Sam’s alarm woke her up at seven Monday morning as she got up, changed, and found something to make for breakfast. The house was quiet; only the sounds of Sam’s munching of toast and sipping tea could be heard. “All I have to do is wait for the notification to come in any minute now. I hope dad’s not too busy with clients today,” she thought to herself. Moments later, the awaited message from Hexa International showed up under the title “Infinity Recruitment and Dispatch Services”.

“Yes, finally!” she giddily whispered aloud, wasting no time in opening. Her gaze suddenly went from excitement to confusion as she read the header. “Due to emergency situations… all new full time pilot recruits from Eden Territories… to here?! Where is this?!” She walked over to their computer nearby where she started to pull up a map of the Earth. On her mobile’s holographic display, the letterhead wrote:

“Due to emergency situations that have increased in severity across all major districts in the Bogota capital area of Colombia, central Dhaka area of Bangladesh, and Manila capital area of the Philippines, we are rerouting all new full time pilot recruits from Eden Territories, Casares Territories, and from Rhodes City Services and Recruitment Centers effective immediately to the listed areas and will remain as such until further notice. If this is your first notice, you will report to your first scheduled check-in as documented. All others must report in before check-in to receive a new boarding pass.

Destination Report for Samantha Amilia Knight, Age 25, Akkadia One Resident:
Bogota, Colombia, Sector A, Pilot, Hexa Ai20.

Schedule Report: Friday, June 19^th, 2176, 6:55AM from Transit Point – Akkadia Service and Recruitment Center.”

“This is where Colombia was? The SAU? I hadn’t even heard of this place until the other day!” she thought to herself in disbelief. “At least put me in the damn NAU! It’s right there! Ugh!” she shouted to herself, standing up with hands on her head in frustration. This is so not going to go well with mom. She went back to her mobile and swiped across to her messenger, clicking on the contact labeled “Saff” with the sub-detail contact name “Saffire Aurion-Raven”. She quickly typed in: “They are sending me to Colombia?! And it’s this Friday! Any clue about this place I’m going to? Is this bad?”

She was then shaken by the sudden reception of a message, shocked to think Saffire would respond so quickly but only to feel bummed the next instant upon seeing it was someone else. She brought up the message by the sender “Daja” with a raised brow and a look of bewilderment as if it had been ages since she last heard from her former classmate and close acquaintance from her university days.

“Call me…?” she read aloud with a frown. Girl, I have too much going on right now! she thought, flustered as she swiped the call function anyway. “Daja? What happened all the sudden?”

“Sam, you didn’t tell me you signed up full time!” she lambasted, further drawing Sam’s ire. “And you realize I would see everything they process through my side of the system, stupid!”

She rolled her eyes with a sigh of concession. “Okay? What is it to you, anyway?”

“I could’ve put you in the Mediterranean instead of Colombia if you would’ve told me you were signing up for full-time riot control!” she carried on as her tone drew closer to a more light-hearted side of the fussing spectrum.

“Oh,” Sam mumbled as she put her hand over her forehead in part regret and part embarrassment over how she misjudged the initial lambasting. “Damn, you know I had so much on my plate lately with my studies and my parents- I totally forgot to check back with you.”

“But hey, you know what actually has me most concerned is the fact I could’ve pulled a string maybe to get you with some pilots I know, but at this rate, I can’t even get access to who you’re with. Who knows who the hell you will be serving under.”

No access? What.. is my upcoming team roster already under wraps? But why? “Daja, look, I appreciate the notion and all. I realize I should’ve stayed in touch, but in all honesty, if there is some kind of lock on my files in process, sounds like you would’ve never had a chance to do anything to begin with.”

“But isn’t that a bit weird? Suspicious, even?”

Sam paused in thought, only to find herself chuckling.

“Huh? What’s so funny?”

This is the same shit they did for Isaiah way back. Mother… mother… The sudden build up of tension seemed to have left her even if just for a brief moment at the thought. “That HAS to be administration hiding me from my parents. I swear…”

“Well, if you say so. But you know, your objective isn’t going to change. You are still about to pilot the front security line day one. In Bogota. With no backup for days.”

The emphasis that fell on the last word of each line sparked up the uneasiness in Sam once more, however, unable to escape it completely no matter the direction of their conversation. “Right. I do need to finish looking up what I can on this place. Speaking of which, it makes me think back to yesterday morning when I had the news on just that. This is a lot to take in.”

“Well, hey, I just wanted to tell you that. Are you fine with this- I mean, you need me to help back you out?”

“No, I’m good,” the words slipped out without even thinking. It was so natural of a response it was almost frightening, given the circumstances. What am I even saying?

“Alright, if you say so. But I will still be up here stuck in Jazira until the end of time most likely. I gotta run, but don’t forget to call if you are ever in a bind!”

“Thanks, Daja. Bye,” she replied with a weak smile as she hung up, letting out a sigh the instant the click was heard. I am such an absolute mess right now, but it’s too late to turn back. Let me see what all I am really looking towards.

With that, she spun back around to her screen and resumed her research on her target destination. Colombia… and they got me piloting an Ai20 model… eww, the most boring model we have… I wonder how bad traffic is. Do they have a bunch of overhead power lines there? Wait, what was the name of the city again?!

●　●　● Bogota, Colombia

Bogota residents of the Santa Fe district were out walking their morning commute as any other day. A few younger men and women watched this from their 3^rd floor view from what looked like an apartment building while they drank their morning coffee. They were all chatting quietly amongst themselves in their native tongue, and one of the males who looked to be in his upper twenties with short cropped, dark brown hair spoke to the female in her upper twenties who shared many of the same facial features: [OK, I think we’ve watched over these ‘rolos’* long enough. Bas is waiting for us to update so he can know to head back or load up.]

[And then we do what, go back to Kennedy? They won’t let us back in without getting word from the Rochas,] she replied curtly.

[They will wait until we fall off dead from this balcony, no? I think it’s clear they don’t want us in their barrio, but are being nice as to not piss off our boss, or the Veras here.]

[Fifteen more minutes. Bas and the rookie need to be clear. Let the phone call come and we will walk away.]

He set his coffee down, lighting a cigarette. [Fuck the Rocha's. We already watched the targets get on their buses safely. No way they expect us to follow them to Usaquen this early. Bas needs us back before the next demo heats up.]

[Stubborn idiot. Hey, no smoke yet?] the girl spoke to a man behind them who was staring out another window, sniper rifle to his side just out of view.

[No smoke but we got about a hundred odd rolos gathering New Park 3. No phone call?] he shouted from across the room.

Just then, the girl’s mobile lit up as she answered and listened. Moments later, she hung up and grabbed her bag. [Rocha's said they got what they want and that they will call off the demo. Tell Bas to pack up his “Caballero”.]

[Guys, I don’t think they got any words from their boss] the man across the room said as he took out a viewfinder to lock in on what looked to be men setting up barricades across the main street running alongside the park. [I’d better check on Bas,] he continued, loading his silenced sniper rifle.

Down the street by a few blocks, a slightly younger man with the same features as the man and women talking earlier was sitting on a hover scooter next as he watched the same developing demonstration group from his viewfinder. Another man who looked to be barely twenty was on a similar scooter just beside him. [Bas, what is this whole thing again?]

[Don’t call me Bas, you don’t know me,] he chided with a shake of his head.

[Sorry, Sebastian,] he quickly apologized.

[Anyway, Renzo and Dani just got the word, but I think they got lied to. Something seems different this time, and I don’t like the feeling.] He zoomed back out, and moments later let his arm rest on the handlebars. [Rich ass rolos from Usaquen think they can pay off other Familias from other Barrios to do their dirty work. They are the ones who somehow keep finding ways to get all those people armed and set them loose here and there. It’s like they really think things will change because they start fires and blow up the police.]

[So, who were those people we sent back on the bus?]

[Rochas’ people who we, and the Veras here in Santa Fe, were holding. We return them, the Rocha's agree to stay out of Santa Fe and Kennedy. I think the people were their politicians.]

[So no need to take out the heavy stuff? What about your LTAC?]

[No. The package is being delivered, no incident, we need to head back.]

[It’s settled, then,] the young man said as he stood up from his scooter with a pistol drawn. [Now we get to win over the seats for the SAU, ‘cachaco’, and I get your LTAC.]

Sebastian let out a sigh, lowered his head, then raised a finger. A silenced round sailed through from a balcony not too far away and carried its way through the man’s head. Sebastian stood back up with a look at the man’s face, grabbing his communicator. [Shit, who knew? Our boy was for Rocha after all, just like you were afraid of. They’re getting to everyone lately.]

[Bas, this is Renzo, get out of there! They got more than just tanks rolling in – I think they are aiming to take down central police headquarters!]

Sebastian started his scooter up and quickly took off down the narrow street. [Dani, tell the Veras to handle this. We need to get back to compound – we only got two “Caballeros” here and no armor. I think that guy you just offed wanted mine but saw that I wasn’t going to get it out after all.]

[Agreed. If they couldn’t have it, they would just assume leaving you dead would be the consolation,] Renzo came over the line. [Everyone, fall back to Kennedy.]

▽　▽　▽

Sebastian rode through a few packed alleys where he was surrounded by lo-rise apartments before finding the entrance to a heavily guarded set of houses. He passed the security forces and rode up to a large, open garage where he saw Renzo and Dani waiting alongside about ten others. [Who were those men we let go? The new guy knew, said they were going to be used for taking the government, assuming he meant the upper house.]

[Exactly, and that’s why we need to talk to the Bosses,] Renzo replied, still visibly irritated from earlier. [They demolished about half of the central HQ which means even the police will be scared now, most likely. They really think we are to just lay down and let them run the show.]

[Shit,] Sebastian shook his head in response. [And only two “Caballeros,” one carrier, no tanks left. What the hell do they expect us to accomplish, now?]

[They will suck it up and spend money. I think it’s time Boss gave Infinity a call. Fight fire with fire, right?]

[Sounds like a Rocha thing to do, using foreigners,] Dani interjected in disapproval.

[I will talk to him,] Sebastian said as he laid his equipment on the table and headed for the door. [If we don’t get help soon, we may as well just lay down, right? Should we just die like good cachacos?] Dani held back her retort. [Don’t forget that A-7 we barely took down the other day after almost losing some of our brothers, or how much we lost after the last fight with the Rochas. I refuse to cross out any better options. Now unless you have something better in mind, I am going upstairs to talk.]

Dani wasted no time walking up on Renzo the second Sebastian disappeared. [What are you thinking by giving him hope?!] she fussed with her hands over her head in disappointment. [No one gives a shit about our country! If that Hexa company does in fact send us help, it would either be half-assed, incompetent, or both!] Seeing Renzo roll his eyes fueled her frustration as she continued: [You know we don’t have Rocha-level money so don’t get Rocha-level expectations in his head!]

He breathed out a sigh that faded into a laugh as he looked away, pulling out a cigarette from a pouch he took from his shirt pocket. [You get so worked up over us actually trying to do something, you know?] As he lit it and paced the opposite direction towards the still-open garage door he looked to his mobile that began vibrating with the incoming call. [It’s Boss,] he mumbled as he continued to the switch to close the door as he picked up the call.

Dani shook her head in acceptance, knowing she had nothing else to add to the discussion even though the whole situation sat sourly with her. She remembered the promises from other local Familia’s that ran empty during attacks following the A-7 incident, further draining any trust she held in anyone but her own people. Eyeing the rest of the crowd up the way from her and seeing how none of them had taken issue to the direction of the conversation, she retired her concerns and leaned herself against the side of the truck she was next to.

She took out her mobile as well, pulling up a link she had left open from earlier, showing a social media app’s post related to Colombia’s situation from Space’s viewpoint. Of course, to no surprise to her, it was heavily satirical in nature, furthering her curiosity enough to read its contents despite her sickened spirit. [To think how great life was when we were children. When is this years-long nightmare going to end?]

[Dani!] Renzo called from across the garage. [La Familia Saravia sent some of their men here before we arrived, did you know that?!] He tucked away his mobile, wearing his trademark glowing expression of hope that caused Dani’s lips to curl in disgust as it always did. [They said they are going to pitch in some money to make a move as soon as tomorrow! Bas picked a good time to bring up the talk, huh?]