After the Second Battle of Haarlem, the force managed to capture Amsterdam with no resistance. James still cannot get over his defeat against Petrov. The unit fails to spot a silent killer.

  "I challenge you to a rematch!"

  Petrov smirked, "What is this guy thinking? He just lost."

  "It's over James! I'm better.", he stated.

  Justin and Luna tuggednon James to get him to stop but he was James.

  "One more game and I'll be able to win back my money!"

  Petrov wondered for a while.

  "No.", he said.

  But James could mot afford a permanent lost on his record.

  No, he had to do a rematch so he thought of the most absurd way to get his to reconsider.

  "I'll pay you double the pot this time!"

  James, Luna and even Petrov were surprised.

  "Are you a madman James? We beg you, please stop!", exclaimed the two tugging on him.

  But Petrov considered it for a while, he already beat him, it's not like he can magically win this time.

  "You know what, we have time to spare. Battle me again and lose more money, deal?"

  James' face was hot red.

  "I'll battle you again and win this time! Deal!"

  So once again, they found themselve at the poker table.

  Once again, they sat eye to eye with one another.

  "Your small blind, Sir. Swift.", said the dealer.

  He gave the required €50.

  Petrov added €100.

  The dealer shuffles the cards, creating beautiful flows and patterns, but James could not lose his focus.

  The cards were given, a pair each.

  James peeked at his cards, a 8 of Hearts and a 3 of Spades.

  His thoughts were panicking, this was such an awful hand.

  Neither were they the same suit, but also not even consecutive ranks.

  "Raise €400."

  Seems to be that Petrov was more confident this time.

  "Call!", James replied.

  Then the first three community cards.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  He looked at them. Very closely, calculating what he should do.

  "A three of Clubs, an ace of spades and a 5 of diamonds.", he listed in his head.

  His hand was terrible, he could not flush, he could not straight, and he definitely couldn't do a straight flush.

  But this time, he was unwavering.

  "Tap, tap.", went the table as Petrov checked.

  His turn was skipped.

  "Raise, €300."

  The pot was now €1,050.

  The fourth community card was laid on the table.

  "A Queen of Hearts.", they both thought.

  James' hands were getting shakier and shakier by the second. Petrov saw this too."

  "Raise, €400"

  James was startled, why raise that big? Is it because Petrov had an amazing hand? Could be.

  He would check.

  The fifth community card was laid.

  "2 of Clubs. Useless", they once again both thought.

  James was in deep thought, he could not lose again.

  So he weighed the scales.

  Could Petrov really have a great hand? Highly possible. But what if he's bluffing? Also possible.

  The odds of two great hands in a row seemed too unlikely and who was James to fold now?

  No, that wouldn't be like him.

  "Raise, €400"

  "Ok, maybe he does have a good hand, or could he? He could be bluffing.", James considered.

  But one idea stayed with him, James would never fold on the last bet.

  "Call!"

  He watched Petrov's reactions carefully, but his poker face was unpenetrable.

  James was now regretting his decision, his feet constantly tapped against the floor.

  "Reveal your cards."

  Spectators could barely look at the table and James help on to his seat for dear life.

  Then, they revealed their cards.

  James had an 8 of Hearts, 3 of Spades.

  Now, €2,250 rested on the hand of his opponent.

  Petrov had a 7 of Spades and a 2 of Diamonds. He was bluffing the whole time.

  James' face brightened like the sun as he jumped in victory.

  "Yes! I got my Euros back!"

  Justin breathed a sigh of relief while Luna was passed out called in a nearby bean chair.

  He actually won.

  "Good game James."

  "Bloody good game it is!"

  But fate did not want him a sweet celebration.

  "Calling James Swift, Luna Kai and Justin Zimmerman to communications now!", exclaimed a Eurasian member.

  She appears to have ran far considering her exhaust.

  James was instantly furious, he could not even savor the taste of victory, but if it was mission, he had to go.

  "Why now?!", he thought.

  They followed the girl to the nearest communication device and got in line with the Nova Bridge.

  "Sorry to interrupt you guys, but we have an emergency."

  It was captain Eleanor.

  "We need you three in the Strategy and Tactics Room now!", she added.

  "Yes, ma'am!", replied the three.

  They hopped on the waiting transport to the Nova.

  They rushed to the room to be greeted by the ship's top executive officers.

  "Reporting for duty, ma'am!", exclaimed the arrivals.

  "We have a major issue and I want you people to share your opinions on it.", Eleanor stated.

  Everyone in the room were shocked, why them?

  "Ma'am, with all due respect, we're not really that special in this ship to give executive opinions.", Justin said with faces from all the other officers.

  "I wouldn't have called you three here if you weren't special. But enough of that let's get to the issue."

  The tablescreen showed statistics of the unit's supplies.

  "This force is running out of what you see there. Estimates show we can only last 3 days at most."

  The officers gasped at the graphs.

  "Any suggestions anyone?", the captain asked.

  But no one could suggest.

  Seeing as no one planned to answer, Luna shyly raised her hand.

  "Maybe we could loot more cities to the west?"

  "No, that would be invading possible Eurasian territory.", Merlin stated, dismissing her idea.

  The room grew silent again.

  "Maybe we could do a tactical retreat backt o Brighton?", James considered.

  "Headquarters wouldn't allow us. We're already on their bad side.", Eleanor rebutted.

  Moments later, a member barged in.

  "Emergency call from the Zabytaya!"

  They followed.

  The screen lit to life.

  "Captain Eleanor, I'm afraid to interrupt your vacation but we have an issue."

  Eleanor smirked.

  "So do we, resources seem to be tight nowadays, isn't it?"

  "Precisly! We've calculated the resources of both our ships and concluded that we last 3 days."

  Eleanor sighed.

  "Well, that is quite true. What do you propose Yelena?"

  "I propose we head for the Eurasian forward operating base in Arnhem. After capturing Amsterdam, they may be able to let us back in."

  Eleanor considered it for a moment while fidgeting her fist.

  "What other choice do we have?", she asked.

  "None, basically.", Yelena replied.

  Eleanor gathered herself back.

  "Well then, let's meet your friends in Arnhem."