A hunter's apprentice

Captured and Hospitalized

In the debrief room, the air was tense as Katrina, Lincoln, Piper, and Alice joined the other Hunters in Royal Woods, each with varying levels of experience. The Judge stood at the head of the room, her gaze steady but intense, a large screen behind her displaying maps, reports, and photos from Detroit. Harrison was beside her, adding weight to the importance of the briefing.

"Everyone, this is a situation we haven't faced in a long time. Detroit is under attack from a new mob faction, one that has resources and technology far beyond the norm. And with every day, they're spreading. It's only a matter of time before they reach Royal Woods."

The screen shifted to show a map of Royal Woods, various districts marked in red. 

"As of today, we're officially on high alert. For now, our role is to gather intel and secure our city's most vulnerable areas."

She looked at Lincoln, Piper, and Alice specifically. 

"You three have been granted limited roles in this operation, strictly in support. No direct engagements unless absolutely necessary. Your primary mission will be recon and communication. Piper and Lincoln, you'll be scouting key locations where we suspect mob activity might expand. Alice, you'll stay in the Hub, supporting remotely and gathering intel on their communications and movements."

Piper nodded, though her brows were furrowed with concern. 

"Where exactly are we supposed to be scouting?" Piper spoke up. 

"You'll be assigned to areas within town and on the outskirts, near transport hubs and abandoned warehouses. We have reports that this mob likes to use places like these to set up their operations. Your job will be to look for anything unusual, but stay out of sight. If you're seen, pull back immediately and report."

Lincoln nodded but asked.

"What about backup? What if things get... dicey?"

Harrison stepped forward, his gaze hard. 

"You'll have a senior Hunter on standby. Katrina and I will be monitoring all comms channels. Any sign of trouble, and we'll be there. But understand this isn't about fighting; it's about being our eyes and ears on the ground."

Alice raised her hand tentatively. 

"And what's my exact role in all this?"

The Judge nodded. 

"You'll be monitoring communications and surveillance from the Hub. Hack into any local networks, traffic cameras, anything that could give us a heads-up on unusual movement or hostile activity. You're not expected to go beyond that."

Alice let out a sigh of relief. 

"Got it. I can handle that."

The Judge looked over the group, her expression grave. 

"Make no mistake, this is an all-hands-on-deck situation. We don't know exactly when they'll reach us, but we need to be ready. You all have your roles; like always, it's up to us to protect Royal Woods."

The meeting concluded with a round of assignments, and the group began preparing in earnest. In the following days, Katrina led intense training sessions with Lincoln and Piper to prepare them for the recon mission. She walked them through more stealth tactics, how to quickly identify potential mob activity, and recap on communication protocols. Piper was quick to pick up the skills, her combat training giving her a strong foundation for moving quietly and keeping hidden. Lincoln worked hard too, determined to stay focused despite the magnitude of the mission. In between exercises, he checked in with Alice, making sure she was confident with her own preparations. One evening after training, Katrina pulled the two aside for a final review.