A Mission Post by Captain Khiy Kanryth
Mission: Coil of Darkness
Location: Various
Timeline: Current
[Earth, London]
Perfect. The vantage point was everything he needed and more. He carefully slipped the top of the barrel into its base and primed the battery. "I'm in position. Are you ready?"
"I have eyes." The voice crackled into his hears "they are arriving now."
"I'm almost assembled here. Will take out the package as soon she exits." The Ghost twisted his neck around allowing the tension in his vertebrae to release. With care he slipped the nozzle of the weapon through the opening he had drilled into the building's wall and studied the targeting screen in front of him. He watched those ugly Romulan bombers plant themselves down in front of the convention center and wait. As the Romulans emerged he focused his targeting point at the Praetor…just one moment. His finger shifted ever so slightly and he prepped…
A blur. He grimaced and pulled his finger away as a member of the crowd hoisted a child on their back. Damnit. "Obstacle."
"Get rid of it."
"It'll compromise us. I'll re-position."
"There's no time! You have too…"
The obstacle was gone in a puff of smoke. As was everything else. He saw it before he heard it. The white translucent shockwave that ripped glass from nearby buildings echoed out instantly and was immediately followed by fireballs and debris. It took a few seconds before the thunderous concussion reached him. He pressed himself against the ceiling but felt the building shudder against the wave. Foolish! He sat up and looked at his screen. Nothing. Smoke. No visibility. "Did you blow it?"
Nothing.
Static.
He frowned.
Finally, a voice appeared from the noise. "Not us…those stupid feddies. They must have done something."
"Get out of there. It's too late to salvage this mission. I'm going to blow it. Meet at the rendezvous."
[Convention Center, 5 minutes earlier]
James Wohlen pushed the silver food cart down the elegantly carpeted hallway. The dishes rattle on its top as thick crimson sheet rippled against its sides. A few beads of sweat dripped from his chin- he just needed to get the package into position. Carefully. The rattling made for a nerve racking affair- one of the wheels just wouldn't turn properly and instead insisted on vibrating with every movement. He took a deep breath and held the cart firm as he slowly continued down the hall. His breathing labored and heavy. As he neared the intersection he barely registered the waiter going the other way. He had enough time to think 'oh shit' as the other food cart t-boned his. Normally these sort of things would just make for a huge mess. Unfortunately for James however- trilithium resin was not one for a ruckus. Before he could even register his thought verbally he was vaporized.
[Luna, 24 hours later. Location Unknown]
Happy. That was an emotion Alera was becoming increasingly foreign to. She was beginning to understand Terrh's frustration- and eventual downfall. "So, because of some parasite on its mother's back you failed to kill the Praetor when you had her in your sights?" She wished he had brought her weapon. Not that she would use it. Killing someone was always a nasty affair- especially in the more civilized reaches. It wasn't that she couldn't dispose of a body. But dragging it through New Tycho? Absolutely onerous. Vaporizing him would probably be noticed with all the errant scanning going on in sector now. "I thought you were professionals?"
"I'm returning the deposit and leaving. You're responsible for this failure. I warned you about working up the locals into a frenzy. They always just get in the way." He kicked the cargo container towards her. "Don't call us again unless you're going to let us work without…nuisances." A sparkled of green light swirled around him and then slowly faded away along with his visage.
Alera grimaced and walked up to the container and put a boot on it. Praetor tr'Vreenak would not be happy. It was always a headache to deal with a dissatisfied client.
[To be continued…]
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