Moore grimaces, motioning you to follow him. "I don't know what we're going to find on the other side. We almost never do, not our job." He hands you a pad with a map on display without slowing. "This is what we
should find. But, since we had to turn off the Hotlab alarms when we got here, I think it's a bit more complex than that. Pathogen alerts haven't been activated, so we shouldn't be killed by airborne contaminants as soon we crack the doors. At least, that's what the whitecoats say." Moore shrugs and stops beside the barricades his troops are assembling. The soldiers stop and salute as you approach. "Sergeant White," Moore says, pointing out a tall woman with a drill in one hand and a pintle mount in the other. "My second in command. Six years service as a trooper in Sol, transferred to HazRec three years ago for creative thinking in the field."
In response to Moore's last remark a smile flickers on the Sergeant's face, disappearing before you're sure it's there. [Failed Roll Not Shown] White greets you respectfully, but Moore orders work on the barricade to resume before she says anything more.
"White is good leader," Moore says to you in a hard, quiet voice as soon as you pass the barricades. "She's earned her posting ten times over, despite her service record. If the academy had let her continue, she'd have my job by now. Anyway, up here is my senior engineer, Argyle," Moore adds in more normal tone, pointing to one of the engineers that are actively cutting through the blast doors. "Don't bother trying to get his attention, he's working. Used to be maintenance, but that was a long time ago. You'll have to take his respects as given, Harlequin, he's still rough around the edges." Moore's collar chirps just as he finishes, and he motions for you to wait a moment. "Speak of the devil... Argyle, Report."
[Observation 19] The radio is faint, and particularly difficult to hear over the sound of engineers, but you manage to make out most of what's being said to the Lieutenant.
"Almost through, Sir. Should be another half minute. Whoever sealed this door never intended for it to be opened ever again... Tell me you got the bloody 'Quin to tell us what's actually going on here. I don't like tearing down walls when I don't know why they were put up in the first place." Moore nods. "Just let me know when the cut is finished. The Harlequin has arrived, so we're ready to proceed when you are."
The sound of cutting hiccups for a second when Moore mentions that you're here. "
She's bloody here? Did she hear me? God, am-" The faint sound of Argyle's voice cuts out as Moore closes the channel. "We're almost through," Moore relays to you calmly, "and Argyle sends regrets that he can't greet you formally. Now, this way. One last member of my team to meet," Moore explains as he walks over to the makeshift triage center. The soldiers helping the scientists stop and salute as they did at the barricades, but most of the scientists just give Moore a deferential nod before continuing their work.
One of the them, a hulking man with the sword and loop of the Technocracy picked out in gold on his labcoat, approaches. "Harlequin Ayveen, it is a pleasure and honor to be working with you in the field. I heard about what you did at the Redfall trials, your devotion to justice is humbling." [Detect Lie Hidden] Oddly, considering that the rest of Moore's crew seems to pay you the bare minimum of deference, the man seems genuine in his praise and respect.
Moore frowns. "This is Dr. William Fennec, a new addition to my team, but already my chief whitecoat."
Fennec's jaw clenches when Moore calls him a whitecoat, but shows no other reaction. "I'm glad to be of service to the Technocracy. Speaking of which, I had this taken out of storage when I head you were approaching," William says, handing you a helmet mic. "If you need assistance, my team and I are always willing. Now, I must apologize, Harlequin, but I have to return to my labors. I wish you luck."
"He is... eager to please," Moore says with the trace of growl when Dr. Fennec returns to work. "As far as whitecoats go, he's not bad. Smart, sharp, and not that much of schemer."
The lieutenant might have said more, but one of the engineers working on the door stands and gives him a thumbs-up. "Well, we're ready to breach," Moore says, a hint of eagerness entering his normally tired voice. "Any further questions or concerns?"
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Topic: Deviation-22. The End of All Things. (Read 536772 times)