Day 3 - Silence. At least the form you've grown accustomed to lately. As you wake, you hear shuffles echo dully in your ears. Probably a couple of desert scorpions locked in battle outside. It stops with a faint shriek. But other sounds are still carrying out life's struggle.

You're happier today because you'll get to kill something soon. Very soon. You don't mind thinking that now.


Black Meeting Room

The CO enters without greeting: "Tomorrow is the day."

*Cheers.*

"You four bastards will be going together unless tests this morning show any trouble with some of you. That is, trouble beyond what has been the norm. Other units will be launched into different areas. You may meet them as you secure deeper perimeters."

The CO finally drops the bombshell. "You won't be able to pack any supplies on this operation."

Now THAT got your attention.

"Well, here's the SITREP." He hands you all a com-pad with quotes added by the CO in appropriate places:

ENTRY - BASE DARO
STATUS - FULLY OPERATIONAL
SECURITY - CLASSIFIED LEVEL TANGO

* This installation requires security for "maximum efficiency." To that end, all areas within the installation walls have key coded security doors which limit access to sensitive areas. In addition, in the unlikely event of a total system failure, key areas will be isolated from one another by quarantine blast doors. These doors may only be opened remotely for the safety of the Station's compliment and crew. In most cases, the switches will be clearly marked.

* WARNING: Most of Daro is either under an enviro-shield or protected by high density glass. However, some of the new or less important areas have only "safety" construction glass. Security should avoid engagement in these areas.

For the safety and security of our personnel, mechanized sentries have been installed, which come equipped with AI Module 2.2, and either Slow-Drive "Chaser" heat seekers, or repeat-fire rifles. They recognize and respond to all verbal commands from all station personnel who have been duly cleared and identified. There is absolutely "no chance" they should harm said personnel. The AI Module 2.2 is one of the first to use a bio mechanical interface prototype for greater flexibility, reliability, and lower maintenance.

* Daro comes equipped with a teleport capable of materializing up to 1 ton of matter per second in a range which easily includes Earth. For security reasons, this teleport is connected to main power only. This will help isolate the base and its auxiliary faculties in the event of unexpected power loss._

As you all know, the power at Daro is down. So convenient teleport is impossible. Besides, you wouldn't want to show up expectantly. Unfortunately, considering the sensitive nature of the base, their perimeter defenses are the best that have ever been designed. Unauthorized vessels attempting contact with the base are destroyed by the automated security system. We have no way of knowing if that system has been disabled with diagnostics down." The CO pauses to let that sink in, "We are going to have to fly you in from distant orbit around the moon. You'll be landing in the LZ coordinates in nothing larger than the size of that garbage receptacle." He points to a container that, from your point of view, looks like it MIGHT be able to hold a small schoolboy.

"If there is something," a long pause, "...serious going down at Daro, you'll need to find supplies there. Can you girls handle this?"

"Sir, yes SIR!"

"I want you ready for moonfall at 0500 hours tomorrow morning. Dismissed!"

Survey

[ Back | Next ]