Stories from the Sigmaverse/The Shot

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"Don't move."

The man froze, one hand still holding the datapad. He'd burst through the door leading out into the alley without warning, and evidently wasn't expecting to find two armed men staring at him. Each was dressed in olive combat fatigues and wore black combat vests, designed to protect them from small-arms fire. The one who had spoken edged forward, pointing a large pistol.

"Against the wall, now!"

As he turned, the man threw the datapad towards the strangers and reached for a holster. A single bullet drilled a hole though his head, and he collapsed in an instant. One of the men inched forward and prodded the body with his boot.

"Didn't think the militia was this far out."

"Idiot was probably just doing grunt work. Got unlucky. Lets move."

The older man led the way, moving slowly along the shady alley towards their target. It was nearly mid-day, and the planet's sun beat down heavily on the small town. The younger man carried a large metal case, sealed sight with magnetic clasps. He looked round warily before proceeding after his partner, climbing a flight of metal stairs onto a nearby rooftop. The first man straightened his cap, and turned round.

"Corporal Johnson, we're nearly at the target area. You remember the target?" Avery Johnson nodded. These questions were insultingly simple. He knew it, and the man asking the questions knew it, but it was all part of the test. Each of them had a small earpiece that recorded every word they said, and would be played back once the mission was over. Still, this wasn't exactly a driving test he was going for. This would be Johnson's final test for the NAVSPECWAR Sniper School: A full combat mission, culminating in the assassination of a target the UNSC had deemed not worth capturing.

"Target is Jerald Mulkey Ander, former SWAT and CAA official-turned leader of the Secessionist Union. Stole weapons, organised violent attacks and had an undercover agent killed. In other words, sir, a scumbag."

His superior nodded, and knelt down to check the COM device plugged into his ear. "This is Captain Richard Mack of the UNSC Marine Corps, assessing Corporal Avery Johnson of the same. Op is codenamed 'KALEIDOSCOPE' and is under ORION jurisdiction. The Corporal is to eliminate the HVT while he is in transit and exfil immediately after. Mission time is currently 1243 hours, over and out."

Mack switched off his COM, and sighed. "Enough of that bullshit, let's get this over with."

"Got it," Johnson replied, following the Captain across the rooftop towards what would become their sniper nest. Their building overlooked a large valley, with a winding road that led to the next town. A normal sniper rifle wouldn't quite have the range to take out a moving target from so far off, so Mack and Johnson had been supplied with a formidable piece of equipment: The M99 Special Application Scoped Rifle, or 'Stanchion'; a single shot from one could tear through just about anything man-made.

"We've got a little while. Let's set up here, make sure we haven't missed anything."

