Hell's Hoplites - Book 1 - Thebes - 7 - Chapter 6

Chapter 6 -

Sol System - Saturn Orbit Near Titan

Near Abandoned SSPF Station/Current Pirate Base Magpie July 11th 2535 AD - 12:50 AM GMT

With the destruction of the pirate ship Sorbonne it looked like hell had been unleashed in the small patch of space around the pirate base called Magpie. The ship had disappeared in an actinic explosion as half liquefied bars of tungsten and titanium ripped it apart. Now as everyone aboard the New Edo and the pirate base watched it looked like the Hoplite still squawking the Daisy Mae IFF code was going to join it shortly and possibly take the pirate base with it.

However as Rice and his personnel watched from the bridge of the New Edo and pirates watched from various stations inside and outside their base the starboard bow of the ship impacted with the edge of the dock doors and spun the ship into the dock at a high angle where it ricocheted off the ceiling. Since they were watching the ship they didn’t notice the rear cargo hatch open and fling a black SUV from its depths.

That is except for half a dozen pirates who were unfortunate enough to be smeared into paste by the large vehicle as it slammed into a section of catwalk and came to rest against the inner dock wall.

The group of mercenaries popped out of the vehicle immediately opening fire. Jack had his M4 on burst fire and wiped out a small group of pirates not paying attention except to the Hoplite as it ground its way across the dock ceiling then rammed its blunt nose through the dock bulkhead and detonated.

“Ah, my porno collection,” Rick shouted as they were flung to the catwalk floor by the overpressure.

“Dammit my extra ammo,” Samuel growled.

“Didn’t you have it downloaded to your E-PADD?” Ren asked servicing targets.

“Well, yeah, but some of those were collectors items,” Rick said.

“You have got to seriously get a girlfriend man,” Fuji said blasting another pirate with his Benelli M3 Super 850 shotgun.

“We’ve been telling him that since basic,” Jack muttered.

“Hey it’s not that easy finding a decent woman,” Rick said.

“Why would you want a decent woman, you’re a total pervert,” Ren bantered back.

“You wound me,” Rick said and put a three round burst from his MP25K into a pirate’s chest.

“If we’re quite done with the round table discussion of Rick’s love life; or lack thereof,” Jack said seriously although everyone could hear the restrained humor in his voice. “We need to get the girl and find a way off of this station,” he told them.

“Roger,” echoed across their TAC-NET as they started moving forward towards the doors that led from the dock to the inner station.

Sol System - Saturn Orbit Near Titan

New Edo Assault Shuttle

July 11th 2535 AD - 1:05 AM GMT

Rostov and his men were loaded down with extra weapons and ammo; not only would they be fighting pirates but an experienced mercenary team that didn’t realize they were being double-crossed by the man that had hired them.

Walking down the aisle between the jump seats his men were seated on Rostov checked their telltales and ammo loads slapping each one on an armored shoulder as he went past them to sit down in his own seat his next in command double checking his own equipment and load.

“Alright gentlemen, here’s the plan, we clear the dock and move into the base itself. From the schematics the most likely place the girl is being held is in the old cell area near this batch of offices,” Rostov said using a laser pointer on the plasma screen on one wall showing a map of the facility.

“Now remember guys we gotta take out all of the pirates as well as the mercenaries,” Rostov reminded them and got nods and grins from the others in the troop bay.

“Alright boys, vodka is on me when we get back,” Rostov said and from that point on it was radio silence unless absolutely necessary.

The Assault shuttle screamed through the still open dock doors that had ground partway shut and stopped; most likely due to the Hoplite damaging them as it made it’s grand entrance; the nose mounted auto-cannons went to full rock and roll and shredded several pirates trying to set up a counter attack against the mercenaries pinned behind what was left of an SUV on the catwalk.

Taking out the pirates the shuttle pivoted and a rocket tore away from a pod under one stubby wing streaking towards the SUV.

Sol System - Saturn Orbit Near Titan

Near Abandoned SSPF Station/Current Pirate Base Magpie Docking Hangar

July 11th 2535 AD - 1:10 AM GMT

Samuel looked over his shoulder as a shadow passed by the bulkhead and watched as an assault shuttle minced some pirates about to assault their position.

“Who the hell is that?” He asked over the comm.

“Don’t know but their help is welcome,” Rick said sending a burst of 9x19mm rounds down the catwalk and doubling over another pirate.

Still watching the shuttle out of one eye Samuel ripped off a three round burst pasting the head of a pirate all over his buddies, it was then that he saw the shuttle swing in their direction.

“Ah, shit. Separation, Separation,” He screamed over his suit comm.

“Don’t know but their help is welcome,” Ren mocked Rick as the five of them scattered from the SUV and then were tossed through the air as the air to ground missile impacted on the SUV tossing it up towards the ceiling and then over the side of the catwalk.

“Whoa,” Rick said with a breathless oomph as the air was expelled form his lungs. “You think your insurance will cover that?” He asked Jack looking at the trashed SUV.

“Yeah, sure it will along with acts of terrorism and god, now get down,” Jack yelled emptying half a magazine into a group of pirates running towards his and Rick’s position.

“Give me a roll call,” Jack said over the comm as he dumped the spent magazine and shoved in a fresh 30-rounder.

“Yo,” Ren said.

“Hai,” Fuji replied.

“Fuck,” Samuel answered.

“Right here,” Rick said rather redundantly.

“Alright we clear these assholes off the catwalk and make for the interior before that shuttle decides to make another pass at us with it’s lovely little rocket pods,” Jack said and the others acknowledged.

“And on 1, 2, 3, GO!” Jack stood and let loose with a 40mm grenade that blasted through the last of the heavy resistance as the team plowed their way down the catwalk in a running, gunning advance. As they made it to the airlock leading to the interior of the station the shuttle made another pass and dropped a squad of soldiers in Skinsuits and armor a few hundred feet away.

“Doors locked,” Rick said.

“Ren override it,” Jack said.

“On it, give me a few minutes,” Ren said pulling out a multi-tool and pocket knife.

“You aren’t going to have a few minutes Ren,” Samuel said spraying down one of the last few pirates with a burst from his assault rifle.

Between the two groups the remaining pirates didn’t stand a chance and Rostov’s men slowly started to advance on Jack and his friends.

“Ren, we really, really don’t have much time; all the little pirates are now sitting on a dead man’s chest and drinking a hundred bottles of beer on the wall, and these guys don’t look like they get a bonus for how much ammo they bring home,” Jack said tensely.

“I’m on it, I’m on it,” Ren said ripping the panel from the airlock controls and pulling out a bundle of wires. Trying to concentrate as rounds pinged off the walls around him was not a fun task.

Thankfully Jack and the others had a bit of cover; for whatever reasons someone had welded a piece of diamond plate to the catwalk in front of the airlock and the friends sheltered behind that as they returned fire.

Sol System - Saturn Orbit Near Titan

Near Abandoned SSPF Station/Current Pirate Base Magpie 

July 11th 2535 AD - 1:25 AM GMT

Rostov and his men had finished off the last of the pirates and were now on the move towards where the mercenaries were sheltering on the catwalk behind a piece of diamond plate as one of them tried to get the airlock to open.

Whoever the Mercs were they were tough and had good fire discipline; none of the spray and pray bullshit that most Mercs these days did. Rostov’s musings trailed off as one of his men went down with a hole cored through is Skinsuit’s helmet the sudden decompression from the round splattering blood and bone fragments over the inside of the helmet and leaking out the small hole.

The rest of his men dropped behind whatever cover they could find and returned fire more heavily than before trying to leap frog advance only to have another of their number cut down by heavy concentrations of fire from the Mercs.

“You three give us heavy cover fire,” Rostov ordered and motioned for the other four remaining men to advance with him as the three pinned the mercenaries behind their cover.

Rostov and his men were only about thirty feet away when the airlock popped open and the mercenaries tumbled through it the door slamming shut. Swearing Rostov ran up and tried to work the controls but found a tangled mess of wires.

“Pheriton, get this damn thing open,” Rostov ordered over the comm.

“Roger,” Pheriton swore as he examined the wires. “It’s going to take a few minutes to fix this,” he said apologetically.

“Just get it done,” Rostov said and changed channels on his comm. “Sir, the pirates in the dock have been eliminated,” he told his boss.

“How many were there?” Rice asked.

Rostov gave the man his best estimate of how many pirates had been taken out in the docking bay.

“That should be the majority of them,” Rice said. “I was able to hack the SSPF files and get info on Midea and his crew; you really shouldn’t be having anymore problems with them,” he told Rostov.

“Good, that’s one less problem we’ll deal with,” Rostov commented.

“What about the mercenaries?” Rice asked.

“They got through the airlock but trashed the controls on the way through, I’ve got one of my men working on the problem now,” Rostov informed Rice.

“Good, keep me informed,” Rice ordered.

“Yes Sir, Rostov out,” the big Russian said and turned back to walk up behind Pheriton.

“Ya know breathing down my neck isn’t going to get this open any faster,” Pheriton informed him.

“Can it, Espinoza get a breaching charge over here,” Rostov ordered not wanting to waste anymore time than they had to.

Sol System - Saturn Orbit Near Titan

Near Abandoned SSPF Station/Current Pirate Base Magpie - Base Interior

July 11th 2535 AD - 1:35 AM GMT

Jack and the others didn’t waste time as they ran through the interconnecting hallways and offices of the former SSPF station keeping a sharp eye out for anymore pirates. It seemed most of the crew of cutthroats if not all had been present in the docking hangar.

A loud krump and the floor shaking brought them to a halt. “I didn’t think they’d actually use a breeching charge,” Ren said.

“I guess they’re in a hurry,” Samuel said sarcastically.

“Yeah but if they used a breeching charge that means they may not be here for the principle like us,” Fuji said.

“Or they could be and just don’t care if the principle survives, that or they are here to kill said principle,” Rick said.

The others stared at him for a second.

“Wow, I guess you do use your brain for something other than piloting and trying to finagle sex out of women,” Jack said.

Rick gave him a dirty look.

“Ren, Fuji, you guys find the principle and get her in this,” Jack said handing a large bag he had been carrying to Fuji.

“What is it?” Ren asked eying the bag.

“It’s a Skinsuit,” Jack said a little short.

“Uhm, aren’t Skinsuits custom fit,” Fuji asked.

“Yes they are but I got the girls measurements from the file they sent us and I had one made,” Jack explained in exasperation. “There is also a bottle of tranquilizer gas in there, get her in the suit, turn on the tranquilizer, and carry her out of here. This place has a couple more hangar bays so check those and see if you can find something to get us off this rock,” he ordered.

“But we don’t know anything about getting ships ready to go,” Fuji said.

“Damn, take Rick with you then,” Jack said and shoved them off in the direction of the cell block.

“Looks like it’s just you and me,” Jack said to Samuel.

The two of them bumped knuckles. “When hasn’t it been,” Samuel said.

“Oorah to that,” Jack said and Samuel echoed it.

“Let’s set up some party favors for our uninvited guests,” Samuel said tossing a claymore mine to Jack and grabbing a second one from his pack.

The two of them set the claymores up so that they would put the doorway in the previous room in a crossfire when set off. Between the two claymores they would seriously ruin someone’s day.

“Anymore little party favors in that bag,” Jack said motioning at the now relatively flat pack on the back bottom of Samuel’s supply pack.

“No I ended up using most of it up on the pirates,” Samuel said and checked the magazine of his rifle. Tapping it against the palm of his hand he then seated it back in the magazine well.

The two of them were soon greeted by the sound of the claymores going off, a short scream and then a gun shot.

Sol System - Saturn Orbit Near Titan

Near Abandoned SSPF Station/Current Pirate Base Magpie - Base Interior

July 11th 2535 AD - 1:45 AM GMT

Ahead of them Rick, Ren, and Fuji heard a double thump, a couple of screams and a single gunshot followed by the sound of an intense fire fight that lasted maybe five minutes with the occasional shot being fired and then long bursts every now and then.

Rick looked at Ren. “Claymores,” Ren said in answer and picked up the pace as they raced for the cell block area where they thought the girl was being kept.

It took nearly half an hour for them to find the cell block; the place was a lot larger than one would think from the outside but the SSPF had taken full advantage of the asteroids alloy core. Their search was followed by the sounds of the occasional shot or sustained burst, even this far into the facility. Either the acoustics were exceptionally good or the holding action had turned into a fighting retreat.

They finally located the cell block and found the girl chained with one wrist to a wall and half sitting, half lying on a cot, she seemed to be in a daze as they entered the room.

Ren went over to the girl and tried to speak to her but got no response. Pulling out a mini-flashlight and checking her pupils he found that they were dilated all the way open.

While Ren examined the girl Fuji took in the chain and pulled a snap bar from one of his pouches and molded it around the third link from the girl’s cuff. Snap Bars were great items in Fuji’s opinion they were an even faster burning descendent of Thermite with little thermal bloom. They came in small bars about three inches long and one wide that could be molded thinner if needed and made a snapping sound when ignited, thus they had been nicknamed Snap Bars by military personnel.

While Ren and Fuji were occupied by the girl Rick kept watch for any more pirates that might be lurking around or unknown mercenaries with too large of an ammo budget and hoping that Jack and Samuel showed up soon.

Back by the girl Ren finished his examination and nodded to Fuji.

“Fire in the hole,” he said and pressed the Snap Bar’s included detonator switch. With a loud snap, a sizzle, and bright actinic flare the end of the chain dropped off. Fuji went to work on the cuff itself using a small diamond edged rotary saw that quickly cut through the cuff while his brother laid out the girl’s Skinsuit.

After he had gotten the cuff off he looked at the girl for a second, and then at his brother. “Uhm, since she’s non-responsive, who’s going to you know…?” Fuji trailed off dipping a hand in the direction of the Skinsuit.

Ren just rolled his eyes. “Since I’m the one with medical training I’ll do it, just go help Rick watch the door,” he ordered his brother.

Fuji let out a relieved sigh and then headed for the door with Ren just shaking his head behind him.

Looking at the girl Ren realized getting her into the Skinsuit would be a bit harder by himself; plus he had to connect the plumbing and at that thought he blushed a bit.

“Well…” He cleared his throat and started over. “Well miss let’s get you into your Skinsuit so we can get you out of here and back to your father,” Ren said with a disgruntled look to the unconscious girl.

Moving to the girl he peeled her out of the one piece jumpsuit she was wearing and then grabbed the Skinsuit.

Skinsuits were hard enough to get on when the person that was going to wear them was doing the putting on. But Ren was determined to get the girl into the suit and get her out of the base safely. He started with her legs and slid them into the combined boot/leg portion of the suit and had to tug mightily to get the suit up to her thighs; the suits were sandwiched layers of graphite and spider-silk to ensure a good environmental seal that would make the suit stretch and more easily put on. The design worked perfectly to keep the environment out and allow full range of motion while keeping the occupant cool or warm when needed however as Ren was learning suiting up someone, especially someone that seemed to be in a drugged stupor wasn’t easy.

With the suit now around the girl’s thighs he reached in and attached the plumbing connections trying to be as gentle as possible and bright patches of red burned on his cheeks as he slid them into place.

With the connections in place Ren slid her arms into the combined sleeves/gloves. He had a real problem though when it came time to insert her hands into the gloves; they became all tangled and it took precious minutes to get them on correctly bracing himself he tugged on the upper portion of the suit until it was around her neck. Running a thumb up the back of the suit he closed the magnetic seal and then attached the enviro-pack with the addition of the bottle Jack had included, finally he locked her helmet in place.

Ren stood panting for a minute and then turned the bottle of tranquilizer gas on and caught the girl before she slumped all the way back onto the cot, hoisting her up over his shoulders he placed her in a fireman’s carry.

“Alright I’m ready let’s go,” Ren said and Fuji lead the way with his E-PADD out a map on it and navigating them towards where the secondary dock should be and hopefully another ship.

Rick brought up the rear looking nervously over his shoulder as the sounds of gunfire faded into the distance.

Sol System - Saturn Orbit Near Titan

Near Abandoned SSPF Station/Current Pirate Base Magpie - Base Interior 

July 11th 2535 AD - 1:38 AM GMT

Rostov barely heard the whine and ping of the claymore’s pre-detonation in time to fling himself back through the door he had just come through knocking down the men behind him. Now he was glad that he had taken the time to have his men place a temporary airlock patch over the door that they had just blown off; if not he would have become a bloody mess against the wall.

Rostov glanced up just in time to see two of his men completely shredded by the two claymores that had been set up in a cross fire to take out anyone who entered the room, another one of his men was far enough back that he took several ball bearings to his legs and lay screaming on the ground.

Were the hell did they get claymores, who the hell are these guys, Rostov thought to himself and looked through the door into the next room examining it carefully until he was positive there were no more surprises. Creeping forward he checked on the man that had taken several of the metallic spheres to the leg. A quick examination showed that both thigh bones were broken and the femoral artery had been severed. Even if Rostov had the equipment to stabilize the man he didn’t have the time. Pulling his side-arm out Rostov covered the man’s eyes pressing the barrel to his heart and pulled the trigger. The killing of one of his own men even to save the man a painful death made him sick to his stomach and Rostov had to suck in several breaths of recycled air.

Rostov waved his other four men forward and they advanced slowly as they came to the next doorway and Rostov stuck his head around the lower edge of the doorway to almost have it shot off. Whipping his head back into cover all five of them emptied a magazine in the direction of the shots and while they were reloading they were answered by fire from only two assault rifles.

Only two, where are the other three, Rostov thought to himself and then stepped back from the doorway motioning for the others to follow him.

“It seems some of them are off doing something, probably getting the girl,” Rostov told his men quietly. “We only have two to deal with here. Patrice, Malone you two give us covering fire, we’ll charge the desk that they are hiding behind and go pistols and knives, try to finish them off quick otherwise this is going to get ugly,” Rostov ordered.

The other four men nodded at Rostov’s orders and prepared themselves. Rostov stood to the side of the door with the others watching him and he held up three fingers and got nods of understanding. Rostov closed first one finger and then the other, when his last finger fell into a clenched fist Patrice and Malone opened fire pinning down the two Mercs behind the desk. Rostov and one man broke left while the third broke right to circle around behind and to the sides of the desk where the men were hiding behind it.

Sol System - Saturn Orbit Near Titan

Near Abandoned SSPF Station/Current Pirate Base Magpie - Base Interior

July 11th 2535 AD - 1:45 AM GMT

Jack and Samuel hunkered down behind the desk as the amount of rounds being flung at them increased.

“Gee do you think they are going to try and flank us now?” Samuel asked sarcastically.

“I’d think it rather obvious,” Jack said in an airy tone and set down his M4 and pulled out a Phrobis CUK combat knife and one of his FN Five-seveN FS pistols flicking it to single shot.

Samuel followed suit with a Kabar that had seen better days but still had a razor sharp edge and one of his Colt Government Models.

Two came from the right and one from the left; Samuel took the first one on the right with two shots from his Colt and the other closed before he could bring the gun to bear. On the left Jack dropped the guy but had to duck back behind cover to keep from being peppered by bullets from the covering fire.

Jack looked to his side and saw that Samuel was locked in hand to hand combat with a rather large blond haired guy with a scar down one cheek that disappeared into a thick beard. “Need any help?” He asked his friend.

“Nope all good,” and the two traded punches and switched between various holds trying to get an upper hand on the other.

“Oookay,” Jack said and waited till there was a break in the cover fire; the men had screwed up and had not staggered their shooting so that while one reloaded the other was still firing and vice versa.

Rolling up and over the desk Jack charged the doorway. Leaping through the portal he put a three round burst through the chest of one of the men and with a short and brutal over the shoulder toss buried his knife to the hilt in the throat of the other. Unfortunately for Jack knife in the throat guy was a twitcher and as he dropped to the ground his finger clamped down hard on the trigger causing Jack to scrabble for cover behind a club chair as the entire freshly inserted thirty round magazine cooked off in his general direction and numerous rounds pinged and caromed off the battle plate walls.

“Shit, shit, shit,” he breathed out as the hot rounds zipped past the small club chair he had crammed himself behind. Finally when the magazine was emptied he stepped out and headed back to the desk they had been hiding behind to find Samuel breathing heavy and leaning back against the desk

Beside Samuel lay the blonde man the hilt of Samuel’s knife sticking up from his sternum but rattling breath still passed between his lips. Samuel just gave Jack an exhausted thumb up and reloaded his weapons.

Walking around to the man’s other side Jack knelt down. “Well amigo, you aren’t long for this world, that knife has probably nicked either a lung or your heart,” Jack said explaining the man’s bleak situation.

“Let me guess you want me to tell you who I work for,” the man had a faint Russian accent that blurred some of the consonants.

“Well that would be pretty helpful, but if you don’t want to I’ll understand.”

“Heh, heh heh,” the man laughed and then coughed up a piece of bloody phlegm his body shaking painfully during the coughing fit. “Rice, Edgar Rice,” he told Jack.

“Thanks,” Jack said and stood up.

“Wait there is more,” the man said gripping the leg of Jack’s Skinsuit weakly.

“What?” Jack said as he settled back down on his haunches.

“The girl, she isn’t Kawamura’s daughter or niece or whatever bullshit they told you,” he coughed again but continued before Jack could ask the obvious question. “No I don’t know who she really is, but Kawamura is in deep shit for losing her in the first place,” Rostov paused to catch his breath for a second. “Also even if the girl was here and easily rescued Rice plans to blow the shit out of this place,” Rostov wheezed wetly.

“Then why send you and your men in?” Jack asked puzzled and starting to get worried.

“To make sure the girl was here when he blew it up,” Rostov told him and coughed again.

“Why is Rice doing this and what does he have to do with my mother and aunt’s deaths?” Jack asked through gritted teeth.

“Don’t know anything about your mother or aunt. Hell I don’t even know who you are. As for why Rice is doing this; if he can make Kawamura look bad he figures that they’ll order him to kill him and take over the company as a puppet of the stockholders,” Rostov theorized.

“Nice guy,” Jack said dryly.

Rostov grinned; bright arterial blood staining his teeth. “I would suggest getting out of here Tovarisch, he’ll be blowing this place up in less than fifteen minutes,” the Russian informed him.

“With you guys still here,” Jack said startled.

“Yeah we’re just expendable and Rice is a sociopathic bastard,” Rostov wheezed out.

“Alright, I wish we’d met under different circumstances, you seem like an alright guy,” Jack said.

Rostov just nodded his head tiredly. He was getting too weak to even speak now and the seconds till Rice attacked the station were trickling by like grains of sand in an hour glass.

“Come on Samuel,” Jack said picking up his M4 and heading after their other team mates who he hoped had found a way off the rock that would soon be dust.

Sol System - Saturn Orbit Near Titan

Near Abandoned SSPF Station/Current Pirate Base Magpie - Baser Interior

July 11th 2535 AD - 1:55 AM GMT

“We are lost,” Rick said.

“We are not lost,” Fuji replied.

“Yes we are,” Rick insisted.

“No we aren’t,” Fuji repeated.

“Children, children,” Ren said leaning against a wall to take some of the girls weight off of himself. For as slight as she was she seemed to weigh more than she should. “Fuji, are we lost?” He asked.

“No we aren’t lost, the map is just wrong and it looks like we are in a section of the station that the pirates never got around to using,” Fuji reiterated and explained.

“So we’re not lost, you just don’t know where we are,” Ren said.

“Basically,” Fuji replied.

“What difference does it make, lost or not knowing where we are,” Rick said in exasperation.

“Oh there is quite a big difference,” Ren said standing up from his lean. “If we don’t know where we are, we just find some place that we know where we are,” Ren told him.

“Exactly,” Fuji said and started off again followed by Ren.

“Fucked up Asian-Germanic logic at work,” Rick grumbled as he followed behind.

The four of them finally staggered through an armored door that opened easily enough and found themselves in a darkened docking bay.

“Uh, I didn’t think we had traveled far enough to get to the aft docking bay,” Rick said.

“We aren’t in the aft docking bay,” Fuji said as the lights came up and showed them a sleek looking ship in the frigate range. The vessel’s hull was a dull gray in color and was almost blocky in shape but the rounded edges dulled that sharpness leaving it with a sleek somewhat predatory look.

“Well what do we have here,” Rick said pursing his lips.

“Looks like a ship,” Fuji said.

Rick gave Fuji a dirty look and then helped Ren lay the girl on the catwalk that surrounded three walls of the small docking bay.

Finally able to pay full attention to the ship in the docking bay Ren let out a low whistle over the intercom. “That isn’t what I think it is, is it?” he asked looking over at Rick.

“Oh yes it is,” Rick said and walked to the edge of the catwalk and ran his hand a short distance down the 250 meter long hull.

“Uh,” Fuji managed to say.

“What the hell is it doing here, only five were built and from what I heard all of them were scrapped,” Ren said walking up to Rick.

“There were always rumors about a couple more that had been built,” Rick said pulling his attention from the side of the ship. “And I bet you this place was decommissioned and listed as destroyed about the time they scrapped the project and no one wanted to admit to spending that much cash on a prototype that went nowhere,” Rick said running a Skinsuit clad hand musingly along the hull.

“Uhm, guys I hate to break up your ship admiration party, but what the hell are you talking about,” Fuji shouted over the comm.

Rick let out a curse and Ren grimaced as feedback popped through the comm system. “For cryin’ out loud Fuji don’t yell through the comm when we are this close to one another,” Ren admonished his brother.

“Sorry, but what the hell are you guy’s talking about?” he asked in a normal tone of voice.

“What you are looking at Fuji is a ghost, or at least something that shouldn’t exist at all,” Rick explained waving his hand at the sleek gray vessel. “This is maybe the last of its kind. It is one of at least 6 prototype ships built about thirty years ago, cutting edge technology, very powerful weapon’s suite as well as several other rumors floating around, it was developed jointly by the UEF and SSPF but cost over runs scrapped the project literally,” Rick paused for a second. “All of the ships were supposed to have been scrapped; of course the public only knew about five being built,” Rick said shrugging.

“So what does that mean?” Fuji asked.

“It means that this,” Rick patted the hull of the ship. “Halberd-Class frigate is going to haul our skinny butts off this station in safety,” he said grinning at Fuji.

“Yeah but if what you say is true it’s been sitting here for thirty years, the engines are probably so cold you could store freeze-pops in them,” Fuji said.

“Yeah, but the Halberd-Class like I said had the most advanced systems of any ship to date and some of them are still more advanced than what is in service with the military and SSPF today,” Rick explained some more.

While the two had been talking Ren had picked the girl back up and had moved down to the hatch of the ship. “Can we get inside? I’m sure Jack and Samuel would appreciate a warm ride when they get here,” Ren grunted under the weight of the girl.

Rick just grimaced and headed over to the door where Ren was standing. “Okay now the access codes for this class were made public after they were scrapped, cross your fingers and hope that they still work,” Rick punched in a ten digit code and after a few seconds of sweating a crack appeared the doors slid inward a few millimeters and then slid to the sides.

The interior of the vessel was even more sleek and sophisticated than the exterior they noticed as they raced for what they assumed was the bridge and were awarded with just that location.

Ren strapped the girl into one of the spare crash chairs and then strapped himself in next to her. “How long is this going to take?” He asked nervously.

“If the info on this class was correct all I have to do is press this button,” Rick said his hand hovering over a large button that said “Automated Reflex Induction Furnace Ignition”.

“Well then push it,” Fuji growled.

“Alright here goes nothing, cross your fingers,” Rick said and pressed the button.

At first nothing happened and Rick was about to tap the key again when the monitors popped on around the bridge and the various consoles came to life.

A pleasant sounding female voice came over the intercom. “Automated Reflex Induction Furnace ignition complete; would you like to do an AI Core Retrieval Dump at this time? Please either indicate verbally with Yes or No or use the command prompt key and enter answer manually,” the synthesized voice told them.

“No,” Rick said quickly and started tapping commands into the touch panel of the console bringing the reaction engines on line and putting them on stand by. Next up was checking the status of the weapons systems and Rick found them all green and ready to fire.

“Warning you will be asked three more times after this point if you wish to initiate AI Core Retrieval Dump; if you reply in the negative each time AI Core will be purged from system,” The female voice told them.

“Wonder what that was all about,” Fuji said as he finished strapping himself in.

“Don’t know, don’t care,” Rick said and punched some more buttons on the console.

“Yo, Jack, Samuel, you guys reading me,” Rick said using the ship’s comm systems to boost their suit signals hopefully enough to reach the remaining party members.

“Yeah, loud and clear; did you find transport?” Jack asked.

“Yup, sure did and she’s a beauty, she…,” Rick started to say before Jack cut him off.

“Never mind, no time for that; Seems our pals from the other ship are getting ready to nuke this facility, so get whatever rust bucket you have ready to go and we’ll be there about two minutes before this place goes kablooey,” Jack informed him.

“Well this rust bucket is ready to go,” Rick drawled.

“Good, have you tried getting the dock doors open yet?” Jack asked and Rick could hear his heavy breathing most likely as he and Samuel homed in on the beacon signal that the ship was boosting.

“Uh, no,” Rick answered wanting to kick himself.

“Shit, okay Rick what part of Nuclear Weapons aimed up our asses’ do you not understand?” Jack growled.

“I’m on it,” Rick said back. Jack dropped off the comm circuit and Rick ran another quick diagnostic on the ship’s weapon systems; they were still green and indicated loaded munitions, typing in a few more commands he hit the execute button.

On the ventral and dorsal decks of the ship armored portals slid into the hull and 50cm rail guns ran out smoothly on rails. Slewing around on their turrets they targeted the docking bay door and all twelve turrets opened fire simultaneously and obliterated the battle plate hatch.

“Little bit of overkill,” Ren said typing commands into his own console.

“You know what they say, go big or go home,” Rick said shrugging.

“Anything I can do to help?” Fuji asked from a blank console.

“No,” the Rick and Ren said in unison.

“Uh, just keep on eye on the girl,” Ren ordered.

“Sure,” Fuji said shrugging and watched the girl.

“What in the bloody hell was that?” Samuel asked over the comm.

“Door knocker, just need to open the door,” Rick replied.

“To what, hell?” Samuel growled.

“Less talking more running, we are almost out of time,” Jack interrupted.

“You guys are almost here,” Ren told them watching their beacons on his console. “We should be able to see them right about…, now,” and he pointed at the portside camera display as two small figures tumbled out the door and onto the dock.

“Fuji go and open the hatch for ‘em,” Rick ordered.

“Roger,” Fuji unlatched his crash frame racing off the bridge and returning a few minutes later with Jack and Samuel who dropped into crash seats at two of the consoles.

“We ready to go?” Rick asked hunched over his console hands ready to dance across the touchpads.

“Not yet we have to wait till the other ship launches its missiles that way we can use the cover of the radiation burst so that their sensors will be blind while we get away,” Jack explained.

“Yeah but it’s going to make a hash of our sensors as well,” Rick griped.

“Well beggars can’t be choosers,” Jack said. “Besides would you rather those nuclear tipped bad boys were targeting us or the station?” Jack asked dryly.

“The station,” Rick said with sigh and edged the ship around to the blown apart hangar door and stopped with just the nose of the vessel sticking out.

Sol System - Saturn Orbit Near Titan

Near Abandoned SSPF Station/Current Pirate Base Magpie 

Privately Registered Vessel - New Edo

July 11th 2535 AD - 2:10 AM GMT

“Launch the missiles,” Rice ordered.

Greaves looked over at Rice who had changed back into his usual gray suit. “Rostov and his men are still on the station,” he protested.

“By this point Rostov should have contacted us and confirmed elimination of all pirates and the Mercs as well as the location of Kawamura’s daughter; since he hasn‘t done so we must assume that something has happened to his team, so launch the missiles,” Rice said without emotion.

“Those are your men over there,” the ship captain started to protest even more.

“Captain, if you do not launch those missiles within the next thirty seconds I will personally gut shoot you, and leave you in your command chair till this assignment is done and then toss you out an airlock. If that isn’t enough of an enticement I will hire some of the most retched and disgusting individuals I can find to go after your wife and daughter and fuck them to death,” Rice said, emotion never entering his voice and he sounded as if he were discussing the weather.

Greaves stared at him for a few seconds and then visibly swallowed any more complaints; turning back to the rest of the bridge crew who were looking past him at Rice with real fear.

“You…,” Greaves had to clear his throat. “You heard him launch the missiles,” he ordered.

“Aye,” squeaked the tactical officer and started tapping away at his keyboard.

Normally it was incredibly hard and incredibly illegal for a non-military registered vessel to get their hands on a single nuke but somehow Rice had found two dozen of them and as the tactical officer tapped away at his keyboard the missiles currently in the tubes were unloaded by the automated system and the first dozen nukes were slid into the tubes in their stead; with another dozen on queue behind them.

“Missiles ready for launch,” the tactical officer said in a somewhat shaky but normal tone of voice.

“Then launch them and then launch the second salvo,” Rice ordered.

The Captain nodded to the tactical officer who hesitated for a second and then stabbed his finger down on the execute key. The ship vibrated under their feet as the first dozen and then the second dozen were belched out of the tubes.

Greaves dry washed his face with his hands and said a prayer for any poor bastards still alive on the station when those missiles reached it.

Out in space the two dozen missiles raced for their target and went into terminal attack mode.

Sol System - Saturn Orbit Near Titan

Near Abandoned SSPF Station/Current Pirate Base Magpie - Interior/Exterior

July 11th 2535 AD - 2:15 AM GMT

Of the twenty-four missiles fired by the New Edo three wandered off course and four proved to be duds; that’s what you get when buying Russian surplus; but the remaining seventeen were more than adequate to annihilate the former SSPF base. The first of the nuclear killers entered the docking bay and detonated obliterating the bodies of the pirates and destroying the assault shuttle and its crew just as their threat board had lit up.

Somehow Rostov had clung to life and at the moment was staring at the rubber grip of the Kabar combat knife sticking out of his chest as if examining an interesting piece of art or a new species of flower. He was still looking at the hilt when the remaining missiles slammed into the pirate base and turned it into the heart of a miniature supernova.

Sol System - Saturn Orbit Near Titan

Abandoned SSPF Station/Current Pirate Base Magpie - Aboard Unnamed Halberd-Class Vessel

July 11th 2535 AD - 2:20 AM GMT

“Time to get out of here,” Jack shouted as the whole ship shook from the explosions tearing the base apart around them.

“Wahooooo,” Rick screamed as he punched the ship out into space and watching the rear cameras as the base behind them vaporized into tiny little molecular components. At the sudden acceleration everyone was rammed back in their crash chairs with the crash frames biting deep to keep them in place and not be flung all over the deck.

The explosion behind the ship gave it’s acceleration extra emphasis and some how the vessel managed to sling shot around Saturn and head on a course for Mars.

“I think I’m going to barf,” Fuji said and leaned over as far as he could in his crash frame and barely got his helmet off in time to retch on the deck.

“Great, you’re cleaning that up,” Ren said leaning back in his chair tiredly.

All five of them would have heavy bruising from the brute force acceleration of the vessel when it left the dock.

“Any idea as to where we are headed?” Jack asked.

Before Rick could answer the pre-recorded female voice came over the intercom again.

“Would You Like To Do AI Core Retrieval Dump At This Time, Please Either Indicate Verbally With Yes Or No Or Use The Command Prompt Key And Enter Answer Manually. This Is Your Second Chance To Do So. Warning you will be asked two more times after this point if you wish to initiate AI Core Retrieval Dump, if your answer is negative during this second attempt at an AI Core Retrieval Dump, if you reply in the negative each time AI Core will be purged from system.”

“That was kind of wordy,” Samuel said.

“What the heck is an AI Core Retrieval Dump?” Jack asked.

“Dunno,” Rick answered shrugging his shoulders. “Should we attempt it?” He asked glancing at the others.

“What if it shuts the whole ship down?” Fuji said wiping a string of spittle and vomit from his chin.

“Well we are pretty much on a ballistic course for Mars at the moment, even if it shuts the main power down we’ll have auxiliary power and still have use of the thrusters for fine control,” Rick explained.

“Do it,” Jack ordered.

Rick cleared his throat. “Please initiate AI Core Retrieval Dump,” Rick said in a clear voice.

“Confirmed, initiating AI Core Retrieval dump in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. AI Core Retrieval Dump Initiated, Unpacking Will Take Approximately 14 Hours And 37 Minutes.”

“Wow that’s an awfully big file,” Muttered Ren.

“No kiddin,” Rick said whooshing out a breath.

“Alright gang since we seem to have gotten away clean let’s figure out where we are going to set down at once we reach Mars,” Jack said unlatching his crash frame.

The others followed suit most of them groaning from various bruises and contusions and Fuji found a zero-gravity vacuum to clean up his puke.

“Ren take the girl to med-bay and keep her sedated till we figure out what the hell is going on,” Jack ordered.

“Roger,” Ren said and went over to the girl unlatching her crash harness and once again slinging her over his shoulders.

“Any suggestions then as to our landing spot?” The former marine asked.

“I’ve got just the place,” Samuel said and brought up a topographical map of Mars on the plotting board in the center of the bridge. “Right here,” was emphasized with a stabbing finger.

“That’s out in the middle of nowhere,” Fuji complained.

“Not really remember these maps are about thirty years old; there’s a small town right here now,” Samuel indicated with another finger.

“How are we going to get there,” called Rick from his console.

“I’ve got a stash of equipment there, some weapons, explosives, a couple of dirt bikes that should hopefully still be in good shape,” Samuel explained.

“When was the last time you were there?” Jack questioned.

“Right after you made your disappearing act,” Samuel told him.

“Huh, well let’s hope those dirt bikes are still working. I don’t suppose that little rinky dink town had a car dealership?” Jack asked.

“It did last time I was there,” Samuel replied.

“Okay, we’ll land the ship near your cache. Ren, Fuji, and Rick will stay with the girl on the ship, Samuel you and I will go into town and get some supplies and a new SUV,” he ordered.

“Roger,” Fuji said. “Uhm, could you possibly pick us up some clothes while you’re in town?” He asked with a motion at his Skinsuit.

“I’ve got some clothes in the cache, but it’ll probably only fit me and Jack,” Samuel told them.

“Good, get everybody’s measurements Fuji including the girl’s and we’ll pick up a weeks worth of clothes for everyone, as well as some food,” Jack ordered.

“And beer,” chimed Rick from his console.

“And beer,” Jack added with a grin. “How’s everyone’s ammo supply?” He asked.

“I’m down to about 25% percent,” Samuel said.

“Fuji, Rick?”

“45%.”

“60%.”

“We can restock ammo from the stash; I’ve got all the calibers we carry in sufficient numbers there.

“Okay then,” Jack turned to the teams pilot. “Rick how long is it going to be till we reach Mars?”

“About a week, on this ballistic course and a couple of judicious hyperspace transits,” Rick answered.

Sol System - Saturn Orbit Near Titan

Near Abandoned SSPF Station/Current Pirate Base Magpie 

Privately Registered Vessel - New Edo

July 11th 2535 AD - 2:45 AM GMT

Rice looked at the debris field that had been the pirate base without any emotion; save for the satisfaction of tying up several loose ends at the same time.

Not only was he able to add another nail to Kawamura’s coffin but he’d eliminated the merc’s before having to pay them. Although it was a shame about Rostov but the man had seemed to be growing some morals.

“Speaking of morals,” he thought to himself as he looked over at Captain Greaves bent over the tactical console. He’d have to do something about Greaves and possibly the whole crew as well.

Greaves could feel the sociopath’s cold stare on his back as he quietly discussed rebooting the tactical sensors with the officer sitting at the console.

“I also recorded this shortly before the sensors went offline,” the tactical officer told him and showed him a sensor recording that clearly showed a vessel on the far side of the base.

Nonchalantly, or at least he hoped nonchalantly Greaves reached over and hit the hard deletion key and the information was overwritten. Straightening up he looked down at the TAC officer. “Your plan to get the sensors back up more quickly should work pretty well,” the captain told the officer.

“What is your order sir?” Greaves asked not daring to look at Rice.

“As soon as sensors are back up set a course back to Haven, there is something I need to pick up.”

“Aye; As soon as sensors are back up set a course for Haven.” Greaves ordered the plotting officer.

“Aye, Sir.”

Sol System - Saturn Orbit Near Titan

Near Abandoned SSPF Station/Current Pirate Base Magpie 

Unnamed Halberd-Class Ship

July 11th 2535 AD - 16:57 GMT

Rick was dozing at his console on the bridge having set the automated collision system to warn him if anything disastrous was about to happen.

He was having a pretty decent dream about the Swedish Swim team when a loud bong rolled through the bridge and he found himself on the floor. After being startled by the sound he had tried to stand up and draw his gun at the same time only to bang his knees against the console and fall to the floor.

“Ow, son of a bitch,” Rick said grasping his knees with both hands as they throbbed. “Computer what was that?” He asked painfully through gritted teeth.

“That was the end of my AI Core Retrieval Dump,” A joyful masculine voice said over the bridge’s intercom system.

“Wow, computer did you have a sex change when I wasn’t looking,” the words slipped past still gritted teeth as Rick still grasped his throbbing knees.

“Would you like me to call for medical assistance?” The unknown voice queried.

“What? No, shit that hurt,” Rick said and finally staggered to his feet and sat back down in the crash chair.

“Are you sure you don’t wish for me to call for medical aid?” The voice asked.

“No, no, I’ll be fine, used to be a Marine, they’d laugh at me if I went to the med-bay after wanging my knees against a console,” Rick said.

“As you wish,” the voice replied.

“Okay, now who the hell are you?” Rick said trying to figure out what direction to face while talking to the voice.

“Pardon my poor manners,” the voice said and cleared its throat. “My name is Ozymandius; I am the Artificial Intelligence control computer for the Halberd-Class vessel hull number FFX-006,” the voice said with pride.

“Oookay, so your just a bunch of canned routines basically,” Rick said bored already.

“I should say not; I have a built in heuristic learning software system and the latest molecular circuitry cognitive base, and my actual personality engrams were based off of those of the lead project director Simon Garfunkle,” the voice finished with a sniff.

“So you’re a computer program with an attitude then,” Rick said still not impressed and then squawked as he found himself dumped on his back behind the crash chair.

“If you wish to refer to me as something, you shall address me as Ozymandius or even Oz will do, but to keep calling me a computer program is most rude,” the voice said indignantly.

“And dumping me out of my crash chair wasn’t,” Rick said from his position on the bridge deck from there he heard the bridge hatch slide open and then closed.

“What are you doing on the floor?” Jack asked looking down at him.

“Taking a nap,” Rick said sarcastically. In all actuality his position was rather weird, the crash chair had recessed into the deck and the back had flipped down so that Rick’s legs were still draped off the back with his head and shoulders lying on the deck and his arms sprawled to his sides.

“Doesn’t seem like a very comfortable position to take a nap in,” Jack said and put his hand out to help Rick up.

Standing up Rick rubbed the back of his head where he could feel a small knot. “Wasn’t exactly my idea,” Rick said waving a hand at the console.

“Console malfunction?” Jack asked.

“Yeah, you could say that, it grew an attitude,” and Rick then explained about the AI.

“So it’s an actual fully cognitive AI and its name is Oz,” Jack said letting out a low whistle.

“Ozymandius to be exact,” the AI said over the bridge comm.

“Nice to meet you Oz,” Jack said.

“And you as well Sergeant Major Sikorsky,” Oz replied.

Jack’s eyebrows rose in a startled expression. “How do you know who I am, your computer system has been shut down for the last thirty years,” he said surprised.

“As soon as you booted up the main terminal it connected with the nearest SSPF satellite and requested an update of pass codes and information keys,” Oz explained.

“The files also say that you are officially dead Sgt. Major,” Oz continued. “And that none of your remaining squad is actually employed by the UEF government or the SSPF, and as such taking this vessel could be construed as an act of piracy,” the computer finished.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Rick said flapping his arms in agitation.

“Oz, let me ask you a question if I may?” Jack said.

“Certainly Sgt. Major,” Oz replied.

“Are you familiar with maritime space ways laws on salvage?” Jack asked.

“Certainly I have access to a full legal database,” Oz told him.

“Do me a favor and check the dates of abandonment for the Halberd project and then when that SSPF base was stricken from records and then check relevant laws concerning salvaging of abandoned vessels,” Jack ordered him.

“I think I see where you are going with this Sgt. Major, very, very clever. Let me look up the relevant laws, this may take a few minutes to cross reference dates and cases,” the AI told him falling silent.

“Certainly go right ahead,” Jack said pulling a cigarette out and lighting it.

It took several minutes for Oz to get back to them and by then Rick had his crash chair sorted out and Jack was sitting in the captain’s chair with a cup of coffee when the AI finally came back with his answers.

“Welcome aboard Captain Sikorsky,” Oz said by way of answer. “You and your team members are now officially registered as the owners and crew of this vessel,” the AI informed him.

“Good,” Jack said nodding.

“However there are a few things that also need to be filled in,” Oz informed him.

“Such as?” Jack said with a raised eyebrow as he sipped his coffee.

“The hull number and name of the vessel need to be determined,” the AI answered.

“Register it as Privately Owned Vessel Hoplite II, with a hull number of FGP-006,” Jack ordered Oz without a seconds thought.

After a few seconds the computer came back on line. “Ship registration is complete, you’ll need to have those painted on the hull once we reach a port,” Oz told them.

“Yeah, first we need to make a little stop,” Jack said and finished his coffee. “We basically have no supplies whatsoever,” Jack told the AI.

“Yes, I had deduced that from running object identification scans from my various security cameras throughout the ship. The vessel is also very low on reaction mass you will have just enough to land on Mars at your initial destination and then take off again to land at the spaceport for refueling,” Oz supplied.

Jack hadn’t realized the ship was that low on reaction mass. “Alright after we take care of our first stop we’ll head for the Spaceport,” he said drinking the thin military coffee.

“Sorry I hadn’t run a resource check yet,” Rick said.

“That’s alright we’ve all been kind of busy for the last day or so,” Jack reassured him.

“Oz what armaments is this ship equipped with?” Jack asked the AI.

“The Halberd-Class is armed with six twin barreled 50cm retracting turrets, three mounted dorsally and three mounted ventrally. The ventrally mounted turrets are mounted port and starboard bow and the third is mounted aft centerline, the ventrally mounted turrets are mounted in line on the centerline. The ship also has eight Mk.900 missile tubes, each with a magazine capacity of 25 missiles, two tubes are mounted on the dorsal side sponson and eject the missile up and to the side, four tubes are mounted in the sides sponsons on the bow and the last two tubes are mounted on the centerline aft between the main reaction engines,” the AI said rattling off the list.

“Munitions supply?” Jack continued.

“Turrets each have a maximum capacity of 250 rounds, each turret currently has 248 rounds, and missile tube magazines are currently fully stocked,” Oz finished.

“Okay then we are pretty good on weapons and munitions for the ship for a while at least,” Jack mused and then stood up.

“Oz why don’t you introduce yourself to the rest of the crew; Rick if you need anything I’ll be in my cabin,” Jack told the pilot.

“Alright,” Rick said giving one of the security cameras that was located in each corner of the bridge the evil eye.

“Don’t be trying to fly my ship,” Rick growled at him.

“Technically this vessel is Captain Sikorsky’s ship, as for flying it I will only take control if the pilot is incapacitated or dead,” Oz told him in neutral tones.

Rick felt a shiver flow down his spine at the words. “Don’t be saying things like that its bad luck,” he admonished.

“I apologize I hadn’t realized that you were one to believe in luck, if you wish I can have the ship’s servos re-arrange your cabin to fulfill the needs of Feng-Shui,” Oz said placidly.

Rick wasn’t sure if the AI was being sarcastic or just trying to be friendly and helpful. “I generally don’t believe in luck, I believe in skill but a little luck doesn’t hurt sometimes,” Rick explained.

“Ah, a most prudent outlook,” Oz told him.

“Sometimes,” Rick scowled again and started running a diagnostics on all the ships functions.

“I can run that for you if you wish,” Oz suggested innocently.

“No that’s quite alright if you want to do anything useful just keep on eye on the sensors,” Rick said and then leaned back in his chair and fell asleep again.

Sol System - Between Saturn And Mars

Privately Registered Vessel Hoplite II - Medbay

July 11th 2535 AD - 17:17 GMT

“Is she still under the effects of the tranquilizer gas?” Fuji asked.

“No; that wore off about three hours ago,” Ren told him as he placed the penlight he had been examining the girl’s pupils with back into his shirt pocket.

“Then what’s the problem?” Fuji asked.

“I’m not sure why she isn’t waking up. Her system doesn’t show any drugs in it but it does show some other weird items in her body, and this,” Ren said flipping a monitor around for both of them to look at.

“I don’t see anything,” Fuji said.

“Precisely, this girl is supposed to have terminal cancer. The scans show negative on any cancerous cells whatsoever, what it does show,” Ren tapped several areas on the image with a light stylus and they zoomed in. “She’s got some sort of implants behind her left ear, in her cerebral cortex, behind her eyes, in her wrists, and ankles and hips and oddly enough inside her reproductive organs,” Ren explained.

“Lot’s of people have implants these days; it’s cheaper than trying to find an organ donor and maybe that’s why you couldn’t find any cancer cells,” Fuji said.

“No these implants don’t match anything in the database, plus these are in addition to her normal organs and joints,” Ren told his brother.

“Maybe old Kawamura decided that whoever she is she needed some cybernetic enhancements,” Fuji suggested.

Ren shrugged. “Hard to say I’m going to try and get a sample of the material the cybernetics are made out of, maybe that’ll lead us to who manufactured them,” Rend said.

Sol System - Earth, Tokyo, Japan

Kawamura Industries Corporate Headquarters, CEO’s Penthouse 

July 11th 2535 AD - 22:00 GMT

“You did what,” Toyatomi Kawamura screamed at the recorded message as it played out on the terminal in his office.

Kawamura was by himself in the office so no one heard him screaming hysterically. After the message ended Kawamura flopped back into his chair and his face drained of all color as what had happened sank more fully into his brain.

“I’m ruined,” he thought to himself. “With the loss of the girl, I am ruined,” Kawamura practically wailed.

Since Kawamura was alone in his office no one heard the grunt of pain, the slow drizzle of fluids and the shlump sound of something wet and greasy hitting the floor.