.
6:00 pm, 12-20-2020
"Ground control to Brown. Brown, do you copy?"
"Brown to ground control. I hear ya loud and clear...It's been a week since you put us on standby. What's been going on back home that you needed to work out so meticulously?"
"Brown...Are Blue and Black with you?"
They weren't. I'd left the former to entertain Purple Jr for me and the latter to do an inspection of the remaining supplies we had in storage before I came to answer the call.
"That's a negative."
"Bring them in. All three of you need to be present for this."
I wasn't about to keep 'em waiting, so I put HQ on hold and summoned the rest of the pack.
"Hey, Blusski! Major Tom! It's ground control, they need the whole lot of us in here on the ASAP!"
I heard both sets of boots barrelin' down the corridors of the Skeld on their way over to Communications...When you're only around two other people(excluding the child on board) in the middle of the empty void of space for a good two months, you start to find yourself getting kind of attached to them. And that lead to me doin' some things I found out of the ordinary for me to be doin'. Case in point, giving them each a ridiculous nickname...Tom started up with the inevitable redhead jokes about two weeks ago, and I can't go three hours without him calling me a ginger in one manner or another. It drives me nuts, and Blue knows it as much as I do, so more often than not he comes to my defense on the matter...The one good thing it does is keep things entertaining.
What's happening to me? Am I goin' soft? This soon into my grizzly justice career? And right before what could be our darkest hour? What's gonna happen to me if one of them is unfortunate enough to...See, I can't even think about something like THAT without feeling my throat tighten up. I've been to crime scenes. I've heard victims. I've seen mutilated bodies. Especially in more recent days...And I know what it's like to lose people who were once close to me. Either by my own hands or those of the grim reaper. I've gotten through all that, and I'm still alive and sane...I shouldn't be phased by the thought of losing a COWORKER.
But they seemed a little more than just coworkers to me at this point. Blue, Black, Toby back down on earth...Somehow, I'd managed to connect with these people.
...And considering what could be ahead, I knew I could have a major problem on my hands.
I'd have thought it all over a bit more if I had the time, but my two fellow crewmates had made themselves present by then, and I absentmindedly lead them into the room.
"We made it! Blue reporting for duty!"
"A'right, Black 'ere, I'm present. What's going on?"
"Good. You're all here. Alright...We've decided what has to be done regarding your situation."
We all exchanged hopeful glances, and I spoke next.
"Good. Let's hear it. What are we gonna do here?"
"...You're probably not going to like this, but Marcadus and the rest of the board of officials have approved the plan and given the orders...I know this sounds ludicrous, and it's especially going to sound like the officials have gone off the wall when the mission is explained in detail, but you are disapproved to turn the orders down."
"So...it's a must-do no matter what?"
"Affirmative..."
"Well...Polus is only a few days away. It's too late to come up with anything better, anyways...Fill us in."
"You see...When Marcadus learned about the Impostor situation on the Skeld, and that CARSA was behind it, he was...not too happy, to spare you the details. The cooperative research project was his idea, and he watched his efforts at a peace agreement go up in flames before his very eyes once we gave him our research reports...He took them to the government officials, and after several meetings and a week of planning...He approved a new plan for the three of you."
"What are we gonna do?"
"We're going to give the three of you individual orders, and then lay out your objective. Are we clear?"
Again, we all turned and stared at one another through our visors...It didn't sound like we were getting ourselves into anything pleasant. But we were the only ones out here to carry out the orders, so we couldn't turn 'em down.
"You're clear. Proceed."
"Okay...Blue. You worked with CARSA for a good amount of time before the exchange, so you know how they operate better than the rest of us, correct?"
"Yes, that is true."
"Can you tell us how the employees interact with one another, at least from what you've seen? Are they close with one another? Are they distant?"
"In some ways more than others; I would not call it 'friendship,' but...There was a mutual trust between our crewmembers. Like brothers and sisters; we care for the well-being of one another, even if we do not really enjoy being around one another...I tried to make a good impression on my comrades once by inviting a good dozen of them to a luncheon, but...Only two came, and the others were upset I did not invite them. I think in doing so, I became an outcast among the work force...Which could be a reason why they sent me to MIRA. To see if I would do better with them...But then it turned out what they really wanted, and now I am not sure why they did what they did..."
"Mutual trust...We've got that written down. And we assume you're fairly fluent in your native language?"
"Da. Russkiy-moy rodnoy yazyk."
Black turned to face him.
"What's that mean?"
"It means it is my mother tongue."
"Ah, alright..."
"Blue. You don't suppose you could teach some to your two fellow passengers, do you?"
"If they are willing to learn, then yes...But what significance does this hold? Are we to try and negotiate with the team stationed there?"
"Negative. We've dug into what CARSA's crewmembers on the outpost know about the situation...They know that all of the MIRA crewmates are supposed to be gone, and that there will be between one and three of their own taskforce members left on the Skeld. But they don't know anything about the infiltrators themselves. They don't know their names, their suit colors, whether they're male or female...But here's the kicker. They know that two of them were supposed to be feigning the nationality portrayed by the flags on their suits, in case their HQ asks about the situation. One from the U.S., and the other from the U.K...Brown. You and Black are in a lucky spot. If you can do the same things the Impostors on board the Skeld did and pull it off properly, you should face little to no hostility."
"I see...So we still carry out the research mission, but do it from right under CARSA's nose without them realizing it?"
"Negative. The research mission has been aborted...We'll get to your primary goal soon enough."
Ground control was askin' some very strangely specific questions...I knew they would clear everything up for us soon enough, but at that point, a little red flag was slowly on the rise along the staff in my head.
"Black. We're sending a data transmission to the Skeld. Should make it there in about six hours...It's a control map of the Polus outpost and its mandatory systems. We'd like you especially to grow accustomed to the interface, along with its functions. We'll further explain the system once it reaches you. Contact us again once it does. You'll be in charge of the..."technical work" at the outpost, so it'll come in handy."
"Aye, gov'ner."
I didn't like the way they said "technical work." What exactly would we be doing there if we were supposed to be layin' low?
"Brown...Before we tell you what your role in this operation is going to be, we'd like you to know something."
"I'm all ears."
"You're a little rough around the edges. I think you and I both already know that. But you've proven to be someone of not only high intelligence, but good integrity...So what we're about to ask you to do might go directly against some of your principles at first glance...But we ask you to keep the end result we're pushing for in mind."
"...What's the end result supposed to be?"
Black decided he'd waited long enough for answers himself.
"Yeah, you've been keepin' us hangin' since we got on with you, what are we supposed to be doing here?!"
The voice on the other end of the radio sighed, then spoke again.
"We had a few more things to go over first before we dropped the bombshell, but...You're really ready to know what you've been ordered to do?"
"We're ready and waiting, ground control."
Blue folded his hands as though they could see him.
"We have to know...Please, tell us."
There was another stretch of silence before we were finally answered.
"Brown, Black, Blue...You're going to retaliate."
"...Retaliate?"
"They tried to kill off the Skeld crew and rob us of whatever we'd have gotten out of the expedition...We've decided we're going to do the same to them."
...The room became so silent at that moment, you could hear a pin drop all the way from the starboard engine. Blue broke the silence after what felt like upwards of an hour.
"You...Y-you do not mean we are going there to..."
"We do...Forget the research, and forget the resources. This has turned into a revenge operation...And the three of you are our hired hands."
"...So we're gonna kill 'em all."
I knew I was stating the obvious...But it seemed to me like it had to be said, just for the sake of a pinch of simplicity in an otherwise very complicated mess the four of us were about to be thrown into.
"Affirmative...We've held press conferences with the highest government officials. Congress members, the Supreme Court, even the president got himself involved in the case, and they've all given you approval to carry out the operation."
"So, we've been turned into your own private band of assassins."
"Brown. I know...It's insane. But think about it...Look at what these people did to the crew on board the Skeld. All of them dead at the hands of their own hired assassins with the exception of the three of you, Purple Jr and Cyan...Do you want these people getting their hands on information about this planet? Let alone the resources it holds? The water? The minerals? The oil...? The more resources a nation has access to, the more powerful they can become. And considering that the countries backing CARSA are already too powerful for our liking, let alone already hostile towards us, do you think they'd go any easier on any of the rest of us than they did most of the Skeld crew?"
"...No. I don't."
"We figured you'd agree...As for your role in the operation, Brown, you are to be the overseer and unseen brains behind the operation. Black and Blue will take orders from you and carry them out. You'll study the area, see who's where, and take advantage of whatever situation you can. Who to kill, where to do it, what to sabotage and when, the locations and movement patterns of the crew...Formulating cover stories in the case of one of you being caught."
"False alibis?"
"Affirmative. As someone who studies criminal behavior and pinpoints suspects, you know how a murderer thinks and acts to a decent extent, correct?"
"Correct..."
"Then in knowing what tactics they use better than the outpost crew, you should be able to utilize them yourself and figure out ways of staying undetected, right?"
"...In theory. But if one of us is caught in a lie by even just one person, all three of us could be compromised."
"True. But we trust that once you're familiar with the interface of the outpost and the behavior of the crew, you'll be able to handle the situation...As well as shed as little blood as possible with your own hands. Unless...you want to."
"...I don't think I do. But if they prove to be as bad as the spies on the Skeld were, I might change my mind...I don't know. I don't really know about any of this..."
Black raised a gloved hand.
"Question. How exactly are we supposed to...take people out?"
"We assume that the Impostors' firearms were ejected from the spacecraft along with them, Black?"
"Yes, they were."
"Well...Your best option is a set of folding knives we have packed in storage. They should be in a small, flat package at the bottom of the pile on the floor, probably closer to the hallway leading into Admin and the Cafeteria, behind one of the crates of spare tools. We packed them in the case of the wiring failing and needing to be cut and replaced...They'll fit in your utility pockets just fine, so you'll be able to carry them without anyone knowing. And the blades are long and sharp enough to be able to cut through their spacesuits and go well into the body underneath."
I heard Blue cringe.
"Oough...I would not want to be on the receiving end of something like that."
"We know...But it's all we have that'll do you much good. Unless you can bash their visors into something hard enough to crack 'em and let the extreme elements on Polus do the work...Blue, we understand your enthusiasm to be working for us...But considering what CARSA just pulled on us, we want to be absolutely sure it's genuine. This operation will put your loyalty to the cause to the test."
"These people have threatened those I have come to care for...Both professionally and personally. I doubt I will know anyone at the outpost very well...If this is the way we must go about things, I will not hesitate to serve you."
"We're gonna see to that."
"Um...I just realized. What do we do about Purple Jr? Surely, we cannot have him with us on such a dangerous mission."
"Actually, he might come in handy...Brown. You're assigned to look after the orphan while you carry out your duties."
I stepped back up to the dial and inserted myself back into the discussion.
"Whoa, wait. Me? Watch the kid? I'm gonna be too busy planning our next move, I can't babysit at the same time."
"Here us out. Purple Jr passed the behavioral diagnostics required of all minors before he was approved to board the Skeld with his father. He shouldn't be a problem; all you'd need to do is make sure he doesn't wander off on his own and get into trouble. The outpost does have a few potentially hazardous locations, like the specimen room and the lava pit. Maybe tie a lifeline to you and him so he can't-"
"Stop, stop, stop."
"What?"
"Did you say 'lava pit'?"
"Affirmative. An exposed portion of an underground river of magma that flows off the slope of the plateau the outpost is built on. There's a thirty foot fall in between the edge of the pit and the river itself, so it's important that you all know where it is and are cautious around it. There are lifeline ropes in storage, too, packed in case of the event of extravehicular activity being required of the crew. Brown, I recommend you fasten a short one to you and Purple Jr. No longer than six feet would probably be best."
"Oh, yeah, that's great, yeah, lava on the base, just what we need in a situation like this..."
"The magma river is a subject of study on Polus; we've stockpiled some funding for a fence around the pit, but considering the current situation, we're not sure when we'll be able to put it into the project..."
"...May I ask how Purple Jr will be of any help on this mission?"
"Children can be used as emotional manipulation. Especially younger ones...If they see you have a kid, they might be less likely to pin any blame on you for whatever reason for his sake. Plus, he could serve as a distraction to the crew; grab some people's attention while one or more of your teammates is doing something behind closed doors."
"Interesting..."
"We'll leave situational planning to you, Brown. We're sure you'll do us well."
"Um...One more question. Toby doesn't know about this, does he?"
"Negative...We think it best to fully update him on the situation once we see the turn out."
"I don't want anything secret being kept from him...This is a high risk situation. For all I know, we could still be on that crash course to our demise if something goes wrong."
"Brown, I'm sorry, but information on your mission is to remain withheld from the public. And that includes most of the MIRA staff. Even they don't know what you're really going there to do...Besides, this is a little different from when you were meant to be solving the murder cases, rather than being behind them in one way or another...I doubt that'd sit well with him, don't you?"
"...Yeah, guess you have a point. But could you at least tell him we might not come back?"
"If it helps the situation, we could put you on with him one more time while you still have the chance. Cyan is doing okay now, himself, so maybe we can bring 'em both in if you want."
We all exchanged glances one more time; all of us were on board. Black was the first to answer them back.
"We'd like that, yeah."
"Noted. Stand by, team."
They cut the transmission, and we all stepped away from the table to let everything...sink in.
"...So...We're givin' the blokes at CARSA a taste of their own medicine, are we?"
"It seems that way, Black...I have very mixed feelings about that. Do you think we could really do it and make it out of such a mess alright?"
"Dunno, Blue...Oi, Brown. Your thoughts on all this?"
...I didn't really know how to answer them. There was still a lot on my mind...Sure, I carried a Saturday night special with me to my job and out on the streets in case some idiot decided to jump me from around a corner, but I promised myself I'd only ever shoot someone in defense of my own existence...Yet here I am, on my way to have at least some credit in the slaughter of an entire crew.
No...No, don't think about it as murder. These are your enemies, Winnifred. OUR enemies. They're the bad ones here. You're doin' your job as someone tryin' to keep the place you live safe...right?
"...Brown? You hear me?"
"Huh? Oh, uh...Yeah, I have a lot of thoughts about this. I'm, uh...still processing."
"Yeah...I sort of am, myself."
"...Are you two gonna be able to bring yourselves to kill another human being? Let alone a bunch of 'em?"
"Pfsh...I've already decided that I hate these people. As long as I just keep rememberin' what they've done to us, then I shouldn't have a problem. 'Ow 'bout you, Blue?"
"Well...I don't know...But I am going to have to, if I want to prove myself to all of you...I will try to do as Black will do."
"Ground control speaking. We're back on...They're both here and waiting for you."
...In a way, I'm kinda glad Toby was disapproved for the mission, and that Cyan had to be sent home because of the incident he had with Lime...At a time like this, the last place I'd want them to be is in harm's way. Especially after everything they did for us...what they did for me.
I heard the former clear his throat before he began to speak.
"Um...Brown? Black? Y-you there?"
"Right here, Toby..."
"Ey, Green. Makes my day to hear a familiar voice, it does. I don't suppose you've become well-acquainted with Cyan yet, 'ave you?"
"Well, actually, we have." the latter piped up. "Ever since I was able to think straight, he'd come with the medical staff on a daily basis to see how I was doing. Told him what I knew about the situation at the time, and after that, he told me about how you two met on the rooftop, and what you accomplished...I can see why you two are so close."
"Yeah...Um...Hey, listen. Both of you."
"Yes...?"
"What is it?"
Before I continued, Black and I looked at one another...We knew what had to be said.
"It's great to hear your voices again, and I hate to ruin the radio reunion, but...I'm gonna put it to ya straight. We've been assigned to a risky operation out here, so...There's a chance that this is the last either of you are gonna hear from us."
The silence on the other end of the line settled into the atmosphere quickly., only broken by a hoarse response from Toby.
"...What?"
Black motioned for me to pass it on to him, so I held my tongue as he said what he wanted to say.
"Yeah...Brown, Blue and I have been assigned to a major operation on Polus...It's going to be dangerous. Very dangerous...Perilous."
"W-what, so y-you're saying you..." Cyan stuttered. "...You might n-not...come back alive?"
I let out a strained sigh that I'd probably been holding in for too long anyways.
"...Affirmative...But Toby. You remember what we told you before we got on the Skeld?"
"That you do whatever you are able...to come back safe?"
"That's right. And I'll be damned if we're not gonna give it our all. Literally...I'm not saying we're definitely not gonna come back. I'm...just being a little pessimistic about it, is all, because I just...I don't want it to catch you by surprise if it turns out some or all of us..."
I swallowed the lump that'd formed in my throat before I finished.
"...Died out here...somehow. But like I said, I'm gonna do everything I can to prevent that. We all are...I promise."
"Well...If...I-if this is really it, then...Was very nice to know you, Brown, Black...You are good friends. Always will be."
He sounded choked up...I didn't blame him.
"Green...? You okay?"
"Cyan."
"...Yeah, Brown?"
"If the worst comes to be, then...could you do me a favor and stay by his side? He's been through too much already...If I don't make it back, he at least needs someone to be there for him."
"Heh...Well, I'll do that regardless of whether or not you come back...He's a good guy, Brown. You're lucky to have him as a friend."
"You don't know how right you are, Cyan..."
Black nodded his head a bit in agreement.
"I consider myself the same...You healed up alright back there, Cy'?"
"Yeah...All that's really left of the shot wound is a scar. I'm doin' good."
"A'right, that's what I like to hear, mate...Stay safe back there, both of you. How's the weather?"
"...Snow. Is snowing at MIRA."
"We're gonna get a good seven inches over the course of the next three days, according to the reports...I'm assuming you'll be seeing some on Polus?"
"Yeah...That's one thing we'll both have."
Blue hadn't said much since Green and Cyan got on the line. Seemed like he knew the call wasn't meant for him, and decided to butt out.
"...Toby. I suppose you aren't familiar with our third crewmember out here with us on the Skeld."
"No...Cyan mention something about Blue member, but not much."
"Oh, yeah, Green. Blue helped get me fixed up in the escape pod after the accident happened with Brown and Black...He's pretty fond of all of us. I think he makes a swell teammate."
"Heh...Well, thank you, Cyan. It's nice to hear you're doing so much better."
I turned to face our cobalt-coated crewmate.
"Well, I've told you plenty about Toby already. Why don't you say somethin' to him?"
"Really?"
"Yeah, go 'head."
"Um...well...Hello, Mr. Grunewald. It's a pleasure to speak to you...Brown has told me a lot of good things about you, concerning the time you two spent with one another back at HQ. If all does go according to plan for us out here, then I do look forward to seeing you!"
"Same...Friend of Brown is friend of me."
"Yeah, Blue...I hope everything goes okay out there for the three of you. After what you did for us, you guys deserve it."
"We can hope, you two..." I told them. "...We can hope."
"Ground control speaking. Cyan, Green, hate to cut this short, but we've gotta get you two back to your stations and relay instructions to the Skeld crew."
"Oh...O-okay."
"Alright...Goodbye, you guys."
"Cherrio, ol' chap."
"Good luck, Brown...B-be safe."
"...Merry Christmas, Toby."
"...You, too."
The sound of boots stepping away came in...They were gone.
And they might not ever see us again.
"Ground control to Brown. Over the course of the next few days, we're going to give you further instructions on how to maintain cover while also working quickly and effectively...Starting now. Are you ready for your first day of training for the mission?"
We all looked at each other one more time...I could feel the tension between us; it was so thick, you'd need a chef's knife to cut through it all the way.
...But we had no choice in the matter, did we?
We were gonna do this...And we were gonna give it everything we had.
"...We're ready. Relay instructions."