Margaret looked up, seeing the press drones flying up on their doors, taking live pictures and videos of what is going on here.
Being the one in charge of Archangel's public relations and media image, she knows way too well what is going to happen to their company if this is not contained.
"Why is the press here?!" she fumed.
(2 days ago)
"Ok, I had sent out the terror alert warning, the UK authorities will be distracted," said Xu Qing.
Sean nodded, readying his messages to several influencers.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" asked Aya.
"Archangel cares heavily for its public image, once we tear down that rosy corporate image, things will just go downhill for them," said Xiao Tian.
"Why don't we just leak out whatever evidence we have to the press?" she asked.
"Media, private or public, will inevitably be subjected to censorship and manipulation by those with power," said Xiao Tian. "Individual influencers and on the other hand, are too small to be worth being gate-kept."
He dug out a name list. "These influencers either have a strong sense of justice or are scums who just want to get their hands on the latest big news, they will be our battering ram in this media war we are starting."
(Present time)
Margaret felt her phone buzzing wildly in her pocket, knowing that it is the discovery of Archangel's bosses colluding with Vanguard making headlines.
She turned it on, seeing the media under the influence of Archangel feebly trying to contain the damage that the viral posts have inflicted on their public image.
A while later, Archangel's share prices started to fall as investors pulled out for fear of being embroiled in such a major scandal.
"You son of b*tch!" cursed Sir Howard angrily.
Nanami grinned, "you really think all we want is to drill you in an interrogation room? Oh no, we are revealing the cards here."
"It's open cards now, I am curious to see how you fare under the light, instead of hiding among the shadows. You know, like how an Angel is supposed to be?" she chuckled.
Nanami pressed her pistol closer to Sir Howard's head, prompting Lord Kronos and "Spectre" to back off.
"You think you have won?" gloated Sir Howard.
Phineas laughed. "So what if you ultimately managed to make all of the posts disappear? Once something's exposed it can never be the same again in the hearts and minds of people. They won't forget."
(UNSSD Europe Office, Paris)
"HAHAHAHA!" laughed Secretary Li heartily as he shared the live stream video with General Wilson Ling of the UNSSD SOC in an office.
"About time these a**holes get their just desserts," he laughed.
General Ling did not share his boss' joy, rather looking at the video with a serious expression.
"Something wrong?" he asked.
"It's Team Zero," he said.
"May I remind you sir, that they are still wanted fugitives? Exposing Archangel does not prove their innocence," said General Ling.
Secretary Li looked at him with a frown.
"Ok then, what do you say we do?" he asked.
"We have Team Ion in standby in the UK, Major Richard William can take it from there, just send some of our MPs there to back him up," said General Ling. "He just got back from Korea from a vacation anyways, he can do some work now."
"Hmm," said Secretary Li. "Then does he have any word on that recon mission?"
"Negative, Aya's recon team is still missing," replied General Ling.
Secretary Li nodded. "Tell the Major once he has them bring them over to the commercial space elevator, from there, a platoon of the Commando Formation will send Team Zero off-world to Lunar Alpha. Notify the personnel at Lunar Alpha to be ready for containment operations."
General Ling frowned. "Shouldn't we bring them back to Sulawesi for questioning?"
"You want to put suspected traitors in the vicinity of the Director and the rest of the management?" laughed Secretary Li.
General Ling agreed. "Then what about Sir Howard and Vanguard?" asked Secretary Li.
"Leave them to the British authorities," said Secretary Li.
General Ling frowned, arguing that it is unsafe, but Secretary Li insisted. With no other option, General Ling complied, leaving the room to make the orders.
As he left, Secretary Li's smile faded, turning to his phone, making a call.
(Arundel, UK, 4 hours later)
Sean and Frederica surrendered their arms to the UNSSD MPs that arrived at the scene, who also chased off the drones. In the same moment, the British authorities rolled up, detaining Sir Howard, Margaret Howard, Lord Kronos, "Spectre", Ori Yashar and other members of Archangel at the castle. To Team Zero's surprise, they are very cooperative, surrendering to the British police and the SAS without any trouble.
Sean looked at Richard and Team Ion watching them in the distance. He knows that Richard is one of the real traitors, but the rest of Team Ion is not. Besides, with Maia, Electra and Ethan watching, Sean is confident that Richard will not dare to "disappear" Team Zero, unless he wants to earn the wrath of 3 of the former Squad Artemis members.
"Let's see what other tricks you will play, Major," sneered Sean internally as the Team Zero operator are locked up in a white UNSSD armoured vehicle.
The UNSSD MPs drove off towards the space elevator, with Team Ion escorting. Behind them is the UK police convoy, which then drove off in the other direction after the 2 convoys passed an intersection.
"Ok, they are gone," said Albert, who remained hidden with Vera, Aya, Liu Zhong and Clara. "Proceed with phase 2."
The 5 left their hiding spot, heading to the SUV they had hidden in the surrounding terrain, starting the car, and heading after the British authorities.
Taking Aya and the rest's current MIA status to their advantage, the phase 2 of their plan is to use Team Zero's arrest as a bait and distraction, allowing Aya's team to follow after the British authorities and uncover who are the other collaborators.
The British authorities motorcade sped into another cordoned off road. As per the requirements, the routes the British authorities are taking are all cordoned off to the public, making the roads deserted.
Inside the armoured vehicle, a human UK police Inspector got to work questioning Sir Howard, but Sir Howard remained silent, so did the rest of the captured Vanguard and Archangel personnel.
Getting fed up, the Inspector raised his volume.
Just as the convoy passed an intersection, 4 container trucks sped out, and crashed into the vehicles at the head and rear of the convoy, trapping them.
The Inspector looked out of the armoured car in shock. In the same moment, the Sellardraxian SAS operator of the Draco subspecies beside him slit his throat, while 2 other Sellardraxian SAS operators opened fire at the rest of the SAS operators and UK police inside, killing them.
The 3 got to work freeing the people inside.
"Lord Kronos, you are free now, please wait inside," said the Draco SAS operator, pulling off his mask.
"Good work, Constantine," commended Kronos.
Concurrently, explosions of Cosmic Energy resonated, along with shots fired. Within 5 minutes, the firing stopped.
3 hard knocks are heard at the door. Knowing that its their signal, Constantine unlocked and opened the door, leading the captives out.
In front of them stood a Chryso lady dressed in full Dynasty of Draxas Imperial armour. Seeing her, all of the Vanguard members excluding for Kronos bowed to show respect.
"Duchess Livia," greeted Kronos.
Livia shook hands with him and Sir Howard, then leading them forward. Margaret looked around, shocked to see that all of the other vehicles are all burning wrecks, with all of the the loyal British police and SAS operators massacred. Even the other Archangel employees arrested with them are not spared, all burned to crisps.
Several humans in black tactical gear approached them.
"Mr Adler," said Livia. "Thank you for your assistance."
Chris smiled. "My client would like a word with you all, if you would follow us."
Sir Howard smiled. "With pleasure."
They stepped onto several vehicles that have pulled up and drove off, but not before torching the the container trucks they used.
Unbeknownst to them, they are stalked by Aya's team, who recorded the whole thing down using a stealth recon drone.
"It's the same guy Richard was with in Korea," said Liu Zhong, recognising Chris' voice.
"They called him "Mr Adler", and those cars, they changed the license plates, but I could swear that they are Spades International cars," recognised Aya. "I have seen them too many times."
"Note this down, this will be important," said Aya to Albert. "Let's find out who is this client of theirs."
(Space elevator, London)
"Oh look, its the grey cars," muttered Santos as Team Zero are led out of the armoured vehicles, seeing the unmarked armoured grey jeeps parked at the same place.
All of them knew that these jeeps belong to the UNSSD Commando Formation. Despite is offensive name, this Tier 2 special forces unit is not in charge of blowing enemies into the air on the battlefield, rather, it's UNSSD's internal security, secret police and intelligence unit, placed under the command of the Administrative bureau as opposed to the Military commission, giving the unit a lot of powers that are unheard of even for Tier 1 units. Thus, despite the much lower funding and the inferior combat abilities as opposed to the Tier 1 special forces, many are happy to stay with the Commando Formation just to enjoy these invisible benefits.
The Commandos took it from there, leaving Team Ion and the MPs, escorting Team Zero into the space elevator to be sent off-world.
"Eddie?" asked Louis all of a sudden, pointing at a masked Commando next to him.
Sean and Ariel turned to the Commando, recognising the familiar Lita cadet. They have seen Eddie masked before during their cadet times, hence recognising him.
Eddie Tan glanced back at them, yet remained aloof. It's not that he did not recognise them, but he needs to keep his distance, as per his job.