| From: | Avenger <Avenger@*******.DEMON.CO.UK> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Re: RS. Over & Out |
| Date: | Fri, 28 Nov 1997 05:39:43 +0000 |
>>>>>[Archive access: RS102.3447/D
+++++PASS: ********/*****-**
+++++Include: RS14C-9T/43.vid
The camp is organised chaos. Medics tending wounded. Stretchers litter
the mess tent while friends and orderlies tend to the injured. A soup
kitchen operates out of the back of one of the trucks, thick broth
spooned into the mess tins doesn't look to tasteful, but those who are
able eat it anyway. Faces expressionless, their job done, the
mercenaries wind down.
Loaders in the distance re-arm the Huey under the directions of Nemesis.
Grease monkeys crawl over and around the engine casing. Crouching on
the pad, the heuy looks menacing, a slightly altered shape making the
chopper hunch forward on its skids, as if it is about to pounce. An evil
scowling mask covers the front cupola and chain gun.
MacDierning stalks across the camp to the command tent. "Pharaoh, you're
fucking insane. You can't go back in there. The place is going to be
crawling with government troops and I guarantee Mateas has got his thugs
everywhere hunting for us...."
"Nobody asked you to come with us Mac. Harbinger means something to the
kids here, we have to go back. We need to know."
A helmet crashed down on the table, a large shard of blood soaked rock
projecting from one side of it.
"That's his helmet, yes? That's his blood, yes? He's dead people.
Deal with it. It happens." A small movement from Wells, as he places
his hand over Shado's, her Katana partially drawn. Face carved from ice
as Wells shakes his head slightly. "The squad were killed in that
explosion. The burst fed itself from the stair wall out. Anyone on
those stairs was killed instantly. There were no survivors."
"There was no body dude." Gates is haggard, suffering plain on the young
man's face. "No body means no evidence. He might be alive."
"Oh for crying out loud, will you cut out this father figure bullshit.
Harbinger was one of the coldest hearted bastards I've ever worked with.
The man was a paid killer and that's the end of the story... Fine. You
want to commit suicide, go ahead, with my blessing. But don't come the
teary eyed young victims. He was an arrogant, tough, soulless
sonofabitch, who's only concerns in life was getting the job done! You
guys are making out like he was fucking Santa Claus or something."
"You worked with him Mac, we lived with him. For the past ten years, we
have spent nearly every goddamn day in the company of that cold-hearted
sonofabitch as you call him. Yes, when the chips were down I don't know
anyone who could deal with things in his way, but cold hearted? No way.
He bled for every death caused in his employ. EVERY FUCKING ONE you
cold bastard. He remembered the names of everyone who died for him, and
every year he would remember them. Cold hearted? He was more man than
you could imagine, and more human than you would understand. What the
fuck do you know? He needs help, and you come in for a coupla weeks,
then leave. How can you ever know what he was like?" Wells looks drawn,
the tirade has taken something out of him, and he visibly deflates. Loch
moves nearer to her brother hand touching his arm in sympathy. She
looks at Mac, as if studying an unknown vegetable.
"You're nuts. All of ya. Five cans short of a goddamn sixpack. Well
to hell with the lot of you then. Go and die for nothing, you won't
find a damn thing. Whatever's left is feeding whatever creatures live
in that river. If you can't deal with that and you're so desperate to
kill yourself and join him, far be it from me to stop you. Remember
this though when you crawl around in that swamp. When Mateas or the
government catch you, and you spend the rest of your lives praying for
death. You had the chance of life, to honour his death and carry the
name of his team with you. But you chose to spit on his memory and die
like trash.
"You. Wells, Pharaoh. I don't know him? We served together. Who the
hell do you think was his back up in NaNog? Huh? Who the fuck do you
think got him out of there when they blew his family away? The fucking
fairies? I've known him since Oxford, we enlisted together and served
together. I don't know him? You have no fucking idea. The man you
worship as some kind of god, was a government murderer. That's what he
did. Killed people to government contract. An assassin, and a bloody
good one. Civilians, kids, terrorists or politicians. He didn't care.
A job was a job. The government betrayed him, killed his family and he
went over the edge, the loss and the accumulated pressure from years
undercover did the work no-one else could. Why the fuck do you think he
took that stupid handle? Because it sounded neat? His entire life was
based on one principle, and only one. To get the fuckers who killed his
family. That was all. You were just a means to that end. honing you
all into the killing machines he would need to carry out the vengeance
that escaped him. To hunt the Irish bastard that pulled the trigger
that spread his family over the living room walls. Nothing else...."
Shado destroys the table, driving her fist through the wood top, and
shattering it, in the same movement she moves forward through the
wreckage, Katana flashing in the light. A split second later it is at
the throat of the Colonel. "You got foul mouth Mac. I thought you OK
guy. You piece of shit, simple enough. You go now, or I seperate your
head from foul throat." Hate burns the air between the two. Mac calm,
facing death as he has before, almost welcoming the chance.
"You don't scare me Shado. Your pretty moves, your speed, your
strength. They are nothing compared to what I have faced. You are
nothing but a worthless speck on this planet. Kill me if you wish. I
could care less." A signal from Mac, and the mercs behind him lower
their rifles. Pharaoh and the rest relax, lowering their own weapons.
Mac stares into Shado's eyes. "Do it bitch... Or back off." The hiss
cuts through the tent like a winters' wind.
Silence reigns in the tent. Blood trickles down from Macs neck where
the sword presses against the flesh. "He was .. father to ... some of
... us." With a shriek like a banshee, Shado spins and drives the sword
three quarters of it's length into the ground and is gone.
Mac touches his neck, and looks at the red tips of his fingers for a
moment. "Close..."
Gates shakes his head, holstering the Colt. "You'll never know."
"Leave Mac. Take your men and leave. Go now before Shado returns, she
will not hesitate again." Pharaoh sheathes the knife he'd been fiddling
with. "We may need you again one day, I, personally would prefer it if
you were available. These kids have a lost someone they cared for. You
may have forgotten what that's like, but they're hurting, and you aren't
helping matters. Later thay may understand."
McDierning takes a deep breath, and squares his shoulders. "They're
wrong to do this Paul. Talk 'em out of it if you can." Mac looks
around at the company. "You're good people, don't waste that. The man
you look for would not forgive you for that."
A short pretty blonde shoulders her MP9. "There are some things you may
remember about Harbinger that have changed, Colonel. He was not the man
you served with in Ireland, Egypt, Mongolia or Germany. He was changed.
Red Shift were his family, and he was a caring man." Some of the group
look at Emma, with a certain amount of surprise. "He had an opportunity
to resolve a situation that had arisen, and showed compassion when he
could have saved himself some trouble. Do not pre-judge Harbinger on
what you remember Mac. The man you knew before is not the one that died
in the Swamp. I didn't know him as well as the rest of these people,
but if they want to go get him, and bring him home, I will do what I can
to assist them," she looks around at the others. "If they'll have me of
course."
McDierning turns to leave the tent, pausing at the entrance. "Good luck.
You're wasting your time, and probably your lives, but I'll not part
without wishing some fortune." Turning away before anyone can answer,
he grabs his pack and gear. Signalling to some of his men. Mac heads
out into the jungle.
"What the hell was that all about? I mean, why's he so fraggin' hard on
DA. All that cold-fish bullshit?" Gates sits on a canvas chair, his
boots resting on one half of the wrecked table.
Wells, grabs a coffee pot, pouring some of the thick black liquid into a
tin mug. "Mac knows Avenger from many years ago. That is why he came
so quickly when Clinton called. They used to be good friends. I don't
know what happened between them, but they are associates now, not
friends." Wells turns to Loch and motions with his head in the
direction Shado went. Loch nods quitely and leaves.
Tank stands up, spits out of the door, looks at everybody with a
sardonic glint in his eye. "You're sad, all of ya. Little puppies
whining 'cause you got your butts whipped, and papa dog is gone. Mac
wasn't wrong with what he said. Harbinger was a cold hearted killer.
Age might have mellowed him some, but don't kid yourselves into thinking
he was a warm loving person. There was no love left in his heart. Only
hate. Believe me, I know." He leaves the tent, grabbing a control rig
from a bench outside.
"So. Pharaoh, what's next?"
"Hmm." Pharaoh looks at Emma. "You, young lady have some explaining to
do. How the hell do you know so much about DA and MAc?"
"Pharaoh. I am who I am. I am good at what I do. Once I did a favour
for Harbinger, he has paid that favour back by taking me in when there
was nowhere for me to go. He could have turned me loose to the wolves.
But... I have a past that means nothing, and no future to speak of.
Harbinger gave me at least some hope for future days no matter how thin.
I would prefer it if you took me on what you know, and on his trust.
There are things in my past, as I'm sure there are in yours, that I
would prefer remained there. Harbinger knew everything I know, and he
still accepted me." Gates mutters some agreement. "He seemed to place
quite a bit of stock in his own personal judgement, Pharoah. Can you
not leave it at that?"
"If I must, then so be it. We all have secrets. I'll trust DA's
judgement for now, you've not shown me reason to do otherwise. Will you
assist us, or do you want to cut loose? The speech to Mac was pretty,
but you owe us no allegiance."
"I meant what I said. If you'll have me, I will help. I still have
some contacts, I know a few people who might help us."
"Ok then. You have nothing to prove to us, so don't do anything stupid.
Any objections?" Nobody speaks. "Right. Now, listen up. Mac was not
wrong. We are insane. Nobody in their right mind would return to that
place. So, what I suggest is this. We take Dewy's boat and follow the
coast. We know where the swamp feeds into the Ocean, so we should be
able to chart the area and find the outflow for that damn river. I
don't think it's under the surface. From Mac's description the area was
kitted out for a small boat, not a sub, which means the cavern under the
lab was not deep. That indicates that there's an outflow somewhere. We
find that, and start a search upstream. If DA's in there, he'll be
somewhere up river. We find him, he comes back here for burial. If we
don't I do not want to argue with anyone. I figure it'll take us a week
to search the area sufficiently to find the body. After that, we'll
never find him. Suggestions?" Again silent agreement. "OK, Gates, let
Nemesis know what we're going to be doing. He can fly the Huey to the
boat, we might need it later. OK, haul ass, let's get those supplies
loaded and this freak show on the road. Once we finish with this, we go
after Mateas. I want some payback, and he is going to pay this
ferryman." Pharaoh pauses to look at Emma. Quietly, for here ears
only, he speaks. "I don't know why DA trusted you and took you in.
There is something about you that scares me. I can't help feeling that
you could be trouble for us, and that something haunting you will come
calling one day. For what it's worth, you are a member of Red Shift
now. Any trouble you face, we face together. Remember that. When you
face the edge of darkness, we will walk the line with you. That's all
we ask in return."
Something crosses Emma's face for a moment, memory, emotion, it's hard
to tell. She nods wordlessly and, picking up her gear, heads out towards
the Huey helping to load the chopper with the teams' gear.
+++++End Include: RS14C-9T/43.vid
+++++Personal Log: Pharaoh. Whitfield, Paul. RSM. Acting CO, Red Shift.
It's always tough when you lose a colleague. There's no easy way to
deal with it, everyone has their own way. Gates shoots the wildlife
with that damn Colt of his. Wells, well he's oriental, who the hell
knows what he's thinking. The man is the walking epitomy of
inscrutable. Shado is almost the creature DA first took in all those
years ago. A vicious predator looking for something to destroy. I
figure she's taking it the worst, but that may be because she's so
physical in her grief. Blaze, she spends most of her time at the bar,
if she carries on like this, she'll drink Dewy dry, can't figure where
the girl puts it all. Nemesis is buried in that damn chopper of his,
keeps tweaking this, and fiddling with that. If he tweaks it anymore,
it'll be the first chopper in history to break the sound barrier. I
can't judge Elsbeth - DA gave her the name when she arrived, but Gates
calls her Emma, Shado isn't too impressed by the woman, but leaves here
alone, I wish DA had let me in on the secret, maybe I could figure out
what to do. She's quiet, almost distracted, and that bothers me a bit.*
Yesterday we found part of a uniform, Dewy is still running some sort of
analysis to see who it belongs to. So far, ritual tracing has failed,
Dewy reckons it's because of the feedback from the swamp, something
about the whole place being alive or somesuch, I don't understand magic
so...
We had a flyby from Ven air force earlier this morning, presumably this
cruise liner Dewy calls a boat showed up on someone's radar. Blaze
sunning herself on the foredeck may have been sufficient to make them
think we're a bunch of assholes on holiday - must have liked what they
saw too, came back for another two passes. Damn, Dewy got all twitchy,
he had his finger hovering over the automated weapons array system for
almost the entire day. I have to admit though, I'd like to see what
this baby can do, he's got some serious kit built into this puppy. DA
and I used to joke that we were in the wrong business, this damn boat
proves it, Antiques, that's were the stupid money is.
Shado suggested am expedition into the swamp. We've got an idea were the
end of the river is that feeds from the lab. I'm not keen on the idea,
but it might be necessary for morale if nothing else. We've got some
diving equipment on board, and that alone might convince Shado to
explore the cave system. Christ alone knows what'll happen if she finds
his damn head or something. Well, I'll deal with that tomorrow.
+++++End Log
+++++Enb Include: RS14C-9T/43.vid
]<<<<<
-- Pharaoh <05:07:24/11-28-58>
Atg CO. Red Shift
*****PRIVATE: Pharaoh
>>>>>[
+++++Routing CFS 12/1 Deva
+++++Sat Relay: NavSat3245/D232 - CommSat Union21.
IF-1 have surfaced in Chicago. So far, only ODIN has shown coherence.
Information indicates that Bull is solo and in the CAS, silly fucker is
hunting a bug. Canis is on the edge. Communications indicate that he
is suffering from some sort of personality conflict, Orion is concerned,
but hopeful. ODIN in process of transferring to Yemen, some crazy scheme
to rescue POW's. Stephanie's father is involved in it somehow. Will
transmit details once research complete, I remember some kind of stink
in the news recently.
Stephanie sends her condolences and requests that you leave her a couple
of heads to rip off, though she's worried that may be a bit messy...
Hell, you know Steph.
Include: Stephanie.msg
She says it so much better.
In case you weren't awaare, I know how long it takes for news to filter
into the wilds - Chicago containment zone is down. Repeat, CZ is down.
Seems like some egghead released an active astral bacteria that killed
all the bugs, and made the place safe again (yeah right). The remnants
of Gemeos have vanished into the wilds of the UCAS, no way to trace
them, no way to find them. Sorry guys, looks like DA died for a lost
cause.
I need the current location for the Kalahari Romeos, Canis seems to
think that they may be useful in some way to Lynch.
It never rains, huh guys?"]<<<<<
-- Shenandoah <02:32:43/11-28-58>
*****PRIVATE: Shendandoah
>>>>>[
+++++SatLink Engaged
+++++Relay CASNavSat: Houston
+++++Relay CFSNavSat: Dondar
Message received and understood. Tell Stephanie that if she wants to
rip off a few heads, she'll need to get to Georgetown, Guyana within the
next four weeks. She'll find us at Dock 17, Quay 8 - Dewy's boat
"Calahorn" We're going to be indulging ourselves about then.
Thanks for the info, I'll pass on the news about the CZ when the team
are more likely to react reasonably. Thanks guy.]<<<<<
-- Pharaoh <05:29:50/11-28-58>
