Planet Hammerse/821/Post Yaren Capture.Nineteen
It was quiet, empty, and unsettling all at the same time on the surface of Hammserse in Sigma-15. The capture of Yaren held the Core's morale and image at the top of the Omicron's most powerful players - for the time being anyways. While the celebrations ran, while thousands of military generals boasted about; looking for drinks, women, and even charting land on Nauru - the end result was far different for Nodviet.
A series of assassinations within the Rheinland Intelligence arena, specifically C.I.s for the Core, held a dangerous suspicion of what was to come in the next few days. The assassins were plentiful, there was no single hitman, but a small team instead. Of the assumed four that conducted the assassinations, only one assassin was captured by the Buro. Fearing the worst for his ego as well his dangerous suspicions of who was truly responsible for severing the connection to Rheinland, Nodviet -escorted by a team of Core combatants handpicked by the also-present Nova Hawken- had arranged to exchange the single assassin for several fugitives of interest to the Buro held by the Core.
The timing and location were very specific, but not a sliver of the mission's setting or parameters were safe whatsoever - hence the precautions. Hammerse was new, and not well known to anyone aside from Rheinland Law Enforcement, the Buro, and unfortunately the Bundschuh which highlighted the very real danger in the mission. The freighter carrying Nodviet, Hawken, and the special forces escorts had landed several KM from the meeting site to avoid specific detection, it was also accompanied by another freighter containing three A.P.Cs - two for the escort teams and one for the persons of interest.
Am I working my way up or down with this one? Hawken asked as she eyed Nodviet, both of them inside the APC now on the road to the meeting point.
Up Nodviet responded after pausing in thought for a second. Working her way "up" with the interrogation in contrast to "down" would have Nova inquire more about the assassin's connection to a suspected "very important and rogue individual" as Nodviet stressed the Buro agents ahead of time.
If it was thirteen we need to know, if someone has tabs on him. Well, you would know better than anyone what that could mean for us.
You think he's here?
No. But I think whoever he was working for wants to make sure he doesn't get mentioned, specifically by another one of his team.
The Overwatch? The Bundschuh? Those agents were as much in the dark as anyone else was in regards to Dabadoru.
But not all of them were in the dark about Laran.
He didn't work with them... He took the job to-
To uncover if he really did end the Laran project with him.
If he knows about-
One mile to the rallying point, Buro combatants and armor coming into visual range, ETA three minutes. Escorts, weapons check and assume a defensive perimeter upon G.M's exit. The radio operator's voice cut off the Nova's tone that grew ever-so-quieter as she realized what was really likely at work.
The light struck through both Nodviet and Hawken as they exited the A.P.C, both of them immedaitely experiencing the Planet's harsher oxygen settings. None of this stopped the escort teams however, each individual moved out in a rigid formation to their respective posts. Their weapons charged as they assumed defensive stances, keeping watch over both the horizon - and the meeting area. Following Hawken's exit from the A.P.C the prisoners onboard were taken out and escorted to the Buro's armored vehicles.
Very gut Guildmaster, Guildkeeper, all information regarding the assassination will be transferred as agreed. We'll help you so long as it's mutual, ja?
Of course agent, we'll have plenty more... subjects waiting in return. Nodviet held a confident smirk as the Buro agent nodded at him and turned around. Nodviet and Hawken quickly followed by doing the same, little dialect, but that fit the Buro's M.O. As if on que, the escorts immediately swarmed back into their assigned A.P.Cs. The perfection and "rigid" aesthetic of the escorts struck more intimidation into everyone present then the vehicles and weapons.
A few miles already on the road and the Buro's shuttles could be seen leaving the planet's surface. The core operatives still had some time to go, the freighters had relocated to remain illusive, not much further, just a few more miles...
Movement right side, unknown, assuming hostility. The driver spoke up, the shock immediately hit both Hawken and Nodviet, and in response their heads snapped in the corresponding direction as what was outlined. Dozens of figures moving in the distance left trails of dust that seemed to mask more objects closing in - they were a bit more then compromised.
Sync up the WV-Athena's weapon systems, authorization E. Nodviet 89023432809, notify them this will be danger close.
Understood sir, wait- INCOMING! Everyone's ears rang with silence as the first explosion went off just in front of them, wiping the A.P.C off the road and forcing theirs to a complete stop. Guard forces rushed out to meet the hailstorm of rockets and hard projectiles raining upon the two remaining A.P.Cs. Just as Hawken went to bring back the F.O. of the Athena back over the comms channel, another explosion struck the A.P.C - nearly completely flipping it over and sending everyone inside into unconsciousness.
Waking up first and looking outside the slightly opened exterior of the A.P.C, Nodviet struggled to escape his seat harness - which was holding him upside down. Everyone else in the A.P.C - aside from the assassin in custody - were unconscious hanging in their seats. Upon freeing himself, he quickly refocused his attention outside to find a fresh morgue of dead Core and "unknown" personnel. The gunfire kept up in less intensity, now focusing on the A.P.C containing Nodviet and the assassin "fuck" he thought to himself as he moved back inside - attempting to re-establish any bit of contact with anyone outside the perimeter in a last-ditch effort to stay alive.
Gunfire turned to footsteps approaching the A.P.C as Nodviet's attempts to establish contact became more and more desperate until finally accepting the worst case scenario. Drawing his sidearm, he positioned himself against one of the exiting bulkheads to the APC, starring out through the crease to see if he could catch any of the approaching hostiles by surprise before he was either captured, or killed. The buildup of adrenaline was only matched by the fear of being captured or killed now of all times, the humiliation it would bring would be unbearable - and that humiliation seemed to be just a few footsteps away until...
The sound of gunshots rang off in the background again, some followed by screams, others followed by the sound of a body smashing against the sediment. Now taking a closer peek into the Outside, Nodviet watched as the bodies dropped in sync like dominos after every gunshot. *Bang**Bang* The rounds continued to ring off after a brief pause, now crawling out of the A.P.C and into cover against the next, Nodviet slid against the belly of the next A.P.C just in time to see two figures coming from behind the A.P.C he had just left. *Bang* One of the bodies dropped instantly before he could even aim his gun, the next was met with a knife between the eyes not even a second later.
He turned his head slowly to his left to see the image of a woman standing in front of him with a sidearm pointed at him. She was wearing a Core Uniform, standing in the open to give away the area was clear. She was average height, pale skin, and most distinctively her iris were as black as the void. In shock and equally impressed from the display, Nodviet eyed down the woman before hearing her speak up.
Guildmaster. Her head turned to the left slightly to see the captive suspect crawling for the exit of the A.P.C before noticing the woman as well. The nose of her gun swiftly exchanged its target and she spoke up once again.
"Suspect. Attempting escape. Remain still or face immediate termination."
Planet Nauru/November/825
The dunes of Nauru were so much more relaxing, even despite it's rare bodies of water. At least the Core were the first ones to the punch, all of the neat land for neat settlements were theirs - and theirs alone. V sat in a very rigid posture, looking out over the tiny body of water into the horizon during the mid day. The peace and quiet seemed to be of comfort, even if she was so much of a soldier that it did barely anything for her. There was so little of "her" within her, the V.I. implant and constant flood of demands and objectives overwrote the chance of experiencing anything other than following orders.
As such, there she sat, reflecting on everything that had happened. Thinking over what was to come, and what she might learn about herself from the now famous "subject thirteen" while she waited for Nova to arrive in the same room with subject thirteen.
The chrome doors flashed with soft blue light before they slide apart. Nova Hawken, dressed in a smart blue and grey Core combat uniform appeared. Her hands rested behind her back and she strolled through into the room, smiling softly at Vi - with a hint of malevolence tucked behind her lips. A moment later, Thirteen could be seen trailing in tow, carefully observing his surroundings. Standing equidistant between the other two people in the room, her eyes quickly dart between. She recalls the location of her blaster; nestled in it's holster on her hip; in case things get rowdy.
"Welcome, both of you" Nova speaks with a grin. "I'm glad we were all able to attend this little... reunion". Nova pulls a chair from under the table and takes a seat. "Sit yourself, Thirteen" she barked, pointing to another chair.
Planet Hammerse/821/Post Yaren Capture.Thirteen
A cold smile graces Thirteens lips as he watches Vi clean up the strike team. Cheap mercs, throwaway thugs and expendable guns for hire, they served their purpose, outclassed as they were. She made it look easy, and frankly even if they were of a higher caliber, it would have had the same outcome. He'd had suspicions about Vi's origin since his forced acquisition of classified files, but never had enough proof to act on it.
He pings the waiting shuttle, leaving the scene of chaos behind as he prepares to leave the planet. There was planning to be done, and loose ends to be followed. The confrontation would have to wait for another day.
Planet Nauru/November/825
Thirteen eyed Vi warily, acutely aware of the distance between them. It was ironic in a way. He was the best at combat, close, near, far, you name it. Put him on the ground with a weapon and a target and it was effectively a promise that he would win. Vi was accurate like nothing he had seen before. Any weapon that relied on accuracy was wielded like it was a part of her. He could single-handedly drown a small army in shells and blood. She could replicate the feat with half the amount of trigger pulls.
It was impressive, if not a gimmick. Get too close, or switch from playing according to her rules, and suddenly she was lost. Which was why she was here first, and already had a desk between the two of them. Rule 1: Maintain distance. A smile sneaks onto his face, his eyes revealing it to be little more than a show.
"Hawken. How good to see you again. I have to admit, when we met last, I was surprised you didn't recognize me." His eyes never leave Vi, and taking a seat, he acknowledges Nova for the first time.
Planet Hammerse/821/Post Yaren Capture.Nineteen Guildmaster, your orders? Nineteen's weapon remained fixed on the prisoner, now lying against the sediment outside the destroyed APC, nineteen studied the individual's vitals for a moment. "Maximilian", the equivalent of thirteen's "Vergil" allowed her to analyze people in a medical sense very quickly. The examination was quickly interrupted by the sound of another individual crawling out of the destroyed APC.
Nineteen. Nova's voice was muffled with exhaustion, blood ran down her forehead as she crept out slowly. A sidearm in hand, she glanced about to take in the scenery of death that had just unfolded - and it's cause.
Not realizing exactly /who/ nineteen was until now, Nodviet took a more "examining" look at nineteen, she was likely kept among the other Core personnel to remain anonymous, Nova had informed him she was in the guard detail, but never informed him of which she was.
ID the deceased and maintain the perimeter, can we reach the Athena?
Yes.
Then get us off this wasteland.
Nineteen holstered her sidearm and drew out her rifle, adjusting it for the sniper configuration as she already began to eye down range. She stood about like a sentry, almost robotic in a sense, but that was the hold gimmick that followed the Laran project.
She's the last one, what's special about her? You mentioned traits for everyone, thirteen was supposed to be the hybrid.
Marksman, with just about anything. Both of them turned back and eyed her until a few moments later the shuttle arrived.
Planet Nauru/November/825
Nick kept himself fixed on Vi, he was either very interested, or very paranoid. Neither seemed to really click as the "right" guess to which he was, as such Vi remained in place. It was unclear if Nova brought her for protection or something else, naturally, Vi assumed the former. There were several antiques and handheld objects in the room, in other words - more projectiles in the event something went wrong.
Vi eyed both of them, waiting for Nova to respond, or for thirteen to speak up again.