The RDA's CEO finished the instructions he was writing and saved the document to a data stick on which a carefully selected computer virus already resided. He double-encrypted the device with specific hash codes; only the Venture Nova's computer would be able to decrypt the first level of encoding, and only the main Hell's Gate computer could decipher the second level. Any other computer that accessed the files would find only innocent accounting information.
The workstation beeped and ejected the data stick. The CEO shut down his computer terminal and waited until it went dark before pressing a button on his desk. His office door opened, and Brown Hair walked in.
The head of the RDA stood up and handed the data stick to his associate, "Here is the virus for Hell's Gate and the instructions for our sleeper agent aboard the Venture Nova. The head of the black ops unit is awaiting a final briefing in conference room C. I'd appreciate it if you could handle that personally. You can drop this off on your way there."
Brown Hair took the data stick and nodded gracefully.
The CEO returned to his desk. "What's the status of the in-orbit ISV?"
Brown Hair replied, "The Venture Pulsar's been offloaded and moved to drydock. Retrofitting can begin as soon as the schematics are finalized."
The man with the whispery voice frowned, "I don't want a rush job. We've got more than five years before Selfridge arrives. We'll have the information from the black ops team and the Hell's Gate virus to consider as well. I want absolute maximum possible firepower installed on that ship by the time it leaves here. I'd rather see Pandora destroyed than in the hands of our competitors. When the Venture Pulsar arrives in orbit twelve years from now that planet will be ours again or it will be rubble."
His associate bowed in acquiescence and took his leave. Brown Hair dropped the data stick off in the control center with instructions to transmit the contents to the Venture Nova, and proceeded to the conference rooms.
The individual who awaited him there was remarkably nondescript – muddy brown hair and eyes, medium skin tones, no scars or other marks, and a face that was neither pointed nor round. He was a man you could look directly at and then not be able to describe him thirty seconds later. All of which was quite useful if you were a covert operative. Colonel Aron was one of the best.
Brown Hair was quite certain that "Colonel Aron" had as many names as he had ways of killing. It didn't matter, as long as the job got done.
"You've been briefed?" the RDA director asked dryly.
Aron nodded and extended a hand that sported a two-link chain ring on it. "Got all the information you sent. Not much to go on. We've no idea why he turned, he just up and went native?"
The director ignored the outstretched hand and took a seat, "We don't know to what degree the natives have accepted him. He's an avatar driver, and to all accounts they weren't on friendly terms with anyone but Augustine. We don't know what's happened to her."
The Colonel dropped his hand and gave his superior a sideways look, "We're to take her into custody if we find her?"
Brown Hair confirmed, "She's very valuable to us. Protective custody – by force if necessary, but don't harm her."
The operative summarized, "But Sully is a target?"
The director waggled his hand in a yea-nay gesture. "Potentially. He may be sitting on something of enormous value. It could be he's waiting for an offer. If he is, negotiate. Offer him whatever he wants, but don't make it too easy."
A very nasty grin creased Aron's face. "And when we've got what we want?"
Brown Hair summarized, "Your primary objective is to get the information we need in order to retake Hell's Gate. Take it only if you can do so successfully and be able to hold it until we can send reinforcements. Secondary objective is to get the intel on whatever Sully may be sitting on. Acquire control of it if you can. After you achieve those objectives, we really don't care what happens to Corporal Sully."
The director sounded bored, "Your ship will contain a delegation that's been instructed to carry out negotiations with Sully and the natives for a peaceful return of the facility to RDA control. That's your cover. You and your men will be awakened from cryo before the negotiators and will be dropped on the planet without their knowledge. Any questions?"
Aron had a self-satisfied smile on his face, "No sir."
AUTHOR'S NOTE: After posting Ch 3 "Black Ops," I've decided to roll this into my main story line, "Clouds on the Horizon." It's getting too involved to be a standalone fic, it'll be easier for me to coordinate timing / timelines, and it really belongs in "Clouds" anyway. :)
