In a debriefing room, where the Director is standing alone.

Alpha: (Voice) Okay! Well, I just ran everything again. All calculations are up to date, taking into account standard delays for communication and response time. Our window looks good!

Director: I agree.

Alpha: Well, you should...I'm sure you'd make the same calculations I did. Just, you know...more slowly.

Director: Arrogance is a rather unbecoming trait, Alpha.

Alpha: Are you...seriously giving me a lecture on arrogance right now? Pfft. Heads up, you've got a visitor.

Carolina appears behind the Director.

Carolina: Director?

Director: (quietly to Alpha) Log off.

Alpha: Yeah, yeah. Way ahead of ya, bud.

Director: (turns around) Yes, Agent Carolina?

Carolina: The team is ready, sir.

Director: Excellent. Let us begin.

The Director approaches the holographic screen where several Freelancers and soldiers are waiting

"Agents, your mission today is by far the most important you've overtaken to date." The Director Informs. "As our number one, Carolina will be leading from the field.

"Ok." Carolina starts. "Here's what we have. As you may have heard, there is suspected insurrection activity in this area. Our intel says that members of the UNSC."

Carolina continues. "Loyal to the insurrection have acquired a high level asset and are holding it in this secure location. It's a 110 story building in the middle of an urban environment."

Then British man Wyoming speaks up. "What does security look like?"

"They have enough troops to fill up a 110 story building." Carolina says.

"So..." Wyoming says. "That's a lot of security."

"We're up to it." Carolina says.

"Do we have intel on what kind of weapons the security has?" Minne asks.

"Stranded issue rifles." Carolina says. "Our job is to infiltrate the building, work our way up to the floor where the Sarcophagus is being held, and secure it."

A red line cuts through the tallest building and forms a dot at a specific point inside. Maine, Washington, Minnesota, and Carolina are seen taking positions inside the building. An Insurrectionist guard screams as he is smashed down into an abyss by Carolina.

North Dakota: The Sarcophagus?

Director: That is what we are calling the primary objective.

Carolina: But since this is a high-level asset, we need to access a key code to open the Sarcophagus.

Washington: I'm guessing they don't keep that just taped to the side.

"It's never that easy." Minne says.

Fade to an ODST handing a briefcase to an Insurrectionist official.

Carolina: It's held by an official of the program who will be moving in a vehicle along the freeway between inspections. That's when we'll hit the facility.

Holograms display a freeway and several moving vehicles. One of them flashes red and stops in the middle, and an image of the official's face appears above it.

Carolina: We need to acquire targets within minutes of each other. We fail that, the remaining target will enter lockdown and we miss our window.

Director: We will not have another chance at this.

Washington: So that means two teams.

Carolina: Two teams. Team A will consist of me, Wash, Minne, and Maine. 

Minne and Maine fist bump.

Carolina continues. "We will work infiltration on the Package's storage facility. York is still in the infirmary, so Wash, you will have to pull off picking duty."

Washington: Um...okay. Guess I'll re-read my field manual on the transport.

"Really?" Minne questions Wash.

The door slides open and York enters.

York: Hey, don't be so quick to give away my job.

Washington: York?

Carolina: I thought you were in the hospital.

York: According to their records, I am.

Carolina: How's your eye?

York: It's okay. Docs will let me out tomorrow.

Washington: Tomorrow, huh?

"I'm glad you're ok." Minne says to York.

"Thanks. You can hug me later." York says.

York walks towards the Hologram table.

York: Look, I couldn't let you guys have all the fun without me. Besides, you need someone to get you in.

Washington: (to Carolina) Listen, I'm happy to see him too, but this mission...I don't know...

Carolina: Hey, if York says he's good, then he's good.

Washington: It's your call, boss.

Carolina approaches York.

Carolina: (quietly) You're good, right?

York: Okay, look, I said I was okay. Good might be oversettling it a little—

Director: It's settled, then. York will join Team A and get them in the facility.

York: Thank you, sir.

Carolina: Transport will be two lightly-equipped Pelican dropships.

Four Seven Niner: We're rigged for fast running only, people. No heavy armaments. I'm looking at you Minnesota.

Minne throws his arms up. "Aw man, and I was going to bring my MAC cannon with me."

Carolina: Team B will be North, Wyoming, and C.T. You will act as recon for Team A, and once we enter the building, you will disengage to attack the target on the freeway. North will lead Team B.

North Dakota: Got it.

Connecticut: What about Agent South?

Director: Agent South will not be accompanying you on this mission.

"Should have set her motion trackers?" Minne whispers.

South watches the Freelancer teams board the Pelican. North hesitates for a moment but follows the others wordlessly. South turns and leaves the docking bay.

C.T.: Hmm, guess the world's a tough place when you move down a rank. And where's our new recruit? Will she be joining us?

Director: That's enough questions, Connecticut.

C.T.: (quietly, to Washington) Notice he didn't say no...

Carolina: Team B should be simple. Stop the vehicle and grab the case. Team A? You have more of a challenge. Mainly if the Sarcophagus is an unknown.

Washington: How unknown are we talking?

Carolina: Unknown in that we don't know its size, or its weight, or its dimensions. We just know it will have these markings somewhere on the exterior.

Carolina presses a few buttons and a large red insignia appears above the screen.

North Dakota: I saw those same markings on the oil platform.

Director: Correct. That facility created the primary objective.

Washington: Do we know what's inside it?

Director: Yes, we know.

C.T.: How do we know what's in it, but not how big it is?

The Director turns to C.T. silently.

C.T.: Sorry, sir.

Carolina: We have a job to do, people. Let's do it right and come home safe.

Director: That is all. You are dismissed!

Everyone in the room stands to attention.

All: Yes, sir!

Cut to space, where the Mother of Invention opens its docking bay and releases two Pelicans from its clamps. The Pelicans activate their thrusters and fly towards the Earth's surface.

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07-18-2022