| From: | "Brian E. Angliss" <ANGLISS@******.BITNET> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Maxim Raid, part 2 |
| Date: | Sat, 4 Feb 1995 15:59:42 -0500 |
On the internal cameras, the VP is still showing Ripley and Sabre
around, and as of yet, he's not caught on to the fact that Buzz
has yet to return, and it's coming nigh upon 8 minutes.
Spirit: Basilisk, engage the teams. We'll be fully in position
and ready by the time they arrive.....Everyone, they're on their
way.
Outside, twilight is fading away into night and the number of
vehicles on the road is gradually decreasing. Inside, in the
Matrix, you know although you can't seem to see it yet, that
there is a large amount of activity that with the express purpose
of confusing the security systems and people well enough to allow
the two approaching teams to enter the facility safely and
without attracting undue attention to themselves. But something
is wrong on one of the security cameras.... The VP is finally
noticing that, after about 10 minutes, Buzz is missing, and he
appears concerned.
VP: Excuse me, Mr. Maxwell, but where had your chauffer
disappeared to? I know that he left to retreive the limosine's
keys, but he yas yet to return to us.
Ripley: I am afraid I don't know, Mr Skulkin. Perhaps we should
go look for him...
VP: I agree, although it would perhaps be better if I sent
security after him.
Buzz: Drek! He's getting suspicious...Pull him off the scent.
And in another, more electronic tone, you hear what must be a
headware radio transmission from the VP to Security.
VP Radio: Something's wrong. Run their profiles through the
system again.
Spirit: Chris, work it!
Chris: I'm on it....
Sec. Radio: Working, sir. Nothing, they come up clean, sir.
VP Radio: Search the facility for the other one.
Sec. Radio: Yes sir!
Ripley: If anything should have gone wrong, then I absolutely
must be there. I am responsible for anything that an employee
should do to get himself into trouble, Mr. Skulkin.
VP: Of course, Mr. Maxwell. Please, we'll see if we can't find
your associate.
CB: Chris?
Chris: Safe, for now.
Outside, something appears to be happening. In the air you see
something alternately blacking out the stars and then moving on,
but it doesn't appear that the sensors or the radar system has
seen it yet. Make that them.... The cameras, having locked onto
the movement, must be blocked by the efforts of the deckers or
else some security monitor would have registered the switch over
to thermographic and subsequent appearance of four human shaped
objects, white hot against the cool night sky, riding on what
appear to be the vaunted Nightglider stealth glider, probably
launched from the Flatirons or Flagstaff Mountain. And they are
very gradually descending on a tightening spiral.
Sec. Radio: Sir, the cameras show nothing unusual, which is
itself unusual. However, we have found something in one of the
unoccupied offices: An unaccounted for power drain.
VP Radio: Consistant with? Other factors?
Sec. Radio: Consistant with the activation of a C^2 deck, sir,
and we are checking the activity on the security portal.....it is
active, sir. Orders?
VP Radio: Inform Ms. Velli on my authority and ask her for
further instructions. I will deal with my infiltrators here
directly. Verify identities with off-Matrix systems.
Sec. Radio. Yes sir.
Ripley: A problem, Mr. Skulkin? Have you found my associate?
VP: As a matter of fact, I believe we have, Mr. Maxwell.
Security will be bringing him here to us. But as you se....
And the chatter returns to normal inane babble.
Again outside, the Nightgliders have reached the limit that they
can approach without being seen by the guards on the ground, and
all of a sudden several Hellhounds begin to growl and claw at the
air as if being attacked or pestered by something in Astral
space. Which, if MaxiMillion and Micheal are involved, is
exactly what's happening. But the distraction is working, as
guards are rushing from all over the near grounds to inspect the
disturbance, and the team, unhooked from the gliders, drops to
the ground as the gliders, under low power, return to standby
mode for collection later or escape. Now on the grounds, you
recognize Caine, Slash, Hard-to-Catch, and Shadow, all dressed as
Maxim SRDF off-duty security except for Shadow, who is dressed as
normal for a runner. The three of them, taking their cue from
the approach of a group of real guards, chase down Shadow and
cuff him rather unceremoniously and harshly, in an excellent show
of acting and bravado. This, in turn, has provided a second
diversion for the second team to use to their advantage.
Just on the other side of Boulder Creek you see an "abandoned"
truck and then an old Hudson drives by as well, driven by someone
you can barely see, but who has long red hair. Probably Foxey
Roxey. Closer in are the similarly clad "Maxim guards" Irish,
Claw, Diana, and Masque, literally going over the fence and the
mines and sensors on the other side with the help of some magic.
They land on the grass just shy of one of the Orange level access
hatches, rush up to it and wait.
CB: Ah'm almost there....
Masque: Hurry. There's a drone coming.
CB: Ah'm workin on it.
Outside there is a drone approaching. It appears to be a combat
drone of some kind, but not of any common design. Probably a
Maxim creation. It is scanning, and then it's thermographic
imaging systems, or a rigger controling it, locks onto the hatch
area.
Buzz: Hold it.....It's imaging is scrambled. Hurry up, though,
CB. It'll reset in about 10 seconds.
CB: Go!
Outside, while the first group, with Shadow a "prisoner", is
heading in through what amounts to the front door, the second
group pops open a heavy steel hatch and drops one by one inside,
falling from the view of the external cameras and into the domain
of the internal ones. You see them look around, point out the
cameras and the guns on the ceiling, and then head down toward
the nearest Red level access.
The first group, on the other hand, is literally walking through
the facility, led by Slash who knows it well, toward the elevator
and that way down to the Red level.
Back to the VP and Ripley, you continue to ignore thier banal
conversation, instead listening to the voice-over.
Sec. Radio: Sir, the infiltrators have been identified as ex-
associates of Alexander Jackson.
VP Radio: Move him now. Upstairs, my office or Velli's. GO!
Sec. Radio: Yes sir. Ms. Velli, I have informaton for you. We
are being raided by elements known to have been associated with
Dr. Jackson.
Velli Radio: I understand. Is he being moved from his cell, and
an illusion being prepared?
Sec. Radio: Yes, ma'am. Yours or Avatar's office?
Velli Radio: Mine. Prepare as per SP-143.R.7.
Sec. Radio: Understood. Units in transit as of....now.
+++++Temporary Download End+++++]<<<<<
-- ? <**:**:**/**-**-**>
