The brightness of dawn’s radiance seeping into the small, bare room did little to lighten K’llan Z’arr’s mood as she reflected on the night’s events. She could feel, deep in her bones, that something was off about her mission, and that something was steeped in dreadful implication.
The slim Vosaia found herself pacing the dingy confines of her rented room in the Amren Sector, agitation pushing her to some sort of physical release from nagging anxiety. Aside from the fact that no one should have even been aware of her meeting with the Irdoi information broker, the presence of her pursuer was what was most off.
Replaying each nuance of every moment within Revenant, the chase, and their meeting, K’llan knew that her tracker was neither just an opportunistic mercenary out for some ready money, nor a criminal trying to obtain a valuable asset.
“Captain Avara Serros, Quorum Strategic High Risk, Intelligence, and Enforcement Operative. By the Authority of the Quorum, Consulate, and Ministry, you are to surrender yourself into my custody and await charges.”
Z’arr repeated those words in her mind, felt again the quiet yet certain sincerity and genuine authority in that silken alto. The Vosaia also reviewed the nuances of the chase, appraising the woman’s skill and combat training, yes, but also the incredible speed, accuracy, and physical strength that could only equate to a single truth. Not only was this Captain Serros an Arca, but an extremely high–leveled Arca, a V at the least.
No, Captain Serros was a Quorum Shield Operative. And she believed it was her job to bring K’llan in before the Quorum. Almost as if the Human was standing a breath away, here and now as light overtook darkness, K’llan could see the mix of startling calm and passionate determination that rippled in those kobalt–bright eyes.
With practiced resolve, the Vosaia shook away a shiver of fear, sat down on the rented room’s faded carpet, and began to punch queries on her Cognitive Processing Assistant, the holographic keyboard projected before her rather than directly at her forearm.
It was going to be a very long day until she was to fulfill her duty and meet Proconsul Far’allyn Tanad and make the Arca Microtech drop. Not only was her mission in jeopardy, but she feared that it had somehow been compromised before she had been given the assignment. With the appearance of a Quorum Shield, misguided though she must be, Lieutenant K’llan Z’arr’s job just got a lot more difficult, and it was time to get to work.
*
The Adrenix factory was somewhat of an anomaly on Ophere, for the surface–face of the buildings that made up the production compound was a bright, almost painfully clean white and transparent sky–blue, reminiscent of the Quorum capital of Sigil rather than most of Ophere’s black and steel cityscape. The color of the buildings stood in stark contrast to the smoky night sky, especially given the number of mellow lights that were kept permanently running both in and outside of the structures as the night crew went about their labor.
The complex was owned and operated by Medex, the galaxy’s premier producer of synthepatches, medibots, Salu–Salve, medical instruments, and of course, Adrenix. Even though the company’s main headquarters was located on Sigil, it was this factory that focused on producing a great portion of the lattermost product for the company.
As they knew from Odass that the meet would take place in one of the squat, adjacent processing and packaging buildings of the Adrenix production compound, Nova Squad and Major Hadarr were situated on the rooftop of another structure located at six o’ clock from their target.
Though they were all fully armed and wearing their silvery–steel and royal blue suits of heavy–armor, each of the six were completely concealed by camo–mods built into their armor that projected the image of their immediate surroundings; in this case, black rooftops. The camouflage would fail as soon as they moved of course, but for now, the tech meant that the squad was completely protected from visual scanning.
“Captain, I see a contingent of what appears to be armed personnel at position eleven; they don’t look like standard mercs to me.” Lieutenant Rygel reported quietly over the Squad’s active Comm channel.
“Copy that.” Captain Serros replied, moving her own scope to the position the Excalibur’s Senior Communication’s Officer and the Squad’s most accomplished sniper had indicated.
A fraction of a tic later, the Captain spotted the group, approximately twenty in number. Given their rather sophisticated, if deliberately plain, arms and armor and the professional manner in which individuals carried themselves, Serros could immediately understand why Rygel didn’t think they were guns for hire. At first glance, they appeared to be the compact height of Fosaki, with wide–shoulders and barreled frames, with not a single one reaching higher than five and a half feet in height.
Still, height and build was no guarantee of identity and can easily be feigned, especially in heavy–armor. Even gender was not distinguishable in the deliberately identical and plain battle–mail each wore, unusually so. Captain Serros also found it more than a little suspicious that features were impossible to distinguish because, despite it being the dark of night, the entire group currently wore activated helmets with tinted visors. Most interesting, one of the group wasn’t helmed or wearing heavy–armor. In the center front was a Vosaia female with short silvery hair wearing a gray and black skinsuit armed with a pistol.
“By their armor, they could be anyone, and note the Vosaia. Lieutenant Rygel, please record. The Quorum will want to know.”
“Aye, Captain. Another traitor, do you think?”
“I… I think I know the Vosaia. I believe she is Proconsul Far’allyn Tanad.” Hadarr announced, her normally emotionless voice holding a discernable note of surprise.
“Damn. There is definitely more going on than we are aware of. What is a Vosaia Proconsul doing with soldiers attempting to look like disguised Fosaki Elites?” Serros queried.
“I don’t know.” Hadarr admitted.
“I’d say the obvious answer is that they are not Fosaki.” Serros mused out loud.
“Still no sign of Z’arr.” Lieutenant Naxos commented. Avara could hear the Braxien’s voice hum with the suppressed tension and excitement of the hunt.
“Okay team, capture rather than kill just became even more important for both Z’arr and the Vosaia Proconsul. Stay focused and stay alert; revert to silence until the drop.” The Captain ordered quietly.
A few minutes later, a set of four factory guards let the group of unadorned, gray–armored unknowns pass into the inner courtyard with only a brief nod; after the Vosaia handed several bills to the lead guard. A prearranged bribe. They then moved into the plaza and the unidentified soldiers efficiently positioned themselves at the top of a dais–like, broad white–stone step–way by a leaping fountain. Huge hourglass shaped planters surrounded the fountain, with the containers’ slender birch trees happily piercing the night sky, pushing towards the sleeping sun.
Tactical mind firing like mad, Avara noted that it was an unusual move, for the position that the unknowns had chosen was anything but secure or defensible.
Bit of a leap of faith there. Probably part of a pre–arrangement.
The soldiers had formed themselves into a semi–circular pattern around the Vosaia official and another soldier, obviously the group’s commander by the black–hash marks on his shoulder–plate, the only such of the entire group to possess any rank insignia whatsoever. A different soldier then keyed several commands into his or her CPA and then suddenly, there was a shower of electric sparks in the courtyard. Extending the range of her vision, Serros was able to spot the source of the electric flashes fairly quickly. All of the security cameras on the premises. Though she couldn’t see Lieutenant Dane Rygel, sensing a silent emotional snarl of frustration, Serros turned to look at the position that the Captain knew her communications officer and technical wizard was located.
The unknowns had managed to disable their cameras as well.
The minutes kept dragging like an antiquated clock winding
down towards the end of its life–cycle until at least an hour had passed, and still Lieutenant K’llan Z’arr had yet to arrive. Mech–like, each of the unknown soldiers had, without a single twitch, held the exact same position the entire time. The dearth of action was almost unnerving in the lack of humanity it represented, giving credence to the possibility that they were indeed Fosaki.
Though originally a fully organic species, over the last millennium, the Fosaki had gradually yet systematically added synthetic enhancements to their people until truly, much of what was once organic–sentience had changed into a fusion of organic and synthetic. Culturally, the Fosaki believed that such an amalgamation was the highest expression of life, surpassing any purely organic or synthetic form of sentience.
If the unknowns standing quietly below were Fosaki, the threat to all the Quorum Systems was substantial; one only had to think of the fate of the Ty–Lin race to grasp that danger. After a relatively minor territorial dispute had broken out between the Fosaki and the Ty–Lin, the Fosaki had methodically annexed or destroyed every last sector of Ty–Lin space. Even worse, with machine–like systemization, genetic material had been harvested and then the captured Ty–Lin people were rounded up and executed. The genocide of an entire race accomplished in little over fifteen years.
Still, in many ways, the Fosaki were a threat from by–gone days. As long as their sovereign space was respected, they seemed more than content to focus on their own view of perfect society, untainted by inherent chaos that pure organics perpetrated wherever they ventured. No, Captain Serros was much less concerned with Fosaki–boogeyman than the very real and living threat the Karukai Imperium represented, especially given the Dark Reach Wars that had devastated billions only two brief human generations ago. Not to mention the smaller scale, yet no less vicious and much more recent Karukai–Human conflict, the Margrom War.
To again have open, intergalactic warfare break out with the Karukai, especially with the Quorum so unprepared…
The implications were as terrifying as Karukai preparedness and intent were obfuscated. Pierced by vivid flashes of Margrom War, Captain Avara Serros had to consciously loosen her grip on her AR, file those feelings away for another day, and push herself to focus on the moment and on the mission alone.
The Captain’s effort was aided when less than ten minutes later, her gaze snapped to a flash of bright royal blue and Lieutenant K’llan Z’arr came into sight. Through the sniper–scope of her Warlock L5, Serros could clearly see that like herself and Hadarr, this time their target also wore full battle armor, the hue a matte black with pale blue markings. Her thick hair was tied back into three tight buns set to rest at the base of her neck. At her waist was what Serros comfortably identified as a Gladiator Rubex GHT6 Adaptable Pistol/SMG; on her back was a Zadex Widowmaker IV.
Lieutenant Z’arr moved tranquilly, in full view of the unknowns and the single Vosaia among them, stopping before the others by a dozen or so paces. Yet despite her calm demeanor, Serros could somehow sense that the projected air of ease was a façade, and that the Vosaia STF was anything but serene.
A shiver shot through the Quorum Shield’s body like a slap as she realized that something was about to happen, and years of battle experience had taught Avara Serros to accept the warning, even if she couldn’t quantify the feeling. With a deep breath, Serros again found her center and extended her SP Arca enhanced hearing to capture the words being exchanged below.
“Agent Z’arr. A pleasure to see you again.” The short haired Vosaia greeted cordially in Avenos, the Vosaia language. Her tone held all the graciousness that only a career politician, or possibly a professional card shark, can project.
“And you, Proconsul Tanad.” Z’arr responded in the same tongue with a deferential incline of her head.
“I assume because we are standing here you have the package?” The Proconsul inquired, dark eyes clear.
“It is in my possession, Proconsul. I only require a print and voice ID to certify authorization.”
“Of course, Agent Z’arr.” The woman answered, then turned to her right. “Tedrar, if you will.” The helmed unknown that Avara had marked earlier as the unit’s commander nodded and then without a word, walked towards Lieutenant Z’arr. When the commander reached the STF Agent, the soldier simply held out a hand, again without utterance.
Z’arr dug into a pouch at her waist, removed a small data–screen and after keying in a few commands, handed it over to the waiting Tedrar. The commander then returned to Proconsul Tanad and handed her the portable data–screen. The Vosaia government official placed the five fingertips of her left hand on the screen and then intoned in an official voice: “Proconsul Far’allyn Tanad, zero–zero–nine–XR–five–TT–three.”
With her Arca enhanced vision and hearing, Captain Serros could see the small screen light green and could hear the gentle chime of confirmation. She could also see Z’arr’s purple eyes covertly tracing and marking every move the intermediary and Proconsul made. With a nod, the Proconsul sent the fully armored commander back to the STF Agent with the data–screen.
K’llan Z’arr confirmed the screen then stated politely, “Thank you, Tedrar.”
“You are welcome.”
At the feminine voice, Z’arr’s hand froze mid–move from retrieving something else… the Arca Microtech Enhancement data?… from the same pouch.
“Proconsul Tanad,” The STF Agent pronounced firmly, hand casually inching away from her pouch and closer to her pistol, “please have Tedrar remove her helm.”
The Vosaia representative’s faint smile faltered as she asked “Excuse me, Agent Z’arr? Each member of my guard is deliberately wearing full, heavy–armor to conceal his or her identity as well as for protection.”
“Acknowledged. However, I insist that Tedrar remove her helmet now, before the exchange. I am sure you understand; this is a legitimate security measure.”
“Agent Z’arr, identification of my mercenary guard was not stipulated in our exchange agreement penned by our seniors. Now do your duty.” Tanad’s voice had turned frigid, her tone that of a superior to a subordinate expecting to be obeyed.
“Exactly. I will do my duty. The helm.” If anything, Agent Z’arr’s tone was even colder and more resolute than the Proconsul’s.
The entire group as well as the still concealed Nova Squad seemed clasped by absolute stillness for several, high–pressure seconds. Then without warning, Tedrar’s fist lashed out at Z’arr’s head with the speed of a launched missile, only to contact empty air.
Z’arr had reacted with astonishing swiftness to evade the blow, her open palm slamming with unerring accuracy into the other woman’s more vulnerable neck from her crouched position. Z’arr then followed the strike up with a half spin, sweeping her leg under Tedrar’s and causing the commander to spill to the ground. However, the action resulted in the belt pouch at Z’arr’s waist slipping free as a dying Tedrar made a grab for its contents.
Avara couldn’t make out whether or not she succeeded in retrieval of the pouch, for a heartbeat later the entire plaza erupted into pandemonium when Proconsul Tanad shouted “Execute Z’arr and bring me the data!”
Immediately, bullets started slicing through the air as Lieutenant Z’arr jumped and then rolled to somewhat dubious safety behind the plaza fountain. Having hardly reached cover, Serros heard the Vosaia STF Agent forcefully yell: “Command Guardian enacted!”
At Z’arr’s cry, four of the huge birch planters literally exploded, revealing fifteen foot tall, iron colored battlemechs ponderously shaking free of cracked porcelain with miniature avalanches of soil tumbling down plating and circuitry. Without delay, the mechs began to fire enormous cannons at the gray–armored unknowns and at the Vosaia Proconsul, interrupting their concentration on Z’arr.
Contemplating the scene for an instant, Captain Serros deactivated her camouflage and stood to her full five foot ten height, keyed the Voc enhancement feature of her armor, and then clearly
shouted, “In the name of the Quorum and on Shield authority, I order all present to cease fire and stand down immediately!”
The unknowns and two Vosaia paused their actions for all of a split second, then the Proconsul and her forces frantically began attacking Z’arr again even as Tanad screeched, “Get me the data and kill the false Shield team!”
“So much for a peaceful surrender.” Marcus Perez grumbled over the team’s Comm.
“Was that really necessary, Captain Serros?” Major Hadarr hissed.
“All right, Squad,” Serros began, even as she dropped back into cover, bullets zipping past the place her head had been a moment before. “The data, Z’arr, and Tanad are our priorities. Perez, Rygel, and Ca’rrakk: I want the three of you on cover–fire and neutralizing the guards and mechs.”
Cocking her head in Major Hadarr’s direction, Serros addressed the Vosaia who was perceptibly angry about the attempt at gaining a cease fire that had surrendered the advantage of surprise.
A small part of Avara found a certain level of satisfaction in being able to elicit some measure of emotional response in the typically emotionless Major as she ordered, “Hadarr and Naxos, I want the two of you to ensure that the Vosaia Proconsul lives and that she’s placed into custody for investigation. Remember, our mission is not assassination.” Serros made it clear by her hard gaze that the last was intended for the Vosaia Major, and though Goyan Hadarr’s lips tightened in response, she offered no verbal disagreement.
Addressing the group as a whole, Serros announced, “I will capture Z’arr and the data. Let’s be about it.”
Avara nodded once at the Chorus of “Aye, Captains” that followed then, under covering fire from the rest of Nova Squad and Hadarr, shot her grapple–gun and speedily slid across the span between the rooftop they stood upon and the far end of the courtyard where Z’arr was firing at the unknowns from cover.
While enroute, two shots slammed into the bright steel and royal blue trimmed durexium plating of her armor, forcing Serros to grip her grapple attachment harder, but doing no lasting damage. Before reaching the end of the line, the Captain released her hold and dropped some fifteen feet to the ground. She quickly rolled into cover behind a thick stone bench as the still unknown enemies fired their ARs.
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