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05-23-2012, 12:40 AM | #1 |
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Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 486
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Special Police DekaOps
Prologue He sat in a plain waiting room going over things in his head. Two days ago he received a letter. It looked official, he thought it was his acceptance into Ranger school. Instead it told him to report to the Fort Detrick in Maryland to meet with a special committee. He couldn’t think of anything that he did wrong that would call for such a need. Nothing that would have him head to another state for at least. "Lieutenant?", someone by the now open door said. "They'll see you know." He stood, adjusted his dress jacket and placed his hat under his arm and marched in. Three men were sitting behind a table, the African American man he recognized immediately, Major Henry Pierce. He was slightly surprised to see him there, he heard a leg injury knocked him out of the Army. The other two, a balding colonel and a general who looked really strict, he didn't know. He walked in front of them and stood at attention, "Lt. Daniel Stevens reporting as ordered Sirs." "At ease," the colonel said. He set his feet apart and tried not to hyperventilate. "You're not in any kind of trouble so relax." Then why the hell was he called up here then, but he kept that thought to himself. The general reached under the desk and pulled out some kind of futuristic looking rifle and placed it on the table. "Do you know what this is Lieutenant?" He picked it up and examined it a little closer. "It looks like one of these weapons those Alienizers are supposed to carry." "Your close," Pierce told him. "It's an Alienizer design alright, but the parts used to make come from here." "Were we able to copy there technology sir?" "No. This, and several like it, was confiscated in a raid in the Middle East. We're not sure who made it or how it was distributed. Or how many are out there already." "Then shouldn't this go to one of those SPD units sir?" "We were brought in soon enough," a tinny voice said. A walking scorpion came through a side door. It made several clicking noises with its’ claw and mouth, a few moments later a device attached to his long black coat replied in that tinny voice. "Pardon me for my rudeness, but I felt it was time to introduce myself." "Of course," The General replied, somewhat restrained. "Lieutenant, this is Commander Scorp of SPD High Command." "A nickname, my actual name cannot be spoken by mammal tongue." "Sir," he nodded sharply. He kept his face neutral. There were a lot of people in the Armed Services who didn't care for this whole SPD mess, he was one of them. "Outside of discovering a few warehouses and sellers," Scorp continued," our investigation turned up very little." "I thought SPD was supposed to be the best at this sort of thing", Stevens said. "They are," the General said. "But each unit is assigned a limited area to cover. There are a ton of places not covered these aliens can use to hide from them." "And we could not search those areas without causing problem," the commander added. "Do to the unique nature of the political set up on this planet, we do not go where we are not asked." "I should add," the Colonel spoke up, "that most of the parts in this thing come from the good ol' USA. Plus there some parts from Russia, Iran and God knows where else. Can you imagine the uproar in the Middle East if they're spotted there unannounced." "We have run into similar problem elsewhere," Scorp said. "Fortunately SPD command has approved a plan to help in these matters. Seeing how most of the parts of this weapon came from this country I approached this government for help in setting things in motion." "Is this that rumored SPD unit that’s supposed to be setting up in Texas?" "Not exactly," Pierce stood up and walked around the table. For the first time he saw the cane he was using. "That unit is being set up as we speak as is another one. What we're discussing here is a covert ops type of unit." "This unit will go were the others cannot", Scorp said. "With all due respect sirs, but what does this have to do with me?" Dan had an idea, he just needed to hear it. Scorp supplied the answer, "I am told that you will be a perfect fit for this unit. "Again with all due respect sirs, I don't do spandex." "The armor is made of a highly flexible metal that enhances you natural abilities," Scorp informed him. "General," Pierce leaned in, "I know this is unusual but may I speak with the Lieutenant alone?" "Yes Major," Pierce lead him into the side room Scorp came from. "Are all your soldier that disrespectful", he heard him asking before the door was closed. "Still know how to make friends don't you Danny?", Pierce chuckled. "Is this a joke Major?" "This is totally serious Dan." Pierce looked him right in the eyes, "This is very bad. It's bad enough these Alienizers find this planet so fascinating, now they're selling low grade version of their own weapons to the highest bidder." "But why me? There has to be somebody else out there more qualified than I am." "Now I doubt that. I trained you in basic and I been keeping tabs on you over the past couple of years. You are the quickest study I’ve ever meet. You're one of the tops in the field in recon and a shoe in to become one of the best Army Rangers in history. You also don't take any crap from anyone under you. That's why you were chosen, we need someone like you in this." "So the units being composed of people in the military?" That he could live with, probably. "Not exactly. You will be placed with a unit of trained SPD operatives who specialize in field needed for this." "If they have guys trained in this sort of thing why ask for me?" "It's a covert unit. SPD authorized it with no problem and we agreed that this was needed. The unit will answer directly to SPD but the government wanted a say in the unit personal if it was going to be headquartered here in the States. You were part of a compromise." "What was the other part?" "There will be an alien in the unit as well." "Perfect," Dan looked out the turned and looked out the window. "So I'd be taking order from that thing in there for now on?" "Not directly, Commander Scorp is the divisional Commander of the covert unit. From what I understand there are going to be at least four other unit like this on somewhere out there in the Galaxy." He twirled his cane in his hand," I'll be in control of things planet side." He looked at the Major in surprise," You'll be in control?" "I like to feel useful, can't do that behind the desk." "More like you love barking out orders, which you can do behind a desk Major," he smirked. "I'll keep that off the record. Dan, I was the one who recommended you for this position, I'm asking you to take it." He looked out the window. People on the other side of that wall were going on with their business, no clue on what was going on in this room. God he really wanted to be one of those people right now. An SPD unit, who in the hell did he piss off. But an assignment was an assignment, no matter how you felt about it. "So where do I report for this thing?" Pierce smiled and clapped him on the shoulder, "I knew you’d take it, but you’re not in yet. Scorp is worried about you, he's not sure you can keep up with trained SPD officers. So you're being sent to the planet Nagaus 7 for additional training. You make it past that, you’re in like Flynn." "Additional training? Off planet???" "Think of it as really intense ranger training, with a whole lot of cool toys at your disposal." "If it doesn't kill me first." "I hear the mortality rate is pretty low," Pierce joked. He didn't find it funny. "You leave in three days." "Not a whole lot of time to prepare." "We don't have much time to mess around. The unit should be up and running by the time you get back. I'll update you on things here then." "I'm going to get you back for this, you know that?" "I'll be waiting for it." Pierce saluted him, he returned it. They went back to the other room were Pierce told him he accepted. The colonel and general nodded in approval, the alien he couldn't read. They dismissed him and he left the room. He would have felt better if they brought him in to charge with something. *note* this takes place six month prior to the first episode |
05-27-2012, 01:02 AM | #2 |
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Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 486
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Special Police DekaOps
1 He spent several long moments trying to decide if the insect in front of him had dots or dashes covering it's body. Dashes meant he could eat it, he could eat the ones with the dots too, but he’d be throwing it up a few minutes later. What the hell, he as hungry and he couldn't risk staying in the same spot for much longer. Dan snatched the bug off the tree quickly. Taking out his knife he cut the head off, he learned he couldn't make a dent in its shell with his teeth the hard way. "Just like before," he told himself, "do it just like a crawdad." Dan put the shell to his lips and sucked the meat out. His face twisted at the taste, it did not improve over time but it was edible, that's what counted. He rationed out the food stuff he was given at the start of the final exam as best he could. He ran out five days ago, even with mixing in whatever he could find out here in the jungle. And the final exam started three weeks ago by his estimation. He should have told Pierce no. Dan looked at the sky, the first sun was just starting to set. It was going to be a couple of hours before the other one did the same. When they told him they were sending him here for additional training he was expecting some kind of police school, not one mixed in with the survival boot camp from hell. And what a final exam they were given, each "student" was given a backpack of supplies and the bare minimum of gear and told to out into this jungle. The objective was to survive and try to not get caught by the search parties for as long as possible. He could have done that back on Earth, at least there he didn't have to worry about being eaten by the local plant life. Time to move on. Digging a small hole he buried the shell and blended the dirt in as best he could. Keeping some loose dirt in his hands he rubbed it onto his face, his used to be blond hair and beard and his arms using the sweat to help it stick. Dan set off for what he guessed was south keeping careful attention to his surroundings. A sound made him duck down and he saw the source soon enough, a group of men in helmets and jungle uniforms. Another search party was sweeping the area. There were more and more of them these past couple of days. Slowly he moved away from where they were looking. What he wasn't expecting was the group right behind him. He must be tired, he didn't even see them. "There!", one of the shouted as he pointed in his direction. Dan ran into a dense patch of bushes. There was an open field not far from this location. He spent some time planting some foot trails there going in different direction. Hopefully it would confuse them long enough to buy him some time, but it was a gamble. One he lost because there was another party there waiting for him. "Damn it!" "Attention!", a voice barked out. Years of military training made him snap straight. A cat like creature named Mynx walked foreword smartly and stared him down. "What is this filthy slug my men have fished out of the jungle? Could this slug possibly be Daniel Stevens?" "Sir, yes sir!", Dan answered "Did you think you were being clever human?" "Sir, no sir!" "You're lying to me boy." "Sir, no sir!" "If there is one thing I can't stand it's a liar." He turned away from him and started walking the area looking at the ground. Every so often he would rub out one of the footsteps. "Did you honestly think this little trick would work?" "Yes sir!" "Finally we hear the truth. It apparently never crossed that tiny human mind of yours that this was the oldest trick in the book." Dan couldn't answer but he resisted the urge to look down. “Did I not say that the only way to pass this last test was to be one of the last five caught?" "Sir, yes sir!" Then the cat started eying his men, "Then can someone please explain to me how this lowly slug from Earth was the third to last one caught?" Dan looked at him in surprise after his head was finally able to process what was just said. He quickly went back to attention as Mynx turned around. "That's right son, out of a class of twenty we set loose you are officially number eighteen." He softened his tone, “Congratulation Stevens, you have passed the exam and passed the course." His head started swimming as he took that in. He made it. "Permission to fall on my ass sir!" Mynx made this deep guttural type of sound that he learned to recognize as a chuckle, "Permission granted." He fell on his butt and sat there breathing hard. "Help Stevens off with his pack." A couple of Mynx's men came up and took the pack from him. The cat continued, "This course was specifically designed by Commander Scorp to test the limits of the candidates both physically and mentally. He felt only those who could meet his standards were capable to lead. I must admit a lot of the beings here didn't think you make it to the final exam. I am proud to say that I wasn't one of them. Major Pierce helped design this program. If he thought you were up to the task than I had no reason to doubt you either." "Pierce had a hand in this hell hole? I thought some of it felt familiar." Mynx looked down at him for a long time. "For someone who was told they passed you don't look all pleased Stevens." "I was hoping to outlast that damn lizard sir." That damn lizard was a chameleon-sejin named Chatrox. Everyone had him pegged to pass this course with flying colors. And he let everyone know it every chance he got. He was also very displeased Dan was there, making snide remarks about the "lowly human". A sentiment shared by several others as they gave Dan a wide berth whenever they could. He would have gave anything to show up the apparent ring leader. "You did Stevens. Chatrox was the first one caught." Dan looked up at him in disbelief. "We caught him sneaking back in a day after the exam started. He was trying to access SPD information from our computers. He was taken off planet to discover who he was doing it for and where he obtained his illegal genetic enhancements." "Now I'm confused." “He was able to turn invisible Stevens. That's not natural, at most he should have changed his skin color to blend in with his surroundings. There is going to be hell to pay when Command figures out how he got this far." "Kicked out of SPD?" Mynx nodded. "Couldn't happen to a nicer piece of filth." "Agreed." Mynx extended a hand and helped him up. "A car will take you back to camp. You can clean up and rest for as long as you like. When you are ready a special meal from Earth will be prepared for you." He made that chuckling sound again, "Commander Scorp may tell me how to treat you during the course but he said nothing about afterwards. I run my troops into the ground but I reward those who can meet or exceed my expectations." He headed for a truck but stopped and looked at him, "Before I forget, Stevens welcome to SPD. Do us proud son." Dan saluted him and followed one of the others to that car. *** Two days later he was on the DekaSpaceBase, minus his electric razor. So he still had the beard because somebody was curious at how it worked and couldn’t put it back together. Right now Dan was still seeing spots after his retinal scan and was being directed to a hallway. Not the one that lead to the shuttle to Earth. No this one lead to another part of the DekaSpaceBase. "Now what?", he muttered as he grabbed his duffel bag. A woman in a gray uniform with gold trim led him through the halls until she stopped in front of a door. "He's waiting for you in here sir." "Thank you." She smiled, saluted him and walked off. The door slide open as he stepped forward to reveal a conference room of some sort. There was a long table with a briefcase on top of it, Pierce was standing in front of a window with Earth silently and slowly spinning in the background. The Major was wearing a black uniform with red trim. The SPD Earth symbol was visible on his right shoulder. Dan dropped his bag by the door as he walked over to him. "Captain Daniel Stevens reporting for duty sir." "At ease Dan." After a moment he looked at him smiling, "Looks like the promotion suits you." "It was a bit of a surprise." "After going through that I thought you deserved it. So... did you have fun?" "Did I have fun?", Dan kept his voice level but the disbelief was still evident. "I was the only human out of a bunch of alien with abilities I didn't think an organic being could have. I spent my days busting my ass to make sure I wasn't left in the dust. Most of my nights were spent studying SPD procedure for any pop quizzes Mynx decided to drop on you. And I had to study what was what on that God forsaken planet to make sure I didn't accidentally poison myself. And how in the hell did you sneak a turkey off planet?" Pierce laughed, "Sounds like you had a blast." Dan grunted, "So says the man who helped design the damn program." "Found out about that huh?" He tapped his cane on the ground a few times before speaking, "This has been in the planning stages for awhile Dan. Scorp wanted something similar to what we do during basic. I was called in to supervise. I tried showing them how some things were done." "Is that what happened to your leg?" Pierce smile saddened just a bit. "Let's say I should have spent a little more time studying what was what on that planet." He looked back out the window, slowly twirling his cane. "I'm glad we got this room," he said softly. "This view reminds you what you’re fighting for." Dan stood next to him, "How bad are we talking here?" "A lot has changed since you been gone Dan. There are nine Deka units now, from in the planning stages to fully active. That's including ours." He whistled, "That's a lot of teams. Any other planets have that many units?" "To my knowledge most planets only have one. Hell if I know why these Alienizers find Earth so fascinating. Hopefully we'll find out sooner or later." Pierce walked away from the window and sat at the table, Dan followed suit. "Has the alien arrived yet?" Dan assignment to the team was half of a compromise between SPD command and the US military. The other half was that an SPD officer from another planet would be part of the team. After six month of being the only human that was going to be interesting. "From my understanding he's still going through immigration at the moment. I have to say Dan, I'm really glad you passed. I'm afraid that if you didn't Scorp would have tried to make a case to have a SPD officer lead the unit in the field. I'll work with anybody but I rather have somebody I trust." "And trained personally," they both laughed. "So I'm in command in the field? What kind of rejects am I in charge of?" "There are no rejects in SPD Dan, outside of you of course." "Ha-ha." "Your designation on the team is Ops1." Pierce opened the briefcase and handed him three files. "These are the other three fifth of the team." "Let's see what I'm dealing with." He opened the first folder. "Terry Kennedy, Ops2," he read out loud. "Team's weapons expert." Mumbling a few things a line of info caught his attention, "The guy choose SPD over SWAT?" --- There is a dark haired man in a shooting gallery. He's wearing a uniform consisting of boots, black khakis and a black shirt. A blue star is on his right arm. He's holding a D-shooter in one hand and his eyes are closed. Slowly he opens them and raised the D-shooter into firing position with both hands. Firing six times he hits a button that makes the target come to him. All six shots hit near the heart of the target. He smiles as he blows into the barrel of the gun. --- "Bobby Parker, Ops4," Dan continued. "Explosives and communications? You couldn't afford two separate officers?" Pierce waved the comment off. "Bomb Squad experience, that makes sense. Spent time behind the radio telling officers of various reports that needed police. Either the guy talented or he's split personality." --- A redheaded man in a black uniform with a yellow star is seen playing a video game. He's wearing a head set talking to someone. Suddenly the character he was playing as dies in a hail of bullets. He takes the jabs from his opponent with good humor as he resets the game. --- Dan opened the last file, "Trish Fieldman, Ops5. Pilot slash mechanic. Been flying since she was ten. Doing aerial work for the police for about a year." --- A young Korean woman who had her dark hair in a ponytail and a pink star on her arm is working on a black and white motorcycle. She scratched her cheek accidentally smudging her face with grease. Reaching for a wrench, she was surprised that it wasn't there. Searching the nearby area she finds it on a table behind her. --- Dan gives the files back to Pierce. "They look qualified, I'm hoping they been working as a team." "No official assignments as of yet. I wanted the full team ready first. But they're gelling nicely in the drills I've been putting them through." "Ugh," Dan groaned, "I don't even want to think of the about the tortures you thought up with this at your disposal," he motioned to the room. "It's giving me nightmares and I'm still awake. How do you think they're going to handle two new elements in the mix?" "We're all professionals Dan, they'll adjust to it. Of course some of us might avoid adjusting for as long as possible." He looked right at Dan as he said that. Before Dan could respond the door beeped. "That should be Ops3." A few seconds later the door slide open again. A humanoid walked in, he looked a little like a brown cricket with a mouth to Dan. Both of them stood up for the new arrival. "Ranzack?", Pierce asked. "Yes Major Pierce," he said. Pierce and this Ranzack shook hands. Then they turned toward him. "Hello," the alien said as he held out his three fingered hand. There was a calmness to this one that the others on Nagaus 7 didn't have. Dan took his hand readily. "And you are, if you don't mind me asking?" "Dan Stevens." "It is a pleasure to meat you Dan Stevens. I'm sure it will be a pleasure to work beside you as well." "I'm... sure." "Ranzack is going to be the team medic," the Major told him. Dan tried to keep the surprise from his face. "Yes, I am a trained Shalimon on my home planet. I believe the closest word in your tongue is healer priest. I've been finishing my studies on human medical treatments while undergoing my SPD training." "Your training had to be easier than mine. So when do we get back planet side?" "Our shuttle to Earth is ready to go at anytime. Think of it as one of the perks to the job." *** A jeep took them from the shuttle landing pad to an old one story building a few miles away. Very few people were around as they entered the building. Pierce kept going until they reached a section of wall near the back of the place. He stood in front of it and a section slide to the side revealing an elevator a moment later. "That's where the money for the comm officer went," Dan mumbled. Ranzack looked at him funny. The three of them entered the elevator and the doors closed automatically. A few seconds later they open back up into an octagonal room. A rail in the center of the room separated the floor with a table that was on a lower section. A woman in a white coat with the SPD badge on her front pocket rose from that table to greet them. "Major, welcome back," she said as she walked to them. "Ranzack," she nodded and took his hand. He lowered his head slightly in return. "Capt. Stevens," she said to him. "Ma'am," he replied. Pierce introduced her, "This is Michelle Chavez. She's our information officer. There's nothing she can't find." "Major Pierce has told me a lot about you Captain," Michelle told him. "I'm looking forward to working with you." "Lying about me already huh?", he shot a look at Pierce. "Give a stack of bible and the almighty as a witness and I will swear that everything I've said was the truth. Besides," he added, "any lie would only make you look better than what you are." "Why would the Major lie about you?", Ranzack asked. "We've known each other a long time," Dan replied. "Too long sometimes." "Michelle would you call for the others." "Sure thing Major," she returned to the table and pressed a button. Her voice could be heard over the PA system. "Will the field team come to the Command Room please." After a few moments the three other members came in through one of the doors on the far side. They surprised Dan by falling in rank. "Men," Pierce started, "these two are the ones we've been waiting for. Try not to break them before the first assignment," he grinned. "Sir," the one he recognized as Terry spoke up, "It's an honor to meet you." Dan looked them over, "I'm assuming the Major told you about me as well?" "He told us a couple of stories," Bobby told him. "A couple of real embarrassing ones too." "Boomer", Terry said out of the side of his mouth. "Boomer?", Dan said looking at them. "I thought his name was Robert," Ranzack wondered out loud. "A nickname," Pierce informed him. "All of these guys have one. They usually answer to that instead of their own name." "They call me Dead-Eye," Terry said, "or D.E. for short." "Ace," Trish added. "We're going to have to come up with some for these two," Pierce said while patting Ranzack on the shoulder. "We can always call the Captain 'Cap'," Michelle said with a smile. "I've been called worse." Dan readjusted the duffel on his shoulder. "Is there anywhere I can store this?" "I'll show you," Trish volunteered. “Follow me please." She gestured toward the door she and the others came from. "This hallway leads to one of the living areas of the base. Coming to an intersection she pointed down one hall. "The rec room is down that way along with the door leading to the gym. The living quarters are over here. Each room has a shower unit installed. The restrooms are those doors at the end of the hall," she pointed to a series of doors. One had a male figure on it and a second had a female. The door that grabbed his attention was the one with an alien on it. "I don't even want to know," he ended up saying out loud. "Know what?", Ranzack asked "Nothing." He noticed that the doors lining the side had names on them. Well four of them did at the moment. Two had had spots for one but they were currently vacant. "We got a small support crew here," Trish continued. "About twenty people tops." "Do they have their own quarters as well?" Ranzack inquired. "In a separate part of the base. But all the outer section are connected. Major Pierce wanted it that way. Something about keeping traffic in the Command Room to a minimum." "Makes sense." Dan looked at the two doors then over to Ranzack, "You want first pick?" "It does not matter to me Captain Stevens." "Alright," Dan took the door at the far end of the hall. The room was pretty plain. Grey walls with a couple of selves, a closet and a bed. All he needed really. "I'll let you two rest up," Trish told them. "If you want I'll give you the nickel tour later." "I look forward to it," Ranzack told her. "Cool," she said with a grin. "Oh and somebody will be by in a bit with your uniforms. See you guys later." "Definitely not Army," Dan mumbled after the door closed. He dropped his duffel onto the bed and stood there. Noticing one of the closet doors had a mirror he took a long look at himself. "Then again this isn't the Army is it?" His reflection didn't answer back. After a couple of more moments he started to unpack. He was assigned to do a job and he intended to do it. *** Ranzack was given a uniform with a green star. The four of them stood around the Command Room. Major Pierce was shooting a look at the field team quarters door every so often. Michelle wasn't paying them any attention, but she was keeping an eye on a news feed that was on her monitor. "How much training did you need to do to get this position Ranzack?", D.E. asked to break the silence. "I've been studying the medical practices of several planets for several years now. Most Shalimon on my planets look down on such a practice. Other, like myself, feel we are not so wise that we cannot learn something new." "So how did you end up in this then," Ace asked. "If I was interested in medicine a police unit would be the last place I'd be." "True," he agreed, "I was finishing up my studies on your medicine when I joined SPD." He lowered his head before continuing, "I am a bit of an anomaly among my cast because I see the Alienizers as an illness on this universe." "So you’re going to try to cut it out," Boomer chimed in. "In a manner of speaking. I asked for some of the Great Spirit wisdom to guide me in my decision. It lead me to join SPD and ultimately this unit." "Great Spirit?", D.E. leaned against the railing. "Oh, I can see you and me are going to have some interesting discussions." Ranzack nodded. "Would you stop worrying", Michelle said low enough that only Pierce heard her. "I'm not worrying," he said, "just wondering." "If he's anything like you said he was he won't disappoint you." "And a person can change in six months." "Did he seem different when you picked him up?" "Not that I noticed." The door to the field team quarters opened up and Dan walked out. He was wearing the same black uniform as the others, his right arm carrying a red star. He also shaved that beard off his face. They all noticed the determined look in his eyes that wasn't there before. Now that was the soldier he remembered. The other four snapped into attention. "You know Captain," Boomer said, "not a whole lot of guys can pull that look off. But you do it beautifully." Dan gave him a dead serious look, "Do you think you're funny?" Boomer stammered," I... I used too." "Damn, we're probably gonna need a good laugh after some of these missions." Boomer wasn't sure how to respond. "I hate it when you do that," Pierce told him. Dan let a small smirk escape before covering up. "Fall in troops," he ordered. The five of them got in line. "Before we get started we still need to equip our newest members. Michelle, would you do the honors?" "Of course." She pulled two devices off the table. They were black with a white front and SPD in black letters. There was a lever on the side with Change, Phone and Judgment also written in black. "These are your Opslicenses," she handed one to Dan and Ranzack. "You are to carry these at all times, in uniform or not. Just so you know the Judgment mode on these is an altered version than the ones the other units have." "Altered how?", Dan asked. "On the other units circle means innocent and x means guilty," she told him. "On these circle me apprehend the target. You bring them in no matter what they’ve done. They might have information we need. X means eliminate the target. That one speaks for itself." "Thank you Michelle." Pierce stood before them and looked each one in the eye. "You are now part of a special unit. You are the DekaRanger Covert Operation Team, or DekaOps. You are to do the jobs the other units can't.” He pointed his cane at screen with a map on it. The map was color coded to show which unit covered which area. There was a whole lot of white on that map. "As of now the only ones who know we exist are SPD command and the commanders in each region. We'll do what we can here in the states. But if ordered we will go into an unprotected area on a moment’s notice. If needed we will go into an area already protected by an SPD unit, but only, and I repeat ONLY, at the request of the area's commander. Is that clear?" "Yes sir!", they responded in unison. Dan stepped forward, "What is it Cap?". Dan flinched slightly at being called that, but only he saw it. "What if a case requires us to change regions?" "Good question. If a lead goes to a region that is protected by an SPD unit then we are suppose to hand over all information relating to the case and let them handle. I don't like it either but that is the mandate. If a lead from here points to an unprotected region than we ask permission from SPD command to follow up. And from what I understand, with our military ties, we're going to need a damn good lead. "Ladies and gentlemen, we are not your standard police unit. There are going to be situation where we are going to have to get a little dirty. Command may not like it, but that is our reality. May God have mercy on our souls. Dismissed." They kind of broke up. D.E. and Boomer were making some small talk. Ace was pointing out the door that lead to the medical section for Ranzack. Dan looked at the license in his hand. He opened it up and stared at the black SPD badge on the inside. Closing it up he placed in it holster behind his back. Time to figure out what was what in this place |
06-02-2012, 01:36 PM | #3 |
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Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 486
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Special Police DekaOps
2 Dan was able to get the feel of the OpsBase, as the others called it, pretty quickly. Actually he was surprised how quickly this place felt like home. Then again after being where he was for the last six month anyplace would feel like home. Walking into the Command Room he noticed Michelle was talking to D.E., who was excited about something. "What's going on?", he asked as he walked up to them. "We finally got the Mark Two D-shots in," he said. "Cool, now what in the hell is a Mark Two D-Shot?" D.E. looked at Michelle then back at him, "You don't know what it is?" "It wasn't in any manual I was given." "Well, it's still rather new," Michelle told him. "It's one of your primary weapons. Why don't we show him what it can do D.E." "Yes ma'am." They lead him to the door that lead to the training section of the OpsBase. Then they entered the shooting range. Michelle walked over to a bay and picked up a long white gun with a black handle and grip under the barrel. It looked kind of like a shotgun in a way, that alone helped him wrap his head around it. "This,” she started, “Captain Stevens, is the Mark Two D-Shot. It fires a high density energized projectile. It works better at close range but you can still do some damage if you target is a little further away. The effective range is estimated at fifteen meters. Give it ago," she handed him the weapon. Dan faced a target and held the D-shot about waist high. With his left hand he pulled the grip back until he heard a click, slid it back and pulled the trigger. A blue energy shot flew out of the barrel and left a nice size hole in the target. "Now that I understand." "Thing of beauty ain't it," D.E. grinned. Dan started examining the latch at the back of the weapon, "What's this for?" "The Opslicense hook in there," Michelle said. "When you get an elimination order it'll boost the power level." "Basically we're deleting our target," D.E. added. Dan still had a hard time wrapping his head around that idea. Still he was trained to follow orders. He put the gun down, "Anything else I should know about?" "Actually there was one more thing," Michelle said. She went to a nearby table and picked up a red and black gun he didn't recognize from before before. He spent the last few days practicing with the D-Shooter, the unit's standard firearm. He wasn't exactly thrilled about the idea of a new handgun being sprung on him. "Maj. Pierce had me request this for you." "I don't need a special weapon." "It's kind of a SPD tradition Cap," D.E. said. "The team leader always gets a unique firearm." He shot him a look, "Really, look it up." "This is the D-Colt," Michelle told him." It's the single unit version of the D-Magnum." He took the gun in his hand, it had a nice heft to it. Felt pretty natural in his hand too. "Unlike the D-Magnum it can't do a Strikeout, but you can switch it between single and multishot. I'm assuming you can be happy with that." "Only one way to find out." Dan aimed it at the target. He fired off a couple of shots, all of them landed close to where he was aiming. The accuracy was pretty good on this thing. Flicking a switch by his thumb he fired again. This time three shots fired at once. He let a small smile show on his face. "I can live with it." "You're going to have to let me play with that one of these days," D.E. told him while eyeing the gun. "As soon as you explain to me why you’re the weapon expert when she's the one telling me about these things." "He's got you there D.E.," she teased. Well... , "he thought it over," she's the information officer and she informing you about them." Dan handed the D-Colt back to Michelle, "Nice try." *** Pierce was walking the hallways of the OpsBase when he ran into Ace. He was afraid he knew why it looked like she was looking for him. He kept his attention on the file in his hand while he hoped she would just keep going in the other direction. Too bad she kept saying, "Major Pierce," over and over. "What is it Ace", he said tiredly. "I was wondering if you got that request form I filled out." "Which one Ace?", he unintentionally said out loud. She wasn't fazed. "The one for the new power regulator for the laser on the Shepard." "There's nothing wrong with the regulator we have now. Even you said it worked well above operating specs." "Yeah but Michelle was telling me about a newer model that would increase the efficiency rating for the laser." He made a mental note to talk to Michelle later. "The Shepard deserves the best. Actually there were these new style spark plugs I wanted to get for the Hounds too." An SPD officer in a black uniform with blue trim walked up and handed him a sheet of paper. Saved by the red tape. His mood changed when he read the paper." Ace..." "Find the others and get them into the Command Room?", she read his mind. "Right," he affirmed." It's officially go time." *** It only took a few moments to locate the others. Ranzack and Boomer were in the rec room while Dan, D.E. and Michelle were still in the shooting range. They all hustled to the Command Room and got in line while Michelle took her spot at the table. Pierce hand her pull up an image of a Alienizer style rifle on the screen. Dan rolled his shoulder as he recognized the picture on the screen. "I'm sure," Pierce began, “you know what this is." "It was the reason why I was volunteered," Dan said under his breath. Ranzack looked at him briefly before returning his attention to the screen. "One of the reasons why this unit was formed was because the Alienizers were using Earth technology to make weapons like this one. Seeing how the original model of the weapon is illegal in most galaxies they think they found a loophole by making copies of it. We are going to show them otherwise." "Did we find out where they're coming from?" Boomer asked. “Unfortunately no, but we have something almost as good." He handed a disk to Michelle who put it in a drive on her desk. An image of a warehouse replaced that of the rifle. "I'm not sure if Cap knows this yet but we have a network of informants. Through them we were able to discover that this building is being used as storage space before the weapons are shipped out to God knows were. You're job is to go in there and destroy the shipment and deal with any resistance you might encounter." Michelle rose from the table, "If you can try to find out where they came from and where they were being shipped to. Any information you can gather can help us." She handed a rectangular device to Dan. "This is the D-Hack, it will let you get into any computer you may find on site. If need be I can use it to set up a remote link to our systems here." "So if it says 'you got mail' don't blow it up," Boomer joked. "Then you better hope none of the rifle are programmed to say that," D.E. told him. Dan cleared his throat. "Sorry Cap." “I told you, laughs after the mission." "Lady and gentlemen, this is our first job," Pierce said before pausing to look them in the eyes. "Try not to mess this up too badly." "Wait," Boomer said suddenly, “are we getting a robot for this one?" D.E. and Ace both groaned. "There is no robot," Pierce said, sounding like he had this conversation before, "never was one and we'll never have one." "Other units have a robot," he whined. "A robot going to be a little flashy for what we're going to be doing." "Boomer zip it," Dan ordered. "Suit up people, we launch in twenty." They saluted and headed for a door. "I'll send you all the information on the building I can find before you land," Michelle told them. "What you don't find I'll fill in," Dan said as he followed the others. *** In the launch hanger a crew of eight were busy getting a black jet with white highlights ready to launch. In a room down the hall of the hanger the team was putting on their field gear. A "bulletproof" vest, fingerless gloves, a small supply pack on their back and various electronic devices in the lockers. Ranzack was studying one of the SP-Shooters, one designed for his three fingered hand, rather closely. Dan tested the sharpness of the black knife in his hand before putting it back in the sheath on his right leg before he asked, "You sure you can do this Ranzack?" Ranzack holstered the weapon saying, "I will do my duty Captain. I will not hesitate if that is what you are worried about." "Not what I was asking," he said as he put a black ball cap on his head. Ranzack remained silent. "We're launching in five people." Dan led them out of the room, any doubt he had earlier now gone from his mind. Pierce and Michelle were standing in the hanger waiting for them. Somebody said the Machine Shepard was green for launch. Dan had to silently admit these guys were good. "You ready?", Pierce asked as they past. While D.E. and the others all said they were, Dan made a shooting motion with his right hand. Pierce had to smile, "Like there was ever any doubt." "You're resorting to secret hand signal now?", Michelle asked him. "Something him and his buddies came up with while they were under me," he explained. He showed her the gesture, first he stuck up his thumb, "Cocked," then he extended his index finger to form a gun, "locked," he finished with the shooting motion, "ready to rock. If he did anything else I'd be worried right about now." With that he exited the hanger. A voice over the loud speaker announced for everyone to leave the hanger as the team boarded the jet from the ramp in the back. A cargo bay with a cell and a small medical bay were passed as they entered the cockpit. Ace took a seat behind the control as Dan sat in a chair that was slightly behind her and to the right. D.E. took a console that was in the back of the room while Boomer and Ranzack took the ones on the sides. Ace checked a few reading before announcing, “This is the Shepard, we are ready for launch." "The sky and surrounding area is clear of civilians. Shepard, you are clear for lift off." The ceiling above them opened up and the jets under the ship came to life. Slowly the Shepard lifted off the ground and the landing gear folded into the craft. "Nice and easy Ace," Dan told her. "No offense Cap," she said, never taking her eyes off the controls," but I don't tell you how to command." "Is it wise to talk that way to a commanding officer?", Ranzack asked them. "Never argue with the person piloting the ship," Dan told him. In moments they were above the tree line of the forest behind the building that disguised their HQ. "Cap, we're getting a transmission from Michelle," Boomer called out. "Let's hear it." A small screen above the windshield came to life. "I'm sending you an update on the information I've found on the warehouse." "Is there a brick we don't know about yet?", he asked her. Dan was still amazed at the amount of info she pulled up while they were getting ready. She smiled at him, "Just making sure you don't have that many blanks to fill in. I'm sending the file now." "We're getting the information with no problem Cap," Boomer said. "Thanks Michelle, Shepard out." He motioned for Boomer to cut the connection. Dan looked over the update as it came in. He had a feeling that Michelle could find the proverbial needle in a haystack with no problems. "ETA?" "Thirty minutes to middle of nowhere California," Ace said. She glanced over at him, Dan pointed foreword with two fingers, "Rodger." She brought the rear engines online and the ship shot foreword. After a minute she said, "The no smoking and seat belt signs are now off. You're free to walk around the cabin." "Cute," he told her. "Alright guys I think we..." "Ah Captain," Ranzack said somewhat tentatively. "Yeah Ranzack?" "I was wondering if it would be alright if I offered a small prayer to the Great Spirit for our well being and mission?" "If nobody has any objections then go for it." "Thank you Captain." Ranzack lowered his head. Dan took off his hat as the other did the same. "Great Spirit, creator of all, guidance of the universe. May your wisdom engulf your humble follower and my companions. Let our action help ease this universe of the malady that now sickens it and those who live in it. Protect us and let us know always the path of that which is right." Ranzack lifted his head as he finished. "Amen," Boomer said. "Sounds like something my Reverend would say," D.E. told them. "Reverend huh?", Boomer looked over at Ranzack. Ace, D.E. and Dan looked at each other, Ranzack might have just gotten his nick name. Dan went over the plan in flight. Ace landed the Shepard about mile away from the target building. She wasn't kidding when she said it was in the middle of nowhere. There was desert as far as the eye could see. "Any signs of life?" Dan looked over to Ranzack, he checked a sensor at his post "I am detecting one life form in the building." "Just one for that entire building?", Ace looked at them. "Seems strange to me too," he told her. "How about the surrounding area?" Ranzack went back to his sensor but shook his head. One thing they drilled into him during those six month that he made sure he took to heart was pretty simple. Just because there was just one doesn't me it was alone. "Alright, let's do this by the numbers people." They all nodded and exited the ship. Before he could say anything Ace pulled out a controller and pointed it at the ship. It shimmered and disappeared from view. "Somebody remember where we'd parked." Boomer joked. *** They covered the distance to the warehouse pretty quickly. The weapons were being stored at the taller section on the east end of the building. So they were going in at the west part. At his command Boomer put a small explosive device on the door and blew the lock. D.E. and Ace went in first SP-Shooter in hand and gave the all clear. They walked through the building to the storage area with no incident. Dan was starting to get a little jumpy, there should have been some kind of security system in place somewhere. But he examined every hallway before he let them entered, nothing. Approaching the door the storage area Dan reached into a pocket and pulled out two devices. One was a cylinder shape device with a knob and an optic fiber on the other end that he slid under the door. He attached the other one to his head, a small rectangle with a wire that stretched over his eyebrow. Dan pressed a button on the rectangle and an image of the other side of the door, supplied by the optic, appeared in front of his eye. Manipulating the knob on the cylinder he was able to get a good idea on what was on the other side. He found the life form Ranzack detected, it was some kind of leopard type alien wearing armor. Keeping an eye on the alien he carefully tried the doorknob, it was unlocked. Dan held up two fingers then three and made a half circle motion in the air. D.E. and Ranzack nodded and went down the hallway. Dan stowed his equipment and opened the door and waved Ace and Boomer in quickly. He closed the door as he entered and hid behind a crate. One of several that filed the room. Dan looked over the box at the alien. He was holding a device and seemed to be talking into it. Looking over to Boomer he gestured to the crate behind him. He took out his license and scanned it. Ace did the same to the one behind them. Both of the nodded, the rifles were in there. Dan pulled out his license and pulled up a map of the area. Two dots representing D,E, and Ranzack flashed once, they were in position. He tapped a sensor on his right glove once. They put their License back made their way to the leopard. He screamed suddenly and threw the device, "I can't stand new Agents! Always trying to impress the bosses." Dan relaxed a bit, they weren't spotted. Time to change that. Dan tapped the sensor twice, go time. Almost as one they came out of hiding, their weapons aimed at the leopard, "SPD freeze!" The alien grabbed a rifle that was on top of the crates and started firing making them duck back into hiding. "There wasn't supposed to be any of you freaks here!" the leopard said. He pulled two grenades off his armor and tossed them in the air. Twenty Anaroids formed, some of them smashed into a crate to pull out the rifles and started firing. "Get them freaks." "Not good!", Boomer yelled as he and the other returned fire "Tell me something I don't know!", Dan barked. "Cap," Ace said, "time to up the game." He knew what she was talking about, he just didn't want to use it. Dan looked up and saw a couple of Anaroids trying to flank their position. Damn it, he made a fist and pounded his leg. He didn't have a choice, "Change standby! Boomer light it up!" Boomer pulled out a grenade and threw it straight up as they covered their eyes. It exploded in a bright flash of light, one designed to temporally disrupt the Anaroids motor function. The Leopard covered his eyes and screamed but the Anaroids started moving soon enough but it gave them enough time. All of them stood up and held their license across their chest, "Emergency!", then they thrust them foreword, "DekaOps!" A press of the button in the middle opened the white plate revealing a black SPD badge that started shining. Dan was surrounded by a red digital field as the Deka metal formed around his body in a flash of white light. It changed into black body suit in a burst. A dark red stripe went down the middle of his body from his shoulders to the top of his boots, on the left side of his chest the red and black formed the outline for a number one. A backpack solidified on his back and the D-Shot appeared in a flash. "Face on!", Deka metal flashed over his head and formed a dark red helmet. Dead-Eye was surrounded by a blue digital field as the Deka metal formed around his body in a flash of white light. It changed into black body suit in a burst. A dark blue stripe went down the middle of his body from his shoulders to the top of his boots, on the left side of his chest the blue and black formed the outline for a number two. A backpack solidified on his back and the D-Shot appeared in a flash. "Face on!", Deka meatal flashed over his head and formed a dark blue helmet. Ranzack was surrounded by a green digital field as the Deka metal formed around his body in a flash of white light. It changed into black body suit in a burst. A dark green stripe went down the middle of his body from his shoulders to the top of his boots, on the left side of his chest the green and black formed the outline for a number three. A backpack solidified on his back and the D-Shot appeared in a flash. "Face on!", Deka metal flashed over his head and formed a dark green helmet. Boomer was surrounded by a yellow digital field as the Deka metal formed around his body in a flash of white light. It changed into black body suit in a burst. A dark yellow stripe went down the middle of his body from his shoulders to the top of his boots, on the left side of his chest the yellow and black formed the outline for a number four. A backpack solidified on his back and the D-Shot appeared in a flash. "Face on!", Deka metal flashed over his head and formed a dark yellow helmet. Ace was surrounded by a pink digital field as the Deka metal formed around her body in a flash of white light. It changed into black body suit in a burst. A dark pink stripe went down the middle of her body from her shoulders to the top of her boots, on the left side of her chest the pink and black formed the outline for a number five. A backpack solidified on her back and the D-Shot appeared in a flash. "Face on!", Deka metal flashed over her head and formed a dark pink helmet. Dan reached behind his right shoulder and unlatched the D-shot from his pack and held it in both hands, "Ops1." D.E. pulled out his D-Shooter and twirled it around his finger before bringing it across his chest, "Ops2." Ranzack slide his left foot back and but his arms up in a fight position, "Ops3." Boomer reached behind him and pulled out a knife, "Ops4." Ace brought out a D-Rod and held it back about head high, "Ops5." "Special Police," Dan started. The light on their helmet flashed and they all said, "DekaOps!" "How many of you Deka freaks are there?!" the leopard said blinking its eyes. "Don't just stand there, get them!" "Take the bots down," Dan said plainly. All of them rushed the Anaroids. D.E. jumped into a group of five and started firing, three of them went down no problem. A forth grabbed him from behind and a fifth took aim. Then it stopped and fell to the ground, a knife stuck in the back of its head. D.E. flipped the other one to the ground and they both blasted it with their D-Shooter. "Thanks," D.E. said. "No problem buddy," Boomer told him. He unlatched the D-Shot and brought it forward. "Time to upgrade." "Guess you’re right," he agreed and did the same. Ace and Razack had each other’s back as they unloaded on the Anaroids. One came from the side and they split up. Ace brought the D-Rod back out and cocked it behind the knees as Ranzack kicked it in the chest. He shot it point blank leaving a fist size hole in its chest. They looked at each other and nodded and went back to work. Dan walked foreword taking out any Anaroid that he saw. He switched the D-Shot to his left hand and pulled out the D-Colt. He shot four of them before switching to multishot. He turned the gun sideways and swept his arm as he fired. Two slugs planted an Anaroid while the third hit a second one. Another one tried to catch him by surprise and Dan placed the barrel of the D-Shot in it's hand. He pushed it foreword until he heard the click and pulled the trigger. It flew back as he holstered the D-Colt and brought the D-Shot back around. Looking around he saw Boomer take out the last one. "Now that was a rush," he had to admit. "Alright Spot... ," he told the Leopard before it started firing the rifle again. "Die!" They ducked behind any cover they could find. Before they knew it D.E. jumped up and fired a single shot. The Leopard dropped the rifle and held it's hand, "Argh!" "Nice shooting Tex," Boomer said. "Actually the family originally from Oklahoma," D.E. told him. Ranzack, D.E., Dan, Boomer and Ace all stood in front of the alien. "Holding illegal weapons," Dan said, "firing on officers of the law. It's not looking good. Let's see if he knows anything." He pulled out his license, switched it to Judgment and pressed the button. The area went dark as a blue circle and a red X flashed in front of the Leopard. After a minute the X on the license flashed brightly, "Eliminate target." The other took out their license and the all attached them to the D-Shot. "Ready," D.E. and Boomer went to a knee and they aimed their weapon at the alien. As one they pulled back the grip, inside the D-Shot energy built up and traveled through the gun to the front part of the barrel. "Strikeout!", and they pulled the trigger. Five energy streams shot out and in moments the leopard was disintegrated. "Got 'im!", Boomer shouted out. "We still got a mission to finish people," Dan told them. "Get that done and we can go home." They deactivated the suits and went to work. D.E. went over to the rifle the Leopard had and checked it out, "Hey Cap." "What is it?" "This one isn't home grown, so to speak." "Great, an off planet version," Dan said. "Anybody see anything that looks like a computer?" "Kinda," Ace called out. "Kinda? Do I want to know?" "I think it took a hit during the fire fight." Dan groaned, "Take it with us, maybe Michelle can salvage the hard drive." He grabbed a couple of crowbars and handed one to D.E. "Help me open one of these crates." "Alright, but why?", He asked. "Plan B, we take one of these back and break it down. We'll try to figure out what came from where the hard way. I've seen one of these before but I don't know if the military still has it or if Scorp took it with him. So our access to it might be limited. Take the other one with us too. Maybe the differences in the rifles will tell us something. Boomer, do you have enough explosives to take this shipment out?" "Do chicken have beaks?" he replied. "I'll take that for a yes." *** The team was back at the OpsBase hours later, already debriefed and trying to relax. Ranzack was sitting in a corner reading an earth history book. Ace was siting on top of the couch watching D.E. and boomer playing a video game. She had winner, depending on who won that is. Pretty soon the level was over, D.E. was the winner, "Oh come on," Boomer cried. Ace told him, "You challenged him to a game that needed a light gun, duh." D.E. looked at her, "Your turn." "You kidding, I was holding out for a miracle that Boomer would win." She jumped off the couch and sat next to Ranzack. The Major walked in looking rather pleased, "Good news guys, Commander Scorp was slightly impressed with your performance. From what I understand that's a small miracle in and of itself." He looked around the room, "Hey, where's Cap? I'd figured he be in here." "He said something about working on his form," D.E. answered. "I don't think he likes us," Boomer said. "The Captain is still trying to adjust to his new post," Ranzack said. "Ranzack right, or should I say Rev?" That name stuck to him pretty fast, even Dan called him that once or twice so far. "Whatever you wish Major," was his response. "Like he said, Cap just needs some time to get to know you better. Then he really going to hate you guys," he said with a grin. Ace said, "Boomer I can understand, but me?" Boomer threw a pillow at her. They got in a few good natured jabs at each other before Pierce left. He walked until he got to the gym. On the far side he saw a guy pounding away at the heavy bag. The eagle tattoo on his shoulder told him that it was Dan. He tapped his cane a few times on the floor before turning around and walking away. He wasn't shadow boxing so it wasn't too much of a concern at the moment. Sometimes a man just needed sometime alone and they can talk later. Besides his wife was expecting home for dinner in an hour. |
06-07-2012, 03:50 AM | #4 |
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Join Date: May 2012
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Special Police DekaOps
3 ----- OP theme-Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger-metal instrumental version ----- It was a pretty quiet day as Dan walked the streets. There wasn't much he could do at the moment. Michelle and D.E. were going over both rifles they brought back with a fine tooth comb. Ace was in the hanger running diagnostics on the Shepard. Boomer was, in his words, tweaking the communication gear while Rev was doing whatever. Lucky for him Pierce gave him a tip about a pretty decent book store in the small town next to OpsBase. He was just glad to get out of that uniform they gave him into a pair of black jeans, a red t-shirt and a leather bomber jacket. Besides he felt the need to stretch his legs a bit. He walked past a shop selling a mirror on the sidewalk and got a good look at what was behind him. Or should that be who? Dan stopped saying, "What is it?", and turned around. Rev stood there wearing a green hoodie over his uniform, the hood being pulled over his head. "Nothing Captain," Rev answered. "The Major let me have some time to explore. Seeing how you were allowed to leave as well I thought I might join you." "Uh-huh," Dan muttered. "And why would you want to hang out with me?" "It accord to me that you would have a unique view on things. Seeing how you felt a rifle volunteered you." "You heard that huh?", Dan turned around and started walking again. Rev caught up with him and walked by his side. "I have exceptional hearing for my species." he said matter of factly. "A gift from the Great Spirit when I was born." "Good for you." They were both quiet for a few yards. "You do realize that one of the others could give you a more interesting tour." "Perhaps," he agreed. "But you and I are teammates because of the negotiations between your military and SPD command. That gives us a unique bond." "You probably have more of a bond with the others than you do with me." "Why do you say that?" "You guys are cops, I'm a soldier. There's not a whole lot we have in common." "I didn't realize that there was a difference." "To me there is," Dan said plainly. "Cops are on call twenty four hours a day. Soldiers only go out when there's an attack or when the politicians get tired of talking. It's worlds apart." “An interesting outlook Captain," Rev told him. "Is that why you try to keep your distance from myself and the others?" "No... I... ," he tried to find the right words, “it's hard to explain. I've always tried to keep my personal and professional lives separate. It makes it a little easier when I have to make the hard call." “The hard call?”, Rev asked with some confusion. Dan hesitated before answering, “A call were I knew I was sending somebody to their death.” "You made these 'hard call' before I take it." "Once or twice," he stopped remembering those times. "And I'm always lying to myself because it's never easy.” He found the bookstore he was Pierce was talking about. A crowd was formed in front of it. Some guy was standing above the crowd on the bed of a pickup truck was speaking. It was a speech he heard before. "And there are more coming every single day!", he shouted. "We have a hard time finding decent work as it is. Now we have to worry about E.T taking it because it'll work cheap. Next thing you know it'll want to live next door. Do you really want one of those freaks living next to you? I sure as hell don't." Some in the crowd nodded in agreement. A woman broke away from the crowd and threw a piece of paper in a trash can. Dan took it out and looked it over. At the top of the page was a drawing of the planet Earth with a 1st right in the middle. Dan read a few words below the picture out loud, "Earth First? Why does that sound familiar? Now I remember," he snapped his fingers, "these guys were just starting up before I left for Nagaus 7. They were small time back then." "They appear to have gained a larger following since then," Rev said as he looked over the crowd. "Let's get out of here before they see you." They turned around as his License beeped. He pulled it out and switched it to Phone mode, "This is Stevens go." "Cap," Michelle said, "we were able to locate were one of the components came from. The Major wants you back at base pronto." "Understood, I have Rev with me and we're headed back to base now." He closed it and put back in its holster. "Ah Captain," Rev said as he looked over the crowd. "Do you agree with them? Do you believe aliens should not be here?" Before he could answer Dan realized he still had the piece of paper in his hand, and he was looking at the time and place of the next meeting. He crumbled it up and tossed it back into the trash. "A few months ago I probably would have." *** Dan and Rev came out of the elevator to find the others already in place. Pierce nodded at them as they got in line. "I can wait a couple of moments if you want to change into uniform." "No need sir, I can do it after the briefing." "Very well, Michelle," he walked over to the screen. An image of an apple orchard appeared. "As hard as it is to believe part of the rifle is being assembled here in upstate Washington." "Must have had a lot of bad crops," Boomer said. "Not exactly," Michelle said. "It took me a bit but I was able to get something out of that computer you brought back. I was surprised as you when this popped up when I did a search. So I did a little checking and wasn't able to find anything, that is until D.E. came to me the results of the rifle breakdown." "So what did D.E. find that SPD couldn't?", Dan asked. "The idiot took apart the power core for the rifle," Pierce said looking at Dead-Eye. "I'm guessing that's a bad thing." "In a way Cap," Michelle said. "One of the reasons why this rifle is illegal is because the core is highly unstable. One some planets it's been known to take out an area of about ten feet when breached or becomes over heated. Its location right under the barrel of the weapon means its chances of taking a hit during combat are rather high." They all paled a little as they thought of all the crates in the warehouse. "I think my life just passed before my eyes," Boomer said. "You're not the only one," Ace told him. "That would have been nice to know beforehand," Dan told Pierce. "Orders from Commander Scorp," Pierce told them, "He didn't want anything to hamper your performance in the field." He looked apologetic, "I didn't like it either but I had to follow orders." "Wait a sec, why wasn't the explosion bigger then when Boomer blew them up?", D.E. asked "Fortunately the Earth version of the model breach only has a range of four feet," Michelle answered. "Not as bad, but still way below standard galactic regulations. Bedsides I did say the range was ten on some planets." "That explains why the crates were spaced like they were," D.E. said. "So what did the power source tell us?" "The whole power core told us nothing," she reached into a pocket and pulled out a small coil like device. "This, however, was another story. This regulates the power core so it doesn't explode unexpectedly in the user hands. After a little checking I discovered that only one company in the entire world makes this particular component. And every few months they ship a few boxes to that orchard farm." "We sent word to the proper authorities to have the company checked out and find out why they were shipping these to a place that grows apples for a living," Pierce said. "We can't touch that company but these guys," he pointed at the screen, "are a different story. Your job is to go in and take them out." "One word of warning," Michelle added. "One of the chemicals used to make the core is toxic to organic life. So whoever's in there might be using Anaroids to build them." "So expect heavy resistance, anything else?" "One thing, any information I could find about the place only goes as far as 2000. I'll keep checking but you may have a lot of blanks to fill in." "One of Caps favorite things is filling in blanks," Pierce told her, "right?" Dan nodded once. "Alright them, go get them." "Rodger!", they saluted and went off. *** The Shepard landed in a clear patch in the orchard that was a couple of miles from the target building. Dan had them keep to the trees and off the roads as much as possible. When the processing building came into view he pulled out a pair of binoculars and surveyed the area. "Nothing on the outside of the building... wait," he adjusted the binoculars slightly. "I got an Anaroid." "Where?", D.E. pulled out a pair. "Ground floor, third window from the left." "Got it." He checked out a few spots, "I got a couple on the roof too." "I see them." He put the binoculars back into his pack. This might be a little tough. "I can take out the ones on the roof from here," D.E. reached for his pack, Dan stopped him. "Not unless you can take them all out with one shot. Rev, can you get any life sign reading from here?" "No Captain," he said while doing something with the scanner in his hand. "Whatever they are using to jam our sensors is still effective at this range." Dan looked up and saw an owl sitting a tree. That building had a half mile dead zone around it. Somebody was hiding something there alright. "Cap," Boomer called out, "our radios are being jammed too." Dan pulled out his License, he was just barely getting a signal from the others though the static. "That's a damn good field," Ace said. "I didn't see anything thing on the roof when we did the fly by on the way in. More than likely it's inside there." "I think you're right." He studied the whole situation in his head. "I'm changing the mission profile. Boomer you're going to find whatever is doing the jamming. Find a way to counteract it so we don't have to go through this again down the line. Ace, back him up." "Rodger," Ace replied. "You got it," Boomer added. "Like I told you before I want gun fire kept to a minimum. If you have to fire aim high. I'm not in the mood to get blown up." They nodded, they weren't much in the mood for it either. "All right just like we discussed on the Shepard, we're going in full gear." They pulled out their Ops License, "Emergency! DekaOps!" With Rev backing him up Dan went first. He ducked under a window as an Anaroid passed by and waited a moment before making sure the area was clear. Rev motioned that the roof was clear so he gave the signal for the others to come in. Boomer checked a device from his pack and looked up. He was getting a reading from the second floor. D.E. pointed out a staircase and they went up. Dan made the others get in the staircase when he heard something coming around the corner. He reached behind his back and pulled out his D-Knife. An Anaroid passed the stairwell that he quickly grabbed and stabbed in the power core. "One down," he whispered. *** Much to his surprise Boomer and Ace found the jammer pretty quickly. Now if only it wasn't in a rather open room. Ace pulled out her D-Shooter as Boomer made his way to the device. She kept her eyes on the hallway they came from and the one on the other side of the room. "Exactly how much time are you going to need?" "Depends on what kind of encryption their using," he went to work on the keyboard. "Just use that hacking device Michelle came up with." "If you can find Cap and get him or it up here before they find me I'll use it." "Cap had Michelle make it standard equipment in our backs remember," she reached into hers and pulled it out. "When did he tell you about that?" "Same time he told all of us, this morning in the rec room." "Was I even there?" "I just got done kicking your butt in that wrestling game you made me play. He asked if you heard him and you said yes." Boomer grunted and took the device from her hand. "You still owe me twenty bucks from that game." Boomer shot her a nasty look behind the helmet. *** Resistance was kind of sparse as Dan and the others made their way into the building. Fortunately they were able to take care of things rather quickly and quietly. D.E. was having a hard time of it at first but he was holding his own. Rev grabbed one and turned it's had completely around. As they were hiding the bodies Dan scouted ahead. He peered around a corner and saw a large room. Reaching into his pack he pulled out the sky probe and tossed it into the air. It hovered in mid air for a second before silently flying about the room. Rev and D.E. walked up as an image came to life on the pad in his hand. The room looked like some kind of processing plant, maybe some of the machines were used to turn the apples into cider or something. Several robots, not just Anaroids, were working at tables spread across the room. He saw a couple that were inserting the regulator coil into the power core. He also spotted several barrels of one of the chemicals Michelle said was needed for the power core. Then he noticed two people in an enclosed area. Obviously to protect them from the chemicals. For once he was glad the Dekasuit had a helmet to filter it out. The two in the glass cage were leopard-seijin, just like the one at the warehouse. He adjusted the controls until he could hear what they were saying through the glass, and that damn static. "... don't like this," the one with a more reddish tint to his fur said. "We should have heard from Jeter by know." "Maybe SPD got him," the other one said. "Don't be an idiot! There's no SPD unit here or in California. Hell little brother, there's no unit in this entire country." "There's supposed to be one starting in the mid-west." "That's the mid-west this is here. Now relax, that new Agent is suppose to be here at any time." "Yes brother," the other said as he sat in chair and tried to do as he was told. Dan called back the probe as his License beeped, he got a clear signal. "Good job Boomer," he whispered into it." "Thanks Cap," he said at a normal tone before Dan shushed him. A robot looked their way before but it went back to work. A little more quietly he said, "What's your position?" "We found the lab and who's in charge. Can you get to it from the second floor?" "I don't think so, but Ace found a second set of stairs. She said it looks like it leads to a large room with machines." "That's the room. Can you see two leopards in a glass cage from where you're at?" "Cap, this is Ace," she cut in. "There about twenty feet in front of my position." "Ok I want the two of you to hold back for a moment. Me, Rev and D.E. are going to make ourselves known. While we're distracting them you two try to capture the ones in the cage." "Rodger," they answered. Dan motioned for the others to follow him. They went about five feet into the room before hiding behind whatever cover they could find. Getting D.E. attention he motioned at one of the lamps hanging from the ceiling in the middle of the room. He nodded and took out his D-Shooter. Taking careful aim he fired a single shot. A lamp crashed to the floor catching the leopard’s attention. Dan and Rev pulled out their D-Rods as they came out of hiding, "SPD, Freeze!" "You said there wasn't any units here!" "Shut up Mort, Anaroids get them." The robots stopped their tasks and picked up a blade. "You know what to do," Dan said before they charged. Rev pushed one into a robot that was still working, both fell into a vat of chemicals. D.E. slide between the legs of one Anaroid and fired into the chest of the one behind it. The first one spun around and kicked the D-Shooter out of his hand. It grabbed him by the neck and hauled him up. D.E. struggled for a bit before reaching for a wielder and jammed it into the Anaroids head. It sputtered for a bit before letting him go and fell to the floor in a heap. Dan blocked a blade that was coming at him and stabbed an Anaroid in the chest. One kicked him from behind knocking him to the ground. Five jumped on top of him at once. Rev rushed over and threw them off. He helped Dan to his feet and they stood side by side, "I owe you one." "We are team mates," he said, "we are supposed to protect each other." "All right you two," Ace's rang out. "Call off the Anaroids." She and Boomer had their D-Shooters out and pointed at the cage. "Don't take you sweet time or nothing," Dan mumbled as he eyed a couple of Anaroids in front of him. "One last time, call off the Anaroids. If you don't me and my partner will shot out the glass." "Go ahead, the glass is bulletproof." "Is it bomb proof too?", Boomer asked. He had some explosives in his hand. In moments the other one hit a button on the control panel and all the robots stopped moving. "Mort!", the red one screamed. "I don't know if it's bomb proof or not," he cried. The red one grabbed Mort by the collar and pulled him through a door behind him. "Outside now!", Dan ordered. It took a few moments to find a door that lead to the outside. A delivery truck raced out of a garage and nearly ran them over. "Ace!' "I got the Shepard on its way," she told him. After several long moments the Shepard came into view. They quickly boarded the jet and went after the truck. They were able to catch up in no time. "D.E. fire a couple of rounds." "Right," he pressed a button on his counsel. On the wings panel slide away revealing four machine gun type weapons. He fired a short round that bounced off a field that sprung up around the truck. "Ok I didn't see that coming." "The laser might get through it," Ace offered. "Captain," Rev said, "I'm getting a strange reading from the truck." "What kind of reading?" "Let me see it," D.E. called out. "I was afraid of that. They're carrying power cores on that truck. "That counts out the laser," Ace said. "I hope you got a plan B," Boomer told him. Dan got out of his chair saying, "D.E. you’re with me, we're doing a hot drop with the Hounds." He nodded and followed him into the cargo area. The each jumped into a hole that was on either side of the hold. "We're ready to drop." "The Shepard's at hot drop height and speed," Ace called back. Dan and D.E. braced themselves as she said, "Hot dropping in three... two... one now!" The floor under them slid away and two modified black and white SV650S dropped to the ground below engines running. They gunned it until they caught up with the truck. Mort opened the passenger side door and leaned out firing away with a rifle. Dan switched his D-Colt over to mutishot and fired back. He wasn't aiming at Mort, but close enough that he had to go back inside. "Go!", he shouted as he fired out a few more rounds. D.E. raced ahead and got in front of the truck. Dan made sure neither of the Leopards took a pot shot at him. He was just glad the red one wasn’t swerving the truck, guessing he didn't want the cores to explode either. D.E. slowed down just enough to make sure the truck engine was in range. He pressed a button on the Hound's weapon panel and a metal spike shot out toward the grill. It bounced off the field. D.E. cursed as the truck speed up. He had to turn off the road to avoid getting run over. Dan stopped his Hound to check on him, "You all right?" "Yeah," D.E. sounded disgusted, "the disruptor spike didn't get through the field. I don't suppose you have a plan C?" "I'll make one up, come on." They both went after the truck. He honestly had no idea on how they were going to stop that truck. "Cap!", D.E. shouted and pointed at something. The Shepard was flying low and fast and the nose cone was splitting open into four parts. "What are they doing?" "Boomer now!", Ace yelled. Boomer was sitting at D.E.'s station and pulled a trigger. The four ends started glowing. A yellow energy beam came from each point and met in the middle. A stronger beam shot out of it and blew a chunk out of the road ahead of them. Boomer kept firing until a huge hole was left forcing the truck to stop. "Get out and run Mort," his brother said. But as soon as they got out Dan and D.E. grabbed them and jumped the hole. They brought the bikes to a stop and threw the leopards forewords. "Damn it!" "Now what do we do Brother?" They got of the Hounds as Dan switched his License to Judge mode, "Target orders", he pressed the button on top and the white plate opened up. The area around the turned black as a red X and a blue circle started flashing. After the Leopards were scanned a red X shined brightly, "Eliminate targets." They unlatched their D-Shots from their pack and hooked their license into them, "Ready." They pulled back the grip, inside energy traveled through the D-Shot until it came to the Barrel. They leveled their weapons at the Leopards. "Strikeout!", Dan called out as they pulled the triggers. Two blue energy stream hit the Leopards-seijin, deleting them, "Got you." *** They found the Shepard nearby, the others were waiting outside. All of them had already deactivated their Dekasuits. Dan jumped off his Hound, "Exactly who's crazy ass idea was that?!" "It was her," Boomer pointed at Ace, "it was all her idea." Ace shot him a look that could kill. He hid behind Rev, "She threatened to tear my... thing off and stick it were the sun didn't shine." Dan walked up to her, "Is that true?" "Yes it is," she looked him right in the eye. "I saw the opening to stop that truck and made the call. If I was in this situation again I'd do it the same way." Dan crossed his arms and stared her down. She didn't back away from it. Finally he said, "I always said my second in command needed to be a little crazy, congratulations. D.E. let's get the Hounds back on board." Ace was stunned, "You’re making me second in command?" "What!", Boomer yelled. "Didn't you hear what she said to me?" "Yes and that was pretty tame compared to some the threats I've come out with over the years." "But D.E. and Rev outrank her." "You two got a problem with that?", Dan asked them. "My rank is honorary because of my status as a doctor," Rev said. D.E. added, "Being in charge gives me a rash." "Works for me," Dan said. "You got a problem taking orders from a girl?", Ace asked Boomer. "No," he answered a little too defensively. Dan was about to break it up when he caught something out of the corner of his eye. There was a distorted shape in front of the tree to his right. It like almost like an arm. Dan and Rev aimed their SP-Shooters at the same tree. "What is it?", Ace asked, her hand on her weapon. "I heard something," Rev told her. "That's good," Dan said, "because I'm pretty sure I saw something. Give me a scan." Rev took out his scanner. "We are the only life forms in the immediate area," he answered after taking several scans. Dan holstered his weapon, "We're probably still a little jumpy. Boomer contact OpsBase and have them send a crew out here to take care of the lab and this truck. Let's go home folks." They loaded the Hounds back onto the Shepard and Dan took one last look around before closing the ramp. He was sure he saw something. In minutes the Shepard was air borne and headed back to base. By that tree the air shimmered revealing a chameleon-seijin wearing a cloak. His eyes narrowed as he watched the Shepard fly off in the distance. "Stevens," he growled before turning invisible again. |
06-12-2012, 02:42 PM | #5 |
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Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 486
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Special Police DekaOps
4 ----- OP theme-Tokusou Sentai DekaRanger- metal instrumental version ----- The ceiling above them closed as the hanger crew checked over the transport shuttle after it landed. A side door opened and Pierce walked out, returning from one of those monthly meetings the team commanders had to go to. Dan was glad it wasn't him, he hated those types of meetings. With his briefcase in his hand he returned a salute from a crewman and walked over to him. Dan gave him an army style salute for old time’s sakes, "Welcome back Major." "At ease Dan," Pierce said with a chuckle. "You still have all your hair and nobody looks like they're in a cast, so I'm assuming you did all right in charge of the place." "Things went pretty smooth." Dan smirked, "Actually everyone seemed relieved to have you off their backs for a few hours. Can't say I blame them." "You're lucky I like you," he snorted before laughing with him for a bit. "So how did the meeting go? Boring a Hell I'd imagine." "More or less. The team that was supposed to be based in Texas has been put in hold indefinitely. There was a rumor a couple of the others were going over of one starting up in Australia. Oh, and SPD as a whole avoided a rather large bullet." "What do you mean?" "There was this old woman over in England who came this close," he held his thumb and index finger on his cane hand about an inch apart, "to getting SPD kicked off the planet completely." "Oh that," Dan shook his head sadly. "Michelle should me a news feed about that yesterday. Personally I'm glad she got shown up for what she was. Would that have affected us? I mean we are covert unit, only a handful of people know we're here." "I'm not sure, thankfully we won't have to find out." Dan walked him to his office and chatted for a little bit. Pierce put the briefcase down on his desk. "I might add some of the commanders were surprised to find out who your second in command was." Dan didn't look fazed, "Do you think I care? The team needed a command structure in case I'm taken out for some reason. Besides she was already calling the shots while we're airborne, so the choice seemed obvious." "You don't have to explain your choice to me, I know how you work remember." Pierce sat down, glad to be in his own chair. "So how has Ace been handling it?" "Pretty well," Dan sat in the chair on the other side of the desk. "She's been rubbing it in to Boomer every so often though." Pierce was sure she only doing it because of his reaction to her new status. "It was just some good natured ribbing, but I told her to ease up on it. Anything else I should know about, or not know about?" Dan was still a bit steamed about being kept in the dark about the dangerous side of the rifle, not that Pierce could blame him. "Well our friends up in the DekaSpacebase might have something for us. They have to double check a couple of things first so nothing official as of yet. But in a few hours SPD Earth command might insert us into an unprotected area." Dan rose from his seat, "Right, I'll put the team on stand by then." He saluted and left him alone in the room. Pierce cracked his neck and looked over the six messages on his desk, two of them were from his wife Helen. He told her he had some really early meetings and would be gone for most of the day, he just didn't add where those meetings were being held at. Lord, was he going to have to come up with a good one this time. *** When he got to the gym he found Ace putting the others through the paces. As he watched them for a bit Dan wasn't sure if he should be amused or worried that she reminded him of a drill instructor he knew back in basic. "Come on ladies!" she shouted as the others were doing foot drills, "My grandmother can do better than this. D.E. get those knees up like you life depended on it!" Boomer looked like he was going to start a mutiny. Too bad for him she saw it, "You want to try something Boomer?" "Listen up," he decided to cut it off there. "The Major says we're on standby. Shower up and get changed, we might have to leave at a moment notice." The nodded and started to walk off. "Ace hold up, I got to talk to you." "Ooooh," D.E. said looking at Ace, "you're in trouble." "Get out of here," she beaned him with her towel. "About time she started picking on somebody else," Boomer said. "She just likes you man," D.E. pushed his friend's head to the side lightly. Rev looked confused at the exchanged but followed the others. "What's up Cap?", she asked. "Interesting motivating skill you have there." She started to answer but he held up a finger. Then he shouted, catching her off guard, "Boomer, unless you want to run twenty laps around the gym buck naked in front of everybody I suggest you close the door and take that shower!" She looked behind him and saw the door shut quickly. "He's worse than a four year old I swear. Now where were we? Oh yeah, your motivating skills." "I'm just trying to do things like you would," she told him. "You’ve done the same thing when you’re running the drills." "I know, that how I do things," he empathized the "I' when he said that. “I didn't make you my second so you could turn into mini-me." "I was wondering, why did you make me second in command any way? Boomer was, and if you repeat this I'll deny it, right. I was talking to Major Pierce about it and he said that's the way you think and said nothing else." Dan sat on the bench behind him, she sat next to him. "If it's a big secret you don't have to tell me." "No secrets, he's probably tired of taken the blame for the way I do things. Look, there are two things I've picked up from Pierce over the years. One, always have a plan B, no matter how good you think your original plan is. And two, your second should be a little different from you. Because when the commanders have the same opinion in everything the unit is in trouble." "Because they're missing the same blind spots," he nodded. "So I should find my own command style. I should probably rein it in a little too." "Now I didn't say that. You're enthusiastic, I like that in my seconds. Trust me I've had ones that were duller than dirt." She smiled, "I'll take your word for it. I better take that shower too." She got up, then she groaned, "Damn it I threw my last clean towel at D.E." About the Michelle's voice came over the loud speakers. "Field team to the hanger bay, repeat field team to the hanger bay. Prepare to launch in twenty minutes." "I can air dry," she said as he ran off. *** In no time they were aboard the Machine Shepard, headed for the east coast and out to sea. They were told they would be briefed on the mission in flight instead of the Command Room, but so far nothing. All of them were wondering what was so important this time around. Dan was tapping his fingers on top of his leg before Boomer finally spoke up, "Cap, we're getting a signal from OpsBase." "Put it through." Michelle and Pierce appeared on the screen in a split view. "So what's the reason for the rush Major?" "We got a big one this time Cap," Pierce said before his image was replaced with another one. This one featured a fat person in a white suit and hat. He would have reminded most of them of the stereotypical southern gentleman if it wasn't for the fact his head looked like a pig. "This is Sanders. According to SPD files he's one of the biggest slave traders in the known galaxies. According to orbital and ground sensors his ship is currently in Turkey." "I'm getting the coordinates now, "Ace said. "Michelle's sending us some info on the terrain," Boomer called out. "I've heard stories of this person on my home planet,” Rev spoke up. “I believe some call him the Colonel." Boomer snorted as he put the name together. Ace and D.E. started snickering as well. Dan lowered his head to hide the smile he was fighting. "What was humorous about what I said?" "It might have been a little more obvious if...," Boomer started before D.E. interrupted him. "Please don't finish that thought." Dan shot a look back there to quiet them down, "Sorry Major," he said over the connection. "Right, as I was going to say it's doubtful he's delivering anything out here." "I’ve been able to find," Michelle cut in, "a couple of missing person report for the area he's in. But the numbers I've found doesn't indicate the number he usually handles. So I'm expanding the search parameters but I doubt I'll be able to get the info to you before you enter silent operations." "Needless to say Earth command wants him stopped before he takes off. Also be on the lookout for this individual." Sanders image was replaced by a gray rocky type of alien. "This is Sander's bodyguard Grimm." "He suspected to be involved in at least twenty known disappearances," Michelle told them. "This one is particularly nasty. A couple of the missing bodies that have been found were beaten to a bloody pulp and had their limbs broken." "We're approaching international waters," Ace called out. "Remember the Turkish government doesn't know you're coming," Pierce told them. "The government isn't SPD friendly at the moment, and what happen in England didn't help matters. If you're caught by the local authorities I don't know how much we can help you." "Understood sir," Dan said, “Shepard out. Boomer silent op countdown." "Silent operation in," he watched the controls for a moment, "five... four... three... two... one and we are silent." he deactivated the comm. panel. "So we're officially on our own out here?" "Part of the job Boomer," D.E. told him, "we don't contact OpsBase and vice a versa once we hit international waters. We all know that." "Listen up guys," Dan said, "about what the Major said about getting caught. I have never left a team mate behind alive in my life and I don't plan on starting now. So I'm telling you guys now, we all go home or nobody goes home. No one gets left behind. Is that clear?" "The Major said," D.E. told him, "that was your personal motto." "No one gets left behind," Ace repeated looking serious. "Sounds like a plan to me." Rev nodded while Boomer gave him the heads up. After several quiet moments Ace started running some simulations on her flight computer. After a while she adjusted the Shepard's heading slightly. Dan tapped her on the shoulder and asked what was that for. "Shaving some time off our arrival time. The faster we get there..." "The faster we get him," he finished for her. "And hopefully the faster we get out of there." *** They discovered one thing about Sanders when they found him, he apparently thought he was untouchable. He didn't even try to hide his ship. In fact he and his bodyguard were standing right in the open like they didn't have a care in the world. Dan was glad he had Ace activate the cloaking system before they hit the mainland. Sanders stood there fanning himself with his hat as Grimm paced the area. "Would you relax," Sanders barked, "you're making me sweat. Do you know how much this suit cost me? I can't afford to sweat in it." "I'm telling you I heard a jet," Grimm rumbled. Dan and the others took cover behind some boulder and shrubs while he pulled out a listening device, a gun like device with a disk surrounding it, and pointed it at them. "All of our scanner say you’re hearing things. Now would you relax." "I'd be able to relax better if you didn't pick a planet that was swarming with SPD. I've never seen a planet with so many." Sanders laughed as he took out a handkerchief and wiped his forehead. "The greater the risk the greater the reward, ain't nobody tell you that? But I'll admit things were easier back in the day. When I was a young 'un just starting out in the business all we had to worry about was a single Space Sheriff per sector. Now a days you can't swing a dead Mynock without hitting an SPD officer. Too bad there's not a whole lot of us left who remember those days." His bodyguard grunted, having heard this one before, "When did they say they were coming?" "Half hour tops from that so called town in the west. They keep saying human are pretty adaptable. I've got plenty of clients willing to pay to find out." Dan folded up his listening device and pocketed it. That bit of information gave him some hope, maybe they haven't gotten anybody yet. "Rev, any life signs on that ship?"," he asked in a hushed tone. "None that I can detect Captain." "Alright we might have caught a break here, let's not waste it. Ace, take D.E. and Rev and try to intercept that truck he mentioned. He said thirty minutes but that doesn't mean it won't get here sooner. Me and Boomer are going to try to take them." "Right,” she acknowledged. “Which direction?" "He said from the west," Rev answered. Ace and the other looked at him in surprise. "He's got good hearing," Dan told them. "Now stop wasting time and go." "I'll ask later," Ace said as she waved D.E. and Rev to follow her. "So when do we go in and bust them?", Boomer asked after they were gone. "We'll wait five minutes and scope out the situation first. With just the two of us I want to make sure we're not in it too deep." "This might be a stupid question, but why did you split us up then?" "Because if we can't take these guys down then there is at least one group of people he won't get his hands on." Boomer acted like he didn't think of that, "That's thinking pretty far ahead." "That's why they pay me the leader money." "Now I'm glad you made Ace second in command, I'm too pretty to get worry wrinkles thinking about stuff like that," he said with a grin. Dan still looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "Cap I'm joking." Sanders put the handkerchief back and caught a look at a small monitor inside his coat that was connected to the ship scanners. The automatic sweep picked up a couple of stray life signs that weren't there before. "Oh my, we apparently have some unexpected visitors Grimm. Why don't you give them a warm welcome." "Of course," he walked toward the boulder grabbing a grenade. He threw it to the ground, ten Anaroids formed and came toward them. "We’ve been made," Dan cursed as they pulled out their OpsLicnese, "Change standby." "Emergency!", they held their License across their chest then thrust them foreword, "DekaOps!" The Dekametal formed around them in less than a moment and they charged the Anaroids and Grimm. *** "I'm getting an abnormal reading from that vehicle over there," Rev pointed to an old truck coming down the road. Ace pulled out her binoculars and checked it out. There were two guys in the cab, the one in the passenger seat looked like he was holding a gun of some sort. D.E. wasn't sure but he said it looked like an assault rifle from here. Something told her she shouldn't jump the gun just yet. "What kind of readings?" "Human, several of them in the back of the vehicle if these readings are correct." "I'm not seeing any other truck in the area," D.E. said after a quick sweep. "This has to be them." She thought so too, but this was her first job as the number two person in the unit. Making a huge blunder was not the way to start the job. "They could be a military operation as well," Rev said, echoing the part of her thoughts. "And it hasn't been thirty minutes." "They could be early. Well what would Cap do if he was here?", D.E. asked them. "Cap isn't here," he did say she wasn't supposed to act like him. "There's only one way to find out. D.E. get to the other side of the road, Rev you stay on this side. Don't go in until I give the word." "Rodger," Rev said. "You got it," D.E. said before heading across the road. She stood in the middle of the road. After a few moment the Ace could see the truck coming on the road. "Emergency!" she pulled out her License and thrust it forward, "DekaOps!" and pressed the button on top. Ace was surrounded by a pink digital field as the Deka metal formed around her body in a flash of white light. It changed into black body suit in a burst. A dark pink stripe went down the middle of her body from her shoulders to the top of her boots, on the left side of her chest the pink and black formed the outline for a number five. A backpack solidified on her back and the D-Shot appeared in a flash. "Face on!", Deka metal flashed over her head and formed a dark pink helmet. "What are you doing?!", D.E cried out as he pulled out his License. She put her hand up for him to stop. Ace took out her D-Shot and waited for it to get a little closer. The truck wasn't slowing down. "Damn that girl is nuts." She aimed her D-Shot and fired a round above the cab. The passenger flinched but the driver did nothing. She fired another shot, this time though the windshield between them. Ace changed her aim slightly, now the D-Shot was aimed right at the driver. Ace primed another shot and the driver moved this time as the brakes started squealing. The truck came to a stop a yard in front of her. Ace let out the breath she was holding, glad the helmet hid how shocked she was that actually worked. "Now!", D.E. and Rev came out of hiding, their SP-Shooters aimed at the cabs occupants. She kept her aim on the driver, "You two out of the truck now! Out of the truck!" D.E. opened the passenger side door and took the weapon from them as they complied. "Get on the ground! Rev check out the back of the truck." "Understood," he went back there and open the door. "They were transporting people in shackles." Behind the helmet she relaxed a little bit more. Looks like she didn't blow it. D.E was putting one in a set D-Whoppers so she took out hers and tossed them to him. "Lock up the driver quickly and help out Rev." "Right," after a moment he went back there and whistled. "It looks like a poor man's UN back here. They have guys from just about everywhere from the looks of it." "You're rescuing us?", one of them said, it was man who looked like he was in his fifties. "You speak English?" "I was born in Canada," he said. "I was visiting some family I have out here and then those men kidnapped me." "Don't worry sir," D.E told him, "we'll make sure you'll get back to that family of yours in no time." "Thank you," he said gratefully, "but who are you?" D.E. and Rev looked at each other, "Ah... we're the good guys. You're gonna have to take my word on that one." *** The Anaroids weren't much of a problem for Dan and Boomer. It took them longer than before but they were able to turn the robots into piles of scrap metal. They didn't get a moment of rest as Grimm ran in to grab Dan by the back of the neck and threw him. "Cap!" Boomer called out. Then he turned to see Grimm right behind him. The rock creature raised his hand and slammed it to the ground. Boomer just rolled out of the way and fired with his D-Shot. Its rocky hide protected it from the shot but it still growled in pain. Dan got to his feet and started firing away with his. Grimm turned around, grabbed an boulder and threw it at him. "Shit!", he jumped out of the way. "That's why I pay him the big money," Sanders crowed proudly. He saw a pair of headlight coming in their direction. "Looks like the Calvary has arrived," he said evilly. Grimm caught Dan in the ribs with a back swing and held Boomer by the throat over his head. Suddenly he was shot in the back several times making him drop the black and yellow clad human. Sanders and Grimm both turned to the truck. D.E. was on top of the cab firing away with his D-Sniper. Ace stopped the truck and she and Rev got out while D.E. jumped off. "What the devil," Sanders started backing up. "Cap," Ace ran up to him, "tag!" She held out her hand and slapped his as she raced by. "Let's do it guys!" Dan checked on Boomer, "You alright kid?" "I'm still moving," he said while holding his throat. "Good, cause boss hog is getting away." He grabbed Boomer by the arm and dragged him to his feet to chase after Sanders. D.E and Rev both jumped up and kicked Grimm in the chest making him back up. Ace rolled forward between them and came up firing with her D-Shooter. She back flipped out of the way as the rock creature's hands smashed into the ground where she was. The boys rushed up and started firing at the alien themselves as she pulled out her D-Rod. Ace hit a button with her finger and jumped up. The rod had a pink glow to it as she screamed and slashed it down at Grimm, who was finally knocked off his feet. Ace put the D-Rod back into her pack and pulled out her OpsLicense. D.E. and Rev stood at her side as she switched modes and pressed the button on top of it, "Target order!" The area went black as a red X and a blue circle flashed in front of Grimm. It took a minute for the device to scan him and the X shined brightly. "Eliminate target," Ace called out as she closed the License and hooked it into the D-Shot. The other two did the same as they went to a knee. Leveling their weapons at Grimm she said, "Ready." They pulled back the grip under the D-Shot's barrel, energy built up and traveled through the weapon and into the barrel. "Strikeout!", they pulled the triggers and three blue energy beams hit Grimm. He resisted for a moment but he was soon deleted. "Got you." "Piggy faster than he looks," Boomer said as they ran after him. "Let's give him a warning then." Dan and Boomer drew their side arms and both fired a shot over his head. Sanders stopped immediately and put both hands over his head. Dan walked in front of him and held up his License, "Target orders." The area went dark and after a minute the blue circle shined, "Apprehend target," and he reached for his belt and pulled out his D-Whopper. "Looks like this little piggy going wee wee wee all the way to jail," Boomer said. Dan groaned and lowered his head, "I should have teamed with D.E." *** Ace had the Shepard land next to Sander's ship and he was now in the on board cell in the cargo hold. Dan was sitting on some crates outside the ship holding his side as she walked up to him, "Rev said you were hurt." "Nothing broken, Rev said I'd be fine in a couple of days. Nice timing with the truck by the way." "I figured it was my turn to come up with a plan B," she told him. Dan had to grin. "So what's going on now?" "Well D.E. on that hill over there keeping a look out for any other trucks for the moment. And Boomer keeping an ear on the local police radio, to see if anyone is coming this way and we have to jet." "I asked Rev to take Boomer and check out the ship," she informed Dan. "In case there were other already in there we couldn't detect from out here. Rev also said he was familiar with this design so I told him to help Boomer find the ship's computer after they were done with the search. Maybe they can get into the system and find out where they were going and where they been." Dan nodded with approval, "Good call. I'm sure SPD command would love to get their hands on that info." Ace started to walk off when he said, "D.E. told me about that little stunt you pulled." She stopped and faced him, not sure what to expect. "That’s not something I would do." "You wouldn't, but I would," she told him truthfully. Dan smirked. "I wish all my second got that through their heads that quick. But don't get yourself killed in the process all right. Pierce would never let me hear the end of it." "Not to mention Boomer would be your only choice for the job, seeing how D.E. and Rev don't want it." "Don't remind me," Dan said as he got up. "Come on let's give Rev and Boomer a hand with that search." "Yes sir," she gave him an army style salute. Dan shook his head as he patted her on the shoulder and entered the ship. |
06-16-2012, 02:42 PM | #6 |
Member
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 486
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Special Police DekaOps
5 ----- OP- Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger- metal instrumental version ----- He found the place he was looking for, a rundown hotel in a seedy part of the city. No one saw him as he walked up to the front desk and looked over the registration book. Flipping through a few pages he found the alias he was looking for. Now if the room number he was told was correct he should get this over with rather quickly. The clerk behind the desk looked away from the TV show he was watching when he thought he saw the book move but returned to his program, lousy humans. He walked the stairs and hallways quietly as he headed for his destination. Knocking twice on the door marked 5D he had to wait a moment before hearing, "Alpha." "Centauras," he replied. The door opened and a gray reptilian alien walked out into the hallway seeing no one there. He returned to his room and closed the door and was surprised to see a being wearing a hooded cloak standing by his bed, "Hello Radon," the hooded creature said. "Chatrox," the reptile hissed. "Agent Chatrox to you," he removed the hood revealing a chameleon-sejin underneath. "Agent," he grunted, "still the luckiest bastard in the universe I see." The chameleon looked smug, "You weren't saying that when I conveniently forgot I saw you in Sigma Alpha four." Radon's features darkened, "I'm surprised SPD didn't delete you on sight when they found out you were working for the bosses." "I'd rather be deleted than be assigned to this planet with these," he spit out the word, "humans." Chatrox put the case he was carrying on top of the bed. "Here is what you asked for." He opened the case revealing a couple of alien pistols. "Two Zirikian hand guns. Able to turn most organics into atoms." Radon reached for the guns but Chatrox closed the case, "Payment first." "Fine," he reached under the bed and pulled out a bag that he handed to the agent. Chatrox counted it quickly and stopped the reptile from taking the case. "This is only half of what was agreed too." "I had to pull in every favor I had to get this much," he pleaded. "Sorry Radon, you don't have the full amount you don't get the weapons." "Then one gun then," Radon was desperate at this point. "You said yourself it was half. That has to be worth one of them at least." Chatrox thought it over and opened the case, taking out one of the pistols. "You’re lucky I'm in a generous mood today. For old time sake I'll give you a week to raise the funds for the second one. If not I'll take the other one back from you." Chatrox didn't let him answer, he opened the door and disappeared from sight. *** At the OpsBase Pierce and the other were watching Dan and D.E. go hand to hand, training with some fake knives. It was pretty much a stalemate until Dan knocked away D.E. knife hand and started slashing the air making him back up. D.E. spun out of the way suddenly and kicked Dan behind the legs. D.E. got him down to his knees, stood on the right side of him and put the "blade" to his throat, "Got ya Cap." His lip curled slightly in a smile and he looked at him out of the corner of his eye, "You sure about that?" "Cap if you do anything you're dead, I got you dead to rights." "Then you better already have kids." D.E. was confused by what he said. Then Ace whistled while Boomer cried, "Oh," and crossed his legs. He looked over to them wondering what they were seeing that he wasn't. Pierce pointed down so D.E. looked down and his eyes went wide. The point of Dan's knife was aimed right at his crotch. Dan grin got a little bigger, "You might kill me but you'll remember me for the rest of your life. You want to call it a draw?" D.E. backed away and let him get to his feet. Dan clapped him on the shoulder, "Good going though, you gave me a pretty good fight." "Now I know I didn't teach you that," Pierce said as he walked to them with the other following. "Was that not a rather dirty tactic?", Rev asked. "When it's life or death there's no such thing as a dirty trick," Dan told him. To D.E. he said, "You did good but you made a couple major mistakes that I saw. You thought the fight was over before it actually was. It ain't over until someone either tied up, knocked out or dead. And," he flipped his knife into the air and caught it by the blade, "you lost track of this. You have to remember at all times to keep track of an opponent’s weapon. Trust me, I know it's real easy to lose track of it." Dan raised his shirt showing them a scar above the right side of his waist. "And that's not an appendix scar either boys and girl," Pierce added. "What did you do to get that?", Ace asked. "I was on guard duty. Me and a couple of other were trying to subdue a guy with a knife. I learned the hard way don't lose track." "Ouch." "I said I little more than ouch when it happened." Dan rubbed the scar from the memory. "Alright guys, practice is over. Shower up and get something to eat." *** "I am never going to get used to that," Boomer said in the cafeteria. He, D.E. and Ace were watching Rev eat a pile of raw meat on his tray. Boomer shuddered and tried to concentrate on his tray. "Cap, over here," Ace called out and waved when she saw Dan carrying his tray. He hesitated as he looked at them. "He's not going to sit with us," Boomer said, "he never does." "I think he just proved you wrong buddy," D.E. told him. Dan sat at their table, between them and Rev. "Hey Cap, I didn't thank you for agreeing to the hand to hand lesson." "You're my team mate, I'm supposed to help you guys get better." Ace tilted her head to read the spine of the book on his tray. "Matthew Stover, isn't he a fantasy writer?" "I took you for the Tom Clancy type," Boomer said. "I don't care what it is as long as it's good." "Sounds, like my Grand Dad," D.E. said. "I knew there was a reason I liked you." "Hey guys," Michelle came up and sat next to Dan. "Rev, do you have that spice from you home planet on that?" "Yes, I find Earth meat to be rather, and forgive me for saying this, bland." "I'm pretty sure that's why they invented steak sauce Rev," Boomer said. "Do you wish to try some?", Rev offered as he held out his tray. "It is perfectly alright for humans." Boomer declined right away. "You should try it," Michelle told them, "it's actually pretty good." Dan, Ace and D.E. looked at each other then they all picked up a fork. Each of them picked out the smallest piece they could find and tried it. Boomer made a face watching them. After a bit Dan said, "A little... bloodier than I like it, but it's not that bad." The other agreed and Rev looked pleased. "Come on Boomer, you got to try some," D.E. told him. He looked at Rev's tray and paled a little, "Maybe next time." "Wuss," D.E. teased him. "You're all here good," Pierce said as he joined them at the table. "We just got something in from one of our informants. There's an Alienizer robbing jewelry stores in the area." "No offense Major," Boomer interrupted," but isn't a jewel robbery a little plain for us." "We're still cops Boomer," D.E. told him. "He's right, you guys are a covert unit but you're still officers of the law. Even when DekaRail gets going we're still going to have to take on one of these on occasion." "Just tell me it's not a cat burglar," Dan said. "I mean a literal ‘cat’ burglar." "Did Cap just attempt a joke?", Ace said in mock disbelief. He shot her a look, "Quiet." "No cat, just a lizard. The informant said his name was Radon. He's a bit of a weapon nut according to reports. So much so he resorted to pulling jobs for the Alienizers to support his obsession." "I'll do a search to see what he has exactly," Michelle said. "Chances are good he has used some of his collection in his robberies. I'd better see if there's a pattern as well." "You might be right about him using his collection. Reports we were given had him using a," Pierce pulled out a small notebook and flipped though a few pages," a Zirikian pistol." "Damn," D.E. blurted out. "Do you think he knows something," Ace deadpanned. "This things a nasty piece of work," he told them. "It's not exactly illegal but it’s hard as hell to get your hands on one. People shot with this thing had to be identified by the left over ashes." "And I just lost my appetite," Boomer slid his tray away from him. "That weapon alone means he's one of ours," Dan said as he got up "One more thing," Pierce said, "since you’ll be in the city you'll be going out in civvies. I was able to keep information about you to a minimum back in Turkey because of the small number of people involved. A city this size is going to a lot harder, especially of you fight in public. So keep it to a minimum. You're only going to have you License and SP-Shooters with you so be careful with this one, because I don't think the vests are going to help much." "You heard the Major," Dan said as that sunk in. "So which one of you really know this city?" D.E. raised a hand, "My family’s been living here for five years." "Fine, you're driving." *** They waited until nightfall to pile into a jeep and head out. Dan had a red shirt, black jeans and his bomber jacket on. D.E. was wearing a dark colored shirt and pants and a blue wind breaker on behind the wheel. Ace was in back with the others wearing a pink T-shirt under her jean jacket and blue jeans. Boomer was wearing some yellow L.A. Laker gear while Rev had his Green hoodie over his uniform. D.E. stopped the jeep in front of the last store reported robbed and they got out. All of them stared at the hole in the glass door. "This guy doesn't know the meaning of the word subtle," Boomer commented. Dan switched his License over to Phone, "Michelle, anything on a pattern yet?" "Only that his targets are pretty close together," she said. "If he strikes again it should be on that block or one close to you." "Thanks Michelle. Let us know if you find anything else." "Will do Cap." He looked at the others, "I'd know what we do in the Army. But you guys are the cops, what would you do in this situation? Give me some options." Ace started, "If it was me, I'd split us up into two groups and search the area. See if anybody saw or heard anything while we're looking for him." "That's what my gut is telling me," D.E. added "I would check the store for anybody residue he left might have left behind," Rev said. “If there is enough I might be able to track where he has been." "I'd have a little easier time with that plan if we had the Shepard," Dan admitted. "Can you do it with a hand scanner?" "He can if I help him," Boomer said. "Sounds like we got a plan. Rev, you and Boomer scan that store. Me, Ace and D.E are going to scope out the surrounding area in the Jeep. Before I forget," Dan reached into the glove box and pulled out some wallets. He opened them up showing them the police badge and ID card inside. "Michelle had these made up, if anybody asks you're part of the Springfield PD." He handed one to each of them. "Do your best to explain Rev if it comes up. While you two are scanning that store remember that there's still a jewelry store on this block that hasn't been hit yet so keep an ear open. If you hear or see this guy call us and we'll come as fast as we can. And if he got the weapon we think he does don't try to take him unless you have to." "I understand," Rev told him. "We'll be careful," Boomer added. Dan and Ace jumped back into the jeep and drove off. "Time to do some actual police work Rev." *** Radon walked over a bridge fingering the pistol under his tunic. One more hit, that had to be enough to buy the other one. Just one more hit was all he needed. Unless that bastard Chatrox decided to up the price of the other one. He wouldn't put it past that damn chameleon. Old time sake, right. Chatrox would sell out his own mother the moment he thought it would save his hide. Well nothing was going to keep him from getting the other pistol. And if Chatrox tried to take this one, then he’d be sorry. He was interrupted in his thinking when a human walked into him. A drunk one at that. "Watch it you... you freak," he said. "Those Earth First guys are right. You are... you are trying to take over everything." He stumbled into a fighting stance. "Well... well I won't... won't let ya do it. Put up your dukes." "How about I put up this instead," he pulled out the pistol and aimed it at the human’s head. He sobered up pretty quickly. "Now wait a moment," he started sweating. “I didn't mean anything. I... I was only playing around." The human started running away, Radon shot him in the back. There was a scream for a brief moment before the human turned to ashes. A jeep passed by that instant and stopped. A blond haired human stood in the passenger seat and shouted, "Radon!" The human jumped out of the vehicle and pulled out SP-Shooters. "Deka," Radon said as he fired. The jumped behind any cover they could find before they returned fire. Dan pulled out his License and called the others, "Rev, Boomer we located Radon. We need you at these coordinates now." "We'll be there as fast as we can Cap," Boomer said. "Cap, he's running!", D.E. called out "We don't have a choice, change stand by." They ran after with their License out. “Emergency! DekaOps!" The Dekesuits appeared in a digital flash of light. "Stop or we'll fire." Radon kept running and Dan ordered, "Fire a warning shot." He pulled out his D-Colt and the other their D-Shooters and fired over his head. Radon stopped, turned and fired wildly at them. They had to jump out of the way. He reached under his tunic and pulled out a grenade. Eight Anaroids and two blue headed Batsuroids formed. "I'm seriously starting to hate those things." "Fire," one of the Batsuroids ordered. They jumped to the ground to avoid the shot. Radon started running again. "Come on!" Dan got up and started firing with his D-Colt. An Anaroid went down and D.E. and Ace started firing theirs. The Batsuroids avoided the shots and fired back. Dan and Ace got hit with the shots and went down. D.E. jumped up and started firing at the group. Ace got to a knee and started firing away with her D-Shot. Dan switched to multishot and started firing too. Radon jumped off the bridge onto the street below. "I'm after Radon, D.E. shouted. "D.E. don't," Dan ordered but he already jumped off after him. Where was a rank fearing private when you needed one? Ace charged the group, knocked down an Anaroid and rolled under a shot one of the Batsuroids fired. She came up with her D-Shot aimed at its chest and fired. She turned to find the other one right there and got hit and dropped her weapon. Dan planted his D-Knife into the chest of one Anaroid and tried to reach her. Two Anaroids got in his path, one was able knocked the D-Colt out of his hands. Ace was thrown into the bridge railing and barely avoided the Batsuroids kick. She was able to pull out her D-Knife and stab it in the shoulder of its weapon arm. She didn't think it was possible but the robot looked like it was getting angry. Dan took out his D-Rod and blocked a swipe at his head. He started swinging and was able to back them off. He pressed a button on the handle and the rod started glowing red. Dan slashed through two of the Anaroids and they dropped. A couple of more took their place and he saw Ace's D-Shot right behind them. This was going to be tricky. He reached into his backpack and waited a moment. One of the Anaroids took a swing that he blocked and shot the other one with his holdout D-Shooter, one shot. The other one tried to react but he shot it as well, two shots two left. He fired the last two at the Batsuroid, grabbed the D-Shot and tossed it over the robot had, "Ace catch!" She caught it, pumped it and fired. The Batsuroid stood there so she fired again, this time it went down. Rev and Boomer ran up just then and took out the remaining Anaroids. "Could you cut it a little closer next time?!", she yelled at them. "You were the ones with the jeep!", Boomer yelled back. Dan knelt beside Ace, "You all right?" "I'm great," she said sarcastically. "Where is Terry?", Rev asked looking around. "After Radon, anybody see an exit ramp leading to that street?" "I'm pretty sure we passed one on the way here," Boomer said handing the D-Colt back to Dan. "Lead the way." *** D.E. chased after Radon and finally caught him. He tackled him to the ground by the legs. Radon was able to get a foot free and kicked him away. They both got to their feet and started fighting. D.E. was a little stronger but Radon was faster. D.E. spun away from a punch and pulled his D-Shooter. They both turned around and was staring into the barrel of the others gun, standoff. "Do you have any honor human?", Radon asked out of the blue. "What do you mean?" "I believe there is an old custom on this planet called a duel. Back to back then walk ten paces, I believe that how you humans do it." "Give me one good reason why I should do that," he demanded. "Because if you don't I'll shoot you now." "That's a pretty good reason." Slowly they lowered their weapons to their side and stood back to back. Walking ten paces D.E. turned around and found himself staring down the barrel of the Zirikian pistol. "What happened to the duel?" "I changed my mind and I already shot one of you humans in the back already. Do you have anything to say before I send you to the afterlife?" D.E. nodded, "It's not over until somebody's captured or dead." he dropped back and fired hitting Radon in the leg. D.E whipped his leg up and kicked the pistol out of his hands. “And you forgot about my gun. A buddy of mine says that a big no no." He got to his feet, knocked Radon back and switched his License over to Judge, "Target orders," holding it out in front of him he pressed the button. The area went dark and a red X and a blue circle started flashing in front of Radon. After he was scanned the X shined brightly, "Eliminate target." He closed his License and unlatched his D-Shot. D.E. connected the two and aimed it at the reptile. Pulling back the grip caused energy to flow through the weapon and entered the barrel. "Strikeout!" he shouted and pulled the trigger. A blue energy beam shot out and hit the alien, Radon was deleted. "Got ya." Dan and the other found him a moment later and they deactivated the Dekametal. "Where's Radon?", Dan asked. D.E. waved his License in front of him, "Scanned and deleted." "Good. And for future reference, when I tell you to stop you stop, got it?" "I hear you Cap." D.E started grinning, "But to be fair you yelled out ‘don't’ not ‘stop’." "Don't get smart," Ace said as she was going to smack him but Dan stopped her. "Ace, I'm only going to tell you this once. You can yell at them, you can push them to their limits, you can even send them to their death. But for some reason you can't hit them." D.E. relax until he saw Dan look at him with a wicked looking grin on his face. "You can, however, get creative on how you want to get your point across. Think I'll leave that one up to you." "Anything goes?", she asked. "Almost anything," he clarified," and I have to approve it first." Ace thought for a second, "Can I have him detail the Shepard?" "That's a bit much, don't you think?" "Whew," D.E. blew out. After a moment Dan said, "Make it the Hounds, both of them." "With a toothbrush?", Ace offered. "I'll allow it," Dan said before walking off. Ace clenched her hands in front of her chest, "Yes." "Glad I'm not you buddy," Boomer said while slapping him on the back. "You better start praying I don't swipe your toothbrush behind you back," D.E. told him "I am never going to understand these humans," Rev muttered. *** Nearby Chatrox saw the entire thing and his cold blood boiled. That was Stevens he saw the other night. Being assigned to this back water planet might not be so bad if he could eliminate that human while he was here. Looking down he saw a leaflet for Earth First and grinned. This was going to take some planning, and some pride swallowing, but it will do nicely. There was no better way to take out an enemy than to make sure he was distracted by something else first. |
06-25-2012, 01:58 PM | #7 |
Member
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 486
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Special Police DekaOps
6 ----- OP- Tokusou Sentai DekaRanger- metal instrumental version ----- An abandoned building in the middle of the city was something most people never paid attention to. That particular building suited his needs just fine. Agent Chatrox knew he needed a place to base his operations. And the skills those SPD fools on Nagaus 7 taught him came in handy to fix the interior to his needs. He waited patiently as his communicator finally came to life, "Has the package arrived?" "Yes Agent Chatrox," the voice on the other end replied. "But there is a fear that the SPD space station orbiting the planet may have detected it." "We'll worry about it later," he snapped, his green skin shimmered slightly. "Are you able to get the package before SPD does?" "No, there was a problem that arose with the guidance system as it entered the atmosphere. The package missed the target zone by a hundred parsecs." "Where did it land?", he hissed. None of the other Agents could have had this much trouble with their deliveries. "Projection from the scanners say it landed in the country of Mexico." "Mexico," he wondered out loud, "is there a Deka unit currently in Mexico?" "None that I'm currently aware of. The country is neutral as far as SPD command is concerned. DekaRail is the closest unit currently active. Is there a chance they might send them?" Chatrox thought it over, "Perhaps, but it's more than likely that they'll send the other Deka unit in the country to retrieve it." "Agent Chatrox, there is no active SPD unit in North America other than DekaRail." He smirked, "Don't be so sure of that. Time is of the essence, the package must be retrieved before any Deka unit gets there, is that understood. If you have to use what I taught you to complete your task." And if SPD does arrive use any means you feel is necessary to eliminate them." "Yes Agent Chatrox." He turned off his communicator and hissed in anger. Chatrox looked at the crumpled up Earth First pamphlet in his hand. If his plan was to succeed he needed that device. *** Rev studied the controller Robert placed in his hands. His human friend had convinced him to try this thing called Dynasty Warriors. Robert assured him that the "game" would be easy to pick up. Behind them Terry was applying a finish to an old Earth weapon that he said belonged to his Grandfather. Trish came into the rec room going over a report in her hand before sitting in on one of the chairs in the room. Rev didn't want to question Captain Steven's decision to make the youngest member of the team status as second in command, it was highly unorthodox. But the young woman has so far proven worthy of the role. Whatever the Captain saw in her was right on the mark. Terry looked up at her, "I thought we agreed, no work in the rec room." "Yeah Ace," Robert said not taking his eye off the way Rev was playing, "I'd figured the number two person on the team wouldn't break that rule." "It's not work,” she said, "it's a performance review of the Shepard laser. I don't want it going out when we need it." "Sounds like work to me," Boomer said. Trish ignored him and put the report between them. "So where's Cap? Working on his ‘form’ again?" "I saw him talking to Michelle in the Command Room," Ace replied. "Hmm," Terry uttered as he put his rag on the table, "they seem to talk a lot, don't they?" "You noticed that too," Boomer took his gaze off the screen just long enough to look back at him. This was another trait these humans had that he was trying to understand, he believed Michelle called it idle gossip. "Rev watch out for the group of guys on your left. Does anybody else think there's something there might be something there?" "Why is it engaged couples always try to get other people hooked up?", Trish asked. "Not all of them," Terry said, "but you got to admit outside of the Major he seems pretty close to Michelle." Rev remembered a conversation he had with the Captain about making the hard call. He felt that might have something to do with it seeing how Michelle did not go out into the field with the rest of them. Of course that was a private conversation between the two of them. He did not want to break the Captain's trust. Trish finally put down her report, "Wait, me and Michelle talk all the time. I think she would have mentioned something like that." "It's in the early stages," Robert spoke up, "they're still feeling each other out. That's what happened between me and Lisa." "Was that before or after you blackmailed her into marrying you," Terry joked. Robert actually looked upset, which surprised all of them, "Never make a joke about that, got it?" "Sorry buddy I didn't realize I was crossing a line." "It's cool dude," Robert said after a moment. "Lisa is the best thing that ever happened to me. It's bad enough her family thinks I tricked her into marrying me I don't need to hear it from my friends too." Terry nodded and all was apparently forgiven just like that. Rev was amazed at how fast bad feeling between the two of them could disappear. To his knowledge the two of them have never met before joining DekaOps. But they acted like birth mates at times at how they reacted around each other and how fast they forgive each other. It was truly the deepest form of friendship he has ever seen on any planet. "Guys listen...," the Captain started as he came in but stopped as he looked in his direction. "Rev, you play video games?" "I apparently do now," was all he said while he tried to understand the appeal of this past time. "I'm amazed I'm surprised by anything after joining this unit," he muttered before getting back to business. "We just got a job from command." "Cap," Terry whined, "no work in the rec room." "We all agreed," Trish added. The Captain wasn't fazed, "As field leader I have the authority to over ride that agreement any time I deem it necessary." "Since when?", Boomer demanded. "Since now," the Captain said. His voice and expression told them he wasn't going to accept any kind of argument on the matter. Captain Stevens was an interesting being. Despite his admitted reluctance to assume the position he had totally embraced the role as leader almost from the start. Rev also noticed that despite his wish to remain emotionally distant from the rest of them, to use an earth expression, the walls were not holding. He thought that was it at any point. "Besides it's a pretty simple job, we got a retrieval mission in Mexico." "We're sneaking into Mexico?", Boomer asked. "Actually SPD was invited by the Mexican government," the Captain informed them. "The SpaceBase spotted a ship landing a mile outside Puerto Penasce in Sonara, Mexico and so did the locals. As far as the government is concerned if it feel out of the sky it's SPD jurisdiction. "But us?," Trish asked. "I know, but the only units available were us, DekaRanger Patrol and DekaRail. The Patrol is a little busy at the moment and they're not sure if the cadets are ready for something international yet. So far there hasn't been any Alienizer activity in the yet and they want this kept as quiet as possible. That means it goes to us, and the Major specifically said he doesn't want a repeat of what happened with Radon." "Well if we're being invited in wouldn't the local authorities help us cover our track," Terry inquired. "It's not that," he started to explain. "Pierce was able to use his connections to get a media blackout on what happened with Radon. But people still talked and there were reporters willing to listen, especially those who are anti-SPD. Some news program ran with the story any way, including this one tabloid show called Inside Extra that really latched itself onto the story. So it goes without saying that we don't need to gives these guys any more ammo." They all nodded. Trish looked like she was concentrating on something, "Since we're being invited in silent op doesn't apply right?" "Somebody has been studying," Captain Steven said with approval. "Teacher's pet," Robert said with a smile. Then he saw the look Trish was giving him. "Whoa, you can't hit me. Cap said you couldn't." Trish raised an a single eyebrow as she calmly said, "D.E." Terry picked up an orange that was in a bowl on the table and threw it at Robert. "Ow!," he cried as he rubbed his arm, "traitor." Terry just shrugged his shoulders. Steven put a hand up to his face, "I definitely wouldn't have done that. Any way it's a pretty easy mission, we should be back in time for dinner. But the simple ones can surprise you so I want everybody in full gear just in case." Trish got out of the chair, "You heard the man people, let's move out." Rev was ready to comply, however for some strange reason he had a hard time letting go if the controller. *** They arrived at the co-ordinates they were given by the Mexican government in no time, but they did not land right away. There was the ship just like they expected. The guy standing by the car, on the other hand, was unexpected. Should have told Ace to activate the cloak before they got there. "What do we do now Cap?", D.E. asked "We'll circle the area for a bit, if he doesn't leave soon we'll land a click away and wait." "Cap," Boomer said while listening to his earpiece, "We're getting a hailing call on all radio frequencies." Dan raised an eyebrow and went over to the communication board, "Let me hear it." "Hello?", said a voice with a Hispanic accent, "You are DekaRanger correct?" "Ah...," he looked at the rest of them, "yeah, Special Police DekaRanger at your service." "Excellent," the voice sounded happy. "We weren't expecting you this quickly. Why did you not answer my previous hails?" "Sorry about that, we weren't expecting a welcoming committee. Pardon me, but who am I talking to again?" "I apologize, my name is Artega, I am a local city councilman. I wanted to make sure the situation is contained. No need to panic the locals yes?" "We'll do our best to make sure it doesn't get out of hand. You might want to vacate the area yourself. I'm sure it's nothing but I don't want to worry about a civilian getting hurt in case things go bad." "Of course I understand, please contact us after your mission has ended." "Not a problem, ah... DekaRed out." Dan ran two fingers across his neck telling Boomer to end the transmission. "Smooth one 'DekaRed'," Ace joked as he sat back down. He watched as the figure got into his car and drove off. "It got him out of here didn't it?" "I'm not sure it was wise to lie to a government official like that," Rev commented. "It was half a lie Rev," Dan told him. "But he was looking for DekaRanger." "And we are the DekaRanger covert operation team. Like I said it was half a lie." "I still don't think it was right," Rev returned his attention to his board. "Objection noted Rev," Dan said, "I'll put it my mission report. What do we got on the scanners." "No life signs are being detected in the immediate area," Rev reported. D.E added, "I'm not detecting any active weapon signatures or anything from the ship power source." "I got nada on any kind of signal from the ship. I'm not even getting an ID code," Boomer piped in "It didn't crash land from the looks of things," Ace said. "Something had to be piloting it." "Take her down Ace, "Dan told her. In moments they surrounded the vehicle and after opening it to discover whatever, or whomever, was inside was long gone."I knew I was going to regret saying this was going to be simple." "Captain I found a set of footprints," Rev called out. "Can you tell what they belonged too?" "No," he said as he ran his scan. "I am detecting trace amounts of metal, non that come from this planet." "Bots, great." Dan squatted down and studied the tracks. There were two sets of track that he could see. One set coming from the ship and another set going to the ship. His gut was telling him one thing, "They were retrieving whatever was on that ship. Fan out and search the area, they had to come here in something." All of them went a few yards from the ship before Rev and D.E. both called out that they found tire tracks. There was a big empty spot with the tracks going in different directions, the footprints also headed into the blank area. "Well that's helpful," Boomer commented. "It looks like whoever did this tried to wipe out the tracks from here to there," She pointed at the distance between D.E. and Rev. "I don't get it, why go to that much trouble to clearing just that area?" "Remind me to ask once we find them," Dan told her. "But these guys are good, I'll give them that." "I think we should send two of the guys to follow the tracks in each direction," she said. "We're bound to find something. And we can back up who ever finds the vehicle first in the Shepard." Dan let out small chuckle as he told her, "You'll be doing my job before I know it. D.E., Rev take the Hounds and follow the track. Call us when you find anything. Boomer use your D-Hack on the ship computer if you can find it, maybe it can tell us what we're dealing with." *** Rev followed the track in the dirt road as he rode the Machine Hound. He found himself checking out the local scenery as well. This planet could be most beautiful when left alone. That alone increased his desire to prevent the Alienizers from having their way with it. Of course the humans had to learn not to ruin the planet on their own. But it was not his place to tell them that. Hopefully they will learn that before it was too late. He noticed the trail he was following went around a curve ahead. He slowed his speed to make sure he didn't run into any surprises. A car was stopped on the side of the road, the trunk was sitting close to the ground. His SPD training told him something rather heavy was weighing it down. He got off the Hound as he looked at the ground, the track lead to the car. He found his target. He was about to call for the others when a voice said, "What is a Zalmanian doing here?" He turned to see a blue headed Batsuroid standing behind him. He quickly pulled out his License, "Emergency! DekaOps!" Rev was surrounded by a green digital field as the DekaMetal formed around him in a flash of light. It turned into a black body suit in a burst. A dark green stripe went down the center of his body, from his shoulders to the top of his boots, on the left side of his chest the green and black formed the outline for the number three. A backpack solidified in his back and the D-Shot appeared in a flash. "Face on!", Deka Metal flashed over his head and formed a dark green helmet. He let his SPD training take over as the Batsuroid started firing at him. Rev had little to no cover as so he had to fire back in the open for now. Batsuroids were more intelligent than Anaroids, therefore more dangerous. Fortunately it looked like this one wasn't carrying any grenades, so that was one thing he didn't have to worry about. Rev ran as he returned fire, he noticed the robot was trying to keep him away from the car. If he survived this he would find out if he was right about it being his target or not. He made it to a rock that as large enough to give him some cover and took a moment to catch his breath. The problem with fighting a machine was that the machine did not get tired. Perhaps he could buy himself some time as the human say, "What was in the space craft?" "None of your concern," the Batsuroid answered. He could hear it get closer. Rev looked at the D-Shooter in his hand and holstered it. He centered his spirit and calmed himself. His cast may have trained him to be Shalimon but that did not mean he was defenseless. Eons of experience had taught them that even one that did the Great Spirit's work was not safe from those who would do harm to others. When it was close enough he jumped over the rock and planted both his feet into its chest. It crashed on the ground as Rev pulled out his D-Knife and stabbed at its head. The blue headed robot rolled out of the way as the blade pierced the ground. He blocked a swing at his head then threw the robot to the ground. Rev took out his D-Rod as it got to its feet. The rod glowed green as he pressed a button on it and slashed the Batsuroid diagonally. The robot sparked slightly before falling to the ground. He put the D-Rod back as he said, "I believe my team mates would say 'got you'." Like on earlier mission he said a small prayer to the Great Spirit asking for forgiveness for taking a life. The Batsuroid may have been mechanical life but it was still a life in his eyes. Rev deactivated the Dekasuit as he switched his license over to phone. "Captain Stevens come in." "Tell me you got something Rev," he said over the link. "D.E. reported back bit ago and came up with nothing." "I believe I located the target vehicle. I would have reported it earlier but I was confronted by a Batsuroid." "Why didn't you call for back up?" "I was a little busy at the time but the danger has passed." "Ok Rev, you did the right thing. Check out the target for confirmation." "It appears to be in a locked trunk of a car," he informed the Captain. "Bust it open," the Captain told him without hesitation. "If it's the wrong target I'll take any heat for it." "Are you sure Captain?" Stevens said he was. He did not want his friend to get into trouble for something he had did, but he would not disobey an order. Rev aimed his SP-Shooter at the lock and fired. Inside the trunk was not what he was expecting. "Rocks?", he said out loud. "Rev can you repeat that, I don't think I heard you right." "The trunk is full of rocks to weigh it down. The tracks I was following lead to this vehicle." Steven let out a small curse. "Rev had back to the Shepard," the Captain told him, "I'm not liking this." He nodded, "At once Captain." *** Dan sat in his chair on board the Shepard as they went over the facts they knew. Things were not adding up for the bigger picture, which meant they were missing some pieces. But what in the hell were they? "Alright we know that there was something in the ship and it was taken away, but both trails we followed lead nowhere." "Maybe it was air lifted away," Ace offered. "That would explain why a section of the trail is missing." "And the car was used as a decoy," Boomer added. "But according to Michelle no aircraft was seen entering or leaving the area," D.E. countered. "Which means we're back at the beginning." Rev thought it over, "We might be overlooking a factor we already knew about." "What?", Ace asked him. "Councilman Artega," he answered. Dan slapped his hand against his forehead. "Of course it might be a long shot." "Remind me to tell you the old joke about how to tell if a politician is lying. Boomer..." "I'm already opening the link to base Cap." "How do you tell if a politician is lying?", Rev asked D.E. "Their lips are moving," he replied. "Joke works with lawyers too." "I... don't get it." "Stevens to OpsBbase," Dan called out after Boomer gave to ok. "Base here, "the Major answered, "what is it?" "What ever was in that ship was long gone by the time we got here but we might have lead. We're going to need to run a check on a Councilman from the area, last name was Artega." "I'm checking now," Michelle said. After a few moments she looked puzzled, "That's strange." "And those two words have never been followed by anything good," Dan said. "According to this Artega was found dead in his home six hours ago. And his car was found abandoned about twenty minutes ago in a parking garage." "Find a scan of that car and send it to Michelle," Dan ordered. A few moments later an image was found and sent back to base. "That fits his car description," She confirmed. "So who was impersonating him?" the Major asked, echoing their thoughts. Ace thought of something, "Didn't Rev say he didn't get any life signs in the area?" Rev checked his scanner logs from the time period, "There were no humanoid life signs in the area when we arrived." Dan leaned back into his chair, "Ladies and gentlemen, we just officially been had." *** Chatrox watched as an old truck pulled up to the building. An orange spike headed Igaroid jumped out and pulled the tarp off the cargo he was traveling with. "Well done," he said. "Was there any problems?" "An SPD unit showed up but they fell for the ruse just like you said they would." "Excellent, take it inside." "At once," the Igadroid got back in the truck and did as ordered. Chatrox wrapped his cloak around him. The last time he was connected to a genetic resequencer he gained his ability to turn invisible. And the pain was worth it. Now he had to go through that pain again if he wanted the ability to look human when he needed to. |
07-04-2012, 03:05 AM | #8 |
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Join Date: May 2012
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Special Police DekaOps
7 ----- OP- Alter Bridge- Metalingus ----- Dan faced the wall of the gym with a look of determination of his face as he started boxing his shadow. Before he arrived the Major told everybody to stay out of his way when he started doing this. A point he nailed home when he bit the head off of somebody wanting his signature on a report a couple of days ago. Now they gave him as wide berth that was possible, even his own team mates. He might have found the guy and apologized if most of free time his mind was occupied by one thing, Mexico. "Penny for your thought?", somebody said. He turned his head sharply ready to chew somebody else out. His expression soften a bit when he saw it was Michelle. He returned his attention to his shadow, "You'd be overcharged." "I'll be the judge of that. Look Cap... Dan, I know you’re upset about what happened in Mexico..." "Why," he cut her off, "would I be upset by the fact we were tricked like a bunch of rookies?" He stopped boxing and grabbed a towel. Michelle offered him a bottle of water that he thanked her for. "But that's not what's bothering me," he finally admitted. "So what's really bothering you then?" Dan sighed before answering, "My family is career military, for as long as I can remember it's been drilled into my head that the enemy could be anybody. Five missions with this unit and I'm already expecting the enemy to not look human." "Well to be fair, the target your sent after aren't exactly human." "I still should have checked out Artega, or whatever the hell it was before it left." "Hindsight is twenty-twenty," Michelle told him. She looked at him for a bit. "You know, from the stories the Major told me about you, not once did you seem like the self pity type." He turned away, "Yeah, well the Major doesn't know everything about me." "Well that's going to be a bit of a surprise to the Major," she said walking around so she could look him in the face. "According to him he is the foremost expert on all thing Daniel Stevens," she had a straight face but her eyes were smiling. He smiled despite his mood. "I'll burst his bubble some other time." Dan sat on a bench and she joined him. "I guess I need to get my mind off the whole mess huh?" She agreed. "So how are things on news info front?" "Things have quieted down a bit after Rescue saved their area and the actual DekaRed," she elbowed him lightly in the side, "was cleared. Inside Extra on the other hand.....," she trailed off. "Still trying to figure out who we are right?" She nodded, "This one 'reporter' they have, John McGee, seem obsessed with it." "How obsessed?" "He's camped out in town." "Good thing it's a big city." Dan finished the last of the water, "Well, if you will excuse me there's a speed bag over there with my name on it." "Do you want a sparring partner? Or would you rather do some private one on one?", she asked with a wicked little grin. "Are you ever going to stop that?" "Are you ever going to take me up on it?", she shot back as she got up and left. Dan watched her leave wondering how cold the showers around here got. *** Ace was enjoying her time away from OpsBase. Of course if the Major knew she was on the lookout for parts for the Hounds he might have thought twice about letting her out. And she already had an eye on a couple of special parts as it was. There were about five things on a mental list she was making for Michelle to check out. She knew they would work no problem, but like her Dad said it never hurt to double check. Now she just had to figure out a way to sneak the proper forms onto the Major's desk. A familiar looking red head in a yellow T-shirt caught her attention. She recognized the blond haired woman with him as his fiancé. He showed everybody her picture enough when he first arrived at base that she should know what she looked like. She was going to go in the other direction to give them some "couple" time when Boomer spotted her, "Hey Ace!" "Hey," she waved weakly as they came up to her. She had SPD special training and yet she couldn't think of a way to get out of there. "What are you doing out here Ace?", Boomer asked. "Just getting a little air." "Same here. Oh crap, I nearly forgot. Lisa," he turned to his fiancé, "I like you to meet Trish Fieldman." "It's nice to finally meet you Ace," Lisa said. Ace was a little taken aback then she remembered that Boomer called her by her nickname. "Same here, Bobby talk about you a lot." "I'd bet he does," she said, lightly punching him on the arm. "He tells me you’re the pilot." "Ah... yeah," Ace tried to keep the confusion off her face. "And second in command too. I got to tell you that's so cool." "Huh?", she shot a look at Boomer. He did not tell her everything about them. He noticed and started to sweat a little, "Ah yeah, were did you want to go eat again honey?" "That can wait," she told him, "how often am I going to get a chance to meet one of your Ops team mates?" "Ops?!", she threw her left arm around his neck and started squeezing. "What part of covert operations do you not understand?" "Gak!" he choked out. "Cap said you couldn't touch me!" "He said I couldn't hit you, he didn't say anything about putting you in a headlock." "The Major knows I know," Lisa said suddenly. "Nice try lady," Ace told her. "His wife doesn't even know he's involved." "No really, Bobby made me promise not to tell anybody." "Even D.E. family knows what he does," Boomer got out. "You can check with him." "You better believe I'm going to check this story out." Her License went off, without letting go of his neck she pulled it out and switched it to phone, "Ace here." "Ace," Cap voice said, "we got a case so you better get back here ASAP." "Right, Ace out." She let go so Boomer could answer his License. "Ace look," Lisa started, "I haven't told anybody, not even my own family. I would never betray Bobby's trust like that. My God, I can only imagine how fast my family would be calling that Inside Extra crap if they knew." "Ok, I'll take you word for it," Ace said after a moment. "But if there's a leak anywhere you are top of the list." "Would you relax Ace," Boomer said, "I don't think Cap would get that paranoid." He turned back to Lisa and got a really dopey look on his face, "I'll be back as soon as I can sweetie." "I'll be waiting," she said. "Now you be careful, I don't want my little Boom-Boom to get hurt." Ace turned around so they wouldn't see her stick her finger down her throat. *** "All right troops, listen up," The Major ordered. Ace and Boomer returned to base and got changed in near record time. Boomer kept glancing at Ace for some reason, but there be time later to figure out why. "Word has it a new type of weapon is being pushed on the streets." "Another version of the rifle?", Dan asked. "No this one a little closer to home." A picture of a blue frog type alien appeared on the screen. "This is Professor Gremlin. According to reports he discovered a way to mimic SPD technology, specifically the D-Magnums." "Now that's hitting below the belt," D.E. said. "I don't have to tell you but the last thing SPD needs is copy cat tech out there in the galaxy." Michelle spoke up, "It's important you keep his computer intact. We need to know exactly what he was able to duplicate. And more importantly if he sold any of it yet and how many." Rev said, "If he was able to make a duplicate of the Dekametal the Alienizers would be much harder to stop." "That goes without saying," the Major replied. “We already know what happened on this planet when they got a hold of SPD tech. Put that on a galactic scale and I don't even want to think about it." "Are the other Deka units up to speed with this?", Ace asked. "Yes, and they're already keeping an eye out for any sign of the copy cat tech." "I'd say it's a safe bet that every Agent on the planet sent some bots to protect him," Dan said. "We don't have any official confirmation of that," The Major said. "But I wouldn't bet against you." Michelle changed the image on the screen to a small island off of Hawaii, “Intelligence points to here as his location, his most likely location any way." "Most likely?", Dan said in disbelief. "Reports about Gremlin are sketchy at best. Everything says he's avoiding any area with a Deka unit covering it." "But Hawaii is part of the US," Boomer said. "Everybody knows DekaRail covers this area." "True," the Major answered, "but there had been scattered reports of a human sized blue frog being sighted. I don't like going on rumor but right now it's the only lead we got." Dan nodded, "Like you said, I love to fill in the blanks." "Then you’re going to love this assignment. You people know the drill, move out!" "Rodger!", they saluted and headed for the ready room. "Somebody remember to pack the sun block," Boomer said as he exited the room. Dan stopped just long enough to shake his head. He reached the door and gave the Major and Michelle a handgun shooting motion as the door closed. "Now the part I hate," The Major said as he headed for his office, "the waiting." Michelle took her seat at the table and started tracking down any piece of info on the island she could find, "You and me both." *** "I can't believe all you did was make her apologize," Boomer complained to Dan. They arrived on the island a half hour ago. He decided it would be best to split up into two groups to check out the sightings. Ace and Rev went north of their landing zone to check things out while he, D.E and Boomer went south. Of course Boomer decided then would be a good time to let him know about the headlock. Dan knew his team well enough that making Ace apologize would be more effective than anything else he could think of. Not that he let Boomer know that. "You should have told him you cried or something man," D.E. told him. "I am not going to tell him I cried!", he shouted. Dan turned around and clamped a hand over his mouth. "Keep talking and I'll tell Ace she can take off the kid gloves, got it?", he told him. Boomer nodded. He shot a look at D.E. who put up his hands. Letting go of Boomer he turned back around and kept going. Both of them kept quiet for a long time while he concentrated on his surroundings. Dan would have done this part by himself but it wouldn't have been smart in this situation. Something caught his eye and he immediately held up his left hand. D.E. and Boomer stopped as ordered as he knelt down to get a closer look. A couple of broken twigs were barely hanging on to a bush. It looked pretty fresh too. Dan looked around and saw a couple of more a little further up. He drew his SP-Shooter and the other did the same. Waving them on he cautiously moved forward. A very loud crunch made them stop. D.E. was about to accuse Boomer of making the noise when Dan held up a hand. A blue frog in a white lab coat came into view, "Hello, hello yes, yes. SPD you be I see." "How dumb is this guy?", Boomer asked. "He ain't the dumb one kid," Dan informed him. "We walked into one didn't we?", D.E. asked as he looked around. "Yes, yes," Gremlin said and stomped the ground with his foot twice. The ground under them fell away and they dropped about fifteen feet into a rectangular room. The ceiling closed back up and the overhead lights came on. They only way out appeared to be a sliding door. Gremlin voice came over a hidden speaker. "Black badge is new, think information should be worth something to right person." "That frog's on my last nerve already," Dam muttered. "Change standby. Emergency! DekaOps!" they pressed the button on top of the Ops License revealing a black badge inside. Nothing happened, "What?" Gremlin could be heard laughing with glee, "So happy that worked, very rich it will make me yes, yes. Figured out DekaMetal activation sequence, but more fun this way. Very, very rich" "We got to get out of her now. Get that door opened now," Dan ordered. "Only open from the other side yes, yes. Hmm, SPD only travel in packs of more than three, means more out there." They looked at each other, Rev and Ace. Dan started pulling at the doors edges. "Think guards should play with them a bit yes, yes." A click could be heard from the speaker and things went silent. "That looks like it might be an access panel," Boomer pointed out, too bad there were no visible screws or anything. "Take aim," Dan ordered. They pointed their SP-Shooters at the panel, on his word they all fired. The panel fell off but nothing but circuit board were on the other side of it. "Where's Michelle when you need her?" "Too bad the D-Hacks are in the hard pack with the DekaSuits," D.E. said. "We could probably use them right about now." "Worry about it later." Dan switched his License over to phone, "Ace come in." "Ace here," she answered. Dan relaxed a bit, at least Gremlin didn't block this function. "We fell into a trap..." "Me and Rev are on our way." "Hold it, Gremlin's on his way to you. He found a way to keep the Dekametal from forming. Suit up now if you can and concentrate on him. We'll figure a way out of here in the meantime." She hesitated before replying, "Rodger, Ace out." "Now how are we suppose to do that?", D.E. asked. "Boomer might be able to blow the door open but we got no place to take cover.” While they were talking Boomer was studying the circuitry in the panel. Before either of them knew it he was taking off his pack and hooking up his comm. gear to it. "Trying to boost the signal?" "Not exactly," he said concentrating. "Now how is you communication gear suppose to help us out of here then?" "I'm going to use it to communicate with the door. If I can get the right frequency I might be able to open the door." Dan looked at D.E. ,"Should I be scared now, because that made perfect sense." "Cap," he said, "you just had your Boomer moment. Don't worry we all had it." After working on it for fifteen minutes the door suddenly slid open. Boomer was grinning ear to ear, "And there you go." Dan clapped him on the shoulder, "Kid, I take back every nasty thing I ever thought about you," and headed out into the hallway. "Than... hey, wait a minute." *** "Trish are you all right?!", Rev yelled out. Both of them were hiding behind a set of boulders. Good thing Cap told them to activate the suits when he did. Five minutes after he contacted them she took the most hits from a barrage of fire from the tree line. Before they scrambled for cover she was able to see a set of gray humanoid robot, a design she never seen before, being led by an Igadroid coming in their direction. "Trish!", he called out again a little more urgently. "Had the breath knocked out of me," she called back. She looked over the rock to see a couple of the gray robots form a black version the Hybrid Magnum, or something like it. "Not good," She and Rev jumped out from hiding firing their D-Shooters and traded positions. One of the gray robots went down but another one came out of the blue and took it'd place. "Son of a bitch." "I believe somebody is playing a game of cat and mouse, is that the right term?" "Yeah, and we're the mouse." "Wait," the Igadroid commanded. "Professor Gremlin wants to prolong this." "Yes, yes," Gremlin sat in his control room watching the entire thing unfold. After the guards were done with them he would let them take pot shots at the ones he captured earlier. As he gave an order to the hidden guards to circle the Deka officers he would have to remember to thank Agent Chatrox for supplying him the parts to build these new model droids. If they worked as well as he predicted he would be very rich indeed. Ace and Rev found themselves pinned down for a long time. Any time either of them tried to move a hail of bullets forced them back to where they were. To make matters worse Cap and the others weren't responding to her hails, so she had no idea if they were able to get out or not. Then she saw some movement in the forest behind them. Looks like a lot more cats were getting ready to come out and play. Ace looked over and made a quick couple of hand motions to Rev who nodded and they unhooked their D-Shots from their packs. If this was it they might as well go down fighting. "Now!", Ace shouted and they turned and fired behind them. Sparks could be seen as the slugs made contact. The Igadroid was about to order as about to order them to fire when two of the gray robots next to him went down. D.E. appeared behind them, somehow able to get his hand on a set of the copy cat D-Magnums and was firing away. Ace and Rev took the opportunity to fire in the Igadroid’s troops direction. "No, no," Gremlin said as he started pressing button and pulling levers on his control panel. "Not possible, not possible. Should not be out, impossible. Take them out now!" Suddenly the gray robots he designed stopped functioning and stood there. "No, no!", he looked around and saw a black box fixed to one of his computers. A black and yellow clad figure was operating it as a black and red one stood by his side pointing a weapon at Gremlin. "Not possible, not possible!" "Boomer?", Dan asked. "Base is getting a clear signal and diving into his data banks now." Ace, Rev and D.E. had the Igadroid surrounded. She and Rev locked their License into the D-Shots as D.E. connected the Hybrid Magnum together. They pointed their weapons at the Igadroid as Ace shouted, "Strikeout!" and all three of them fired. The Igadroid was obliterated moment later, "Got you." Gremlin tried to run but they cut him off. Dan pointed his D-Shot at him and waved him away from the control panel. He glanced over to Boomer, "Why don't you take this one kid. You earned it." "Right," he held out his License in Judge Mode and said, "Target orders." The area went black as a red X and a blue circle started flashing in front of Gremlin. The alien frog started fidgeting after a minute and the red X shined brightly. "Eliminate target." Boomer and Dan hooked their License to the D-Shots and pulled back the grip, "Ready.". Inside the weapon energy started traveling through it into the front barrel, "Strikeout!", they pulled the triggers and two blue energy shot out and Gremlin was deleted. "Got ya!", Boomer cried out. *** Michelle went over the information she was receiving with great interest. "Good news Cap, we got just about everything," she said over the line. "How are things on your end?" "We located all of the copy cat tech on the island and have stockpiled it in his base. Boomer’s getting ready to blow it up when you give the word. Michelle did you discover what he did with the suits?" "I made that a top priority in my search. We got lucky, he apparently just figured out how to do that today and tried it out in you. He didn't tell anybody about his discovery yet." Dan let out a sigh of relief, "Thank God for that. Any idea who's on his buyer list?" "If you’re looking for names, or Agent locations for that matter, I can't help you. All I'm finding of a bunch of random numbers that could be Agents or buyers. There's one here that's been crossed out recently." "If it's an Agent it might be the one DekaRescue took out." "That's what I was thinking. I'll send a copy of this to the other Deka units and to SPD command to see if they can help figure this out. So when are you guys coming back home." "As soon as we're done here. But Ace and D.E. are trying to convince me to extend our stay for a bit." Michelle started to smile to herself, "So the Shepard's engines are acting up huh?" "I didn't say..." "Don't worry I'll let the Major know that Ace is going to need a couple of hours to fix the problem." Dan started to sound upset, "Now wait a...." She didn't give him a chance to finish, "You owe me one Cap. I'll let you know how you can repay me when you get back. Oh and while you're down there pick me up something nice, nothing too flashy now. Base out," she quickly closed the connection and leaned back into her chair. Ace, who was close enough to hear the whole thing said, "I'm gonna find me a dumb surfer boy." "But I got to get back to Lisa," Boomer whined Ace didn't even turn around, "Stuff it Boom-Boom." Dan just looked at his License in total confusion, "What the hell just happened?" *** Chatrox stepped out of the machine and unhooked himself from the various wires and tubes then looked at his hands. With a bit of concentration he was able to turn his blackish gray scaly hands into disgusting human pink and back again. This phase of the plan was done, now on to the next part of it. ----- ED- Evanescence- Whisper ----- |
07-09-2012, 12:42 AM | #9 |
Member
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 486
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Special Police DekaOps
8 ----- OP-Alter Bridge-Metalingus ----- Alone at last, well as alone as you could be in a public bar at any rate. Dan hid in the darkness the booth was able to provide. His beer was half gone at this point. For the first time in awhile he was actually able to relax. He actually envied the others at times, how they could just sit back and relax no matter what. Pierce could be seen joining them at times before he went home at night. Dan on the other hand, well there was a reason why he had to get out of there at times. He's been living at OpsBase for a while now but he still didn't feel comfortable there. The team wasn't the problem, they were a good bunch of kids. Dan laughed to himself, he was a couple of years older than D.E. and Boomer and he thought of them as kids. Even Rev was technically older the he was. He was used to hanging around the Major and Michelle was easy to get along with. No the problem was the entire situation, he was army and the others were police. Like he told Rev it was worlds apart, and he couldn't get over it. Not for the first time he wondered why he told Pierce yes. "Fast Track?", a voice he recognized broke through his thoughts. Dan looked over and saw two guys in civvies, one with longer brown hair than he remembered and the other with dirtier blond colored hair than his. His mood immediately changed, "Petey!", he got out of the booth and grabbed the brown haired one’s hand. Petey dragged him in for a hug. He went to shake the other guys hand, "Andy how you doing?" "I'm fine," he said without moving an inch. Things were still frosty apparently. "Come on sit." Dan sat back in his booth and the other joined him. "Petey, you on leave or something?" Petey leaned back and said, "I'm out man." Dan jaw dropped, god he was out of the loop. "Wait, Mr. 'They're going to have to bury me in my army greens' left the army? Did hell freeze over?" "And the Devil giving out free sleigh rides," he joked. "Figured I went as far I could go and thought I try something new." Andy stared right at Dan. "At least he had a choice in leaving," he said bitterly. "Andy for the last time..." "Dudes, chill," Petey quickly said. "We haven't seen each other in ages. Why ruin the moment with bad feelings." Andy said nothing but he started playing with a napkin. "So what have you been up to Fast track? You pretty much disappeared after your last stint in the middle east?" "I've been keeping busy," he answered. "Have you? Word going around after you disappeared was that you joined one of those space cops units." Dan tried to look like he wasn't playing with his mug, "You heard wrong man." "Good," Andy said. "Any Army guy joining that bunch of posers should be shot as a traitor." "No kidding," Petey agreed. "Give me a good ol' American tank over that alien crap any day." "And an AK over a laser rifle to blow them to hell," Dan said getting lost in the moment. "You better believe it," Him and Petey touched fist. God this was just like old times. "So what are you doing then?" "Or would you have to kill us if you told us?", Andy asked, a bit of his old self returning. "I would never kill you guys," Dan told them. Then he added, "I'd beat you so bad that you'd forget, but I would never kill you." "That's not a denial", Andy laughed. "Come on," Petey said getting up, "I know a bar were the waitresses are hotter and wear less." "I'm there," Dan said calling for his tab. The three of them exited and laughed like old times. They went about half a block before his OpsLicense went off and Petey checked his to see if it was his cell phone. "Damn it." "Duty calls," Petey said and he handed him a card with a number on it. "Give me a call when you got some free time." "You better believe I will." Dan quickly went off and turned a corner pulling his License out, "This is Stevens, go." "Cap," Michelle said, "we got a situation about four block west of your position. D.E and Ace were sent out earlier to check out a disturbance that sounded like the Alienizers had something to do with. They just requested back up." "Why wasn't I told about this earlier?", he asked as he headed for the jeep. "It was an unconfirmed rumor when we got a hold of it. The Major thought it was important enough to check out but not send in the full team." "ETA for Rev and Boomer?" "You'll beat them by a few minutes." "Right, Stevens out." Dan got there in no time and found Ace and D.E. struggling against a twelve foot tall gray humanoid looking figure in some shredded clothes. He saw nothing like that in the SPD database. Dan switched his License back to Change and ran in. "Emergency! DekaOps!", there was a quick digital flash and he was in his black and red DekaSuit. Ace had reached in and grabbed the things shirt. It ripped off as the thing threw her. D.E. and Dan caught her before she hit the wall. "Status report!" "We've been better," D.E. told him. "We got a report of an Alienizer in the area and found the Hulk's ugly cousin, or he found us," Ace informed him. "Right," Dan said. "Let's try to subdue this thing then figure out where it came from." They pulled out their D-Rods and surrounded the thing. Dan took a swing at it's knee and D.E. did the same. Ace was able to get a D-Whopper around one of it's wrists while it was distracted. Quicker than he thought possible it grabbed D.E. by the head with his other hand and threw him further down the alley. "Terry!", Dan shouted before a back hand sent him flying into a wall hard. It ripped off the D-Whopper as Ace backed up. "That's it," she took out her License and switched it to Judge, "Target Orders!" The alley went dark and the X and circle started flashing before the X shined brightly. "Eliminate target," Ace hooked her License to her D-Shot as the thing turned around. Dan head cleared in time to see the eagle tattoo on it's back. "What?", he was stunned. Ace called out for a strikeout and was ready to pull the trigger. Dan ran in and slapped the barrel down as she fired, "NO!" The blue energy stream missed by inches as the thing jumped out of the alley. Dan watched him leave, where did it get that tattoo? "Cap what the hell?", Ace demanded but he ignored her, and prayed to God that wasn't an Eagle. *** "What you did was inexcusable!" the Major yelled in his face. The others were staying as far away as they could in the control room, except Michelle who stayed by her table. But she was looking very uncomfortable. "You intentionally let a target get away. What in the hell was going through that head of yours?!" Dan clinched his fist and turned his head away," I don't have an excuse sir." "That's because there's no excuse for this! If that thing kills anybody it's on your head." The Major walked away and tried to calm down. "I can't over look something like this. You're confined to base for the next two days, and you better hope nobody dies from your mistake." Dan said nothing in response. He just took out his License, slapped it on the rail and walked back to his quarters. "Cap, that's not what he...," Michelle started before the Major put a hand on her shoulder. After the door closed he said, "Give him some time to cool off." He turned to Ace and D.E., "Exactly what happened?" "We told you everything," D.E. told him. "Well tell me again," he snapped. "I need to know every little detail. I've known Dan since he was a grunt back in basic. He wouldn't do anything like this without some kind of reason." "I don't know what we left out," Ace said. "Unless it was that marking on it's back." "Marking?", Pierce was desperate at this point. "What marking?" "The thing looked like it had a tattoo on it's back, might have been a bird, I really didn't pay much attention to it." "I got a good look at it," D.E. said, "it was a bird." The Major found a piece of paper and a pen and handed it to them. "Draw it for me." It took a several minutes but Ace and D.E. were able to make up a rough draft of what they saw. Rev studied it for a bit, "The Captain has as similar marking on the back of his shoulder, does he not?" "Now that you mention it," D.E. said, "it does look like that eagle tattoo he has." "That might explain it," the Major mumbled. "The Eagles." "All right I'm lost now," Ace said "Cap was tight with a bunch of guys back during basic,” he explained. “Somehow they ended up being called the Eagles. I have never seen a bunch of guys who worked so well together. They watched each other back no matter what the problem was and they didn't leave each other behind no matter who gave the order. There was a running joke with the commanders at the time. If you wanted a job done right you better have an Eagle on it. If you wanted it done to perfection you needed at least two. But something drove them apart while I was helping Mynx set things up for the program, he never told me what exactly happened." While that was going on Dan was in his quarters. His bomber jacket and shirt was thrown on the bed. He was staring at that same tattoo in his mirror for a long time before looking into his own eyes. Not liking what he was seeing in there Dan went to the other wall and started shadow boxing. After a few punches he looked up and realized he was looking right at a picture of him and his buddies back in the Army. Dan was in the center with Petey and Andy on one side with Barry and Jason on the others. An Eagle banner hung behind them. A happier time, before the trial.... His fist shattered the glass of the picture frame as he let the frustration over take him. *** Those two days went by slowly as Dan mainly stayed his quarters. Michelle and the others tried to get him out but he wouldn't listen. When his time was up he immediately went to the Major and asked for a week to find out what was happening before he sent the case to DekaRail, if he hadn't already. It took awhile but he finally got that week. Luckily they found out Michelle had somehow forgotten to pack what evidence they had for DekaRail during those two days. The Major wasn't happy but he let it go. "That's two you owe me," she teased him. It took her no time to locate two names for him, Barry Nordstrom and Jason Hart. Petey and Andy were with him when he got the call if it was one of his friends it wasn't them. The first name he checked out was Barry. He was living in a nearby suburb from last report. He found the place he was living at with no problem. Dan hid behind a tree as he saw Barry in his wheelchair playing with his daughter Danielle. He stayed there for a few moments just watching them, he couldn't believe how big that girl has gotten since the last time he saw her. He should have tried to find them sooner and mentally kicked himself. Dan left wanting to believe she be afraid of her father if he did turn into that thing. Jason location was, expectantly, a veteran’s hospital a couple of cities away. Dan found his room with nobody questioning him but surprise to find it was empty. The room looked like it hadn't been used in awhile. Did he die or something? "Excuse me," he said to a passing by nurse, "What happened to Sgt. Hart?" "I'm not sure I can tell you," she said. Dan pulled out his fake Springfield PD ID and badge and showed it to her. "A little out of your jurisdiction aren't you?" "I'm following a lead for a case I'm working on. I'm a little surprised it led me to an empty room." "Then you might want to check with the local police then. They covered the place pretty good." This wasn't sounding good, "What happened?" "Sgt. Hart disappeared a month ago." "No," Dan whispered. "Kidnapping a guy in a coma. I mean how low can you go?", she walked off saying. So Jase was still in his coma, but now he had two mysteries to worry about, and hope weren't connected. He saw a set of pajamas hanging in the closet, on a hunch he checked it out. "Stevens to Base," he said into his License. "Base here," Michelle answered. "What is it Cap?" "I'm scanning a pajama top and sending the info to you. Compare it to the shirt we got from the target the other night." "On it," she replied. A few seconds later, "Ours is dirtier but it's a near perfect match." Dan resisted the urge to pound the wall. It was looking more and more likely that thing was Jase. "Thanks Michelle, Stevens out." *** Petey phone started ringing, without thinking he answered it, "Yeah?" "Petey, it's me," Dan said. "Fast track, I didn't think I hear from you so soon." Or ever for that matter. "Yeah I know. Petey did you know somebody took Jase?" "Yeah man," he tried not to sound nervous, "I found out when it happened. Where have you been?" "I just found out," he sounded distraught. "Why would anybody take him in that condition?" "I don't know man. There’s a whole lot of sick people in this world. It could have been one of those freaking aliens for all I know. Look, I got to go I'm getting another call that might be the one I've been waiting for." "All right, I'll talk to you later." "Right, later," he quickly ended the call and looked over at Andy. "How did I let you talk me into this?" "Cause we're the only real friends we got," he told him. "And you didn't exactly reject the idea when I told you we could help Jase out." "Yeah, help him wake up and walk. Not turn him into that thing in there." "An unfortunate side effect I wasn't expecting," said a blue white haired alien in a purple coat. "But a very interesting one at that." "Screw that!", Petey exploded. "Are you any closer in fixing this?" "Not without returning him to his previous vegetative state." "I don't believe you." "Petey calm down," Andy said. "The doctor is doing everything he can. Look, get some air and clear your head.” Petey did just that but he still didn't look happy. When they were alone he said, "That Agent you told me about better deliver." "Chatrox in rather new but the bosses are pretty high on him." He turned to the window and watched the gray thing in the holding cell he designed. "Don't worry comrade, you'll get your money soon enough." "I didn't do this for the money," he said a little too quickly. "I did it to help Jase." "Yes, I'm sure those loan sharks I overheard you worrying about will be impressed with your loyalty to your friend." Andy shut up. "You might be interested to know that the field test for the recall device I implanted in his head worked perfectly." "It better have. It took me forever to convince Petey to take a night out on the town with me the other night." "Your friend is very lucky comrade," the alien doctor told him. "So far he is the first successful test subject of my super soldier treatment. Agents galaxy wide will play both sides of any conflict, selling the process to the highest bidder. Then they will come to me looking for better weapons to use. A beautiful repeating cycle, don't you think so comrade." Andy remained quiet, disgusted with himself. *** Rev was working in something in the med bay lab when Dan walked in. He didn't move, but he did say, "Good day Captain. Is there anything I can do for you?" "Maybe Rev," Dan pulled up a stool and sat next to him. "Do you have any idea what could make a guy turn into what we faced the other night?" "I have been pondering that very notion since you and the others reported it." Rev stopped what he was doing and bug eyes stared at him. "My first thoughts were that his genetic structure was altered dramatically. I had other theories as well but the restructuring theory is the only one that makes sense with the facts I am aware of." "Genetic restructuring is illegal galaxy wide," Dan said recalling what he could remember of galactic law. "Is there any Alienizers experimenting in this field?" "Far too many I am afraid," he sighed. "Several who are unaccounted for at the moment." Dan raised an eyebrow at that one. "I made a silent inquiry into the SPD database while you were confined to base. So I was left to figure out how this was done." "Do I want to know how many options these guys got?" Rev looked like he was smiling, "Not as many as you think Captain. Most genetic resequencers use some form of radiation. Even those that use nano machines need a small amount to get the restructuring started." "How fast can something like this be done?" "I would need to know the estimated time line." "I should have asked if Jase was getting any visitors before he was taken," he muttered. "Can this resequencer be small, say you can fit it in a briefcase?" "The device itself needs to be able to house the subject in question." "So they couldn't carry it in. Say at least a month." Rev thought it over for a moment, "There are several form of radiation that could do that." "That narrows it down I guess." "Captain I might add a resequencer is very difficult to get a hold of. More than likely it as built on site using local materials. I might also add that current Earth technology is not exactly up to the galactic standards needed for such a device." Dan got what he was hinting at, "So chances are good that it was cobbled together and might have some leaks." He got up and patted Rev on the shoulder, "Thanks, now I got to see if Michelle can help me locate a stray source of radiation." "Actually I already went over this with Michelle while you were out," Rev told him. "She would not exactly do the scan. The Major told her that this was your, and I am quoting her, 'fool’s errand' and that you were on your own. She did, however, tell me that I had until she went and got a cup of coffee and returned to find anything on the scanners. She took longer than I anticipated." Dan smiled to himself, that was another one he owed her, "Did you find anything useful." "I discovered a source of A-Theta radiation, something commonly used for this sort of thing, around the docks by the river. Michelle returned before I could pinpoint an exact location." He returned to the device he was working on, "I modified this scanner to detect A-Theta radiation." Rev handed him the device, "Good hunting Captain." "Rev..." he began. "Captain, I understand better than the others about what you did. True friendship and loyalty is a rare thing in this universe. Although I pray to the Great Spirit that your friend was not turned into the thing from the other night." Dan took the device and pocketed it, "So do I Rev, so do I." An hour later Dan was in the ready room getting into his gear, alone. Or he was until Ace and Michelle came in. They looked on as he finished gearing up. Dan Made sure he kept his back to them. "I'll get the others," Ace said. "No," he ordered. "I'm doing this one solo." "That's not smart Cap," Michelle said. "You don't know what you're walking into." "I'll risk it. I'm good at filling the blanks remember." "Cap you're not alone in this," Ace told him. "We want to get the bastard that did this too." She looked into his locker and her eyes went wide. She reached in and grabbed his badge and OpsLicense before he could stop her. Ace stared at them before looking him in the eyes. He couldn't return the look and turned away. "You were going to leave these behind weren't you?" "I'm just complying with the Major wishes," he said. He went to leave but Michelle and Ace kept blocking his path, "Get out of my way." "Dan you can't make this personal," Michelle told him. "If that thing is Jason then it's already personal. And I'm not dragging SPD into this." "If he was changed by an Alienizer than SPD is already involved." Michelle took the black badge from Ace and pinned it back on his shirt. "You're part of SPD now, and you took an oath to uphold everything it stands for. And I will be damned if I stand here and let you throw all of that away." She grabbed the License and held it out to him. Dan reluctantly took it and put it back in its holster. She had a satisfied look on her face, "Now me and Ace won't have to beat any sense into you." Dan forced a half smile and left. "You better come back in one piece." Dan stopped at the door. He took the cap off his head and put it on Michelle's. "I'll be back for this," he told her softly. In his regular voice he said, "Ace, you're in charge until then." "Rodger," Ace said and saluted. "Oh, I recently did an overhaul on one of the Hounds. Can you do me favor and take it for a long test drive? To say the river and back. Just to make sure the kinks are out of it, of course." He nodded and headed for the hanger. *** "What do you mean you're sending him out for another test?", Andy demanded. The Doctor was already activating the release protocols. "What if Petey comes by tonight?" "Don't worry about it comrade, he is far away from here. He will not be in." "God, you better hope so. If Petey ever found out..." "If I ever found out what?", Petey surprised him. "I knew I couldn't trust you two." "Petey, listen to me, it's not what you think." "Do you think I'm an idiot or something? I overheard you guys talking, some shit about super soldiers and all of that. I'm calling the cops." Andy and the Doctor both pulled out guns, so did Petey. "Let's just talk this out," Andy said trying to defuse the situation. "We're all in this really deep." "God, is that the line you used on Fast Track? I would have turned you in too." A shot went over their heads and they ducked slightly. In the doorway was a man in a black military style uniform and light chest armor. The only hint of color was the red star on his right shoulder. He leveled his SP-Shooter at them and came closer. Petey was finally able to get a good look at him, "Fast Track?" "Please tell me you’re not involved in this." As soon as he said it his entire demeanor went emotionless and he ordered, "Drop your weapons now and get on the ground." Andy charged, Dan sidestepped and tripped him to the ground. He kicked his gun away and kneeled down on his neck to keep down. He pointed the Shooter back at the others. "Damn it Andy," Petey moaned. "Drop your weapons now!", Dan ordered again. Petey complied but the doctor stood there smiling. A Batsuroid dropped from the ceiling and threw a grenade. Ten Anaroids formed and stood between them. "You are outnumbered comrade," the Doctor said. "Perhaps you are the one who should drop his weapon." Dan stood up, holstered the Shooter and took his License out of it's holder. Andy looked up and saw it in his hands, "You lying son of a bitch!" He got up quickly and knocked it out of his hands. The Anaroids choose then to walk foreword. Dan took out his SP-Shooter and knife and got ready. "Light it up!" Ace voice called out. Something small and black went flying over head. Dan had just enough time to lower his head and cover his eyes. The object exploded in a bright flash of light, disrupting the bots motor function momentarily while the others were blinded. Dan ran back and dove behind some crates. Ace, already in her DekaSuit, joined him shortly. "What are you doing here?" "Thought it was a nice night to do some field exercises," she told him. He couldn't see it but he knew she was grinning behind that helmet. "Michelle suggested that this might be a lovely spot for it. Lucky coincidence for you huh?" "You're crazy if you think I'm going to buy that bunch of bull, you know that?" "It's why you choose me for the job," she said. While they were talking the Doctor was back at the controls. "He's out!", he proclaimed after a moment. "He'll take care of these people." "What?", Petey said. "No you can't.” He ran into the holding area as shots were fired and returned. Dan and Ace heard the whole thing from where they were. "Go," she told him, "we got this." He nodded and went around to follow Petey taking the occasional pot shot at a bot or the control panel. When he got there the thing that used to be Jason was throwing things around the room. Petey was in front of it trying to calm him down, Dan pointed his SP-Shooter right at him. "No," Petey cried out. "I can calm him down!" About them Jason grabbed him by the back of his head, picked him up and slammed him into the ground face first. Petey wasn't moving and he was a thought away from pulling the trigger. "Jase!", Dan shouted and he put away his weapon. Jase grabbed a crate and threw it at him. He dove out of the way as the thing grabbed a pipe off of the ceiling and water started pouring down on top of them "Jase calm down! Listen to me, please!" He tried to reason with him and dodge at the same time. Running out of ideas he finally went, "Stand down Sargent!" The thing seemed to understand that, "That's an order soldier!" The thing took a long look at him, he squatted down and grunted, "Da...Danny?" He got through to him, "Yeah Jase, it's me." Jase looked at this hands and back at him, "Help?" "God I hope they can. But I promise you, even if they can't, I'll do everything in my power to make sure they treat you right." Jase looked around and saw Petey lifeless body and made a short crying sound. "That wasn't your fault Jase, you didn't know what you were doing. Don't worry, I'll protect you." His eyes teared up and looked around again. "No," he said as he picked him up, walked over and put him on top of the stair way. "What are you doing?", Dan asked as he walked away. Jase was heading for what looked like electrical cables. Panicking Dan looked down at the water covered floor, "Jase don't do it!" He went to run after him but Rev and D.E. came up behind him and held him back. He looked at them and shouted, "Cut the power to this place!" "Cap...," D.E. started. "Do it now!", he shouted. Dan looked back at Jase, who already pulled the wires off the wall, "Jase no!" He stood there with the wires in his left hand, with his right he made the gun shooting motion the came up with. Cocked, locked and ready to rock. The he brought his right hand up to his head in a salute. Tearing up Dan returned the salute. Then Jase dropped the wires into the water. He jolted for what seemed like an eternity before falling to the ground. Rev and D.E. let him go as Dan fell to his knees. Ace had judged the Doctor and the order was to take him alive. Andy was there next to him as Dan and the others walked out. "Dan you got to believe me," he pleaded. "I didn't want this to happen. I just wanted to help Jase." "Shut up," Dan ordered, not wanting to deal with him at the moment. Andy got mad and sarcastically said, "Yes sir, Lieutenant Fast track sir! The rules and regulations before anything else! Is there anything this lowly maggot needs to know Lieutenant Fast track sir?" Dan stopped and got right in his face. "Yeah there is, it's Captain." His fist connected with Andy's jaw before any of them realized it. Not that they would have tried and stop him if they did. Dan watched him lie there for a moment then said, "Get this son of a bitch out of my sight," and stormed off. "That was police brutality," Andy said as Ace and D.E. dragged him back up to his feet. "Newsflash," Ace told him, "he's still Army and he can do whatever he wants." "No he can't," Andy argued. "Look one more word out of you and I'm going to feed you to my friend over there," she pointed over to Rev. He looked peaceful but Andy still looked like he was about to piss himself and shut up. *** Jase's funeral was set for a morning service two days later. Dan waited until late afternoon to visit his grave. He stood there for a moment before taking a beer can out of his jacket pocket. He drank half of it then slowly poured the rest on top of the grave before walking off. Not wanting to return to base he ended up sitting on a bench in the park holding his head in his hands. He barely registered a body sitting down next to him. A hand holding a penny entered his vision, he looked over to see it belonged to Michelle. He pushed her hand away saying, "I wouldn't know where to begin." "The beginning usually works for me," she said. "Or you can answer something that's been bothering me and the others. Like why that guy was calling you Fast Track." "A nick name they gave me," he explained, "I was usually the first one out of us getting promoted. Everybody joked about it, but I guess it was a bigger problem than I thought because things started breaking down around the time I made Second Lieutenant. Suddenly I wasn't one of the guys anymore in their eyes, particularly Andy's." "And that's what split the group up?" "No, it might have made the cracks but that wasn't it." He took a deep breath before continuing. "I was walking around base one night. I saw some lights and heard some noise coming from supply. So I checked it out. Andy and a couple of others were robbing the place. Before they noticed me I heard one of them say something about the black market. Andy saw me and started begging that I keep quiet and that this was the only time he did this and swore that he would never do this again." "So he was upset that you turned him in, what a jackass." Dan didn't look at her, "I walked away and didn't report it. I put my friendship before my duty and never said anything to anybody. The idiot was caught red handed anyway by the MPs ten minutes later. He swore up and down that I sold him out to the MPs. Nobody believed his claims that I was there and saw the whole thing. I kind of knew how he felt. Four of the closest friends I ever had and only one believed me when I told them I kept quiet." "I'm surprised you didn't try to yourself in for withholding information." "I was about to, but Barry talked me out of it. He told me why should I ruin my record over him. I never should have listened to him." "I'm glad you did," the Major said behind them. Ace and the other were with him. "Major," Dan said as he stood up. The Major walked around the bench stand next to him. "I always wondered what happened between you guys. Now I know. I'm not going to condone what you did back then, but I'm not going to hang you by it either." The Major put a hand on his shoulder, "I've seen a lot of guys ignore their conscious to get ahead in their career over the years. It was very rare that I've seen someone ready to sacrifice their career in order to keep it clear. I'm proud to say I trained one of them." "Here," Ace said holding a bag, "we chipped in and got this fixed for you." Inside was the picture of him and his buddies in a new frame. The other thing in the bag caught him off guard. He pulled out the second, empty picture frame, "What's this for? You guys figured I'm going to go off and break the other one too?" "Actually," Ace pulled a camera out of her pocket, "we figured you could use a picture of your new group too." Michelle took the camera as they surrounded him. "Wait, Michelle you got to get in here too." She shook her head no, “You guys are the team, not me." "Michelle that's BS and you know it," Boomer said. "You're part of this team too." "Come on Michelle," Ace and D.E encouraged her. She still back off. "Get in the shot Lieutenant and that an order," Dan said with a smile. She smiled back, "Sir, yes sir." She handed the camera to the Major. He held up a hand before they could say anything. "Cap, let me remind you that I am the only person in this unit you can't give an order too. Besides, somebody got to take the picture.” He took a few steps back as they got into position. Dan just stood there with his arms crossed. Ace stood to his right and copied his pose. Michelle got behind Dan and wrapped her arms around his neck. Rev stood to their left clasping his hands behind his back. D.E. and Boomer put an arm around the other shoulder and made a peace sign with their free hand. The Major made sure the camera was ready to go and he said, "Emergency." "DekaOps," they all said as he snapped the picture ----- ED-Evanescence-Whisper ----- |
07-15-2012, 02:55 AM | #10 |
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Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 486
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Special Police DekaOps
9 ----- OP- Alter Bridge- Metalingus ----- The last few days were kind of rough. John McGee from Inside Extra got word about the "gray humanoid" and ran with it. And trying to find a way to tie it in with the mysterious Deka unit. Everybody could see how this was affecting Cap so she decided to call in one of the favors he owed her, a night out for drinks. Just to get his mind off things of course. She looked herself over in the mirror at the black dress she was wearing. She asked Ace, who was flipping through one of her computer magazines, "How does this one look?" "It makes your butt look big," she said not even looking at her. "Could you please try and be a little more helpful" "You're just going out for a friendly round of drinks. It's not like this is a date or anything," Ace looked up a bit, "right?" Michelle returned to the mirror, "I just don't want to give Cap the wrong impression, that's all." There was a knock at her door, "Crap he's here already." Ace got up and put this blue shawl around her shoulders that went with her dress, "That's perfect, thanks." "What are friends for?", Ace said as she opened the door. Cap was on the other side. "Oh, hey Ace," he was wearing a gray suit and white shirt with a red handkerchief in the pocket. He looked over to Michelle and almost silently went, "Whoa." Ace put up a fist to her mouth and coughed. "Ah... are you ready to go? I can wait a few more minutes if you want." "No, I'm ready to go when you are," she said. Cap offered an arm that she readily took. They entered the command room where D.E., Boomer and surprisinly the Major were waiting for them. "They clean up nice don't they?", D.E. asked. "All right you two," Boomer said looking serious, "we want both of you home at a reasonable hour." Then he got that familiar smirk back on his face, " But if you can't, I here there are plenty of no tell motels around." Ace leaned against the doorway and went, "D.E." He reared back and punched boomer on the arm again," Ow!" "Don't you listen to these two," The Major said. "You two have some fun now, you hear? And don't do anything I wouldn't do." As they walked to the elevator Cap said, "Then it's going to be a boring night, because according to Helen you don't do anything." They got a good chuckle but the Major remained stone faced, "You're damn lucky I like you." Ace leaned her head against the doorway as the elevator door closed. D.E. said, "And to think Cap was asking how he got roped into this. Was Michelle that nervous too Ace? Ace?", he looked back when she didn't answer but she was already gone. *** They sat at a local bar and just talked. It took her awhile but she got him to relax a bit, and hardly any alcohol was needed either. They even started to joke around after a bit. Dan apparently knew a couple of stories about the Major that even his wife didn't know about. "Oh man that, one is perfect blackmail material," she said while laughing. "Why do you think he so nice to me?", he grinned. "I can't believe Helen hasn't found out what he does yet. Speaking of which, Ace was telling me D.E.'s family and Boomer's fiancé knows what we do." She nodded, "The Major made some allowances. D.E.'s family share just about everything so he didn't feel it be right to keep something like this from them. Boomer actually begged to let him tell his fiancé because he didn't want to risk losing her." Dan grinned again, "Pierce always was an old softy at heart." "How about you Cap, would you tell anybody?" His demeanor changed slightly, "Petey and Andy asked and I didn't tell them." "What about Barry?", she asked. "I kind of figured he was the one who believed you back then." He didn't say anything but he did nod once. "According to the Major you two were pretty close." "He asked me to be the Godfather of his little girl, who he and his wife named Danielle, after me. Do you want to see a picture?" "I love too." Dan pulled out his wallet and took out a small photo of a red haired little girl with bright hazel eyes. "She’s adorable." Dan beamed with a bit of pride, "She looks like her mother, but you can see some of Barry in there too. Danielle a little bigger now then when this was taken." His mind looked like it drifted a bit. "You didn't say hello when you checked on them did you?" "It's been over ten months since I last seen them. I didn't think it’d be good to just show up out of the blue and start asking questions like a cop." Michelle put her hand on his, "You can call them anytime you know." "I know, but like I said I disappeared for ten months. Just to call out of the blue, that's going to raise some questions. Ones I wouldn't feel right in answering." "When you do let me know and I'll help you set things up." She patted his hand, "Of course you'll be back to owing me three favors." "I’ve only counted two." She started counting them on her hand, “Well there this, letting Rev use the scanners behind my back and I'm saving Hawaii for something big." Dan pointed a finger at her, "Hawaii doesn't count, you forced that one on me." She gave out a short laugh, "I swear you are the only person on the planet who complained that they were given a few extra hours in paradise." "The job was done there was no need to stay," he countered. "That what we do, get in, do the job and get out right after. Hell, I'm still trying to figure out how Ace snuck a set of civvies on board the Shepard without anybody seeing her." "She got in, stashed it and got out right after," she mocked him and laughed. Dan grabbed a peanut out of a bowl, tossed it at her and started laughing too. A loud voice cut them off and grabbed everybody attention. Dan looked around in case it was an Alienizer or something until he found the source, "Oh dear God no." A man in a loud green suit was yelling at a waiter. "Do you know who I am? I'm John McGee, a very important reporter. Hell, I'm probably the most famous guy you ever had in this dump and you expect me to pay!?" Michelle could tell Dan was mentally putting the cross hairs right between McGee's eyes. "So much for a quiet evening. How about we get out of here?" "Sounds good to me." He paid the tab despite her wanting to split the bill. As they got out the door he said, "Michelle?" "Yeah Cap?" "How about I use one of those favors and take you for a walk through the park. Or does that sound too corny?" She wrapped her arm around his, "Consider it paid in full," and they headed for a park across the street. "But you still owe me one for Hawaii." *** Chatrox pulled the cloak tightly around him, why did his newest client want to meet in a sewer of all places. He concentrated and turned invisible, a human work crew was down here. Now he had another stench to add to the ones already assaulting his nose. As he passed he thought of several ways to dispose of them quickly and quietly, but there was only one human on the planet he would actually touch to kill. And he had a client waiting. Turning several corners he found his latest client, a green skinned Trinoblean. He let his invisibilty dropped and shocked him, "Hello." "Agent Chatrox," he was visibly startled and the third eye on his forehead blinked several times. "Did you have any trouble setting things up?" "No, the base is set up as planned. The only thing I need is the part you promised you could deliver." "Of course," Chatrox pulled a box from under his cloak. "One SPD control processor, modified to your needs of course." The Trinoblean started watering from the mouth, "How were you able to get a hold of something like this? SPD keeps these as guarded as their own weaponry." "One of the perks of my previous line of employment that I highly miss. I was able to gain access to this before anybody noticed it was gone." "I'll be able to hack into any government database with this. Slag, I might be able to access this planet’s SPD computer network with this hooked into my systems." "One thing at a time," he held out a hand. The Trinoblean placed a data card in it then held up a second one. Chatrox Interest was piqued. "With something like this I'm going to need something extra to guard it, personally if I can," and he handed him the card, the amount on it was considerable. Chatrox quickly ran through his inventory in his mind. "Will a Vulcanian war suit do?" "More than enough." I'm feeling generous today so I'll throw in a couple of extra Igadroids, free of charge." He nodded and they parted ways. Chatrox had to return to his base and change clothes. There was another meeting he had to attend to today. *** The field team entered the command room in no time. Dan nodded to Michelle who returned it. She looked over at the Major and started snickering to herself, again. This has been going on all day and it was starting to get on his nerves, and he had a feeling exactly when it started. "Cap, I realize it's none of my business, but what exactly did you two do last night?" "We just talked," he said like noting was the matter, "told a couple of jokes, told some old stories, nothing important. Like how one day all your uniforms were 'accidentally' dyed pink." Ace, Boomer and D.E. started snickering as well, an images of the Major in a pink uniform running through their minds. Rev even smiled a little at the thought. "Attention!", the Major snapped, they followed orders but D.E. kept snickering. "I told you I'd get you back," Dan told him with a smirk "Humph," the Major grunted. "If we could get back to business?" They got serious again in no time. "All right then, we have a request from the US government and SPD Earth command. A government criminal database was infected with a virus of some kind that quickly multiplied and erased it." Michelle took over, "Their computer experts were able to isolate it, but it changed it's coding and escaped. But they were able to isolate it long enough to discover two things. One it was of alien origin and they brought in SPD. Our experts were able to determine it was the handy work of a Trinoblean named Digitox, and he specializes in this sort of thing. "What was the second thing that they determined?", Ace asked "It was apparently sent from an SPD source," the Major informed them. "Or at least that where they were they were able to back track it to right before they lost it." "How is that possible?", Dan asked. "Did he get in one of the bases?", Boomer wondered out loud. "All of the bases on the planet were or are being checked as we speak, even ours to be on the safe side," the Major replied. "Right now we think he has something that can mimic an SPD ID signature, pretty convincingly too. "That government database might have just been a warm up," Ace commented. "Imagine the chaos if he was able to do the same with our criminal database," Rev added. "That's what we're afraid of," Michelle said, “for the past couple of hours me and the other tech officers were able to get a rough location of where the virus was originally located." She pulled up a section of the map that highlighted the Rocky Mountains. "Satellite imagery is showing part of a complex that wasn't there before." "The apparent nature of the virus makes coming up with a counter virus a little difficult. A person has to literally rewrite the anti-virus code on the fly," the Major informed them. "So we set up a D-Hack and let Michelle take over from there," Dan said "You're half right," The Major said. "There's a fear that the virus might use the D-Hack to jump into our system. So Michelle will be going with you on this one." "What?", Dan body stiffened slightly. "We would have asked one of the other units for assistance but they're currently busy fortifying their own systems at the moment," He explained. "Besides Michelle has her own License just like every other SPD officer so you won't have to worry about her." She held up a black License with white lettering to drive that point home. Dan didn't look all that happy but he said, "You heard the Major, gear up and move out." "Rodger," they said and headed for the door. Dan and Michelle looked at each other as she passed him. She winked at him but he kept his face all business. He shot a look at the Major before following. *** On the Shepard Michelle was wearing a field uniform similar to the other, but she didn't have a star on the right arm. She was typing away on laptop that was connected to the main computer back at OpBase. The fact she was doing this in the Shepard small med bay on the bed didn't bother her. The apparent silence from the main cabin was. Dan eventually walked in, "You all right back here?" "It's not exactly first class but it'll do," she joked. He leaned against the edge of the bed, "We would have given you better accommodation but the main cabin wasn't built to seat six." Michelle closed her laptop, "Cap, are you all right with this?" "A little late to be asking me now isn't it?" "You had to know this was going to happen sooner or later. Hell, you seen me in the firing range practicing with this thing," she patted the SP-Shooter on her hip. "I wasn't trying to pass the time you know." “Cap," D.E. called out from around the corner, "Ace said we're going to be there in five minutes." "Right," he called back. To Michelle he said, "We'll talk about this later. We got a job to do and I need to know what kind of holes we're going to be dealing with." She opened the laptop back up and turned so he could see. "I couldn't get much. The only thing showing is the opening right here." She highlighted that part of the screen. "Normal scan don't show us much, but I was able to get a hold of a thermal scan from an SPD satellite." "You found a heat source?" She wagged a finger at him, "Remember Cap, computers love the cold. And there's a very sizable cold spot where the door is inside the mountain. And using that and a couple of different program I was able to get a basic idea of what this looks like." She played with the control and a rough floor plan the size of a football field formed. "This is the best I could do is right here. The coldest spot seems to be right here, if I had to take a guess that would be the main computer room and our target." "You're beautiful when you’re right," he said. Then his face went red and told her, "I mean good job Michelle. I'll fill in the rest." Ace landed the ship a short while later. The doorway was jutting out from the side of the mountain. D.E. and Boomer stood on either side of the door as Dan, Ace and Rev stood by with their Shooter drawn. Michelle hooked up a small pad from and ran a code breaker program. Several long minutes later the door split opened as Dan and the other covered the opening. He quickly held up four fingers than two and pointed inside. Boomer and D.E. both went in and with their SP-Shooters at the ready faced both sides of the upcoming corridor. "Right's clear," D.E. called out. "Left's clear," Boomer added and they went inside. "Emergency! DekaOps!", Dan said as the DekaMetal activated. "Which way is that control room?" "To the right," she told him. He pulled the sky probe out of his pack and threw it down the corridor. Michelle linked up her pad with his as he checked the path so she have a map to work off of. "I'm not seeing any surprises so far," he said. "Back the probe up," Michelle told him. "That door there is where the cold spot is." "Right," Dan commanded the probe to continue checking the corridor and took his helmet off. "Here's how we're going to do this. Me, Rev, D.E. and Boomer are going down the left corridor and provide a distraction. Ace you go with Michelle and cover her as she tackles that virus." "Right," Michelle said. "I'll tell you when I'm done with it and ready to go." "Hold it," he told Michelle, "Ace is second in command of this team. If she tell you it's time to go you move your little butt, you got that?" "Yes sir," she said and saluted smartly. Then she got that all too familiar wicked little grin of her lips, "And how long have you been studying my butt?" "What... no... I...," he stammered as they headed down the right corridor. Boomer tapped his arm and asked, "How come you don't say anything about my butt?" Dan lowered his head, pinched the bridge of his nose and slowly counted to ten. He got to four before he said, "D.E.", who punched Boomer in the arm again. "Ow!", Boomer rubbed his arm. "You said that was something you wouldn't do." "I never said I couldn't pick up something from Ace. Now suit up," he said putting the helmet back on, "we got to make sure we cause a big enough distraction." *** Digitox saw them as they entered, but not through any computer screen. A while back he had a neural interface implanted in his head and used his "pet" to erase all evidence of it. He was connected to every sensor and system in this place, even Chatrox couldn't sneak up on him if he wanted too. Oh look, they were splitting up. He'll let them play the game this way for now. He walked over to the war suit he bought and patted it's arm. Digitox dispatched a group of droids to deal with the two who split off, he would handle the others. *** Where in the hell was the was the resistance? A complex this size should have guards coming out of the wood works. An automated defense system, a platoon of marines, a boy scout with a slingshot something. Dan checked around a corner, D-Colt in hand, still nothing. He was liking this less and less. Waving the others foreword he could tell by their body language that they felt the same. Rev went ahead to check out a door that was in front of them when his pad beeped. The probe was back in range, Dan programmed it to go down any open path. From the looks of things it would have done a complete circle if they stayed at the main entrance, and if this door was open. Rev waited by the controls on one side of the door as he stood on the other. When D.E. and Boomer nodded that they were ready he signaled for Rev to open the door. With both of their D-Shooters out in front they entered the room. "Clear but plenty of hiding spots," D.E. called out as they entered. It looked like some kind of storage room or something, a big one at that. "You know," Boomer whispered, "if I was gonna ambush some guys, this is where I'd do it." As soon as those words left his mouth side of the wall slide up. Thirty Anaroids, five Batsuroids and two Igadroids came out of hiding. They all retreated backwards but the door closed before they could reach it. The all dove for cover behind some computer crates. "Boomer you are so lucky I can't reach you," D.E. snapped. Rev, who was closest to Boomer, smacked him on the back of the helmet. "You read my mind buddy." "Why are they not firing?', Rev asked. In fact none of the fired a shot since they appeared. Dan chanced a quick look over the crate he was behind. All of the bots were standing in formation. "Do you think they broke?", Boomer asked sounding desperate "All of them?", D.E. asked him. “A guy can hope can't he?" Then some heavy footsteps could be heard coming from behind the bots. "Oh that can't be good." The wall behind the bots slid up and a seven foot bluish gray metal suit came forward. All their eye were fixated on the Gatling gun on it's right arm. "That kinda looks like an Elemental from those MechWarrior games." "Rev," D.E. called out, "tell me that's not a Vulcanian war suit." "I will not lie to you Terry." D.E. started swearing. "Vulcanian, like in those live long and prosper guys right?", Boomer was sounding desperate again. "More like the Roman god of craftsmanship and destructive fire." "I suppose now," Digitox said from inside the suit, "would be where I tell you my master plan. Quite simply it's this." The Gatling gun started spinning and a stream of fire ripped through some of the Anaroids and crates in front of him. The other bots and they hit the floor as he waved the gun around. "At least he's a lousy shot," Boomer said. "Too bad with that thing he doesn't have to be a good one," Dan told him. *** Ace and Michelle didn't run into any trouble until they hit the corridor leading to the target room. Ace turned the corner saw an Igadroid leading about ten Anaroids in front of the target door. "Ops5 to Ops1," Ace said into her License, "We got a bit of trouble." There was no answer. "Ops1, Cap! Damn it, I think they ran into their own welcoming committee." She looked at Michelle, "Ready to get in on the fun?" Michelle pulled out her License and nodded. "Right, change standby. Emergency! Dekaops!" Ace was surrounded by a pink digital field as the DekaMetal formed around her in a flash of light. It changed into a black body suit in a burst. A dark pink strip went down her body from her shoulder to the top of her boots. On the left side of her chest the black and pink formed an outline for the number five. A backpack solidified on her back and the D-Shot appeared in a flash. "Face on!", DekaMetal flashed around her head forming a dark pink helmet. Michelle held her License across her chest, "Emergency!", she thrust it foreword hitting the button on top, "DekaData!" Michelle was surrounded by a white digital field as the Dekametal formed around her in a flash of light. In a burst it formed a black and white version of the DekaSwan suit. A backpack with two cylinders on both sides appeared on her back as a ten button keypad flashed on her left forearm. "Face on!", Dekametal flashed around her head forming a white helmet. Michelle held her left arm in front of her chest, "Officer of the information highway," she swung her left arm back and shot her right fist foreword, "DekaData!" "Now!", Ace took her D-Shot in hand and quickly turned the corner firing as fast as she could. She managed to wing the Igadroid while taking out a couple of the Anaroids. A hail of return fire forced her back. She looked over to Michelle and realized didn't have any visible weapons. Ace mentally kicked herself, Cap would have noticed that sooner. She handed Michelle her D-Shooter, "Here." "Not just yet," Michelle told her as she punched a five button code into the keypad on her arm. She clapped her hands as she went around the corner, knelt down and put both hands on the floor, "Electro charge!" A blue electric charge shot in front of her and covered the floor and walls. The Igadroid and Anaroids were covered and stopped moving. She looked up at Ace and said, "Let's go." "Wasn't that a Tokukyou attack?" Ace asked in disbelief as she stared at the frozen robots. "Some what, I modified it slightly," she told her. Michelle grinned at Ace from behind the helmet, "Thanks to Commander Scorp we have access to a lot of cool stuff." "How many times can you do that?" "Well it's charging up again, but not many in one setting or I'll fry the system," she said as she worked on the door lock. "And I'm still tweaking it. I got hit a little with that one." She shook her hands as the door opened. "Oh... Ace, not to tell you how to do your job or anything, but the effect is similar to Boomer's flash grenade." "Right," she said as she started firing her D-Shot from close range. Michelle went in and studied the set up in front of her. Punching in another code a keyboard detached itself from her pack. It swung around until it was in front of her. Michelle pulled out a cord and plugged it into one of the rooms ceiling high towers. A virtual computer screen flashed to life in her visor and she started running an encryption breaker. "Come on, come on," she muttered before she finally broke the computer security system. A few moments later she was smiling again, "There's the little bugger." His neural connection informed him the moment the break happened. They were better than he gave them credit for. Calmly he said, "We have a security problem in the main room." "I'll handle it," one of the Igadroids said, glad to get away from this maniac. "Anaroids eleven through nineteen come with me." "Where's that group heading?", D.E. asked from his hiding spot. Dan watched them head for the door. He remembered that the outer hallway was basically one path. "Oh no", he whispered. "Light it up!" Boomer threw a flash grenade without hesitation. His intention was to order the other to concentrate fire on the group that was leaving. Of course in his haste he forgot the reason why he didn't order a flash grenade to begin with. Digitox was blinded as well and started firing wildly with the Gatling gun. They hit the floor again as he ripped threw a good chunk of his own forces. "You bastards," Digitox said as his vision cleared and saw what he had done. "Do you know how much these things cost me?!" Dan wasn't paying any attention, he was silently cussing himself out. He had to be smarter than this, trust Ace to do her job. Especially since it looked like the unit leaving wasn't affected. "Cap," Boomer called out, "now would be a good time for a plan B!" "I'm working on it!" As soon as he could get his head straight that is. "We are worried about Michelle too," Rev said to him. God, was he being that obvious? "Will that thing run out of ammo?" "Judging by the holes in the walls I don't think it firing laser," D.E. said, "so I think so." "Then let's find out for sure. Rev, move when I move. D.E. Boomer wait until I give the signal." He looked over to Rev who nodded. They came out of hiding and started firing. *** Ace stood in the doorway watching both ends of the corridor. They still haven't heard from Cap and the others. She looked over her shoulder at Michelle who was still working on the virus, "How much longer?" She didn't say a word but kept working as she concentrated. Footsteps could be heard coming their way, a lot of them from the sound of things. Now it was time to book," Michelle we got to go now." "I need a little more time." "I don't think we got a little more time." Michelle's finger danced over her keyboard, "You find a way to get me that time and I'll tell you everything you want to know about me and Cap." "There is something going on between…?" she was shocked. "No, Cap said we move when I say we move. I'm telling you we got to move now." "Prepare to eliminate whoever is in there," a mechanical voice said. Michelle unplugged herself from the tower, "Done." "It took you long enough to fix that virus." "I got that done a few moments ago." "Then what was..." "Thought I leave a little surprise of my own while I was in there." Ace offered he D-Shooter again, Michelle took it this time. "Wanna save the boys butts?" "Oh yeah, Boomer gonna love that." On Ace command they both went into the corridor firing at will. *** D.E. fired away with his and Boomer’s D-Shooter in hand as he dove behind a crate and Boomer slid as Digitox let a few rounds fly. Then Dan and Rev moved again. He had his D-Colt on multishot and fired at the war suit while Rev took a shot at one of the remaining bots. Digitox changed his aim toward them and they went for cover. The plan was working so far but the Trinoblean was only fire in short burst to conserve his ammo. At this point it was a guess on what was going to give out first, his ammo or their luck. D.E. and Boomer moved again as Ace came out of nowhere and took out the last Igadroid. She turned to face the war suit as Michelle vaulted over, putting her hands on it's shoulders, "Electro charge!" Digitox screamed as his systems started shorting out. Ace, with glowing D-Rod in hand, sliced through the Gatling gun. "NO! You two are still in the main room!", He yelled. Why wasn't his connection telling him of any change? Nobody was where they were supposed to be. "I put your security systems in a loop, I'm surprised you didn't notice before now," Michelle told him and the other joined her. "You guys all right?" "Yeah," Dan said. “Time to take this guy down.” He held his D-Colt next to his head, "Ops1!" D.E. twirled both D-Shooters before crossing his arms in front of his chest, "Ops2!" Rev took a fighting stance," Ops3!" Boomer pumped the grip on his D-Shot, "Ops4!" Ace brought her D-Shot to her right, "Ops5!" Michelle did her pose again, "DekaData!" "Special Police!" The lights on their helmets flashed and they shouted, "DekaOps!" "Cap," Michelle said, "I'll take care of Digitox, you take care of the remaining bots." "You sure?" "Ace can cover me." Dan gave the order and left her to the job. Digitox stumbled backwards as he tried to regain control of the suits systems. She pulled out her License and shouted, "Target orders!" The area went dark as a red X and a blue circle flashed in front of Digitox. After it scanned him for a minute the red X shined brightly before him. "Eliminate target." She replaced her License and hit another code, "Data cannon!". The cylinder on her back back flipped up and over until the ends were pointing foreword on her shoulder and the barrels extended. She braced herself as she reached for the barrels and hit the triggers, "Data blast!" There was a slight energy build up before two green streams fired out. Digitox was hit and deleted in moments. Michelle gave the thumbs down, "Got you." They were finished with the remaining bots and Dan walked over to her, "Impressive." "Why thank you." "Is there anything else you can do that I need to know about?" "Do you want me to show you in my quarters or yours?" she said and walked off a bit. Dan was at a loss for words again, but he did point a finger at Boomer when it looked like he was going to say something. "Ace, can you give me hand back at the control room? I found out why it looked like the virus was sent from an SPD source and I imagine command will want it back." *** A few days later Dan was in the gym tightening the strap on his padded gloves. He was going to do this earlier, but a small trip to Russia made him put it off. Now that all the units were at Defcon 3 he had time to do this while they waited. He turned around and faced Michelle, who still looked dubious about the whole thing. "Why are we doing this again?" "Because anybody can fire a gun. If you're going to go out in the field I need to know how you handle yourself one on one. I did this with others when I first got here." "Even Rev?", she laughed. Dan shrugged his shoulders, "After I spent twenty minutes explain that I wasn't mad at him or punishing him for anything." He got in a loose fighting stance, "Remember, no actual contact. The gloves are on just in case." Michelle made a bell ringing motion in the air, "Ding, ding." They started circling each other. Dan threw a couple of punches to test her defenses. Then she started in with a combo he was barely dodging and a roundhouse kick made him fall on his butt trying to get out of the way. She stood over him, "Did I mention that my cousin was an amateur kick boxer? He taught me a lot, like how to know when somebody holding back on you." "All right," Dan said as he got up, "have it your way." "So is this your idea of foreplay then?", she asked with a grin. Dan grabbed her buy the arms and looked serious. "Or is this it?" "Michelle I don't mix my professional and private lives." "You said no actual contact too, but you’re breaking that." He let go and back away. She was wonder what the hell changed. "Cap I thought you were interested in me. If I read the situation wrong tell me now and I'll stop wasting both our time." "No, I'm interested but...," he trailed off. "What, are you afraid I'm going to rob some place and make you choose between me and your job?" "It's not that." "Than what is it? You were normal until the mission." "Michelle," he looked her in the eyes, "every time we go on a mission I have to keep in mind that there's a possibility that one of us might not be coming back. I froze when I thought that might be you. And I made a stupid call because of it." She grabbed his face between her hands, "Hey, I knew the job was dangerous when I took it, we all did. I'm not asking for any special treatment. Hell I'm not even going to be a regular fixture on the team, I'm special situation only. Besides if I ever find out you went out of your way to protect me out there I'll kick your ass myself, you got that soldier?" and she patted him on the cheek Dan smiled, "Yes ma'am." "I'm just looking for a guy to have some fun with Cap. I haven't looked for that since my husband died in that car crash. Right now I really want that guy to be you." "I want to be that guy too. But things would go a little easier if you were a little more serious out in the field." "I'll try Cap, but I'm not making any promises." He took her by the shoulders, "Michelle, could you just call me Dan." "How about I just call you Cap when we're around the others?", she asked as she got closer. Dan gave her a half smile, "I can live with that," and their lips met. "Aw, look they're kissing," D.E. said from the doorway. Both he and Boomer were grinning like idiots. "How long have you two perverts been standing there?", Dan demanded. D.E. stood a little straighter as he faced Boomer, crossed him arms and deepened his voice slightly, "Michelle, could you just call me Dan." Boomer tilted his head and clasp his hands in front of him. Lightening his voice he said, "How about I just call you Cap when we're around the others," He batted his eyes before adding, "Or when we're alone and you do something really, really good." Michelle made a little shocked noise as her jaw dropped in disbelief. Dan put a hand on her shoulder. "Get out of here before I change my mind and kill the two of you." They walked off singing, "Cap and Michelle, sitting in a tree K-I-S-S-I-N-G..." "So much for trying to keep this quiet for a bit," Michelle eventually said. "I would have just killed them, but that's just me." "Paperwork would have been a bitch," he replied. "What's the most disgusting, degrading, dirtiest job we have around here?" "Why do you ask?" "Because I'm going to assign them to it for a month." Michelle started smiling, "I'll make something up. Now, do you want to try to get in round two?", she held up her fist. "I'm game if you are." They started circling each other again. ----- ED- Evanescence- Whisper ----- |
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