Agents Universe

First Read:
Desperate Measures - Unlikely Allies Part 1
In the Brotherhood - Unlikely Allies Part 2

11:21 Commander_Lucas_Gustafsson: I made a point of hanging around at 0630 as the guard changed. The Brotherhood's Alpha squad was covering the next shift. I watched as they approached. The man in front was about my size, youngish, with a hard look about him. A dangerous look. The kind of look that made me want to stick a knife into him or put a bullet in his head.

I sneered at him openly as he moved into position. The men following him gave me cold stares. I deliberately hung around as three men entered the large double doors heading into Lab 3, and two men stayed out front.

I spat at the feet of the leader of the squad, not bothering to hide my contempt. Almost hoping he would react .. so I could have an excuse to butcher him.

12:14 Sergeant_Mark_Christopher: I took a look at the guy who had just spat at my feet and looked at him and shrugged. "Are we back in the playground, I'd heard you guys were professionals... looks like I was wrong."

"We're here to make up numbers because you couldn't, like the footballers they get on to do penalties because the normal team can't fucking cut it."

"So fuck off. We're being paid to be fucking professionals. Not my fault if you're not."

11:21 Commander_Lucas_Gustafsson: "Professionals?" I smirk, my mouth twisting into a contemptuous sneer. "Yeah, that was real professional the way you guys let a mole into your group. Real professional. It just proves what I've known all along. The Brotherhood has had its day in the sun. Now you are getting soft. Weak. Ripe for the taking. No longer the Syndicate's golden child... just put one foot wrong. One small misstep... that's all. And you, and your men, are dead. I'm watching you."

13:19 Sergeant_Mark_Christopher: It's hard to know how someone would react to that, a soldier would just take it and move on. Probably not the right reaction here.

"You get given one chance and then you think you're the best there is. If you wish to find out how soft I am, you should try. But until you do all your lips do is flap, like a woman's dress... flap flap flap."

13:36 Commando_Ivan_Usov: I show up in the handler's office, knocking before entering. The handler is a short, pudgy man, with mean pig-like eyes. His expression is as dark as a thundercloud.

He doesn't speak, he simply throws a sheet of paper across the desk. I glance down at it. My guts seize up.

It's a picture of James Mason being carried out of a car by our medic and that big American Ranger outside a hospital in Lappeenranta. The medic is known to be a member of the Brotherhood of Steel.

He looks at me with ice cold fire in his eyes. "These came through last night. Would you care to explain what the fuck is going on?"

11:21 Commander_Lucas_Gustafsson: My eyes narrow. But I don't react. My expression doesn't change. I turn, and leave without another word. But as I turn the corner, I issue some commands to second in command, Hector. "I want at least two men posted near intersection 3-F, covering the approach to Lab 3." I listen to his response, full of confusion. "Yes, I know it's stupid. But the handler told me to watch the Brotherhood. This is how I'm going to accomplish that. Get those men up there now. I don't care if we have cut into their downtime."

A short while later, two Blackguard troopers moved into position. They looked angry as hell, having lost the draw, and their downtime. They took up positions on either side of the corridor leading to Lab 3. They weren't hiding... but they weren't directly in the line of sight of the double doors leading to the lab.

15:34 Sergeant_Mark_Christopher: I turn to the two brotherhood guards outside the door and nod to where I saw the other guards turn up at. "Watch them. Open the door if they start coming down the corridor."

He turned and headed into the inner double doors and looked at the guards there. "That door opens, let me know."

He headed inside the double doors, he affected a look of a bored guard watching the comings and goings.

He had to find the cure as soon as possible, something was amiss with the other mercenary company, they were being too attentive.

16:37 Commando_Ivan_Usov: I look down at the picture then up into his face. I have to play this very, very carefully. I open my mouth to speak, before he begins to talk again. "The only reason I didn't order your entire security detail locked away is because of your reputation and your long relationship with the Syndicate. I wanted to give you a chance to explain this situation."

I leaned back in my chair, looking at him. "You've been spying on our operations."

He replies, with a withering tone, "Don't be stupid Ivan. Of course we've been closely monitoring your activities. You were harboring a goddamned British SAS Commando in your ranks for nearly a year. The damage he did to our operation... Of course we are having you watched. But you are evading the question. Tell me Ivan, what the fuck is going on?"

I push the picture forward, replying quickly, "Isn't it obvious? We do have our own sources, you realize. We heard James was coming to Lappeenranta and we decided to take him out once and for all. George went rogue, and managed to save him. We'll deal with George."

Quietly, his face going totally impassive, he pushes another sheet across the table. On it, there is a picture, clearly taken from a long distance, grainy through the window, of James Mason on the floor of the small cafe, bleeding out. There is no sign of George. Of course there wasn't. He didn't arrive until a few minutes later.

There is only one course of action open to me now. I lean forward, as if to examine the picture, then reach out, grab his fat head, tense my combat-hardened muscles, and with a brutal twist, snap his neck. He falls face first to the desk, dead. I sit back.

Every sense became hyper-focused. The stakes just got a lot higher. We had an hour tops before someone would find his body. In that hour we needed to secure the cure. Failure was not an option. I left the office, quietly shutting the door.

First, I radioed Delta squad, "Gear up, now, in full battle gear. Gather together all the cold weather gear we have. Then, I want you to leave the facility and find a way to the surface. We have less than an hour. I'll explain later."

I radioed Mark, sticking to Russian, "Change of plans. I'll be at the entrance to Lab 3 shortly. I had to kill the Syndicate handler. He knows about the meeting in Lappeenranta. We have an hour, tops, before they find his body. Before that happens, we must secure the cure, and be on our way. Life is shortly going to get very interesting. I hope you are as good as I think you are, my temporary ally."

16:47 Sergeant_Mark_Christopher: I listen on the radio. "Bring weapons and cold weather gear to the lab when you can and the phones."

"There's guards guarding us, at the intersection near the lab where we're stationed. You're going to need to take them out when you arrive." I look around. "There are scientists inside the lab, and since no-one knows where this place is ... are we keeping these scientists IN or someone else out."

"Because if it's 'in' then it's one course of action.. if it's 'out' then it's another course of action."

"Right now we need an element of surprise with your competitors. Their boss doesn't seem to like you.. us... very much."

"Go into the guy's desk to killed, grab any paperwork or tech that is in there, pads, laptop and bring it with you. I'll deal with the scientists and get the cure.. you find us a way out."

Inside the lab, I look around. "The food in here is awful isn't it, any idea where someone can get actual real coffee?" I asked the scientists.

09:39 Commando_Ivan_Usov: I head back into the office real quickly, "Good thinking Mark." I look around the office, and grab his laptop. "I'll deal with Lucas's guards. And I already have a surprise in mind for the Blackguards... most of them anyways. As for the scientists, I'd suggest keeping them in. Just find the cure and get the fuck out of there."

I leave the office, heading towards the section of the facility used for the off-duty Blackguard. There are about 50 of them. "I'll bring you and your team gear and additional weapons. See you soon."

During my initial explorations, I realized that the Blackguard quarters were located at the end of a long corridor, separated from the rest of the facility.

I approached the intersection to their quarters, and the coast was clear, for the moment. Acting quickly, I popped open an access panel built into the wall. I examined the compartment, and placed a generous handful of C4, shaping it so the blast would wreck the corridor connecting to their barracks.

That would keep them out of the fight for a while. I affixed a remote detonated blasting cap, then replaced the panel. I quickly headed to our quarters, and gathered the gear, Mark's satellite phones, and weapons for the Alpha squad. Every moment was one moment closer to discovery.

I began to head towards Lab 3, carrying the heavy duffel bag with practiced ease, ignoring the sneers of the Blackguard sentries I passed on my way.

Finally, I reached the corridor leading to Lab 3, where the two Blackguard babysitters were stationed. They looked at me suspiciously, one of them asking "What the fuck are you doing here, Ivan?"

I hefted my duffel bag as I walked closer, keeping my movements controlled and non-threatening. "Morale has been a bit low. I've brought something to boost the men's spirits." I grin at them. I've got a reputation for being generous with my supply of vodka. One of them looks at me with a small grin, "Fuck, on duty? Seriously?"

I shrug, "Who is there to fight here? Buried under the ice?"

He looks hopeful, "If I let you pass... maybe you'd see your way clear to boost me and Matt's morale?" I wink at him. I drop the duffel bag, and start to unzip it as the two Blackguard troopers lean over, excited.

My movements are practiced, smooth. As I stand up, I have my sidearm, fitted with a silencer, in one hand, and my knife in the other. I send a bullet up through the throat and into the brain of one, and drive my blade through the throat of another. They are both dead before they realize what has happened. Quickly, I drag their bodies into a toilet, and shove them both in a cubicle. I clean up the blood, and make my way to the Lab 3 entrance.

11:21 Drake_Helman: I'm actually glad that we finally got transferred to someplace quiet and comfortable to do our work in peace. Creating the activation enzyme for the Syndicate's new bioweapon is the most fascinating problem I've ever had the pleasure of losing myself in.

My current task is to find a method to store and deliver the enzyme in bulk. I'm nearly there... Once I finish perfecting my approach, then the Syndicate can finally move on with their plan to thin out the undesirables. The earth is too crowded. Too many people. Too many idiots and ignorant cretins running around, wasting our limited resources on activities that make no sense.

This way is better. Cleaner. Simpler. Suddenly, as I'm working through my equations to determine the optimal temperature for the storage of the activation enzyme, a guard ... actually speaks to me.

I look up and over, the astonishment written all over my face like an open book. I've never been spoken to by a guard before. This one is fit, hard looking, extremely handsome. Very easy on the eyes.

And the novelty of actually speaking to ... a guard... fascinates me. It's a bit like discovering a talking dog. "Coffee? Well yes, we do have actual real coffee here." He was interrupting my work, but for some reason, I felt like humoring him. Perhaps because he was so exceptionally handsome.

"I could show you where the coffee is." I stand up, and slide off my stool, locking my computer screen. "I am not sure what food they feed your kind, but I assure you, I find the comestibles here to be quite satisfactory. I have heard rumors that your kind live completely on a diet of protein powder? Yes? Judging by your physique and the clearly advanced development of your musculature, I could almost believe that. Assuming that your diet was supplemented with certain essential fats and vitamins, it would be entirely viable."

10:44 Sergeant_Mark_Christopher: Finally someone has found a way to make me not speak, as it takes me nearly fifteen seconds to figure out what he is saying, fuck that guy didn't really make sense until you passed his words through some sort of mental filter.

"Right..." I say as I continue to think about translating his words into human. "I do actually like protein powder, I tend to go for the vanilla flavoured one, they do a chocolate one that I don't like and someone ruined a protein powder by trying to make it taste like peanut butter, that didn't happen again."

"Protein Powder, Coffee and Steak normally."

I look around the lab, he's bright, intelligent, wants to prove his intelligence, play up the dumb soldier. Pretend to be impressed.

"Your work here must be very important to get so many guards, it's an honour to be doing something important, before this I was stationed in the Congo, opposite temperature, but it was just guarding some communications equipment, didn't have any real people."

"I did GCSE's in science, I got a D. But I joined the army instead."

"Not had a coffee in ages, would you join me?"

11:03 Commando_Ivan_Usov: I make my way down the corridor, nodding at the men from Alpha squad guarding the door. I drop the duffel bag with the extra gear next to one, and he surreptitiously shoves it under a table, nodding briefly at me. I step up and whisper into his ear, explaining the change of plans and the new situation.

To his credit, he takes the news of imminent action without blinking. His eyes are hard, and his expression becomes grim. He's a good man, they all are. They know their duty, they know what is at stake. He'll spread the word among the others and they will be ready.

I turn around on my heels and leave, looking to secure our escape by seeding the route to the main entrance with C4.

11:21 Commander_Lucas_Gustafsson: I check the time. I frown. Those two guards I posted to keep watch on the Brotherhood missed their check-in call. I try to raise them on their radios, but no response. I get irritated. What the fuck are they up to? I head out to check on them. I pass Ivan on the way, but for once I'm so fucking irritated at whatever the hell they are up to, I don't even stop to sneer at him.

11:21 Drake_Helman: I nod. "Yes of course, it is theoretically possible to survive on Protein Powder, of any flavour, in combination with steak. Red meat contains a variety of essential vitamins and fatty acids. And of course, while not a nutritional requirement, life without coffee would be dull indeed."

As we walk, I pass my colleagues, some of whom give me a disgusted look, but I take no note. I'm sure I read somewhere that we are not meant to have any interactions with the guards. But I doubt those rules are meant to apply to me.

"I heard about the Congo. Messy affair. Valuable research interrupted. Everyone forced to relocate. So disruptive. You know, I could use a coffee." I reply as I reach the coffee station, a fancy affair, a bean to cup device. I look at him with amusement. I wonder if he will figure out how to use it, with his limited mental faculties. Still, despite his dull mind, he is very .. .stimulating company. I continue chatting away amiably.

"You should be honored. The work we are doing here is the most important work in the world. Once we have completed finalizing the activation enzyme, then we will activate our cure. The cure to poverty, world hunger, overpopulation, environmental degradation. Every human ill really, will be eradicated by our cure." I shrug. "A clean slate. It's for the best, really."

11:14 Sergeant_Mark_Christopher: I look at the coffee machine, he thinks I'm thick.. I can tell, he's looking at me to see if I can use the machine. How thick does he think people are.... no don't answer that, it's obvious he thinks everyone is stupid, more stupid than him. Be stupid then.

I press the button to release water without the coffee and just hot water comes out, I sigh and look at him. "Sorry sir, can you give me a hand with this, in the barracks we have one that just presses one button."

Play into the stereotype.

"Wow... I didn't really understand most of that," I say smiling. "A bit beyond GSCE Science I'd say." I look bashful for a second. "Sorry... I find clever people so interesting."

"I've fought in a lot of places, there's a lot of places I think should be wiped off the map, half of the middle east for example - why should my friends go and die in wars half way around the world for people who can't breathe without being told how to do it properly."

"So you're making a big bomb or something, that's really cool." I wait till I've got my coffee. "Thank you very much," I sip it and enjoy the taste and smile, slightly flirting with him. I can tell he was looking at the muscles, play up to that.

"This is really nice. So do you get to decide where gets destroyed... or maybe it's not a bomb, sorry I just assumed."

In my pocket I trigger my radio with brief clicks in the Russian morse code, hoping that Ivan knows it, I assume he does, he's not stupid and the spetznaz used to train stuff like this. "5 ... More.... Minutes..." I tapped out on the radio transmitter while looking at the scientist, not taking my eyes off him.

"I'd also give anything to find a way back at those who attacked my friends in the Congo."

11:40 Commando_Ivan_Usov: Suddenly, my radio starts to click in a very strange way. I frown... then smile suddenly as I stride down the corridor. Clever bastard... Mark is using the radio to transmit a message in Russian morse code. Five minutes... I will be ready.

The alarm could be raised at any minute now.

11:21 Drake_Helman: I sit back and watch with amusement as he pushes the button without loading the machine with beans, sending hot water into the liquid trap.

I stand up, "Sit down. I'll make coffee for you." Working quickly, I load the hopper with fresh beans, adjust the strength, and put a cup down under the spout. I make one cup, then another for myself, and delicately put the brew in front of him.

He was so stupid. But he had the right attitude. And it felt good to be able to talk to someone who properly appreciated the importance of my work, even though he clearly had no idea what we were about.

I feel a bit light-headed as he smiles at me. He was rather like a less hairy version of a gorilla, but when he smiled. It made me feel a bit of a rush.

I sit down, taking a sip of the dark, strong coffee "A bomb? No, no, no. That would be far too messy. This is not a bomb. It is a bio-engineered bacterium specifically tailored to lie dormant as a cyst until exposed to the activation enzyme. It has already been ingested by a sufficient proportion of the human race to ensure a critical mass of infection upon activation. The resulting primary and secondary fatality rates, especially after the bio-engineered second stage pre-sequenced evolution to a more lethal variant, will ensure that the population will be thinned out to allow us to step in. We will be viewed as saviors, since of course we have the only cure for the bacterium."

I frown at him. "Surely none of this is news to you? That's why you are here in the ark, right?" I was certain the Syndicate would have told the guards about our plans. It only made sense after all.

"A targeted activation of the bio-engineered bacterium is possible, by selectively choosing where we release the activation enzyme, but it is impractical." I shrug and take another sip of my coffee. "Besides, that would dilute the secondary effects of the activation, which would impair our final goal. So, I don't think you have to worry about getting back at the men who killed your friends in the Congo."

I reach out and put my hand on his shoulder. I felt a thrill run down my arm. Human contact... with one of his kind... it was ... so novel. "The cure to humanity's ills will not discriminate. They will be taken care of, I am sure."

11:53 Sergeant_Mark_Christopher: I hold the coffee in my hands as I listen to him, and the only thing that keeps the smile on my face is the fact that in my head I'm killing him over and over again.

I look down slightly bashfully. "Sorry that I didn't understand a lot of that, as I said. I only got GCSE science, but it's good to know that intelligent people are doing the work."

"I may have been told, I'm only new here, and haven't read all the documents, I only arrived last night and came to work this morning. But I was selected, so you're obviously right, I'm loyal to the right people. And I do my job very well. I'll make sure nothing happens to any of you."

As in my head I rip his head off and pull out an eyeball.

Then he touches me and I have to suppress a shiver, which I do, but I them imagine ripping his arm off and beating him around the head with it which makes me immediately feel a lot better.

"I hope you won't think me too stupid if I ask a question. I mean.. when this happens.. do we all get a cure... I mean.. shouldn't we have that now, to make sure we're safe when your plan goes into action."

"I'll be glad when those people are dead though, I lost a lot of my friends when they attacked the researchers." Sad puppy dog eyes.

While imagining breaking his neck followed by his legs and then throwing him into the frozen water.

I put my hand up to touch his hand on my shoulder. "Thank you for helping get some revenge on them."

11:21 Commander_Lucas_Gustafsson: I reach the intersection, and there is no sign of the two guards. My irritation quickly develops into red-hot rage. I turn down the corridor, looking at the Brotherhood men guarding the door to Lab 3.

I head down towards the men, my face a thundercloud of rage. "Where the fuck are my men?" The one on the left turns to me, replying, "How the fuck should I know?"

I'm seeing red as I step up to him and grab the front of his tactical vest. "If you don't fucking tell me where they are right now, I'll rip your fucking head off."

11:21 Drake_Helman: I chuckle as he looks at me with that shy smile. It is so refreshing to have someone who recognizes my talents, even if he is too stupid to understand. Better that than my colleagues, who continually challenge me.

I'm not surprised that he didn't read whatever documents he was provided. I'm sure reading is difficult for him. Then, he asks about the cure. "You mean the anti-bacterial compound we specifically engineered to eliminate the bio-engineered bacterium? Oh yes, of course we have that. We keep a few samples handy here. Although it is extremely unlikely, if somehow our little masterpiece infected one of us, we would of course be administered the cure. I assume that is also true for your kind." I shrugged. It made sense. Someone would have to do the fighting and clean the toilets. "Did you know that I single-handedly provided the final protein fold required to make the compound viable? And not only viable... but difficult for another for another team to reproduce? It would take an external team over a year to replicate the cure, by which time, it would all be over."

Then, I seem to brighten up a bit. I really did enjoy chatting with this over-muscled simpleton. "Would you like me to show you where we keep it?"

12:18 Sergeant_Mark_Christopher: I put my hand on his shoulder, as I imagine ripping it off and using it to murder other people with.

"Wow.. that sounds really genius," I say. "Sure I'd like to see it, you must have worked so hard on it."

Great, so replicating the cure would take a year, so this guy needs to be extracted as well, probably painfully... but the computers would help, and having a copy of the cure would help as well.

I stand up sipping the coffee and smiling kindly.

"Sorry I don't understand most of what you're saying, but you must be like... one of the best in your field... to do all of this.. I hope they're paying you better than they're paying me. You deserve it!"

11:12 Adam Peters: The other Brotherhood man looked at the Commander. "You lay a finger on him, and I'll lay a finger on you. We don't know where your people are. We are doing our job. Why aren't you doing yours."

11:21 Commander_Lucas_Gustafsson: I look over at the other guard, releasing the tactical vest of the guard I'm holding. I smile. "I am doing my job. You aren't to be trusted. My job is watching you. As soon as I find out what happened to my men, I'll make sure to come back and continue it. Eventually, my job might include laying a finger on you... what a happy thought."

I turn on my heels and leave them. I decided that this was important enough to interrupt the handler. I radioed him. No response. I tried again. Nothing. I frown, then walk quickly towards his office. What the fuck was going on?

11:21 Drake_Helman: I finish my coffee, finding myself smiling over at the incredibly handsome ape sitting across from me. "Oh yes, so very hard. I don't get paid nearly half what I am worth, despite my efforts to point out my invaluable contributions, they refuse to give me any further raises. Instead, they have promised me my own tropical island after the cure for humanity's woes has been administered."

I stand up, beckoning the handsome muscle-head to follow me. "That might be acceptable. The diversity of flora and fauna on a tropical island would provide me with innumerable specimens to study."

I take him down a side corridor to a small door with a red bio hazard symbol on it. I enter the access code, and the door slides open, revealing a shelf holding a series of canisters, about the size of a can of deodorant.

"It's not much to look at, but you would not believe..." nor understand I thought to myself "..the work that I put into developing this compound."

13:10 Sergeant_Mark_Christopher: I look into the small cupboard. "Oh I would... the Nazi's had a similar idea... I didn't like that much either."

It's only a couple of seconds after that that I hit him with the butt of my gun on the back of the head hard enough to render him unconscious. "The science of pressure points is well known to me."

I load up my jacket with cans from the cupboard making sure none were left in there. That should delay any repercussions.

I activate my radio. "Ivan... I have it... change of plan... we need to bring a scientist with us, in case the cure can't be replicated. I've got him... but they're going to know he's missing."

"We need to leave now."

"Alpha squad, get all your weapons on and ready to leave. We can't allow the scientists remaining in that lab to redo the work, eliminate them, I'm on my way back."

13:34 Commando_Ivan_Usov: I stand near the exit as Delta squad radios me, "Ivan, we think we have found a way to the surface... but it's going to be messy. We have found a spot where the ice is only about 3 meters thick. We can blow a hole in it, but we aren't sure what it's going to do to the surrounding ice formations. It might get very messy."

I nod, "Do your best, Anastasios. We don't have time to be subtle. Plant the charges and try to stay out of sight."

Then, a moment later, I hear Mark's voice. I take in the news.. It makes sense. "Then, it is time to start." I hit a button ... and the corridor leading to the Blackguard's barracks is turned to slag in an instant.

11:21 Commander_Lucas_Gustafsson: I open the door to the handler's office. I step inside, and go very quiet. There, laid out on the desk, his head at a very unnatural angle, lay the handler. He was dead very, very dead. So... the Brotherhood of Steel has decided to bite the hand that feeds it. Very good. I smile. Time for them to die. I bring out my radio, using the special channel to the Syndicate high command. They are here, in this facility.

I inform them of what I have discovered. And then I get the order I was praying for. Kill them all. Leave none of them alive. But ... first, I am to secure Lab 3. Quietly and unobtrusively. I agree. I will put together a squad from our off duty men.

Suddenly, the entire facility is rocked by an explosion, the lights flicker, then stabilize. Outside, I hear the groaning, rending sound of ice breaking. The facility shifts again, then stabilizes. Fuck me... those Brotherhood bastards are goddamned insane.

I radio my second in command. No answer. I frown. Then raise the next in line. He responds in a panic, "Lucas.. there was a fucking explosion... it ripped the corridor leading from our barracks to the main facility apart. We are fucking trapped in the barracks, and the ice.. it's making wierd noises. Holy shit... " I can hear sounds of screaming, men panicking... "WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON?" He answers... "Water... we are... fucking sinking.. FUCK ME FUCK.."

There were about 50 men in the barracks... I wanted to scream. It was time. Time to go hot. I switched my radio over to intercom mode, to address the entire base. The ship to do things subtly had sailed. "All Blackguard personnel, you are ordered to kill any and all members of the Brotherhood of Steel on sight."

I headed off towards Lab 3. Time to get my hands dirty. They were going to pay. 50 of my men ... they were going to fucking pay in blood. This was war. I snarled out another command, to the teams guarding Lab 1. "Meet me at the entrance to Lab 3." Then, another command to the team guarding Lab 2. "Head to the Brotherhood barracks, kill everyone there."

10:55 Jose_Souza: I turned to look at Adam, nodding. I opened up the duffel bag, and supplemented my armaments, grabbing out some Russian made assault rifles, and strapping one over my shoulder.

The entire base suddenly shakes, rocked by an explosion, the sound of rending ice echoing through the steel coffin we were in. Ivan's work, no doubt.

When I had first heard of the Syndicate's insane plan... I had checked on my family in Rio De Janeiro, told them to head somewhere isolated, somewhere safe. But now... finally, it was time to kill these mother fuckers. Infect my family? Let's see them infect anyone after they were dead.

Then, I heard Lucas's voice blaring over the loudspeakers... Well. Time for battle. I burst into the Lab, tossing assault rifles to the other three men on the inside, then, as one, we turn towards the astonished researchers, and begin gunning them down.

13:53 Sergeant_Mark_Christopher: I enter through the dead bodies of the scientists and toss the scientist I have to Adam. "He has to remain alive."

I start to pull on the cold weather gear in the bag and attach the rifles to myself while not at all worrying about the blood from all the researchers covering the lab.

I hand one of the canisters to Adam and another to Jose. "These contain the cure. Should we get separated, get them to the government and your families."

I do the same to the other three. "Same goes for you - family.. and government. Because if you just do your family, there won't exactly be a world for you to fucking live in."

But it's obvious I know why they're doing it, and I don't disagree. Temporary allies are still allies right now.

I put some of the canisters in the ruck sack and some on my person as I head back into the room with the dead scientists and step over their bodies to the computer terminal and start to look through the menu's. "Right... just going to tell the thing that there's been a biological breach in the other two labs, which should hold anyone in there up for a bit... or incinerate them.. one of the two things. Probably the former sadly.

I hear the sounds over the radio and that cunt from before is saying to kill everyone. I turn to the other five with me. "Secure the corridor."

I radio Ivan. "You got a way out yet? Because we're ready and we need to go... now..."

14:18 Commando_Ivan_Usov: I listen to the sounds of distant gunfire. My veins flood with adrenaline as I make my way towards Lab 3. I encounter two Blackguard sentries running from a side corridor in front of me, and kill them them both with two well-placed shots to the backs of their heads. I run past their corpses. Eventually, as I get closer, I can hear more gunfire coming from the intersection. I grunt. Lucas is with them. We need to clear them out. Now.

I duck into the men's bathroom to stay out of sight.

"Mark, there are at least two Blackguard security details setting up defensive positions outside the intersection leading to Lab 3. Lucas is with them. They don't know I'm here yet. Rush them, draw them out, then I'll come at them from behind. I have a plan to deal with the rest of Lucas's men, but we have to get through this group first. There are about 10 of them. I provided you with some smoke grenades in my care package... those might come in handy."

11:21 Commander_Lucas_Gustafsson: When I reach the intersection, there are only ten of my men. I snarl at them, "Only ten? Where the fuck are the others?" The squad leader steps up, "Somehow, the bio-hazard breach protocols were activated for Lab 1 and 2. The rest of our men were in the Labs when they locked down."

I start cursing, "Of all the mother fucking shit-eating cunt-busting bastards.. "

I was not going to have nearly the numerical superiority I had hoped for. Well, we would set up a defensive line here, and the fuckers would have to come to us. I would kill them. Kill every single last fucking one of them. 50 of my men…

14:26 Sergeant_Mark_Christopher: "Understood, Ivan. Count to ten... slowly. Oh and stay low."

I go into the bag and pull out smoke grenades and place them in my hand. "Right, you lot, behind me, I'm going to throw these into the corridor, come up behind me and just hose the area down, keep at chest height, wouldn't want to shoot Ivan when he comes and surprises them."

I put the smoke grenades in my hand and turn and then sprint down the corridor to the intersection, as I came upon it, I turned both my feet sideways, the smell of rubber sliding across the floor, heating up as I basically did a handbrake turn as a human, throwing the primed grenades all down the corridor, and falling to one side as I did, thus removing myself from the line of fire of people shooting at someone at normal height.

I hit the ground and roll across to the other side of the intersection and slam myself into the wall, nodding to the five who are with me to fire down the corridor.

11:21 Commander_Lucas_Gustafsson: Suddenly, the doors to Lab 3 opened. In the background, I could see blood on the floor. Out of the door the leader of the squad started running towards us, followed by the other five men. What the fuck?? I shouted out, "Gun the fucker down!!"

But almost before I could give the order, he tossed a series of fucking grenades our way. I scream out, "Take cover!!" As my men throw themselves down, I toss myself around the corner, flattening myself against the wall. But they weren't frag grenades... they were fucking smoke grenades, and suddenly the area was full of thick, dark smoke. Couldn't practically see my hand in front of my face. Then, into that assault rifle fire... FUCKING assault rifle fire... started raking my men they began to scream.

11:21 Commando_Ivan_Usov: I slowly counted to 10, and then I heard the screams from Lucas and the sharp ping of the activated smoke grenades. Now was my chance.

I darted out of the bathroom, and turned the corner. I could see the dark billowing smoke. I sent out a quick warning, "Stay away from the intersection." Then, carefully, I prime a frag grenade, and toss it into the middle of the intersection, darting back around the corner as the grenade detonates, accompanied by a massive concussive shock-wave, and the sharp, sickening screams of maimed and dying men.

14:54 Sergeant_Mark_Christopher: I slam myself next to the wall as the grenade explosion goes off filling the intersection with deadly hot metal. I looked to the other side of my five men... which was a bit ironic, since they were being paid for hire, not men like I'm used to.

"Ivan... let us know when it's clear. We need to get to the surface before I can call the cavalry. Also those bio alarms won't stay on forever. I've given us some breathing space but it ain't much."

"And we're carrying an unconscious wanker." I point my own gun down the other corridor in case of anyone trying to come the other way.
15:06 Commando_Ivan_Usov: I radio back, "It is as clear as I can make it. Run, now!! Let's go!!"

I cover the intersection with my gun. The frag grenade blew away the initial smoke cover, but it is returning as the smoke grenades continue to pour out more. In the distance, I can hear the sound of running feet. "Hurry!! We have more company coming."

11:21 Commander_Lucas_Gustafsson: Suddenly, the screams of my men are drowned out as the world turns white.. When my ears stop ringing, the screams of my men are now whimpers. Agonized cries for help. They have mother fucking frag grenades... I had plastered myself against the corner, and that had saved me, shielding me from the fragments of hot metal. But the concussion knocked me down. I was dazed, but uninjured.

The smoke is returning thick and heavy, and I hear the sounds of feet running through the intersection. There, next to me was the leader of the squad, the man who had thrown the smoke grenades. Suddenly, rage boiled hot in me. I was just another body on the floor to him... but not for long. I sprang suddenly, like a tiger, slamming into the fucker, my shoulder driving into his midriff, blasting both of us thick into the midst of the smoke.

11:21 Commando_Ivan_Usov: I waved Adam on, carrying an unconscious researcher over his shoulder, and then the others passed me. "Look sharp men, we will have company soon." I waited a few moments, the screams of the dying men making it hard to hear anything. "Where is Mark?" I asked Adam.

15:27 Sergeant_Mark_Christopher: I slammed into the far wall unexpectedly, back into the smoke, but the guy was close enough for me to see who it was, it was the guy who had been mouthing off earlier. I bring my arm down and slam it across his neck as he had used his shoulder to slam me into the wall.

I bring it down a second time following by spitting right at his face, like he had spit at my feet before.

12:11 Adam Peters: "He was just behind me boss, this lump stops me from seeing much." He indicates the researcher who was zip tied and unconscious over his shoulder. "He said this guy was important."

15:56 Commando_Ivan_Usov: Suddenly, we had bigger problems. More Blackguards were heading down the corridor towards us. I swore to myself as we took up defensive positions. Gunfire erupted... pinning us down. We couldn't get caught up in a fire fight. We had to leave.

"Adam" I snapped out, "Drop your prisoner, guard him with your life."

I began to think furiously... I needed a way to get past them, quickly. Then I could trigger the rest of my little surprises.

11:21 Commander_Lucas_Gustafsson: As I slam the squad leader into the wall, I feel a savage jolt of agony erupt in my neck, down my spine, once then twice. I'm forced to let go of him, and back off, my spine burning with a sickening pain. He hits hard.

But soon, my other men will be drawn to the explosions and loud noises. And eventually, the bio-hazard protocol will be overridden, freeing the other men. Just delay him long enough.

I look up at him as he spits in my face. I see red, enraged. I lift my knee up sharply, aiming a knee strike towards his groin, empowered by my red-hot rage, focusing through the agony in my spine, as my other hand reaches down to draw my combat blade in one hand, and my sidearm in the other. I'll blast his fucking head off and slice his nuts off his dead body.

16:15 Sergeant_Mark_Christopher: Seeing what he was aiming to pull out I don't defend myself against the hit to the groin, I doubted that I could have moved that quickly anyway, the pain courses through the lower part of my body, mitigated by a cup admittedly but not enough for me not to feel the pain, he's reaching for something which is the more dangerous thing, so I take the hit, falling forward onto him, the pain running through my legs now as I grab both of his arms and lock them with my own, slamming my head forward in a vicious headbutt.

12:12 Adam Peters: Adam looks at Ivan. "The SAS guy gave us all bottles with the cure in, we don't need him." It wasn't that Adam wanted to leave him behind he was just stating a fact, getting this out was more important. "He said we should get it to our families and a government if we do."

Unfortunately he didn't know that Mark was the only one who knew the sat phone frequencies for the British ship.

16:27 Commando_Ivan_Usov: I look over at Adam, "The prisoner Adam, guard the fucking prisoner. He knows how to make more of the cure. Mark can take care of himself." Ivan hoped he could. More gunfire bursts out. Because if not... I might have to take a very large risk. I had prepared explosives lining the route I'd mapped out towards the main exit... I might have to detonate the first one, which was not far from the position of the attacking Blackguards... and trust to luck that we could bypass it. Otherwise...

11:21 Commander_Lucas_Gustafsson: I smash my knee into the bastard's crown jewels, but before I can draw my sidearm or my blade, his arms wrap mine up, pinning them to my body before he fucking headbutts me. I'm seeing stars and explosions in front of my eyes.

Staggered, grunting, I twist my wrist to point my sidearm towards the bastard, lodging the barrel against his tactical vest, then pull the trigger.

16:41 Sergeant_Mark_Christopher: The sidearm fires and I feel the massive kick against the kevlar plate in my tactical vest and it kicks like a mule but I can't worry about that now, the pain in my ribs as I grab the hand with the gun and slowly start to turn it towards him looking at him straight in the eyes through the smoke.

I grunt out. "I'm not Brotherhood of Steel..." I look at him. "I'm British Army. I'm fucking here to save the fucking world from your bosses."

"Drop your fucking weapon."

12:12 Adam Peters: "Ivan... I meant the SAS guy... we don't need him, we blow whatever explosives and get out with Delta Squad. We don't need the guy. Lets just fucking go."

He was eager to have the cure in his hands for his own family.

16:59 Commando_Ivan_Usov: For only the briefest of moments I listened to Adam. There was so much at stake here... We had the cure... we had the scientist who knew how to make it. If we delayed, both could be lost.

But I didn't even consider the possibility for more than a moment. I didn't even know that only Mark could operate the satellite phones at the time ... but what I did know is that for the duration of our mission, Mark was one of us. I wasn't going to leave him behind.

I snapped at Adam, "Hold them off." Then, I turned, headed back for the smoke cloud.

11:21 Commander_Lucas_Gustafsson: "Really? You are British Army? Fuck... once I kill you and bring your dead body to the Syndicate, the Brotherhood will be finished, and I'll get a huge reward." I grunt as the bastard starts to outmuscle me, turning my gun towards me.

But the shot accomplished one thing... it made him drop his hold on my arms. Grunting, I let go of my sidearm, dropping it to the ground, then, lifting my knee up for a second strike to his groin as I lift my knife hand up, thrusting the blade towards his fucking face.

00:41 Sergeant_Mark_Christopher: This time I changed what I’m doing. He drops the gun so that’s no longer the worst thing on the field.

I turn my leg slightly so that the knee hits my leg instead rather than my groin and I step back away from the knife and it embeds into my shoulder instead of my head, sending a wave of pain through me. But the pain was to be ignored. Be injured later. Worry about it later. Never in the moment.

I pull my own knife from my waistband and thrust it at his own face basically giving him the choice of injuring me further or taking defensive action.

11:21 Commander_Lucas_Gustafsson: My knee slams into his leg, and my knife sinks into his shoulder. He's fast, and well trained. But he's no match for me.

My knife is caught in his shoulder, the blade catching on the fabric of his tactical vest, and before I can free it, his own blade comes hurtling in towards my face.

I grunt, but I'm a seasoned veteran, and once I get into the flow of battle, my natural instincts and talent takes over. I crave combat, I crave the freedom, the focus, the single minded intensity of the pulse of the fight. It's the only place I feel at peace.

As his hand thrusts at my face, I release my grip on the blade embedded in his shoulder, gripping his collar instead, as I lean back with whip-like reflexes. My opposite hand shoots up, seizing the wrist of his knife hand. I throw myself backwards, attempting to use the momentum of his knife thrust against him, looking to throw him bodily head over heels against the opposite wall.

12:41 Sergeant_Mark_Christopher: I don’t even fight against it. I can see the far wall through the smoke and actually kick forward with my feet as he falls backwards ADDING momentum to the jump bringing my knees up to my chest as I go over him.

Much faster than he expected with that momentum and then as I get to the far wall my legs explode outwards into the wall stopping me immediately and I drop to the floor like a stone ontop of my opponent the knife in my hand held by his own hand slammed down straight into his shoulder my entire weight driving it down.

I reach up and pull his knife from my shoulder and throw it away down the corridor bleeding from the shoulder but not caring as I use my feet against the wall to press down on this guy and slam my elbow into his face.

11:21 Commander_Lucas_Gustafsson: As I go to throw the British soldier across the hall, he pushes off at the same time, forcing me to throw him harder and faster than I had planned, FUCKER. I grunt, slamming into the floor, off balance, when suddenly he bounces off the wall like some kind of fucking acrobat, his momentum as he drops easily overpower my grip on his knife wrist.

His blade sinks into my shoulder, sending a spear of agony through my adrenaline charged brain. All his weight is behind the thrust, and the blade sinks in to the bone, magnifying the damage and the agony, as my left hand starts to spasm.

I gurgle in pain, rage and incredulity. No way is some fucking dumb-ass British soldier going to take me out. Fighting on pure survival instinct fueled by my intense pride, I gasp in for breath as he rips the blade out of his shoulder, tosses it aside, then plants his feet on the wall. I'm nearly delirious from the pain, but in some ways the agony sharpens my animal instincts even further. It shuts down my brain, which just gets in the way of fighting to my best effect.

I twist my body to the side, grunting as my core and neck flex with power, forcing his elbow to smash against the steel floor. I reach up with my good hand, worming it between us, as his head is facing my feet, and seize his throat with a savage grip, roaring in rage. I yank downwards with my grip, my combat-hardened muscles flexing like steel cables as I'm looking to pull his head towards my gut, elevating it so it's in range of my knees, as I bring my legs up in a series of rapid fire knees trying to fucking smash his head like a heavy bag with multiple knee strikes.

13:35 Sergeant_Mark_Christopher: I slam into his stomach as he pulls me roughly towards him and his knees slam into me like a Jack hammer drawing blood from my mouth and my nose. That was fucking hurting like a mother fucker.

I raise my hand to his trousers and his crotch feeling for where the cup was on his combat trousers. Standard issue. Covered the front. But not beneath.

I push away for a second as hard as I can as my face is bleeding a lot now and use that second to readjust my hand position so as he pulls me back In since his hand is still on my throat for more punishment. I bring one of the aerosol cans of the cure up and press the injector twice as I slam it straight into his ball sack under the cup. Whatever was in the cure didn’t matter. It would still hurt having it injected straight into his sack.

11:21 Commander_Lucas_Gustafsson: I can feel my knee crunching into the bastards face. I'll knock him the fuck out then rip his head off. He fumbles for my crotch, what the fuck?

Then suddenly, something jabs into my balls, and my eyes cross. I let out an ungodly shriek of agony,my body spasming in reaction to the sickening, soul-searing lighting bolt of agony and pressure knifing through my manhood and into my guts.

My arm straightens, and heaves, convulsively crushing his throat with a savage burst of insane pain-fueled desperation, before tossing the fucking soldier off me as I roll to the other side, the agony in my shoulder eclipsed by the savage pain twisting my guts. I'm gasping, rolling to make space, holding my crotch. As I roll, the blade in my shoulder is ripped out, doing more damage, with tons of blood, but I don't even notice.

15:06 Sergeant_Mark_Christopher: I roll over to one side taking in air after having my throat squeezed. That will bruise I think as I slowly get to my feet reattaching the canister to my tactical vest and launching a heavy boot right at the guy's face. I don’t have time to enjoy killing him right now.

11:21 Commander_Lucas_Gustafsson: Clutching my nuts in agony, I gasp as the British soldier gets to his feet. I have to fight... I force my good hand to let go of my nuts, and it falls to the floor, I feel something metallic.. realizing that it's my sidearm that I dropped at the beginning of the fight. I focus through the pain with a brief crystal-clear laser focus. This is life and death. No time for pain. No time for anything but killing my opponent.

The Brit approaches me, and cocks his boot to kick me, but I'm already moving, hooking his planted ankle with mine, jerking him savagely off his foot, rolling up to my knee, and pointing my gun right at his face. The sound of a single bullet echoes through the hall.

11:21 Commando_Ivan_Usov: I make my way back down the corridor as Alpha squad holds off the Blackguard. I enter the smoke, following the sounds of combat, audible between the bursts of gunfire behind me. Then, suddenly I get close enough to see Lucas on one knee, bringing his sidearm up for Mark's face. My own sidearm is held out in front of me, and I fire once. Sinking a bullet into the back of Lucas's head, sending out a spray of blood as he falls forward, dead, the back of his head missing, his face bouncing off of Mark's crotch. He never gets a chance to fire.

There is a lot of blood, I holster my sidearm, no expression on my face as I reach out my hand to Mark. "Time to go." I press a button with my other hand, and the first of my little surprises goes off, practically beneath the Blackguard pinning down Alpha Squad, rocking the base. There is a sound of rending metal, screaming men, and cracking ice. I realize then... that this whole place is not located perhaps in the most stable of areas.

15:44 Sergeant_Mark_Christopher: I look over at Ivan and then fall against the wall as the base shakes violently.

“Wow.” I say as I take his hand. “I thought you’d have gone off to the surface.” I was a little surprised they hadn’t left without me.

“Thank you for the timely arrival Ivan.” He spit out some blood and look around. “Let’s go.” I take one of the canisters out and hand it over. “Just in case the government doesn’t give you one. Team effort.”

11:21 Commando_Ivan_Usov: "Would you have left a member of your team behind? Though, we must hurry. I don't think my explosives are doing any favors to the stability of this facility." Gravely, I take one of the canisters containing the cure from Mark, as I help him up to his feet. "Thank you Mark. But we both know that unless this cure is distributed on a grand scale, we will still have failed. The Brotherhood of Steel does not have the resources to accomplish that. Your people do. Though Derek and I have serious issues with current world order, we can all agree that a disease which results in the death of a vast swath of humanity is not in anyone's best interests. But this is hardly the time or place to discuss political philosophy."

I turn, and run back to Alpha Squad. I snap out an order to Adam, "Carry our prisoner, let's go." I select an alternate corridor bypassing the wrecked section, with the groans of the maimed and the dead echoing through the rubble, accompanied by the sound of yet more ice rending.

16:29 Sergeant_Mark_Christopher: I take a deep breath. “Let’s just say the government may not be brilliantly happy with you after Mason being shot. Hence why I’m giving you spare canisters. In case somehow you become last on the cure list.”

“That’s why I’m giving them to your men. Because they worked hard to get it. They deserve it too.”

We head back to the other squad as ice falls down through bits of the compound. “I’m impressed with the level of mess you can make.” I smile as I look at him. “Pity you left the Spetsnaz. I would have liked to have worked with you again.”

16:37 Commando_Ivan_Usov: As we bypass the damaged section of the facility, I turn back and grin at Mark. "There is a saying in English yes? About not building your house on the sand? Perhaps building your house on an ice sheet is like that." As the sounds of running boots approach us, I prepare my second surprise. I wait until the Blackguard squad is in the optimal position, then detonate my next one.

The explosion again rips apart the corridor, and the ice sheet once more groans and rocks. This time, there is a geyser of icy water that shoots up into the ruptured hall behind us. We brace ourselves, then run on. I turn my head, and smile back at Mark. He really is stunningly handsome. And ... he has a quality about him... "I may have left the Spetsnaz, but they did not leave me. Besides, even if I had stayed... there is just as much, if not more, chance that we would be working against each other rather than on the same side. Mother Russia... she is not the country I knew in my youth."

17:22 Sergeant_Mark_Christopher: I duck under some broken beams as we run through the building. “Hey. That’s just telling me you’re old and past your prime.”

I smile as we get to the place that Delta squad found. “Please tell me you can get through that ice as well. I didn’t think to pack thermite.”

“Or are you just going to c4 it and we climb out. At the moment. With how this base is going I’ll take either. Or both.”

I smile at him though. “I appreciate working with professionals. I didn’t want to go on this mission. That’s fair to say. Okay.”

18:28 Commando_Ivan_Usov: The leader of Delta Squad grins, turning to face Mark as I watch the exchange. "Don't worry, limey, we didn't forget the thermite." He waves us back to a safe distance.

I look at Mark, "Once our man Trevor sets off the thermite, it should blast a hole up to the surface, that's when I'll detonate my final surprise, at the entrance to the base." I look at Mark quizzically.. "Just because we don't let other people tell us who to kill doesn't mean we aren't professionals." I grin at him. "Sometimes we all have to do things we don't want. ... But working with you was not one of those things." I smile at Mark. Surprised at the easy camaraderie that has grown between us.

Then, Trevor detonates the thermite, the carefully placed thermite charges flaring to life. These are the non-explosive variety, but the sudden surge of heat causes superheated steam from vaporized ice to contact the surrounding frozen ice in a rather explosive thermal exchange. Suddenly, as we stand well back, we can see daylight up above.

That's when I hit the final detonator on the entrance to the facility. We can all see the explosion from here. The results this time are even more spectacular. Not only does the entrance become a twisted flaming wreck, the entire domed ice cave seems to shudder, and massive chunks of the ceiling give way, splashing into the narrow pool of seawater. As we watch, the ice beneath the front of the facility cracks with a tremendous sound that makes we wince, and a chunk of the facility drops down into the sudden sea that rushes in beneath the cracking ice.

I look at Mark. "I think that is our exit cue." More ice collapses from the dome, and it is not a safe place for anyone to be any longer.

19:42 Sergeant_Mark_Christopher: “Time to go,” I said grabbing my pack and adjusting my gloves and climbing up the
Ice tower. The gloves gave grip on to the ice as I climbed up, holding onto the fissures made by the thermite.

When I get to the top I lie over the side and take rope from the backpack and lower it down into the hole attaching it into the ice by ruining an assault rifle by slamming it deep into the ice. Oddly enough climbing equipment wasn’t on my list of things to bring.

I pull out the satellite phone and make a couple
of phone calls. The first to the commander of the HMS Prince of Wales. “This is Sergeant Mark Christopher. Urgent extraction required at …” I check the screen “74o87’56.45by 0o00’07.45. We will be heading due west Across the ice sheet. I’ll leave the signal on my phone on. Extraction highest priority as per government order 97D-A. clearance Alpha Romeo Foxtrot 9736 Delta Whiskey.”

I lean over and start to help the others out of the tunnel.

Published: 2021-09-09, viewed 43 times.