Rion didn't waste any time, she sprang from the car and sprinted she wasn't sure how much time she had but this was her one chance for survival, distance and cover...or was that two chances? Who the hell cared she was running for her life. She got halfway behind a stone arch's pillar, one of many that dotted Artaxia's main road when the car went up, the force of the explosion still threw her down, she felt her side and arm, she was wounded but at least to feel this pain she had to be alive. She glanced back towards the site of the explosion, the car door still being open had probably saved her life, but better the car in flames than her. She reached for her phone she needed to call this in.
"This is Raven." Rion said giving her callsign when Justicar ops picked up the phone "I need a team to my location now."
In the vicinity of Coral Rift prison the
INS Alliance, a Waverunner class continued its speedy approach,
Gloria sat in the command chair this was the unthinkable, a raid on Coral Rift? This was arguably the most secure prison on Mundus, it housed some of the most dangerous criminals on the planet including those behind the Andean Genocide.
"Surface contact Captain." one of the bridge officers said
"Identify." Gloria said
"Submarine." the officer said "She's diving by the looks of it."
"Midshipman Wiseman send the following message to Command." Gloria said "Watership Down."
"Yes ma'am." Wiseman said
"Mr Burnett keep track of that sub until we get backup." Gloria saidto the officer who'd reported the contact, she was aware that her ship wasn't outfitted for a tangle with a submarine and if it got under the water they were in trouble "Helm..."
"Torpedoe's in the water repeat torpedoes in the water." Burnett said
"Helm hard to port increase speed shake those things off." Gloria said "Mr Hamilton return fire."
Captain Sarah Culshaw was on shift at the headquarters of the Military Defence Initiative otherwise known simply as the MDI.
"We have an incoming message from the
Alliance" one of the communications officers said
"What is it?" Sarah asked
"Watership Down." the officer said turning in his seat surprised at the words.
Sarah was momentarily stunned, Watership Down was the codeword that designated an attack on Coral Rift, it was a contingency that no one had ever believed would be needed. She ran a hand through her hair as her eyes narrowed.
"Details?" Sarah asked
"No communication reported from inside the prison and there's a foreign submarine in the vicinity." someone said "
Alliance also reports flooding at the prison."
"Someone's clever." Sarah said "Deploy the duty ASF relief, advise the
Alliance to hold their ground and task the cavalry with making that submarine go away. And somebody ID that submarine."
The codename for the contigency in the event of Watership Down being enacted was called
Operation Hazel it was a flexible operation as it reacted dependent on the circumstances. On the surface a
Stymphalia helicopter was instantly deployed for Coral Rift carrying the duty ASF troop, this was a responsibility that rotated between each of the troops but today it was Emerald Troop's turn and they were about to make history by answering the call that no one had ever thought would come. The Troop's commander was
First Lieutenant Jamie Bridge, when the helicopter landed he led the way inside and was met by a police sergeant.
"Report." Jamie said
"Several armed intruders in cell block Foxtrot." the sergeant said "They've gathered together in the common area which means they can block the run to the cells."
"We'll want a full report on how this happened later." Jamie said "Ok everyone you know the drill, triple threat profile go less lethal in here. Sam with me, Tia with Tim, Harry you're with Paul. Fast and safe let's do this."
The six soldiers were quick in making their way down to the cell block where they split into their three sub teams sweeping left and right down corridors into flanking positions were two pairs while Jamie and
Corporal Sam Caldwell took position at the main entrance to the common area where the intruders had reportedly mounted their main defence. Bullets flew down the corridor past where Jamie and Sam were in cover. Then it was the turn of the two ASF officers to fire, though they were firing rubber bullets as opposed to live rounds.
"I see they lack our restraint." Jamie said as the pair took cover from more flying bullets
"I assume talking's out of the question then?" Sam asked
"Absolutely." Jamie said, he got on the radio "Ok team listen up, Bravo you take position at upper entrance door, Echo at lower entrance door two, Alpha will hold at lower entrance door one. The action is flashbangs and up close. Bravo you're on point."
"Copy that." Harry said
"Got it boss." Tia said
On the upper level of the cell block
Sergeant Major Harry Martin and
Corporal Paul Sims moved into position, Harry had his rifle drawn while Paul was crouched down grenades at the ready, he nodded to Harry.
"Boss this is Bravo we're in position." Harry said
"Echo in position." Tia said
"At your discretion Harry." Jamie said
"Go" Harry said
Paul threw the flashbangs into the room, they would have only a few moments to gain the upper hand when they went off, then it happened the grenades went off and as one the team moved in as one each of them weapons raised and ready.
"DOWN ON THE GROUND!!!" was the most common shout, this was what they trained for to take advantage of that momentary loss of concentration, that moment of disorientation, from up above Harry and Paul stormed in getting in close enough that they were able to start wrestling the intruders down, Jamie and Sam came in from the ground level and did the same while from the other ground level entrance came
Sergeant Tim Masters baton drawn, he found himself up against Beaufils but with the advantage he wasn't going to yield he ducked a punch and struck the man's knee with the baton. As he pinned him down he saw a flash of movement
"We've got a runner." Tim said
"It's covered." one of the other team members said
The runner was covered by the final member of Emerald Troop
Sergeant Tia Lucas, she went after the runner cornering them against the emergency door that had sealed off the area that was breached.
"Aliénor Cellier." Tia said identifying the runner "You're under arrest."
"It doesn't matter as long as he gets away." Aliénor said
"I wouldn't be so sure of that." Tia said she drew her tazer and levelled it at the unarmed woman "Down on the ground now!" Aliénor gave a defiant look before dropping down to her knees placing her hands on the back of her head, Tia walked around and handcuffed the woman. "Boss I've got the runner."
"Copy that." Jamie said, they had everyone now and with the guards marching them off to processing he was relieved "Control this is Emerald One, Warren is secure I repeat Warren is secure out."
While all the action inside Coral Rift had been coming to a climax and subsequent resolution the action outside had changed playing fields, the
INS Alliance having shaken off the torpedoes was now unquestionably outmatched against a submarine but it had done it's job in reporting the situation so now it could withdraw and leave the
Ablette to meet its new playmate the
INS Normandy under the command of
Lt Commander Cynthia McLean, the Truthsayer hidden inside the Achkaerinese Navy, the
Normandy had been incoming for port from the west of Avalon after a standard Northern Ocean patrol but had made ground to intercept the fleeing
Ablette. A jailbreak from Coral Rift was a serious business and there would be consequences for it.
"What are we looking at COB?" Cynthia asked
"Records identify it as an older model submarine that was in service with the Marseilles navy in the eighties." the COB said "Based on records we believe it to be the
Ablette"
"Any reason for that basis?" Cynthia asked
"She was the only one not decommissioned." the COB said "And she went missing after the Marseilles crisis."
"I see." Cynthia said
"Torpedoe incoming!" the sonar officer yelled
"Helm hard to starboard, port countermeasures now." Cynthia ordered
The
Normandy's swerve was unmistakable as she turned away from the torpedoe, Cynthia bit her lip as they waited in that moment of suspense.
"Torpedoe has acquired countermeasures." the sonar officer said
"What do you hear ensign?" Cynthia asked
"She's making an awful lot of noise." the sonar officer said "She's cavitating."
"That's what they did to the
Alliance" Cynthia said "What are they up to?"
"No idea but that's not going to do them any favours." the COB said
"I agree." Cynthia said "All submarine warfare is founded in stealth, you get nowhere by making noise. Very well then let's teach them the error of their ways." she picked up her radio "Mr Stevens load tubes one and two with fish and three and four are water slugs."
"Yes Captain." Stevens responded
"Helm increase speed to close distance." Cynthia said "If the
Ablette wants to play in our backyard it can damn well play the game to the end."
"Aye Captain." the helm officer said
"Trying to make them commit?" the COB asked
"Something like that." Cynthia said "A slug sounds very alike to a torpedo once fired it's how we train after all, but with all the noise they're making they might not pick up the difference."
"Bridge torpedo room." Stevens voice came over the radio "Set."
"Fire slugs." Cynthia said
"Slugs away." Stevens said
"Sonar?" Cynthia asked
"
Ablette is deploying countermeasures and going to port." the sonar officer said
"Adjust course to cut them off." Cynthia said "Stevens say when."
The
Normandy now turned at a sharper angle than the
Ablette in order to keep the
Normandy's bow and therefore firing angle on the
Ablette. Cynthia kept her eyes firmly trained on all the screens that were giving her information, this had been the
Normandy's maiden voyage she hadn't expected it to end with a combat situation.
"Solution." Stevens said,
Checkmate Cynthia thought.
"Mr Stevens." Cynthia said "Fire!"
The two torpedoe's were deadly and accurate, Cynthia held her breath turning in her seat to the Sonar officer.
"Direct hit, sound of the
Ablette breaking up. Target destroyed." the sonar officer said.
"Good work everyone." Cynthia said "Cob put us on the surface and make port."
"Yes ma'am." the COB said.
At Julian's apartment, the door was kicked open by two Justicar's
Joe Ochre and
Anthony Vilani, with the situation at Coral Rift resolved and reports that mentioned the name Lawson there had been no time wasted in investigating the situation, the pair found
Julian and
Harper where they'd been left - in bed together.
"Both alive and everything seems normal." Anthony said as he felt the pulses of the two lovers after the pair had cleared the apartment.
"Let's get them out of here." Joe said "We'll need to do forensics in here."
"I agree." Anthony said
A few minutes later a now conscious pair of lovers were being driven away and a forensics team was inbound to see what they could find.
Over at Justicar Operations Rion was sat in her office as the Justicar medic
Elena Walsh finished patching her up.
"I don't want to imagine what would have happened if you weren't such a good sprinter." Elena said
"Yeah tell me about it." Rion said "You know I've been shot at, fought in battles, even gone sword on sword with Alex but this is the first time I've had the 'what if?' at the back of my mind." and right on cue
Alexandria Savage, aka Alex turned up at the office door.
"Are you ok?" Alex asked
"Pissed off and ready to get even with whoever's behind this." Rion said "I'm fine Alex."
"Well I've got Julian and Harper Rhodes in the medical wing." Elena said "So if you'll excuse me."
"Got any leads on that?" Rion asked
"Drugged I think but by what I'll need to look into." Elena said
"Thanks Elena." Rion said
"So how are you really?" Alex asked once Elena had left
"I'm fine really." Rion said
"Don't make me pout you know how good I am at it." Alex said
"If I hadn't left the car door open I'd be dead." Rion said "But I'm still tough as old boots."
"Well I hate to break it to you but you're not the headline of the day." Alex said
"Coral Rift?" Rion asked
"Yeah Paul's got something for you to see." Alex said
Rion and Alex walked down to the floor of Justicar Ops where
Paul Kessel stood waiting for them.
"What have you got Paul?" Rion asked
"We finally got to see the security footage from inside Coral Rift during the incident." Paul said indicating one of the large screens on the wall which was playing the footage through "Facial recognition identifies among the raiders Marie-Thérèse Dembélé, Aliénor Cellier, Alexandra Barrande, Colonel Jérémie Beaufils, Jasmin Cazenave, Edmond Boudet and Thomas Chéreau. All except Dembélé are now in custody. Which normally would be good news but look who they busted out." the footage played on to the point where they could see Dembélé and Manaudou's escape.
"So they traded five lower cards to wrestle an Ace from us." Rion said
"We believe the submarine
Ablette picked them up from here." Paul said "The
Ablette was destroyed by the
Normandy. The fate of Dembélé and Manaudou is unknown."
"You don't break into Coral Rift by leaving anything to chance." Rion said "They knew how to get in, they had a plan to get out and they knew the layout. I am not going to presume Dembélé and Manaudou to be dead until I see their bodies, so I want the wreck of the
Ablette investigated and a search for their bodies undertaken. Who's going to talk to the Emperor?"
"Mark I think." Alex said
"Good." Rion said "Ops briefing in four hours."