Chapter 8: The Deadly Operation

The Eye of Providence, The Citadel's Mobile Command Center.....

August is now being put in a quarantine room, aboard the Eye of Providence, the mobile command center of Citadel, in order to secure him as they're not fully trusted him, due to him being part of the Project Ares of Prometheus, created to fight against the Republic after all.

Agent 66 keeps watching him with a very close eyes through the surveillance monitors to ensure the safety of his boss, who will go in to have a conversation with him.

Immediately, a woman in a white suit, walks in toward the quarantine room, where August is being held. Seeing this, Agent 66 without wasting any times, decides to go after her. When she inside the room, she sees August, eyes to eyes, who still siting on the iron chair, while both of his hands are being cuffed to the iron table in front of him.

"You must be Ares No.9, the latest creation of Prometheus, as an effort to gain victory over the Republic in the battlefield of the Red Mountain Zone. Nice to meet you, kid. My name is Crystella Raymore, or Director Raymore, the head of the Citadel, the Special Advanced Intelligence Agency of the Great Republic. I know, you've been running away from Prometheus, that's why, I can guarantee you for your safety, you can trust me" Director Raymore calmly introduces herself to August, as she's sitting on the chair in front of him.

"I'm not Ares No.9 anymore, Director Raymore. Currently, you may call me August. Also, I'm not interesting about whatever you just told me at all. Regarding for my safety, I appreciated that your man did save me from the hand of Deathstrike and got me as far ways as possible from both Prometheus and the U. A. H, however, I bag for differ that you want me to trust you at all, after this !!" as he talks, August doesn't to care about Citadel or their political issue at all, not to mention, he even show her, both of his hands, that being cuffed, as she just said to him to trust them.

"It's our security procedure, which we're must strictly follow at all cost, so I have to apologize to you in advance for that, however, you will be freed once the procedure is finished" Director Raymore reassures August as she explains professionally.

"Then why am I here anyway, hmm? I'm not supposed to be here at all. I should have been arrived at the Kriss Black Zone anyway" August is really mad right now, as he needs an explanation from her.

"You're here because you're one of the Project Ares, the backbone of the next generation of the U. A. H's military forces. However, we saw you rebelled against them, as you orchestrated an ambush on your own transport just to escape, in order to avoid fighting the war for them. That's why, we see you as a valuable asset, to help us stop their expansion of influence and power over the world. That's why I want to make a deal with you, if you decide to help us to end their ideology and influence to the other factions across the remain human societies on Earth, and we will do whatever we can to protect the Shen family, and help you to reach your true destination, where is the Kriss Black Zone, as you wish to you. So, what do you say, do we have a deal?" Director Raymore proposes her deal to August, in a proper way to ensure August's full corporation.

"Now you finally show your true color. That's not the deal at all, it's a threat. You're holding the Shen family as hostages, to blackmail me to help you win the war. But let me tell you, I don't care about this war or your political game to one another at all. It's none of my business at all. That's the reason why I left Prometheus in the first place. So no, we do not have a deal at all, Director Raymore. Even though you will have to dissect me to force me, the answer will be no either" August stands his ground of not involving in any of their quarrels at all.

"Lives are at stakes now, kid. If we don't end the war now, more countless lives will perish. All we want, is to end this war without more bloodshed or casualties, so help us save lives" Director Raymore tries to convince August, despite he already stood his ground of avoiding go to the battlefield.

"That's what Prometheus and the U. A. H promised to the world too, when they created me, and introduced me and the other Ares to the world. To end the war without casualties and as quickly as possible. But to them, we Ares, are the instruments of power and dominance, to help them succussed in their quests of true absolute, without caring to those who just want a peaceful life at all. And I've seen it all, I've witnessed it all. I almost lost faith in humanity, but the Shen family and the people of the 12th district of Sho-gah Town, did help me to regain my faith in humanity once again, that's why I made a vow to not harm any life at all, no matter what. That's why I need to refuse to your proposal, Director Raymore. I can't help you with that" August explains his ground to Director Raymore, as why he refused to join the battlefield.

"I understand your concern about that, kid. But we're different from them. All we want, is to live our life without fear of being attacked. The Great Republic never wanted another war, not after humanity's experience with it during the great war, decades ago. However, The U. A. H didn't leave us alone, as they want us to join their alliance for benefits of each other. The thing, after we've seen firsthand, from the Commonwealth of Europe, the Africa Union and the Asia Federation, we decide not to join them, as we need our own independence, our own of freedom. That's why they decide to use force, to make us join them. That's how the war even starts in the first place. After they deployed the Ares to the battlefield, the tide of the war had turned in their favor, as we're losing, bit by bit every day. Fortunately, a few Ares, were fled the battlefield for no reason, which caused the other Ares that remain, unable to improve the probability of gaining victory over us. And that we're so grateful. So, after we've heard about you, we believed fate is finally helping us to stop their advancement to our territory and end the war" Director Raymore doesn't give up on convincing August to help them stop the war, as she believes somehow, he will help.

"You know that's not an easy task at all. Even though, you can dominate the battlefield with my help, it doesn't mean, you can win the war at all. In order to stop the war, we have to end the course of this war in the first place. And that is....." August explains to her, as he a little bit convinced already, but

".....The U. A. H's High Council.....!!" Director Raymore finishes August's sentences, as he suggested the new tactic.

"They're the ones who convinced all the citizens to believe their just course, which the unification of all humanity as one. As their true motive is world domination, and that's it. If we can expose their true color, the people who support them for this war, will change their mind and consider another alternative way for true peace. I think, this is the best way to end the war without casualties. You can think about it. If you agree to this plan, I will absolutely help you without second thought. However, if you insist of wanting me to join the battlefield, that's I will have to refuse" August proposed his plan to Director Raymore without hesitation.

"We already tried that, and it didn't work. Most of our agents who were sent to gather intel to expose them, were either being killed, or turned to join the enemies, that's why, we proposed war to counter their advancement" Director Raymore seems to doubts August's plan, since they already tried that, and fail miserably, so, that's why she hesitates to response August's proposal.

"Because you didn't have me at that time, but now you do. I know everything about them. That's why I am the only one, who can go there without endangering myself with high chance of success, if you accept my plan" August's doesn't give up on convincing her to agree to his plan, since he believes, it will not cost any life at all.

"I'll discuss this with the War Council first, but if they don't agree to this, there's nothing I can do at all. But I hope they will give it a try one more time, because my deep conscience really want this plan to work and approve instead of putting lives to the frontline" Director Raymore is really doubting, even though she's really preferable to August's plan, especially with the War Council.

"It's okay!! I'll be here, when you got the answer. I mean literally. So, take your time, but know this, the longer we're waiting, the more lives will perish at the battlefield. I hope they agree to this" August and Director Raymore cross their fingers to make it work, as they sit in front of each other.

"Understood, kid. I'll commencing the meeting immediately" Director Raymore replies as she's nodding to him.

After they talked, Director Raymore leaves her seat, and walks toward the door in order to leave, but not forget to throws a knife at August's handcuff to free him from his restrain, then gives him a smirk, and leave after that.

August wonders about her action just earlier, but decides to dismiss anyway, as he doesn't care anymore, after he finally free from his handcuff.

After leaving the containment room, Director Raymore meets Agent 66 who's standing right in front of the door, just to wait for her, after her meeting with August. Seeing her leaves the room, Agent 66 walks to her and.....

"So, you will follow that plan again, hmm, Director? You know too well that, it's an impossible operation to succussed, what if he fails just like the rest before him. Which mean, we give time to the enemy to advance to our territory" Agent 66 expresses his concern and disagreement toward that plan.

"I understand your concern, Agent. However, that's not up to me nor you to decide, Agent. We don't have full authority to make the discission on what action we will take at all, but the entire war council, do you hear me that, Agent?" Director Raymore seems to frustrates about that as well, but she's still considering it anyway.

"I understood, ma'am" Agent 66 decides not to talk anymore.

"Good, because I don't have time to argue with you at all. Since I have a meeting with the war council to prepare anyway" after discussing thing with Agent 66, Director Raymore dashes off of there, and walks toward her personal quarter to begin the meeting.

.....

Director Raymore's Personal Quarter

The Eye of Providence, Mobile Command Center of Citadel.....

After she explained August's plan to the war council, each five members seem to doubt about it, since they already tried that, and failed miserably, so they're hesitating to make their decision to Director Raymore.

"I understand that you still doubt about this plan, and Ares...no, August's loyalty, but I think you can understand now, where his loyalty stand, it's his own, his family, and the people as a whole. So, you should make your discission properly, as whether you agree or not, either way, the war is already started, and it's hard for us to find the way to win against them anyway. We got nothing to lose anyway, am I right?" Director Raymore explains her opinion to the council members, as she also stresses out as well.

"Since everything is out of control now, and the enemy is gaining victory over us day by day, so we don't have a choice at all. If he really wants to help us this way, then we approve to this operation, Director. You may have our full support. You can commence this operation as soon as possible, Director. Godspeed to us all" all members of the Republic's War Council, hesitantly agree to this plan.

"Thank you, all council members. I will commence this operation immediately. Godspeed to us all" Director Raymore happily oblights to the plan.

After the meeting over, and all member council's hologram being cut off, Director Raymore walks toward the control panel near her bed, then presses the blue bottom to alert all personal aboard the Eye of Providence, as she's announcing

"Attention all personal aboard the Eye of Providence, I, Director Raymore of the Citadel, with the approval of the War Council of the Great Republic, we're commencing code green!! I repeat!! We're commencing code green. Let's begin the Deadly Operation"

"...!!" August just sits and listens to the announcement of Director Raymore, as he's doesn't understand what is code green, or the Deadly Operation at all.

.....

"Damn it!! Not again...!! Well, godspeed to us all, then" Agent 66 sighs as he heard the Deadly Operation once again from his boss's mouth.

.....

Hanger Bay of the Eye of Providence.....

"What the heck is code green, and the Deadly Operation? What are these people doing anyway?" Hugo peeks his eye to see the outside's situation, as he heard the announcement earlier that he doesn't understand.

"Hands in the air now, intruder!!" two people are pointing their shotgun at Hugo, as he's peeking to see the outside through the sheet that cover the tail of his truck.

"Heh!! Hi there!! My name is Hugo Shen, and I'm here to meet my brother, his name is August, and this truck over here is his, so, I am wondering if you know where he is , heh?" Hugo awkwardly smiles at the guards, as he stands out of the tail of the truck.

"This is guard platoon no.9, station at the hanger bay. We found an intruder here on the asset's truck thar we retrieved from Mandrekoh City. He claims to be the asset's brother, name Hugo Shen, over!!" the two guards don't response to him at all, as they just point their guns to him with their deadly stares.

"Well, I'm screw. This is my Deadly Operation now, though"