Being lied to had felt like the last of the worries, but the team had rolled with it, the reply from Yekatarina hammering it home Sean imagined. Talk of the "beast" just seemed odd, but to give her credit, she was better read than he initially imagined, though he had yet to sit down and watch Lord of the Rings himself, or read the books. This whole situation could go to shit anytime soon, but sarcasm had so far not gotten them killed, Sean cracking a smirk at her comment, as the sounds of Edgar's thugs drawing guns killed any of that thought.
"The fuck is that?"

The sound of gunfire picked up outside, and soon more goons were running around in the lobby, the anarchy infectious clearly. It was immediate to Bethan what was going on, what was happening. Victor's bullshit now mattered nought, because the very mortars and guns they'd stolen were now in his subordinates hands and being used to shoot and kill any other mercs or authority figures left. She had seen close combat, much like Yekatarina and Sean - and in an urban area casualties mounted fast and anyone who wasn't getting out of the way that wasn't friendly was gonna get a bullet and then questions after. SOPs stayed in place when you were clearing streets, buildings and rooms in a usual setting - the British Army were professionals, after all. Mercs who were being paid the pleasure of it didn't have any rules to follow and Bethan knew there were no friendlies on their side. 

Staying in town almost seemed like a death sentence, as she watched the screen, barely surprised, yet aware the situation had now massively changed. Their captor had a fairly sudden change of heart, and the fact they weren't being killed seemed a bit of a shocker now. Whatever leverage was left was gone, no doubt because Edgar had bigger priorities and didn't want to waste a round. Why he was keeping them alive and not wasting them was beyond her, because any chance of an escape plan had gone to shit when the goons had entered the room. Now there was just watching, listening, observing, and making a call, as they made their way across. Sean raised his hand to Edgar as if to suggest they were thinking, playing things out in their head.

Bethan looked to Yekatarina, freed and hearing what she had to say, nodding about her comment regarding the windows, and making her way over, finding her FNC on the floor and her Glock, as well as Sean's Sig and FAL. Throwing the latter rifle to the now untied Ulsterman, she checked her own equipment over, the chat from Edgar in the background almost as she simply gave a nod to him, Sean meanwhile silent and remaining compliant, predictable, and right now, looking to be someone who wasn't going to be a threat. What the Russian had to say was certainly interesting, Sean a little in disagreement.

"Big [i]if[/i], though Katarina. This situation just went bigger than gang warfare. There's no sides here, apart from the two of those groups fragging each other. Anyone else is with, against, or in the way. Including Edgar, if he isn't already. Those mercs won't fucking hestitate if they see us, SAMC or COGS, 'cos I guarantee you, Victor hasn't told a single soul about us. Which means....well, we're shit out of luck here." Sean seemed confused, although he felt like he had to get that off his chest, Bethan looking and nodding, then back at Yekatarina.

"Alright, we got proved wrong. Staying here might work for us. But long term, I don't like this." Bethan nodded, as Sean shook his head, looking over to Hayden.

"Well...they think Hayden is some kind of beast. There is some shady fucking shit our Canuck isn't telling us. If they want to gag him, he's capable of something he ain't told us. And he stays here, that's gonna be an issue. End of the day, we stay here, that means we might be the only thing between someone claiming a bounty on Edgar's head who wanted to look in at him. Like, oh, I don't know, Victor maybe?" Sean replied, looking directly over at the team, now a little less sarcastic, but a bit more considerate that it might mean the difference between getting killed or living.

"Fucking hell, you want to run back? Through that? First you think of selling her down river, now you think the opposite - and Victor's just gonna let us in like that? Are you insane?" Bethan's shock was probably appropriate, but Sean seemed confident.

"I'm saying we split here. We've got phones. Signal might hold, and end of the day, we don't get the Hyena, we don't leave. Gang warfare or not, Victor's thrown himself behind Melani, and she isn't going to stop. You might be able to figure something out, but Victor's a lead we can't let go of. He's a greedy, charming, narc little fucker, and the only thing he wants is someone to give him what he wants, no questions asked. If he wants to bend rules, he'll find there's a price for it if we play." Sean's thoughts seemed to suggest his street smarts, recognising what he had, perhaps a little different in the manner in which Bethan operated, a more cold, professional attitude would take. 

"Sean, you've gone off the deep end. Okay, great, do what you want, you selfish, ungratful prick, and when they carve you up, let me know." Bethan sighed, looking to Yekatarina, Sean stopping her and putting his hand on her shoulder as she turned, nodding.

"Fine. I'm just telling you how it is.....but I'll stay with you. But I get one ounce this is going south, and I'm walking out that door. I suggest we do what we need to do, then leave once we have actionable intel. Find a meeting that is legit, or at the least, someone who can work with us who knows where he is. Otherwise, we are going in circles to try and live and you fucking know it." Sean clearly didn't approve, but Bethan's look was a wry one.

"Just like home?" Bethan's retort cut Sean dry, as he shook his head, then looking to the Russian, then to Kat, then to Bethan.

"You may as well say it then. But I'm telling you now. There are no sides here. You might think this is like Afghan, I can tell you now, none of these people would give a shit if you died tomorrow. Only person that matters is the Hyena, and right now, we are not going places." Sean seemed almost exasperated, a pragmatist yet one that didn't have a single moral in his heart. He'd happily walk out of that door, but knew he'd be dead if he went. That and despite everything in his better judgement, he didn't want to walk away from Bethan.

The Welshwoman nodded to Yekatarina, and then over to Hayden.

"That makes three then. I don't like this but we haven't got a choice but to stay. My thoughts are we get a contingency in place though to get into the countryside. Though...wait." Bethan said, looking back to Sean, chuckling a little, shaking her head.

"Though you might be right about something. Victor does at least half trust us. That might be enough. I might have an plan." Bethan retorted, unusual in that the gears from her were turning, but she understood what Sean meant. And well, she had it sown too.

"Victor's just made himself vulnerable...like you said, nobody backs him within SAMC when he does these little things. He hasn't told the directors the fiefdom he's trying to make. So, we might want to make a deal with Edgar to use that. He gets his rival dead and some chaos for him to use, we get our information on the Hyena. Or at least, a start." Bethan said, hoping the group would agree, or at the least, it felt like they were leaning that way. 

"Well, well- you're doing it then. You're just gonna stamp on what gave us an in?" Sean replied, feeling a bit vindicated, but aware that well, there was no smug arseholery to be had here. The situation had changed, and as much as she was willing to walk, Bethan had a point here. 

"The situation seems to change. You said that yourself. I'll sort this." Bethan wryly retorted, Sean shaking his head, looking at Yekatarina, not entirely sure this was a good idea, but let Bethan take the lead.

She wasn't very conciencous most of the time, but for an SFSG candidate, she made her point enough, and slinging the FNC over her shoulder, walked back from the doorway and through the lobby, and back towards Edgar and the rest were, up the stairs and where the TV had been placed, trying to remain as confident as she could, boonie back on her head, rifle slung on her side and out of reach to show she wasn't coming here to shoot.

"Alright then. Looks like we owe you some truth, if you're sparing us. Melani wanted to know what your area was looking like, and SAMC are behind them. You probably know that, but I can tell you SAMC will use mortars and serious tools here because we stole it for them earlier. Unsanctioned, because the person who backs Melani isn't with the board...and whatever deal they tried to cut with you, they will get with her. Now, if you need help, we don't need diamonds, but we want something else." Bethan said, knowing she was risking a bullet here, but it had to be done- there wasn't going to be much other shot here.

"All we ask is to get a few hours of sleep here, transport, some radios, and just one more thing....information on someone we are looking for. We'll bring you Melani's head on a platter if you give us what we're looking to know. It may buy you time with the fighting going on here if you want to protect your neighborhood, and we'll be gone after the job is done so the heat comes with us. Does that sound like a deal?"