Sword and Shield
Chapter 10: An Engineer's Plot
Ingress 1. n. the act of entering. 2. n. permission to enter. 3. n. a door or other means of entering. 4. n. (military) approach to a mission objective.
26 March 2000, 01:08 hrs
Mithril Base, State of Alaska, United States
Base Tarmac near the AS Maintenance Hangar
Sarah Miller shivered in the Alaskan wind as the gaping maw of the transport plane opened before her and a white and red Arm Slave slowly rolled out onto the concrete. She felt her face fall as she recognized the battle worn vehicle and its damaged cockpit.
The colonel stood beside her clad in army issue arctic warfare gear and held the case that contained Al by his side.
"The ARX-8 Laevantein, a pity that it was recovered in such a battered condition." The colonel said as he watched the pallet slide to a stop as an Abrams tank that had been converted to an armored vehicle recovery unit rolled up and began to winch the pallet onto a truck bed. He glanced over at Sarah. "I take it you and your team can repair it?"
"Of… of course, but why? The unit was designed specifically for one individual pilot. It won't operate at optimum efficiency for anybody else." Sarah said quickly.
"Really? Well, Sagara's debriefing on Okinawa indicates this unit doesn't really need a pilot at all." The colonel smiled. "Except an AI."
Sarah's eyes widened. "You mean to put Al back inside it and test him?"
"Exactly, we even recovered the AI core your allies stole from the Okinawa base." The colonel smirked. "Though with this… I guess that was unnecessary."
Sarah sighed as the colonel gestured with Al's case. "I see…" She bit back a smile, if Al was in the ARX-8 and they could get it armed… This actually will make things easier for me.
26 March 2000, 20:33 hrs
Mithril Headquarters, Sydney, Australia
Supply Room 19-C
Melissa Mao yawned as she stretched out in the marine uniform she'd been issued and sighed. "God, it feels weird being back in one of these."
Kurz shrugged and picked up the M-16A3 assault rifle and checked the action. Then he glanced up at her and smirked. "Damn Mao… it looks fine on you…"
"Lech." She muttered before picking up an M9 Beretta and slipping it into the holster at her belt. Then she picked up the M16A3 and loaded a clip. "Standard marine load-out is one magazine in the gun, six in the ammo pouch, plus two frags and two smokes or flash bangs. Some guys also carry a magazine of tracers for target marking."
"Understood, that's two-hundred-and-forty odd rounds of ammunition. You guys like to burn through it fast I guess." Kurz said.
"That much should last a full day of combat… at least that's what we were always told." Melissa said.
"Anyway… anything else I should know to fit in?" Kurz asked as he loaded the M-16.
"Yeah, curse more." Mao said with a smile as she picked up the NBC hood and gas mask and scowled. "Ugh… I forgot how much I hate these things."
"Say Mao. Were you old enough to be in the Gulf War?" Kurz asked.
"You mean Desert Storm? I'm not quite that old." Mao smiled slightly. "Damn glad I wasn't there. Watching the whole region blow up after we pulled out had to be painful. I was actually in basic at the time."
"Really, guess you just missed it by a couple weeks then." Kurz shrugged. "Probably a good thing you did."
"Yeah, but I have been gassed." Mao made a face as she fumbled with the rubber seals on the hood.
"What, when?"
"They do it during training, I don't remember what agent but they use a diluted agent so you know what it feels like to be gassed and all that." Mao scowled. "Not pleasant."
"Shit, what don't they do to you jar-heads in training?" Kurz asked.
"Not much."
Tessa set a pair of red keys on the table and sighed. "Now… if you're done flirting." Despite her words a pleased smiled slipped across her face. "These are the keys for the self-destruct system located in the engine room. Once you've selected the timer for self-destruct both keys must be turned simultaneously. There is no abort system, once armed it will overload the palladium reactors and release a plasma cascade inside the vessel incinerating the ship."
Mao picked up one of the keys and nodded. "Got it." Smirking to herself she tossed the key to Weber before picking up the other one. "Any word on the radiation levels at the site?"
Tessa shook her head.
"Great… so Mao might grow two heads if she pulls off the NBC gear." Weber said with a smirk.
"Oh shut it Kurz."
26 March 2000, 19:53 hrs
Chofu, Suburbs of Tokyo, Japan
Room 509, Lions Mansion Apartments
The door opened with a click and a long-haired Japanese man stepped inside, a shopping bag by his side. Taking a deep breath he flicked on the lights and wandered into the sparsely furnished living area of the apartment where a set of security cameras and remote listening equipment sat. A blond haired man was in front of the gear and rubbed his brow in irritation.
"What kept you?" He asked in passible Japanese.
The long haired man sighed. "The manager of the supermarket, they had to make sure I wasn't stealing anything."
"So that's how they slipped out without you?" The blond man asked.
"Yeah, how'd it go for you?" The long-haired man asked as he set the bag down and pulled a beer from inside.
"Traffic circle." He said blandly. "When I got around it I'd lost sight, didn't reacquire till I got back here."
"So are they in the apartment now?" The long-haired man asked as he walked over to the shades over the windows and stared out.
"Yep." He sighed as he tapped the microwave receiver and shrugged. "Set this up as soon as they left, didn't even have to sneak in their apartment… these new microwave systems can be anchored to the wall of the neighboring apartment. I doubt the person in there will notice I've come and gone… a bit of a slob for a Jap."
The long-haired man nodded and picked up the second headset and slipped it over his ears. "Anything good?"
"Not really, I haven't gone through the tape yet but besides the fact the girl can cook… nothing juicy." The blonde shrugged. "Damn, I would kill to have had what they did for dinner… it's been forever since I got good Italian food."
"She made Italian?" The long-haired man asked with an arched eyebrow.
"Fettuccini Alfredo, can you believe it? Of course her dossier says she lived in New York for quite a while, maybe that's where she picked it up." The blond tapped the folder on his desk idly. "Still haven't got a positive ID on the guy, but he's definitely some sort of security specialist or something… maybe Mithril. I'll send an information request on the name Sousuke to Langley in the morning."
"I don't know Mac, it's not a good idea for a body guard to live with their employer… they act more like boyfriend and girlfriend." The long-haired man said.
"I know what you mean… she's hot though, maybe he just couldn't resist."
26 March 2000, 20:03 hrs
Chofu, Suburbs of Tokyo, Japan
Room 404, Mansion K Apartments
Kaname leaned against Sousuke and sighed trying force away the thoughts and worries that rose up in her mind. Aside for the time he'd been recalled and when the two of them had walked back to find Leonard sitting in this very room there wasn't a time she could remember when the threat seemed so immediate, so oppressive.
They were being watched, and not just by Wraith.
I hate this… I just want to lay here safe and content with Sousuke… why can't I just have that? Why can't I have a month's peace and tranquility? It's not fair. No wonder Sophia wanted to go back and redo everything, and Leonard… that pompous, self-righteous snake. I can't believe I went with him, how could I do something so stupid…
She sighed and leaned further against Sousuke letting the warmth of his body remind her of his presence. She knew why she did it. She did it to save Kyoko and the others, to get that pompous bastard to spare Sousuke's life when he had him at his mercy.
They were nothing alike. Leonard, you were a cold blooded tool who had intentionally shred every ounce of humanity you had left and Sousuke…
She glanced up at him and smiled at him as he watched the television, his hand sitting on the armrest atop his Glock 17. After a moment his gaze flicked to her and their eyes met. A slight, almost imperceptible smile slid across his face.
Sousuke has a big heart… a big, wounded, bleeding heart. That's what you never had Leonard.
She smiled back at him and leaned forward to catch his lips with her own. It was a soft tender kiss and it made butterflies flutter in her stomach. Her heart ached with the knowledge of how much she'd put him through.
A year, how much happened? I know there were attempts on his life, Sabine and that bastard assassin Karuma that Leonard had on a leash talked about how he had escaped such attempts. We haven't said anything about it… not really, except for that night in Mexico. I never really told him about the first time I encountered Leonard…
The cold metal and plastic of the Glock 26 that sat atop her bare knee reminded her of the revolver, small, compact and cold to the touch. A shiver ran along her back as she glanced down at the weapon.
"Kaname, are you alright? You look troubled." Sousuke said quietly.
"I'm okay…" She closed her eyes and laid her head down on his chest forcing those thoughts away. The moment was too nice, too valuable to her mind. "I don't want to think about it right now."
"Understood." Sousuke answered as he ran a hand through her hair and then leaned down to plant a kiss on her forehead.
A smile slipped across her face and she let out a contented sigh then leaned up to catch his lips with her own. Sousuke's eyes widened in surprise at the sudden kiss and she pawed at his sweater, fisting it as she leaned in. When Sousuke's hands ran up and held her head to him and he responded kissing her back with that same fiery intensity he had, the combative and determined spirit that lay beneath the clueless and self-conscious high school student, she could have sworn she'd died on Merida Island and found herself in heaven.
"Sousuke…" She almost moaned his name as their lips separated for air and felt tears rising up into her eyes. She blinked them away as she caught her breath.
"Kaname…" His voice was a hoarse whisper as his rough and calloused hand ran along her cheek. Kaname's eyes locked on his steely gaze and her stomach fluttered. She bit her lip to keep from moaning as his other hand slowly caressed her back and pulled her closer. The Glock 26 slid off her lip and dropped onto the couch with a dull thud.
Sousuke… when did you learn this? She closed her eyes and sighed as he slowly drew her into his lap. A fire started deep in her gut as she felt his arms tighten around her then she felt his lips on hers again, kissing her fiercely. A happy sound came from her throat as she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back. A smile slipped across her face as their lips separated once more. "I love you."
"I love you too Kaname." He said before running a hand through her hair and grinning at her. "I won't ever lose you again."
Kaname closed her eyes and leaned her head on his shoulder. "With you by my side, no one could succeed."
"And I'll always be there for you Kaname." He said quietly.
26 March 2000, 02:30 hrs
Mithril Base, State of Alaska, United States
Arm Slave Maintenance Hangar
Sarah Miller licked her lips as she bent over the battered remnants of the cockpit controls of the ARX-8 Laevantein. The large empty compartment behind the pilot's seat marked where Al's core had once been housed, a plethora of connecting wires coming from a dozen odd ports for the AI system. Sighing she started to plug each into the much smaller unit that she set upon the seat as she worked.
Outside the cockpit two guards stood behind her, their weapons in the ready position and she could see that each had the selector switch to semi-automatic instead of safe. It seemed the colonel was taking no chances with her.
Moron. Yes… let's put the AS designer and her pet AI in the single most powerful AS in the world and have some guards with rifles to keep her from doing anything, yes that ought to be enough.
Sarah rolled her eyes as the one lone remaining screen in the AS cockpit flickered to life and a diagnostic began to roll past. Through the built in speakers Al spoke.
"Hookup complete, beginning system diagnostic, it appears the Americans did not bother to repair the damage to the cockpit or tertiary systems. Three rounds of 12.7x99 ammunition have gotten loose in the left chain-gun and caused a system jam, the right chain-gun is currently empty. All primary weapons are either expended or have been removed."
"Alright Al, thanks for the assessment. How's general functionality?" Sarah asked.
"Adequate, damage to muscle packages and structural frame is negligible. It is merely the master room that has suffered any appreciable damage." Al stated.
Inside the cockpit the lone monitor which Sarah alone could see flickered: Sufficient restraints survived to enable me to transport your person Sarah, I can also hack the load-out equipment system to issue a full combat load aside for internal weapons like the 12.7mm chain-guns.
"Good." Sarah said with a smile.
One of the guards stepped forward and the screen flickered and went dark as he peered inside. "Miss Miller, the colonel wishes to speak with you."
"Coming…" She grunted as she slipped out. "I'll see you later Al."
26 March 2000, 21:43 hrs
100 km South of Merida Island, South Pacific
500 meters over the Coral Sea
The rumble of the props echoed in the rear cabin of the MV-22 Osprey as Kurz Weber tapped nervously at the radiation detector dangling from his belt. Beside him Mao was burning through cigarettes at an extraordinary rate, going so far as to light the next with the glowing stub of the last.
Is she as nervous about this as I am? Kurz thought to himself. I mean, who wouldn't be scared about going to a nuclear blast site? Most Japanese people I knew growing up would rather shoot themselves then be anywhere near here.
"You're awfully quiet." Mao said with a cigarette dangling from her mouth.
"Sorry. I guess doing this is making me nervous. That why you're smoking like it's going out of style?" Kurz asked.
Mao snickered. "Nah, can't smoke with the NBC gear on, figured I'd get a good dose before we had to fully suit up." Her gaze fell to the ocean speeding by below them.
"Bullshit." Kurz said as he glanced at her. "Nice try and all, but that's not it is it? At least not all of it Melissa."
"Okay, maybe I'm a bit queasy about standing in the middle of an island that got glassed." Mao admitted. "And maybe the thought of blowing up the de Danaan is a little uncomfortable…" She sighed. "Fuck it, I'm not used to this."
"Who is?" Kurz muttered as he yawned and stared out at the ocean. "We can handle it, right?"
"Fuck yeah." She said and Kurz watched a tentative smile slip across her lips.
26 March 2000, 02:53 hrs
Mithril Base, State of Alaska, United States
Interrogation Center B
Sarah Miller winced as the door clanged shut behind her. The two American troopers that had led her inside stood on either side of the door waiting to 'escort' her back. There wasn't anything subtle about the room she now found herself in. A one-way glass mirror was on the opposite wall and a simple metal table with a pair of chairs sat between where she stood and the eyes she knew were watching. A gruff looking man clad in a colonel's uniform looked up at her from his seat at the table and arched his eyes. It was the same man that'd ordered her confinement in her quarters and ordered her to hook Al back up to the ARX-8. She was really starting to hate that man.
"Miss Miller, please have a seat."
Sarah slowly nodded and sat down. The Americans had turned the Mithril base into their own over the last few hours. They wanted access to everything, the ARX-8, Al, the Fairy Feather system, and every piece of information they could scrape up from the Mithril employees they were now 'hosting'. Trying to maintain a façade of friendliness she extended her hand. "Colonel Michael Johanns."
He took it and smiled slightly before she sat down. "I'm afraid I have bad news. Mithril has chosen to disband." He slid a folder over to her and pursed his lips. "This leaves you and the rest of the base staff in a rather uncomfortable position."
Hell. Sarah's mind went to work racing ahead. Being a whispered came in handy at times, but it only augmented some natural talents in ways. Not all whispered were smart outside of the area of their whispers. Some had fighting spirit, others were naturally clumsy. Sarah knew what would come from the Colonel's mouth before he did. It was a script she'd seen on film all too many times.
"We'd like to offer you a position at Dreamland. Your talents would make you an excellent addition to our staff. Whispered are such a rare commodity that I'm sure you'll find the pay to be more than sufficient."
Dreamland, Groom Lake, or Area Fifty-One were all the same location, a desolate piece of the Nevada desert where researchers worked beneath the surface of an air force base all knew of but its existence was continually denied. It meant isolation, separation, and a life building more weapons. I was hoping to find some way to use my whispers for civilian purposes. She took a deep breath and opened the folder making a show of reading the details. "If I refused your offer?"
"Well, you have no citizenship papers, no proof of your identity, and a history of being abducted by the Soviet Union. We are afraid that it wouldn't be safe to allow you full freedom of choice. We could arrange witness protection or something similar."
Great… Sarah closed the folder and sighed. "Can I have some time to think about it?"
"Certainly Miss Miller." He gestured to the door and the guards stepped inside. "Kindly return her to her quarters."
Sarah took the folder in her hands as she left. America, land of the free indeed. She scowled as she was led out into the cold Alaskan winter air toward a waiting Humvee. Like hell I'll live as some lab rat, not again. She shivered as the door slammed shut behind her and she leaned back in the heated cabin. As they drove she stared out the windows at the base, catching a glimpse of the ARX-8 Laevatein in the AS hangar. She'd have to leave, have to run, and now she realized there was a friend she hoped to take with her.
The Humvee came to a stop beside her quarters, a small home built on the edge of the base as was typical of the American style of military bases with homes for officers with families. Frowning she pulled open the car door and ran for the home in the freezing cold. She pulled open her house door and slammed it shut behind her. I thought Siberia was cold, this place is almost worse.
She walked into the study and sat down in front of the computer and impish smile slipping onto her lips as she turned it on and waited for boot up. After a moment the screen stabilized and she accessed the wireless network transmitter under the desk and pulled a microphone out. "Al, its Sarah."
"Good evening Miss Miller." The synthesized voice of the AI came back cool and leveled. "I take it your talk with the Americans is over."
"Yes, they want me to work for them. After the last few hours I think they'll stick me in a laboratory somewhere as a test subject if I say no, or threaten to destroy you." She let out a long sigh. "I need your help."
"I will provide what assistance I can."
She nodded. "Alright, first I want you to copy all the Amalgam data we took from their bases as well as our equipment specifications for the Lambda driver, Fairy Feather, ARX-7, ARX-8, TDD-1, and any other whispered or black technologies in progress or completed. Erase the originals so they'll be unrecoverable."
"Data transfer in progress. ETA to completion: four hours."
"Now, I hate to test one of your features, but my quarters are guarded. Once the download is complete can you come get me? I'd like to grab one of the fueled ECS transport planes, or a Gulfstream IV." She paused for a moment. "Damn it, where should I go?" She pursed her lips in thought thankful that Al had learned when a rhetorical question was being asked. "Al, where did Sergeant Sagara go when he was released from duty?"
"Chofu, Japan. It is also Miss Chidori's place of residence."
"Well it's a place to start." Sarah said looking at a map.
"Miss Miller?"
Sarah blinked. "You can call me Sarah. Do you have a question?"
"Can you take me with you?"
She smiled. "I was planning on it."
26 March 2000, 22:32 hrs
Merida Island, South Pacific
4 km North of the Dig Site
Melissa stepped out onto the dusty remains of Merida Island, a lump rising in her throat as clouds of radioactive ash rose from each step. She glanced over at Kurz, rendered all but genderless from NBC equipment that sealed the both of them away from the hazards of the environment. Taking a deep breath she shook her head remembering another reason she despised the NBC suits. You couldn't wear a helmet with them and without a helmet there was no clip for the night vision goggles.
Coupled with the already bad vision from the hoods, the two of them were almost blind as bats. "Fuck…" Mao said quietly.
"Ugh, I think I just stepped in what was left of Kalinin." Kurz said scraping his boot against the other one theatrically.
Melissa sighed. "Can you see anything Kurz?"
"Nope, nothing beside those lights by the base." Kurz answered with a shrug. "Should we head that way?"
"Probably the best idea." Mao grumbled quietly as she started toward the distant lights.
27 March 2000, 00:59 hrs
Chofu, Suburbs of Tokyo, Japan
Room 404, Mansion K Apartments
The steamy Mexican night made her sweat as she felt the cold metal being pressed into her hands, glancing down she saw a revolver, it's steel frame glinting in the dim light. She swallowed as she glanced up and her eyes met the cool grey eyes of the man opposite her, a man with platinum locks, Leonard Testarossa. The two hulking arastols that flanked him stepped away then turned and walked off into the distance.
A smirk played upon his lips as he looked down at her. "He's coming for you. He's there in the mansion. You can go to him, once you get past me."
I… I must be dreaming, this is… that moment. Kaname glanced down at the gun in her hand and swallowed, her thumb cocking the hammer. If Leonard died here… if I'd met up with Sousuke… if…
Images flashed through her mind: the Yamsk 11 Omni-sphere, a girl in a medical gown looking ethereal and nearly dead, Tessa and Sousuke bleeding on the floor, the ARX-8 toppling forward with a monomolecular cutter embedded in the cockpit…
"Yes, if I had died now you would escape that torment…" Leonard said flatly, a smug smile on his lips. "But that requires you to pull the trigger, before I reach zero… ten, nine…"
Anger and hatred flared in her and she lifted the revolver sighting it on her tormenter. Her mind was screaming in anger: You made me doubt him, you took him from me, and you made me your puppet and tool! The gun jerked in her hand.
The man toppled back, the silver hair shortening and becoming wiry as she watched. A cross shape scar appeared from behind one lock as blood ran down his forehead.
A familiar voice rose from his lips. "I never wanted this…"
Sousuke!
Kaname let out a scream as she sat bolt upright in bed. Sweat pouring down her forehead as she blinked in the darkened bedroom.
Nightmare… She thought as Sousuke's calloused hand wrapped around her shoulder.
"Kaname?" His calm steady voice asked in the darkness but clearly laced with concern. Slowly she turned to face him, her eyes scanning his face in the darkness. Then she felt his hand grasp her shaking palm and squeeze it gently.
"Nightmare." Her voice cracked as she glanced down at their intertwined hands. "Just… just hold me."
She felt his chest press against her back as he wrapped his arms around her and gently squeezed. His warm breath passed over her neck and she closed her eyes and blinked away tears. It's okay, he's here… It was just a nightmare, a silly, stupid nightmare.
"It's not a problem." He murmured into her ear and she slowly relaxed, leaning back into him and sighing.
She turned to him and nuzzled his neck, fisting his pajama top as she turned to him. His embrace tightened and she felt his arms run along her back trying to soothe her. A soft smile slipped onto her lips. She looked up into his grey eyes and hugged him to her chest, desperately grateful for his presence.
"Kaname? What is it?" He asked quietly as her bangs tickled his nose.
She shook her head once and pressed her body against his and closed her eyes. "Nothing… it was just a stupid nightmare." She gently pressed him back on the bed with her hand and laid her head atop his chest. "Let's just go back to sleep."
26 March 2000, 07:13 hrs
Mithril Base, State of Alaska, United States
Home of Sarah Miller, On-base Officer's Quarters
Sarah Miller pulled on a second and then a third set of clothes before grabbing her artic environment issue fur coat. As she finished she pulled open a drawer in her desk and grabbed a small case. Pulling it open she removed a FN Five-seveN pistol and a set of four magazines loaded with the new 5.7x28mm ammunition that had been developed specifically for the weapon. She stuffed three of the magazines into her coat pocket before loading the gun and slipping it into one of the other enormous pockets in the coat.
She'd gotten maybe three hours of sleep while Al had labored on his assigned task and still felt exhausted, the Colonel hadn't let her recover from the trip to Okinawa and back.
The computer beeped and Al's synthesized voice crackled through the speakers. "Download complete, files erased. May I make a suggestion Miss Miller?"
"Sure thing." Sarah said as she pulled open a second drawer and extracted a half dozen meal bars from inside stuffing the coat.
"It would be easiest to procure a Gulfstream IV near hanger nine-b, but that would require leaving the ARX-8 behind. I suggest that you activate the unit's self-destruct and remove my module from the chassis before boarding the Gulfstream."
Sarah nodded. "Good idea, I'll set a long timer on it and warn the base when we leave. With the Lambda driver being the overload system for self-destruct on it, they'll need to evacuate the base." A smirk slipped across her face. "That'll keep this place out of the hands of Uncle Sam."
"Training Question: Who is Uncle Sam?"
"Uncle Sam, common personification of the United States and in particular it's government." Sarah said as she pulled on a set of gloves and leaned over the computer. "I'm about to burn out my computer's hard drive here. You ready?"
"Affirmative."
"Commence operation." Sarah said as she hit a set of keystrokes and smoke began to roll out of her computer.
26 March 2000, 07:18 hrs
Mithril Base, State of Alaska, United States
Arm Slave Maintenance Hangar
The ARX-8 Laevatein began power up. All around the hangar bay American troops that had huddled inside the hangar doors for warmth froze in place, their eyes focusing on the machine as its running lights switched on. After a moment it stood, its movements sure and focused. One of the Americans ran for the alarm at the hangar door and slammed it with his fist. A siren echoed across the base as other soldiers scrambled to get out of the way. Straightening upright the automatic load-out system suddenly sprang to life as robotic arms extracted the arm slave's combat kit from storage and mounted it on its back.
Inside the arm slave there was no pilot save for the AI. Al was an adaptive intelligence, one that endeavored to learn. It had studied the combat choices of its pilot, searched the internet, and downloaded music illegally on its own. Now using the combat records of Sagara Sousuke's piloting it moved to the hangar door and slammed it open, knocking it to the ground.
Commencing Mission…