「AFTER ACTION REPORT」
Operator(s) involved: Sgt. ===== Taeyeon
Unit / Position: TRACE Squad 1, Sniper/Designated Marksman Element (Joint Forces Security Sniper during the event)
Date/Time: ==/==/====
Location(s): Einstein Hall Convention Center, ==== ==st. Einstein City, Einstein Prefecture / Region, Halcyon Federation. Y4 Corps Company Building, ===== ==st. Einstein City, Einstein Prefecture / Region, Halcyon Federation.
- Situation -
At approximately ==== hours, enemy sniper fire engaged friendly elements and attendees during ongoing conference as conference attendees were entering the building.
Enemy position at elevated structure, bearing 400m NW of conference hall.
Enemy demonstrated precision fire, scoring one confirmed penetration against friendly body armor (Marine).
- Objective -
Neutralize hostile sniper threat in order to safeguard conference attendees and on the ground military personnel.
- Execution of Objective -
Established concealed firing position on Einstein Hall Convention Center, Room number ===== ==, 5th floor, prone behind cover.
Weapon system employed: MCSR Manary Multi-Calibre Sniper Rifle (bolt-action configuration), chambered in .338 Lapua Magnum. Optic zeroed at 400m.
Spotter reported Deflection 1.2 left, elevation unchanged. Enemy sniper identified via visual confirmation through window, ~395m range.
Engagement: Hostile attempted to displace laterally, initiated standing movement. One (1) round fired. Target struck center-mass (upper thoracic). Immediate incapacitation observed; hostile rifle fell from position. No return fire. Spotter and insert team confirmed kill.
- Aftermath -
Enemy sniper threat neutralized.
Friendly casualties: One (1) Marine critically wounded from initial hostile fire, battlefield stabilized by TRACE operator Sgt. Glen for medical. Status pending. One (1) TRACE Operator lightly wounded from initial hostile fire, treated by TRACE handler Cpt. Nia. Status pending.
Conference security maintained. No further hostile contacts during timeframe.
- Remarks / Assessment -
Enemy demonstrated proficiency equal to professional military/sniper training. Likely hostile trained unit, not irregular militia. First shot placement was on point, and if not for the actions of TRACE Operator Sgt. Glen would have been successful. Second shot from ~395m on a moving marine suggests a high level of competence.
Is notable that hostile sniper operated without a spotter. Could suggest possible individual / personal involvement.
Their delay in displacement enabled successful neutralization. Recommend review of building security perimeter and counter-sniper coverage at future high-profile events.
MCSR rifle performed within expected parameters. No malfunctions. Ammunition expenditure: 1x .338 LM.
Signed,
S.CPL. ===== Taeyeon
TRACE
- - -
In the end, the conference concluded without further incidents. While the conference wasn't as conclusive in its goal as the Halcyon Federation had hoped, the press had released details to the wider world population, and ever since then the Halcyon Federation had waited for a response from Asphodel and its allies.
For now, though, Eve was content in giving back her gear and heading back to base. Her shoulder had been tended with a mobile medical tech based in the back of an armoured vehicle and was healing nicely. She'd been fit for duty for the remainder of the event as much as Captain Nia insisted that she get some rest.
Either way, by the fifth day Eve was exhausted and burned out, dragging her feet towards the changing room after signing back in her gear.
Nia had already boarded a military aircraft and was headed back towards TRACE's HQ. Eve on the other hand had to wait another day before returning. Logistical problems, She'd had been told.
Well… another night at her apartment didn't sound bad.
She took off the second suit she'd been given and started putting on her civies.
Eve sighed.
So tireddddddd. I hate diplomatic relations, she decided. Any more political and legal nonsense and I'll carve my eardrums out with a fucking kit knife.
That was when for the second time in five days she heard the low, soft voice of a certain someone in her ear.
"What are you sighing about?"
Eve jolted backwards.
"Eep—Elisa?"
"Hey."
Somehow, Elisa had managed to sneak up on Eve again. It was uncanny—like she could erase her presence entirely when she wanted to. Eve turned, only to find herself facing the tall figure of the Seaward PMC.
Elisa's obsidian hair was tied back in a tidy ponytail, her height emphasized by the neat lines of a cream ribbed crewneck sweater and white chinos.
The light colours contrasted her hair and Seaward ball cap.
Eve's heart began acting up again upon seeing Elisa, falling into a faster rhythm in her chest. Awkwardness prickled at her; no matter how much she'd convinced herself in that private debate days ago that she had sorted out her feelings, acting on them was another matter entirely.
That was partially why during the five days of the conference, she'd desperately wanted to talk to Elisa.
Even if she decided she wasn't going to act on them, and that they were still too technically 'new' for each other, there was still a mountain of things to work out with Elisa, and since they'd been busy with operations practically back to back, they hadn't had much time at all to talk.
It was all too complicated… Elise, Isa, their past relationship that Eve didn't fully remember…
Either way, Eve had a question.
"…Why are you facing the other way?" Eve asked quietly.
"Because you're still changing and you haven't given me permission to see you like that yet," Elisa responded matter-of-factly.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Eve flushed furiously. She finished changing into her grey hoodie, blazer, and ripped black jeans.
"I'm done. You can look now."
Elisa turned around. She was wearing her black mask, and swept a strand of hair over her ear. Her Korean features settled on Eve as her amethyst eyes looked Eve over.
"Cute."
Please kill me now, Eve thought. The blush crept all the way up to her ears, painting her a suggestive pink.
"Thanks." Eve's voice was so small and petit, just barely above a whisper.
They were alone in the changing rooms. The only remaining personnel in the security halls were those cleaning up and taking out the gear they'd left in the makeshift TOC. The LEDs painted them both in bright swaths of light.
Elisa didn't say a word at first and just watched her with that unreadable calm of hers. Then she stepped closer and reached out, her hand brushing gently over Eve's head. Her soft fingers petted Eve's hair.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHELPPPPPPPPPP
Eve immediately dropped into a squat, burying her face in her hands. Her cheeks burned so hot she was sure the blush was showing right through her fingers. She risked a tiny peek between them.
Elisa was squatting down right in front of her. She'd pulled down her mask to reveal a little smile. She giggled, elegantly covering her mouth with one hand.
"Like I said," Elisa repeated, "Cute."
Eve absolutely imploded. She almost keeled over, but Elisa caught her.
"Oop. Hey, don't die like that~ Come on, you can survive more than a little teasing. You're TRACE, for god's sake."
Eve jumped out of Elisa's hands and whipped away from Elisa and back towards her locker to hide her face.
"Did I go a bit far?" Elisa asked.
"You know what you're doing, you." Eve outright ignored the question. Her cheeks refused to let the blood go anywhere else.
Honestly, she wasn't sure if it was too far. It was the same as it was way back during their 'date' at the Einstein Royal Mall and during the Cloud Shepherd operation. She couldn't think at all when Elisa was around like this.
Then she felt a cold sensation on her cheek.
"Eep!"
She turned back around to see Elisa offering her a canned coffee. The Seaward PMC had pressed the can against her cheek.
"Where—"
"My pocket. Sorry if I went a bit far. I couldn't help it. Come on. Let's go before someone finds us."
Only then did Eve remember that they were still in the changing rooms of the security center and temporary TOC for the GEPC.
She felt a bit ashamed that she could lose control of herself like this as she took the can from Elisa. She waited until she was outside the changing rooms and heading out of the security center before cracking open her can of coffee. It was chilly to the touch.
They headed to ground level together down the stairs. Eventually, Eve worked up the courage to say something between sips of her drink. It was sweet, just the way she liked it.
"Why were you here for the conference?"
"Our CEO was called in since Seaward's participated so much in the war. We're practically Halcyon military personnel at this point. You probably heard our CEO speak. She didn't really introduce herself, though. She left it up to her pin. Pretty much everyone caught on to who she was right away."
"Ah."
They descended in silence for several flights before Elisa finally spoke. "Good work, Eve. This was your first time attending one of these wartime conferences, wasn't it?"
"Thanks," Eve replied with a small smile. Her shoulder still ached beneath its bandages. "Yes, it was my first. You've been to several before?"
Elisa nodded. "How's the coffee?"
Eve blinked at the sudden change in topic. "It's sweet."
"Mhmn." Elisa glanced at Eve. "You like it that way, right?"
Eve was surprised. "How'd you know?"
"Hard to not notice when you're the only person I've seen so far dump more than four packets of sugar into mess coffee."
Eve snorted, almost choking on the beverage. She burst out laughing. "When?"
"Back at MOB 7."
"Ah." She remembers details from all the way back then?
They paused at the foot of the stairs, stepping out into the main hall. The front entrance remained sealed from the sniper incident, so the two of them drifted side by side toward a side exit.
"...What are you going to do after this?" Eve asked.
Elisa gave a small shrug. "Not sure. I was planning to find a cheap place for the night. Seaward had set up accommodations, but I declined since my place isn't too far. I came here on my bike, but the tunnel I normally take was blocked. Car crash or something."
"I see. How far is your place?"
"About thirty minutes on a motorbike."
Eve slowed her steps slightly, her thoughts tangling together. Part of her wanted to leave it at that, but another part of her nagged insistently. She chewed over the words, and hesitated… then, before she could stop herself, they slipped out.
Eve looked down at her feet.
"Since you don't have anywhere to stay… Do you want to stay at my place for the night?"