They spread out a map and their plan.

"Hmm, so there are five locations we need to disable and hijack, huh?"

"Yes, should we split?"

"No, I don't think so. We're surrounded by enemies, so who knows what would happen if one or all of us got intercepted. Is the order to disable and hijack discreetly or offensively?"

"Discreetly, but we may turn to offensive when needed."

Luann thought for a while.

"We'll use offensive as last resort as it'll draw attention. We'll aim to be discreet at least until the third location. That means, we'll only send two people into the targeted room, and the three rest will lay low and stay on guard, just in case. Try to not use your gun and maintain utmost silence."

They nodded.

"Ok!"

The first location went smoothly. Then the second. Then the third.

"Why do you come back alone, Ian?"

"Oh, there are only 20 people in the building and me going in would just add the risk. Fer will be fine."

"Are you sure-?"

The wall thudded softly. Fer walked out, cleaning his gloves.

"We're done, let's go!"

"D-did you took down 20 guys...?"

"Yup!" Fer nodded cheerfully.

He paused at Luann's expression. She looked like she just saw a ghost. Wait, did he miss something? Oh!

"Sorry hehe, I made sure that they will be unconscious for the next two hours. Was it too loud?"

Ah, so this is how skilled the special ops are. Hahaha, she's just a nobody in the middle of gifted assassins who call themselves technicians.

"N-no, good job."

Fer looked at Ian. Did something happen to her? Ian shrugged his shoulder. No idea.

Suddenly, a tank rolled in. The five jumped into hiding. Luann's eyebrows furrowed. That's weird, that's the first tank they have seen. It doesn't seem like the assault team would have ended their attacks before the hijacking team finished theirs, and it's not like the first three locations were less precious than the fourth and the fifth.

"Yos and Ben, how many people were in the first location?"

"50 people."

"Ian and Ben, how many people were in the second location?"

"30 people."

"So, 50, 30 and 20? And those who noticed us have been knocked unconscious?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

Luann bit her lip.

"That means they have known about our plan and is gathering their men in the fourth and fifth location."

"Dang, should we have killed them instead?"

These barbarians don't even know how strong they are! Actually, it was more likely that they accidentally kill when knocking them unconscious.

"No no, I'm pretty sure they are still unconscious. They might have guessed the plan way before that."

"What should we do, Lieutenant?"

"You said these last two will also need a little more time in hijacking, right? We need to split, two to the fourth location and three to the fifth location, since the fifth contains the exit. Then the ones in fifth location will maintain the exit until the ones in fourth join them, and we'll all head to the train."

Now, the problem is, who'll join which group?

"If I may suggest, you should join the fifth location, Lieutenant!" Ian raised his hand. "Both locations take longer time like you said, but we'll be able to make it shorter if two technicians are working at it at once."

Good point. The fifth location is more dangerous too, given they need to hold out longer.

"Will you be able to defend yourself too?"

"Yes!"

"Ok, then Fer, go with him. Yos and Ben, we'll go to the fifth location first! That way we'll cause a disruption, and as soon as you see a smoke from our location, find a way to sneak into location four's building."

They nodded. Luann and the other two leapt across the structures. Yos and Ben looked in amazement. So, this was the army's best free runner. Their captain was decent at parkours too, but the lieutenant looked like she was flying.

She signalled at them. They nodded and rushed into the fifth building. Luann splattered oil over the tanks and dropped a lit cigarette, lighting them on fire.

"FIRE!!"

The silent atmosphere broke down in panic.

But before anyone could figure out what was happening, Luann had disappeared. Sirens rang.

Ian and Fer looked at the sky and rushed into the fourth building.

"Was there an attack? What happened?"

"W-we don't know..."

"Ugh, you guards are useless!"

The man checked the tank. His face went livid.

"A cook-out!! How many times have I told you not to smoke cigarette around here, huh??"

"We really didn't-"

"LIAR!!"

Luann leaned against the rooftop. That should be enough to distract the security instead. Her walkie talkie crackled.

"Corporal Ian and Sergeant Ben, reporting."

"Report."

"Operation at location four successful, discreet."

"Excellent, head down to location 5 and remain hidden."

"Aye, Ma'am."

The man walked to the building. She flinched. When was he finished with his yapping?

"Do you think it might be part of the planned attack, Sir?"

"It might be. Tighten the internal security-"

Oh no, no! Yos and Ben aren't finished yet!

The car beside the man exploded. They scrambled to the ground.

"Are the attackers outside?"

"No, this might just be a distraction! Go inside!"

NO! Luann pulled her rifle, sniping anyone who approached the entrance.

"See? There is a lone sniper distracting from outside! The hijackers must have been inside!"

AAAHHH!!! Luann pressed the wire. This was her last resort but guess there is no other way!

The ground below them snapped in explosions. The man looked around in panic. He was wrong, there must be at least ten attackers! Are they just going in?

"Call the units outside! Defend the building!"

A bullet flashed inches beside Luann's head. Shit! Luann leapt to the ground and ran.

"The fuck?! Is she even human??"

"Fire, fire!"

She jumped across the containers and opened her palm. Smoke rose to the air. Bullets zoomed in all directions. Luann ducked. Dear God, will she really die today? But she hasn't even petted a racoon!

Someone tapped her shoulder. Luann almost screamed. She looked back and sighed in relief. Ian and Ben.

"Are we going offensive, Lieutenant?"

"Yes, change of plans. We should engage in combat until Yos and Ben finished the operation."

They nodded. Grenades exploded, bullets flashed, shouts blurred, fire blaze. Bodies burn crisped on the ground.

Yos and Ben ran out, quickly ducking with them.

"How was the operation?"

"Success," Ben looked around, "But there are too many enemies for us to escape, Lieutenant?"

He's right. Luann looked at the northern border.

"The train is at northeast, and the only way we can get out is through that northern gate. You five have the intel; make the run for it! I'll distract them enough and jump through the structures when you have reached the outskirts. We'll meet at the train station."

"Are you sure, Lieutenant?"

Luann nodded. There's no other way.

"Then we'll see you later, Lieutenant!"

They ran into the smoke. Luann ran into the shootout, leaping through debris, gasoline in one hand and a lighter in the other. Fire blazed high. Thirty...thirty-five...fourty...fifty... she gripped her knife as she swung down. This was the most gruesome mission she had.

Her walkie-talkie crackled.

"We reached the outskirts, Ma'am!"

"Perfect, continue on!"

Luann dodged, but her foot got tangled. She fell to the ground, flinching. Her foot bled.

"There she is! Get her!"

Luann frowned. She'd lose too many bloods if she kept on running. She tore her sleeves and wrapped it around her wound. Wind blew, and the voices and footsteps grew louder.

Here goes nothing! She leapt into the snow and ran.

Cain's walkie talkie crackled.

"The lieutenant still hasn't got there?"

"No, Sir."

He stopped.

"The rest of my team will join the four of you. Board the train as soon as it arrived and go back to the headquarters."

"Captain??"

"This is an order. Go!"

They looked at each other in hesitation.

"Aye, Captain."

Run, run, run, was all she could think of, else her legs would give away. The voices have long faded away, and the sky had turned dark. And after what felt like forever, the train station appeared.

Her heart missed a beat. 19 past five! The train brushed past her. She ran as fast as she could trying to grab the side. But the metal sped off, and her legs crumbled. She fell to the ground. Maybe it was because of the adrenaline – or maybe because they have been running for a while, but the winter air chilled her bones. The merciless wind howled through the empty station.

This is it, isn't it?