Post by beverage on Apr 20, 2015 10:07:53 GMT -5
It was a text book operation. Executed with surgical precision and total anonymity. The surprise had been total and all consuming. The target had yielded the briefcase without hesitation after his protectors were rendered impotent within moments of the contact beginning. The mark had been roughed up just enough to survive his injuries because it was important he report to his bosses exactly what had happened.
Removing their Bravestar disguises with a fluid, rehearsed ease, they allowed each other uninhibited smiles of triumph.
Their perfect ploy to foul the burgeoning Fennian/Bravestar alliance had worked down to a tee and as they discarded their disguises into a rusting dumpster they turned to the exit of the alley to meet their arriving taxi. They were confident men, pleased with a hard days work and each was already dreaming about what they would spend their substantial rewards on.
The secured briefcase now in their possession was the culmination of months of surveillance, planning and plain old good luck and the prestige that the Knights Horizon Black Ops section would receive would change their lives.
Captain Vance and his loyal, hand picked squad would be handsomely rewarded with yen and more importantly, the reputation of men who get the hard jobs done. In the cutthroat realm of the security corps, reputation was the currency that would ensure many more paydays that the lowly vice forces could only dream of.
Yes, Vance and his men were at the top off their game and promotions for one and all were the order of the day.
"I wonder where men such as you, so happy and smug, would be heading at this most flourishing hour?" Said an unmistakably Irish voice belonging to a figure who stepped out from amongst the detritus of the alleyway. With a quick glance at the dumpster containing the discarded fake uniforms followed by a knowing look at the stolen case the figure added "and under such... strange circumstances".
Vance was apt to bump the Irishman's head and finish the day but a distant memory from a backroom conversation flashed through his mind and checked this violent impulse. Whilst gesturing to his comrades to stay cool, he affected a conversational tone and asked "Phineas I presume?"
The figure applauded sarcastically and said "Aye, I see that the captain here is a worldy man to have heard of little old me! I wonder if the captain could share with his friends the reason why I happen to be in this exact spot right now?"
Vance's heart sank as the realization that all their hard work and the attendant rewards were about to be rendered moot. Either that or he and his comrades would die a horrible, nightmare of a death in this alley. Alas, he knew that these two options were the only possibilities but common sense would opt for the former.
With a tinge of submission the captain began: "Listen Phineas, you know how this place works, shit rolls down hill, if I had known I'd be stepping on your toes, I never would of done the job! You got to believe me!". His words appealed and became increasingly more frantic, much to the surprise of his team who exchanged puzzled glances. Up until this point they had taken comfort in Vance's confidence, competence and his firm unshakable nerve.
With a glint in his eye and a nod toward the stolen case, Phineas observed, "I see that you've been parading about the NBZ in costumes and taking things from people that you really should not be taking from. Upsetting the Apple cart so to speak. Now each on its own is forgivable, to be sure, but to be doing the latter whilst dressed in deceptive disguises is a sign of knowing exactly to what end one is aiming! Therefore I am standing right here right now. Is that about right Captain!?".
The last was spat out as a visceral growl that coincided perfectly with the sinuous entrance of Attila.
Six feet at the shoulders and heavily muscled with massive jaws that could crush a skull like an egg. The highly reflexive canine was the product of systematic artificial selection for the most aggressive, intelligent and loyal genetics. Its innate ferocity was further subsidized by growth hormones, scientifically formulated nutrition and the cutting edge of cybernetic enhancement.
Vance's squadmates dropped their puzzled expressions and picked up ones of wide eyed terror. They now understood their captains behavior and quickly calculated just how precarious their chances of survival were.
Phineas smiled inwardly as Attila's senses detected a gushing of fear from the now severely off balance black ops team. His adrenaline rushed as the predatory neurons within his brain began firing. His Evolinked brain allowed real time exchanges and synchronization with any similarly equipped Hund. A complimentary Evosense network allowed the transmission of sensory stimuli directly to the frontal lobe, visual cortex and endocrine system.
The oozing fear from the waylaid squad was thick, intoxicating and delightful. It rose in sharpness and mingled with despair as the men noticed their only other exit being cut off by the oppressive appearance of two more giant canines.
"C'mon Phineas, the case is yours! We don't want any trouble. We made a mistake and we're sorry! We just get told what to do, I got a family man. Please!"
Attila took up a position of protection in front of Phineas as he gently willed Hannibal and Genghis into a manoeuvre to corral the black ops team, coercing them into a single cluster. Phineas relished in the accelerated heart rates, pumping blood, stress hormones and nuances of fear that his shared Evosenses detected in the men.
"I suppose maybe if you drop your hardware, very slowly now, we can have ourselves a civil chat. Gentlemen like. I'd hate to come across as a beast!".
The word beast came out as a gruff utterance that triggered a simultaneous growling and snarling amongst his beloved pack of killer hunds as their hackles bristled with menace.
The immediate spike of terror was palpable and Phineas momentarily wallowed in the sensuousness of it. He quickly composed himself and projected a command to his pack with a thought 'All for show my lovelies, they may be of some use yet'.
Hands slowly unholstered and dropped weapons and were then immediately raised to the air and the appeals to Phineas' capricious morality began in earnest.
(TBC)
Removing their Bravestar disguises with a fluid, rehearsed ease, they allowed each other uninhibited smiles of triumph.
Their perfect ploy to foul the burgeoning Fennian/Bravestar alliance had worked down to a tee and as they discarded their disguises into a rusting dumpster they turned to the exit of the alley to meet their arriving taxi. They were confident men, pleased with a hard days work and each was already dreaming about what they would spend their substantial rewards on.
The secured briefcase now in their possession was the culmination of months of surveillance, planning and plain old good luck and the prestige that the Knights Horizon Black Ops section would receive would change their lives.
Captain Vance and his loyal, hand picked squad would be handsomely rewarded with yen and more importantly, the reputation of men who get the hard jobs done. In the cutthroat realm of the security corps, reputation was the currency that would ensure many more paydays that the lowly vice forces could only dream of.
Yes, Vance and his men were at the top off their game and promotions for one and all were the order of the day.
"I wonder where men such as you, so happy and smug, would be heading at this most flourishing hour?" Said an unmistakably Irish voice belonging to a figure who stepped out from amongst the detritus of the alleyway. With a quick glance at the dumpster containing the discarded fake uniforms followed by a knowing look at the stolen case the figure added "and under such... strange circumstances".
Vance was apt to bump the Irishman's head and finish the day but a distant memory from a backroom conversation flashed through his mind and checked this violent impulse. Whilst gesturing to his comrades to stay cool, he affected a conversational tone and asked "Phineas I presume?"
The figure applauded sarcastically and said "Aye, I see that the captain here is a worldy man to have heard of little old me! I wonder if the captain could share with his friends the reason why I happen to be in this exact spot right now?"
Vance's heart sank as the realization that all their hard work and the attendant rewards were about to be rendered moot. Either that or he and his comrades would die a horrible, nightmare of a death in this alley. Alas, he knew that these two options were the only possibilities but common sense would opt for the former.
With a tinge of submission the captain began: "Listen Phineas, you know how this place works, shit rolls down hill, if I had known I'd be stepping on your toes, I never would of done the job! You got to believe me!". His words appealed and became increasingly more frantic, much to the surprise of his team who exchanged puzzled glances. Up until this point they had taken comfort in Vance's confidence, competence and his firm unshakable nerve.
With a glint in his eye and a nod toward the stolen case, Phineas observed, "I see that you've been parading about the NBZ in costumes and taking things from people that you really should not be taking from. Upsetting the Apple cart so to speak. Now each on its own is forgivable, to be sure, but to be doing the latter whilst dressed in deceptive disguises is a sign of knowing exactly to what end one is aiming! Therefore I am standing right here right now. Is that about right Captain!?".
The last was spat out as a visceral growl that coincided perfectly with the sinuous entrance of Attila.
Six feet at the shoulders and heavily muscled with massive jaws that could crush a skull like an egg. The highly reflexive canine was the product of systematic artificial selection for the most aggressive, intelligent and loyal genetics. Its innate ferocity was further subsidized by growth hormones, scientifically formulated nutrition and the cutting edge of cybernetic enhancement.
Vance's squadmates dropped their puzzled expressions and picked up ones of wide eyed terror. They now understood their captains behavior and quickly calculated just how precarious their chances of survival were.
Phineas smiled inwardly as Attila's senses detected a gushing of fear from the now severely off balance black ops team. His adrenaline rushed as the predatory neurons within his brain began firing. His Evolinked brain allowed real time exchanges and synchronization with any similarly equipped Hund. A complimentary Evosense network allowed the transmission of sensory stimuli directly to the frontal lobe, visual cortex and endocrine system.
The oozing fear from the waylaid squad was thick, intoxicating and delightful. It rose in sharpness and mingled with despair as the men noticed their only other exit being cut off by the oppressive appearance of two more giant canines.
"C'mon Phineas, the case is yours! We don't want any trouble. We made a mistake and we're sorry! We just get told what to do, I got a family man. Please!"
Attila took up a position of protection in front of Phineas as he gently willed Hannibal and Genghis into a manoeuvre to corral the black ops team, coercing them into a single cluster. Phineas relished in the accelerated heart rates, pumping blood, stress hormones and nuances of fear that his shared Evosenses detected in the men.
"I suppose maybe if you drop your hardware, very slowly now, we can have ourselves a civil chat. Gentlemen like. I'd hate to come across as a beast!".
The word beast came out as a gruff utterance that triggered a simultaneous growling and snarling amongst his beloved pack of killer hunds as their hackles bristled with menace.
The immediate spike of terror was palpable and Phineas momentarily wallowed in the sensuousness of it. He quickly composed himself and projected a command to his pack with a thought 'All for show my lovelies, they may be of some use yet'.
Hands slowly unholstered and dropped weapons and were then immediately raised to the air and the appeals to Phineas' capricious morality began in earnest.
(TBC)