National Cyber Threat

"We are still here reporting live events to our viewers that are still happening as we speak. The confrontation between the Marine Corps Special Forces and the second party which we are yet to confirm their identity."

"It's 10 o'clock in the morning. I am told from an eye witness that another Special Force Task Group is still here at 11815 Gilmore St."

"It is reported that they arrived around sunrise and raided an apartment building where a woman resides there alone."

"It is believed that they are here for a Drug Lord connected to many murders and was seen entering the apartment building with the lady."

"We are still waiting for the official report but until now the Captain from the local police force hasn't commented about the ongoing gunfight."

"Eyewitnesses report that after the first task group approached the Drug Lord, he immediately called for back up from his cartel which arrived in less than ten minutes in military helicopters but was shot down and I believe they are the ones that are still pushing forward to rescue their Boss."

"The death toll is still going up as more civilian bodies are being recovered. Wait... Senator Joe O'Brien has arrived at the scene but has been refused entry as the whole neighborhood is under lockdown by the government."

...

"Control, this is Bravo 1 reporting."

"Bravo 1, report."

"Control, target has a hostage probably a college student. And they have already left the premises using a..."

"Bravo 1, please repeat your last."

"Control, target has wheels, plate number modified to 'ASPHALT' and model unknown. Maybe a Hypersport. And target asked for the antidote before he left."

"Copy Bravo 1, authorizing SFA for Delta Team. Clean Up Squad will be there in about twenty minutes. We need all the bodies for autopsy and identification."

"Copy Control."

"Bravo Team push forward with me. Prepare for DA and SFA. It's an annihilation."

"Annihilation!?" Vega asked not very convinced by what Jacob just said.

"Yes, is there a problem with what Control orders us to do?" Jacob asked Vega not pleased with her questioning his commands.

"We need intel more than anything. Why the hell would Control order an annihilation?"

"I propose we take them alive. That will give us more insight about who has been terrorizing us for the last couple of months."

"We can't question Control Vega. We do what we are ordered to... I thought you will be more pleased to be able to get revenge on your squad." Jacob asked with his eyebrows raised.

"Tsk! Tsk! If that is what you thought of me... Then I am sorry to disappoint you that this isn't the place nor the time for revenge. Again, I can't join you from here onwards. Best of luck. Thank you for everything, I can take care of myself. Here." Vega says while returning the handgun and the communication devices to Bravo 1.

Vega took off at a trot in the direction where Max has just taken off to while looking for a car that she can steal so as to keep up with Max.

Bravo Team looked at Vega before heading in the direction where the shot that missed Vega had come from.

...

At the White House, the President was seen watching CNN with her children about the ongoing gunfight from Los Angeles. Then a page came in and whispered on her ear. Right after that she got up and followed the page out.

The Director of the National Security Agency was the one requesting an audience with the President. He was already waiting at an office where important discussions took place.

"Hey, Aaron. What brings you by?" Asked the President with a smile on her face that could make patients with terminal illnesses recover.

"Hello, Madam President." Aaron stood up from his seat and offered a hand after hearing the voice addressing him from behind.

"I've told you multiple times that if we are alone there's no need for such formalities." She said while shaking his hand.

"Sorry, Madam President. Oh! Sorry May, it's so difficult to teach an old dog new tricks and it just comes out of my mouth. I can't control it." Aaron said somehow embarrassed.

"It's alright. Take a seat. It must be important for you to drop by unannounced. What's up?" May asked after she took her respective seat.

"There has been a breach in our servers. I thought I should let you know personally." Aaron said after thinking carefully not to use words that will eat him up later.

"How?!! We have the most reliable personnel the world has ever seen." May displayed a puzzled face.

"What did they look for?" She asked again.

"I was just notified on my way here that they looked up at Project Urgent Terror." Replied Aaron then looked down for a brief second escaping the wrathful eyes that if they had laser, then he would be probably have been vaporized by now.

There was silence in the room that one could hear the other's heartbeat. If they were in Ice Age, then all the snow would have melted a good ten-mile radius. It was as if a bomb has just been dropped.

"How is that possible. All records were erased from existence. How many know about this?"

"If my guess is right. The party involved must be very good, a level we haven't witnessed yet. They must have recovered the files by following the digital traces left behind. Only the CIA and the DoD know what has happened."

"I thought what could go wrong today when I woke up. First, they couldn't convince Max to come in quietly. Now we have more than thirty people dead. Max is in the wind and it will be only a matter of time before he figures out that we have him on track, if we don't capture him before that. And... And now you are telling me that we have a Cyber Attack and that it happened to our most secure servers."

"Don't let this slip out to the Press. We have enough on our plate." May said sternly.

"Yes, Ma'am." Replied Aaron.

May sank in her chair and silence enveloped them once more. After some time she waved her hand indicating that he should leave. Aaron stood up and went for the door before he was stopped.

"We have to know everything, Aaron. Who they are. How they did it, and most importantly what are they gonna do with Project Urgent Terror. We can't let our rivals create something that won't let us have a good night's sleep for the rest of our lives. We are already fighting on two fronts we can't slip our focus at this crucial time."

"Understood Madam President." Aaron answered. It was a gesture of respect for the lady in front of him who has been running the country for more than ten years.

And off he went with thoughts invading his mind. It was an extremely difficult task for anyone to complete. The attackers didn't leave any traces. In fact, they wouldn't even know if it wasn't for that intern who was currently gaining experience at the Agency.

'How should I approach this?!' Aaron kept bombarding his mind with questions on his way out of the White House.

...

The Hypersport ran smoothly on the tarmac at a speed of over 290 m/h. With it's acceleration at 1.04s from 0 m/h to 150 m/h. It was a death penalty for any man alive to try, luckily Aya was the one driving.

We were near the outer gate when suddenly the car screeched to a stop. It was so sudden that I hit my head on the dashboard from the momentum.

Screech!

Bump!

Ow!

I held my head in my hands as tears rolled down my cheeks. I was crying, certainly. I think. I was so focused on the pain that hit me harder than a level 5 tornado hitting a coastal settlement. It was so hard to focus on anything now that I didn't hear Rue calling me from the side.

"Why did you do that for?" Rue asked probably pissed.

"I didn't do that on purpose, it's just that..." Aya replied sounding like she was a humble servant caught sneaking extra candies in her pockets that were meant for the children.

"What?"

"The neighborhood hood is surrounded by the local police force. They have placed barricades everywhere and nobody is allowed to enter or leave. I guess you wanted to know before I engage some drastic escape measures."

"What's wrong with him? Aya, is he having a fit?" Rue asked Aya a little worried.

"So? We can't do anything for him."

"Aya, I am serious."

"Okay, jokes aside. Full body scan initiated.

0%...

23%...

72%...

99%...

100%.

Full body scan completed."

"What took you so long? He might have died you know." Rue said.

"Oh! My! I didn't expect it too. It's just that... It's shocking to see, he isn't human." Aya replied sounding shocked.

"Okay, don't leave me hanging, display his statistics." Rue now was really impatient.

(Scan No. #62.

Name: Maxwell Butcher.

Race: Human Being.

Age: 24.

...)

"What is this?! Tell me this isn't right." Rue asked.

"I am afraid it is."