Whenever youre ready, Lieutenant Jur.
She growled in frustration and then stalked to the SimCom chamber door.
Are you sure about this, Lieutenant Calder? Admiral Gamlyn asked.
Absolutely, maam. Im the best person to accompany Lieutenant on this operation and if I have to go through SimCom to prove that to her he spread his hands, so be it.
SimCom with the safety protocols off. Ensign Skiren sounded almost gleeful. Given that she used to be part of the galaxys criminal element, her delight in possible bloodshed was not a surprise.
Nils nodded. I can do this.
Your call, Lieutenant Calder. The admiral punched in a combat sequence into the panel beside the chamber door. She keyed in her secure code and performed a genetic scan in order to unlock the safety protocols. Had he wanted to, Nils couldve breached the security protocolhed been the lead engineer on the SimCom overhaul two years ago. Hardly anything on base didnt wear his fingerprints. Hardly anything tech, anyway.
With a hiss and beep,
the door to the SimCom chamber slid open.
Celene strode into the chamber without faltering. She grinned at him over her shoulder. Time to fight, NerdWorks.
He straightened his shoulders, took a breath and then walked inside.
He strode right into anarchy. Plasma shots burst around him and he lowered into a ready stance to avoid their blasts. The SimCom had been programmed with an insertion mission. He found himself outside a guarded compound on a hill, and as he took shelter behind a low retaining wall, beside Celene, he assessed the situation.
Armed sentries, two-story structure, one front entrance, back entrance as yet undetermined. The number of sentries indicates the objective is likely located on second story.
Celene ducked as plasma blast shot overhead. She fired back, hitting one of the sentries, then ducked low again. Who are you talking to?
Myself. I need to verbalize the parameters in order to create an appropriate response to the scenario. He edged up and felt the weight of his plasma blaster in his hand. He took a breath, then fired. Two of the mechanized sentries patrolling the exterior went down.
Celene stared at the smoking forms now lying upon the ground. He was uncertain whether to feel flattered or insulted by the look of shock on her face. Clearly, she hadnt anticipated him using his weapon, let alone hitting a target.
More sentinels appeared and he took cover as they opened fire.
His blood raced. The sentries shot live ammo. A shot couldnt kill him, even with the safety protocols off, but getting hit would hurt like a son of a bitch and put him out of commission for several solar weeks. Which had to be Celenes intention.
You ever operate on instinct? Celene asked.
Instinct isnt a substitute for informed action.
She rolled her eyes. Gods, you really are NerdWorks.
He had no response to that. He had no response to her, especially when, without warning, she bolted from the shelter of the retaining wall and sped toward the building, firing as she ran.
He shouldnt stare. This was about the mission and he needed to pass this test, which meant he needed to focus on getting into the structure and obtaining the objective. But he was a man, and a man with functioning eyes. He couldnt not watch as Lieutenant Celene Jur raced into battle. Her long legs made quick work of the distance. She moved fluidly, yet was deadly and direct, shooting with precision as she ran.
All 8 thWing personnel needed to keep themselves in top form. PT was required of everyone. But Celene was more than fit. She was the faultless alloy of physical capability and unadulterated beauty, lean and elegant as an ancient dueling rapier.
The stories about her are true. Shes the best we have. An untouchable legend. And I am partnered with her.
But not yet. First he had to prove himself in combat. Which meant he couldnt waste precious time watching her. Nils took a breath, then launched himself from behind the retaining wall. He blasted into the converging sentries as he sprinted toward the entrance of the building. With his free hand, he pulled a device from a pouch attached to his belt and then lobbed it at the guards still standing.
The device detonated, releasing a wave of energy. The sentries remained standing.
It didnt work, Celene shouted at him. Stationed by the front entrance, she continued to fire at the sentries.
He took up position and joined her in keeping the guards from advancing. Give it a microsecond.
We dont have Explosions shook the air. She threw herself down onto the ground, taking cover, then glanced up when she saw the threat wasnt to her or Nils. The hells?
The automated sentries had fired on each other and then detonated in small novas of sparks and metal. Only burning piles of scrap remained.
A device I built, he explained. It scrambles E-grade circuitry, which the sentries clearly had.
Celene stared up at him, admiration in her silver eyes. It quickly disappeared behind cool efficiency.
He held his hand out to her, and held his breath, waiting for the touch of her skin to his.