Sam then started to wander off in thought, trying to ponder not only how she would get out in the end, but if she was even fit for piloting again. “Dad, are you sure you want me in the Axiom? I got crushed yesterday like it was nothing.”

“But if the Axiom can’t even help you, it means there’s more work to do. The armor set should hold up to physical weaponry like what we saw much better, but still best to keep your distance.” He then saw the worried look still on her face. “Look, the sooner we clear the threat, the sooner we can get you on that train. The last thing I need you to know is once you are clear to move out of town past La Candelaria, Mr. Galeano agreed to let me borrow your boy Sebastian once more for escorting you to the Brazilian Border. From there I made sure an official Brazilian government squad will safely transport you to Sao Paolo Spaceport for getting you back home finally.”

“But couldn’t I just leave like that as is? They wouldn’t see us leaving.”

“The walls have eyes there, obviously. You can’t just walk out. How else did they know exactly where our drop would be and what forces we brought? They are waiting to strike again, I guarantee. I am not about to lose you to ill planning. Follow their lead, ok?”

“Alright. That’s what I have been doing. But, wait, you keep saying ‘we’… did you really just join Hexa? What happened over the past night?”

“I said long story,” Al said with a sigh. “I promise to explain everything. I know what you are suggesting and no I had properly hashed it out with your mother already.” He then straightened up again. “I have to finish overseeing the drop launch. I made sure you are getting a new basic equipment set and a new mobile. Ah, and your bone density pills as well. Stay indoors, and just follow any instructions they give you. Stay safe, Sam.”

“I will, thanks dad.” The communication screen then went blank as Sam let out a long sigh. I hope he knows what he’s doing. She saw the man next to her signaling her to head out. She made her way back to the exit, and as she passed through, she saw Dani waiting a few steps away.

“My boss and my brothers say they talked to your father. Very famous man. Says we are lucky to have you.”

“Huh? You know him?” she asked, surprised.

“Brothers say he was a famous Harbinger with lots of money and strong connections. He is Hexa now, right?” she asked as she pulled up his picture over her mobile on holographic display. “See? He is, uh,” she sputtered over the word ‘logistics’. “This man. He is sending us much better things tomorrow. He even is sending us the boxes that do the reading you say to us, what was it…”

“The NOx sensors, right, I heard earlier.”

“Yes. Those are almost here already, coming to other compounds.” She then flipped the screen to another page with the package contents. “Please tell him thanks for the new trucks he will deliver us. Very nice man to give us so much things we didn’t pay for.”

“He can be very charitable when he feels people have been screwed over, which we kind of had been,” Sam said off to the side before looking back to Dani. “I will help out with anything you need with the packages, but I have to explain some important technology details with Sebastian. When will he be back?”

“Sebastian? He will be back around midnight.”

“Midnight?! But isn’t the delivery tomorrow?”

“Yes. He will come home, take you and everyone to delivery site to wait.” Dani then smirked at the thought Sam might just be wanting to be with him more than anything. But before she could talk, her communicator went off as she turned it to the main channel. [What happened?] she said to herself, ready to listen in.

[Compound 4 Kennedy North has been hit hard. Communications from within are down. Explosives used. Many trucks inbound.]

[Shit,] Dani seethed as she turned and headed back for the garage. “Stay here! Don’t go out!” she firmly ordered Sam without turning around.

Norte, Sam mentally repeated the word she overheard as she grew concerned. That means north, so, that’s over that way, she continued in thought, walking outside to the same balcony as the night before, looking over to her left. “That.” She saw smoke billowing up from over and beyond the rooftops blocking her view. “They must be under attack.” She then looked down to see two trucks leaving, each with four passengers inside. I don’t know what they plan on doing with so few people. They really are stretched far too thin, she said to herself, not noticing she had developed concern for them. She then quickly walked back inside, down the hallway, and toward the elevator that led to the ground level with intent to catch up to Danni but found a man standing guard.

[No guests allowed.]

“Can you please let me down there? I think I could help somehow!”

[No guests. Go back.]

Sam gave up on trying to force her way through words, headed back to where she was, and looked for the communications room only to find it guarded and blocked off, too. “They weren’t kidding when they said stay inside. Shit.”

▽　▽　▽  

Time and transition was not as kind to Kennedy North, evident by the much larger amount of concrete buildings that didn’t use the same protective layering as most modern cities had, leaving most of the surfaces appearing unfinished. The lack of routine maintenance also added to the visible disparity between here and the areas more towards downtown. As smoke crawled down one alley and spilled into the main street, a pair of Gamma LTAC frames could be seen approaching quickly up the main street from the distance.

Sebastian, piloting his next to next to Renzo’s, had his visor showing him the location of the compound under attack in sight. They headed down an empty drainage ditch to avoid traffic, trying to keep on course. [At least they got that sensor kit put up. Still no NOx trails detected. I think we are looking at ground only.]

[No shells fired so far, just bombs and rockets. Get the gas rounds ready,] he heard Renzo reply over the channel.

Sebastian turned up the ramped ditch wall, eased up on the boosters, and allowed himself to get his feet and wheels on the ground before turning the corner at the empty intersection. From there he could see the compound burning in the distance, quickly cranking up his forward speed. The closer he got, the more he had to be wary of the bystanders that grew in number. Why aren’t these streets cleared?! Have they gone mad?! Some had already paid heed to the yellow and red flashing light mounted on his shoulder, but most had remained an obstacle. [Clear the path! I don’t want anyone hurt!] he shouted over his loudspeaker.

Unable to get anyone to listen, he angled his grenade launcher and fired a pair of gas rounds for the compound. The loud thud got most in the area to run for cover, allowing him room to boost-jump into the grass clearing next to the compound’s main building. He slowly lowered himself to an area that just cleared of assailants and saw the main garage door about 20 meters away still with intruders gathered around trying to rush inside for cover. [Leave the compound at once! Anyone found inside will be taken down!] he shouted over the loudspeaker again.

He knew there wouldn’t be many listening as he aimed his shotgun attachment to the ground in front of him, discharging a shell. The deafening blast caused a shockwave reaction around him as the scattering crowd outside scampered away more hastily. From inside the garage a few intruders began to cower away and out towards the broken fence. [Last warning! I will continue to use deadly force!] he shouted again, this time aiming his attachment for the door. He scanned the area, not seeing anyone in that vicinity ID’d as Galeano members.

[Bas, I got the entrance cleared of any small arms activity. Are the rest holed up inside?] Renzo spoke over their channel.

Sebastian was already growing beyond nervous, knowing it was to be a race against time before reinforcements would become a quick, easy option for them. [Right, got maybe twenty or more inside. Hold on.] He then walked over to improve his firing angle, put his reticle over the back wall of the garage, waiting for movement. [Where is Dani?! Where are the rest of our guys? I don’t want to blow this whole joint up!]

[They’re inbound; give them about thirty seconds!] he replied before hearing a beep on his NOx sensor relay. [Wait, is that the new detection equipment? There’s no one in the room to tell us what or where. Bas, back up.]

Dani pulled around the last intersection before seeing the same street Sebastian used on his approach, seeing both MI-r’s standing amidst clouds of thick gas and smoke as coughing and dazed assailants slowly cleared the area. [Safeties off!] she shouted over her radio. [Bas gave the last warning order. Get in and run a full sweep!] But as her truck and the one behind her drew closer to the outer fencing area she saw Sebastian and Renzo’s mechs turn around the other way. [What is it, brothers?]

Sebastian started to run explosives scans towards the direction of those fleeing. [Dani, take everyone inside and get to work. Something is going on outside. New sensors went off. You’re not safe out here.]

[Do you know how to use those, yet?] she asked as she pulled inside the compound and into just to the right outer wall of the garage entrance. She then signaled everyone out as they lined up on the wall preparing for infiltration. She then tightened her tactical vest before quickly filing in front of the line, shouldering her rifle.

Sebastian waited in futility for a response. [We are blind without someone inside to read the parameters. All we know is there are detections, and I don’t have any explosives showing up.] Things started to fall uncomfortably quiet around them. [Renzo, what’s your call?]

[At least let Dani get her side figured out. Control, make sure the rescue response stays the hell away for now!]

▽　▽　▽  

Sam had been pacing frantically around the breakroom for some time as made evident by the guard’s reactions. Now that pressure was on, trying to recall all those years of elementary Spanish was becoming next to impossible. She then took a seat, propping her head over her clenched fists. Think, think! If this is what I assume it is, they don’t have a clue how to utilize those new NOx sensors this early in the game. Just need one good line to get in there. She took a few long breaths before she started doodling over the table top with her right index finger. “Got it,” she said to herself as she stood up and started for the guard once again. “Sebastian… esta en… peligro.”

“Cómo?” he spoke back to her with a raised brow.

“Esta en peligro!” she repeated. “Yo puedo… ayudar! Puedo ayudar!” she continued with increasing exasperation.

“Esperate,” he told her as he turned around to the others, speaking something incoherent before looking back to her moments later. “Cómo puedes ayudar?”

Sam began making more frustration circles in place before hearing a familiar voice:

[I need help with these readings! Whole compound is not responding! Please respond!]

She couldn’t make out what was said but she knew for certain it was Sebastian’s voice, triggering what to say next to the man. “That, that! Puedo ayudar! Puedo ayudar!”

“Nh? En serio?”

“Hey!” she heard another man near him shouting, signaling the guard to let her through as he looked to her and said: “You! You need to come help. No one doesn’t comprehend Hexa’s bad instruction,” much to her surprise and offense.

Are you serious!? “You…-!?” she thought to herself wide-eyed in rage as she started to walk through. “Alright, I need to talk to Sebastian!” she said to him as she tried desperately to calm down, narrowly staving off the urge to hurl insults at the officer.

He handed her a headset that she quickly put on. “Sebastian, do you hear me?” she said with a click of the main switch.

“Samantha?” she heard his bewildered voice. “What are you doing in there!”