• If you were supposed to get an email from the forum but didn't (e.g. to verify your account for registration), email Wes at [email protected] or talk to me on Discord for help. Sometimes the server hits our limit of emails we can send per hour.
  • Get in our Discord chat! Discord.gg/stararmy
  • 📅 February and March 2024 are YE 46.2 in the RP.

RP [FT6] The Patriot Gambit, Ep.1: "Bad Business"

Status
Not open for further replies.
Zylis heard Raphael's message despite not having his helmet on. It was nice know his mod was working well enough. Without saying a word, Raphael would hear a response back. "It's nothing really, just Bardur's words struck a chord with me. I shouldn't have gone off like that. I really thought I had better control over my emotions than that. Really I'm better than this..." His digital message sounded exactly as if he spoke it himself. His tone was low, with a tinge of remorse and regret for his actions apparent.

Zylis appreciated Raphael's concern and compassion - It had to have been hard growing up as an Elysian in a place, that more often than not, there were murmurs of discord and hatred abound. "Thank you, Raphael..." A final nonverbal transmission to the Elysian sniper.
 
Simon spoke in his usual bland monotone voice, "I don't believe an EMT is anywhere below an agent. It is, however, reactionary. I'd rather be out there preventing those injuries.

As for blood, I've had it on my hands. I'm no doctor, I took no oaths. I appreciate your insight and respect what could have happened in your past that could give you that opinion. I've had criminals choking on their own blood and LEO's bleeding out right beside them. I've had to make those calls. I assure you Darkjasper that when those times come again, and they will, I will have your back."

Simon wasn't phased by Zylis' reaction. He understood that bad things happen and that some have experienced more than others. Everyone was allowed their opinions and everyone's voice had the right to be heard. That is, after all, why he was there in that shuttle with these highly trained individuals.
 
Last edited:
It was somewhat symbolic of how Field Teams were generally deployed that the down-time wasn't very long. Valerie's instructions during the ride where that they not wonder too far from the bay and shuttle and the crew of the vessel itself seemed to pay them little mind despite seeming to be relatively odd among jump-suits and plain clothes with only security personnel patrolling nearby being the only other personnel in full combat armor with rifles at the ready. While content to let them chat among themselves, Valerie seemed to keep to herself - close enough to keep an ear and eye on her new team but distant enough that they could hopefully chat and familiarize with one another without feeling as if she was breathing down their necks.

Thirty minutes into the flight, the HUD on each agent's armor pinged them with a message indicator that JANE had an incoming message for all of them. Those who would put on their helmets to watch would see a diagram appear. A point appeared, labeled "STATION", off by itself. An arrow pointed the indicated target ship. And then a point indicating their own vessel approaching the station as well as its planned approach. Jane began to speak.

"We will begin an approach in less than ten minutes, Agents, so I would recommend preparing yourselves immediately if you have not already done so. We will close in with the station at which point we will diverge in the shuttle. We'll hide in its profile opposite the suspect vessel to avoid detection by LADAR or similar sources - at which point the shuttle will be able to sweep under - as these things go in space - our own ship to then get under the station. Maintenance hatchways generally reserved for automated workers run the length of the station's docking arms and can be used for a covert approach in order to bypass security."

As she spoke, the diagram changed and zoomed in as necessary, adding more detail with each level of magnification to leave no doubts just what the plan in question was. Time stamps were provided at various points to provide reference and from beginning to end the whole operation - leaving the docking bay to using the shuttle's roof-mounted hatch - would be no more than seven minutes. If it went as planned then they would be docked and on the station without having ever appeared on any sensor scopes.

"Two additional notes, Agents. The first is that currently no individuals aboard the station are aware of our operation. This includes local security and law enforcement forces. It is also worth noting that the station does not normally generate gravity to reach the maintenance tunnels so as to save on power consumption. Keep this in mind as you are moving."

With the additional details having been given out, Valerie finished up her prepping routine. A magazine seemingly symbolically tapped against the helmet before being driven home into the magazine well of her rifle, a rack of the slide, and she was moved to stand where she could get a hand-hold above her. The crew of the shuttle ran a rapid-fire check to make sure things were still operationally sound and signaled that they were clear for flight with a ping to the individual team members.

"Also, I have taken the liberty of planning multiple extraction routes. Primary extraction will be out of shuttle bay, out the starboard side. Failing that the secondary extraction will be out of the starboard cargo bay. Tertiary extraction will be a "breakout" back into the maintenance tunnels to extract via the original point of entry."

By the time JANE was finished the shuttle whined to life and there was a jolt as it picked up off the deck of the cargo bay. Valerie hadn't left her spot standing among the other members of the team looking over each of them through the nearly opaque visor of her helmet. With the re-breather in place it would be hard to tell save by body language just what she was thinking. More perceptive members of the team would see she was practically a coiled spring. Years of experience allowing pent up energy to be honed and controlled for when she would need it. And she looked over each member of her team, trying her best to read them as the shuttle shifted and moved to leave the bay.

They were green for the most part but it wasn't like that could be held against them. For the most part they all seemed to be grounded in the reality of what it was that they were doing, while at the same time having the sort of morale and dedication that the NNSO looked for in the medical staff for "Blackout". Records for training showed that they were all exemplary agents who knew what they were doing very well. But at the same time, ink on paper and data stored away in files only amounted to so much, and their value dropped with every minute that they came closer to the real deal. Maybe if she'd served with them in the past or had seen them in action before now, she might have been more confident, but as it was she could only hope and put faith in them.

Though none of them would exactly have much of a view of it, the shuttle's flight-path was smooth. Slipping out of the shuttle bay and cleanly under the ship it had just come from. Distance was kept for safety but the crew was skilled enough to keep so close as to hide themselves from passive scans. For the flight, the crew kept their operations radio-silent, and Valerie very obviously was doing the same. She said nothing and instead kept her eyes on the hatch above. Seven minutes wasn't long but when spent in absolute silence, it seemed to crawl. Eventually though, it would come to a stop. The feeling of the shuttle jostling, the sound of metal meeting metal reverberating through the hull.

Valerie trained her rifle on the hatch as the hiss of equalizing air pressure could be heard.

"Here we go, ladies and gentlemen." She drew a sharp breath, "Let's rock."

She made single motion for the team to form on her.

"I've got point."

She one-handed her way up the ladder with her rifle trained through the entrance. Total darkness above them with only the roof of the tunnel illuminated by the shuttle's own internal lights. The only way they were going to be able to see was through the light amplification or infrared vision modes of their Golems or lights if they'd thought to bring any. Valerie disappeared into the open hatchway, able to "toss" herself up once she was halfway through and stop herself with a hand against the roof. Absurdly graceful for her size and the bulk of her equipment. And once they'd followed her the team would be able to see what looked like hand-hold rails running the length of the walls in either direction. Obviously, even if it was meant to be more frequented by automated systems, the designers of the station had kept occasional humanoid traffic in mind.

Displayed through their visors, a pale blue line was laid out on the floor of the tunnel, leading off into the darkness towards a blip that also appeared, "ENTRY".

"I've taken the liberty of marking the most expedient path for you, so you aren't lost."

"Thank you kindly, Jane." Valerie muttered as she pulled herself along between her feet and one hand, "Now let's get moving."

She led the way into the darkness, light amplification on to use the sparse spots of light marking maintenance panels or electrical junctions on all four sides of the tunnel every few meters. As they moved they would pass hatches with manual locks and seals, and occasional turn offs that obviously led to other sections of the station. But for the most part it was a silent and potentially, at times, difficult straight-forward path towards JANE's marked point drawing ever closer.
 
Simon’s response did much to quell Zylis’s concerns about his outburst, but little to shake the feeling of seeming like an idiot for letting his emotions get the better of him. A sincere nod of acknowledgement was returned to Simon, but Zylis was for the most part done speaking at this point. Thankful he wasn’t painted in the color his actions had shown him to be, that was probably the only way it could be more obvious he was a green as they come.


==============================​


Thirty minutes in JANE transmitted very detailed information for them to go over, and his helmet went on almost instinctively. Thankful to be out of his own head, he devoted his attention to the mid-flight briefing. The routes, the tactical analysis, everything seemed extremely well laid out for them.

Committed to his digital memory, Zylis began checking his gear one final time before they’d begin the operation. Everything checked out on his gear and clips were loaded. His HG36-1 was held at the ready with his “Knuckler" waiting at his left thigh. His eyes scanned over the displayed information on his HUD and an idea popped in his head about getting through the tunnels. Radio silence kept him from relaying his idea to Valery however.

Seven minutes… seven long minutes of silence. “Remember your training Zylis, remember everything they taught you. Everything they built upon and refined from being a Peacekeeper.” He drew a deep breath in. “Now steady your nerves…” He exhaled slowly. His emotions would be tucked away for good reason, seemingly calmed and collected again.

When the shuttle reached the entry point and Valery called everyone to her, Zylis instinctively moved to follow immediately behind her. His eyes had already adjusted for low light conditions instead of using the visor, and the HUD’s passive direction seemingly helped instead of hindered his ability to see. His movements behind Valery to leave the shuttle were fluid and showed both the designed improved agility his Minkan body possessed as well as his own training to keep his physique well honed.

Instead of using his hands like everyone else however, Zylis was keen to utilize minute bursts of his inertial control to propel himself through to the waypoint JANE marked, keeping his hands firmly on his rifle. This was done under the premise of saving energy for the inevitable shit storm they were about to be a part of.
 
As JANE gave the team their in flight briefing, Raphael went into full combat mode. He stayed silent as he cycled both weapons, synced their targeting data to his helmet, and finally slamming home the magazines. The rest of the ride went on in silence as Raphael readied himself for the impending battle.

In his time as a law enforcement officer he was used to dealing with high risk operations, from hostage situations to armed assailants robbing banks. Still It would be his first intense battle as a full fledged agent, not only that he was part of the three man team which would have the biggest role during there operation. To say Raphael was nervous was an understatement, but he calmed himself. 'No reason in worrying myself when we haven't even gotten under way' he thought.

As the shuttle docked, and the chief gave the signal to get moving, Raphael flexed his wings then tucked them tightly against his body. He slung his AMR rifle behind his back and readied his SMG. He and the rest of the team floated through the passage way, following the line in there HUD to the AO.
 
Simon stood, rechecked that his med bag and weapons were secure and thought back to his training. He had excelled at stealth actions and approaches and this would put all that to the test.

He could hear his first medical trainer, "Remember, your the first one that lays hands on the wounded out on the streets. Get in, assess, act." These words rang true his entire adult life from one job to the next. He had to be prepared for anything, no rushing, and make the call.

Simon stepped up behind the rest of the team and slid into the maintenance tube and pushed off. He started off rocky while he got his bearings but soon had a decent grab, pull, launch pattern going.
 
Jasmine had just finished her makeshift flash bangs when JANE had told them what was about to happen. She remained quiet, just as the others, and went through her own mental checklist. Though she gave off the confidence of being capable, she was afraid that the choices she had made would hinder her or the team.

Unlike most of the other Nepleslians that went through the training, Jas relied on her own senses as much as she could. She struggled through training because the only enhancement she was willing to allow was to her eyes. Little did she know, but while that procedure took place, they did the enhancements to her ears and brain as well as augmented her bones and heart. Should anything go wrong, Valerie had the switch to bring Jasmine back...though it was unlikely that it would be needed in this mission.

Jasmine, being unaware, went through training with flying colors. Maybe because she didn't have the other things turned on allowed her to be more focused. Who knows? What really matters is that, deep down, Jasmine is terrified. She was able to go through training because it was just that: training. She knew none of it was real. None of it would really harm her, or at least not enough to cause her to die. Also, during most of the simulations, she was either on her own having to think of what to do, or she was in the lead. Not because she thought of herself as an exemplary leader, but because the others in her training squad had noticed right off she could think on her feet.

When the time came for them to head out, Jasmine took a deep, steady breath, and followed the path outlined for her on where she was needing to go. She had everything primed and ready. Her eyes adjusted easily to the semi-darkness and she kept as calm as can be on the outside, in spite of her inner turmoil.
 
Val tensed as the team started moving out of the shuttle into the dark maintenance tunnels. She wasn't too keen on blasting buckshot everywhere with her team around her, so the shotgun was slung onto her back and she moved with the team, keeping her hand on her handgun positioned on her belt. She took a deep breath and let out a visible sigh as the air pressure adjusted to the outside. She tossed her head back and forth to adjust it to fit one last time. It was more of a nervous gesture than anything uncomfortable or wrong with her helmet.

Passing into the low light conditions wasn't a major shock, but one with low gravity was a bit unnerving. Being the last out of the shuttle, she took a rear guard for the team as they made their silent approach. She pulled herself along with the handholds, about fifty feet from the person in front of her. Every one hundred feet or so she would pause, check their rear and listen for a few seconds. She used the light amplification as she traversed but switched to thermals as she checked her surroundings. Not really expecting anything major to happen, she continued to deftly move along the passageway and try not to make too much noise.
 
Blackburn quietly pulled himself forward through the passage behind Jasmine with one hand gripping his rifle as he warily scanned the area. His heart was beating harder and faster than normal and it felt like his guts were tied into a knot. Unable to shake the feeling that a squid was going to jump out of the dark and murderise him, he was also forced to go slightly slower than those in front of him to keep all his extra ammo from rattling around and making too much noise.

Dedicating far too much brain power analysing the crevices for threats that were only in his head he failed to notice what he was grabbing. Blackburn accidentally grabbed Jasmines foot as he was pulling himself along. Realizing his mistake he quickly let go and tried to look nonchalant whilst pretending to not notice what he had done, not a simple feat in these conditions and under the circumstances.
 
Jasmine felt something grab onto her foot. She gave a quiet gasp and looked down, seeing Blackburn so close to her. Frowning a bit, she shook her head and tried to calm her racing heart, not quite sure why the other even reached for her. Regardless, she kept going, keeping her breathing as normal and quiet as possible.
 
If they opted for silence, the journey would be long, quiet, and rather uneventful. Period off-shoots in the maintenance tunnel at predictable intervals were the only breaks in any grab-push-grab patterns as those mindful of them could turn their weapons down the tunnels to scan for anything threatening. The low-light mode of their suits would really be good more for tracking where they were in relation to the walls than for seeing very far in any direction.

Only pin-pricks of light from maintenance panels would provide any sort of illumination otherwise. And other than that Valerie stayed quiet for the most part and JANE's drawn path and indicator served as constant reminders where they were needing to go if they were to get disoriented or lost somehow.

Gravity would soon come into the picture again. Somewhat gradual but unexpected enough that when it first pulled her down, Valerie stumbled a couple of steps before she managed to catch herself from falling with a tight grip on the hand-rail she'd been using. It was hardly enough to feel normal just yet but as they moved closer and closer an end to the maintenance tunnel would come in sight and the team would start to feel relatively normal weight on their shoulders again by the time they'd close in on a hatch in the wall directly ahead.

Valerie, by virtue of having been at point, was the first to the hatch. A manually locked one by the looks of the wheel mounted on its center. She motioned for one of the others to take a position where they'd be able to have a bead on anybody on the other side before she slung her rifle and moved to start turning the wheel.

"See anybody on the other side - and you kill 'em." Valerie declared simply, "Worst case scenario, its a hot run to the ship. Even if I'd prefer it not be." And with that Valerie set to work opening the hatchway.

There was no dramatic hiss or cloud of steam - pressure was relatively matched on either side. But there was the heavy thud of metal meeting metal that drew a sharp profanity from the team leader as she backed up to start pulling the door open. As she did she drew her pistol to move and aim around the side of the door as it swung further open. The team and the maintenance tunnel in general was hit with a yellow-white glow of artificial lights too far up to see through the open hatchway without standing in it.

And thankfully several feet of open ground that were completely empty between their entryway and a pale red cargo container. Stepping out the hatch would reveal that they were between unloaded cargo containers and the wall of the docking bay. Breaks in the containers formed "alleys" of sorts and the various heights of the stack ranged from one container that somebody could jump and pull themselves up on to stacks high enough to go past the catwalk that looked like it likely ran the entirety of the room.

Valerie made a motion for the team to spread out, specifically to the two "alleys" that bracketed their entry on either side of the container directly ahead, "Keep with your assigned team as much as possible. And try to stay low-profile." She whispered to them as she moved for the left alley.

It was now that they'd have more freedom to move. Careful planning and movement to avoid making noise might allow somebody willing to use the container to scale up to others and potentially get good firing lines - though none of the stacks tall enough to reach the maintenance walkways could be reached without crossing over pathways where people might be down below who could notice it happening.

Down the alleyway on the right, voices could be heard before anybody would even be able to peak around the corner, "So the Captain is expecting somebody?" A male voice asked.

"He's just worried, is all. Ship is having problems and after what happened - who knows what the Navy managed to pull? He says the folks paying for this job warned him to keep an eye out." Another man, younger by the sound.

"Did they say who they thought it was?"

"I don't know. Spooks, maybe?"

There was silence between the two talking. A peak around the corner would reveal a pair of men in unremarkable street clothes. They were standing halfway between the end of the "alley" where the agents were and a four-way cross between different sections - walking away. Neither of the thugs seemed to be paying too much attention to their surroundings, looks of concern on their faces as their growing distance made it impossible to eavesdrop on their further, now whispered, conversation.

On the other end there was silence - but it wasn't empty. Looking around the corner would reveal another pair of thugs much like the first two. One was a female with brightly colored hair leaning back against a cargo container as she pulled on a cigarette, one hand on a shotgun as she periodically looked both ways. The other was an older gray-haired man, crouched down and visibly using a DataJockey with an SMG tucked under one arm.

What happened next was in the hands of the Agents of her team. Valerie waited to see how they would all act. They knew the plan - but now it was on them to carry out their parts in it. She couldn't always hold their hands and tell them what to do.
 
As the team finally exited the Tunnel, Raphael knew it was go time. As his fire team took their alley he had a spark of inspiration. He opened a com link in his helmet to the chief as well as Zylis.

"Alright boss, I will go and climb those containers to our left. I would use my wings, but that might make too much noise. I will set up a cover position and mirror your path." He wispered even though his helmet completely ubsqured his face. He then quietly moved to the containers on the left and began climbing to the top.

Once there he had a perfect view of their lane. He laid prone, inching his way forward. There he saw the two thugs on their side. He opened coms with his fire team again. "Mum, there are two tangos up ahead. I will take the one with the data jockey. You or Zylis take the tango with the shotgun. Tell me when your ready to take the shot." He said as he inched into place. Raphael brought his weapon up, sighting the reticle in between the eyes of the man on his data jockey. He thumbed his submachine gun into semi auto and waited for either the chief or Zylis to get into position.
 
Last edited:
Simon assessed the situation alongside his fellow agents. It was obvious the two chatters were pretty ignorant of the danger that lurked behind them.

Through his helmet comms, "I think it would be best if Blackburn and I voided the two chatty Cathy's. Sparken and Blackhawk can stay on overwatch then leapfrog to the next intersection while I and Blackburn keep overwatch. Thoughts?"
 
Blackburn leveled his rifle at the younger of the two chatty thugs. "Yeah here's a thought, we shoot the older one of 'em in the head real quiet like and the younger in the stomach. Then, we force him to cough up what he knows," he replied into the comm. The info would be nice and it dealt with the two.
 
Last edited:
Jasmine nodded slowly and murmured into her comms, "That's a good plan, but let me first throw some flash bangs at them...try to distract them a bit." She gets them ready and looks to the others to see if they are agreeable to this. They are supposed to be making the noise and directing the others away from the main goal after all!
 
Team B, Right Alley

Simon shrugged at the straight forward, guns blazing attitude of his peers. He had always preferred stealth himself and throughout his training was commended for his ability to slip in and out of the shadows. There was just something about that comfort of not being seen and the myriad of options it offered.

Simon slid forward along the large shipping crate towards the older of the two men, each step silent and quick. He hoped that, since their goal was to be a distraction in the engine room and not in the open courtyard things would go smooth and quiet.

He easily grabbed the older guard around the neck and covering the mouth being sure not to kill him to hopefully use Blackburn's suggestion of interrogation. Dragging him back towards the other agents, as he knew the younger guard would be taken care of by his fellows.
 
Last edited:
Zylis came out of the tunnel with his silenced HG36-1 at the ready and crouched down alongside one of the containers while Raphael quickly scaled topside to get a better vantage point. With a deep breath, he listened to Raphael report his findings, quietly stepping down the alleyway to get a better vantage point on the two thugs.

"Mum, there are two tangos up ahead. I will take the one with the data jockey. You or Zylis take the tango with the shotgun. Tell me when you're ready to take the shot."


"Only two? Only two..." Zylis thought to himself. This was it, the real deal. His heart began to race, thumping loudly in his head. As he drew closer, he mentally transmitted to Raphael and Valerie, "Safety's off, I'm lining up a shot." Sighting down his rifle, Zylis had found he had a clear shot, aimed at the back of the shotgun carrying
thug's head. He steadied himself and his breathing, "Castiel, ready when you are." He sent, exhaling as he squeezed the trigger and sent a single silenced shot racing toward the thug in hopes of dropping them right alongside the other Raphael had in his sights.
 
Raphael heard Zylis's response. "Roger that. Taking the shot."He squeezed the trigger and sent a round straight through the thugs forehead. "Both targets down. I'm moving up. Zylis, grab that guy's datajockey and donload the hard drive. You might get some use out of it. I'm moving up Mum." He crouched and moved on ahead. Wary of any more tangos.
 
Val was glad for the return of gravity. She preferred to have boots on the ground if she was in an engagement. She kept her handgun up and ready, scanning for threats as she moved to follow her team. "If we are the distraction, I can create quite a ruckus with my shotgun. Buckshot will clear a hallway quick." She followed the other team and kept her watch to the rear. They could run to the enemy all they wanted, but they were dead if they got flanked and pinned from behind.

She psyched herself up as the other agents started calling over comms. She'd been a marine, but had never seen frontline combat. Val was ready as the team came upon the two thugs. She was lacking on the silenced weapons department, so she kept her guard on the rear. "I got overwatch, let me know when we are going loud." She holstered her handgun and swung her shotgun from her back to rest in her hands. She was careful where she pointed the barrel, keeping the trajectory of the buckshot in mind as she looked for other threats to her team. She kept the barrel at a 45 degree angle down the narrow alley, ready to let loose a swarm of buckshot at anything that wasn't insured by the NNSO.
 
Erring on the side of caution, Zylis crept alongside the container to its edge, then after a moment of hesitation he cautiously peeked around the corner to make sure there weren't any hidden surprises waiting for him. The intersection in the rows of containers to which he had arrived drew his attention earning a narrowed eye scan of the suroundings before he slipped to the other side of the alley moving to retrieve the DataJockey.

Despite being covered in blood, it didn't seem like there was any damage done to the device itself. Taking a moment to sling his rifle over his shoulder Zylis set to work opening the DataJockey - crouching down, maintaining as low a profile as he could, all the while connecting a transfer cable with familiar motions before thoroughly stripping any and all data from the pad. With the contents downloaded, Zylis stowed the unit itself within the small pack on his back for further examination at a later time, then brought his rifle back up to the ready.

Casting his gaze about whiletaking a breath to steady himself Zylis inquired over the comms, "Team Bravo, what's your status? Are we ready to move? Castiel, I'm right behind you. Data from the Jockey is being decrypted and parsed for analysis as we speak."After his inquiry, Zylis switched comm channels to address JANE. "I have information that needs to be filtered through after decryption is complete, shall I transmit once I've succeeded?"
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
RPG-D RPGfix
Back
Top