A Scheme Brews...

Cara gave her team a glance before she walked out of their office room. The door closed behind her as she began to speak, "So, Terry. What should I know about said mission?" Cara followed his pace as they walked down the hall taking a direct path to Chris's office.

"First..." Terrence started, "This will be a personal request from Redfield, so it's completely off the record. If there were to be a mistake during this mission, there will be a good chance your position as Charlie's leader will end up on the line. We can't have your new recruit cause casualties or make similar mistakes as your last official mission, Miss Amber."

Cara hated it when Terrence called her Miss Amber. Her youthful side never found it nice to be called Miss. Cara gave a huff before nodding, "That isn't exactly fair. He's still new and young," she knew what she sounded like she was doing but she needs her team in a positive and healthy perspective in order to make proper decisions in the line of duty.

"Don't make excuses, Cara," Terrence barked back glaring over to her, "It isn't exactly fair to label a civilians death as collateral damage either. The BSAA saved your ass with that report. Another mistake and they will remove Mr. Faulten from your team and you will be one short. At least, until you recruit another delinquent."

Cara was able to tell Terrence was attempting to get under her skin. She would never show it, though. She would be getting upset over something she can't fix. She can only work on the future of her team. Dwelling on a mistake Todd made was not going to matter. "...It won't happen again," she muttered softly, looking ahead.

She, of course, felt ashamed to have dealt with such a blow from her own team and she had scolded and lectured her recruit properly, but it almost felt like it was a sign of a bad omen to her team. She cant remove Todd. Had she do so, it would take too much time to do the proper paperwork to get rid of him and find a new recruit to replace him. By that time, they would have another mission to take.

Terrence was silent after her comment. He expected her to act bitter and give somewhat of a cold attitude towards him, try to maybe make him feel bad to say a word like, delinquent. Cara did not do such a thing. She chose to act professionally and stayed silent for the rest of the walk to Redfield's office

Both of them approached Chris's office door. It was a steel-framed blackwood door with the name Redfield labeled on it. Terrence gestured a wave from his hand implying, Ladies first. Cara rolled her eyes before she pressed the green glowing button next to Chris's door. They both heard the beep from inside the room.

Chris was talking to someone, chatting up a storm. They both then heard the door unlock on its own, to which had Cara opened it. Both Cara and Terrence were very curious to know who Chris was speaking to, to make him sound so positive. The swept door revealed like a curtain, the aging lieutenant having a smile rather bright while he spoke on the phone, "That's not fair!" Chris laughed out, "If she really gave me that look, I would have seen it... Not true! I have seen that look before from plenty of people during those years -- She never gave me it!" Chris's eyes looked to Cara and Terrence and gestured them to sit at the chairs opposite to his. They did as suggested before Chris finished his talk, "Ok... Ok, ok ok. I'll give you the coordinates tomorrow. My team will arrive three days after... Ok... Talk soon," Chris ended the call and the bright smile he held died instantly as he turned to the younger two, "Cara, I'm glad you got here on time. I need you to explain to me your error on your previous mission," his fingers interlocked as he rested them on his desk.

Cara got stunned to his sudden request. She did not want to face disappointment from hi, and he knew it. She averted her gaze from Chris before she spoke firmly "The outbreak that we were dealing with was a simple containment mission, sir. There's no excu-"

"I want a reason, Amber!" Chris interrupted her, showing his frustration to her, "At least say an excuse, so I know it wasn't your fault." The look on his face said it all. He wanted her to pin this on someone. Prove to him that she had not made a mistake as wreckless as killing a civilian.

Terrence got to see her look shameful. He actually felt bad for Cara. He chose to avoid making a point or he would have had a piece by Chris as well.

Cara gave a soft sigh as she found the words to make this not sound like it was all one person's fault. She knew it was only a one-person screwup. She opened her mouth but hesitated to speak. Eventually, the words left her lips, "...My new sniper, Todd Faulten had mistaken a civilian as an infected zombie. He was at the roof of a home near the base, thinning out a hoard that was getting close to us. Had we anticipated the B.O.W.'s using their numbers, we could have avoided unnecessary casualties. It's on record that I gave him the order to open fire."

"Yes. It is in your report..." Chris sighs and nods, "...But that was not written on any of your other team members' reports. In fact, even Faulten's report states that he had open fire without your demand." Chris was no longer tolerating her bullshit anymore. He wanted Cara to be honest, but clearly, Chris needs to show that he deserved her honesty. "Now, I get you're trying to defend your sniper, and I would too if I were in your position, but I'm your higher-up and you need to be forthright with me," Chris gave a heavy sigh before his grimace stare had turned into a proud grin, "However, I'm proud of you that you were willing to see that it was not only his fault that this outcome had came."

Cara's shameful lower head had slowly risen to see the grin he gave. There was a moment there that she had felt as if she had not deserved his kindness but she took it none the less. Cara nodded softly. She would not show it but she was happy to know Chris would not hold a grudge on her.

Terrence would glance over to Cara. He could tell she liked Chris in some sort of way. Truth be told, it would be baffling if she did not see Chris in some way like that. Chris was clearly letting her get off with just a warning and he was being nice about it. Terrence seemed to look as if he was annoyed over it. Chris saw the look Terrence was giving an odd stare of displeasure as if Terrence was anticipating Cara getting in much deeper shit than she is now.

Chris spoke up to him, "Terrence!"

"yessir?" Terrence bolted his face in the direction towards his higher-up.

"Give our foe a message. Let them know that we would appreciate their cooperation. If they are as harmless as expected, then they shouldn't be scared of the BSAA on their asses."

Terrence nods, "Yes sir."

Chris waved his hand out, gesturing Terrence to leave his office and follow orders immediately. Terrence did as such. As he closed the door behind him, Cara immediately looked more relaxed and began to stretch her arms, "That guy's always so uptight. So, what was the real reason you called?" he stretching broke as she leaned her hands on his desk. She looked excited. pumped for whatever physical task he has for her.

Chris watched her relax and he scoffed softly before leaning back on his chair, relaxed as well, "I have an assignment for you. Personal. Off the record," Chris really did trust her more than most in the BSAA, but this was his way of finally trusting her commitment completely. "A friend of my sister's been kidnapped by ex-Umbrella employees in an abandoned facility at the edge of Chile. It should be a simple in-and-out mission but-"

"It's Umbrella..." Cara interrupted, "...Right?"

Chris gave a caring smile and nods, "Exactly, I want you and your team to try Eagle Claw," Chris knew she does not like that strategy. He tilted his head as he looked to her, Cara calmly pouted before she nodded. Chris quickly spoke up before she had the chance to, "This is very important to me, Cara... I need your team to do their best, one mistake could get this boy killed." he hands Cara the photo of Steve."His name is Steve Burnside. The last time anyone saw him was in an Umbrella prison island a little over 15 years ago. He was presumed dead, by my sister."

"So it's safe to assume she wasn't so sure about that," Cara blurted. She did not make it obvious, but she felt as if Claire, Chris's sister, was pampered till she was in her thirties by Chris. It also seemed as if Claire felt the exact opposite, making Cara think Claire is a poor sister to underappreciate Chris in such a way.

Chris' eyes glared to Cara before he shook his head, "It's not like that. Before Burnside was presumed dead, he was infected by one of the scariest viruses I have experienced up close. This virus had the ability to manipulate and control the BOW's, given that the BOW's have the same virus in them."

Cara's look of care soon melted into subtle shock and fear, "Well that's a spooky thought," she softly muttered. "So, this boy is a potential threat?"

"No," Chris spoke up "I'm sure Steve is no threat to us... And Cara, he's no boy. He's probably in his thirties by now. so treat him as an adult and your target, please." Cara nodded, then Chris nodded back, "Good. Your mission starts tomorrow. I want you and your team there on top of the facility, by dusk. Swift and calm are the expected results, Cara. Screw this up, and everyone is in trouble, So do what you must for a successful mission."

She stood up, "Yessir," she barked out, monotonously. There was a moment of silence before she turned to the door. A spike of adrenaline, like always. She would feel a heavy surge of excitement would go through her, whenever a mission was given to her team. Excitement to go out and save the world once more. Fear and dread that casualties can be made. Hope for another day of calm peace that the BSAA help bring every day for the country she lives in as well as the other countries that need them.

Before she could even make a single step towards Chris' door, Chris spoke once more, "Cara!" she stopped and felt some looming eyes glare at her from behind. she chose not to look back. she did not want to see those eyes lock with hers. "If your rookie needs more training-"

"That's not necessary, sir!" She interrupted. Cara barely even thought before she spoke out like that. Those words that her lieutenant said were enough to wring out the shame she had because of Todd Faulten. "Faulten understands what he did and the consequences for it. He does not need more training. Just some discipline..." Cara had some shakiness in her voice. She could not let Faulten be the reason her team can't succeed in a simple rescue mission.

Chris heard the shakiness but didn't address it. He knows Cara to be strong enough to not pass judgment to her peers because of her emotions, even though she has a lot of emotion. The tone in his voice showed concern and worry, "see to it, captain, that it Is... Proper discipline."

her eyes drifted low as she nodded, "yessir..." The tone Chris gave her was enough to make her want to wither and die, but she chose to suck it up and be stronger. She never wanted a life other than this one.

"dismissed," Chris spoke. Cara left his office. Closed the door behind her. Chris knew her well. everything about her, and he knew very well that Cara finds Chris very attractive. He rubbed his forehead in exhaustion. I really need to get out of the closet, eventually, he thought to himself before he stretched his arms over his chair.