The Division-Lost Hope

As the Agent's Skimmer entered Griffonstone, the agents disembarked and Twilight used her magic to scrub them clean of any viral contamination. As they headed towards General Razor's office, they found the General surveying a map.

"Agents." Razor said. "What'd you find?"

"The first faction has been revealed." Twilight said. "They're Griffons, clad in scrap metal armor. Thing is, they had a Rogue Agent working with them, and a considerable arms cache that'll boost our stock by a good amount. They apparently had Princess Giselle hostage there as well."

"Giselle?" Razor said. "Glad you found her, then. These Scrappers are probably concentrated near the Ironback Mountains, where they can find metal to make armor and weapons with. GOod find. Anything else?"

"We found a letter mentioning a "Vault."" Nick said. "Any idea what that is?"

"Well, it's only rumors, but I heard that the Griffon King stockpiled a large amount of gold and supplies underneath the palace, in a hidden vault. With that stockpile, you could essentially take control of the Griffon Lands if you found it."

"And now, it's the Scrapper's next objective." Kestrel said. "Problem is, no one seems to know where it's at."

"We'll find it." Razor said. "Damn good work. Take a breather. I'll call when we need you."

The agents nodded and walked over to the main Response Force camp and headed to the command tent.

"Sitrep." Nick asked a Changeling.

"Nothing's happened as of now." the Changeling replied. "The skimmers with the guns you humans found and the refugees just arrived. We'll get them distributed."

"Roger that." Nick said. As they headed out, Twilight then noticed a comms notice on her SHD Shoulder Tag.

"Is this thing working?" Came the voice of Celestia.

"It is. What's the matter?" Twilight replied.

"I need a favor, Agents. I've heard that a Response team managed to find a small base in the Griffon capital. Can you investigate?"

"Sure." Twilight replied. "We'll get right on it."

Twilight ended the call and told the other agents of their new mission. Heading over to the Skimmer depot, they found that an airship was waiting for them.

"What's with the airship?" Twilight asked.

"The main road to the Capital, the only one that our skimmers can get to has been cut off!" a Griffon replied. "We'll need to insert you in by air."

"Sounds good." Nick said. "Let's get going!"

"Wait, I'm getting an unknown radio call!" Twilight called out, relaying it through her SHD tech.

"Agents, Agents, can you hear me?" said a accented voice. Nick recognized the accent. Russian.

"Identify yourself." Nick ordered.

"This is Vitaly Tchernenko." Vitaly replied. "I am being held hostage in this world, at a manor near the Griffon Capital. Keener forced me to build a new strain of the Green Poison, which was released here. I do not have much time, as the radio I am using is almost dead. Find and extract me back to the Griffonstone Base of Operations as soon as possible!"

"Vitaly!" Nick said as the line went dead. "Vitaly! Fuck, we're going after him!"

"Roger that." Kestrel said.

"Let's slit some throats and get our virologist back." Harper said. As they boarded the airship, meanwhile, at the manor, two LMB officers dragged Vitaly into a sealed room. Shutting the door, they then snapped to salute at their approached leader.

"How's he faring?" Lightning dust asked, an eyepatch present where Anubis's sniper shot had hit her. Keener's agents had recovered her and using Equestrian magic and human medical tech, she had survived, but her left eye socket was empty.

"He'll make it. We found him with a radio, though." a LMB officer replied.

"Is it destroyed?" Lightning asked.

"Yes."

"Good. Make sure he stays alive. We need him for later." Lightning said as she departed to report to Keener of their captive's state.

============
As the airship soared towards the mountain where ISAC had traced Vitaly's radio signal, Nick checked his CM901 for damage, while the other agents checked their own weapons.

"Alright, listen up." Nick said. "We don't know if Vitaly's alive. Which means, we need to keep him alive if he is. We can presume based on Keener's alliance with the LMB that they'll have Rogue agents and possibly LMB infantry on site, possibly Griffons given basic firearms training. Shoot to kill, but watch your fire. We don't want a dead virologist. There might be other hostages as well, so check your aim if there are. We good?"

"Good." The other agents replied.

"Let's move. Pilot, set us down!" Nick barked. As the airship set the agents outside a military barricade, Nick and the agents snuck into the compound, and were greeted by several LMB riflemen giving Griffons instructions in how to shoot an AK47.

"Stonehaven, this is Sierra-Kilo. We have hostile humans on site. LMB. Requesting permission to engage."

"Permission granted." Came General Razor's voice.

"Roger that." Nick said as his team prepared to engage. There was a flurry of gunfire, and they fell. Nick moved up and covered the manor entrance, while the other agents headed inside. Nick closed the door, and then his eyes caught something interesting.

"ACTIVE ECHO BEACON DETECTED." ISAC spoke. Nick downloaded the ECHO, and was greeted by a startling sight. Lightning Dust, the LMB leader, presumed dead from Anubis's sniper shot, stood behind Vitaly Chernenko, and a makeshift radio.

"So, you tried to call for help? Don't you know that you work for Keener now?"

"I work for no one." Vitaly replied.

"So you say." Lightning said as two LMB Squad Leaders grabbed him and smashed his radio. Vitaly was dragged off, and the ECHO playback ended.

"Lightning's alive?" Twilight asked.

"She should be dead." Anubis said. "My shot hit her right in the eye. She should've bled out, or died instantly."

"Yet she didn't." Dimitri said. "Let's end her for good."

"Roger that." Nick said. "Spread out."

Nick took Kestrel to search for Vitaly while the other agents paired up and spread out to search the compound. Nick opened the door to an office, and he found something shocking. A map of the Griffon Palace, a red X covering the area. Nick took a photo and then noticed a SHD container on the far side. Opening it, he found a Military model Goblin PDR. Taking the rifle, he slung it over his pack.

"Let's move." Nick said to Kestrel. As they moved out, they noticed two LMB Riflemen standing near a door. Nick moved closer to hear their conversation.

"So, how's our guy?"

"Eh, not eating. Figures. Commander Dust gave him a real beating."

"Yeah, remind me not to piss her off."

"Heard one of those red-watch guys patched her up after she got sniped. I still don't think they're on our side. Didn't like, ten of them betray us? And didn't one get killed?"

"They did. Doesn't matter. As long as we're still in control here, we'll be fine."

Nick motioned to Kestrel, who drew his knife. The two agents silently killed them, and grabbed a keycard from one of the bodies. Opening the door, they found a man in a suit with the start of a beard look back at them.

"Vitaly Tchernenko?" Nick asked.

"Da." Vitaly replied.

"Nick Sykes. SHD." Nick said, pulling the man to his feet. "We're the ones that hit the Consulate to extract you, back in Manhattan."

"I expected so." Vitaly replied. "Keener is not here. He left around five hours ago. He took the materials of my research with him."

"Know where he's headed?" Kestrel said.

"Regrettably, no." Vitaly said. "However, I do know the LMB here aren't alone. Keener has sent his men to the so-called "Scrappers" and two other factions, to instruct and arm them with guns."

"What are the other two?" Nick asked.

"I don't know." Vitaly said. "Let us move."

Vitaly grabbed a ballistic vest and a Police M4 from one of the rifleman, and nodded.

"You can shoot?" Nick asked.

"Da. Father was ex-FSO. Taught me how to use any weapon." Vitaly replied.

"Good." Nick said. "Agents, we've recovered Vitaly. Move to extraction."

"Roger that." Twilight spoke. Nick and Kestrel nodded to Vitaly and they headed back to the foyer. Then, Nick saw through the window two LMB squads disembark from a pair of humvees. They stacked up on the door, ready to breach.

"Cover!" Nick yelled as the agents took to cover. Nick threw up a Pulse Turret, while Harper set a Support Station down. Logan threw down a Mobile Cover for Vitaly. As the agents leveled their weapons, the doors blew open, and the LMB entered, already shooting.