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Post by Captain Benjamin Maxwell on May 24, 2005 18:31:35 GMT -5
To maintain continuity between these two posts, we will assume Gunman's post happened prior to Keith's.
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Post by Star Captain Killian Bekker on May 25, 2005 8:24:57 GMT -5
The main barracks for both the mech warriors and the vehicle crews was housed in the main building we had just come down from the rough terrain at the tunnel's exit.
Before we fully entered the base, we waited and scanned the area trying to get the pattern that base patrols were taking.
This is Bishop-1. There are several patrols in the base. They all follow the same path, but there's 3 groups of guards.
Affirmative Biship-1, we have a visual on the groups. We had some issues with booby traps on the cliff face, but fortunately the one we tripped was a dud.
That's good to hear. We came down next to a barracks, so I'm going to allocate Bishop-4, 5 and 8 to dealing with that threat.
I need your group to infiltrate the gatehouse and neutralize them so that we can access the steam vent from here. It seems the tunnel put us opposite of the interior walls. While that is in place we are going to enter the main headquarters complex and sabotage their radios.
All 3 attacks should be fairly simultaneous. That should prevent any sort of alarm from being sounded. For now at least.
Understood. What about the roaming patrols? I assume we should deal with them as well considering that the routes seem to require a check at the gate my team is to assault.
You read my mind Bishop-2. We will deal with the 3 patrols simultaneously at once as well. The barracks team take one, I'll take another and you take the last one. They just changed shifts, so nobody should expect them back anytime soon.
Affirmative Bishop-1, good luck. Bishop-2 out.
I turned and looked at my team.
Commander Black Mamba, Sgt. Zhukov and General Murlance. You 3 are to infiltrate the barracks and make sure that they don't receive any alarms. If that means you kill them all, so be it. Just keep it quiet.
I assume those patrols are going to be dealt with?
Simultaneously once we are in position. It's just a pair per patrol, so you have an edge with 1 more than them.
The General looked uneasy, but I expected that was due to his mistrust of Sgt. Zhukov.
Very well. We will be in contact. Zhukov, Mamba on me.
The group moved swiftly off towards the intended ambush point.
Garland followed me as we layed in wait for the group to pass the main headquarters building.
Off in the distance, I imagined that Capt. Maxwell was preparing to take his patrol.
As we sat waiting for the patrol I could hear them approaching. They were talking about something, obviously trying to stay awake and assuming that they were secure in their ice fortress.
Sgt. Garret Garland drew his plasma pistol and took aim. The called out his target so we wouldn't make the mistake of shooting the same target.
The one on the left is mine sir. I have a bead on his head. On your mark.
Going from three. Ready? 3..2..1..NOW!
Nearly parallell lances of light from plasma pistols slammed into the back of the patrols heads. They died instantly and we quickly hid the bodies to prevent the blood from staining the snow. Once I was satisfied that they were safely tucked away I headed towards the HQ doors.
I stopped briefly to check if anyone heard anything, but it sounded good.
Bishop-1 reporting my patrol is down. Infiltrating the main HQ now.
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Post by Captain Benjamin Maxwell on May 25, 2005 13:07:45 GMT -5
I exhaled a deep breath I didn't even realize I was holding, and slowly opened my eyes. I had fallen about two meters when my footing was lost, and as a result, I was left gazing up at Gunman, Holms Net, and Kintaru. They, two, wthere just beginning to recover from the shock of what they had been convinced was about to be an inevitable and grisly termination of the mission, and Captain Gunman was the first to break the shocked silence.
"Well. That was interesting."
I let out a weary chuckle, and looked down. There, directly in front of my field of view, was yet another mine. To my left - another. Below me, and to the sides - more mines. This had been done intentionally - the spread was such that whoever laid them had anticipated that an intruder would be following this exact route. I began to question the mission profile. Did the Blakists know we were coming? If so, how could they have so perfectly anticipated what our insertion tactics would be? And why weren't they now firing at us?
There seemed to be an ever-increasing quantity of questions with very few answers to go along with them.
"Gentlemen - watch your footing. There's plenty more where that first one came from. I don't like the smell of this."
I squeezed the safety catch on my rappelling line, and continued the slow, ponderous descent into the base. Finally, we reached the tarmac, the black of night still cloaking us in darkness, and the starry canopy above us providing the only illumination we would need.
The steam vent, as well as the DropShip pad, and several other installations, were surrounded by a towering blast wall, and access to the inner sanctums of this fortification was possible only through a controlled access point on the western end of the construct. Although our controlled descent into the base via the glacial wall had allowed us to bypass this feature, Captain Dillenger and his team would require assistance to get through the gate successfully. Breaching the access point was going to be difficult - if not nearly impossible - and we had only one try to get it right.
My penchant for bullets and explosives did not make me the ideal candidate for the task of stealthily "eliminating" the lone guard operating the complex access system, although my background with electronic warfare would come in useful once he had been dispatched.
I looked to Corporal Kintaru.
"Care to do the honors?"
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Post by Captain Benjamin Maxwell on May 25, 2005 13:34:22 GMT -5
EDIT: A map of the above-ground sections of the base is now available. Go here to view it.[/b]
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Post by Lieutenant Kei-teh Kintaru on May 25, 2005 15:05:04 GMT -5
“Care to do the honours?” Maxwell said looking at me. I nodded.
“I will report on radio when I have finished sir” I said, quickly assessing the situation. I ducked into the shadows, creeping forward towards the Gate House where two guards stood on duty. One of the guards was sitting on a small wooden stool drinking a cup of something warm. The other guard stood reading the new “Standing Orders” which presumably contained dossiers on base activities and new prevention tasks. The two guards were talking about the new “bull shit” working routine and how the walking routes for petrol didn’t need to be changed. Ignorant fools.
The light above the sitting guard had had its bulb blown, which gave me more cover within the darkness. He was a podgy man who looked like his gut could stop a few bullets. Perfect for guard duty. Well, he would have been if he wasn’t taking a break on the job. The second guard was very absorbed into his dossiers and hadn’t notice me creep up close to the sitting guard. As the sitting guard took a mouthful of his hot drink I withdrew a small throwing dagger and as he swallowed his last drink, I covered his mouth and piled the dagger into the back of his neck, severing his spinal cord. His body didn’t jolt, he didn’t scream or let out any signs of discomfort and there was very little blood dripping from the imbedded dagger. The standing guard gave out a hearty laugh as he read out a typo by the dossier’s author.
“Phil, check this out: “Those on internal guard duty should be aware of SHIT change!” Don’t they mean SHIFT change?!” He said giving out another booming chortle. After letting out a big sigh looked at Phil.
“Phil? Have u fallen asleep again you knuckle head? What are u going to be like when you have to get used to the new SHIT change?!” He said, letting out another screaming laugh. I wasn’t aware these Blakist fanatics could be such idiots. As the guard closed his eyes and bent forward to add to the “over the top” effect, I launched my body forward and caught him by surprise. Because his laughter had allowed all the air in his lungs to leave I held him in a choke hold till he became drowsy. When he became limp in my arms, I gave a quick jerk snapping his neck instantly. As I began hiding the body within the shadows, next to “Phil”, I single walking patrol man strolled around the corner towards me. Without hesitation I unsheathed “Ryu” and plunged the katana up through the lower jaw until it ejected out of the top of his skull. Terror had filled the young patrol man’s eye. He had just come face to face with the skill of the Kintaru clan. Dragging his body and placing him on my growing pile I glanced quickly at Phil and decided to set up an “illusion”. I arranged his body so that he appeared to be on duty whilst sitting down. This would help lower suspicion. After checking that the coast was clear, I crept over to the Drop Ship Pad to investigate. Luckily the only guards patrolling that area were in the far distance guarding the area around the back of the Drop Ship bay.
I returned back into the darkness at the Gate House and radioed Maxwell, reporting my actions. After an affirmative the rest of the team moved towards my position. I accidentally startled them when I emerged from the shadows. After receiving an angry glare from my fellow team mates and giving an apologetic one of my own, Maxwell gave out our next task…
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Post by Captain Adam "Gunman" Wolf on May 25, 2005 20:59:58 GMT -5
I watched as Corporal Kintaru stealthily slipped towards the guards that were suppose to be on patrol at the time, his form dissappearing into the shadows. I didn't even see him take care of the first guard, and only caught the slight sound of a thud, followed the russle of clothing and a breif snap. I thought I saw minimal signs of movement through the shadows but wasnt sure, that's when I noticed a third guard moving around the corner of the gatehouse, my first thought was to call Kintaru on the comm, but figured it would only distract him as he would be aware of the third guard soon enough.
Just to be certain I raised my MAG-18 and leveled the sights at the guards head, just as a surprised expression jumped across the guards face, I caught the glimpse of steel in the pale light as the Corporal's Katan 'Ryu' found its mark. Admiring for a moment the gracefulness of Kintaru's movement, I watched as the blade and body dissappeared once again into the rather deep shadows. After signalling all clear, the team moved slowly towards the gatehouse, Maxwell on point, I covered the right side around the gatehouse, and Holms Net covered the rear and left sides. A startled gasp caused me to spin around abrubtly and jerk back in a shock at the sudden appeareance of Kintaru beside us.
We lined up against the gatehouse wall in the shadows as I continued to monitor around the corner to where the third guard had come. Watching closely I saw a shadow moving out from the wall from the far side of the gatehouse, leaning back against the wall I said quietly, "Target", into the comm unit mounted in my visor, with a slight shift of my head to indicate direction to those looking. Crouching low I waited til I could hear the soft crunch of boots in the snow before stepping up full and halfway around the corner, the rifle barrel protruding out a little farther and coming into contact with the soft flesh of the unsuspecting guards neck. A moment later I pulled the trigger, the guards neck muffled the sound and masked the muzzle blast as the round blew through his spinal cord and into the sky. Dropping my rifle back down to my side, I grabbed the now limp body with my left arm and dragged him back quickly around the corner, only a slight spatter lay on the ground behind the guard which I easily covered with a short wipe of my foot. Turning back to the other I saw Kintaru crouched low with a throwing dagger in his hand ready to strike should I had failed to eliminate the guard quickly enough. Smiling a bit I carried the body back to the others and disguised it to hide the wound as best as possible.
Retaking my position against the gatehouse wall, I turned back to the others again for a moment and smiled beneath my armoured visor.
Looks like these guys may have been a bit late for their shift change. We should take out the gatehouse before too long. They'll be wondering why the last shift hasn't checked out yet.
Doing a quick glance over the building as best as I could from our vantage point, I could see what appeared to be hinged skylights along the angled roof, turning back to Maxwell I said.
Do you think one of us could get to the roof and silently drop in from the sky lights when we enter? They appear hinged so we wouldn't have to break the glass.
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Post by Dr. Jessica Saturina on May 25, 2005 21:23:24 GMT -5
Commander Black Mamba, Sgt. Zhukov and General Murlance. You 3 are to infiltrate the barracks and make sure that they don't receive any alarms. If that means you kill them all, so be it. Just keep it quiet.
I assume those patrols are going to be dealt with?
Simultaneously once we are in position. It's just a pair per patrol, so you have an edge with 1 more than them.
Standing alert as Captain Dillenger and General Murlance exchanged words. Egar to get going, not wanting to waste any time, I quickly went into action when I heard General Murlance say
Very well. We will be in contact. Zhukov, Mamba on me.
Quickly falling into step with the General we hurried to our post. As we got closer we all moved quietly, taking cover where ever we could. We all ducked behind a conduit against a wall. We seen the patrol coming our way, we would have to act quickly not to be spotted or to cause a commotion.
Bishop-5 to Bishop-4 secured channel please General
Bishop-4, whats up?
General I have an idea, can you and Zhukov handle taking out the guards? If I can get to that Security Terminal just behind them I can cause a delay that would further our efforts.
No problem Bishop-5, be careful, Bishop-4 out.
I saw the General exhanging words and hand signals with Zhukov, I watched as they each took out a plasma pistol, aiming at the guards coming right at us, together they fired and the guards went down like a rock. The General and Zhukov scrambeled out, grabing the bodies and dragging them to a near by waste unit chute that would lead to the incinerator.
I scrambled past all of them quickly making my way to the security terminal. With a few little tricks I was taught long ago I was in quickly, hit some buttons and codes, and in one swoop, the barracks, and unfortunately a few other places near Captain Dillenger and Captain Maxwell's locations, were sealed shut in a local lockdown, appearing to the Blakists like a system malfunction. No getting in, no getting out. However. it was only a temporary thing. I ran back to where the General was.
All is good General, what now Sir?
Touched up your post to fix some of the color codes that didn't turn on for clarity. - LeatherNeck
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Post by Star Captain Killian Bekker on May 26, 2005 8:16:02 GMT -5
All teams had signaled that their patrols were dead and that they were making their way to their secondary objectives.
I entered the main headquarters building and as Lt. Garland tried to enter the doors locked preventing him from entering and leaving us both unable to help the other if trouble should arise.
Shit, this is Bishop-9, it seems the base is in lockdown now and I can't get in. Bishop-1 is stuck on the other side.
Bishop-9, this is Bishop-2, say that again? The base is in a lockdown? Did anyone trigger an alarm?
Negative Bishop-2, unless the barrracks team did. If this shows up at all, the base will know somethings is up when those patrols don't check in for a status confirmation of the lockdown.
Damn...
This is Bishop-1, alright let's figure this out. Barracks team, what is your status?
A long pause that lasted several seconds passed which worried me. As I went to key up, I heard the channel open.
This is Bishop-5, I did the lockdown. It's only temperary. I didn't think it would affect you.
I tried to contain my rage. Her careless action not only endangered our mission, but it also meant that the soldiers in the barracks were still capable of fighting.
I regained my composure and keyed up.
Bishop-4, I specifically ordered you to take care of the barracks and barracks only. Not only have you allowed the mission to be endangered, but you disobeyed MY orders. MY instructions were to silence the barracks, not lockdown the base. Do you not remember that there were other teams securing objectives?
Silence hung on the radio net for nearly a minute before anyone keyed up.
This is Bishop-2...
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Post by General John "Aegis" Murlance on May 26, 2005 8:44:31 GMT -5
"This is Bishop 2...we're going to need some time, Commander. This has - "
I switched my radio off, and pulled Mamba aside, so as not to be overheard by the rest of the squad.
"Well done, Commander."
Commander Black Mamba looked slightly aghast.
"I thought this would fall within reasonable mission parameters - I had no idea that he would react so - strongly."
"No matter. You did exactly what you needed to do - with Dillenger separated from his squad, and the base locked down, this will buy us some time before we have to report back in. This was a brilliant move on your part. He won't suspect anything other than gross negligence - and that's hardly anything to worry about coming from a low-level roughneck such as himself."
I walked over to the terminal that Mamba had used to secure the structure. Incredibly, the unit offered full security access to the entire above-ground network - including the thresher cannons, locking systems, surveillance equipment, and more. It begged to be explored.
"Commander...whether you meant to or not...I believe you've just given us a serious advantage."
With a few deft keystrokes, I had the base's tactical maps pulled up. From this vantage point, I was actually able to see Commander Dillenger and his team working to find a way to drop the blast doors which had sealed them off from each other. I had the option of dropping them myself...but I wasn't going to. Yet.
I scanned quickly through the various above-ground surveillance cameras. I couldn't access the below-ground network, but this was better than nothing.
"What are you looking for, sir?" Mamba inquired, coming to peer over my shoulder.
"I'm looking for an alternate route into the lower echelons of this...pit. One that can allow us to be conveniently 'separated' from Dillenger's squad when the time comes."
Mamba didn't immediately respond.
"With all due respect...are you sure this is the right course of action, sir?"
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Post by Captain Benjamin Maxwell on May 26, 2005 8:58:32 GMT -5
"This is Bishop 2...we're going to need some time to re-assess. This has really put us in a bind over here."
A bind, indeed. The moment the "lockdown" klaxon sounded, the gatehouse's ferrosteel doors slammed shut, sealing the bodies of the deceased guards inside, but keeping us out, which wouldn't have been such an issue, had the new alert condition not also meant that a series of thresher cannons were now deploying from concealed hatches across the base's tarmac.
"Damnit. Take cover!" I barked, grabbing Sergeant Holms Net by the shoulder and pulling him behind one of the guardhouse's shielded walls as the cannon's targeting lasers began sweeping the courtyard, searching for active targets. The sound of the turret's RP-32 autocannon racking its ammunition bins only served as yet another grim reminder that this had gotten very bad.
"Bishop-1, this is Bishop-2. We're a little tied up here! Let me get back to you!"
I pulled a spider bomb from my bandolier and armed it. As its four spindly legs descended from its circular casing, I prayed I wouldn't have to deploy it.
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Nicholas Schuster
Regular
DECEASED
"Blakists are like a virus. And WE are the cure."
Posts: 139
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Post by Nicholas Schuster on May 26, 2005 12:53:09 GMT -5
Meanwhile...
Klaxons echoed through the facility's corridors, and frenzied shouts reverberated off the conduit's thick walls as I made my way to a T-intersection where I would be able to more easily breach the security grid. This was not good. If the occupants suspected anything was going on, it would signal the end of my mission profile - and most likely, my life. This could not be allowed to pass.
Speeding up my crawl, I worked my way to the data junction where I quickly stabbed a splitter pin into its trunk line. Connecting the device to my wrist computer, I fervently bypassed the LAN's lockouts. In a matter of moments, I was in. Accessing the main control interface for the security grid, I located the source of the alarms. The above-ground barracks, headquarters, and a number of other buildings had been thrust into a lockdown mode by a manual command. There were no Blakists on-scene that had responded to the call, and a quick scan of the surveillance cameras on-scene revealed the reason for this.
A group of dark-clothed figures, nearly invisible against the night sky, huddled behind the main gate house that allowed access to the inner courtyard of the base. They were currently being suppressed by an array of bloodthirsty automated thresher cannons that hunted any targets not emitting a 'friendly' signal.
Interesting...
I cycled through several more cameras. The guards posted in the gatehouse were missing - probably dead. Blood spattered across the console at which they once sat favored the theory. The barracks revealed something interesting - and unsettling. There were more shadowy figures milling about in the control cab attached to the building - one of whom was browsing through various screens on an unattended terminal. A closer zoom on his uniform revealed no rank insignia, nor identifying emblems.
This rules out Blakist insurgents...the Word never hesitates to display the Hand wherever they're raping and pillaging.
I toggled through several more camera views. What I saw next caused my breath to catch in my throat.
No! It CAN'T be!
I zoomed the camera to its maximum enhancement. The man's identity was undeniable. There was no avoiding it. There, before me, tracing contours against a wall in an effort to find an escape from the now-sealed headquarters building, was Joseph Dillenger.
I tore my communicator from its holster, and established a secured tight-beam uplink to the transport that hid in the electromagnetic distortions of the planet's upper ionosphere.
"Rhebus calling Omicron."
"Omicron. What is your status, Rhebus? You were instructed not to break radio silence unless your objectives had been completed."
"Please advise Daedalus that subject Sigma-6 is on-planet. "
There was a pause, and the sound of static hissing in my headset punctuated the long silence.
"Daedalus advises you are instructed to stand down and await further instruction."
"Understood. Target 'Gateway' is in alert status. Request permission to rectify situation before standing down."
"Approved, Rebus. Rectify and stand down pending further instruction. Omicron out."
I toggled the comm channel off and cursed silently. This was not a good situation to be stuck in. I was now powerless to do anything except deactivate the base's security grid and smooth things over with the SitRep computers until Commander Wayne advised otherwise.
Essentially, I was trapped.
With a few quick keyboard commands, I instructed the base's A.I. to stand down from 'lockdown' status, convincing it that a shorted relay had triggered the alert. The autocannons tucked away, and the buildings that had been secured were unlocked.
Every building except the barracks.
I didn't know why the female intruder decided to lock the base's commandos in their barracks. Although they had been sleeping at the time, the lockdown alert jolted them from their slumber and caused pandemonium to ensue within, particularly when they discovered they couldn't leave their squad bay. Fortunately, the lockdown also disabled all internal communication except as permitted from the control cab, and this worked to my advantage. I couldn't permit the commandos to make an escape from their building to alert their commanders that their base was being infiltrated - I didn't care about the well-being of the intruders - but my own well-being and the interests of the mission were at stake if I didn't act.
Accessing the APP-4400 Vetron unit's control interface was laughably easy. The two-ton combat servomech, heavily-armored, and designed for both independent search and destroy, as well as remotely-controlled missions, was one of the most effective autonomous anti-personnel platforms in general use. Armed with an RP-32 gun mount, as well as low-yield rocket-propelled grenades, the Vetron was capable of laying waste to entire Companies of infantry in a very short period of time.
And that was what it was about to do.
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Post by General John "Aegis" Murlance on May 26, 2005 13:06:36 GMT -5
The roar of autocannon fire, and the gentle 'thud' of a low-yield RPG detonating, coupled with a number of bloodcurdling screams audible across the security monitors, interrupted my train of thought. My attention was jerked back to the screens laid out before me, and what I saw taking place caused the blood to drain from my face.
A large, brutish-looking security servomech had entered the squad bay where the commandos were attempting to break free. Before any of them had had a chance to react to its presence, the droid opened fire, mowing down every last man in the bay with its unforgiving autocannon fire. The droid then fired several rocket-propelled grenades into the center of the carnage, dispatching whatever might have survived its initial onslaught. It then stomped out of the squad bay, returning to its docking alcove, and powering down.
The 'click' of the barracks' doors unlocking punctuated the end of this grisly scene. I stood in shocked silence for a moment before I was able to mutter a coherent sentence.
"Ahem...well then...that was most certainly...unexpected."
I glanced at Commander Black Mamba.
"I've downloaded the route to my noteputer. I suggest we find Captain Dillenger and remain with him until the time comes."
"Aren't we going to advise him of...this?" Mamba inquired, gesturing toward the monitors.
"No, we most certainly are not. The Captains will be told only what they need to know - nothing more. And at this time, Captain Dillenger does not need to know about this."
With that, we exited the barracks, Sergeant Zhukov in tow, to rendezvous with Commander Dillenger.
I had a horrendous feeling in the pit of my stomach - and it wasn't because of what I'd seen.
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Post by MechWarrior Sergei Zhukov on May 26, 2005 16:14:04 GMT -5
The past few minutes went by in a blur. Somehow, the base went into a lockdown and then as soon as it started the base went back to normal. I passed it off as some sort of ill timed computer glitch, but this mission was beginning to have a little too many of those to be mere coincidences.
I had a feeling that the General had something to do with this, but I decided that if he was behind this, it was better that I said nothing and didn't have an "accident".
Bishop-1, Barracks team is enroute to your position.
Very well, I take that you resolved the little mishap?
...Yes. The barracks has been dealt with.
Good. Bishop-1 out.
I knew something was up now. Both Commander Mamba and the General were outside the whole time. If they turned the base security system on the Blakists, that was certainly not the initial idea it appeared. Regardless, I got the feeling that something just wasn't right and they were willing to do it at our lives expense if need be.
...and there's the problem of resolving where my loyalties are.
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Post by Dr. Jessica Saturina on May 26, 2005 20:15:47 GMT -5
Listening to what was being said on the radio, what I did with the terminal helped things in respect to the Generals efforts. Then I heard Captain Dillenger say
This is Bishop-1, alright let's figure this out. Barracks team, what is your status
I paused for a moment This is Bishop-5, I did the lockdown. It's only temperary. I didn't think it would affect you.
Then I heard Captain Dillenger address the General in a low angry voiceBishop-4, I specifically ordered you to take care of the barracks and barracks only. Not only have you allowed the mission to be endangered, but you disobeyed MY orders. MY instructions were to silence the barracks, not lockdown the base. Do you not remember that there were other teams securing objectives?
The General pulled me over close, saying"Well done, Commander." I had a shocked/worried look on my faceI thought this would fall within reasonable mission parameters - I had no idea that he would react so - strongly
"No matter. You did exactly what you needed to do - with Dillenger separated from his squad, and the base locked down, this will buy us some time before we have to report back in. This was a brilliant move on your part. He won't suspect anything other than gross negligence - and that's hardly anything to worry about coming from a low-level roughneck such as himself."
Looking at the General with a funny questioning look on my face, thinking that was an odd way for him to describe Captain Dillenger. Then I watched him walk to the Security terminal.
"Commander...whether you meant to or not...I believe you've just given us a serious advantage."
I followed behind the General, walking back to the secruity terminal, looking over his shoulder. What are you looking for Sir?
I'm looking for an alternate route into the lower echelons of this...pit. One that can allow us to be conveniently 'separated' from Dillenger's squad when the time comes."
At first I didn't know what to say to that, but then. With all due respect...are you sure this is the right course of action, sir?
I was really begining to feel uneasy about all of this. I wanted desperately to remain loyal to the General, but did not expect what I did to put any of our team mates lives in danger. I didn't know how the General felt about that, but I was not willing to risk anyones lives but the Blakist dogs. Then my attention was brought back to the terminal. The General and I watched as a large security droid, quickly and deftly, without a hesitation, took out all of the commandos in their barracks. "Ahem...well then...that was most certainly...unexpected." I was thinking that was an understatement, but it certainly took care of our barracks problem
"I've downloaded the route to my noteputer. I suggest we find Captain Dillenger and remain with him until the time comes."
Aren't we going to advise him of...this?
"No, we most certainly are not. The Captains will be told only what they need to know - nothing more, and at this time, Captain Dillenger does not need to know about this
I followed General Murlance as he motioned to Zhukov, and left the barracks to find Captain Dillenger. I was not feeling as good about what I had done as I first did. The consequences of what I had done were unexpected. I liked being able to help the General, but I would not jepordize the lives of the group we were suppose to be working with. I was going to have to find the right time to discuss this with the General.
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Post by Captain Benjamin Maxwell on May 27, 2005 13:10:52 GMT -5
The pandemonium ended as quickly as it began. The turrets folded down into the tarmac, the klaxons silenced, and the subtle 'click' of locking mechanisms throughout the base disengaging signaled the abrupt end to what was beginning to look like a dire situation.
I de-activated the spider bomb, and pulled myself to my feet, performing a quick head count before cautiously moving into the open again.
The steam vent was only a few yards away, and the coast was clear the whole distance. It was now or never.
With a wave of my arm, the team fell in, and we made our way across the tarmac. The steam vent was set into a large, rectangular cinder block and ferrocrete shield, topped by a removable metal grate. As soon as we arrived at the construct, I signaled Captain Dillenger.
"Bishop-2 to Bishop-1...we have arrived at Nav Gamma. Beginning insertion."
The grate, though undefended by automatic emplacements, still bore a monitor that needed to be bypassed. Removing several electronic warfare devices from my pack, I began setting up my bypass computer atop the grate.
At that moment, a dull hissing began to slice through the air beneath us. The air began to feel thick and humid, and I pulled away from the vent just moments before a thick plume of steam erupted from the vent, melting the casing of the micro-computer which sat atop it, and sending heat ripples through the frigid air as the cloud dissapated.
"Bishop-2 to Bishop-1 - I thought this vent was supposed to be inactive!"
"It is supposed to be, Bishop-2."
"Then somebody's intel was flawed...or the Blakists have decided to build a spa."
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