Angel of Death
Posted on Tue Apr 19th, 2016 @ 3:57pm by 2nd Lieutenant Scooter Porkinsky
Mission:
Brave New World
Location: Nameless ship, Nameless asteroid.
Timeline: In the dark of the endless night.
[ON]
The ambiance fit the darkness of the negotiation underway. A woman wearing obscuring attire stood before a small table. Behind it sat a man who brought his nameless ship here to a nameless asteroid to negotiate a transaction. She set a payment before him, "Half now, half after the kill is confirmed."
The man stared at the payment. He wasn't worried about risks or consequences, but he felt obliged to warn, "Assassinating a Starfleet Captain can end up being very expensive. You realize that they might come to me seeking a contract for your life?"
"I don't care. I want her dead, and I want her to die in the most agonizing way possible."
He nodded, "I don't think that will be a problem. I don't even think that it would be avoidable. So be it." He picked up the payment and departed with his bodyguards.
One week later, infiltrators stealthed through high security facility Brilayus V. They waited as a roaming security guard registered at inspection points. Aware that cameras recorded everything, he was careful in subtly attaching a translucent sabotage device. He presented himself for biometric identification and then proceeded through the security door. On the other side, he pinched a tiny capsule under his skin. A dose of short term memory erasure and paralysis drug spilled into his system. It would look like he had been taken down by an expert shot.
Minutes after he departed, an indicator blinked in the infiltrators' eyes-up displays. "We have thirty seconds." Coordinating perfectly, the activated body cloaks and rushed the access doorway, "Last barrier. We're here." Upon entering, they set upon one of the cryo-cells. "Twenty seconds." They attached numerous pods and activated them. "Ten seconds." The infiltrators dashed outside again and fled.
One minute later, a security beam slowly swept through the area. Upon crossing the unregistered objects, building alarms sounded. On queue, the devices energized, pouring out a lashing energy into the cryo-cell. To forestall facility security, powerful demolition charges detonated in numerous locations. The fire suppression system ruptured and failed.
Operators scrambled in the security center, "Subspace radio is jammed! All wavelengths emag, jammed! Send in the robots, default program Kelvin-Two! Repeat! Kelvin-Two!"
Minutes later one of the robots raced through the cryo-wing. It detected a humanoid mail, ==HALT! DO NOT MOVE!== It closed the distance, ==PRISONER IDENTIFIED! YOU ARE UNDER ARREST!==
The robot began to attach impairment entanglement, but the man calmly grasped hold with an iron grip. A burn of energy overloaded the bot's defences and burned out its system. With a palm strike, the prisoner sent the robot crashing into the far wall. It crumpled into a ruinous heap.
With communications jammed and sensors offline, nobody realized what had happened until the man emerged on the perimeter. Using emergency laser signals to pierce the noise, watch guards called for reinforcements to contain and neutralize. The first responder at the scene, however, wasn't a friend. A cargo pod screamed in and slid nearby the prisoner. It's panels broke open, revealing weapons, body cloak, and a tactical computer. Shortly thereafter, someone walked right through the final high voltage containment forcefields.
One hour later, Army units arrived to recapture and stabilize the facility. The news quickly spread. One prisoner was gone. Only one.
Scooter Porkinsky often gravitated to bohemian, counter-culture crowds. He felt quite comfortable with those completely different from himself. Today, he visited a festive gathering of people who celebrated no particular occasion. As he lounged beside a row of local cuisine bowls, a playful young lady draped herself across a nearby chair, "Tell me. How do you feel about females who shamelessly impose themselves upon handsome fighter pilots?"
"The runway looks clear for landing to me! Scoochie on in, Angel!" Her attire was unusual, even for this group, "Fancy cloak you have there. Is it tech?"
"Sure is. Something has to keep me warm at night. Besides..." She crossed on bare leg over the other, "It helps me remain modest."
"Yes, I can see that! What's your pleasure?"
"Whatever you're having."
He passed her bowls, "You a resident or just passing through?"
"Good question."
"Sorry if that was nosy."
She playfully took a bite, "It shows interest. I'm flattered."
He settled back, "I'm at a disadvantage here."
"My name is Angel."
"What a good guesser I am! I'm Lieutenant Scooter to my friends."
She extended a hand. As soon as he gently grasped it, a warm sensation enveloped him.
"Whoah! Okay, what are you wearing?"
"Everything pleasing, I hope."
"Tell me that you're not underage."
"I'm older than you think."
"El-Aurian?"
"Not exactly, but that'll do."
"Tell me you're not a runaway."
"In case you haven't noticed, I tend to be the one to pursue."
"Touché. A man's gotta be cautious these days, especially on a starbase."
"He certainly does." Her accent and lingo began to match his, "You been here long?"
"Not long, but I made it in time for the Sojourner attack."
"Besides surviving, how did you do?"
He shrugged, "I nailed a few, but wish I had done far better."
"Proud but not braggadocious... I like that."
He squinted, "Have we met? It just seems... like I know you from somewhere."
She broke into a smile, "I hear that a lot. I guess that I'm the type of female of people's dreams."
Scooter took a swig from his mug, "Too true, too true." He studied her eyes, "Why me?"
"You care for people."
"Annd, you know this how?"
"You take good care of your troubled veteran friend. That's no easy burden."
"You're a stalker!"
"Very much so. If I didn't have a good feeling about you, I wouldn't be here."
"Annd, you want what in life?"
She got up and smiled, "Thank you for sharing." She slowly began walking away.
"Angel, you have a place to stay?"
"I don't know. Do I?"
"I've got friends in the merchant tent city, if that's not beneath you."
"I actually prefer it."
"I don't have a lot of free off duty time to stalk. How do I reach you?"
"I'll be around." She winked, "I'll find you." She walked out and raised the hood of her cloak. Finding an untraveled civilian corner for some quiet time, she sat down and froze in a motionless poise. She closed her eyes and listened. Fixed and mobile transmission locations, encrypted vs. unencrypted channels, ship transponders, security beacons; she methodically began mapping them all.
[OFF]
2nd. Lt. Scooter Porkinsky
Angel of Death
Starbase 332
Pegasus Fleet
