DekaOps

18

Michelle walked the halls to the Major’s office with the morning reports in her hands. She would have had them on his desk sooner but she had to make sure Ace didn’t sneak in any more request forms in. She found two, and the Major wasn’t even in yet. She turned the corner and stopped for a second. Outside the Major office Dan was leaning against the door talking to somebody inside, “You see that cup of pens? Turn it a quarter twist to the left.” She walked up to see a confused looking Rev inside the office. “Hi Michelle,” he greeted her with a quick kiss on the check. “Now move the picture of his wife.”

“What are you…”

“Too much,” he said suddenly, “just move it enough to make it look like it got touched.”

“What,” she repeated, “are you doing? And why is Rev in there?”

“Because the Major would suspect D.E. and Boomer and go to them immediately,” he answered her second question. She repeated the first one again. “The other day when he almost walked in on us, he told me that you and I were not to have any,” he made quote marks in the air, “‘relations’ in his office.”

Michelle snorted, “Does he think we’re a couple of hormone crazed teenagers who’ll do it at the drop of a hat?”

“I know, ain’t it ridiculous. Twist the box of tissues a bit, it’d be a nice touch.”

“Still doesn’t tell me what you’re doing.”

“Going to try and make him think we did.” Michelle let out a tired sigh. “Don’t act like that. As many pranks he’s pulled on me over the years I have to try and even the score.”

“And you say Boomer acts like a four year… wait,” her forehead creased a little as she thought it over. Giving him a suspicious look she said, “You were going to tell me about this, right?”

Dan glanced between her and the office a couple of times before saying, “Of course I was.”

She looked at him before slapping him in the arm hard, “No you weren’t.”

“Yes I was,” he started rubbing his arm, “eventually.”

“If he fell for this he’d be giving me the strangest looks and I wouldn’t know what the hell was going on.”

“You have to admit, it be funny.” He took a look at her expression then mumbled, “Oh yeah that was the wrong thing to say.”

“Very perceptive Mr. fill in the blanks.” She walked into the office, slapped the reports on the desk and left without saying another word.

Dan stood there for a few moments then said, “I’m going to have some lonely nights for the immediate future.”

“Captain,” Rev started, “if it I companionship you seek, I would…”

“Rev,” Dan quickly cut him off while pointing a finger at him, “I know you mean well, but before you even finish that thought I’m telling you right know. It will not be the same.”

“Oh,” he said. Then his antenna perked up a little when he understood what Dan was talking about, “Oh.”

***

“Alright team listen up,” The Major said after called them all together in the Command Room. “Word through the grapevine is a new slavery ring is in effect. A couple of humans have been located off planet in places they’re not suppose to be.”

“Sanders at it again?”, Dan asked.

“No, the Colonel is still safely locked away in his cell,” Pierce informed them. “After Command rescued them they gave a description of their capturer. They found a match in the database, a Rigillien named Vosk. Michelle,” she nodded and an image of a green skinned humanoid with pointed ears appeared on screen. “Vosk has a record a mile long, but it’s small time stuff, vandalism, disturbing the peace. Up till know his biggest crime was pick pocketing. Apparently he’s gotten bored with that and starting something a little more ambitious.”

“Don’t you just hate it when that happens?”, Boomer quipped.

“More than likely Sander capture left a huge hole in this particular operation,” Pierce continued. “From various reports Vosk is a two bit of a con man and probably talked his way into the assignment. Either the Alienizer bosses were desperate or they wanted to see how fast he would crash and burn.”

Michelle took over, “The sensor net registered an unauthorized entry over Africa. From the entry angle we think it landed here in the rainforest.” A map appeared and a small section was highlighted. From what I can tell this area is sparsely populated, but a few scientific studies are being done right now, some without any immediate way to contact the outside. Plenty of opportunities to nab somebody who’s not going to be missed for a few days. “

“I’d personally say time is of the essence here so launch now,” the Major told them.

“Rodger,” they saluted.

As they were leaving Ace said, “The guy better hope he doesn’t try anything,” she looked at Dan and stressed, “funny.”

He stopped and looked at Michelle before saying, “Best friends, or course they talked.” As he exited the room the Major thought he heard him mumble, “This is why I had that rule to begin with.”

Major Pierce glanced over to Michelle, “You guys hit a bump in the road?”

“Just caught him doing something stupid,” she told him. “Basically he was being a guy.”

“Ah, the all purpose reason,” he said. “You can look at me all you want, but I’ve been married long enough to know that much.”

***

Before they left Ace assured him she wouldn’t act like he made Michelle angry while they were on the job. Dan got the feeling the trip home would be a different story. So better get his talking with the apparently non mad Ace in while he could.

The SPD orbital satellites were having a hard time picking out individual life signs underneath the dense canopy of the tree tops. The Major was hoping the Shepard sensor package would have a better time of it at a closer range.  Dan turned to Rev, “Can you make out what’s what done there?”

“Yes,” he answered, “But so far I’m not detecting any human or humanoid life signs as of yet.”

“Maybe we should do a two party search,” Ace offered. “One of from the air and one from the ground. It could make things go quicker. I saw a clearing over there that would make a perfect hot drop point.”

“You sure you just don’t want to test the Hounds in this type of environment,” D.E. teased.

“I do believe we have a volunteer,” she said with a half smile.

Dan nodded, “Rev go with him.”

“Rodger,” Rev said as they got up and headed for the cargo hold.

Ace changed course and lowered their altitude. “Approaching hot drop height and speed,” she announced. “Hot dropping in three… two… one now!” Underneath the ship by each wing a panel opened and two black and white motorcycles fell to the ground. After they landed D.E quickly pointed out a path that looked like it could accommodate vehicles and they headed that while Ace went in the opposite direction.

***

“I’m telling you the sensors got a reading,” An Igadroid was telling Vosk, who was looked distracted s he sat under a manmade canopy fanning himself with a pith hat

“And I keep telling ya the sensor are wrong,” he said irritably. “It is slagging hot around here. Why did I want come here again?”

“Because you convinced the bosses that this would be the best place to acquire new slaves without being noticed.” It turned a data pad in it’s hand around so he could read the display himself,” We’re behind quota incase you weren’t aware.”

“Don’t get your circuits in a bunch,” he dismissed the robot. “If we have to we’ll get some of those, watta ya call them… gorillas and shave them or something. Nobody will know the difference.”

“Human are starting to be recognized as one of the more somewhat intelligent species,” the Igadroid informed him. “People will note the difference.”

“Then we’ll sell them to the dumber clients,” he shot out of the chair. “This wasn’t supposed to be this hard. Gather up a few humans and ship them out to whoever wanted them. Human slaves fetch top credits in the right sector you know. Easy money all the way to the bank.”

“Humans don’t earn any more credits than any other species,” it informed Vosk.

“That’s because human haven’t packaged the right way yet. It’s what everything comes down too, the right angle. Ya have to know the right bait for the hook.” He headed for the sensor and looked at it, “So what this so called anomaly?” Turning to the Igadroid he demanded, “You’re the one who dragged me all the way over here so show me the stupid thing.” Vosk slapped his hand against the side or the sensor before the Igadroid stopped him.

“The readout I was talking about is over here,” the Igadroid went to a separate senor screen. Punching something in on the control a readout appeared that quickly repeated itself.

Vosk looked at the readout for a long time. “So what is it?”. Thinking quickly he added, “I know what I’m seeing but I what to make sure we’re seeing the same thing.”

The Igadroid stared at him for a second before answering, “Two metallic objects were detected briefly before dropping below sensor range.”

“Say what now?”

“They dropped from midair.”

“Why didn’t ya say so,” he snapped. Walking past him to the communication array he switched to wideband transmission and grabbed the microphone. “Listen up whoever you are. Ya just don’t appear out of nowhere and try to horn in on my operation. Ya want to impress the bosses do it somewhere else!” Slamming the microphone down he said to the Igadroid, “Ya have ta show these wanna bes whose boss.”

As Vosk went back to his chair the Igadroid muttered, “Idiot.”

***

“Well that took a set,” Ace commented as she held the Shepard in a holding pattern over the jungle.

“Boomer did you get a lock on that transmission?”, Dan asked.

“Like he lit up a Christmas tree,” Boomer confirmed. “I haven’t seen anything that easy to locate since… ever.”

“Ops2 to Machine Shepard,” D.E. called. “Did you guys get a weird transmission?”

“We got it,” Dan sighed. “Boomer will give you his location. We’ll come in on…”

“Ah… Cap,” Boomer cut in, “you’re not going to believe this.”

“Let D.E and Rev hear it too,” he told him. “If they’re not already.”

“Yo,” Vosk called out, “whoever out there listen up. I’ve been thinking things over. Maybe we can work together or something. I could use a little more brawn around here. Whatta ya say?”

Dan motioned to open the link, “What’s in it for us?”

“A part of the profits,” Vosk answered. “Not a big part, I mean this is my operation and I’d be the boss so I’d get a larger cut.”

“Why would I agree to something like that?”

“I already know the territory and I got a couple of loads off already.”

“You’re finding that many humans out here in the middle of nowhere?”

“Oh loads,” he said. Then he added, “a couple of them tried to say they were ‘scientists’,” he laughed out loud. “Like a human can be that smart, ya know what I’m saying?”

“I said human…,” a new voice started before it was cut off.

“Shadup! Ya say what I program ya to say.” There was a few moments of silence then Vosk spoke again, “Igadroids, sometime I think they made them waaaay too smart, ya know what I mean?”

“That’s why I never use them.” Dan said nothing for a few moments trying to look like he was thinking things over. “How about we meet up, negotiate terms and such.”

“A businessman, I like that. I know this little clearing. I’ll have my robot send you the location.”

Boomer indicated they received the co-ordinates. “Ok, we’ll meet you there, say an earth half hour?”

“How long is that?”, he said to somebody. “Oh yeah I can do that. Look foreword to doing business with you.”

“Right see you then,” Dan ran his hand across his throat and Boomer closed the link.

“So I guess we’re not rushing in?”, D.E asked over his License.

“He already knows somebody here, he could expect somebody to come at him,” Dan explained. “He could beef up security around his camp. This way we can make him think he’s in control. Besides,” he added with a grin, “he doesn’t know how many of us are here.”

“I smell a plan,” Ace chimed in.

***

Vosk paced around the edge of the clearing by his Igadroid impatiently. He kept looking at the field with growing anger. “Were are these morons, I hate dealing with amateurs.” Before long the Igadroid picked something that wasn’t there before, a jet. It flew over their heads as Vosk ducked. Without an order the Igadroid tossed a grenade and group of Anaroids formed. As the black and white jet landed with its rear section toward them Vosk could just make out the symbol on one of the tail fins, “Crud SPD.”

The anaroids took position as the ramp lowered and the three inside walked out. Ace looked around and whistled, “Ten Anaroids and an Igadroid, impressive.”

“Wha… what are you doing here?”, Vosk asked hiding a little behind the Igadroid. “Oh slag black badges.”

“I thought we were going to do business?”, Dan said.

Vosk got a little braver and talked from behind the row of Anaroids as he recognized the voice, “wait, ya want to do business with me? Heh, guess SPD doesn’t pay that well after all.”

“Actually I wanted to see how dumb you actually were,” Dan informed him.

“I’d say pretty dumb,” Boomer chuckled. “I’m not sure what kind of transmitter you’re using but I think they pinpointed your location over in Singapore.”

Vosk was insulted, “I needed something powerful to stay in touch with the bosses. We’re like this by the way,” he held up two crossed fingers. “Yeah, some of the underlings are jealous at how tight we are. I’m pretty sure they were making sure some of my other messages from getting through.” Starting to feel a little more confident he said, “Besides, ya guys look like the dumb ones here. I mean you’re outnumbered and you’re not wearing your flashy suits.”

“Looks that way doesn’t it,” Dan commented.

“Well seeing how I got the upper hand I’ll be a nice guy and ask if you have any last words.”

“Actually I do,” Dan said while crossing his arms.

A few yards away, hidden in the foliage, Rev watched waiting for that very gesture. Listening closely he spoke into his License, “The Captain said ‘nice hat’.”

Further away with his License laying bedside him D.E said, “Right,” and took quick aim with his sniper rifle. He had Vosk smug face in his sights then aimed up slightly before he pulled the trigger.

The pith hat flew off his head and a second later Vosk reacted, “What the slag?”

Half the Anaroids looked for the source of that shot. Dan and the others lowered there head and closed their eyes as Boomer threw up a grenade of his own. The flash disrupted the bots’ systems long enough for them to grab their OpsLicense, “Emergency! DekaOps!” They were surrounded by a digital field as the Dekametal formed a black bodysuit around them. A colored strip went down their suit and formed a number on the left side of their chest. A hard backpack formed and the D-shots appeared. The three of them shouted, “Face on!”, as a helmet appeared around their heads.

Another shot from D.E. pierced the Igadroid’s head as they rushed the line of Anaroids. Dan ducked an incoming swing from one as he pulled his D-Colt and shot it in the gut. Flicking the switch by his thumb to multi he fired at another one and three energized slugs knocked it down sparking. Ace was picking her shots with her D-Rod, only energizing it when she had a clear opening. Boomer was mowing them down with his D-shot. “Where’s Vosk?”, Ace called out after the last one went down.

Dan quickly surveyed the area and saw him, “This way.”

Vosk ran to where he thought his base was. His hearts felt like they were pounding in his head. The bosses had to have something close by to take these guys out. They owed him something for all the things he’s done for them. Then he tripped and crashed to the ground, “Slagging tree.”

“Hold it Vosk!”, Dan shout out as they caught up with him, OpsLicense in his hand.

“Go ahead,” he challenged, “you think you’re string pullers are gonna let somebody like me bite the dust?”

“Target orders,” Dan said as the area went black. A red X and a blue circle flashed between them.  Vosk looked confident the entire time, until the X shined brightly after it was done. “Eliminate target.”

“No! There was a mistake!” Vosk cried out. “Do it again. Do ya hear me? Judge me again!”

Locking their License into the D-Shots Ace and Boomer went to a knee as Dan stood behind them, “Ready.”

“I’m important ya slagging idiots! I’m somebody ya hear!”

“Strikeout!”, Dan ordered. Three energy beams fired out and Vosk was deleted screaming. Dan lowered his D-Shot and said, “Got you.”

Ace stood saying, “Is it bad I think I kinda enjoyed that one? Because he was really annoying.”

“Eh,” Dan said while shaking his hand slightly. “D.E and Rev should be heading for his base site. Let’s join up with them.”

***

Hours later Dan finally caught Michelle by herself by the field team quarters. She saw him and started for her quarters, but he ran in and stopped her, “Look Michelle, I’m sorry I didn’t let you in on the joke from the beginning.”

She crossed her arms and asked, “Can you at least tell me why you didn’t think you could tell me about it? You had Rev with you for God sakes.”

Scratching the back of his head he said, “Honestly it sounded like a good idea at the time.”

“Well it wasn’t. I could have helped you know. I could have put some of my perfume on a rag and rubbed it on part of his desk.”

“I never thought of that,” Dan said thinking it over. “That’s a pretty good idea.”

“See you jerk,” she pushed him in the shoulder.

“Well I guess it’s a little late now,” Dan said. “And you probably already told him everything.”

“Well he did notice something was off about his desk, so I’ll give you credit for knowing him that well,” she conceded. “But I never told him it was a joke.”

“Why?”, he asked. “I figured you bust me the first chance you got.”

“As much as I hate to admit it, the look on his face was priceless when he came out of his office,” she stifled a laugh.”

“I knew it be funny,” he said. “So,” he put his hands around her waist and pulled her a little closer, “is there any way I can make this particular plunder up to you?”

“I’m sure I can think of something,” she smiled seductively. Then she pulled away saying, “In a couple of days when I’m ready to forgive you.”

“That was borderline evil,” he told her.

“You deserved it,” she countered as she opened her door.

“Can you at least tell Ace to stop giving me the cold shoulder? Rev was yawning like a madman on the trip back.”

“I’ll try,” she said, “but if I can you’re going to owe me another one.” And she closed the door.

He looked at the door for a few moments before walking away. “She says I’m going to owe her another favor. I still have Hawaii hanging over my head. And I didn’t even want anything to do with Hawaii.”