<div style="text-align: center">《 Armando》
	

	
	
		
		



		
		
	


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</div></div><br/>Armando Mercado understood the situation had the potential to get out of hand but was disappointed it had gone sideways so quickly. He stood from his kneeling position and moved towards the guard with the broken nose. The man was blinking at what he'd done, as if he'd not realized the direct result of his actions, still holding his weapon, finger no longer on the trigger at the very least. Armando took his wrist and removed it from his grasp, then ordered him from the room entirely. He dropped the magazine of the man's weapon, then racked the slide to expel the bullet that was chambered. He pocketed the mag and tucked the unloaded weapon into his belt at the center of his back. Out of the way of his primary weapons, but no longer in the hands of a man who was far to quick to draw. Across his walkie-talkie, he informed the other guards that the shot had been an isolated indecent, on their side, and that civilians were cooperating.<br/><br/>"I repeat, civilians are cooperating. Shooter is disarmed. This is to remain a peaceful extraction." Remain perhaps wasn't the right word. Very few of the individuals, aside from the guards, were armed that he knew of. If the guards could not remove the individuals tactfully, without excessive force, than they needed to revamp their entire system. Men should not simply be given power, uniform, and a weapon. Now, everyone was panicky and the dangers involved had amplified.<br/><br/>"Get this cleaned up!" he directed. Emotions aside, he was going to try to do what he could to get the rest of them out without further incident. He was calm and professional. Many of the team looked to him for guidance and direction but this situation had set everyone on edge. Rebel seemed to be of the same mind, ushering the remaining individuals from the lobby. Armando slipped out behind them.<br/><br/>"Why?" someone lamented, bold enough to turn accusing gaze on Armando. "They're going to just shoot all of us," someone followed up.<br/><br/>There wasn't a good reason why. What was he supposed to say?<br/><br/>"I can't answer that," he said with a shake of his head, motioning them onward.<br/><br/>Armando had been afforded the highest level of living in Abendblume because of his loyalty. He owed Hale. Because of him, he'd been able to piece together the tattered remains of his family. His sister, and his two godchildren were alive because of Hale. In that instance, the man had shown his humanity and it hadn't been about counting resources. They had expended a large portion to recover them, and now, they lived comfortably behind Abendblume's fortified walls. Armando simply did his part in keeping it secure, both for Hale, and for his godchildren. Even now, they were locked away in the Mercado private suit. Armando had warned them that they would not want to see how the day unfolded. Community members were bound to be upset. He was glad he had warned them because it had turned into a matter of safety, and he could only hope they had listened.<br/><br/>He picked the handheld up again.<br/><br/>"I want Marcia and the kids looked in on."<br/><br/>With that worry addressed, his kept his focus.<br/><br/>"You are welcome to check your rooms, or you can wait for the shuttle to take you to the gates. Provisions are waiting there. I promise you, I intend to get everyone out safely," he assured. "Does anyone need help locating a loved one that was named?" He had the ability to locate them over the walkie.<br/><br/>Hale had not informed the guards until that very morning. Armando had wished he'd had more time to go over protocol with them. Hell, he'd suggested giving those on the list a few weeks training before turning them out, but Hale had worried about the dangers involved of them knowing and remaining in Abendblume. He wanted them extracted quickly. Like a bandaid, he said. Less painful that way.<br/><br/>"Where did they take Kennedy?" Anise asked, her tone low, worried. He'd caused trouble and she wasn't certain that they hadn't just gone out and disposed of him.<br/><br/>"Who has a location on Kennedy McLaughlin?" Armando asked into the radio.<br/><br/>"At the gates, Sir."<br/><br/>"Can you have Kennedy confirm?" Perhaps a few words directly from the man would settle some worries.<br/><br/>"On moment," came the reply.