, were I in his place, I would have done the same thing." Lewis felt Corporal Hawke push up her t-shirt sleeve, and when she glanced at him, he had a syringe in his hand. She quickly looked away again, quietly wincing when she felt the pinch to her shoulder. "It will read in my official report that neither you, Sergeant Martinez, nor Private Greene shall receive any form of punishment. I'll relay the same to Lieutenant Glover, and convince him to do the same with his officers."

"Thank you, Sir." Lewis nodded appreciatively, already feeling the effects of the Med-X as she scooted forward and off of the desk.

"Head to the barracks for some rest, Lieutenant. That's an order." Hawke picked up Veronica's torso armor and handed it to her. "On your way, send Martinez and Greene to me, please."

"Yessir."

The woozy XO made her way out into the hall and towards the 'Officer's Quarters', which was little more than 'Mr Hampstead 4th Grade Geography'. She made sure to detour to First Squad's chosen room, 'Mrs Roberts 3rd Grade Science', and summon the requested soldiers. Greene seemed terrified of facing the Captain after what had happened, but Lewis assured him that Maitland wasn't upset with him.

In the hall outside, the exhausted Lieutenant leaned against a wall of lockers.

"Ho… man…"

"How did it go, Sir?"

Veronica jumped at the sudden voice, turning to see Donnie standing a few feet away. The young Corporal took in the appearance of his superior. Bruised and dirty face, streaks of blood from a stitched cut on her head, disheveled hair, and hollow eyes that couldn't meet his.

"Not… well."

"What happened?"

Lewis sighed. "We did… what we had to do."

Sullivan tilted his head. "I didn't know quelling a protest could be so… taxing, Sir."

"More happens than just telling them to go home. More… happened."

"What did happen, Sir?"

"You wanna know, Corporal?" Lewis stood up straighter. "You really want to know what happened over the last two hours?"

"I do." He nodded eagerly. Veronica took a breath.

"Eleven people got shot." Donnie's eyes widened slightly, but he didn't show much reaction. "Six of them died. Greene… Mikey fired the first shot. Lady was probably dead before she hit the ground. I ran towards her, but got hit by something that somebody threw. I was trampled and kicked, and one of the cops was beaten with a club for protecting me. Two more for protecting Greene. They also did… the rest of the shooting." Lewis looked at Donnie with a hardened expression. "Any more questions, Corporal?"

The boy was silent for a time. "No. No… Sir."

Veronica stalked away from him, bound for her bedroll, and another sleepless night.

The following morning arrived far too fast for Veronica's liking, and was begun by the company Class Clowns Simmons and Ricci showing off their pictures in the Capitol Post. Lewis took a copy of the paper, sipping a coffee with an annoyed expression.

(I've Got You Under My Skin - Frank Sinatra)

Saturday, October 23rd, 2077

SHOOTOUT! - Food Riot Takes Deadly Turn as Soldiers and Police Open Fire on Protestors

Sure enough, First Squad was front and center in the article's first picture.

Al Coleson - Staff Writer

SPRINGVALE- A protest over dwindling food supplies at the local Super Duper Mart turned into a frightening riot yesterday, after police received reinforcements from a contingent of US Army soldiers stationed nearby.

In a move being codenamed Operation Soteria, after the Greek goddess of protection and salvation, the US Army has been deploying active duty troops to "problem areas" around the country to bolster police and national guard forces and assist in pacifying civil unrest.

Yesterday, Soteria must have been sorely disappointed.

Six civilians are dead in the aftermath of a shooting, started by an unnamed soldier mixed within the line of Arlington Riot Police. Five more were wounded, and are presently listed in stable condition at a local hospital.

Three police officers and one soldier received minor injuries, the extent of which are unknown.

The injured soldier, who previously identified herself as Veronica Lewis, made a passionate speech to the irate crowd of hungry protesters, sympathizing with them and calling for a peaceful end to the gathering. She did not get her wish, however, as one of her men shot and killed a protester, who had not yet been identified, shortly after the speech ended. The soldiers, who were at a squad size of six men, left soon after. The rest of their company is presently located at Springvale Elementary School, which is being converted into an emergency shelter after class was suspended two weeks ago.

SHOOTOUT continues on A3.

Lewis folded the paper up and tossed it aside, returning her attention to her cup of coffee.

What a fucking disaster…

Before Veronica could take a sip of her much needed lifeblood, Private Gabriella Tsu stepped in.

"Sir. Uhm…" She stammered, still very new to military life. "The… demonstrators are back."

Once upon a time, Private Tsu was a promising robotics and engineering student at CIT. The second generation of her family born in America, she had hoped that her grandparents moving away from China would protect them from the seemingly imminent collapse of the nation. They settled in Boston, just a stone's throw from Fenway Park, where her grandmother opened a bakery. Time passed without much incident, until Gabby returned home one day to find a draft notice waiting for her. Like any able bodied citizen, she answered the call, and served a brief tour with Bravo Company at the Battle of Pilot Point.

She was largely partnered with Engineers, or with Simmons, to help with any electronics repairs. What little experience she had in the field was being gruelingly tested.

Now, here she was, even further out of her comfort zone.

Lewis groaned and rubbed her forehead. "Ricci. Simmons." She silenced the pair. "Kit up and help keep that crowd back."

"But we went last time, Sir." Tommy pointed out. Veronica arched a brow at him.

"And now you're going again. Consider it punishment for you two jackassing around. Get going. Now. And… take Tsu with you."

Gabby eyed the two overgrown boys with a surprised expression, but Joe shrugged and nodded towards the door. "Aight. C'mon, Newbie." As they approached the doorway, Ricci glanced at his friend. "Hopefully nobody gets shot this time."

"Shuddup." Simmons shoved him into the hallway, with Tsu following. Veronica shook her head and stood up, moving to a nearby window, so she could observe the crowd.

The group outside was about thirty deep, and a few were hassling Privates Lawson and Zakovsky. 'Zack' as he was called lovingly, and 'Spy' disparagingly, appeared to be asking the protestors to leave. Soon after, Joe, Tommy, and Gabby appeared. Out of habit, Veronica glanced at her watch.

"9:20… They're early today…"

When she looked up again, she saw Simmons holding his radio and listening to it. He tapped Ricci's shoulder and pointed at the device, with a concerned expression on his face. Joseph appeared to shrug and gesture to the school, and Simmons disappeared inside.

Moments later, the radioman arrived inside Lewis' office again.

"Sir! I've got an urgent message, broadcasting across all frequencies."

"Hmm…" Veronica faced him. "Let's hear it." Tommy began reciting what he was hearing.

"Attention all units this net, this is Echo Alpha Delta Sierra." "EADS? NORAD?" "Defense Condition One. Nuclear launch detected. Initiate Response scenario MX-CN Nine One. Seek shelter immediately. Message will repeat." The Corporal held the device away from his ear. "Orders, Sir?"

Before Veronica could answer, and brush it off as another drill, an air raid siren suddenly began blaring from outside. She turned to look out at the crowd of civilians, who began looking around in confusion. After a moment, Lewis turned to Simmons again.

"This is no drill."