The Cell
June 26, 06:38PM
Prince Patrizio sat impassively as he heard the operation unfold, briefly remembering how different the current environment was, compared to earlier in the afternoon. As promised, he had visited the members of the strike team, while they were on their day break before the operation. He had talked with each and had lunch with them in the mess hall, treating them like lifelong friends, sharing joke after joke, inquiring about their families and hobbies, trying to put them at ease. He had had a fantastic afternoon, and eventually thanked them for their service, and wished them good luck with the operation later in the day.
He heard as the team advanced through the floor, facing Sacuri at every turn, yet quickly disposing them; breaching the doors of the conference rooms, and securing each group of hostages. It surprised him just how quiet the whole operation was. He had expected a firefight, and sure enough one had taken place, but he had also pictured screams, soldiers yelling orders. Instead, the soldiers used hand signs and, when absolutely necessary, hushed voices. Most screams came from the Sacuri and the hostages, and eventually, as the team kept advancing, only from the hostages.
"Mariani!"
That cry startled him, same as everyone in the room. Patrizio heard some shoots, some moving by the soldiers, and then an analistic scream, the sound of a desperate maniac, a Sacuri who was trying to fight back against a superior foe. Yet this one was different. While the Sacuri had fought against the team, many had eventually surrendered, preferring to live, rather than face what the imaginary wrath of Sacur. Instead, this Sacuri was fighting back all on their own, despite the fact that there was no visible path to victory for them. As the Sacuri could be heard being apprehended, likely after being shot at least once, Patrizio saw Valerio lean towards Chief Rinaldi and whisper something to his ear, after which the Chief nodded and left the table, heading towards the staff desks at the back.
Before soon, it was mostly over. Rather than the grandiose battle that he had subconsciously expected, it had been a mostly quiet and quick operation, yet highly efficient, as was expected from the Carabinieri and the Army. They had completed their mission.
"Cell Command, this is Tosetti. Location is secure, and all hostiles have been apprehended or terminated. Two hostages will need urgent medical attention. I uh...there is a matter here that might require a white brief."
For the second time in the past few minutes, Patrizio saw Valerio's expression darken, and he began to suspect that, even despite their victory, something terribly wrong had happened.