“Sir, our supply depot was just wiped out.” One of the technicians monitoring the wired communications said, as he hurried over to General Keith.
Keith turned on his heels and pulled up a smoking debris on the screen through satellite, what was left of the supplies.
He clenched his fist, and slammed it down on the metal table.
“And no one reported the attack?” General Keith asked the technician.
“We-we heard nothing! They came in, attacked before they could get a word out.” The technician feared for his life, stuttering at simple words.
“Eye for an eye…” General Keith said.
* * *
Agent Three disguised himself as a United Terran Republic lab worker. Forged documents, and even a new ID imprinted into his wrist data chip to allow access to the top secret facility. He was “the new guy” coming from Terra to help assist Doctor Sterling with his new robotic project, B-443. He “graciously accepted” the assignment, and made his way through to the Command Central of the UTR.
His white lab coat, fake red framed glasses, and even a hair color change to black from his natural brown was easy enough to procure. Agent Three carried a couple of clipboards, to help accent the whole package of fallacy.
He flashes his ID wrist chip to the UTR Troopers, fully armed and ready to handle any threats. They scanned his wrist and allowed entry to the robotics lab.
And that’s when he met the battle robot, B-443. It was doing various exercises under the supervision of Doctor Sterling, after the Greywolves dispersed and went to their section.
* * *
The Greywolves were downgrading their gear in their assigned lockers while 9, the Medic, escorted Staff Sergeant Allyn with the help of other medical personnel who met him at the aircraft off the flight line. Allyn was still in a state of bliss and unable to walk, as the gurney hovered across the floor. 9’s rifle was slung appropriately against his armor which kept his hands free.
Major Winters skipped downgrading her gear and followed 9 in tow.
“She’s gonna kill me.” Winters said under her breath.
“No ma’am. That won’t happen. After all, he’s alive. Just drooling on himself.” 9 replied.
“He wasn’t supposed to go, he was supposed to stay here. I should have just kept him here.” Winters said.
“Allyn would have found a way onboard without our knowledge, you know this…” 9 said to re assure her that it wasn’t her fault.
They entered the Medical Wing, and the first person to spot their entrance, was a disgruntled Doctor Lacon.
“I knew he wasn’t ready. And I let you take him anyway. What happened?” Doctor Lacon asked.
9 briefed her on the details.
“At least it’s not a couple bullet wounds this time. Major, he’s down indefinitely. No more favors. I can’t risk my license at this point anymore.”
Winters nodded.
“Thanks Medic, we’ll handle him from here.” Lacon dismissed Major and 9 immediately, as 9 followed Major Winters out of the Medical Wing.
“Let’s transfer him off the hover onto an exam table…”
* * *
“Ah! You must be the new guy I heard so much about! Welcome Doctor Dennington!” Doctor Sterling shook the hands of Agent Three firmly and looked into his eyes. “Excited to have someone on board to help. Let me introduce you to B-443.”
Doctor Sterling let Agent Three walk in front of him, and showed him the wire harness, and also the articulation of B-443.
“B, I would like you to meet our new robotics doctor, all the way from Terra!”
B-443 turned and walked over promptly to greet the new Doctor with his blue hued eyes.
“Hello Doctor, what is your name?” It spoke in perfect English. Agent Three was slightly shocked. Deep inside, he smiled from ear to ear. “Doctor Dennington, B-443. It is good to meet you, I’ve heard a lot about you.” He sent out his hand and B-443 shook it gently with care.
B-443’s head snapped up and looked into the face of Doctor Dennington as his hand made contact.
“Doctor Dennington. I have added your name to my database. I will not forget.” B-443 released the handshake and stood into its wire harness for data linkup.
“B? Do you require a moment?” Doctor Sterling asked.
“Yes Doctor, I detect a weird signal coming from my left foot. Would like to be analyzed.” B-443 stated.
“Very well, let’s begin the link up.” Doctor Sterling said as Doctor Dennington roamed the lab.
“Give me a moment Doctor Sterling, I have a phone call to make. I will return shortly.” Agent Three said as he put his pretend clipboards down, and left the robotics lab.
* * *
Agent Three went down an empty hallway and opened up his communicator with encrypted data flow to avoid being detected or triangulated.
“It’s real. Very real. I extracted data from the hand shake, and sent it to my data pad for your review sir. It’s a marvelous sight.”
“Good work Agent Three, get out before anyone suspects you. Well done. The Seventh Legion owes you. We need to figure out a way to destroy that thing.” General Keith replied.
“Roger sir, I’m heading out. I’ll need evac at the exfiltration point.”
* * *
Doctor Sterling was typing up commands on the computer that B-443 was connected to. All of a sudden the computer beeped.
“Oh! That startled me. Maybe you’re right B, something is wrong.” The screen flickered from its usual color and turned black.
“What the hell? Hey, did we lose our connection to the network?” Doctor Sterling yelled to his other technicians, all shaking their head no.
“Doctor Sterling, it’s B-443. Activate the alarm immediately.”
Doctor Sterling looked at the green font on the screen.
“B? What’s wrong?”
B-443 stirred in its harness.
“That man is not a doctor. He’s a Special Agent from the Seventh Legion. Activate the alarm.” Came across the screen.
“Fuck. Fuck!” Doctor Sterling tossed his stool away and immediately ran up to the entrance and slammed on a red button, with a loud blaring klaxon overhead.
He grabbed the phone to the Base Commander and started yelling. “Lock the fucking base down! we have an intruder!”
* * *
9 and Major Winters heard the alarm, and the two of them headed down with their weapon systems up, heading quickly to the origin of the alarm. Their boots hitting the polished floors, going as fast as lightning to respond. Workers and technicians hugged the walls as they ran.
“This is not a drill, we are on immediate lockdown. I repeat, this is not a drill, lockdown! Lockdown!” was overhead the PA speakers – and that’s when the workers immediately vacated the area to get to their designated assigned areas of work for accountability.
* * *
The Greywolves were sealed in their quarters, unable to leave.
* * *
Medical Wing also responded by heavy metal doors slamming down into place, as well as the windows. “What the hell is going on?” Doctor Lacon asked.
* * *
Agent Three turned to head out of the hallway he ducked into, and quickly scurried out, to blend in with the crowds of people trying to get to their offices. Knowing he can’t return back to the robotics lab, he decides to make a run for it. The troopers were distracted as they were herding people like cattle into safe designated areas, shouting orders.
He was stopped by two guards as he tried to leave.“Sir, we need you to follow the others for accountability.” They directed him.
Without hesitation he drew out two pistols and shot both Troopers in the chest, passing through their body armor. The metal door rapidly shut as he made his exit, ducking under it.
Someone started firing at him from behind as the metal door clanked shut. Safe and sound, thought Agent Three.
* * *
9 and Winters spotted a doctor leaving in a hurry. Why was he leaving? He should be with the others left in the hallways.
Their question was answered as they saw this doctor draw two weapons out from his lab coat and shot both Troopers at the blink of an eye.
9 and Major Winters opened fire as quickly as he could to slow him down, but the metal door slid right back down in position, deflecting the bullets from their automatic rifles.
“Fuck!” 9 yelled as 9 tried to override the door mechanism to get out, as Major Winters was trying her identification pass to get the door open, but the door wouldn’t budge.
“This is Major Winters, get the fucking door open! Two Troopers down, have Medical on standby!” As she yelled into the communicator on her watch, while 9 went to work on the wounded Troopers, stopping the bleeding as fast as he could with the tools he had on hand.
* * *
Agent Three immediately disposed of his medical garb and headed to the extraction point, where his ride was waiting for him. And he was gone, no where to be seen.
* * *
By the time the door opened, Major Winters was too late as she hurried outside, and it was a ghost town. Only the faint sound of an aircraft was heard.
Story Time 