Everyone was focused but had the slightest smiles pulling at their faces.The team lived for this sort of challenge.
The scenario was a dark alley, amazingly lifelike.Ashton reached over and touched one of the “city” walls.He couldn’t feel the texture through his gloves, but it obviously had weight behind it, like a real wall.
An announcement from what would be the equivalent of dispatch came in through the earpieces they all were wearing.
“SWAT team, we have intel that a group of five men is attempting to exit a bank two blocks to your north.Be advised suspects have hostages and have released tear gas into the vicinity.”
“Masks on, people,” Derek said as they began jogging toward the north, staying close to the wall.Soon they were around the corner from the bank.
The bad guys the team was combatting resembled lifelike robots.They had sensors on their frames that could pick up on any movement or sound within human parameters.If a person could see or hear the SWAT team, the robots would be able to also.
And shoot accordingly.
Not real bullets of course, but the entire team’s gear was covered in a netting that held sensors.The same ones the lab guy had explained wouldnotifythem when they’d been hit.Shots the bad guys took and the team received would be marked and counted against them.A direct shot to the head or enough shots to the chest—even with vests—would “kill” the SWAT member and they would be unable to help the team any longer.
Basically it was a game of laser tag but much more intense.
“Ashton, Liam, I want you to find some way to get to higher ground so we can take shots if needed.Lillian, Roman, keep lower.”
The sound of gunfire—scarily realistic—could be heard throughout the building.
Everybody scattered, each going to their assigned place.
It really was an amazing facility.Ashton jumped up and grabbed a fire escape ladder and pulled it down.It easily supported his weight as he climbed up.If he didn’t know he was in a simulator, he would swear he was on a city street at night.The creators had captured the chaos of a hostage situation with eerie accuracy.
Ashton spotted the window he wanted to get to.It would give him excellent vision into the bank.
He looked at Liam.“I’m heading up to that window.”
“Roger that.I’ll stay here.”
Ashton had to make a pretty big leap over to the next “building,” but grabbed the balcony and pulled himself up with no problem.He eased along the ledge to get to the window he wanted.Carefully.
Simulator or not, a fall from twenty feet would do some serious damage.
Once he made it through the window, he pulled out his mock sniper rifle.
Ashton spoke into his mic.“All set, Derek.I have visibility on the targets.”
“Roger that.”
“I’m in position, too, Derek,” Liam said.“Ashton and I can take out at least three of the perps.”
“Hold.We’re working our way around behind them.”
From his riflescope, Ashton watched as Roman made his way down the edge of the wall, using the smoke for cover.Ashton couldn’t see where Lillian moved, but that wasn’t unusual.Her smaller size gave her a distinct advantage in situations like this.
“Whoa, Roman, bogey on your six.”
Ashton saw the human-looking robot step out from around the corner and aim at Roman.Ashton took the shot, even though he knew it would be too late.
The robot immediately powered down as Ashton’s electronic bullet hit him, but the damage had already been done.Roman’s suit lit up in the shoulder.
Roman’s obscenities flew over the comm units.Ashton watched through his sniperscope as Roman grabbed the shoulder that had been “hit.”
“Damn it, that hurts.”Roman’s voice was tight with pain.
“What?”Everyone asked it at the same time.
