16th July
15:37 GMT
"How do you know about us, anyway?"
The Darkstars' exo-mantles might not have the raw power to let them fight Beetles, but it turns out that they're
very good at hiding. So good that they've ordered me to keep back just in case my systems show up more than theirs do while they move into position around the building containing the Reach's trade mission. I'm not sure whether or not I should be offended by the fact that they trust Phil the Khundian, a member of a species for whom violence serves the same social role as sex does in my own, with command of our part of this task.
Then again, given how much violence I've engaged in and how little
intimacy, maybe I shouldn't be quite so quick-.
"Hey, you awake in there?"
"Sorry, yes.
" Concealing information is contrary to my interests, but there's the question of
presentation…
"I gained access to a partial Green Lantern Corps database a while ago. They monitor Reach activity fairly closely.
"
I half expect him to make some insulting comment. The Guardians may have made the sensible decision where the Reach are concerned, but I doubt that anyone left fighting Reach soldiers, ships or Beetles is exactly going to thank them for it.
"Right."
He keeps his attention focused on the monitors the other Darkstars are wearing. Ultra-secure feeds interpreted by their computer systems to allow near-perfect monitoring… Still something I could probably set up back on Earth, though the computer would be far larger and the communications less secure. I watch over his shoulder as the group moves past the internal security monitors and personnel like ghosts as they move towards the control systems.
"We're a… Way from Khund here.
"
"Yeah."
More importantly, they're dodging the
actual monitors. The Reach know full well that regular security wouldn't stop a Darkstar, but apparently they hold out hope that it would distract them from the real threat, stealthed detection systems designed to report their presence to either the ship or the local Beetle. The Reach would happily sacrifice what they've built here to stop a Darkstar team, but -Operative Lotta isolates the first suicide demolition charge before evading a scanner- as things stand they're just going to sacrifice everything.
"So what brought you here?
"
"Fighting. Those power rings you're wearing?"
"Yes.
"
"Guardians trying to work out a way around the treaty?"
"Not as far as I know.
"
"So where'd you get those rings?"
"Second one I got from a fight with a Green Lantern. First one, I still don't know. I just woke up and there it was.
"
He nods. "I met my first wife like that."
"Which?
"
"
Both! Which was awkward, because I hadn't actually
killed her husband!" He turns to look at me, grinning. "Eh? Hahaha!"
I shake my head politely.
"Honestly. What sort of woman doesn't check the body first?
"
Operatives Ferrin, Munchukk and Tarant get into position to use their exo-mantles to generate false signals while Operative Dethalis accesses the central computer.
"Yeah, and
that's why basic education should be universal." He returns his attention to the screen. "You get anything from those pilots?"
"Yes. I'd ideally like more information on this species' neurophysiology to be
certain, but it shouldn't be too hard for me to reverse the physical alterations. But that doesn't do anything for the socialisation aspect, for modes of thought they've already adopted.
"
"Right." He turns away and walks towards the balcony. "Come on then. Our turn."
My armour reappears around me.
"I haven't been able to scan the chief negotiator since we arrived. How are you sure that she's
there?
"
"I've spent a lot of time working out how Negotiators think. I don't know if they're actually
clones or not, but they all do the same sort of thing in situations like this." We pass through the dampening field and he fades from view as his exo-mantle's stealth systems activate. I follow his lead and activate my armour's phasing and invisibility systems. "Right now, she's in the Principal Building trying to assure the government of the Reach's commitment to their..
relationship." He lifts off to fly over the capital and I follow on behind him. "There'll probably be a joint public statement as soon as his boss has told him that a new ship is on the way.
You showing up has probably delayed that, because they don't want to risk it if the Guardians are doing something."
"So why are we going there the slow way?
"
"Because if they think there's a Lantern around, they wouldn't go anywhere without every bit of Lantern-disrupting technology they can get together. You know what happens when you Lantern-FTL into-?"
"Yes, I do.
"
I see the clear dome of the Grand Assembly auditorium ahead of us. In theory, Urrigen's government is supposed to be open and transparent. As such, they meet and debate in a chamber that can be viewed from the outside. In practice, the growth in central government function during the post-unification era means that the citizenry only see the top of the dome poking out from the surrounding office complexes.
Obvious metaphor is obvious.
Looks like the Assembly is in session… Phil starts to lose altitude, heading for the near side of the dome. I accelerate, flying over the apex and turning, dropping down until I'm precisely opposite him. I remove one of the Darkstar's teleport jammers from my left leg. Clever little multiphasic thing; I can attach it to a structure without coming back into phase and rendering myself detectable.
"Done.
"
A new party begins filtering into the auditorium, various aides and… The Convenor, with the Negotiator not far behind. And a small squad of Reach soldiers not far behind
her. The assembled representatives quieten down and rise to their feet as the two of them approach the podium.
"Ready?"
I fly upwards once again, extending my arms towards the dome.
"I think so.
"
Hooray for terrorism.
"Enter on four. One-two-"
There's a flare as his breaching charge activates, cutting a hole in the dome and allowing him entry. A maser shot hits a Reach soldier in the neck and another slices off the Negotiator's right forearm.
"-three-"
A third shot hits a Reach soldier's gun just as he brings it to bear, causing an explosion which sends him flying backwards with his chest burned to a crisp. Another soldier deploys a force field barrier while a fourth tries to run to the Negotiator. Phil drops his stealth and increases power to his masers, both hands coming together to generate a shot powerful enough to burn through the braver soldier's chest plate. He falls to the ground, shuddering in pain.
"-four."
I come back into phase, giant construct talons
pulling at the dome even as I grab control of the broadcast systems to prevent them cutting the feed. Huge chunks of bombproof material fly away as the dome fails before my attack, and I toss it behind me as I float inward and release the Praexis Demons. Assembly security storm inside only to be forced to duck and hide as my horde makes its attack runs. They're under strict instructions not to eat anything that isn't Reach, but they can actually deliver quite precise bite wounds.
Phil storms up to the Reach soldier behind the force field, using it to partially cover his approach. As the soldier comes out to take a shot he accelerates, drawing a long blue-glowing knife. He takes a shot to his force field and
stabs, blade passing easily through the soldier's own defences. The soldier falls back and starts collapsing, so Phil grabs hold and slashes his blade through his foe's chest before tossing him back and turning to face the horrified Convenor.
"I got the floor?"
