Markets, Quadrant A, Abaddon Station, Tartarus Sectors

  April 29th, 2508

  Irene Summers felt a certain calmness in this sector. Not the calmness of peace, as one would say. But calmness against something inescapable, odds stacked against her. The cards she laid on the table not working in her favor.

  That was she was feeling right now, as she stood in her section in the Markets area. In the several months since she started her business in Abaddon with her husband, Richard and her best friend, Sierra, she learned to not take things for granted.

  Hesitation, doubt, and fear must be discarded. To show weakness is to give rivals the means to hurt you plenty. So, Irene and her group performed various applications of violence to assert her place in the business. An idiot using blackmail to force them to pay him weekly taxes so he could look the other way? Dead in a dirty alleyway. Another smuggler sending her armed assholes to intimidate? She and her guards were also dead. A slaver who was stupid enough to request them in smuggling ‘merchandise’? His body mangled and left hanging to serve as an example.

  That’s the way of things in Abaddon. Survive or die. Thrive or perish. Hawk, or rather, in her Irene persona? She was no stranger to violence, and neither were Grim nor Voyager. The violent oppressive hand of the Dominion they were all familiar with, the ‘91 massacre, and the one time she and Grim were kidnapped by Dominion officers as unmarked prisoners when they were fourteen. To be tortured to death and their bodies left to rot in an unmarked ditch like the others, just for the crime of those officers not liking the way they looked at them. When they escaped through that prison, Hawk and Grim made sure the officers who sent them behind bars to suffer painful deaths. Didn’t matter if they had families and loved ones. They were monsters and deserved worse.

  Yeah, Hawk was a survivor, and so was her husband and her best friend. Were their whole lives were nothing but violence, they would’ve been more psychotic and deranged.

  Thankfully, they had family, friends, and loved ones who helped them. Supported them through the process. Being loved and supported, even when traumatized, invigorated them. Pushed them further ahead towards the challenges in their life. And when the opportunity came, they enlisted, not out of thirst to annihilate the Dominion in its entirety, even. But so future generations don’t suffer like they did, to liberate them from a life of tyranny.

  Irene found herself smiling in her venue.

  “Hey… you okay, miss?” A Kratoor who was in front of her asked. Irene shook her head a bit, pulled herself out of her rumination and looked at her customer.

  True to his species, his body was made of scale similar to reptilians or dragons from fantasy books and movies. The Kratoor in question didn’t have a scar around his hand nor in his face that was protected with a hardened plate stretched across his head to the back. He was wearing simple blue clothes probably a younger generation. The species were mostly known to be mercenaries, bodyguards, raiders across the galaxy. Performing their own brand of violence against anyone in their way. Though some of them took upon themselves in other applications. Arts, science, and other sorts of everyday jobs. Whether it was a deliberate change on the Kratoor’s part to their way of life, Irene didn’t know.

  “Mrs. Summers, are you okay?”

  “Yeah.” Irene answered. She gestured her hand to the Kratoorin, and assuaged her concerns.

  “Are you sure?” He pestered, and she didn’t have the patience to force him to brush off.

  “Mr. Jorin.” Grim, in her Sierra Dylan persona arrived and looked towards the Kratoorin. “I assure you that Mrs.Summers is doing well and there’s no need to keep asking questions while you’re here to complete your transaction from one of our merchandise you just purchased.”

  Jorin stood silent, and both Irene/Sierra kept their cool.

  “No, you are absolutely right, Ms. Dylan. I apologize for the inconvenience.” Jorin waved and left with the merchandise in his bag.

  Irene and Sierra heaved a sigh. “For a moment, I thought he’d rip our heads off.” Sierra laughed nervously.

  Irene shook her head, “Nah, that’s more of an Ursurin style. Their culture is all about combat.”

  “Yeah, too true.” Sierra looked around at the bustling business of the Markets. For an area set in a station well-known for constant violence, the people were talking, laughing, conversing with each other, enjoying their time.

  Irene noticed it too, and joined alongside her friend. “There’s always something nice in this galaxy wherever it goes, huh?”

  Sierra nodded, and shifted her eyes to their venue. It was almost empty, thanks to the constant pouring of customers who wanted a piece. Safe to say, they were making good on their little business.

  [Halberd to Magpie and Case. Come in, over.] Both Irene and Sierra felt the buzz and their CO’s voice in their earpiece.

  “Speak of the devil…” Sierra muttered. Not wasting time, she put a ‘closed until further notice’ sign in the venue, then left the Markets area.

  “This is Magpie. I hear you loud and clear, Halberd. Over.” Irene answered the call, and awaited their orders.

  [Three SSB squads have just infiltrated Quadrant C via Port C-74. Get suited up. Out.]

  The call ended, then both Rangers in their smuggler personas looked at each other, then smiled. They both walked to their way to arm themselves up.

  “What about Ahmed?” Sierra asked

  “He’s on security detail with Halberd.” Irene answered. While she didn’t show it, she was glad her husband was away from the ruckus that was gonna kick in soon.

  “Let’s get suited up, Magpie.”

  “Best keep up then, Case.”

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Horux District, Quadrant C, Abaddon Station, Tartarus Sectors

  Agent Anya Hawkins, callsign Raven, was on the roof of a three-story building in the Horux District alongside her fellow agents Helga “Knob” Schmitt and Eerik “Hammer” Karvonen, surveying the district for any incoming hostiles. Kill Team Torch was support for Kill Team Wind and Kill Team Bull in their mission to find the turncoat informant, ‘Cracked’, as it was believed he was being held in the Horux District.

  Why did ‘Cracked’ went to stab them in the back, Raven had no idea. Maybe what the Skaro Syndicate offered was more worth it? The reasons didn’t matter right now, what mattered is capturing him alive and unharmed. It was better that way, so the informant might think twice before changing sides.

  “Boss.” Knob’s whisper through the helmet’s comm had Anya at attention.

  “What is it, Knob?”

  “A dozen hostiles clad in Green-colored armor just came in from the Northwest. It’s Malice’s mercs.” Knob confirmed, and her helm-cam footage was seen on Raven’s HUD showed it was where Kill Team Bull were currently operating.

  “Affirmative. Raven to KTB-Actual. You got Malice’s mercs heading your way. Dozens of them.” She called up Kill Team Bull on comms.

  [Roger, we saw them. Give us support fire while KTW scours the district for ‘Cracked’. Don’t move unless ordered to do so, over.]

  Raven heard Hammer’s low-grumbling, who was behind them and keeping an eye on the alleyway in the north-west sector. He was no fan of playing support and preferred direct confrontation, which she understood. But she needed him to keep in line.

  “Hammer, zip it. I don’t need us to be given a citation.” Raven whispered via the comm.

  “A-firm.” Hammer’s simple response was more than enough for Raven, then the violence escalated with the sounds of gunfire. Through the scope of their Aegis Tactical Sniper Rifle, Raven and saw Kill Team Bull in cover, in clash with around 8 mercs on their sights.

  Scope on the hostiles, finger on the trigger, breathe, click. Rounds fired from Raven and Knob had hit two mercs, then collapsed on the ground. The other mercs who were still rolled out and ran for cover, but two more fell down by high-caliber rounds. The rest of the mercs threw smokescreens, and were concealed from Kill Teams Bull and Torch for a moment.

  Meanwhile, Hammer saw two merc groups running through the alleyway that he was watching. He shot down at least two with Kilo-89 Battle Rifle, but the two groups still kept going.

  “Kill Team Bull, you got two merc groups to ambush you. Take cover now!” Hammer warned through Comms.

  He couldn’t see the commotion, as he was still keeping eyes on the alleyway. And the more sounds of gunfire joining in, didn’t help matters.

  A scream yelped out, and then. [KTB-4 is down!]

  [Take cover! Cover fire!]

  [Covering fire!]

  “Fuck!” He hissed.

  “We got eyes on ‘em, Hammer. Keep watch. We’ll make them pay.” Raven ordered.

  “Rog’. Maintaining watch.” Hammer kept watch on his sector, and silently prayed for his teammates to make Malice and her mercs pay dearly.

  Raven and Knob kept their momentum, when they shot down a dozen mercs who came from the alleyway, then reloaded their AT-X sniper rifles. Not keen on further surprises, Knob pressed on the wrist-device on her left arm. A small, circular drone came online from her back. A few more presses, and the drone flew to where the first group of mercs hid after their little smoke show. Within a few minutes of scan, their outline highlighted in her helmet’s HUD. All hidden in an alleyway not far away. Knob pressed a small button near her sniper’s rear grip. The barrel and handguard transformed together, as the barrel grew longer and the handguard wrapped fully around the barrel and muzzle.

  [KTW-Actual to KTT-Actual. We found the target building. Moving interior to secure the asset.] Raven’s comm buzzed in her helmet, informed by Kill Team Wind’s progress.

  “Copy.” Raven responded, then looked at Knob who was aiming at her targets, then held the trigger to give a charge to the round.

  “Take them down.” Raven whispered to Knob in the comm. And within seconds of the given order, a thunderous sound echoes through the district when Knob let go and the charged round screamed through the walls and took down the first merc who was the nearest in their cover.

  The group was startled, shocked their fella died in such gory fashion.

  Another few seconds of charging through holding the trigger, then pull. Fwaash! Another charged round hit the second merc. The remaining two mercs shook from their shock and sprinted to another cover.

  But Knob can see them, their outlines still highlighted in her HUD. She aimed, and fired two rounds at the two. They collapsed, their blood seeped on the ground.

  [KTB-Actual to KTT-Actual. All hostiles down.]

  When Raven and Knob scoped in to where KTB operatives, to make sure. Things were getting good, and the SSB were gaining momentum. If things go well, they’ll bag the informant and get out of Abaddon in no time.

  Suddenly, an explosion rocked in another area of the district.

  [What the hell?!] One KTB operative shouted.

  [Where did it come from?!] Another KTB operative shouted

  “Hammer, change position, and check that out.” Hammer obliged to his superior’s order and changed position where he can see a silhouette of flame far away. As he scoped with his battle rifle, he couldn’t believe what he just saw.

  The target building. Where Kill Team Wind went there

  “Hammer to Kill Team Wind, how copy?” Nothing.

  “Hammer to Kill Team Wind, how copy? Over!” There was only static in his helmet’s comms.

  “Kill Team Wind, all KIA.” The helmet’s on-board AI announced.

  “Fuck. Fuck!” Knob hissed, and felt a moment of despair.

  Raven’s breath grew heavy. Things weren’t going accordingly, and it was getting even worse. But there was no time to question, when they must adapt.

  Unfortunately, a huge smoke dispersed on Kill Team Bull’s position. Kill Team Torch tried to see through with thermal vision, but another smoke dispersed on them as well, then it was too much for them to look clearly.

  They heard exchanges of gunfire and screams over several seconds. And then, the AI announced once more. “Kill Team Bull, all KIA.”

  Then, they heard a voice that sounded like it came from a speaker.

  [Agents of the Imperium. This is Malice of the Skaro Syndicate and head boss of Quadrant C. You’re surrounded. Give yourselves up immediately, and you’ll be spared. Keep resisting, and you’ll die.]

  Kill Team Torch put their weapons down and stood up, their hands up in surrender. When the smoke dissipated, they saw dozens of Malice’s mercs on the ground, with dead KTB operatives on the ground. In addition to Malice herself on the scene, flanked by heavily armored mercs.

  When Raven looked at the crime boss, Malice was a human like any other, though with eyes that looked dead. Face consumed by scars as they were stretched across the cheeks, lips, and chin. Fair skin color weathered by stress and years of combat, and a black hair graying all across.

  And as expected of a crime boss, Malice was wearing a green suit. Her left arm was on her left ear, probably installed with cochlear implant.

  [I won’t say this again. Surrender immediately!] Her venomous tone made it clear to Kill Team Torch she meant what she was saying. Not like they had any doubt, given Malice’s rap sheet.

  They kept their hands up, as they waited for her lackeys to take them.

  Two explosions suddenly came from two areas, not far from Malice and her little army and they were rocked to the ground. Then, smoke dispersed on Kill Team Torch. Knowing the odds, they didn’t attempt a resistance, but they did a feel a hand on their chests. They saw two individuals wearing armor that resembled the well-known Special Tactics Recon standard battle armor. Although, the armor was lightweight and discreet.

  “Kill Team Torch. We’re here to get you out.” A voice, though filtered, spoke to Raven, and she saw them.

  “Who… who are you?” Raven asked, confused.

  “We’ll answer the questions you have once we leave Quadrant C. It’s not safe.” The other individual spoke, in filtered voice, though Raven swore she thought she heard Australian from that one.

  “Lead the way.” Hammer spoke grimly to their would-be saviors, but not before taking his battle rifle with him. Torch followed those two strangers, going down and taking the nearby alleyway from the side exit.

  They sprinted across the alleyway and into another neighborhood. As they ran, there were still questions in mind.

  “Who are you guys?” Knob asked, felt the need for answers.

  “We’re search and rescue. Helping the good people of Abaddon who are in trouble.” The stranger answered.

  “Uh-huh.” Knob didn’t believe them, but figured not to pry further.

  Knob glanced at Raven, who was hoping for answers from her. Raven shook her head, as she too was in the dark.

  “Well, what can we call you two, then?” Hammer asked bluntly. Raven felt tempted to smack him in the back of his head.

  “Magpie.” The first agent spoke.

  “Case.”

  Raven felt a surprise when she heard their names. They’re no assassins, given their armor.

  “We’ve got a long way to safety, Kill Team. Hope you kept up on your cardio.” Magpie snarked, the voice filter still kicking in.

  Knob chuckled, and was met with a glare from Raven.

  “What? Magpie’s funny.” Knob protested.

  “Thank you.” Case gave gratitude.

  “We’re not out of the woods yet, Kill Team. Get ready for a marathon.” Case shared a pinch of levity.

  Even Hammer couldn’t hold himself, and laughed, albeit in lower pitch.

  Whoever Magpie and Case are, they’re professionals.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Quadrant C, Abaddon Station, Tartarus Sectors

  [Citizens of Quadrant C. Stay in your home immediately. We have hostiles on the run. Do not interfere. I repeat, do not interfere! Malice and her people will make sure this crisis is solved immediately.]

  Agents Magpie and Case as well as Kill Team Torch heard the announcement, which blared across the whole Quadrant. No doubt they’ll be met with trouble in their escape.

  “So, uh…” Knob heaved, already feeling the toll from running. Her heart was beating at a very fast pacing.

  “Deep breathes, Agent Schmitt. Inhale and exhale.” Case spoke, still in the voice filter.

  Knob was surprised they knew her last name, but pushed the thought aside and focused on inhale then exhale. She kept the rhythm, and found herself.

  “You mind telling us where’s our ticket out of here? If we take the standard exits, we’re screwed.” Raven asked.

  “A hatch that leads a tunnel connected to Quadrant A.” Magpie answered.

  “Oh.” Raven didn’t think of that. But then again, her mission briefing only focused on Quadrant C and nothing more. Given the strict policy that Abaddon has against the Imperium, the IIA couldn’t set up safehouses within the station. The Imperium and it’s intelligence are not well-liked in the Tartarus Sectors. Mainly because of the encroaching specter. And the people living in Tartarus strongly believe in living as free as they please. No rule of law, only self-determination and their own guidelines to guide them through.

  While there’s people from different parts in this staion, A number of them living in this station were former Imperium citizens who left because of the war, or they had grievances against the Parliament that ignored their outcries.

  The bitter pill of politics.

  “It’s a long walk, but safer than using standard exits.” Case continued.

  “And you’re certain neither Malice or her army will hear you?” Hammer asked.

  “That’s correct, Agent Karvonen. Our network is cutting-edge.” Magpie spoke confidently, though Hammer felt uneasy at the agent speaking his last name, like they did with Knob. He thought to shake the answers out of them, but given the agents knew Knob’s last name, it stands to reason they’d also know Raven’s last name. Whatever organization they’re working for, they must have a network of spies, informants, dead ropes, and so on to stay on their toes.

  “Hey!” A green-clad armored Vernusen shouted at the runaways. Magpie and Case dived to a small window in a building while Kill Team Torch took cover from different metal crates assorted in the area, avoiding sizzles of plasma from the enemy.

  This exchange had no doubt alerted the other mercs, as dozen of them poured in and fired their share of ballistics and plasma. Human, Vernsuen, H’ikene, whatever.

  “Don’t move.” Magpie ordered towards Torch’s comms.

  “Wait, you can access our comms?” Knob was bewildered.

  “Cutting-edge network, remember?” Hammer sassed at Knob, then she bit her tongue.

  “Just hold tight, and watch your backs. We’ll take care of the front in the meantime. Do not under any circumstances reach us out with our comms.” Case chimed in.

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  Torch couldn’t believe their lock. First, they have to watch for hostiles coming in from the back. Now, they’re ordered to keep radio dark and not communicate with the agents.

  Maybe their network is not 100% fool-proof. But then again, no such network exists. Raven thought.

  “Okay, we’re trusting you with our lives, you two.” Raven commented.

  “But if we die, I’ll haunt your asses.” Hammer warned, then met with green acknowledgment wink on his HUD.

  “Duly noted.” Magpie spoke, then the call ended.

  And as they expected, they saw a few hostiles, four to be exact, coming from the back side. The front hostiles were loaded, which gave time for both Raven and Knob to unsheath their pistols, then firing several rounds. One merc, a human, collapsed when a round pierced her head. Likewise with the Vernusen, as she collapsed when the rounds perforated her.

  Hammer fired rounds from his BR at the remaining two. Their armor didn’t hold them off for long, eventually collapsed and dead on the ground.

  Meanwhile, Magpie and Case were on the rooftops from different sides of the area. They focused their eyes on 9 mercs who were still firing their weapons at Kill Team Torch, persistent in their attempt to draw them out to the open.

  “Four near my side.” Case said on comms, Magpie noticed her on the rooftop of a building where her targets where at.

  “Copy. Same on my side as well. Last one is on the middle.” Magpie commented, her eyes focused on the other four mercs.

  She readied the launcher on her Hades Cyber-Arm, two shock grenades on standby. She took cover from a small ventilation shaft, then aimed.

  “Thunder.” Case started.

  “Strike.” Magpie ended, then launched the grenades at the intended area of effect. The shock paralyzed the mercs, now for the opening.

  They aimed their suppressed DA85’s, then fired. Dozens of mercs collapsed dead on the ground, save for the last one, a Vernusen. After surviving the shock, she blinked away.

  “Shit! Gotta be a former Templar.” Case hissed.

  “No kidding, she must be…” Magpie was interrupted by the warp-enhanced Vernusen who blinked at her, then struck her, thrown to a wall connected to the building’s interior stairwell.

  “Magpie!” Case cried out for her fellow agent, but she was too busy evading and surviving.

  “I will burn your armor to ash, weakling!” The Vernusen merc taunted, launching a burst of lightning at her prey.

  Magpie evaded the burst before it flew through, and dodged a dozen of punches.

  “STR coward!” The Vernusen merc shouted, frustrated from her as her prey’s tenacity. Magpie tried to find an exploit, but was too busy trying to avoid those warp powers her enemy was throwing at her.

  [Magpie, are you okay?!] She heard Raven’s voice over the comm. Dammit, not now! Magpie thought. And just like that, the Vernusen merc flew at her and grabbed her by the neck. She felt her throat gripped tight, feeling the air fading. She tried to move her legs, but to no avail.

  “Your corpse will make a fine trophy for Malice” The Vernusen smiled sadistically, her gripping hand was about to crackle with lightning.

  From inside, Magpie was screaming. A raw scream of desperation. She felt her vision drifting to black, then she heard a round and felt this was it. This is where she was gonna die.

  But she didn’t feel anything. Instead, she fell from her enemy’s grip, her hand on her neck, coughing heavily. She didn’t care when she heard the Vernsuen’s yelp from pain, when she was soon collapsed dead on her own blood after several rounds hit her.

  Her vision became clearer and the coughing stopped. She moved her eyes and saw Hammer bringing his hand to her. Out of gratitude, she took his hand and got up.

  “Thanks.” Magpie noticed her voice filter died out, which was she was less than pleased with. Hammer’s body language showed a bit of surprise.

  “Ahh, that explains things. We bump in each other in the most violent places, don’t we.” Hammer spoke heartily, and Magpie must have sworn he was smiling beneath his helmet.

  “How’s Magpie, Hammer?” She heard Raven’s voice when she and Knob came over.

  “Aside from an occasion of recklessness, she’ll do fine.” Hammer spoke heartily.

  “Recklessness? What are you..” Raven was interrupted, when she noticed Magpie taking off the helmet. It was a face she was already familiar with.

  “Hawk? You’re…” Knob tried to find the words, but was interrupted. “Yeah, I’m Magpie.”

  Raven felt she had a double-take. But her mind then drifted to something else. Of course, her sister would be a covert agent. She has to be. How else would she went off the grid.

  “Oh, for fuck’s sake, Magpie.” Case shouted in the comm.

  “My voice filter got broken, Case. Give me a break!”

  “Rog’. But you better give the boss-lady an explanation on how these three know you.” Case ended the call, then Magpie looked at Kill Team Torch. Given their goals, they must be obligated

  The team looked at each other, then glanced back. They put their right hand up in an open palm. An oath.

  “Your secret is safe with us. On my right hand, I swear.” Hammer spoke first.

  “I will not share your name nor your secrets. On my right hand, I swear.” Knob spoke second.

  “For the sake of our family, I will hold my tongue and keep this a secret. On my right hand, I swear.” Then Raven spoke last

  [And for the sake of OPSEC, I will remove all communication traces over this exchange. On my right hand, I swear.] Raven heard Operations Director Andreas chiming in through her helmet’s comm.

  Magpie put her empty hand on her face. This was getting worse and worse.

  “Director Andreas.” Raven spoke up to her superior in comm.

  [Let’s keep this short, Torch. Follow Magpie’s lead and escape Quadrant C. We need to rethink our options. I’ll be waiting for you with Halberd and ‘Vilkra in Quadrant A.]

  Magpie sighed, then put her helmet on again. She shrugged her hands, then jumped down from the roof.

  “You really think we can keep this a secret, boss?” Knob asked.

  “We don’t have any choice, Knob. If certain people in the chain of command find out…” Hammer didn’t have to say more for Raven to understand. Leverage is a dangerous and insidious weapon.

  “Let’s move. I wanna get out of this shithole.” Raven jumped down on the roof, with her teammates to follow.

  Over a few minutes of walking, the entourage reached to the hatch, true to what Magpie and Case said. Case knocked on the hatch door 9 times, in a triple sync. It was the sign that both agents used as a way inform Neera’s men to open the hatch and get them in. Given there’s a rotating patrol waiting for them on the other side, it worked well for them in the past.

  Magpie glanced eye on Kill Team Torch, no doubt they had questions they needed answers for.

  “I know you three have questions, but it’ll have to wait till we reach safety. My boss, Halberd, will answer all you have in mind Anything else?” Magpie made her statement, then she was met with a hug from her sister.

  She accepted it, and returned the gesture. They both let go.

  “Ugh, I’m sorry for that. It’s just… I missed you.” Raven chuckled sheepishly.

  Magpie nodded, thankful for the sentimentality. “So, how’s things at home?” She asked.

  “Well, I managed to pinpoint…” Raven couldn’t speak further when a huge sound came and the group felt the gust of wind from a green-clad dropship. When they sighted it, it

  [And where do you think you’re going, Imperium Dogs?] Malice shouted from the dropship’s speaker. Smoke dispersed around them, Malice’s soldiers were coming in.

  “Shit!” Hammer hissed.

  “Come on, Dean and Herlv. Open up already!” Case muttered under her breath. The hatch opened, and both Dean and Herlv gestured them to go.

  “Go, go, go, go, go!” Case shouted, as she ran inside to the tunnel. Magpie followed, then Hammer, and Knob. But when Knob saw Raven, she was being held by the mercs.

  “Raven!” Knob shouted to her.

  “Ugh, let go!” Raven shouted, then she heard. “Knob, get out of there!”

  “No, I’m going to rescue you.” Knob protested, and attempted. But Herlv stopped her in her tracks while Dean shot down a few mercs.

  “God dammit, Knob. Get out of here, now! That’s an order!” Raven ordered, and felt punches on her stomach.

  The hatch closed, but Knob tried to leave.

  “Raven! RAVEN!” She shouted to her CO and friend. Case and Herlv grabbed her, forcing her to move with them

  “Get off me!” Knob’s voice shook.

  “No! Not so you get yourselves killed, Schmitt.” Case shouted to her.

  “Goddammit, Case! Let! Me! Go!” She was still resisting. “Do you want to end up like Wind and Ice? A corpse mangled and displayed like a trophy?” Case shouted at her again, then felt Knob’s resistance dying down

  Both Case and Helrv let her go, then Knob fell on her knees. She punched the ground twice.

  “Dammit. Dammit!” Knob shouted. She felt a hand on her shoulder, and shifted her eyes to see Hammer, gesturing her to move forward.

  It was undeniable. Kill Team Torch’s leader; Agent Anya “Raven” Hawkins, was taken by Malice’s army.

  Knob didn’t stop the tears that fell from her eyes.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Port A-22, Quadrant A, Abaddon Station, Tartarus Sectors

  April 30th, 2508

  Magpie and Case felt a sense of nostalgia while they relaxed their backs on the wall. Port A-22. What used to be a simple hit job became a conspiracy with a lot of pieces on the board. To think it was their first encounter against Crimson Iron.

  Not much news about them in public, but intercepts confirmed that the PMC was discontinued following the Eridani shitshow. What remained of CI, Magpie and Case didn’t know. But they safely bet that Charybdis Network Group have taken matters on the organization.

  However, the nostalgia washed away when the reality hit them that Raven was captured by Malice’s men during the escape. They couldn’t blame Knob nor Hammer for currently feeling despondent. She’s their team leader, no wonder their morale was currently low.

  “Why did she have to do this? Why?” Knob asked, her voice still shaking from the ordeal.

  Magpie wished she could say something to Agent Helga “Knob” Schmitt. Comfort her. Anything. But she couldn’t even find the words.

  “And why couldn’t you do anything, Magpie?” Knob stood up, then moved towards the FSR agent. Magpie felt closer than ever to the SSB agent, her blue eyes stinging with tears. “Why couldn’t you do anything for your own sister? Your family? What kind of sister are you?!”

  Magpie was looking down. She couldn’t say anything. Nobody could, at least right now.

  Knob felt Hammer’s hand on her shoulder, she looked at him.“Helga, let her go.” He spoke quietly.

  Knob looked around the Port. It was filled with mercs and fighters working for the crime boss, Neera’Vilkra. The last thing she wanted is to cause a scene.

  She stepped back from Magpie and moved away.

  “I’m sorry.” Magpie spoke out to Knob.

  “Fuck you.” Knob spat, then left from their sights.

  Hammer shifted his eyes to Magpie. The latter wondering if he had venom to spit out at her. His strong face, short cropped brown hair, mixed with a neutral expression? Anything could happen.

  “If you wanna punch me, Hammer. Just get it over with.” Magpie

  “No. Even if I did…” Hammer sighed. “It wouldn’t feel cathartic. Hell, Raven would kick my ass if I harmed you in any way.”

  Magpie looked down on her feet. It was already hard enough to deal with losing Racen to Malice. She couldn’t bear looking at her trusted agents.

  “Can you look at me for at least a minute, Magpie? Please?” Hammer’s plea convinced to focus on her eyes on him.

  “First, I don’t and I will never blame you for what happened to Raven. She always looked out for us. Putting the team’s welfare over her own.”

  Magpie nodded, then gestured Hammer to continue.

  “Second, she spoke highly of you even after that mission in the capitol. And after seeing you in the field recently, I think she was right about you. And I do apologize for treating you like shit back then.”

  “Thank you.” Magpie accepted the apology. Hammer did expect her to still hold a grudge, but still continued talking.

  “And lastly, I strongly believe that Raven is held captive. If the dossier on Malice is any accurate, she’s pissed over the damage we caused. And she wants Raven to suffer.”

  “Which is what we will discuss.”

  Magpie and Hammer shifted their heads to see Halberd, Operations Director Andreas, and Neera in tow. They both moved forward to them. Hammer saluted to his superior, and the latter returned the gesture.

  Magpie shook hands with Neera and Halberd.

  “I’m sorry about your sister.” Halberd spoke, and Magpie nodded.

  Halberd and Neera whistled, which prompted the latter’s soldiers to disperse out of the dock. Voyager, Dice, and Case came forward.

  The whole entourage circled on the virtual-table, near the doorway to the customs sector. It had a screen on the middle that can be inclined through side buttons. Knob was here as well and was still looking at Magpie. Hammer looked at Dice, and gestured his head.

  “Swerts.” Hammer greeted.

  “Karvonen.” Dice did the same.

  “You two know each other?” Neera’s inquiry was more of a statement than a question.

  “We served in the same unit I was in the army.” Dice commented.

  “Touching. But let’s get to business at hand.” Andreas interrupted.

  Knob brought her hand up, which Andreas gestured her to start. “What about the asset, sir?”

  Andreas sighed, then glanced at Halberd.

  “That is still on mission, Agent Schmitt. That being said, the Director and I have agreed that upon his capture by the Imperium, the agency will share any intel they have on the asset to us.”

  Knob’s eyes widened, then furrowed her brows at Hawk.

  Halberd and Andreas were aware Knob wouldn’t like this. “I’m aware you’re still angry at Hawk, Agent Schmitt.” Halberd spoke to her. “But I need you to stay focused.”

  “It’s not that, Halberd. I just wasn’t aware we’ve made an alliance.” Knob showed a bit of apprehension.

  “Because it came to us from the Parliament and the Prime Minister just a few hours ago, Agent.” Andreas explained. “They’ve decreed that moving forward, they will support the Frontier Defense Alliance with armaments against the United Human Dominion by early next year. And when the time comes, they’ll send our armed forces, including fleets, battlegroups, regiments, battalions, etc… to support the FDA’s frontlines.”

  The room met with silence, then Magpie spoke out. “Wouldn’t the Dominion use that as an excuse to declare war?”

  “So does the ICA. But those assholes are more inclined to profit from this. They have a share in many arms industries involved in this.” Andreas answered, her tone suggested no love for the ICA. Preferable that they’d just be destroyed.

  “But right now, our current focus in rescuing Agent Raven. Neera.”

  Neera came in and pressed a few buttons on the virtual-table. The screen flickered, then showed holographs of a huge FTL-driven barge in the middle. It looked more like a mining freighter, given it had similar design pattern to other mining freighters. Rectangular in shape.

  “Malice keeps highly valued prisoners in this barge, in the western sector in Quadrant C.” The screen zoomed out, where it pinged the barge’s location in the Quadrant.

  “These prisoners consist of important and powerful people that she disappeared. And sometimes, troublemakers.”

  Silencing dissent. Typical tyranny. Case sighed.

  The screen flickered again, where it showed a simulation scenario of the barge away from Abaddon, then traveling farther away. The rectangular-like boxes, smacked up between a pylon-like section, opened up and showed prisoners thrown to space, then instantly dead.

  “Jesus.” Hammer hissed.

  “Fucking bitch.” Knob hissed as well.

  Magpie, Case, and Dice only looked.

  “The barge is often used to throw the prisoners to die out in space. No zero-g equipment. No space-faring suit. Only their clothes.”

  “But if a particularly important person, like an SSB agent, is on the barge, they’d often be sent to slavery.”

  Magpie felt tension in her body. Her hand shook, then felt her husband’s hand comforting her.

  “So, Magpie, Case, you’ll be infiltrating the barge and rescue Raven.” The trio nodded on Halberd’s order.

  “Hammer, Knob, you’ll be protecting the agents in their infiltration. Watch their backs and fronts.” Hammer and Knob nodded as well with the order their superior given them.

  “Dice, you’

  “What if ‘Cracked’ is in the barge?” Hammer asked.

  “Then we capture him, rescue Raven, and send them to extraction. Two rocks.” Andreas’ answer satisfied Hammer for the time being.

  “Any questions?” Neera asked.

  “Rules of engagement?” Magpie asked.

  “Terminate any Malice’s troops with extreme prejudice. And if the opportunity is presented, terminate Malice with no mercy. The gloves are off” Neera’s vigorous answer made the FSR Agents, Dice, Voyager, and the Kill Team whoop in enthusiasm.

  “Get some rest. The show will kick off by morning time tomorrow. Dismissed” Halberd saluted, then gestured the rest to take their leave, and so they did.

  “There’s no morning time in Abaddon, Erckens.” Neera sniped.

  “It does on my watch, so I have a point.” Halberd counter-argued.

  “Typical human.” Neera shook her head heartily and joined with Halberd on their leave.

  Operations Director Andreas ignored the banter and simply took his leave.

  Magpie sat on a crate, looking up on the space just farther from the dock’s stasis shield. Case and Voyager joined along, to hang out with her and to enjoy this moment.

  There’s so many times they could say it’s beautiful, so they only sat in silence.

  “We’ll get her back, Kate.” Case put a hand on Magpie’s shoulder.

  “We fucking better. Because if I see that motherfucking cunt Malice…”

  “Let me get a shot at her.”

  Magpie’s rumination was interrupted and the trio glanced at Knob, who waved at them.

  “Hey, Ha… Sorry, Magpie. I want to say I’m sorry. For lashing at you, I mean.” Knob came forward.

  “Knob, look..”

  “It wasn’t your fault and I shouldn’t have pinned the blame on you. I should’ve known better than Raven looks out for her team above herself.” Knob continued, never mind the interruption.

  “Yeah, Hammer told me about that.” Magpie commented.

  “So, you managed to get on Eerik’s soft side. Congratulations. Can I…”

  The trio gestured Knob to come forward and she joined with them in star-seeing.

  “Doesn’t stop being beautiful, does it?” Knob asked.

  “Nope.” Voyager and Case answered simultaneously.

  Knob cocked her head to see Magpie. “What about you?”

  “Honestly? It’s like a statement that life in the galaxy continues forward no matter how shitty things get for some of us.”

  Magpie’s answer wasn’t exactly what Knob had in mind, and she wasn’t in any position to pry further. With what little Knob knows of her, at least in her Ranger garment, she went through a lot. Not from a dossier.

  But the way she presents herself. Her body language. How she speaks.

  Rather than ruminate on this gloomy shit, Knob shifted her eyes to see the stars alongside the trio.