Chapter 41: Kaiserin Ex: M.D.
Summary:
Interpol Task Forces, Units that, by Official statements, were meant to stop International Terrorism and the ever worsening Rift on Society caused by said Terrorism.
The truth was any Jimmy's Wet dream of Conspiracy Theory made true.
And to demolish it all, two Parties suddenly entering the equation out of nowhere. And Mutual Misunderstandings, LOTS OF IT.
Chapter Text
Today was building to be a shitty day, that he was sure of. Why? He was on his fourth Anti-Acid Tablet just before Lunch.
Eric Lergen, he doesn't know why, but from his Life as an Imperial Army Staff officer, to Secretary General of the Germanian Military, then his Grave, the Lergen Memorial Turbine for some reason, to this life. Right as he died, he ended following a Light, and then he was Born in this world. Alive again.
In Germany, as Eric Lergen, Youngest of a Small Family with two older sisters, proved to be a quick Learner and once again found himself finding some pride in his Talents, from Middle to High School to University, Eric rose to the Task as a Honor student, albeit he snarked some of the Curriculum was utter Bogus shit thrown in for some Political reason, he was one and done with all that, merely spewing the memorizes stuff to get his Credits for his Graduation. For some reason, he found Corporate Life a bit too stale, Joined the Army, again finding he still held some of his first Life's skills, even with utterly Rusty as a Soldier, decades of nothing but Rear Paperwork did wonders even to the best Soldiers, all but one he reminded himself, that Little Warmaniac Kaiserin of OZEV never lost her Edge as a Warrior, Lergen could only shiver at remembering that.
Army job proved to be just as Boring and dead ended, since most Militaries were using PMCs, Eric had to question why then he went to try his luck in one of them, when Spec Ops and High ranked Positions would be filled by Augmented people. Argent Wings, was his second try, and they gladly took him in, what with his Skills in Strategic planning and Paperwork management, but he still got a fair share of high thrill Ops. Then, then that Cursed Incident Happened, the Creator of the Augmentation's core Pilar, a thing called PEDOT, while the Creator of what Made Modern advanced Prosthetics possible, he was one of the very rare people whose Body refused the Implant, that crippled him. This blame on him being who triggered the Disaster that caused Augmented People to be Scorned as Societal threats felt like something weird, like it was being done for a Greater plan. But that was maybe his First Life's habits regarding the Chancellor and later Kaiserin Degurechaff.
Now? His tenure in Argent Wings was over, PMCs were being hit hard by Authorities, yet they simply let him pick between returning to Society with a Rewritten Historic under a different Company, or follow along to Underground, bellow the Authorities Radars. He still was a stickler to Rules and accepted being let go with his data purges off their Systems and embedded into a cover company of theirs, Serebryakov Coffee Tradings, as an HR department Employee, not much different of what he did mostly with them anyways.
Soon after, Interpol came, with a Job offer, from the Looks, they got wind of him having a track record as a Good Soldier, Unaugmented even, with some Time doing some Oddjobs as part of his Military Career, again, not entirelly false, just wrong in the details.
And now, settled, sitting and Handling HR and Archive Management in an Underground Base office in Prague, for Task Force 29, the Unit assigned for this particularly tense Eastern European region. They already were thin in Manpower, more so the kind that can Handle Augmented Forces, much more when those are former Spec Ops grade Soldiers, something this Country has grown to have Plenty of for some strange and Logically faulty reason, details, like whenever he only saw Degurechaff's terrific schemes in detail far too late, this whole situation was building into one such horrific situation. Lergen HOPED she wouldn't reincarnate here, God- no, that Asshole can fucking go get Bitchslapped, rather, for the Love of Humanity, if she ended here, this world would become a Disaster of Unrestricted Corporate Warfare, with her Leading some weird Conspiracy Theorist Evil shadow Organization.
His Problems here weren't her or someone Like her, rather, they were of one damned effective person, Adam Jensen. His Boss, their Boss Boss, and the Head of Operations for this Task Force all were oftenly PESTERING him, because he had to keep Updating the damn guy's Profile, then send it for all those above him, and an Hour Later Jensen comes with yet another Mountain of shit he did...
Now, at least was something he took as a Breathing time, the rare Newcomer whose Papers came to him for one Last big check for potential issues. With the Digital Interface of his PC, he pulled the first.
"No... No... No no no... It can't be!"
The first things to completely freeze his brain and focus, the Photo and Name right next to it.
A Blonde girl, Blue dazzling eyes, that stared right at your soul, with the Might and Firmness of a Soldier, Chancellor and Natural Born Leader, it didn't help that despite being visibly aged to be an Actual Adult and not be so easily Mistaken for an Underage Girl, all main Traits that became the Sinonym for fear in Erich Lergen's mind were present in full.
Tanya Degurechaff.
"Why? Why is she here?"
He almost slammed his head in his Desk in despair. With force of will, he went to read that CV alongside the Intelligence reports on her Profile and Background.
24 years Old.
Graduated High School.
Served in the Army.
Career Incident, Hospitalized.
Three Months Later, entered Silver Wolves PMC, two Dozen known Contracts performed with her in the crew.
The rest was a Flawless track record, with beaming Praises from both Contractors and the PMC.
No blemishes at all in her CV.
Passed the Psych test and Background check.
No issues at all with this, yet he knew better, the Devil that Degurechaff is is Crafty, able to remain hidden in plain sight. He sighed, no way he can block such a Flawless Profile, only wait for the Signals to pop and make sure they are properly read.
Once he approves it and sends to the Force's Chief, he stops for a moment, and finally takes off his 5th Anti-Acid tablet, with a generous Dose of Whiskey he keeps in his Max security Lock (That for safety also requires an Analog Code in a purely Mechanical lock), what with Adam's periodic raids of everyone's stuff for whatever he finds of use in his Job, how Alcohool fits that is anyone's guess.
X-X-X-X
I sigh.
Again, doing some damned heck Dangerous and absolute crap Job. Both for who i will work for from today onwards, and my True Benefactor and Boss.
I fiddle with my Fingers in my right hand, nothing Unusual, no anomalies, no issues in how they behave or react... And also no problems with the skin. That's important, my CV sent here said i wasn't like those unlucky Oppressed people out there, or like the sole Sore Thumb of this Task Force.
The Elevator arrives, an Underground Facility, eh? The Authorities in this country for sure are overfilled with problems, and for sure they wouldn't want more by Having an Interpol Facility struck by Angry or Extremized Oppressed turned into suicide Bombers, and all the better if it doesn't happen while I AM here. As the Door Opens, a figure that gives me Deja Vu is waiting for me.
"Hello? I'm-"
"Tanya Degurechaff, i know, i was waiting the Elevator."
"Oh, sure. Excuse me, have we met before?"
He jolts and tenses, weird, is he really...?
"I don't think so. You must be confusing me for someone else."
"Oh, ok, my bad."
He enters the Elevator, and before it closes, another person enters as well, his Arms alone already say all. Must be the oh so Famous Augmented Agent i was briefed about. Hope we both can build some good rapport. I have to meet the Big guy of this place, so i turn and keep going.
His Office had lots of Paper stacks piled alongside Archive Boxes, likely his current Investigation or simply too much Paper, not enough Archives and time. Already an Old timer for Military Intense Jobs, but he clearly has something only the Best of the Best usually build with Experience. Former Elite Soldier.
"Nice to finally meet the newest Agent. I'm Miller, Jim Miller, chief of Task Force 29."
"Tanya Degurechaff, pleased to meet you as well."
A brief handshake, from the Looks, he was Impressed, i was a bit too short for such a Soldierly Career i guess, no use glooming, at least i got better than my Pitiful 1.5m of my second Life, i finally was about 1.6m, very Average for a Japanese Woman, but bellow the European Norm. He sits in his Chair.
"I'll be frank, the Station Bombing, the Terrorists that hit us in the UAS, and our Chase for the elusive Janus, all of Interpol's task forces are spread thin, so i expect you can Handle going Solo, this is a strong Case here in Prague."
So no Support if the Situation isn't dire or some other Agent just so Happens to be close enough, well, i worked with shittier odds already.
"It's Fine, my PMC time made me used for such. At least i can hope some Material support at least?"
He chuckles, obviously the situation isn't like a War gone horribly Bad and they have to send Agents without Weapons or Empty guns. But he sympathizes with my worries i guess. No soldier likes shit gear or be told to do a Mission severely Undergeared.
"Yes, you should know, all Agents have at Least a Pistol, anything Past a SMG however is probably only in case we need to Mobilize."
"Understood, that's already generous."
"Also don't worry, we aren't like a Military or Conventional Police, some degree of using what you can scavenge on the Field is permitted."
"Wonderful."
Aka our Forces have only Bare Minimum Budget for what we use already, so we won't bother if you get "Creative" with how you supplant this defficiency to yourself. If the line is that i don't go Using Big Tank Killers, Excessive amounts of Plastic Explosives or outright NBC warfare, then by all means it's like giving me Carte Blanche, nothing i can use, including some Surprises, would enter that degree of Overkill.
"Alright, enough Chit-chat, for now, i want you to focus on the AES attack on us, Putting someone who has a full Outsider perspective rather than one of our own should give something new to look into."
"Roger that."
I walk to the Forensics office, a Minute later, and the Chief of this area is back from the Station Bombing Scene, from the Looks, their Agent Adam, the Super Augmented guy, is going to Snoop there to get some important evidence this glasses weirdo had just started to try making sense of. From him, i got the Data of the Attack, the Enemy Ballistics and whatever else remained of them, all dead, but from the Looks, Heavily Augmented, every single of them.
The Obvious was short. All belonged to either a PMC or to some Black Ops team before their Last employment, all Assets were Killed or suicided and whoever sent them knew both of the Team's Deployment and the Deal being Brokered in there by that Criminal group. Little of use.
Gold masks...
"Agents of Chaos... Destabilize? No, too weak. Up the stakes? Maybe. Guide Interpol? Likely."
"Uh... You ok Ms?"
I refocus back to the World. But so far i got my ideas.
"Yes, i am fine, Fletcher."
"Smiley, that's how everyone here calls me, unless they need something really really quick or a report i forgot to send or-"
"Yes, yes. Thanks, i need to get going, this Case is... Pretry... Troublesome, take care."
Leaving, i decide in need to Contact someone, and it needs to be done from Safety, including away from this so called International Counter Terrorism force. Also, maybe i should get something to Eat as well, of all things i had to Carry over was both the Benefits and Drawbacks of that. Czech cuisine... Nah, let me see, guess i will make a Call, Delivery and Fast Food may be a common thing once again, but maybe it's better i don't go on a Junk Food diet once again so soon.
The Apartment i so "Rented" is in the Good Side of this City, a little More of this Neo Apartheid and i will say congratulations Czech people, you made Berlin wall 3.0, skipping right past the 2.0, times change, but History when led by Stuck up Elites never stops Making Rhymes. Once there, a Digital Lock, one Analog Key lock, and speaking the Password, in what Anyone without Knowledge of the Language would consider a Garbled mess, how the Fuck my Benefactor got someone to Make sense of Ancient Mythos level Language to use both for spoken Passwords and when i need to Write a report and send through the obviously Tapped Internet network. Inside, someone was dutifully keeping this Place clean and Organized, not much work, if you discount that she was currently doing some Routine Cleaning of the small Armory smugled with the rest of this Place's movable Furnitures.
"I'm back, Kaiserin."
"Hm. Need him?"
"Yeah."
Kaiserin, looks like me, yet the details that differentiate us make me Uneasy, still, she Cooks, Make a Visha level Coffee and i am very glad she clearly sides with me over my Enemies or whoever could Pose a Lethal Threat to me, the more Super Capable allies on my side, the better, just wish she stopped sleeping with me. A little later, she gives me the sole Comms Device with an Encrypted Line to my Benefactor, the Encryption also uses Eldritch Language in the code, so pity on whatever tries to jack or tap this Line if it happens by chance.
"Fraulein! They have already thrown you into a Hot Case?"
"Yes, with a Pipping Hot Kettle in my area no Less, Golden Masks, as you said, How exactly and how Far am i to Interfere?"
A pause. Must be checking his notes.
"Method and depth are your call, need anything?"
"Of course, Data, Information, and some Hardware, truly Multinational initiatives are Stingy when they want to be."
A soft Laugh, good mood, probably no worries about me, yet. When i woke up in my New Life... Yeah... Not a pretty moment i will ashamedly say.
"Alright, probably by Diner Kaiserin will have the Files, Databanks and taken care of the new Inventory, good Lunch."
"You too, Mike."
Call ended. I return the device to her. And then open the Fridge, good, the Suppliers he told me about really have good channels, even if for something like Food instead of Military Grade guns, ammo or the so called Neuropozyne that those Augmented badly need. Good ideals hardly matter when your whole World is a Cesspool of Elitist ivory tower braggarts who know nothing of that Nice and Merciless thing called Reality. Like Mine, instead of at Being X mercy, now under Care of annever Smiling guy with Oddjobs and a Lookalike that cares for me as if she was my mom.
Lunch was pretty much Modest, Rice, Grilled Salmon, some actual Tofu and an Artesanal brew of Sake, thanks Mike for your willingness to let me use your Money Cheat wallet. Oh yes, let me get some Ginger and a slice of lemon, simple, but i learnt to enjoy the niceties that one can take in good Cooking. Well, took me deciding i wanted to Make something to my Wife back in that Second Life, but still.
After eating what in this world would be Called an Excessive luxury by even the Rich, i am now back to my Damn Job, my Official on Paper one. One thing no amount of Report and VR Simulated Recreation of recorded Combat will help me with in this case is just to what extent Augmentations make a Difference in such Combat situations, the Obvious cases are only the types of Augs that have exclusively Militaristic and Limited Applications, for others, i rather get some Idea now, even if at a Cost than Risk my neck later, and lucky me my Current Surface job has one with both experience and the entire package of the Best Manufacturer to ever Make those things. Thankfully, Adam had just delivered the Data unit that "Smiley" guy asked him to get from the Bombed Station. I approach him before he leaves.
"Hello, Mr. Jensen! Could you spare some time?"
"Sure, Ms..."
"Tanya, Tanya Degurechaff, i started just today."
Guess he remembered he passed by me when he took the Elevator with the other Guy.
"Ah yes, the talk of the day! What can i help?"
"Well, my First Asigned task is help the UES incident, the Gold Masked Mercs to be exact. But sadly i lack enough Experience and Understanding of Augmented People, specifically in Combat Scenarios."
"Didn't you Work in a PMC? Your profile said so."
"I did, but what i got Asigned to were not Active Combat zones or High Value Escort duties, just protect really Valuable resources during Transport or Provide Support elsewhere."
I probably got my Point to him, i have Combat Experience, but not the Kind where Super Augmented Soldiers would be Involved, and even if someone decided throwing that kind of Enemy at a Pitiful Commodity Transport or a measly Support squad, me and my Pals would rather scramble and back off than try our Luck against them.
"Right, so you want to Know how different Heavy Augmented Soldiers work?"
"Yes."
"Right, ask away."
For all the time he could Spare now, i asked everything i could hazzard about usual Tactics against or as an Augmented, the Common Augs a Soldier would have and so on, nothing Model specific or regarding his specific Augs, best avoid suspicion for now. When he needed to go, i got the Gist of what degree of Firepower or Commitment current me would need. Most Soldiers that can affor would have the Rhino Dermal Armor Kit, so Weapons are practically Hitting a Heavy Duty Composite Armor Plated enemy, of course the Head would remain a weakspot that Mandates Headgear for the protection, but other Augs that grew in Presence if a Milspec Augmented is present is the Typhoon Area Denial, basicslly turning any Augmented with it into a 360ยบ Claymore that shoots Micro Explosive Pellets instead of Steel Ball Bearings. Last common Aug is the Icarus system, so High Height surprise drops are to be expected.
The rest was typical, Boosted Strength, Stabilizer and Reload Program Suites to handle Heavier gear and Shoot with more Stability as well as Make reloading like a Pro child's Play. All in all, anything outside excessively Augmented Enemies would merely be about as bad as a Shock Trooper against me, a Prosthetic will still beat me even if i used a Type 95 quadcore in strength, but no Aug enables Flight, and there's yet a Shooting Software made to Handle the Omnidirectional Mobility that a Mage in flight can do, more so me, the best to ever exist.
I turn away to go check the Data staff for more Reports about that case when i notice him, the guy i met first thing here.
"Hello... Mr...?"
"Eric, Eric Lergen, i read your Profile again, and... I got curious. Can we speak?"
"Sure."
Did he notice a flaw? No, impossible, the Data on it was Crafted by the Brit, no Intel Channel would unearth the Lies it has. Maybe i behaved weirdly and he got Suspicious? Maybe, but what exactly tipped him then? We both walk to a room, it was probably a space to tske a rest in some Silence, give it was near the Break area. We sit opposite to each other.
"I was surprised to see you Admit lacking Experience in something we would be doing Oftenly whenever Heavy combat is expected."
"Hiding a Weakness from Comrades is a fine way to get everyone Killed, my experience is lacking against Former Spec Ops level Super Augmented, not your Run of the Mill Trooper with Augmented Limbs and the Basic package."
"I see."
"Lergen, right?"
"Yes."
I really think he is TOO ALIKE him to not be what i am thinking, maybe hint something? No, too risky, if this raises suspicions my Real Task will fail right away. Yeah, better make some iddle chat.
"You don't seem to be the type that saw much combat either, you had any experience?"
"Germany's Army, then a Few Years at a PMC contracted by Poland, as you said, no actual experience, but i had to handle myself when THAT happened."
"Oh, i see, had to... You know... Do it on a former Coworker?"
"Luckily no, when it went downhill i had turned back to a simple Job already. I am however curious, your Grades in High School were enough that even a Scholarship would be Possible, but... Why enter the Military and later a PMC?"
I can help, my ever Iconic sad Smile. The way he tenses up reminds me of the 203rd, why no one takes my Smiles like Mike or kaiserin?
"My Background check must have reported, right? An Orphan, and while i managed to get a Scholarship, going to University when you have no Pedigree or some Famous Contact would be Useless, the Current Corporate scenario doesn't open its doors to someone without a Letter from Inside."
The Current corporate scene is Plagued with Espionage, Sabotage and at times Outright Assassinations of Key Staff, add that some Conspiracy group hellbent on controlling the World, and a Cushy Corporative Job was nothing that i wanted for this Life. Rather Risk myself in doing something in the Army than get a Bottom Level Job in one such Augmentation or MDI business. At least they take anyone and if you Impress some Ruthless PMC head or a Businessman wanting a Wetworks guy, you can get some Life Improvements, if you take the deal that is.
"I see. Sorry if that's Insensitive."
"It's fine, i have no use Mulling over what i can't control."
"Right. On another topic, you enjoy Movies?"
"Hm, can't say i have seen one these last years, but i do, you flirting already?"
The way he had a fit of Coughs was surprising, well,i waited him to get better.
"N-no! I haven't had time either! Was just curious about the Latest Dracula."
"Ah, that one, huh? The one they claim the AI Voice Acting would be Undistinguishable from the real deal? No i haven' t seen."
"Well, if you decide to go... A friend told me you better get acquainted with some... Dacian..."
Did... Did he just... Oh... Oh you damned Warhawk!
"I see, thanks for the Tip."
I give a heartfelt Smile, then leave. I look behind before fully leaving, my... Is he well? He is so Ghostly pale.
"You need the Doctor?"
"Hm? Oh no, no, just my damn Stomach needing some Anti-Acid, no need to worry."
"Ok."
X-X-X-X
Tonight's Diner sank like Rocks, Lergen couldn't stop his mind.
"She's here! Here! What awful Devilish Plan she is doing here?"
Eric Lergen had to take a Hearty Dose of Alcohool to sleep, which only got him a painful Hangover the Next day and a dire need for Anti-Acid tablets before Breakfast.