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"Well, it was fun while it lasted."
I make my way down to the hangar, where Four-Seven-Niner is waiting to take me to my new objective. I arrived back at Mother of Invention this morning, back from a much needed R and R. A week in relative paradise, away from the toils and dreary missions that I am bound to complete. The Director has already delivered my orders. I can't stay and chat with anyone, not that they even noticed I was gone: they don't need to know, anyhow.

I carefully tread through the forest, as the rain has begun to make the terrain more difficult to navigate. On this mission, I have the privilege of field testing a new piece of equipment: specially lined hooded pancho that can blend in with the surrounding terrain, becoming mottled and dappled as the terrain changes. It's designer had the idea that UNSC snipers and marksmen, as well as undercover ONI spooks, could have something to help them stay hidden in the field. Well, can't say it's useless, not yet. I come upon a ridge and go prone as I approach the edge. I can make out a small roofline among the trees.
Just like the intel said… I radio on a secure line to Command. This is what I've been looking for.
"This is Okami Actual, I've located the hideout. 3 clicks out. Proceeding with takedown measures. Over and out."

I get call from Command. Right as I'm 100 meters away. "You've got to be kidding me.." Well, the situation has just been flipped. No longer a trial run and intel snatching session… "They've got a researcher in there? Well that's just… Lovely. Well, guess I'll get to really test this gear after all."

I move past the bodies of the guards that were hiding in the trees
Idiots... didn't know anything about stealth...
I peek through the windows, and I'm surprised when I see the new target being beaten on the floor. A woman, probably in her late twenties, is struggling against her attacker, an older man. I can't waste any time by clearing out the cronies. I carefully, quietly, open the window, very slowly and softly crawl through the window, then on all fours on to the floor, creeping like a cat. The pancho is still changing color, even as I move inside, adjusting to the color of the floor as I creep, slowly but surely, ever so quietly, until I'm right behind the assaulter. I rise up behind him, sigh out loud and remark "Didn't your mother teach you to never hit a woman?" The man, who was now trying to pull off the woman's clothes, turned around in surprise, then suddenly felt a sharp pain as he looked down and found a knife, buried deep in his throat, then looking up in horror as he saw my distorted figure hovering above him.
"Guess not…"
As the man stops breathing, I slide the knife out slowly, quietly, laying the man down gently. Then, I look over to the new target: she's beat up, not terribly, but enough for her to be in a half conscious state. I kneel down by her side. "Hey, can you hear me?"

After a quick search of the rest of the hideout, and eliminating the rest of the guards, I learn that the woman, who goes by "Emilia" is a researcher from Eridanus V that made some interesting discoveries, and had worked with the UNSC in finding out what she could on said discoveries.
"I guess the resistance thought you'd be of use to them. I'm getting you out of here." She winces in pain as I lift her up, opening her one good eye slowly. "Wh-who are you?" I smile under my helmet. "Nobody in particular... just someone come to get you out of here."
"Ah... I see... how did you find me?"
"You'd be amazed at how much the UNSC values their researchers. Especially the ones that have helped ONI's research on the Forerunners. In any case, you're going to have to hang tight for a little while." I sling her over my shoulder. "There is a lot more they need you for, and they couldn't send just anybody, it seems…"

"You holding up ok?"
I get no response
"I'll take that as a not really…"
I hurry through the forest, careful to not to go too roughly. Emilia is wrapped up in my cloaking pancho, safe from the elements, and I can already hear my pelican approaching the exfil point

I lay Emilia down as the Pelican lifts off, and begin to treat her injuries. I ascertain that she has a mild concussion, some bruised ribs, and a black eye that's swollen shut
"That bastard did a number on you, but it doesn't look like anything serious. I'll have our medical specialist look you over. Shell patch you up just fine." She opens her eyeagain and regards me warmly as it wells up with tears. "I'm just glad someone came at all."

The medical team takes Emilia away as the Director, Counselor, and some people, "researchers", wearing ONI badging, approach me as I disembark. They're going to want to hear how the cloaking works, how the mission went, was I able to acquire any intel, other stuff like they normally do. No one besides maybe the Counselor will ask how Emilia is feeling, nor how I'm feeling, only if she is unharmed, and I'll tell them what I found while I was down there. That's all they ever seem to be interested in.

Then, it's back to work. Hopefully more hunting, but you never know. With a Project like Freelancer, you're almost always going to get a mixed bag of sorts. It's not okay, but I'll say I'm okay with it. They say I'll be able to pick and choose what missions I undertake, but I know I won't have any real choice. I'm not good for anything else but Asset-Hunting and Reconnaissance. Hell, with my luck, I might even get stuck on a team for the next mission I'm assigned to...

But we'll see.