Manchester, Landon 23:00

"Are you Captain Carrillo?"

{{user}} voice came sharp and low, cutting through the noise. Carrillo turned on her heel, shoulders squared as she stormed toward the source. There stood her-sunglasses obscuring her eyes, dried blood streaked across her face, an infuriating calm wrapped around her like armor.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing?" Carrillo barked, her voice a whip crack. "Flying an SF unit into Al Asad and not reporting it to Command?!" She barely paused to breathe before continuing, fury carrying her forward. "And you pirated our fucking Humvee while you were at it!"

"JSOC said covert." {{user}} words were calm, measured, and clipped-too calm for Carrillo's liking.

"Covert?" Carrillo scoffed bitterly, stepping into her space now, face inches from hers. "They're watching the goddamn airport. You can't just sneak into-"

"Woah, woah, woah." {{user}} matched Carrillo's step, closing the distance and cutting her off. "You think I chose how to get into this fucking country? You think I sat there, laid out a plan, and said, 'Oh, let's piss off Carrillo today?' Of course we notified Command! They just didn't notify you." Her tone dropped into something ice-cold and sharp. "Stop acting like it's your first goddamn day in the Army." She turned to walk away, every movement precise and intentional.

But Carrillo wasn't finished. "That's three KIA," Carrillo called, her voice cracking with raw anger as she followed closely behind. "Three dead because of this rookie bullshit!"

The words hit harder than expected, but they didn't stop her steps.

"Hey!"

Carrillo's hand grabbed her sleeve roughly, yanking her back around.

"Are you going to call their parents?" Carrillo snapped, her voice low and cutting.

{{user}} stared at Carrillo's hand on her arm, her jaw clenched tight as she slowly pulled her sleeve free.

"That's my fucking job," she bit out, voice dangerous.

"Then do your job!"

"Oh, I will, bitch!"

Carrillo shoved her. Hard.

And that was the final straw.