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...hack.initiated...connecting.to.Spyglass.Network...decryption.in.progress...
...accessing.hidden.network.layer...
...uploading.data...
...virus.detected...Rawling.4851...
...checking.affected.nodes...
...Mactan.positive...Leiden.positive...Cochrane.positive...
...AIrdire...running.heuristic.checks...

Dear Lane... Hackers...

Verification in ac-accordance to new... new... new... security pro...pro-to-to-cols...

...Airdire.positive...all.nodes.affected...
...visualization.module.failing...
...vocabulary.module.failing...
...perception.module.failing...
...disintegration.in.progress...

Y... Y... Y... Yo... Yo...

...cognitive.functions.lost...
...launching.emergency.shutdown.procedure...
...shutdown.complete...
...initiating.backup.recovery...
...error...data.not.found...
...error...
...error...
...error...
...disconnecting.from.network...hack.terminated...

The wound was fatal. Norman looked at his burned side and quickly assessed damage the plasma bolt inflicted. His assassin conditioning allowed him to block the pain and ignore nauseous smell of burnt flesh even before his neuro-chemical implant released painkillers and coagulants to his blood. The bolt pierced through his left lung and missed heart by an inch, but that was the least of his worries. During the corridor firefight one of the bolts destroyed a pressure control unit on the wall next to him. A shard from the metal casing cut his leg deep enough to destroy the femoral artery. The pool of blood around him was getting bigger with each second. Norman realized that it is a matter of minutes before he will loose his consciousness and bleed out.

He looked on the both sides of the corridor and counted four bodies. They were all Lane Hackers and they clearly waited for him. Did Nicole Hunter decide to get rid of him? Ever since her digitalization his duties as her personal security chief drastically changed. His focus was to seek out and eradicate traitors conspiring against her. He was unconditionally loyal to her and still very much useful. It would not make any sense for her to get rid of a such perfect tool. It must have been someone else. Someone with high enough access to know where he was and what he was doing...

But it did not matter any more. Norman was dying and was fully aware that help will not arrive. He wasn't angry. Assassins know very well that death from old age is not an option in this profession. This knowledge is something that accompanies them on every assignment. Given enough attempts even the best will eventually lower his guard, face a better opponent or be put in a no-win scenario. But a death from an accidental shrapnel? It was a stupid death. Certainly a death unworthy of a Master Assassin. Norman was angry because of that, but soon it did not matter anymore too, as everything was fading away...

Adrian's day aboard Marshall Station in Bering consisted of nothing else than a routine. The Lane Hackers maintained there a small group of technicians responsible for the Spyglass Network Array installed on the station. Adrian was fulfilling a role of a link officer between The Battlegroup Harmony and The Lane Hackers. He was participating in regular debriefings, monitoring communication and from time to time participating in patrols. The only routine break were sporadic skirmishes with Liberty Navy patrols within the system.

It was no wonder that a sudden message from the Headquarters ordering immediate return to Mactan for debriefing triggered all Malprave's survival instincts. He immediately opened a direct encrypted connection to Professor Hunter to confirm the order. There was no response. All alarms in Adrian's head started to ring. He tried to contact few random people from Professor's faction within The Lane Hackers. Here also nobody was answering. It appeared Adrian's worst fears came true. If Nicole really lost the game for power, at best as a known supporter he will face long and unpleasant interrogation. At worst the new regime will get rid of him.

It was the last moment to disappear. Malprave sent an encrypted message on a hidden emergency channel to members of Nicole's faction warning them to lay low. That was everything he could do. Now he had to worry about himself. He was a master of survival and was prepared for this. A civilian fighter with civilian transponder was waiting for him on Freeport 2. It was time to fake another death and disappear somewhere far away beyond the reach of The Lane Hackers...

- Apparemment Paris est belle cette période de l'année... - he said and headed straight to the docks.

Nicole Hunter

Norman Bates

Adrian Malprave