[color=gray] The limousine moved slowly through the streets of Oakridge City. While the escorts had done well enough to keep the crowds at bay, the roads were still congested. The civilian protesters lining the streets screamed and threw garbage at the jet black limo. Sirens blared in the distance, echoing through the concrete jungle. Here and there, officers and UDF soldiers restrained some unruly individuals who tried jumping the barricade. Things came to a halt when a large group of protesters refused to clear the roads. The entire convoy ground to a halt, and the Field Marshall took in a nervous breath. [color=white][b]"Nervous?"[/b][/color] a woman sitting across from him asked. The Marshall looked back to her, [color=white][i]"Why should I be? I'm an officer of the UDF. These people should be thanking me for my service."[/i][/color] The woman sighed and leaned forward, resting her hands on her knees. She was wearing some light [url=https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/0b/8a/7f/0b8a7f1afe6b2d371d8b72103c955138.jpg]Guardian Armor[/url] and a pair of plain black climbing gloves with steel knuckles. A holstered pistol rested against her left thigh. Her raven hair fell off of her shoulders as she stared at the Marshall, [color=white][b]"No disrespect, Marshall, but I'm not sitting in an armored limousine expecting any thanks for my sacrifices."[/b][/color] The marshall swallowed his words and nodded, [color=white][i]"You're right, I'm sorry, Sicario..."[/i][/color] The man let out a long sigh and stared out the window, watching over the crowds of angry citizens. [color=white][i]"I suppose I am nervous. What with the leaked intel, and all. It's not the combat I'm nervous about. It's the possibility that combat might not even come my way. Extremists don't play soldiers, they play guerrillas."[/i][/color] Sicario nodded, [color=white][b]"That's why I'm here, Marshall. I'll sniff them out before they make a move."[/b][/color] The man smiled weakly and relaxed a bit. The limousine cabin filled with an awkward silence, the woman remained focused on the crowds. The Field Marshall noticed that her eyes were glowing slightly. He had known plenty of Guardians, some of which were friends of the woman, and he knew that they could use their spiritual energy to heighten their senses. Sicario wasn't leaving anything to chance; she was ready for anything. The Marshall took the silence to observe Sicario. He was amazed how the years had changed her. Angelos had briefly met Sicario before she and her friends were deployed to the isles just west off of Accadia's coast. The stark change was tragic, and Angelos couldn't blame her for speaking to bluntly about his pride. He would never sacrifice as much as any guardian, let alone the famous Kade Sicario. The limousine remained completely stationary in the grid lock. Eventually, Kade sighed and spoke over the radio, [color=white][b]"Convoy lead, this is Sicario. What's the hold up?"[/b][/color] [color=white][i]"Uhh... Just a slight delay, ma'am. Local PD are handling it, but..."[/i][/color] [color=white][b]"But?"[/b][/color] [color=white][i]"Well, these protesters getting pretty stubborn up here, ma'am."[/i][/color] Kade pinched the bridge of her nose and looked backed to the Marshall. She drew her pistol and pulled the slide back, loading a bullet into the chamber. The safety was switched off and the weapon went back into the holster. The marshall watched her as she prepared to head out. He got tense, [color=white][i]"You're going out there?"[/i][/color] Kade nodded, [color=white][b]"These people need to move one way or another. I've got a bad feeling regardless. Keep your head on a swivel marshall."[/b][/color] Robert Angelos sat up straight and looked out of every window he had access to. Kade shifted past him, and climbed out of the limousine. While the door was open, the cacophony of cries and shouts flooded the peaceful limo cab. It only served to make the Marshall more nervous. He let out a sigh of relief when the door closed. Kade stood at the door of the limo for a brief moment and looked around. All seemed clear for now. Two UDF troopers from the trailing vehicle climbed out, who received a quick order by hand signal from Kade. They nodded and patrolled near the limousine. Kade began to make her way further up the convoy. While she walked, news cameras and reporters immediately began to focus in on her. Kade overheard some reporters stating their surprise that she was active so soon after her recovery. Others questioned while she was even here to begin with, why would a guardian be needed for such a mundane task? Cameras snapped photos of her, while holos in storefront windows were already broadcasting her live. There was a time beyond Kade's memory when she would have been completely comfortable with this, but now it just made her feel exposed. Kade pulled her hood over her head and continued on her path. She knew one thing, if the extremists were watching, perhaps a guardian's presence would deter them from acting. Hopefully that would be all it'd take to ensure of successful mission. Upon reaching the head of the convoy, Kade saw for herself just how many protesters were in the way. They held signs in the air reading, 'Stop JENOVA!', 'It's YOUR fault!', and 'END THE MILITARY STATE!'. None of them understood what was out there. None of them truly knew how terrible things were so far from the safety of Oakridge. The very sight of those protesters frustrated Kade; she had suffered and lost a part of herself for those people. She was about to speak to the convoy leader when a reporter yelled out to her. A small twin rotor camera drone floated right up to the guardian's face, which she quickly batted away harmlessly. The reporter quickly learned to keep the drone out of Kade's personal space. [color=white][i]"Miss Sicario! Miss Sicario! Does you being here declare your support for the military's incitement of the JENOVA crisis?! You were there at Isla de los Muertos, how can you possibly support the UDF after such a massacre?"[/i][/color] Kade glanced over to the reporter for a brief moment, but decided not to answer. Kade had heard of the reports, of her efforts during that battle, but her memory on the event was cloudy at best. She remembered that it had turned into a three way bloodbath when the aggressors arrived. And she remembered people important to her dying, but they were only faceless silhouettes in her mind. Kade couldn't even remember their names. The reports had many names covered in black ink. The reported waited for a response, but she was met only by a UDF trooper pushing her back into the crowd. A police officer used a drone capture net to shoot down the camera drone. Kade turned her back to the reporter and spoke to the convoy leader, [color=white][b]"Report, lieutenant."[/b][/color] The soldier let out a long sigh and shrugged, [color=white][i]"We've got no jurisdiction here so it's up to the police. But we're stuck here until they can clear 'em out."[/i][/color] Kade focused her magic back into her senses and took in her surroundings. She recognized that a large number of the protesters were augmented, much like the intelligence report they had received of the extremists. Not far from her, Kade could feel the presence of other guardians approaching. That got her attention. [color=white][b]"Find out who's in charge of the police blockade here and offer some assistance wherever you can. I'll look into this."[/b][/color] The trooper nodded and quickly began to delegate tasks to some of his subordinates. Kade turned and made her way toward the other guardians. It didn't take long for her to spot them, guardians stuck out after all. She made waved them down before speaking, [color=white][b]"Gentlemen. Guardian Sicario,"[/b][/color] she introduced herself, [color=white][b]"Were you added to the detail?"[/b][/color] [/color] [hider=Notes] [color=849fc5]Act[/color] - Kade approached Jomen and Ajax to inquire about their presence at the blockade. [color=84c592]React[/color] - Kade reacted to the convoy coming to a halt. [color=c5c584]Observe[/color] - Kade noticed just how many eyes were upon her, and figured that those eyes could easily shift their attention to the Field Marshall. [color=#c484c5]Reflect[/color] - Kade was reminded of the battle for Isla de los Muertos. [/hider]