"All right from the Intel Tyra and I got when we went to the island there is a storm drain that empties to the ocean. Myself and only three others can fit inside; everyone else will have to get the troops as many as possible out of the city so that the attackers can get to the gate and open it. So do we have any suggestions, criticisms or anything else anyone would like to add?" Alexandria took in a deep breath and waited for the rest of the crew to give her their thoughts.

It took a while for the idea to sink in since Right now they didn't have enough equipment and gear for everyone to be kept safe. Of course when you eat you here there is a possibility that she could leave them out. Although getting into a walled city was extremely difficult, casually walking in wasn't something that they allowed.

Lyric was the first to speak up; she always had something to say, which was a good thing since the silence was starting to weigh on everybody's mind. "That's possible and the most talented fighters should go in. I'm guessing you're going to have Tyra in a position where she can cover everybody?"

Tyra let out a hearty chuckle. "I have the ability to see great distances and I'm a master with a rifle but protecting everyone takes time and even though my reflexes are quick, protecting a large group will be difficult. I suggest Eve goes inside and brings a majority of the inhabitants out. That way we won't have to mass a makeshift army to try and attack the front gate."

Everyone turned to look at you and gave a sly grin and shrugged putting her hands in the air. "Of course it's possible I can get the inhabitants to come out but there would have to be a damn good reason. Most of them are terrified of the virus on the outside. Anyone who doesn't have abilities if they're male they die, if they're female they get powers and get sent to facilities. This is a huge gamble can't we wait a little bit and maybe build up our force and then do the first plan?"

Alexandria thought that Eve would jump at the chance to do this. She wanted to figure out what was going on with her but now was not the time to have that conversation. They didn't have enough time to amass the force they needed to pull off Alexandria's plan without any issues. Even then it was still questionable due to the technology that the walled cities had that people on the outside just couldn't get a hold of at the moment.

"We only have a week to get ready before guards are sent to the settlement to collect their tribute. That isn't enough time to gather the forces and equip them for this endeavor. I thought about asking Fina for help but she will not do any more collaborations until after I've taken the territories that she's offered me and paid her in full." Alexandria tried to come up with something else. Of course Isa, Valentina, and Isabella had yet to give their opinions so maybe one of them had an idea.

There was a possibility that Valentina could use her time manipulation but the walled city even though it was smaller was still a huge area for her to manipulate. She needed a lot more practice if she wanted to pull something like that off. "I think that if I can practice working my way up to manipulating time and larger areas I can do something for the people inside that would also help Eve go inside and give us any strategic advantage. If I'm not able to manipulate an area of that size by the time we execute the plan then at least she can find a way for us to take them out from the inside." Valentina was proud of herself and after that she left the group to go practice.

That would be something they could pull off if Valentina could get ready in time. Of course having Eve get inside would be one of the most important things to happen. If there is a facility under the walled city Eve could pose as a hunter bringing in an ability user for a bounty. Alexandria’s eyes widened when the idea traveled through her mind. “This plan is a huge risk but if we have Eve pose as a hunter and someone else be a captured ability user we can get in that way. What do y’all think of that?”

The group froze for a moment. It was a sound idea however that meant someone had to play the captured ability user. Everyone looked at Eve again. She had a serious look on her face. “I have run into enough hunters to look and act like one. However, who is going to be the one to play my prisoner?”

Whoever played the prisoner had to be able to get out after the operation started. There is no telling what the researchers would do to the subjects if they found out the city was about to fall. “I should be the one to do it. Out of everyone I am the only person who has escaped from one of those facilities. It will also give me the chance to free the ability user’s who are already inside.” Alexandria took in a deep breath. It felt as though she had just left her facility and now she was volunteering to go into another one.

Another round of silence gripped the group. No one was going to try and talk someone out of that. Since volunteering for something like that was almost certainly a death sentence. Eve looked at Alexandria giving her a small smirk. “Well if you believe this is the right course of action I will trust it. We should go in first though while everyone else plans the next steps. When do you want to leave?” Eve would take this time maybe to tell Alexandria about her past. That is of course if they had the time.

Alexandria walked up to Eve patting her on the back. “We can leave now while everyone else works on the part of the plan to get into the walled city. I won’t be able to lead that team but Lyric could do it in my place.” She had all the faith in the world for her first mate. If anyone could lead that team it would be her.

Lyric let out a giggle. “Alright Isa and I will be the ones to go through the large drain. We will be able to get past anything with Isa’s fire ability.” She turned and winked at Isa. This was going to be awesome since she wanted to spend some more time getting to know her.

“Alright Eve and I will leave right now to get things set up inside the walled city. Lyric you will need to take someone from Isabella’s group with you. Valentina will stay with the main group that will ambush the guards once they are led out of the walled city. We can do this everyone. So be safe and I will see you when it is all over.” Alexandria and Eve made their way to the ship while everyone else went to perform their duties.

Tyra followed them to Lyric’s ship placing a hand on Alexandria’s shoulder. “You are not going without me. I have to be posted somewhere that isn’t the water for this mission. I will have eyes on you at all times. No getting around it or telling me to stay with someone else.” Tyra let out a soft chuckle as she jumped into the ship.

Eve rolled her eyes, taking the bow line off the ship and throwing it aboard. She jumped on making her way to the rudder to get everything set up to leave.

Alexandria stood on the dock for a moment just looking out over the water. The sun had just about disappeared from site and the stars lit up the night sky. The moon was just a crescent which was Alexandria’s favorite phase since it reminded her of a thumbnail. She untied the stern line and jumped into the ship, kicking off from the dock. V was there a few moments later perched on her shoulder. “V you can’t come with me into the facility that is not happening. You will stay on the outside with Tyra until I get out.” V shrieked at Alexandria not as loud as usual but Alexandria took that as a yes.

The trip back to the island was spent in silence since Eve decided she would talk to Alexandria after the walled city was subdued. She wasn’t going to back out either since it had to be done. A few hours passed and after going fully around the island they found a spot to come ashore. It wouldn’t work for the attack since it left everyone exposed. They hid the ship in a shallow area with some reeds and they walked together up to the boundary of the walled city.

“Alright I am going to find my sniping spot. You two be safe and I will have your back the entire time. I will see you both after this mission is over.” Tyra let out a soft chuckle with a way as she disappeared into the darkness.

Eve took a moment to get her hunter disguise on and used some bounds to retrain Alexandria. It wasn’t anything that would really keep her subdued but it would do the job to trick the guards. “We are going to have to figure out a way to hide your mark. If they find out you belong to another facility the whole plan goes up in smoke. I can disguise the mark for long enough that they can process you. Once that is done you should be able to get out without issue. Are you going to hide your weapon or do you want me to hold it for you?”

Alexandria was impressed at how quickly Eve put this together essentially on the fly. She thought for a moment if there was anywhere she could hide the weapon. The only place she could think of was using it as a splint for a faked broken arm or leg. “If you can make it look like I have been injured we can use the weapon as a splint. That would make it easier for me to get out without having to shift.”

Eve gave her a sly smile as she made the changes. They tied the cane weapon to her right arm since the guards wouldn’t mess with that as long as Alexandria could walk. Eve covered up the facility mark and even changed some of Alexandria’s features just in case. “Alright this should last you almost twenty four hours. If you're not out by then it will disappear so keep an eye on the sun. Are you ready to go to the gate?”

Alexandria looked over the work making sure they didn’t leave anything out. After a few minutes she was satisfied, cracking her neck and wrinkling her nose. “Alright let’s get this over with. What are you going to do while I am processed?” They started to move forward slowly since the main gate always had someone there just in case a hunter came by to claim my prize.

“I will be scouting every inch of the place that I can. The more intel I can gather the smoother everything else you have planned will go. Plus I have to wait at least three hours before getting paid just to make sure you’re not a fake. Are you going to shift to show your ability?” Eve slowed the pace just to make sure that last question and the follow up answer wasn’t overhead by anyone.

That was a good question. She would either shift into the vulture or the anteater. If she used the polar bear that would blow the plan before it even started. The hedgehog was way too risky since that is how she escaped. “I will use one of my smaller shifts just to prove my ability after that everything should be fine. There have been shifters in the past so as long as I don’t show them something that is on record we should be fine. It is time so no more talking let’s get me set up.”

Eve nodded as they made it to the gate. The gate guard showed his light down on them speaking through his mask. “Identify yourself now!”

“Hunter Eve coming to collect. I have a shifter here. She hurt her arm when I caught her.”

The plan was now in motion. Everything else going forward was up to how well everyone else did with their prep time. Hopefully Alexandria could also find the final ability user to complete her crew.