--START OF DAY 116--
--NARRATOR--
It was well before any light could be seen over the city's walls.
Four men were set up in positions around the saloon. Two sat on top of separate buildings which overlooked the saloon's entrance and windows. One stood at the corner of the saloon looking like he was waiting for it to open. The last wore a long cloak, which at first glance, wasn't unusual. However, underneath the cloak, hid two breaching charges.
The plan was to use the breaching charge and make their own surprise entrance. Afterwards, the two on the ground would toss smoke grenades to disorient anyone inside, grab Yiski amiss the confusion, and withdraw. The two on top would provide suppressing fire in order to prevent any pursuit.
The leader of the group was on of the elevated marksman. He raised his fist which singled the cloaked man to immediately set the charges. As the timer ticked down, each man counted down with it to time their entry.
"5...4...3...2...1..."
*BOOOOM*
The explosion rocked the saloon and blew down the door, the shock wave shattering nearby windows. After a second, the two on the ground each tossed a smoke grenade inside. Soon the smoked filled the saloon and leaked slowly out the doorway and windows.
The one watched the other enter the saloon.
*BANG*
Suddenly, the entering man had fallen back and the others noticed the entry man had been hit on his side. This caused one of the roof marksman to open fire as to give some cover. As the other on the ground tried to drag his injured accomplice out of harms way, he poked his head above a blown out window.
*BANG*
The next thing the two on high ground saw was another of their accomplice's head with a hole. Within seconds, the spies plan had already failed. Within a few more seconds, their leader knew why: He underestimated the parameters of the saloon itself.
A normal breaching charge should tear down any standard door without any damage to the doorway itself. The double breaching charges was meant to also send pieces of the doorway. Because the saloon was rebuilt to withstand explosions and medium arm fire, the spies needed to use at least four charges.
The second miscalculation came with the main floor's ceiling height. The saloon had a taller first floor ceiling to allow smoke and steam to rise high enough without bothering the patrons below. Also, the ceiling had a slight slope which helped with venting.
The third miscalculation came with the windows. Nearly all the front windows were shattered. While not large, they were situated where the sloped ceiling would draw any smoke or steam out the windows when opened. Even though the saloon quickly filled with smoke, the ceiling and windows made sure it left just as quickly.
The fourth miscalculation was distance. The initial shock of two breaching charges would have hardly reached the bar counter and would not have affected Althea.
Before the leader had time to issue a retreat, his last man was now under fire and taking cover. The leader looked to see who was firing. He then saw from the second story windows Jun'ko and Zill firing.
Last miscalculation: Zill's sixth sense. Zill didn't get a whole lot of sleep because of his sixth sense. When the breaching charges hit, Zill knew the main floor could handle itself. He knew what an Elite was capable of. He left his room, with Jun'ko's help and looked through the windows and found the one firing marksman. Jun'ko and Zill then started to return fire.
Their leader abandoned the area leaving one man pinned down and another bleeding out on the ground.
Zill scanned the rooftops to spot anymore high ground units. He then yelled down.
Zill
"Althea! We have one pinned on the roof, but the other roofs are clear!"
Althea then approached the injured man on the ground. Knowing he would be captured, the spy put a capsule in his mouth. Althea tried to pull it out, but it was too late. The spy's mouth started to foam as he gagged to death.
Althea
"Cyanide. Spies."
Althea turned back to see Lauren and Yiski behind the bar counter. The two had their weapons ready. Confident that everyone was alert, Althea then went to the roof Zill pointed out. Althea again found the same thing. The spy had taken cyanide and killed himself. Althea took another look around the rooftops and saw nothing.
Soon, Althea, Jun'ko, Lauren, Ny-Lee, Roland, Yiski, and Zill were on the main floor. Moments later, a contingent of heavy defenders and riflemen arrived to secure the area.
Yiski
"The hell happened?"
Althea
"Spies. I will have to make a report and authorize a full investigation as to these men's identity. Hopefully, it will lead to who was behind your kidnapping."
Zill
"Yiski, you think this was done by the same people who took you?"
Yiski approached the two bodies which were on the ground. One he couldn't recognize because Althea's shot had disfigured the face beyond recognition.
Yiski
"This one looks familiar. Can't tell though. I only got a good look at the one who talked to me while I was held. How many bodies?"
Althea
"Three. Two here and one on the roof which a few guards are retrieving."
Yiski
"Well there were four when I escaped, so there's at least that many."
Lauren
"What now? If this keeps up, we'll have to convert the saloon into a military bunker."
Althea
"Assuming these are spies, the fourth has probably already withdrawn from the city."
Jun'ko
"No way. Nobody could move that fast."
Althea
"Trust me, spies have a talent for quickness."
Zill
"Just another day, right Yiski?"
Yiski
*sigh* "Yup. Just another day."
--NARRATOR END--
