2.00PM
Police Headquarters, SWAT Department
Firing Range

Fate took aim, holding her handgun tightly, her right hand around its grip while the left supported it, took a deep breath, waited for the beating of her heart to slow, and finally fired between them. The bullet pierced the painted forehead of the wooden target she had been aiming for, and she relaxed.

"Congratulations!"

Fate turned around, removing her ear defenders and safety glasses. A short pink haired girl was smiling at her.

"You didn't miss a single shot," said the girl, pleased.

Fate shrugged before replying modestly: "The targets do move rather slow, Caro."

"What nonsense! Fate is team leader for a reason." Caro stuck out her tongue. "Lightning quick reflexes, infallible aim-"

"Stop it, Caro," said Fate, blushing lightly. "I'm not that good…"

X

2.00PM
Nexus Commercial Bank
Lobby

Hayate was tired. She'd only had to deal with two of the long line of impatient clientèle, and she was already longing for her first break of the day.

The customer she was attending to finished filling in their form and slid it under the glass pane that separated them from her.

She looked at the form briefly before nodding to the customer. "The normal processing time is two working days. You will receive notification when your request is completed."

The customer departed without any expression of gratitude, and Hayate sighed. There were times when she did not enjoy her job in the slightest.

Another customer approached. "I want to make a withdrawal."

X

2.00PM
Nexus Commercial Bank
Female Customer Toilets

Nanoha slammed the fake marble cubicle door behind her, and slid the bolt across to lock it shut. She flicked the toilet lid down with her foot and threw the rucksack she carried down upon it. With precious little room to do so, she pulled her pink tank-top over her head, rolled it up in an untidy ball and dropped it onto her bag. She kicked off her sandals and removed her khaki shorts, before squeezing them all into a black plastic bag, which she hid inside the toilet cistern.

She proceeded to remove from her rucksack a grey boiler suit, which she climbed into awkwardly, nearly falling face first against the toilet seat when she caught her foot inside one of the trouser legs. At last she had the bland clothing on and zipped tightly up. It was too large for her, and noticeably baggy around her midriff and arms. Satisfied, she took from the bag a pair of heavy boots, which she slid her small feet into and tied up in double knots, making sure to pull the laces uncomfortably tight.

Taking a small pocket mirror the suit's breast pocket, she scrutinised her appearance. Contended, she removed a piece of black cotton fabric, which she unfolded. It was a balaclava, with only a thin slit for her eyes. She pulled it over her head, aligning it carefully so it did not interfere with her sight, making especially sure that it was seated properly over her tied-back hair, and that no loose strands strayed into her eyes.

Reaching into her bag for a final time she withdrew first a pair of mirrored sunglasses, which she opened with a flick of her wrist, and slid them on. With her right hand around its grip, she lifted a weapon from the bag; an AK assault rifle. She unfolded the stock, and then slapped a magazine into it before stuffing a further two into her pockets.

There was a sudden cry of surprise from outside her cubicle: "Hey! What're you doing in here? Try the next-"

The cry was cut short with a reverberating crunch, followed by the sound of something heavy sliding down the wall and onto the floor.

"Is it time?" asked Nanoha, directing her voice toward the cubicle door.

"It is," replied a deep voice.