"Crossfire Tales"

[Barshy]

Inner Sanctum
Unknown location

Sister Miriam never cried.

Crying was a sign of weakness... a sign that your faith could not sustain you through your current trial. Each tear that rolls from your cheek is a stab into the heart of God Himself, for it demonstrates a lack of faith in God and Christ Jesus, who died for you.

No... Miriam thought. Untrue. Crying was not a sign of weakness, she reaffirmed herself as another tear rolled down her face, the wetness seeming to sear into her skin, mocking her.

This was Sister Miriam's secret place, the "Inner Sanctum" she liked to call it, where she did her most earnest fasting and praying.

During these times of mourning, she hardly conducted any of her usual business, for these times were devoted solely to God. Yet she could not shrug off the duties that loomed over her head like misfit demons distracting her with their curses.

Some of the Lord's Soldiers were dispatched to defend the southern bases against the University... An attack on the UoP would be suicide... Suicide, Miriam? Do you doubt the Lord's infinite power?

The rest of the Soldiers were sent to Morganite territory; at least they had a chance with them... 'Chance'? God does not believe in chance. You never believed in chance.

In other news... apparently some rebel faction was recently eradicated... a bunch of free-wheeling foolhardy souls that broke away from the Morganites to declare independence and stand up for what they believed in, against all odds. Are you willing to stand up for what you believe in, Miriam? Are you willing to die for your beliefs? And your faction is hardly near eradication!

Yes. The Lord has been good to the Believers. They are still a force to be reckoned with.

And now, Lal was calling a meeting of a... planetary council of some sort. In her earlier days, this would've been an ideal chance for Miriam to broadcast her evangelistic message across Planet. But now... she lost the will. She sensed so much hostility from the other factions... Yet this was what the Bible had exactly predicted.

And now Lal was trying to unite the factions. Perhaps to set himself up as the only legitimate authority on Planet? Establish a new world order? What about the prophesied antichrist from the book of Revelation? Could he be it?

Maybe, maybe not. That was not for man to decide. Man knows not the time nor the hour, only God knows.

Whatever Lal was trying to do, Miriam steeled herself, resolving to stand unwavering in her beliefs. She would never allow herself to compromise the truth and dilute it to a point beyond recognition to satisfy Lal's twisted world order.

She couldn't help but feel sympathy for him. Always trying, always hoping, always accommodating the views of every faction, trying to find common ground, and never willing to take a stand on anything. Always putting his faith in a fragile manmade document called the U.N. Charter, instead of the reliable Word of God.

No matter. That was in a month, and Miriam found herself being distracted again. For now she must turn her thoughts toward God.

[Captain Kirk]

Agents Shell and Donovan stood facing the sea. The stiff ocean breeze blowing at their backs caused their prisoner to shiver. The sea was dyed black by the night. And for kilometers hardly anything could be seen. Shell paced nervously waiting for their transport to show. It had been two days since they had left U.N. Headquarters. Now they were simply waiting for the transport General Nehm had promised them.

"When is the transport going to get here?" asked Tomahawk in a partial whine. Without even turning toward him Donovan answered.

"None of your business." Tomahawk grunted and stamped his feet. Shell motioned for Donovan to take a look. Far out to sea a light was barely shining. Both men looked at each other and nodded. Than Donovan drew out a lens and flicked it on. The light of the beam seemed to pierce the blackness like a knife. The light out at sea winked twice. The signal that they had recived the message.

"All right look here" said Shell to Tomahawk "We are going to board the Spartan transport out there. Don't say or do anything until we've boarded. Understood?" asked Shell. Tomahawk nodded. The light of the transport seemed to grow closer. All three men started to climb down the enbankment. The stubby Chironian beach grass bit at their pantlegs. While the red sand made indentations causing trouble to walk. Finally they were down on the beach.

Shell took a deep breath. Was this what an Earth beach had been like. Except he had heard tales of golden sand. Not red. The transport was drawing nearer. So while still in Peacekeeper teritory they felt safe. The cavalry was on the way. Donovan tried to contact them with his quicklink but he got nothing but static. Tomahawk was looking around like a caged animal. Donovan noticed this and moved closer to stop him if he tried anything.

"This is the trabsport to probe team. Repeat transport to probe team. Come in" crackeled a voice over the quicklink. Shell activated his quicklink and replied.

"This is probe team to transport. We read you" said Shell.

"How was the food ?" asked the voice using the code phrase General Nehm had created. Shell smiled and replied quickly. Using code.

"The curry needs more spice" he said.

"Roger that" said the voice. The transport took five more minutes and than it beached. The bombay doors opened and the two probes led their catch into the hold. Once inside two officers from Spartan Intelligence walked up and led Tomahawk away. Both agents collapsed wearily onto a makeshift couch.

"Well we can't say the General let us down" said Donovan. Shell agreed. Than he spoke.

"Think about it. This was only supposed to be a search and gather mision. Instead it turned into a kidnapping. I'll bet the Peacekeepers are searching every corner of their territory looking for this guy right now" said Shell. Donovan nodded. Than the transport's engines started to rumble. And they started to move. Both men were about to speak when a crewmember brought them coffee.

[Cotroneo]

1300 hours
Morgan Industries
Chiron Cafe, Sector 5A, Currency Street

“I’m glad you could make it in such short notice, I know you’re busy settling in to your new quarters.” Raptor said politely to Spirit, who had just walked over to his table in the café.

“I’m just glad we got a good place to get some hot coffee nearby headquarters… I mean the Data-Exchange office.” Spirit acknowledged and swiftly took a seat opposing Raptor.

The café was considerably small compared to most restaurants, making this a perfect place for meeting people in which you did not want to be disturbed. And today, Raptor did not want to be disturbed.

“I called you here to talk about…” Raptor stopped as Spirit raised his hand, signally him to cease speaking.

“I know nothing about Sinder Roze, or what she is doing or talking about with her contacts.” Spirit rose from his seat as he finished speaking, apparently not wanting to talk further on the subject.

“We must find out what she is doing!” Raptor said slightly enraged over his companion’s apparent calm demeanor. Raptor was about to stand to be equal to Spirit, but then he noticed the small group of individuals within the café looking at him.

“We must find out nothing. Do you not trust her judgement? You of all people should trust her, being that you have known her for so long.” Spirit continued standing, but he did not move towards the door.

“She can become irritated and upset very easily. She has never been able to control her rage, like we have. I trust her, but I fear what she can do when she is upset.” Raptor replied, looking Spirit strait in the eye, unyielding to turn away first.

“She must deal with her own demons by herself.” Spirit simply replied and finally sat down, as several individuals watching him caught his eye.

“But, if those demons destroy or kill someone before they are exorcised. She may not be able to live with herself after she realizes want she has done.”

“She is strong. We must let her work out her revenge.” Spirit responded almost in a whisper as they continued to sit in silence for several minutes.

“Time will tell.” Raptor asserted into the ere silence.

* * * * * * * * * *

1500 hours
Communication on Chiron net
Garrote chat Room

“It will cost you my usual price, plus the added dignitary fee.”

“Your fee will be waiting for you once you complete the task.”

“Is there any particular way you would like myself to complete the task.”

“You have full discretion.”

“Than I believe that covers all issues.”

“The objective must be completed on the first attempt.”

“I have never failed before.”

“See that you don’t.”

Communication closed

[Cotroneo]

1200 hours
Morgan Interstellar
Warehouse District 1-3-5 Gray Sector

Seven ebony dressed individuals sat down around a circular table, almost in total unity. There seemed to be a cryptic countenance that surrounded the entire group. The room itself, that they were sitting inside, further increased this cryptic aura with its long jet-black walls and no windows or natural light. Only seven small beams of light that were directly above each member filled the room. The way the light hit each individual, giving there faces a shadowy appearance, could unnerve some of the most sedate of individuals.

“Project Rebirth seems to be a success. The primary specimen seemed to work well during its test mission. Reports of its advanced kinetic empathy are outstanding.” A large man said to no one in particular.

“Do not get over enthusiastic over this small step in the project. Humans are much more… trivial… compared to the real threat.” A much older man from across the table replied, with a soft overtone.

“The project will be completed on schedule. We will succeed where you have failed.” The same large man countered, as he elevated his voice.

“I hope young one, for your sake and mine.” The elder man responded, although maintaining his low voice.

“Fighting will solve nothing gentlemen. Project Rebirth will move on to stage two, as planned. Mass production of specimens 02 through 09 will commence in our geno-labs throughout Morgan territory.” A women who sat next to the older man said out loud, in a autocratic voice.

“What of specimen 01? It is awaiting orders in Great Zion after retrieving the three Alpha 113s.” Another man responded. His figure seemed to look almost demonic in appearance under the glowing beam of light.

“I suggest we instruct him to return back to the lab in red sector for further post-trial examinations. I hope you can take care of that.” The women answered, maintaining her overpowering tone.

“Certainly.”

All seven members rose in unison, as they had done before, and slowly walked through two narrow doorways, without a word said between them. The room’s seven beams of lightly flickered out as the members left the room.