The mission to rescue Prisoner #627 was a success, but it also brought unexpected reunions and revelations. Anthony's appearance and the shocking revelation that he was still alive left many in disbelief and emotion. Chris and David's emotional reactions to seeing their friend/brother again showed the deep bond they shared.

As they made their escape from the collapsing gulag, the team's quick thinking and coordination allowed them to reach safety just in time. The timely arrival of the SPIE rig and the extraction of the team marked the end of their intense mission.

The subsequent explosion that decimated the gulag served as a dramatic conclusion to their mission, leaving behind a trail of destruction and chaos.

Now reunited with Anthony, the team had much to discuss and process. The mission had brought to light new mysteries and questions, and they would need to piece together the puzzle of what had happened in Operation: Mantle Storm and how Anthony had survived.

With their mission accomplished, the team could now focus on debriefing and planning their next steps in the ongoing battle against Shadow Company and Atlas.

As everyone rode in Chappy's CH-53E Super Stallion, the atmosphere inside the helicopter was a mix of relief, joy, and disbelief. Mina, in particular, couldn't contain her emotions. She was overwhelmed with happiness to see Anthony alive and well. She leaned over and tightly hugged him, her eyes filled with tears of joy.

Mina:*tearfully* Anthony, I can't believe you're here! I thought... I thought you were gone!

Anthony returned the hug, holding Mina close. His voice was filled with warmth and relief.

Anthony:*smiling* I'm here, Mina. I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere. I missed you so much.

Mina couldn't help but laugh through her tears. She gently kissed Anthony, and the two shared a heartfelt moment of reunion in the midst of the chaos.

David and Chris exchanged glances, both grateful to see their friend/brother alive. They knew that there would be many questions and explanations to come, but for now, they were content with the knowledge that Anthony was safe.

Frank, Miho, and the rest of the team watched the emotional reunion with smiles on their faces. It was a rare moment of joy in the midst of their challenging mission.

Chappy, the pilot of the Super Stallion, maintained his focus on flying the helicopter. He spoke over the intercom to the team.

Chappy:*over the radio* We're heading back to base, folks. Buckle up and get ready for debriefing. We've got a lot to discuss.

As the helicopter soared through the sky, carrying the reunited team and their rescued friend, they looked forward to the next chapter in their battle against Shadow Company and Atlas, knowing that they were stronger together.

It was then Anthony noticed Miho.

Anthony: Who's the Na-HMM!?

Chris covered his older brother's mouth as he shook his head 'no'. Both looked back at Miho and saw that she was pissed.

Chris:*whispering* Ant, for all that is good and holy. Do not! Call her a Nazi! She hates that. AND really hates Nazis! So don't call her that.

Anthony nodded as Chris removed his hand from his mouth.

Anthony: Right....*clears his throat* So, who are you, ma'am?

Miho maintained a stern expression, still displeased with the earlier remark, but she decided to answer Anthony's question.

Miho: I am Field Marshal Miho Nishizumi, and I lead this battalion. We were brought in to assist in the fight against Shadow Company and Atlas. It's a pleasure to meet you, Anthony.

Her tone was firm, but there was a sense of respect in her voice. Miho was known for her dedication to duty and her strong leadership, and she expected nothing less from those she worked with. Anthony's survival and unexpected appearance had added a new layer of complexity to their mission, and Miho was determined to see it through successfully.

Anthony: Well then. I'm Captain Anthony S. Towson of the United States Marine Corps.

Miho: Wait a minute. Your last name is Towson, right?

Anthony and Chris: Yeah.

Miho: Are you two related to a Scotsman named, Lewis Towson?

Anthony: Yeah. He's my great uncle that fought and died during WW2. You know him?

Miho: Know him? I fought with him! That man was dropping bodies in North Africa.

Anthony's revelation about his great uncle Lewis Towson left Miho momentarily surprised. She had served alongside Lewis during World War II, and he had clearly made quite an impression on her.

Miho: Lewis Towson was a remarkable soldier. I fought alongside him in North Africa, and he was a true warrior. It's an honor to meet his family.

Her stern expression softened a bit as she spoke about Lewis, showing a rare moment of warmth. It was clear that Lewis had earned her respect and admiration during their time together in battle.

Anthony: It's an honor to meet someone who fought alongside him. He's a legend in our family.

Chris nodded in agreement, acknowledging the legacy that Lewis Towson had left behind.

Chris: He's the reason we both joined the Marines.

Miho: He would be proud to see the legacy he left in both of you. Let's work together to honor his memory and achieve our mission.

With that, Miho seemed more open to their presence, and they continued on their journey, united by a common purpose and a shared connection to a legendary soldier.

Then Mina chimed in.

Mina: What about mine? I'm First Sergeant Mina Takahashi-Towson of the United States Army Delta Force.

Miho: Never heard of Delta Force. But I have heard and fought with the Takahashi Clan when I was in Japan.

Everyone:*confused* Takahashi Clan?

Miho: あなたの家族の背景をお話ししてもよろしいでしょうか？{You don't mind if I share some background of your family?}

Mina: Du sprichst Japanisch? {You speak Japanese?}

Miho: はい。

Mina: それなら、彼らに伝える許可を得てください。{Then you have my permission to tell them.}

Miho:*nods* The Takahashi Clan is a clan of female warrior psychopaths.

David and Frank: Wait what?

Randy: Pardon?

Miho:*to Mina* Should I continue?

Mina: はい。{Yes.}

Miho continued with her explanation about the Takahashi Clan, providing some background information to the surprised group.

Miho: The Takahashi Clan is known for producing formidable female warriors with a reputation for both their combat skills and their... unique personalities. They've been involved in various conflicts in Japan and have a reputation for their combat prowess and dedication to their craft. Often operating in the shadows as special operatives and assassins. I had the privilege of fighting alongside members of the clan during my time in Japan, and they were formidable allies on the battlefield.

Mina nodded in agreement, acknowledging her family's martial heritage.

Mina: That's correct. The Takahashi Clan has a long history of military service and a tradition of passing down combat skills from one generation to the next.

David, Frank, and Randy exchanged glances, clearly impressed by this unexpected revelation about Mina's family background.

David: Well, it looks like we've got quite the group of warriors here.

Frank: No kidding. It's an honor to be fighting alongside such esteemed comrades.

Randy: I'm just trying to keep up with all this.

The group continued their journey, now armed with a deeper understanding of each other's backgrounds and a newfound appreciation for the unique skills and experiences they brought to the mission.

Timeskip with a flip

Soon, the Four V-22 Osprey modified with a XM21/M21 Armament Subsystems, five CH-47 Chinooks, three Brazilian Eurocopter EC725 Caracals, two AH-6 & MH-6 Little Birds, and Chappy's CH-53E Super Stallion land at the Mistral Base.

Tanks and APCs start to slowly arrive too.

As the ramp of the Super Stallion drop down dropping off the team.

All eyes were on Anthony.

Most were shocked.

Some were surprised.

A few were a little of both.

But when Glynda, Harriet, and Coco saw him...

They cried, ran to him, punched him in the gut, cried some more for thinking he was dead but was actually captured, and hugged him while crying.

The emotional reunion between Anthony and Glynda, Harriet, and Coco was both heartwarming and intense. Tears streamed down their faces as they hugged him tightly, and there was a mix of relief, joy, and frustration in the air.

Glynda:*crying* Anthony, you idiot! We thought we'd lost you!

Harriet:*punching him lightly in the gut* You moron! Do you have any idea how sad we were?

Coco:*hugging him tightly* You idiot! Don't you ever scare us like that again!

Anthony:*choked up* I'm so sorry, guys. I... I thought I was done for.

The rest of the team watched the emotional reunion with smiles on their faces, glad to see their comrades safe and back together. It was a moment of shared relief and happiness, a reminder of the bonds that formed in the face of adversity.

David:*whispering to Frank* Looks like Anthony's got some explaining to do.

Frank:*nodding* No doubt. But for now, let's give them some space.

As the group allowed Glynda, Harriet, Coco, and Anthony their moment, they knew that there would be time for explanations and debriefings later. Right now, they were just grateful to have their friend and teammate back.

???: BOY!!

All eyes went to a voice when said voice kicked away a Humvee and a Jeep.

It was Tomoe Takahashi.

Anthony:*scared* Oh shit...

Chris: Pissed off mother-in-law...

Hana: Who's she?

Mina: My mother.

Miho and Hana: Oh.....

Tomoe walks up to Anthony with a smile, but a aura of anger.

Anthony looked down at the short woman and forced a smile.

Anthony:*in fear* Hey.....Mrs. Taka-I mean. Mother-in-law.

Tomoe says nothing a points down. Anthony got on his knees hoping whatever the 50 something year old woman won't break anything important of him.

Tomoe just calmly hugs his head rubs the top of it gently.

Tomoe:*calm* Welcome back.

Tomoe's unexpected display of affection caught everyone by surprise, especially Anthony. He had braced himself for a scolding or some form of reprimand, but instead, he found himself enveloped in a warm hug from his mother-in-law.

Anthony:*confused but relieved* Uh, thanks, Mom...

Tomoe patted his head a few more times before releasing him and giving him a stern look.

Tomoe: Don't you ever scare us like that again, young man.

Anthony: I promise, Mom. I'll try my best.

Tomoe nodded in approval, and the tension seemed to ease as she turned her attention to the rest of the team.

Tomoe: So, these are the people who brought my wayward son-in-law back, huh?

Mina: Yes, Mom. This is the team I've been working with.

Tomoe smiled warmly and approached Mina, embracing her daughter.

Tomoe: I'm proud of you, Mina. You've grown into a strong and capable warrior.

Mina: Thank you, Mom.

As Tomoe interacted with the team, it became evident that she was a formidable woman but also fiercely protective of her family. It was a side of her that most had never seen, and it added a layer of complexity to the Takahashi family dynamics.

Randy: For a second, I thought we were going to see blood.

Tomoe: Don't worry. I already murdered and dumped in acid 50 Shadow Company POWs 10 minutes before you got here~

Everyone: Wut?

Tomoe's nonchalant response to Randy's comment left everyone speechless. Her calm admission of such a brutal act was met with a mixture of shock, surprise, and a hint of admiration from Miho.

Miho: Impressive indeed, Tomoe-san. It seems you've been quite busy.

Tomoe chuckled softly, her demeanor shifting from serious to more relaxed.

Tomoe: Well, when you've been dealing with Shadow Company as long as we have, you learn to take certain matters into your own hands. It's a dirty job, but someone has to do it.

As the team continued to process this revelation, it was clear that the Takahashi family had a reputation for dealing with threats in their own unique way, which only added to the mystery and intrigue surrounding them.

Anthony:*mutters* Jesus. What else is new?

Chris: I now have a girlfriend.

Anthony: Oh cool. Is it someone I know?

Chris: It's Raven.

Anthony: What the fuck?

David: Yeah, what the fuck?

Anthony: How long?

Chris:.......Three years now.

Anthony and David:..........

Anthony:*whispering* Did you two fuck yet?

Chris blushed furiously and glanced around to make sure no one else was listening in on the conversation.

Chris:*whispering* Keep it down, bro! And to answer your question... yeah, we have.

David:*whispering* Damn, bro, you kept that one quiet.

Chris:*whispering* Well, it's not something I wanted to broadcast to the world. Raven and I, we have a... complicated relationship.

Anthony:*whispering* I can see that. Well, as long as you're happy, that's what matters.

David:*whispering* Yeah, man, as long as you're both happy.

Chris:*smiles* Thanks, guys. It means a lot.

Anthony:*whispering* Does Yang know?

Chris: No, not yet.

A second later after he said that, Blake and Yang hugs Anthony while crying.

Anthony:*patting both their heads* I guess you two missed me?

Blake and Yang continue hugging Anthony, and Yang speaks through her tears.

Yang: Missed you? We thought you were... gone forever. We were so worried!

Blake nods in agreement, her grip on Anthony tightening.

Blake: We're just glad you're back, safe and sound.

Anthony smiles warmly, relieved to see his friends again.

Anthony: I missed you both too. But hey, I'm here now, and I'm not going anywhere.

Yang sniffs and wipes away her tears.

Yang: Good. We're not letting you out of our sight again!

Anthony chuckles, feeling a deep sense of gratitude for his friends' support.

Anthony: I wouldn't have it any other way.