Post by subdigital on Jun 1, 2014 2:52:36 GMT
{Prologue}“Dad! Why do we have to go! You told me we were going to do something fun!” A young boy said from the backseat of a hover car. His hair nicely combed back still wet from all the manipulation his mother has done to it. The boy was wearing a black suit and tie, fitted just for him, courtesy of his mother one again. Constantly messing and playing with his tie since the start of the ride Ryan was not at all interested in going to this “important party”, no matter how many other kids his age were going to be there. From the front seat his mother peaked around, her blond hair covering half her face she quickly fixed it and looked at him.. “Ryan, I told you five times already, this is a very important party for your father.” She said slowly, trying to get her point across. “He just got home from his business trip, just in time for his family reunion. Its been three years since your father has seen his father darling.” Ryan grumpily sat back in his seat, Dad goes on these business trips all the time, I never see him! And when I do we go do stupid things! Jack thought to himself.
Looking out the side of his window were nothing but houses, trees and then more houses. The house they were heading to had a pool, Ryan heard his dad talking to his mother about it, sadly it was a professional party, no time for swimming or play. Ryan wondered why he even had to come. When the car finally came to a stop a intersection the young boy continued to look out his window, still partially angry at his mother and father. Down the road a big dumpster truck was heading towards the intersection extremely fast. Ryan didn't think anything of it until he realized it wasn't heading past the intersection, it was heading towards him. The boy wanted to scream, “”Look out Dad!” but by the time he thought about it all that escaped his young lips were, “lo,”.
Quickly the hover car spun around, moving almost as if it had been glued to the front of the truck. Ryan passed in and out of consciousness during the crash. His head felt like it was being stomped on repeatedly by someone. When he finally did open his eyes there was a small puddle of red water in front of him. A young boys hand was on top, a clear shard of glass stuck inside of the hand. When Ryan tried to move his arm he quickly came to realize it was his own. The pain forced a scream too come out but no sound came, he was too weak to speak. Somehow he was outside the car and on the pavement, the heat warmed his body as he tried to move. More pain came rushing through his entire body and quickly he stopped. Two masked men came into view carrying something, he soon realized it was someone. The two men dropped down the body onto the ground to Ryan's left. Blond hair, now with a shade of red, covered the face but it didn't take Ryan long to realize who it was. Next the men went and dragged out another body, this time the man was moving, slightly. Ryan watched as the men flipped his father onto his back, blood covered his black suit as he groaned in pain.
One of the men spoke, “From fire and blood, winds and sky. The lord now asks if you shall die.” Then the second man spoke, “For now your judgement calls. To see if you shall once more stand tall.” The first man pulled out a small gun from behind his back and then said softly, “Judgment called and here you stand,” the second man flipped something that looked like a coin and showed it to the first, “to forever work in his land.” The first man raised his hand and fired his gun at Ryan's father. Stepping over the body the two now walked over to Ryan standing above him they aimed there gun and fired.
Looking out the side of his window were nothing but houses, trees and then more houses. The house they were heading to had a pool, Ryan heard his dad talking to his mother about it, sadly it was a professional party, no time for swimming or play. Ryan wondered why he even had to come. When the car finally came to a stop a intersection the young boy continued to look out his window, still partially angry at his mother and father. Down the road a big dumpster truck was heading towards the intersection extremely fast. Ryan didn't think anything of it until he realized it wasn't heading past the intersection, it was heading towards him. The boy wanted to scream, “”Look out Dad!” but by the time he thought about it all that escaped his young lips were, “lo,”.
Quickly the hover car spun around, moving almost as if it had been glued to the front of the truck. Ryan passed in and out of consciousness during the crash. His head felt like it was being stomped on repeatedly by someone. When he finally did open his eyes there was a small puddle of red water in front of him. A young boys hand was on top, a clear shard of glass stuck inside of the hand. When Ryan tried to move his arm he quickly came to realize it was his own. The pain forced a scream too come out but no sound came, he was too weak to speak. Somehow he was outside the car and on the pavement, the heat warmed his body as he tried to move. More pain came rushing through his entire body and quickly he stopped. Two masked men came into view carrying something, he soon realized it was someone. The two men dropped down the body onto the ground to Ryan's left. Blond hair, now with a shade of red, covered the face but it didn't take Ryan long to realize who it was. Next the men went and dragged out another body, this time the man was moving, slightly. Ryan watched as the men flipped his father onto his back, blood covered his black suit as he groaned in pain.
One of the men spoke, “From fire and blood, winds and sky. The lord now asks if you shall die.” Then the second man spoke, “For now your judgement calls. To see if you shall once more stand tall.” The first man pulled out a small gun from behind his back and then said softly, “Judgment called and here you stand,” the second man flipped something that looked like a coin and showed it to the first, “to forever work in his land.” The first man raised his hand and fired his gun at Ryan's father. Stepping over the body the two now walked over to Ryan standing above him they aimed there gun and fired.
{Chapter 1, Elina}“Elina please! You told me if I needed help, I could call you.” Jake paced around the apartment, his face reddening the longer he talked with Elina. “I mean. You even told me you were going to help, now suddenly some random message on your PDA and you have to go! Did the god damm director of NT call you down to come kiss his ass?”
If you only you knew. Elina sighed as she grabbed her jacket from the chair she was sitting at. “I do have a job to do Jake, I can't go around fixing your problems for you all the time, yes. You owe money to a gangster, what do you want me to do? Go kick his ass untill he can't walk, someone else will just go and take his place and want even more money than before.” It was clear to her nothing she said would get through to him. A cleaning bot buzzed at her feet and she quietly moved to the side.
“You promised me you would help!”
“Yes, you told me four times already. I gave you my advice, skip town and lay low for a bit. He wont send anyone after you if he doesn't know where you are.”
“...you promised you would help!” Elina gave another sigh and held up her hands in defeat, she could so something for him at least. “Alright, alright. How about I give a call to a guy I know, he owes me a favour. He can help you with this.”
“I guess thats alright.”
“No, it is alright. Its more than I should be giving you.” She pulled her arms through the sleves of the white jacket, buttoning it up she gave a quick look in the mirror rested on the wall. Her white suit and pants on display, the sleeves along with the seams of her pants all pressed nicely. The tailor did a good job, shame I will have to change soon. Her PDA gave a small vibrate in her pocket. While walking out the door of the apartment she checked the message, Are you on your way? P wants you in the briefing room in five hours. We got a possible security breach its important. Dont be late -B. Quickly she sent back a reply and began to make her way to the nearest spaceport were her ship was docked. A taxi picked Elina up and was on its way to her destination. Scrolling through the contact list to the C’s eventually the name she needed came up.
“Hey its me,” Quietly Elina waited for the reply. “You know how you owe me that favour, I got something for you. A friend of mine is having trouble with a local loan shark. How fast can you be at New Gibson?” The taxi driver looked back at her then quickly diverted his eyes back to moving the vehicle. “Alright, thanks Ciro.” Quietly she hung up the phone, wondering what awaited her on the Osedda.
If you only you knew. Elina sighed as she grabbed her jacket from the chair she was sitting at. “I do have a job to do Jake, I can't go around fixing your problems for you all the time, yes. You owe money to a gangster, what do you want me to do? Go kick his ass untill he can't walk, someone else will just go and take his place and want even more money than before.” It was clear to her nothing she said would get through to him. A cleaning bot buzzed at her feet and she quietly moved to the side.
“You promised me you would help!”
“Yes, you told me four times already. I gave you my advice, skip town and lay low for a bit. He wont send anyone after you if he doesn't know where you are.”
“...you promised you would help!” Elina gave another sigh and held up her hands in defeat, she could so something for him at least. “Alright, alright. How about I give a call to a guy I know, he owes me a favour. He can help you with this.”
“I guess thats alright.”
“No, it is alright. Its more than I should be giving you.” She pulled her arms through the sleves of the white jacket, buttoning it up she gave a quick look in the mirror rested on the wall. Her white suit and pants on display, the sleeves along with the seams of her pants all pressed nicely. The tailor did a good job, shame I will have to change soon. Her PDA gave a small vibrate in her pocket. While walking out the door of the apartment she checked the message, Are you on your way? P wants you in the briefing room in five hours. We got a possible security breach its important. Dont be late -B. Quickly she sent back a reply and began to make her way to the nearest spaceport were her ship was docked. A taxi picked Elina up and was on its way to her destination. Scrolling through the contact list to the C’s eventually the name she needed came up.
“Hey its me,” Quietly Elina waited for the reply. “You know how you owe me that favour, I got something for you. A friend of mine is having trouble with a local loan shark. How fast can you be at New Gibson?” The taxi driver looked back at her then quickly diverted his eyes back to moving the vehicle. “Alright, thanks Ciro.” Quietly she hung up the phone, wondering what awaited her on the Osedda.
{Chapter ll Elina}
“On course to dock with the Osedda Mistress, confirmation code sent over secure channels. The Principal wishes for me to welcome you back to base and asks for you to report to sub level B, section 8 briefing room 1.” Elina nodded to her robot Evon. Its blue colored eyes returned back to piloting the ship. “Do you wish for this unit to stay with the vessel while you are aboard the Osedda?
“Yes Evon, that would be helpful. Any messages just forward them to my PDA. How long before we land?”
“Approximately fifteen minutes Mistress.” Outside the cockpit of her ship was the Frigate known as the Odessa. The sheer size of the ship always impressed Elina. The Odessa was the number one arsenal that NT intelligence had at its back, a mobile command center for all actions that could move from system to system if need be. Turning around Elina walked down the steps leading from the cockpit, to the rest of the ship. The main room was in front of her, fit with a desk used for maps, planning, communication and anything else that may be needed. As the table was not needed at the moment, Elina ignored and walked past it. A quick turn down the right hallway lead her into the captains room, her room. Inside she changed into her uniform. The civilians clothes were fine back on New Gibson but heading back to the Odessa a proper uniform was needed. The typical NanoTrasen colors filled the uniform. She tucked her tank top into her pants before tightening her belt. Her uniform still sat on the side of the bed. Elina would have to roll up the sleeves and place her ranks on before the ship docked.
Roughly fourteen minutes later, Elina came walking out fully dressed in her uniform. Their ship would be docking any moment now on the Odessa, she pulled her sunglasses over her eyes and the HUD scanner began working. In the top right corner appeared a digital picture of Evon. “HUD and headset linked correctly mistress, we are now fully docked. The Odessa has sent Chief Gregorin to escort you to your location, he is waiting outside.” With that the picture left her hud, returning to basic functions.
Chief Gregorin walked across the landing pad to Elina, stopping to give her a salute. “Ma’am, welcome aboard.” Elina returned the salute and walked with him into the main corridors of the Odessa. She knew where to go, but he she didn't care if this man was coming with her. “I heard about your operation back on New London Ma’am, fantastic work.” The blue and black corridors left a bleak atmosphere all around the ship. While agents walking back and forth with no expression didn't really help either.
tilted her head, was this man being for real, “I believe that operation is classified Chief, I don't know what your talking about.” Gregorin simply nodded and continued walking. A security checkpoint was approaching. Two guards stood on each side of the door. Armor across there chest along with a rifle hold in both hands. When Elina and the Chief approached the guard on her left held out a scanner and cleared her for entrance. When Gregorin tried to follow suit the two held out there hands. “No, its -its alright I am to see here through this door and to briefing room one.” Gregorin said, as if it was some high honor.
Elina gave him a puzzled look as the door began to automatically seal, “What door Chief?” It didn't take too much longer to find the briefing room. They all looked the same anyway, a table, chairs, and usually a bunch of people all around them. Except briefing rooms usually was not filled with two of the most senior agents and the Principle. The Principle was the man in charge of NTSS, it wasn't unusual for him to be involved in briefing yet there was always something to say about the operation that got even his attention. “Welcome, First Lt.Fenicha, senior field agent.” A robotic voice said from the side of the room, the Principle’s bodyguard, known as the Arbiter. “Please, sit down.”
“Hello Sir” Elina said as she took a seat at the table. Too her right sat a operative she had never seen before, on her left was Operations officer, Neil Corcuera. Neil wore a uniform, just like everyone else on the ship, and had sleek black hair neatly combed back. He spends more time on that hair then he does on information, Elina thought to herself before looking across the table at the Principal. He was an older man, some grey hair was showing but he still looked as if he could easily run two miles and not break a sweat. “Shall we get started?” Elina asked.
“Lets,” Neil began, “Agent Fenicha, this is Agent Marco I know for a fact you two haven't met but I know you both well enough that will get a long. Now the reason we are here today is to discuss the possible intelligence breach.” His hand went down and touched a button on the table. Instantly the table shot out a hologram of files, pictures and other documents. Neil navigated around to a file named Mark Kingston. Elina didn't recognize the name. Moving his hands apart this file opened and papers moved around the holographic image. “Mr. Kingston was the regional officer for all operations in the Tau Ceti system ten years ago, the man was an agent before that. He has been involved in numerous activities for this agency, and 18 hours ago him, his wife, and son were killed.”
A video came up playing the death of the three. A car slammed into another and two men quickly got out and murdered all three. “What did they do at the end there? Flip a coin?” Agent Marco asked. Elina wondered the same thing as well.
Neil continued, “The flipping of the coin is a common MO for the terrorist group, A Cult of Shadows. Until now they have been low end stuff. Gun running, forgery, all small grade stuff. Never an assassination. Now, this video wasnt picked up from a camera or a satellite. It was sent to us, by the Cult of Shadows.”
Elina leaned forward in her seat, looking at the image of the three murdered victims. “How is this a security breach?” She questioned, already knowing the answer herself it seemed.
“After they killed him every hard drive, storage device, anything holding a lick of information in his home was sucked out and placed into a small compact disk. Our engineers don't know of any kind of device that could do that.” Neil finished saying, the Principle continued to sit in his chair, watching the ordeal go on. “There is one more thing, this wasn't the only thing sent to us.” A few motions with his hand and a piece of paper came up with the words, “Meet us at the west side river bar on Biesel.”
“Well its obviously a trap.” Agent Marco said calmly, “I take it we are still going there though?”
“Did you believe I called you two here because I like you?” The Principal said as he stood up from his chair. “You two are to report to the handlers on Biesel, follow this lead. I want to know how far it goes, learn what you can about this...Cult of Shadows and destroy them. Nobody kills our people and walks away alive. These people want to draw us out they are getting a full on welcome mat.” Elina and Marco exchanged a quick glance at each other before nodding to the Principle.
Well, I have been asking for a vacation.
“On course to dock with the Osedda Mistress, confirmation code sent over secure channels. The Principal wishes for me to welcome you back to base and asks for you to report to sub level B, section 8 briefing room 1.” Elina nodded to her robot Evon. Its blue colored eyes returned back to piloting the ship. “Do you wish for this unit to stay with the vessel while you are aboard the Osedda?
“Yes Evon, that would be helpful. Any messages just forward them to my PDA. How long before we land?”
“Approximately fifteen minutes Mistress.” Outside the cockpit of her ship was the Frigate known as the Odessa. The sheer size of the ship always impressed Elina. The Odessa was the number one arsenal that NT intelligence had at its back, a mobile command center for all actions that could move from system to system if need be. Turning around Elina walked down the steps leading from the cockpit, to the rest of the ship. The main room was in front of her, fit with a desk used for maps, planning, communication and anything else that may be needed. As the table was not needed at the moment, Elina ignored and walked past it. A quick turn down the right hallway lead her into the captains room, her room. Inside she changed into her uniform. The civilians clothes were fine back on New Gibson but heading back to the Odessa a proper uniform was needed. The typical NanoTrasen colors filled the uniform. She tucked her tank top into her pants before tightening her belt. Her uniform still sat on the side of the bed. Elina would have to roll up the sleeves and place her ranks on before the ship docked.
Roughly fourteen minutes later, Elina came walking out fully dressed in her uniform. Their ship would be docking any moment now on the Odessa, she pulled her sunglasses over her eyes and the HUD scanner began working. In the top right corner appeared a digital picture of Evon. “HUD and headset linked correctly mistress, we are now fully docked. The Odessa has sent Chief Gregorin to escort you to your location, he is waiting outside.” With that the picture left her hud, returning to basic functions.
Chief Gregorin walked across the landing pad to Elina, stopping to give her a salute. “Ma’am, welcome aboard.” Elina returned the salute and walked with him into the main corridors of the Odessa. She knew where to go, but he she didn't care if this man was coming with her. “I heard about your operation back on New London Ma’am, fantastic work.” The blue and black corridors left a bleak atmosphere all around the ship. While agents walking back and forth with no expression didn't really help either.
tilted her head, was this man being for real, “I believe that operation is classified Chief, I don't know what your talking about.” Gregorin simply nodded and continued walking. A security checkpoint was approaching. Two guards stood on each side of the door. Armor across there chest along with a rifle hold in both hands. When Elina and the Chief approached the guard on her left held out a scanner and cleared her for entrance. When Gregorin tried to follow suit the two held out there hands. “No, its -its alright I am to see here through this door and to briefing room one.” Gregorin said, as if it was some high honor.
Elina gave him a puzzled look as the door began to automatically seal, “What door Chief?” It didn't take too much longer to find the briefing room. They all looked the same anyway, a table, chairs, and usually a bunch of people all around them. Except briefing rooms usually was not filled with two of the most senior agents and the Principle. The Principle was the man in charge of NTSS, it wasn't unusual for him to be involved in briefing yet there was always something to say about the operation that got even his attention. “Welcome, First Lt.Fenicha, senior field agent.” A robotic voice said from the side of the room, the Principle’s bodyguard, known as the Arbiter. “Please, sit down.”
“Hello Sir” Elina said as she took a seat at the table. Too her right sat a operative she had never seen before, on her left was Operations officer, Neil Corcuera. Neil wore a uniform, just like everyone else on the ship, and had sleek black hair neatly combed back. He spends more time on that hair then he does on information, Elina thought to herself before looking across the table at the Principal. He was an older man, some grey hair was showing but he still looked as if he could easily run two miles and not break a sweat. “Shall we get started?” Elina asked.
“Lets,” Neil began, “Agent Fenicha, this is Agent Marco I know for a fact you two haven't met but I know you both well enough that will get a long. Now the reason we are here today is to discuss the possible intelligence breach.” His hand went down and touched a button on the table. Instantly the table shot out a hologram of files, pictures and other documents. Neil navigated around to a file named Mark Kingston. Elina didn't recognize the name. Moving his hands apart this file opened and papers moved around the holographic image. “Mr. Kingston was the regional officer for all operations in the Tau Ceti system ten years ago, the man was an agent before that. He has been involved in numerous activities for this agency, and 18 hours ago him, his wife, and son were killed.”
A video came up playing the death of the three. A car slammed into another and two men quickly got out and murdered all three. “What did they do at the end there? Flip a coin?” Agent Marco asked. Elina wondered the same thing as well.
Neil continued, “The flipping of the coin is a common MO for the terrorist group, A Cult of Shadows. Until now they have been low end stuff. Gun running, forgery, all small grade stuff. Never an assassination. Now, this video wasnt picked up from a camera or a satellite. It was sent to us, by the Cult of Shadows.”
Elina leaned forward in her seat, looking at the image of the three murdered victims. “How is this a security breach?” She questioned, already knowing the answer herself it seemed.
“After they killed him every hard drive, storage device, anything holding a lick of information in his home was sucked out and placed into a small compact disk. Our engineers don't know of any kind of device that could do that.” Neil finished saying, the Principle continued to sit in his chair, watching the ordeal go on. “There is one more thing, this wasn't the only thing sent to us.” A few motions with his hand and a piece of paper came up with the words, “Meet us at the west side river bar on Biesel.”
“Well its obviously a trap.” Agent Marco said calmly, “I take it we are still going there though?”
“Did you believe I called you two here because I like you?” The Principal said as he stood up from his chair. “You two are to report to the handlers on Biesel, follow this lead. I want to know how far it goes, learn what you can about this...Cult of Shadows and destroy them. Nobody kills our people and walks away alive. These people want to draw us out they are getting a full on welcome mat.” Elina and Marco exchanged a quick glance at each other before nodding to the Principle.
Well, I have been asking for a vacation.
