Back in the command room, Wein studied the updated tactical map projected in pale blue holograms before him. There were red markers, depicting the enemy positions still uncovered each being checked one by one. The entire base had been surrounded by then.
The officer from before entered the room.
"My lord," she began, her voice low. "The vault team has begun the breach:"
"Patch me through," Wein ordered,
The comm window opened. The feed showed the enemy leader's office, the room was a mess and in the centre of the wall stood a massive vault. Made of reinforced slabs of alloy covered in old marks. Around stood four Voss troopers, two with breaching gear and the other weapons lowered on guard.
From the feed, the vault was fairly secured taking much more time than intended. The breacher had to be patient, going through the codes carefully. After a while through a careful programming and scanning there was a loud click followed by a loud thud. The vault door shock open, sent the troopers back.
With the door open, the troopers entered scanning the inside. The feed was wobbly, adjusting to the recently lit dim lit. Then revealed was the treasure, similar to the others but still different. From crates of rare materials to valuable documents. All were vital and the partial target for the operation.
"Recover them all" Wein ordered upon seeing the sight. "And make sure to secure any physical resource of interest".
"Yes, my lord" the officer replied.
The room dimmed slightly as the feed cut. The operation began to transition to phase two, extraction. The troopers began carefully taking the valuables inside the vault to a ship.
Wein turned back.
"What of the leader?" he asked.
"No word yet, my lord" the officer replied.
Wein left.
…
Derek ducked another strike from the guard, sweat streaking down his face. He had been fighting the guard for minutes now. The guard was good, strong. His footwork was clean, ex-military maybe. He could tell he was a Shock class opponent.
But there was a wildness in the way he moved, that man was trained not to protect but kill.
They clashed again, fists, elbows and then knees. Their blades were laying on the ground, evidence they could disarm each other. Derek took a hit to the shoulder and stumbled back, falling against a support beam. The enemy guard raised both his fists, ready to hammer down.
Before he could land the strike, Derek slid low, sweeping the guard's leg out. The man tumbled and crashed on the floor with a grunt. Derek took that chance to lunge at him and using all his force kneed him with a direct hit to the jaw, knocking him out cold.
He stood slowly, panting and leaned on the wall nearby. That was a tough opponent, but he took him down. The tunnel returned to silence with just flickering lights, but he could hear the sounds of shoes coming his way.
He had already sent the two troopers he passed to go look for signs of the escaped pod, so he thought this was reinforcement. Which was good, they would contain the guard.
He walked over to his blade, rifle and blaster. Retrieving them one by one and followed the troopers. Still panting and tired, he needed to still work.
"Control…" he spoke to his communicator.
…
Derek emerged from the tunnel. Before him stretched a white landscape, ice covered ground, half buried trees and a piercing wind that howled through the dead forest. In the distance trailing a faint plume of smoke was the crashed pod. It had skidded across the snow, ripping a small trench into the earth before halting before a narrow ravine.
He narrowed his eyes and began moving again. He jumped from a height and landed on the snow. The fall was not too impactful.
He traversed through the snow, fortunately it did not hinder him too much. He reached the other two troopers surrounding the pod. There were no signs of the target but still the pod was not opened.
The pod was relatively intact beside the blast shots on its rear and the scratch marks on its side, it could still function. The two troopers cleaved it open, inside the target was knocked out. They pulled him out and laid him on the snow ground, restrained.
Then they secured the two cases and notified control.
"Lieutenant" they called, as soon as Derek arrived. "We have secured the target".
Derek nodded.
"Good, this is almost over".
He approached the cases and crouched next to them. Up close, the design was even stranger, unlike anything he had seen. The surface emanated a faint vibration under his gloves and there were no visible locks just a simple handle.
"Any idea how to open this?" he asked the nearest trooper.
"Negative sir"
They were just troopers, only lab geeks could open that. Their only role was to secure them and deliver to the proper people. He understood whatever was inside held important data and there was a curiosity in him that wanted to find out what.
Before Derek could speak, the rumble of engines echoed overhead. A shadow moved across the snow circling above them. Then it slowly lowered, snow whipping up around its landing gear. It touched down with careful grace and its boarding ramp descended with a loud hiss.
Two personnel not in battle armour but grey field uniform sprinted out. First, they tended to the prisoner, checking his vitals. After securing him, they carried him back to the ship while Derek and the troopers followed them with the cases.
The ship revved up, lifting higher and higher pushing snow even further away. Derek stood by the window staring outside. In front him were the other troopers and behind the officers and the prisoner.
The ship then flew away, soaring into the calm skies.
….
Breaking News
---Velmora, House Voss territory---
The screen flickered to life in every bar, lounge, home, public square and civilian network across House Voss territory. From Velmora to space station, a red banner stretched across the bottom:
"MILITARY PURGE SWEEPS CRIMINAL NETWORKS ON VELMORA"
A woman in a navy blazer appeared before a digital background of the Velmora planet, the Voss sigil subtly floating in the corner.
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"This is HalNet Report, Velmora.
Breaking news. In a sweeping operation led by the force under House Voss, several known criminal organisations have been dismantled across major urban centres of Velmora. In what looks like a sudden attack, over hundred coordinated raids occurred simultaneously over the past 72 hours. Arrests have exceeded hundreds of thousands, including high value targets believed to be operating in arms and human trafficking, data smuggling and drug trade."
///////////////////////////////////////////////
Footage flashed rapidly, images of troopers breaking nightclubs, armoured convoys rolling through ash covered streets and gun fire exchange.
///////////////////////////////////////////////
"Security analysts state this is one of the largest military purges in Velmora since centuries ago. Key vassal families along with the prime minister have issued a statement of praise for the action. It is expected that crime rates in core districts will drop by 55% alone."
///////////////////////////////////////////////
The screen split to images of the after math, across the planet. From different locations to different buildings and facilities. And then images of the culprits being led to containment sites followed.
///////////////////////////////////////////////
"According to sources in the army, the operation was personally led by the Lord. This comes as a surprise after the Lord had been distant from the public eye. The crackdown was part of the initiative to raise House Voss following the earlier months of reducing mining production."
///////////////////////////////////////////////
The footage then cut to masked protesters across the planet, holding signs in response to Wein's order to reduce the mining cooperates rights in planet Dwaro. As a result, many were let off and their salaries reduced after the order. They turned their attention to House Voss.
///////////////////////////////////////////////
"Citizens for Velmora with the state of things. Wondering what House Voss is preparing for?"
///////////////////////////////////////////////
The news feed cut back to the anchor.
///////////////////////////////////////////////
"Still, tonight, the people of Velmora can rest a little easier. What aftereffects may be, remain to be seen but, the territory is much better."
///////////////////////////////////////////////
Then the anchor's voice changed, replaced by a man in similar attire.
IN OTHER NEWS:
///////////////////////////////////////////////
"Tensions have reached a boiling point between the Republic and the Empire. This comes after the viral altercation between envoys from both sides were nearly assassinated. The borders have been put under military watch in preparation for war which seems all too certain. Many citizens have begun to flee, while calls for more peace talks increase."
///////////////////////////////////////////////
A news crawl scrolled below:
THE EMPIRE PREPARES FOR THE CENTURY GATHERING OF NOBLE HOUSES: AURION TO HOST ALL GREAT BLOODLINES.
///////////////////////////////////////////////
"In what is being hailed as the most prestigious summit in a hundred cycles, the Celetrial Empire has formally announced the Centennial Convocation of Nobles. This is a gathering of every noble house across Imperial space that takes place once every hundred years.
Aurion, the Capital is undergoing final preparations for what insiders call the display of loyalty, legacy and nobility. Attendance is not only mandatory, but ceremonial as it is where bloodlines convene to give thanks to the goddess.
Expectations for this gathering are sky high as it may be where the lord returns to public light."
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