Master of Thieves
Chapter 12: Operation: Jackal Swatter
Minutes after he arrived in the Safehouse, Terry, Sly and Slytunkhamen discussed the Sphynx's Interior with Bentley over Terry's Binocu-Com's Transceiver. Bentley then said, after acknowledging the security and 'live' Anubis Statue "After assessing the photographs of the reconnaissance photos, I've come up with a detailed plan that'll require the three of you." Terry, Sly and Slytunkhamen glanced at each other, before they nodded with determined looks. Sly then asked Bentley "Alright Bentley, run us through it."
(Slideshow Plays)
"Well, as you are well aware, if you 3 just charge in, you'll definitely be detected by the Sentry Drones. So here's the Plan: Terry will use the Invisibility skill to get close to the Sentry Drones and disable them; it's a high priority to take the ones by the entrance, or else the Operation will be a bust. Second, Sly and Slytunkhamen will take out the guards overlooking the slaves' encampment, which will hinder the Pharaoh's efficiency greatly. After that's done, the three of you will venture into the Sphynx, disable the security within the interior, and 'destroy' the Anubis Statue, foiling the Pharaoh's plan."
(Slideshow Ends)
Although it was his first time on a complex job, Terry is willing to help Sly with anything, even if he risks his life to save him. Bentley then added "I call this plan Operation: Jackal Swatter. Now, if this plan goes as planned, the Pharaoh's plan to rise as the new regiment will be shattered." Terry nodded alongside Sly and Slytunkhamen, before a thought came across his mind and asked Bentley "There's something I have to ask: What do we do, if either Ramses or his Advisor intervene?" Bentley replied, although with slightly less confidence in his voice "Well, the best course of action would be to knock them out… There's some questions that needed to be answered."
Terry nodded in agreement, before he looked at Sly and Slytunkhamen in concern; they told him during the discussion with Bentley that the Pharaoh's Advisor spotted them on top of the pillar, before sending a Drone to prompt a full alert stage. Despite it, they nodded at Terry in return, ready to initiate Operation: Jackal Swatter; Terry then said to Bentley "Okay Bentley, we're off to initiate Operation: Jackal Swatter. I'll radio in if there's a complication." Bentley then replied "10-4, Terry. Just watch yourselves now."
Terry, Sly and Slytunkhamen nodded in unison, before they grabbed their equipment and left to initiate Operation: Jackal Swatter. Before they went into the vicinity of the Sphynx, Terry gave Sly and Slytunkhamen ear pieces and instructed them to inform him if there's a problem or if they finished their task. Slytunkhamen was puzzled at the device, but he puts it in his ear nethertheless, before Terry bolted off to the Sphynx.
He then went invisible and took care of a Sentry Drone that the Advisor sent onto Sly and Slytunkhamen earlier, before climbing up onto the Sphynx's back and disabled the drone circling its neck. When he checked the entrance, he noticed that the 3 Sentry Drones are positioned in spots that makes taking them out in one move impossible. He then came up with an idea and grabbed a nearby sandbag, before throwing it down near the Sphynx's right paw, attracting the drones to the disturbance. As they were about to initiate a search sweep, Terry destroyed them by pushing a spare stone block off the edge, crushing them.
He let out an effortful puff, considering how big the block was, when Sly said through the transceiver "Terry, how's it going on the Sentry Drones?" Terry replied, after letting loose his muscles "Let's just say, it'll take more than spot welding to patch the ones by the Sphynx's entrance." Sly let out an amused snort, before Terry asked "How's the guard rustling going?" Sly then quipped in response "Well… I guess in a way, they're behind bars for holding hostages." Terry sniggered in amusement, before Sly added "We're coming to you, pal. Hold position until we arrive."
Terry nodded, before he climbed down to the entrance and took another look at the photo of the Anubis Statue within the Main Chamber. He then noticed that the statue's feet is recent compared to the rest of the body, before he thought to himself "The Bigger They Are… The Harder They Fall." Terry then heard Sly's and Slytunkhamen's footsteps nearby and saw them rushing to him, before he asked them "Ready to head into the Sphynx? I have an idea on how to deal with the Anubis Statue." Sly and Slytunkhamen nodded in confirmation, before they headed down into the Sphynx.
Anticipating the motion sensors, laser grids and cameras to be on, they were surprised to see that they were all turned off. As they walked to the Main Chamber without one Security Device operational, Sly asked Terry "How are they?" Terry glanced at Sly with a puzzled look, before Sly added "I mean, how is Bentley, Murray and Carmelita doing?" Terry then replied "Oh… They didn't lose hope in looking for you, especially Carmelita. When I arrived in Paris, I wound up defeating Muggshot with an overhead disco ball and the Thief Rush ability." Sly smiled at the thought of his gang never relenting their search for him, even Carmelita herself, when they entered the Main Chamber. Like in the photo, the towering Anubis Statue stood still at the end of the chamber, before Sly noted "It's bigger than I thought… I think we might be in a disadvantageous situation." Terry nodded at Sly uneasily, when a menacing voice replied "You thought right… Sly Cooper."
Terry, Sly and Slytunkhamen were startled by the sudden voice, when they noticed the Pharaoh's Advisor stepping from behind the Anubis Statue. Sly then gripped his father's cane and inquired "Who are you? How did you know who I am?" The Advisor let out a hollowed snort and replied enigmatically "All you need to know… is that I'll see to your death in my master's legacy. That means… battling my creation." The Advisor then snapped his finger, resulting in the Anubis Statue quivering to life; Terry and Slytunkhamen looked up at the Statue as The Advisor went to where the hidden door is. As Sly rushed to The Advisor, the Anubis Statue's eyes glowed red and swung its right arm downward to Sly; Terry rushed over to Sly and pulled him back just inches from where the Anubis Statue would crush him. Sly was surprised that Terry saved him from certain death, when The Advisor pressed a Sandstone slab, opening the hidden door; he then said to the Cooper Gang "If you survive this, be assured we will meet again."
Like a gale of wind, he went through the hidden door as the animated Anubis Statue grabbed a large sickle behind it, before twirling it in experience. Terry then subtly looked down at its feet and saw a faint line at its ankles, which separated the feet colour from the rest of the body colour. The Anubis Statue then snarled at the three thieves, before it swung the sickle horizontally at them; instinctively, they jumped to avoid the attack, when it made a follow-up vertical swing with its left fist, prompting them to evade to the side as it made impact on the ground.
Terry, Sly and Slytunkhamen landed after evading, with their left paws on the floor as their cane paws extended out while holding their signature canes; Terry then noticed a slightly revealed trap door that used to hold an earlier slave, before he hatched an idea. He then stood up and kicked the sand over the trap door, much to the puzzlement of Sly and Slytunkhamen. Terry then turned to the Anubis Statue and taunted it "HEY! Where were you built, at a petty quarry?" Sly and SLytunkhamen shook their paws in dismissal, but the Anubis Statue, taking the offence seriously, raised its right foot and stomped it onto Terry, who dodged it at the last second and got it stuck on the trap door. The Anubis Statue then struggled to unstick its foot out of the trap door, before it made a strong tug and got free, though its foot was still stuck below the trap door; also, it was forced to hop on its left foot in order to continue fighting the thieves.
It then turned to Terry, making an amused sneer, when the latter used his cane to loosen a rope knot above him and said "Heads up." The Anubis Statue raised its left brow, before it turned its head as a bundle of sandbags hit its face; it then fell backwards from the surprising impact as Terry shouted "TIIIIMMMMMBEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRR!" It then collapsed onto the floor, resulting in its marble body crack so much, it crumbled to reveal a large automative clockwork mechanism underneath the marble covering; Unfortunately, a few intact pieces jammed into the mechanism, resulting it to become comatosive in mere moments.
Sly and Slytunkhamen looked in surprise, before they slowly turned their heads to Terry, who holstered his cane on his back. He then said to them "Let's go… That Advisor can't be far ahead." Sly and Slytunkhamen nodded at Terry blankly, before they went over to the hidden door; Terry then pressed the stoneslab, opening the hidden door, before leading the two Coopers up a long flight of stairs.