Chapter 6: Planning the Heist

MOTHER OF INVENTION

MAIN BRIEFING ROOM

On the bridge, the Director stared through the window down onto the planet below and gave a mysterious smile. From the data collected from Bjørndal, he was able to trace the location of their next target, the device that could prove to be useful to Project Freelancer. However, he knew that security would be tight in that area due to the actions of Agent South Dakota and Rhode Island. Thankfully, he knew that his team of Freelancers would retrieve the target from those that opposed him, provided that his calculations were correct...

But Rhode would be an issue. Even though the doctors have taken care of his 'one arm problem', Rhode was still a... threat to the mission, if you could call it that. He'd noticed Carolina's strange closeness with him and looked down on that. He needed his number one Agent to be attentive, not be distracted by another Agent. Plus, Rhode has been a bit more rebellious now, questioning orders. If this grew, that would be a real problem. The Director needed a way to get rid of Rhode Island discretely. Luckily, this next mission provided the perfect opportunity.

At that moment, a glowing blue Spartan-II appeared before him.

"Okay, well I just ran everything again," he said in a rather snarky voice, "All calculations are up to date, taking into account standard delays for communication and response time. Our window looks good!"

The Director smiled pleasingly, "I agree."

"Well, you should," the figure replied haughtily, "I'm sure you'd make the same calculations I did, just you know... more slowly."

The Director raised a disapproving eyebrow, "Arrogance is a rather unbecoming trait, Alpha."

"Are you seriously giving me a lecture on arrogance right now?" Alpha gave a snort then he looked up, "Heads up, you've got a visitor."

"Director?" a voice called out.

The Director turned to find Agent Carolina standing in the doorway.

"Uh, just one second..." He then turned to Alpha, "Log off."

"Yeah, yeah, way ahead of you, bud," Alpha replied then he disappeared.

The Director then turned his full attention back to his top Freelancer, "Yes, Agent Carolina?"

"The team is ready, sir," she said.

"Excellent," the Director beamed, "Let us begin."

He followed Carolina out of the bridge and into the main briefing room where the Counselor and several Freelancers were waiting around the mission table which was showing a hologram of the planet. He took a moment to regard the team he had gathered for this mission.

Agents Maine and Connecticut were easily recognizable by their respective helmets that they held under their arms. Agents North Dakota, Washington, and Wyoming stood at either side of the table, their helmets by their side, while at the back, Pilot 479er stood to attention next to Agent Florida.

One Freelancer was wearing pale yellow armor with red highlights and standing next to Rhode. This was Agent Arizona, or Zona. Next to her and North, in gray armor with cyan highlights, was Agent Pennsylvania, or Penny. Next to North, in blue armor with black highlights, was Agent Tennessee, or Tenn.

Agent Rhode Island stood next to 479er, staring at his right arm. Though it was covered by his new armor, his lower right arm was now completely mechanical, which worked just as good, if not better, than his real arm. As an added bonus, he no longer needed a direct line back to command to activate his light shield. Since using it without the line would normally damage the arm, the enhancement would no longer be a threat of hurting him.

The Director then cleared his throat and began the briefing, "Agents, your mission today is by far the most important you have undertaken to date! As our Number One, Carolina will be leading from the field."

"Thank you, Sir!" Carolina stepped forward and pressed some buttons on the table.

A blue graph appeared on the surface and the planet sank down into it as she took up the sitrep.

"Okay, here's what we have. As you may have heard, there is suspected Insurrection activity in this area. Our intel says that members of the UNSC loyal to the Insurrection have acquired a high-level asset and are holding it in this secure area."

The holographic image shifted into several buildings and Carolina pointed to one that was taller than the others.

"It's a hundred-and-ten-story building in the middle of an urban environment."

"What does security look like?" Wyoming asked.

"Apparently enough troops to fill a hundred-and-ten-story building," Rhode replied.

"Exactly," Carolina confirmed.

"So," Wyoming murmured, running a hand over his neatly-groomed mustache, "That's a lot of security."

"We're up to it," Carolina reassured, "Our job is to infiltrate the building, work our way up to the floor where the Sarcophagus is being held, and secure it."

North raised an eyebrow, "The Sarcophagus?"

"That is what we are calling the primary objective," the Director explained.

"But," Carolina continued, "Since this is a high-level asset, we need to access a key code to open the Sarcophagus."

"I'm guessing they don't keep that just taped to the side," Washington sighed.

"Right," Carolina agreed, "It's held by Rhee Sebiel, an official of the program who will be moving in a vehicle along the freeway between inspections."

On the hologram, a ribbon of road appeared alongside the city, with several cars running along it. One of the cars flashed red and stopped in the middle, showing an image of the official's face over it.

"That's when we'll hit the facility. We need to acquire the targets within minutes of each other. We fail that, the remaining target will enter lockdown and we miss our window."

"We will not have another chance at this," the Director emphasized.

"So that means two teams," Wash realized.

"Two teams," Carolina agreed, "Team A will consist of me, Rhode, Zona, Penny, Wash, and Maine."

At the sound of his name, Maine cracked his knuckles and gave a deep chuckle.

"We will work on infiltration on the Package's storage facility. Zona and Penny will guard our entry point and make sure we aren't followed. York is still in the infirmary, so Wash, you will have to pull off picking duty."

"Um... okay," Wash muttered nervously, "Guess I'll re-read my field manual on the transport."

"Hey, don't be so quick to give away my job," a familiar voice called out.

The Freelancers spun round to see York standing in the doorway, fully armored and with a cheeky grin on his scarred face.

"York?" Wash gasped.

"I thought you were in the hospital," Carolina exclaimed.

"According to their records, I am," York said, winking with his right eye.

Rhode noted his faded left eye and the blood still trickling through the wounds on his cheek, "How's your eye?"

"It's okay," York insisted, "Docs are lettin' me out tomorrow."

Wash didn't look so sure, "Tomorrow, huh?"

York sighed and went up to the table, "Look, I couldn't let you guys have all the fun without me. Besides, you need someone to get you in."

Wash nodded slowly then turned to Carolina, "Listen, I'm happy to see him too, but this mission... I don't know..."

"Hey, if York says he's good, then he's good," Carolina said.

Wash sighed and gave a shrug, "It's your call, boss."

Carolina then stepped up to York and hissed, "You're good, right?"

"Okay, look, I said I was okay," York admitted, "Good might be overselling it a little."

"It's settled, then," the Director decided, "York will join Team A and get them in the facility."

"Thank you, Sir," York said.

Carolina then resumed the briefing, "Transport will be two lightly-equipped Pelican drop-ships."

"We're rigged for fast running only, people," Four Seven Niner spoke up, "No heavy armaments."

"Team B will be North, Tenn, Wyoming, and C.T. You will act as recon for Team A, and once we enter the building, you will disengage to attack the target on the freeway. North will lead Team B."

"Got it," North said.

"What about Agent South?" C.T. asked.

"Agent South will not be accompanying you on this mission," the Director replied simply.

C.T. glanced at the leader board behind her and gave a knowing smirk, "Hmm, guess the world's a tough place when you move down a rank."

"Tell me about it," Rhode mumbled, not loud enough for anyone to hear.

"And where's our new recruit?" C.T. asked, "Will she be joining us?"

"That's enough questions, Connecticut," the Director snapped.

C.T. then turned to Wash, "Notice he didn't say no..."

Carolina looked at each team in turn, "Team B should be simple. Stop the vehicle and grab the case. Team A, you have more of a challenge. Mainly, the Sarcophagus is an unknown."

Wash looked intrigued, "How unknown are we talking?"

"Unknown in that we don't know its size, or its weight, or its dimensions. We just know it will have these markings somewhere on the exterior."

Carolina pressed some buttons and the hologram of the city faded and was replaced by a large red symbol shaped like an inverted Y surrounded by three strange markings that none of the Freelancers knew.

North's eyes narrowed as he examined the symbol, "I saw those same markings on the oil platform."

"Correct," the Director confirmed, "That facility created the primary objective."

"Do we know what's inside it?" Wash asked.

"Yes, we know."

"How do we know what's in it, but not how big it is?" C.T. asked.

The Director glared silently at her and she turned away, "Sorry, Sir."

"We have a job to do, people," Carolina announced, "Let's do it right and come home safe."

"That is all," the Director concluded, "You are dismissed!"

"Yes, Sir!" The Freelancers stood to attention then they set off out the briefing room and down to the docking bay.

As he followed the others, North spotted his sister standing by the entrance to the bay. He paused a moment to look at her but she turned away and left. With a sigh, North went after his team as they boarded their Pelican. Penny looked at North in concern. While she didn't care much for South, Penny was quite fond of North and hated to see him like this.

When they got on board, Rhode gave out a bit of a sigh.

"Something wrong?" York asked.

"Just a weird feeling that something bad is gonna happen," Rhode answered.

"Hey," York said, clapping him on the shoulder, "Everything will be fine. You've lost an arm. What could be worse?"

"Yeah... I guess you're right."

Outside, the Mother of Invention opened its docking bay doors and the two Pelicans were released from their clamps and dropped towards the planet like bombs before their thrusters switched on and propelled them towards their destination...

XXX

When they began nearing their target, Zona looked at Wash, who was getting a bit tipsy, "You okay?"

"Yeah..." Wash muttered, "I think I need a bag..."

Zona laughed, "You? Airsick?"

"Hey! Airsickness is more common than you think!"

"Oh shut up, Vomit Boy."

XXX

"What could be worse?". Basically, the equivalent of "What could go wrong?". Till next time guys!