User:Spartan 501/A Life Stolen/Chapter 7

0100 Hours, January 02, 2525 (Military Calendar)/

Epsilon Eridani System, Office of Naval Intelligence

Section 0 HQ, unknown location underneath planet Reach

He was clad in a black suit and had an air of authority to him. He strode with confidence down the narrow hallway, ignoring the many security cameras and armed guards, ignoring the sterile white walls and the rows of not-so-concealed gas ports. He understood these precautions, had created some of them, and was glad to see them in good order. He came to a halt before a silver titanium A door, and set his hand on the formfitting biometric scanner. It hummed and beeped, and a small probe ejected from the wall and scanned his open eye, then retreated into the wall, where it relayed it's newfound information to a master security computer miles away at a secure alternate site.

The pad warmed and the door slid soundlessly away from the wall, revealing a darkened room ahead with a single table in the center. He walked in and inhaled the stale air and swept his gaze around the room. One person sat at the far end of the table, a small recorder in his hands. He sat down at the table, and as he did so, he heard a slight click as the recorder went live. A small green light emitted from one end. He walked up to the table and sat down, running his eyes over the other man. He was an operative codenamed SEAHAWK, one who’s name even he didn't know. And he was Colonel Alick, a member of ONI Section 0.

Colonel Alick spoke, his voice quiet. He knew what he wanted, and even though it was a very risky plan, it was much needed for Section 0.

"We need one."

Across the table, SEAHAWK spoke with a hint of confusion in his voice.

"Begging your sir, but what?"

"A two, we need one, they're to damn valuable." said Alick, and he heard his own raw ambition reflected back at him.

"With respect, how in the hell do you propose to accomplish that?" said SEAHAWK, his voice full of shock.

"Same as always, nab him, then wipe our ass." said Alick confidently.

"With CharlieHotel watching? Are you stupid, or crazy?" asked SEAHAWK.

"Bit of both I think. But you know the risks, how risky those procedures are, it'll be easy enough to blame it on the augments" said Alick with more false bravado.

"What if she doesn't buy it? The last thing we need is her on our ass; she could give away too many ops, get agents in the field exposed." said SEAHAWK, disbelief ringing in his voice.

"I'm no idiot Hawk, I know the risks. But the benefits outweigh them." said Alick, trying to get SEAHAWK to see what he saw in this.

"Maybe..." whispered SEAHAWK, and Alick knew he had to pounce now, while the man was tied.

"Get a flash clone ready, we'll need to have it ready within March 9th." said Alick without hesitation, excitement creeping into his voice.

SEAHAWK sighed deeply, and then responded.

"Understood; anything else?" he asked.

"Just get it ready Hawk, and then think up a probable cause of death. I'll send you the genetic information." said Alick, and he grabbed small data pad up from the table, slid a centimeter thick crystal chip into it, and typed in a dozen commands. Fifteen seconds ticked by as the DNA slowly transferred over the pad, downloading to SEAHAWK's own personal computer.

"Sir?" asked SEAHAWK midway into the download.

"Yes?" asked Alick patiently.

"Who are we taking?" asked SEAHAWK, a hint of anticipation in his voice.

"Number 144, I'll send you his file." said Alick, and he added the personal files of Number 144 to the download roster.

"Files retrieved." said SEAHAWK after a moment, and he studied his pad furiously.

"Well?" asked Alick, eager.

"Antisocial? Ruthless?  Fought another trainee?  By god..." whispered SEAHAWK

"What?"

"He's perfect. Kinda like me." said SEAHAWK.

Alick snorted. "Yah sure, whatever, just get the clone ready. And for the love of god, don't leave a goddamn trace.  If CharlieHotel finds out, were both dead."

"Don't remind me." said SEAHAWK, badly concealed fear in his tone.

They both stood up and walked away from the table. Alick withdrew the data crystal from his pad and shoved it in his pocket. Something beautifully good for Section 0 had been accomplished today. Something that would help them immeasurably.