A Timely End

[One Oh]

One-oh, this is your handler, listen...

We have assigned you and a number of agents to the world of Chardaan, your target is a human named Maximilian Strum. Current CEO of Urothrost Ltd, a large manufacturing company operating out of the shipyards of Chardaan. Our counter-rebellion intelligence operatives have been tapped into a rebel transmission from the Chardaan system for weeks, and from our work it appears that Maximilian is a key player in feeding information to the alliance. He has been using his connections as a contractor with the empire to leak multiple design schematics, supply ship registrations, and even some information of imperial fleet movements. The penalty for this is of course, death. Treat the other agents with respect, you will work with them or you will fail, and I trust you know the consequence for that by now...

remember, no pity, no remorse, no restraint...


The flesh reeked of fear.

One-oh was crouched over the mangled remains of a human. Biting into his victims meat, tearing stringy chunks off the body. The echos of his last "briefing" flashed across his mind, Maximilian, he knew his target. The only question was how to get to him, he had already prowled around the industrial complexes perimeter, going straight through the gate clearly wasn't an option, too heavily garrisoned. Instead he had chosen to delve into the maintenance system, it was darker there, which pleased him a great deal. He had been getting hungry, but fortunately he had chanced what he assumed was a very unlucky maintenance worker, and had devoured him. The humans overalls were naught but rags and bloody strips of flesh, it had tasted good. Snarling, he felt the uncomfortable tracking chip implanted in his neck, a precaution to stop him from wondering off, should he try and leave the designated operation zone without direct command, the chip would detonate. It also served as an easy way for other operatives to meet with him, and he assumed that the other agents all had someway of tracking him to the bowels of this place, it wasn't exactly hard, patrols rarely penetrated this deep into the undercity. One of his ears perked up as he heard something move in his peripheries, but its scent wasn't hostile, no; the scent was different, it was the same scent as the handlers, one of the agents. The creature reared his head to stare into the dark tunnels running left and right, ready to face the approaching agent...

@Ulysses @Brick

 

[Harrison Fletch]

.

Harrison looked over the mission file. Short story, a CEO of a major manufacturing company was selling classified information to the Galactic Alliance, and Harrison and two other agents were going to be sent to kill him. Harrison had arrived on Chardaan separately from the two other agents, all were briefed separately, an Harrison wondered why. Harrison held up his data pad with the location of one of the agents who had arrived first. Apparently his name was One Oh, and he was a savage beast. Harrison had to continually tap the screen as the location flickered because the connection there was terrible."What the kriff? Where is he?" The device had led Harrison to the maintenance system. Walking, Harrison heard something, and decided to follow that sound. He emerged from the dark tunnel, blaster in hand when he saw some creature holding the remains of a man, blood dripping from his mouth. "Uh, I'm Special Agent Fletch here to assist you. How's dinner?"

@Ulysses @Rogue Navigator

 

[Ben Drake]

Drake hated these "intelligence" missions and yet, more and more frequently, he was being seconded away from the regiment into these kinds of assignments.

In a way, it made sense to him. The training in the rangers for independent action, survival in hostile environments and close quarters operations made them well suited to the task.

The one obvious flaw, however, was his appearance. What with his comfortable yet practical clothing, trained physique and regulation haircut, he looked precisely like a soldier on planet leave. It wasn't his responsibility, but his cover (if needed) would have to take that into account: something like a bodyguard, private investigator or - at a push - a physical training coach. In any event, he would not ideally be in the softly softly part of the mission but rather providing a blunt instrument where required.

As Ben made his way along to the rendezvous, he saw that two had already made it. He had become accustomed to being unsurprised by all sorts when it came to intelligence operatives. It didn't mean he had to like it. Only the darkness hid his disgust at the creature devouring a human corpse. For his part, he was a soldier, not a monster.

He gathered his professionalism and said, "Evening; we complete?"

 

[One Oh]

One-oh recoiled from them both, his shadowy musculature bleeding into the poorly lit wall like a parasitic shadow. 'You are the handlers?' he said, forcing another morsel of flesh down his gullet, and spitting out a stray piece of ribage. He loathed working with other agents, and no doubt they hated working with him as well. Yet he stopped himself from gnashing his teeth in a sign of respect, as were his orders. 'My masters spoke to me, tell me of you, yes...' he put himself in between them, tensing his frame as he stepped into the half-light revealing himself fully, bloody fur and all. 'The primary prey is above, we must climb, must crawl' he said Cocking his head at the agent who had first arrived , before snapping his head to inspect the one with the smart hair. 'This one understands, I know a way, it goes to the heart of the world above' the Defel said, drawling a thick sliver of spittle to the ground as he salivated over his feast. His eyes flickered with cold, momentary delight at the memory.

@Brick @Ulysses

 

[Harrison Fletch]

.

Harrison looked at the meat, the horrible stench of meat and blood filling his nostrils. Harrison heard sounds behind him, and Harrison looked back to see the other agent, Ben Drake approach. He had met Ben Drake on a raid. He understood that Ben was in the military, and Harrison also understood the rivalry between Intelligence and the Military, so Harrison would have to keep somewhat of an eye on the former military operative. Harrison nodded to Ben and returned his gaze to the creature. Harrison was aware of the chip implanted in the beast's neck, and if he were to harm Harrison, he wouldn't be afraid to activate the chip, instantly killing the creature. His superiors did warn him that only to activate it if he was a major threat as the beast was of value to the empire.

@Ulysses @Rogue Navigator

 

[Ben Drake]

"Lead on then," Ben found himself saying, against his better judgement. He still didn't know what to make of the creature, or the man who seemed totally at ease in its presence - in control of it, even.

He took station behind the other two, covering the rear in case they were followed. He took out the blaster from his waistband and adopted a low ready stance.

 

[One Oh]

One-oh bared his teeth in a crude imitation of a smile, and dipped his head sharply in a nod. 'There is a vent, it goes up into the heart, comes out underneath the storage, near the prey' he said pointing a clawed hand down the western corridor, where the first agent had come from. 'Must not waste time' he said eagerly, more like a dog than an intelligent creature. He dragged his knuckles as he half-crawled, leading them. The corridor still stunk of the exsanguinated body, and the creature periodically licked his gums to taste traces of blood.

@Brick @Ulysses

 

[Harrison Fletch]

.

Harrison nodded and followed the creature, Ben behind him. They walked for what seemed only a matter of minutes before they came to a ladder that went straight up. "Well chaps, looks like we're here." Harrison waited for the creature to go up opening the hatch and making sure it was clear. Then Harrison went up followed by Ben.

@Ulysses @Rogue Navigator

 

[One Oh]

One-oh turned to the two agents and gave a shallow nod, baring his teeth in a hollow grin as he made his way up the ladder. At the top of the ladder it railed off into a small vent of sorts, the Defel slunk into it without any trouble, as he was greeted by the cold air and of the crawlspace. 'This leads to storage' he said as he shuffled forwards, pushing wires out of his way as he went. The more they made it through, the group heard the muffled sound of machinery, chatter and footsteps, they were getting close.

@Ulysses @Brick