[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/TjK9IKd.png[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/aXDgXxD.png[/img] [url=https://fontmeme.com/fonts/the-dark-titan-font/][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/171129/de8152d817dafd1d34bfca09ce396ea9.png[/img][/url] [/center] [hr] [b]Time: Evening - Two Days prior to the Satellite Attack Location:Smithy’s Grocery Store, Las Vegas[/b] The grocery store was a disaster. Civilian bodies and Hounds littered everywhere. Captain Dahl approached the remaining specialists she had. Each of them in turn described the witches that had used a portal to slip away. Assumingly they thought they had them trapped. Dahl had ordered to wait out the distracting tricks, to conserve their strength when the targets had exhausted themselves. She anticipated the chaotic defenses, the wild magic, what she did not plan for was a portal. Now she was anticipating her ass to be chewed out by the General. Begrudgingly, she sent the report of failure, the details they gathered of their targets from the encounter. Dahl guessed the blue haired witch was the Faerie Mistress, the very same that had made her presence known after the attack on Pixy Stix. Backed by a massive golem construct, Fey, a pair of metas, a witch, a vampire, and werewolves. They would need to investigate further to uncover more about her allies. Dahl rubbed her temples, so many undesirables just slipped right from her grasp. All the more of a pain to deal with when together. Her cell phone began to vibrate. The Hounds before her all shared a look then cleared away for her privacy. “Captain Dahl,” the General greeted her, voice gruff and full of paternal displeasure. “Forgive me for the intrusion, but there appears to be a mistake with your recent report. If I recall, and do correct me if I’m wrong, you and your men were stationed outside a grocery store in Vegas on an anonymous tip regarding a highly dangerous witch, who also happened to be in the company of: a second witch, three werewolves, a vampire, two metahumans, a magical construct, and a small army of faery creatures?” The General let out a hefty sigh, his voice raising with each sentence until it became a thunderous roar. “This would have been your most successful mission yet, Captain. But not only did you fail to eliminate the witch you had been sent to take down, you allowed [b]EIGHT[/b] other abominations to waltz out of that store, lost well over half of your unit, and wasted your entire stock of blessed weapons. Is that correct?” Captain Dahl flinched away from the receiver, cautiously bringing it back. “Sir, if I could explain. The Faerie Mistress was among them, the sorceress that declared herself over the smoking rubble of Pixy Stix. She can open portals, [i]portals[/i] sir. We had them entirely surrounded. Before some of my men died they reported what they saw her do.” Dahl expressed her frustration, “Sir, I will hunt them down if given the chance.” “No,” the General replied, “That won’t be necessary.” He went quiet for several moments, audibly pacing around his quarters. “Dahl,” he began with a sigh. “You must always be aware of the enemy and their tricks, must stay one step ahead. Your team knew this Faery Mistress was active in the area, yet you did not anticipate that she might have been involved. You had eyes on the target for several minutes before acting, yet you were so focused on the kill that you failed to account for non physical exits and escapes. Your first team was utterly destroyed, yet you sent in the second without considering the witches’ abilities, how they reportedly blinded your men with their vile tricks, took their balance, interfered with their aim . . . really did you THINK at all during this operation?” “You are, or were, among my best, Captain Dahl, because of that little gift you possess that grants you your edge. And yet, it seems to have failed us both.” “Sir, I still am.” She said, taking her chances to make her pitch. “A singular failure, albeit a rather large one. Allow me at the very least, a chance to redeem myself, Sir. I still maintain my gifts and…” “Afterall isn’t it well within my humanity to rise above the filth to truly triumph? Lose the battle, win the war.” She said crushing some bone against her heel, steely expression. The line went silent for several minutes, leaving Dahl to wonder if the General had left in a rage, or was simply deep in thought. “Very well,” his gruff voice boomed over the line, “I suppose I’m not so heartless that I can’t let you make it up to me. I have a few assignments lined up, none of them suitable to your particular talents, however. I have a potential new informant here in Maine that may prove useful to our operation. She’s flighty and I don’t trust a word she says, but information is information.” “I’ll call you when the time is right, Captain. In the meantime, rest. Steel yourself for what’s to come. We cannot lose another battle lest we give the enemy more ground. Understood?” “Understood, sir. We will return to the east coast. I would like front row seats to the next leg in our plans.” She said, a wicked grin forming. “Happy hunting, General.”