Raid (3)

"What the hell, they're going at least 300 km per hour! At this speed, we can't catch up!"

The leader of the blue team spoke hurriedly as his car accelerated to the max, but still couldn't catch up to the middle carrier.

"Remain calm, you still have fifteen minutes until the target reaches its destination. Silas and Jin can still slow them down," reassured the team leader Anna, typing away on her computer. 

Her grave expression was mirrored by Thirteen, who had the same look on his face.

The Genesis soldiers had already managed to send out a signal for help.

Worst of all, Genesis had already put out a bounty.

Save the convoy attacking the Genesis Caravan

Reward: 15,000 credits

Time limit: 20 minutes

Provide help to the convoy ASAP

'The bastards aren't cheap when it comes to defending the convoy... god damn it.'

Thirteen cursed under his breath as he looked at the bounty, his heart growing heavier with each passing second as more and more mercenaries took the job.

Worst of all, they were coming from the ninth and second districts.

'High-tiered mercs... this day couldn't be worse.'

"Jin! Be careful, they've already sent out a cry for help to the mercs. Try to slow down the carriers as soon as you can, then take out the defending cars as well."

Thirteen's voice was urgent, effectively conveying the seriousness of the situation.

Saying it was grave was beyond an understatement.

Mercs from the Ninth District meant they were under Solstice rule.

Solstice mercs always had top-notch equipment, making them perfect for hire.

But the real problem was the Second District.

That one was under Arc's rule.

The most powerful and ancient of the corporations.

Producing the same products as Genesis, Cyphers.

'These fuckers as well… maybe I should make Jin pull out.'

Thirteen was ready to do the worst. While he wanted a powerful weapon for the Liberation Front, he would not jeopardize his partner's safety for theirs.

***

Trying his best to maintain his balance, Jin slowly rose from the rooftop of the carrier.

He took off one of the assault rifles that the Liberation Front had provided, a weapon previously stolen from Solstice—one of their signature pieces.

Though it was one of their lowest-quality series, the Reaper Series A1 was still top of the line.

A lightweight, modular assault rifle with a 30-round magazine.

Equipped with a rail system for optics and a collapsible stock for ease of use.

Such weapons had boosted Solstice to the third place on the corporate ladder.

()

Aiming the stolen weapon at one of the guarding vehicles farther ahead, Jin tried to do to it what it had done to Silas.

Boom!

Jin couldn't even shoot before a resounding explosion behind him sent him hurtling forward.

His body rolled across the rooftop of the carrier.

"Fuck!"

He cursed as he tried to get a hold of the carrier's rooftop once again.

Barely managing, he gripped it with his left hand, while his right hand still clutched his assault rifle tightly.

"What a shitty day, I swear!" Jin screamed as he continued to hold on. The carrier accelerated even more, leaving behind its 300 km per hour speed to reach 320, nearly ripping Jin off the speeding vehicle.

His grip was getting weaker as he tried to hold onto the side of the carrier's rooftop, holding onto the edge, he could barely hold onto.

His grip weakened as he tried to hold onto the side of the carrier's rooftop, barely managing to keep his hold on the edge.

With great effort, Jin glanced back. The source of the explosion became clear, not by sight, but from the screams in his ear.

"Team Blue is down, Team Blue is down!"

The team leader's frantic voice crackled through the radio, punctuated by the sound of gunfire.

A merc...

Already here to get a paycheck.

"Jin, they are already here!" Thirteen informed him urgently.

"Yeah, I can see that," Jin replied, clicking his tongue in anger as he slowly rose again, his rifle aimed at the merc.

Jin glanced at the cars involved in the chaotic clash below.

The merc's car was a sleek, high-tech vehicle, a striking contrast to the battered, mismatched cars of Team Yellow and Team Red.

The merc's car had a glossy, black exterior, reinforced with advanced composite armor that seemed to shimmer under the weakly flickering neon lights of the city, illuminated by the high towers of the Ninth and Second districts.

The Tenth could barely bask in its lights, mocked by all the other districts around it.

Its streamlined design and aggressive contours made it look like a predatory beast among the mechanical herd. 

"Nat, there's a merc with us. I'm taking the shot, but I'm not sure I can finish the job. Try to take him out." Jin's voice was tense as he aimed his rifle at the merc's car, which was pushing around the other two team leaders' cars like toys on the streets.

Huff.

Jin took a deep breath, steadying himself as he aimed at the target.

Nat didn't respond verbally, but he could hear her preparing to shoot, both of them focusing on the same target.

Boom.

Jin fired his shot, and Nat did the same, their bullets racing towards the merc's car.

Nat's shot pierced the window of the merc's car but failed to take out the driver.

Under the barrage of Jin's fire, the merc had to swerve left and right. Bullets from both Nat and Jin were powerful enough to take out the driver if they penetrated the car's armor or windows. With armor-piercing rounds, they were capable of doing both.

Jin, standing tall and steady on top of the carrier, emptied his assault rifle's magazine at the car. His bullets managed to pierce the windows and hit the tires, causing the car to drift uncontrollably. It veered wildly, nearly crashing into a building on the side.

Good job, Jin. Take control of the carrier, and your job is done here," instructed Thirteen through the earpiece, his voice only heard by Jin on their private channel.

Jin let out a sigh of relief as he watched the merc's car, now a wreck, remain on the ground while the cars of the Red and Yellow team leaders finally caught up.

"Jin, there's no time to celebrate. Another five mercs are coming, all from the Ninth District. They arrive in two minutes."

"You've got to be kidding me!" Jin exclaimed, frustration evident in his voice.