One Day Later

Jason was lying on a metal grate that made up the walkway of a crane. His position providing a full 360 degree view of the surrounding tundra. Not that he needed the sightline. The drone stations were up and running now. Providing an aerial view of his surroundings. Four drones could be launched from each station and would be remotely operated by pilots back in the states. It gave him a better view, and more image modes than a standard security camera could provide. The station's cameras also filtered onto his HUD. While being streamed to the intel center back in the states. These feeds combined to give him the general locations and activities of the crew. It was like having Oracle again. Only now he had satellites, drones, artillery support, and air strike capabilities.

After having organized his gear on the first day and taken the nickel tour with Issy, he called a meeting. He explained that he and Aqua Girl were here as an impromptu security force. Designated by their backers to ensure the safety of their researchers and discoveries. He then proceeded to outline the plan should an attack take place. The researchers would file away into their living quarters, locking down the heavy metal doors and only opening back up after hearing from him over the speakers. He explained that the tight confines of the oil rig would lead to ricochets and other possible injuries should an attack take place. He also explained that they would be undergoing a media and internet blackout till the escort team arrived in three days. In the meantime, act like it was a mini vacation. Read books, watch movies, do whatever but stay off the internet.

Jason didn't want any intel leaking about superheroes on the rig. Aqua Girl had constantly been the subject of selfies and other photos since arriving, and he had been asked which Titan he was multiple times. It honestly baffled him that the researchers saw all his weapons and gear, and decided they needed a picture with him. He had responded each time with "classified" and immediately left the area.

His overall plan with Tula would keep Issy and the elements separate, a fact that Tula had initially disagreed with.

"Why not have the researchers shelter in the research lab? It's the most reinforced door on the station, and would allow us to keep an eye on them in the event of an attack." Tula had asked.

"We know that whoever comes will be looking for the elements. Thus, they will be focusing on finding the research lab and getting to the chamber within. Sheltering there gave the enemy hostages, both objectives, and a bottleneck to hold off any counter attack. A tactically impossible position for us without losing a few hostages and probably one of the objectives." Jason had clarified.

"This keeps the objectives separated, Issy safe from suspicion, and would buy time for us to arrive if the enemy went for hostages. As they would have to open each individual door. Which takes time. Especially with the hardened metal of the crew quarters." He finished.

From there the conversation moved to possible defenses and traps. Most of which were vetoed as too destructive by the young woman. Apparently, destroying three gangways from the lower platforms that led to multiple entry points was too "disruptive" to the researchers. Jason had only conceded as he felt the confines of the rig would favor them in a fight. Narrow passages, which led to open storage areas that could be easily used for ambushes and maneuvering. The unfortunate part, he was again vetoed in his use of C4 as he wanted to trap the doors that led out from these rooms. The reasoning this time was, "The researchers needed their gear and if one of them accidentally opened the door…" So he had requested and brought a bag of C4 for nothing. At least he may be able to make use of it later, storing it near the drone stations.

They moved on and eventually agreed that Tula would act as defense. Sticking to the upper crew and research level, as a last line of defense. Jason said he would patrol the lower levels, in a bid to head off any teams that made it to the rig. In truth, he'd be acting as a solo kill team. If the enemy made it to the rig, he was there to make them regret being so bold. If the enemy clambered up the sides of the rig while he was engaged, Tula would be in charge of interception till he could relocate to her position. That way they always had someone monitoring the elements and eliminating combatants. It would again also keep suspicion off Issy.

Although, Jason had questions about her usefulness. She said she didn't have any interaction with the elements besides trying to dissuade Herman from putting them in the containment chamber. The head scientist sending her away to continue his work in peace. When he brought up his concerns to Waller, she had said Issy was still an objective and the mission hadn't changed. So, he had a secondary objective that held no value to the first or any perceived value at all. An interesting turn of events that he'd be researching when he finished this mission.

He shifted behind the scope of his Barrett 50. Cal, monitoring the south approach. The additional four clips spread out to his immediate right. He had guessed the south would be the most conducive to an attack. The north held large boulders of ice that would make maneuvering vehicles difficult and slow. The east was just a sheet of flat ice that would giveaway any sort of attack for miles. The west and south remained the most likely avenues. Rolling snow drifts providing some cover for vehicles, and flat, hardened snow in between. Jason had further decided on the south as it held the quickest route to the sea.

"Red Crown to Knight-01, drone 1 has sighted three unknown vehicles approaching from the east." Waller rattled off in his ear. Jason immediately relocated his setup and scoped in on the three vehicles in question. They appeared to be three open-air skiffs that hovered about a foot off the ice. Making a beeline straight for the support poles of the rig.

"Confirmed, Red Crown." Jason answered as he drew a bead on the center skiff. There appeared to be ten men sitting together in two straight lines in each skiff. Rifles held against their chests, as the wind buffeted against their white and red jackets. The driver stood up behind them. Clearly visible handling the controls.

"Attention, thirty-three hostiles have been observed approaching from the east. Proceed to your quarters and lock down." Jason's distorted voice echoed through the rig. Immediately causing researchers to scramble from their tasks.

Waller's voice immediately entered his ear. "What do we have?"

"Thirty-three, hold on." A loud bang piercing the com channel as Jason evaporated the center driver's head with a round. His body slumping backwards and pulling the skiff into a tight turn. Throwing the remaining men into the sky and ground as it rolled.

"Make that thirty-two men armed with military assault rifles. Approaching on some sort of hover skiffs." Jason answered as he observed the other two skiffs break apart. Trying to spread out and split his attention.

"I don't think this is the main attack. They're too open and unprotected." Jason continued as he fired another round. This one impacted the chest of the leftmost skiff's driver, who slumped forward. One of his comrades had stood up and attempted to take control of the skiff. But his sudden movement threw off the equilibrium of the skiff and caused the side to make contact with the snow. This caused a catastrophic spin that threw bodies into the air as it crashed and broke apart.

The last skiff had turned and offloaded its men near their fallen comrades by this time. Some of the previous men in the crashes had regained their footing and were trying to regroup. The Skiff then spun around again and high tailed it in the direction they had come from. Jason observed one of the men start to establish some order. Pointing to and from the rig in silent communication to keep moving. He put the overachiever down with a clean headshot.

"They're not military as far as I can tell. They have some sort of order, but it's more like amateurs playing dress up." He reported to Waller. He sent another round into the next man that had grabbed the attention of the others. A clear intimidation tactic meant to dissuade any forward thinking. The final round he sent into the closest man, his head disintegrating as he fell backwards.

Jason cleared the empty magazine and loaded a fresh one. Racking the slide with a thick clunk. "Knight-01, we're seeing a secondary attack force from the south. It appears to be two large hovercraft, fully covered and making their way towards the rig." The pilot of drone 3 informed the team. Jason once again rotated back to the south. Knowing the men out on the ice would take some time to regroup and find their nerve to proceed forward.

"Copy, I see the craft now. Any word or idea on who these guys are? The red in the jackets has to be symbolic. It's doing shit to keep them camouflaged." He asked as he sighted the window of the first hovercraft.

"No word yet…. Agent Knight, be advised, the hovercraft appear to have been stolen from Lexcorp's international office in India. No suspects have yet been identified and the craft has been written off as corruption within the office." Waller explained.

"Well, I don't think Luthor is going to get his deposit back. Tell him we've at least found where they ended up." Jason shot back.

He fired a round through the left window of the lead craft. Eliciting a large spider web of cracks through the window. He repeated the process on the opposite window. "Any weapons systems to be aware of from that robbery?" He asked as he unloaded the remaining three rounds into the lead craft. Switching mags again and repeating the process on the second following craft.

"None to report from Lexcorp, but the Indian army lost…" Waller's voice fading away. As Jason watched a man open the top hatch of the lead hovercraft and hoist what appeared to be a rocket launcher. He attempted to shift his fire and caught the man through the chest, but not before he got the rocket off.

"Crap."

Jason threw down his sniper rifle and pulled out his grappling hook as he clambered up. Running toward the opposite railing. He threw himself over the side, while angling his body to fire the grapple into the crane's side. He free fell as the rocket impacted his previous position. Bathing the skyline in fire and smoke. His line eventually went taut as he swung toward the rig's deck. Rolling forward to dissipate his momentum.

"I have obtained confirmation of India's missing rockets." Jason spoke dryly.

"I can see that Agent Knight. You know your mission. We'll be standing by for support." Waller answered.

Switching channels, "Aqua Girl, we have boarders incoming. I estimate approximately twenty-five hostiles." Jason guessed as he pulled his right pistol and k-bar. Moving back into the rig to implement his plan.

"Great! I was tired of all the pictures and small talk." Tula responded. Having already made her way to the research level.

"These guys aren't very well disciplined. Expect more random tactics and units breaking formation." Jason informed Tula.

"You obviously don't know who I've fought. This is just a standard mission to the Titans." Tula confidently informed him.

"HIVE and The Light know how to instill mild discipline. Their men and women won't break formation as easily and will stop when it's clearly lost. These men are amateurs as I said, most likely fanatics. It's going to be less predictable. Think organized crime." He explained.

"Understood, I'll be ready for anything." Tula answered with an eye roll.