0317 hours

"Each of you will be allowed four weapons." Halsey told the group who made their way to the arsenal of weapons

Reaper grabbed an M392 DMR, MA37 ICWS, M6G PDWS Magnum and finally a M6C/SOCOM (M6S)

Vinnie grabbed a M7S Caseless SMG, two M6C/SOCOM (M6S), and a suppressed BR55

Scar picked up a MA37 ICWS, SRS99AM, and two M6C/SOCOM (M6S)

Jack took a M45 Tactical Shotgun, M7 Caseless SMG and two M6G PDWS'

Layla eyed the selection of weapons before choosing two M6G PDWS' and two M6C/SOCOM (M6S)

"Only Magnums? Really?" Scar asked, eyeing the feline

"Lightweight." Is all Layla said

"Um..... So are the SMGs?" Vinnie spoke up

"Small."

"So are the SMGs." Scar replied

"Just let her have the Magnums." Reaper told, before walking away from the arsenal

"Your first trial is CSAR. Combat Search and Rescue. On the far side of the courtyard is a damaged pelican with two pilots. Call sign 'Blu-One'. Your objective is to reach them and return to the starting point. Use your surroundings and the vehicles provided to help. Good luck." Explained Halsey

"Alright, here's what we do, Layla, Jack and Scar will take the 'hog and find a good position to provide covering fire for the pilots, while Vinnie and I take the troop 'hog and extract the pilots. As soon as we get near your sniping position Scar, I want you to fall back to Jack and Layla on their 'hog and follow ours from behind. Sound good?" The commander explained, drawing the route and possible sniper positions on the ground before taking a picture on his helmet and sending it to the others

"Sounds great. I'll drive, Layla you get the turret." Jack answered with Scar and Layla in tow

"Vinnie, you drive. I wanna see you behind the wheel." Corey ordered

"Understood." Vinnie replied, climbing into the driver seat while the commander climbed into the passenger seat

An air horn blared, signifying the start of the exercise, both 'hogs speeding down the dirt road

"Contacts, 2 o'clock high!" Jack yelled, Layla spinning up the turret and firing

"Got two at 11. Taking the shot." Scar stated, before firing at both elites in the head

"We're about a klick away. So keep your eyes peeled." Vinnie told, while the commander shot at an elite that was ordering others

"We've reached the vantage point, getting out and setting up now!" Scar told over the comms, running inside a ruined building to get onto a catwalk

"Putting the 'hog behind cover, but where the turret can still do its job." Jack spoke, before reversing and spinning around and reversing against rubble that reaches all the way to the turret's ammo drum

"200 hundred meters from the others!" Vinnie told the commander

"I've got eyes on the pilots. Approximately 400 meters northeast of my position. I'll keep 'em covered." Scar reported, firing at an elite who pinned down a pilot

"Copy. We're 50 meters from your position."

In the distance, multiple plumes of smoke can be seen while the sound of plasma fire can be heard and occasionally seen

"This is Reaper, on location." The commander reported over comms before hopping out "Stay with the 'hog, I'll grab our boys!"

"Copy." Vinnie spun the 'hog around for easier access to the others while the commander clambered over a medium-sized mound of rubble

"Blu-One, what's your location?!" Reaper called out

"In a ruined house behind the pelican, just follow the corpses!" A pilot replied before firing his SMG

"On my way, be ready!" The commander responded before putting his DMR on his back and pulling out both Magnums and breaching on side of the ruined house, crushing an elite in the process before taking out two others

"We're in the pantry! Under the stairs!" The other pilot told

"I'm comin'!" The commander rushed and tackled an elite who was trying to break into the pantry before emptying his mags into it

"About time. Let's get the hell outta here!" The pilot said, opening the pantry door

"Reaper, this is Scar. Come in, over."

"This is Reaper, go ahead."

"I've got eyes on multiple tangos closing in on your location. Advise you get your ass moving, over."

"Copy, leaving now! Let's go people!"

Vinnie stared in the rearview mirror, waiting anxiously for the return of her commander and the pilots, when she began to rev the engine as she spotted them

"Come on, I estimate we have about 30 seconds before they're all over us!" Vinnie told while the pilots took the left and right back seats and Reaper took the middle

"Step on it!" Reaper ordered, before firing at the crowd of elites before a sniper round took down three of them

"Jack, we'll be at your position within a minute, be ready to move!" Vinnie told, doing her best to dodge plasma fire

"Understood. Layla, keep that road covered!" Jack ordered while Scar continued to cover

"Ghosts incoming!" Corey warned, firing at the vehicles

"We're 100 meters from your location, Scar!" Vinnie warned

"Understood, falling back." Scar replied, before deciding to jump off the catwalk instead of leaving through the building

At the sound of the noise, Layla spun the turret towards Scar before realizing it was her, then turned it back around while Scar hopped into the passenger seat

"Passing you now, be advised, we have about five ghosts behind us!" Reaper told, before their 'hog passed Jack's, who immediately turned the 'hog and blocked the path, forcing two ghosts to crash into the side of it while Scar took out the pilots and Layla destroyed the wings of the others, causing them to crash

When the team returned to the start point, the air horn blared again, signifying the end of the trial

"Congratulations. You and your team managed to rescue both pilots and took no casualties. At 1200 hours the next trial will begin. Same loadouts and vehicles as the trials are supposed to simulate one entire mission. I'll let you know when the trial is ready." Halsey spoke in a slightly excited tone, though no one is able to notice

"Great job guys. Let's go back to our quarters and back to sleep." Vinnie said, yawning

"Agreed. We'll see you boys later." Reaper said, shaking the hands of both pilots