From:              Lt. El Ray
To:                   Cdr. Ezra Stone

Subject:          Operation Antidote After Action Report

Event Summary:

Commander Stone:

Here is my report you asked for, sir, about what happened during Operation Gun Runner. I will do my best to be objective as you asked, sir.

As you directed, we made sure to wait until the Applied Dynamics personnel was cleared out before Hopper flies into the place commanding us to follow.

We hole up in an office overlooking a warehouse for two days before Albert VII reports on our team’s first sighting of Sabotage. Sabotage is approaching the building from from the west then circles around from the north. Cautiously, carefully, he enters through a side entrance, not Sabotage’s usual M.O. This is my first indication that something’s off.

“Ma’am, in my experience, Sabotage’s usually more–” I start to tell Hopper.

“More ‘bash and grab’ than ‘careful and cunning’?” she says.

“Aye.”

She knows all the angles of our mission well. We take position in the warehouse, hiding, waiting to trounce on Sabotage on Hopper’s signal.

But Sabotage doesn’t enter the warehouse. We watch him simply standing in the distance at the opposite end of a hallway that leads to the facility’s offices.

With a jolt, he pivots on his feet and, in an instant, escapes the building the same way he came in. We stay in position. Waiting. Is he coming from a different position? After until Hopper gives the order to reconvene.

“What gives?” Albert VII asks.

“He knew we’re here.” Hopper and I say simultaneously.

“Albert, track him, and be discreet. Report back as soon as you can figure out what he’s up to,” she says.

“Aye Aye.”

“El Ray, get a secure channel and notify our team at the National Guard base that we spotted Sabotage and that he fled before we got a chance to engag–”

“Ma’am?” I interrupt. “Comms aren’t getting through.”

Mr. VII madly swings in from the rafters. “You guys! It’s Sabotage he’s outside, but he’s got–”

“BAAARRRRRRAAANG!” The echo of horrid feedback blares through our ears. It’s a PA system built right into Sabotage.

“Pity you didn’t bring Sham with you.” he blasts. “Let’s see, 400 of my Hunter-Killer bots against 4 genefreaks. Why that’s a ratio of 100 to 1!”

“Hun–” a gulp slows the words from coming out of Daart. “Did he say hunter-killers?”

“That’s what I was trying to say.” says Mr. VII. “A flippin’ legion of armed training bots are heading this way!”

“Training bots?” I’m stunned by this development.

“Yeah, just like the ones we practice on except with some really nasty looking weapons!”

“How much time do you estimate before they can strike, Mr. VII.” asks Hopper calmly.

“Maybe an hour.”

“What’s the plan?” asks Quillroy.

“Patience,” Hopper says. “Hold your positions while I get an aerial view.”

Hopper flies to the ceiling of the warehouse, opens a skylight, and out she goes. We hear the stomping of metal boots in unison slowly growing louder.

“How can she be so calm,” Daart asks me. “Doesn’t that seem weird to you, sir?”

“I’m more preoccupied with how Sabotage was able to get ahold of so many military bots without command knowing… or telling us.”

Hopper’s wings buzz before she crawls through the skylight. She gracefully descends towards us.

“I’ve considered our options carefully.” she announces. “Sabotage indicated he believes there are only four targets here, yes Lieutenant?”

“Aye.” I say.

“And the training bots must be pre-programmed for their targeting, yes?”

“Aye. “

“We have a mission, Lieutenant.”

“Aye, ma’am. Will you scatter us to divide his forces?”

“Negative. The five of us will remain here so we can strike simultaneously.”

“Aye, ma’am.”

“Wait a minute! This ain’t right!” says Quillroy.

“I don’t understand,” says Daart.

“While four of us are targeted by the bots, one of us catches Sabotage before he can reprogram the bots.” Quillroy says.

Daart gulps. “But then the rest of us are sure to get it.”

“There’s no other way, gentlemen,” says Hopper.

Albert VII interjects, “We could make a break for it!” but Hopper slaps him right in his mouth.

“Don’t you dare infect my unit with your cowardice!” she says. “We’re sent here to do a job and we’re going to do it. Is that clear?”

The rest of the team is silent and look to me.

“Aye, ma’am,” I say.