Reclamation Apprehension Warrant Becomes Bug Hunt

 

Reclamation Apprehension Warrant Becomes Bug Hunt

 

"Good to see you again, Centurion."

"Major. Why are you here? We have the warrant to take Rulstavi into custody for interrogation and medical examination."

"We are not here to interfere with that in any way, Centurion. I am unsure of the exact chain of the communications, but the crime scene got reported up the comms chain to Weyland Yutani, which also resulted up further in the chain to the Trantor Imperium and the Tsovereign Commonwealth, and then somehow along the winding path Umbrella Tri-Cell was informed, then down to us humble mortals in the Mutual of Omicron Wild Galaxy."

"Major, I am sure that is supposed to be fascinating."

"Just the facts as I know them, Centurion"

"Major, it still does not answer what it is you are expected to do here."

"Recording and collecting evidence related to possible nefarious eldritch Sothothic entities."

"We just about collecting a pathetic offworlder criminal."

"I personally have no doubt of that. But there are some definite Sothothic indications, cultlike behavior, blood rituals, arcane icons, etc. The Imperium, Tsovereign Commonwealth, Weyland, and Umbrella like to have such things thoroughly investigated. It is all parallel to your police work, we will stay out of your way. Just datapoints. Meh, it’s a living."

"I am glad you emphasized staying out of our way."

"My pleasure, Centurion. We’re waiting for you to finish your reclamation and apprehension so we can get a better look to examine the premises. I remember the simpler times my years with Reclamation Apprehension. Happy times, the warrant was all." Major Muircastle sighs and looks off longingly into the middle distance.

"I am glad you emphasized staying out of our way."

"I am also pleased with the opportunity to see you work. I like to learn from the best."

"There won’t be much to learn here today. Rulstavi has been holed up in his hovel for the past 3 days while the warrants went thru channels, we’ve posted watch so he doesn’t leave. No one has seen him, he has been staying in the upstairs where there are no windows or in the basement and sub-basement. There has been a lot of noise from whatever self-abuse he performs on himself, but it quietened down about 8 hours ago. Just waiting on Linus and the Imbroglio’s before we breach and pull him out."

"Film crew is not due here until tomorrow, shame to miss that, it would have made good viewing."

"People watch that sort of thing?"

"People watch it and they love it, there’s no accounting for taste. I don’t have the luxury of living in a ‘topia you do, we have to do what we have to so people pay us scrip to pay our living expenses. No doubt a deeply flawed unfair corrupted system, people have been predicting its imminent collapse for the past 500 years, but still here we are. There are worse ways to make a living. As my sainted mother, God rest her soul, use to say, 'It sucks and it’s unfair, but still better than feudalism.' Mom was deep."

"I am glad you emphasized staying out of our way."

"I think that is your Imbroglio’s coming with Linus, they seem to be accompanies by Captain Sister Doctor Westminster."

"What is she here for?"

"Mostly she is a forensic medical examiner and pathologist, but also Evidence Collection and Crime Scene Investigation."

"We’ve already collected all of the evidence related to the crime."

"We are investigating different crimes, Centurion, we will not be in your way."

 

Principe Gallimaufry Imbrogio approaches, Linus and Salma Imbrogio stay a short distance away with Captain Westminster.

 

"Centurion, Major."

"Principe."

"Principe."

"Centurion, I have confirmation that everything is in order, we will be ready to breach whenever you give us the go ahead."

"Principe, you are clear to breach."

Principe Gallimaufry Imbrogio bowed his head as a kind of salute, "As you say, Centurion."

 

Signaling to his sister, Salma, she approaches the three and then they make their way to the main doorway. Salma gently tries the door and finds it is unlocked, they unholstered their weapons and get ready to enter.

 

Calling out as the entered the premises, "TSOVEREIGN COMMONWEATH AGENTS ENFORCING APPREHENSION WARRANT!"

 

As quickly as they entered the premises, they were outside again.

 

"Centurion, there is something else in the premises besides Rulstavi. He was not on the main level."

"Centurion, several somethings, dozens at least."

"Principe Gallimaufry, who?"

"Not who, Centurion, what?"

"Out with it, Gallimaufry, what?"

"It would appear to be a pack of giant spiders, and what looks like enlarged scorpions of some sort?"

"I don’t think the Tsovereign Commonwealth has imported steak spiders and dinner scorpions off planet? I did not even know they could survive outside of the spice ecological cycle."

"These don’t look like the arthropods from home other than their prodigious size, Centurion, it is some other variant altogether."

"No sign of Rulstavi?"

"None, Centurion, but we could only view the main room, not the upstairs or basement levels."

"Centurion, if I could please interject?"

"Major, you said you were going to stay out of the way."

"Indeed, Centurion, we are well out of the way, but if I could suggest, there is a safe and discrete way to look in the upstairs and the basement levels."

"Speak, Major."

"Arrakis manufactures some of the best fiber optic cables, unlike most optic cables it is capable of allowing us to see images clearly even when coiled."

"We could use that to at least confirm the location of Rulstavi."

"Indeed, Centurion, or confirm he has been consumed by the other denizens within."

"We’ll give it a go. Gallimaufry, you and Salma go and get some optical cable."

"Right away, Centurion."

"Centurion, if I might interject again?"

"What is it now, Major?"

"We have some with us now. It’s great stuff, we take it everywhere we go, it has innumerable uses."

"And you’ll stay out of the way, Major?"

"We are staying out of your way, Centurion."

 

Major Muircastle waves over to Captain Westminster, wearing her peculiar arrangement of Nun’s habit, body armor, and environmental gear. Muircastle speaks to her in a quiet voice, and she briefly takes out a long coil of optical cabling and hands it over.

 

"For you, Principe, we will continue standing out of your way over here."

 

Principe Gallimaufry Imbroglio and his sister Specialist Salma Imbrogio, along with Linus inspect the outer part of the structure and eventually find good ingress points for the upper level and the basement levels.

 

Principe Gallimaufry Imbroglio shortly reported back to Centurion Nahdi, "There is no evidence of intact Rulstavi, Centurion. There is what appears to be some scraps of bodily remains. It would have to be confirmed forensically, but it would appear the anthropoids within consumed the body, in quite a bloody manner."

 

Centurion Nahdi considered for a couple of though filled minutes holding up a hand to indicate he did not want to be interrupted.

 

"We will have to retrieve the remains, which if they are within the digestive tracks of those arthropods, means we will have to gather them up as well to verify."

"There are a lot of them, Centurion, at least 30 at last count."

"We don’t know how the creatures got in there, but this structure won’t contain them, certainly not long enough for backup to get here."

"Centurion, I don’t think Citizen Linus is trained sufficiently for a close quarters bug hunt."

"So just the three of us. We need the creatures intact, so no thermite. Perforation only."

"With respects, Centurion, Captain Westminster and I are equipped and trained for xeno-arthopoid extermination protocols. We would be willing to lend a hand and accept your command."

"That would be the opposite of you not being in the way, Major."

"Centurion, with respects, no it would not, but we would accept your leadership and follow your commands."

"I am not going to take the responsibility of you two going inside for the breach. You and the Captain stay out here and make sure the civilian does not fall into his own demise. You can perforate any creature that tries to escape the building, but you do not enter the premises."

"Centurion, with respects…"

"Major, you said you would accept my leadership and follow my commands. That is my leadership and those are my commands. Accept and follow them, or leave this theatre."

Major Muircastle bowed his head as a kind of salute, "As you say, Centurion."

Captain Westminster also bowed her head as a kind of salute, and took a position nearby with some moderate cover pulling Linus with her.

Major Muircastle took a similarly moderate covered position on the opposite side of the house.

Major Muircastle over private comms to Captain Westminster, "Harley and Hanna are going to throw a fit over this."

"Why is that, Major?"

"No film crew, no sound crew, no lighting crew. See if Linus can at least snap a few candids."

"It’s their own fault they wanted to take the later transport, Major Sir. Linus says his smart-comms can take some video."

"Good lad, good lad. It will have to do."

 

Centurion Nahdi spoke quietly for a minute with Principe Gallimaufry and Specialist Salma. They completed a check of their body armor, weapons, and ammunition, then entered the building.

 

A tremendous din followed, but surprisingly not even a word of exclamation from the trio of Araxi other than a few shouted commands.

 

A few individual arthropod fled the premises, which were easily shot down by either Muircastle or Manda. Muircastle did so without reciting prayers. Linus also prayed a great deal.

 

Eventually a flurry of shouted orders could be heard, then dozens of arthropods fled the building en masse followed by Nahdi, Gallimaufry, and Salma firing upon them. Muircastle and Manda did their best to shoot as many as they could.

 

The creatures quickly spread out and found cover, but were definitely fleeing to the kironide prospecting bores.

 

Muircastle ran up to the Centurion, "Your orders, Centurion, do we follow and engage?"

 

Centurion Nahdi caught his breath, "We will stalk. They are probably going to a nesting site. Imbroglio’s track and follow, we will catch up after we get some more ammunition. Keep comms online, channel 2000."

 

Salma and Gallimaufry Imbroglio gave a quick bow of the head, then ran quickly after their quarry.

 

Nahdi took out his knife and cut open one of the arthropods shot down by Major Muircastle, “20 gram disks for subsonic coil accelerator? Us too, good choice. How many rounds have you got?"

"Captain, inventory audit please."

"You have a little over 200 rounds, I have a little under 300 left, I am more careful with my shot placement. We have another 50,000 general rounds at the rover, Major Sir. Plus special rounds"

"If I spray a little, it is because I want to ensure I hit the target."

"Spray and pay has been disproven quite some time ago, Major Sir, it is why we have firing range practice on the regular."

"Fascinating I imagine. Major, do you have exploding rounds on hand?"

"Captain, what’s our available inventory in the rover of special rounds?"

Manda smiles, "An additional 50,000 rounds of Mother’s Little Helpers, Major Sir. You know, in case of emergencies."

"Reverend Mother’s Little Helper? Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition, Sister. Can you be more specific? "

 

Captain Westminster pulled out a small tablet, turn it on and reads from the screen: "AEET Accelerated Energy Equalloy Transfer bullets Rounds. AEP Accelerated Extra-Penetrating Composite Rounds. Armor Piercing Depleted Uranium (APDU) Rounds. Armor Piercing Explosive (APEX) Rounds. Armor Piercing Hardcore (APHC) Rounds. Armor Piercing Hardcore Explosive (APHEX) Rounds. Armor Piercing Incendiary (API) Rounds. Cased Telescoped Ammunition CTA Rounds. Duplex and Triplex Rounds. Electric Rounds. Mercury liquid filled Rounds. Lead Azide Exploding Rounds. Flechettes Rounds. Frangible Rounds. Glaser Blue Safety. MagSafe Rounds. Razor- Rounds. Spartan Polymer Rounds. Thunderzap Plastic Frangible Rounds. Beehive/Core-Shot Rounds. My personal favorite, the Gyrojet Rounds. Hollow Point Dum Dum Rounds. Winchester Silvertip, Federal HydraShock, Starfire, Remington Golden Saber, CCI-Speer Gold Dot, Winchester Black Talon. Lots of different brand names, but all made by Blue Sun or Weyland Yutani, go figure. But you know, sponsors and very popular with the lads. Hybrid Frangible/Hollow Point Rounds, by Triton Quik-Shock and Omega Star. They are also sponsors of the series. Incendiary rounds and Improved Armor Piercing Incendiary Rounds. Penetrating Frangible Rounds. Glaser Silver Safety Slug, LeMas Ltd, Blended Metal Technology, MagSafe Defender, and MAX rounds. Reversed Ogive THV rounds. Spent Depleted Uranium Rounds. Rubber Rounds. Semi-AP Round. Tumbler Rounds. A few Silver Bullets, some Tranq Rounds, Wooden Rounds. Tracer Rounds, Observation Rounds, Dark ignition tracers. Wadcutter Rounds. We have a sack full of Baton/Beanbag rounds, but I have not counted how many. Buffered shot. Cubic Shot shells. Flare shells. Lockbuster Hatton Shells. Salt Shot shells. Smoke shells. Tear Gas shells."

 

"Was that just to show off, Major?"

With a big grin, "Guilty as charged, Centurion. We prefer to think of it as having the right tools for the right job. The sisters of ammunition do a wonderful job."

"It’s the sisters of annunciation, Major Sir, but Saint Zenobius is the patron saint of blacksmiths, soldiers, and arms providers, happy to be of help for a good cause."

"Impressive, Can you spare me the lead azide rounds?"

"Our pleasure, Centurion. Mi Casa is Su Casa ummm  … Casa Ammo-Cache."

"Captain, load up the Centurion with whatever he wants. Queen for a day rules."

"And for you, Major Sir?"

"Depleted Uranium and a sachet of the bean bag and baton rounds."

"Major Sir, not your usual incendiaries and explosive rounds?"

"Not today, we are prioritizing evidence recovery, so just the depleted uranium and baton rounds."

"Copy that, Major Sir."

"Major Sir, I am going to test a theory and include some salt shot and tear gas shells."

"Major, we will have to do double time to catch up."

"As you say, Centurion, copy that."

 

Soon, they caught up with the Imbroglio’s who were waiting by some dilapidated buildings.

"Boy Howdy, Centurion, does the Yazira Khwarif know about what Weyland has done here? This is just shameful."

"I know, offworlders. As I understand it, they do have to post a cleaning deposit and clean up before they leave."

 

Principe Gallimaufry reported after he bowed his head, "Centurion, we chased them this way, best as we can tell, they all went into the quarry just below us where they were making exploratory bores for Kironide prospecting."

 

"Is Kironide dangerous?"

Captain Westminster replied, "Don’t ingest it, I would recommend masking up. Not immediately toxic, but the chelating afterwards is long and discomforting with lasting physical and psychological side effects."

 

"Okay then, everyone mask up. Climbing gear everyone."

"As you say, Centurion."

"Us too, Centurion?"

"Yes, yes. You can stop asking. I will tell you when I want you to go away and leave us alone."

"Centurion?"

"Yes, Major?"

"I assume you are keeping Linus here. If you permit, he could be of use and pilot one of our reconnaissance drones."

"You people just are a bag full of toys aren’t you?"

"While I totally respect your Naked Warrior ethos, yes, we like to make use of our toys."

"You can give him something useful to do, Major."

"Captain, hook him up, and have a copy of his video feed sent to your comms."

"Copy that, Major Sir."

 

By the time the team finished rappelling down the Kironide Fissure, Linus had a report on comms, =/\=Drone Infrared shows a cluster of heat signatures half a click west of your position, just follow the fissure, watch out there is a lot of pressure eruptions along the way. Steam and Carbon Dioxide, but this drone lacks a mass spectrometer. =/\=

 

=/\=Linus, how fast are they moving? =/\=

 

=/\=They appear to have mostly stopped, moving amongst themselves but not moving relative to your position. There is a hotspot immediately west of their location with a lot of heat pour of out of it making it hard for me to get any image, according to this map, it is the location of one of the exploratory bore holes.=/\=

 

=/\=Linus, hold your position until we are a little closer. =/\=

 

=/\=Copy that, Major Sir, holding position and standing by.=/\=

 

Nahdi waved them to take up positions on separate sides of the fissure.

 

=/\=Linus, we’re getting close, move to visual range.=/\=

 

=/\=Copy that, Major.=/\=

 

….

 

=/\=Major, there is some other creature, much larger than the other arthropods. It looks similar in shape, but has some additional appendages in its front. It’s very big, more than man sized. =/\=

 

=/\=It appears to be eating some of the smaller arthropods, and there appears to be a miner in the bore hole, trussed up somehow. =/\=

 

….

 

=/\=Major, Sir, it appears that the large creature is laying eggs and implanting them into the miner. Oh, the humanity. Make it stop, Major, make it stop. It is eating more of the other arthropods again. =/\=

 

"Centurion, there appears to be an additional creature, much larger than the rest, and a hostage in extreme distress."

 

"Can the boy tell us how many?"

 

=/\=Linus, pull yourself together for a minute and tell us how many remain, it’s important.=/\=

 

=/\=Fifteen, Major Sir, the creature have implanted 9 eggs inside the miner so far.=/\=

 

"Centurion, fifteen, plus a large creature implanting eggs in the miner, and of course the miner."

 

"Convenient Math. When we get within visual range, everyone choose three of the smaller arthropod each for targets. Call ‘em out so we each know. Clip your three, then everyone concentrate fire on the mother."

 

=/\=Major, Sir, the implanting creature is moving on your position. =/\=

 

"Centurion, Mother is incoming."

 

"Okayyyyy, Major, you and I concentrate on the Mother, the rest of you pick five smaller targets each. Once you’ve cleared your targets, then engage the Mother. Fire when you have visual, go."

 

"DAMNATION!!!!!!!!!"

 

"Everyone report, anyone see where the Major went off too?”

 

=/\=Captain, Linus hear, Infrared indicates the Major is outside of the fissure. Somehow his comms and weapons are still near you.=/\=

 

"Centurion, Sir, Linus reports that the Major has been extracted from the engagement and disarmed and away from comms. Also, the creature seemed to be able to deflect the bullets the Centurion and the Major fired at it."

 

"This seems similar to when we were attacked by Rulstavi with the portable tractor beam device he Gerry rigged, but we thought it was Kironide."

 

"Centurion, Sir, any change to engagement?"

 

"Imbroglio’s fall back and back up the side of the fissure, work around the Kironide Creature and carry out the extermination directive."

 

"As you say, Centurion."

 

"Captain, tell Linus to get a visual on the Major, he can check in via the drone. "

 

"Copy that, Centurion."

 

"Captain, you have more of those explosive rounds the Major said he usually favours?"

 

"I brought a few clips just in case he changed his mind."

 

"Split it with me, fire at the walls of the fissure, instead of at the creature. That narrow passage there."

 

"Copy that, Centurion."

 

=/\=Centurion, Major Muircastle here, unclad and unarmed but unharmed.=/\=

 

"Captain, tell him we are nearing his pants now. I don’t know if his pants are going to survive this."

 

=/\=Imbroglio’s, someone give Muircastle a scarf or something and a spare weapon, let him help you with the vermin. That’ll teach him not to make jokes about our naked warrior ethos. Fates have a cruel sense of humor.=/\=

 

The Centurion and Captain Westminster concentrated explosive fire on the fissure walls. Visibility was minimal, but they could tell the creature was falling back.

 

A barely clad Muircastle, accompanied by Gallimaufry and Salma Imbrogio made efficient work of the remaining arthropods and retrieved the shocked miner who alternated between catatonia and incoherent gibbering.

 

By the time the dust cleared, there was no evidence of the Kironide Creature.

 

"Centurion, with your permission, please permit Captain Westminster and Linus to take the miner for medical attention. I could stay behind and help collect the arthropod remains for evidence."

 

"We won’t forget to give him a thorough cavity search or he will probably end up like Rulstavi. Your pants didn’t make it, Major Sir, we retrieved your underwear and most of a shirt."

 

Centurion lit up a spice cigar and sat on a smooth rock, "We’ve called in for a demolition team, they said something about nuking it from orbit was the only way to be sure. Weyland Yutani people are weird that way. We are going to have to seal this fissure, but I think we can use conventional explosives. It is not up to me, but I imagine someone is going to discontinue this mining claim. Whether WY has the good sense to do it or if the Tsovereign Commonwealth forces them to do so. But for my part, we need to seal this fissure for public safety, even though the next nearest settlement is 1500 kilometres away. Major, we can wait for the demolition team, go with Linus and your Captain, and get yourself some decent pantaloons."

 

"Thank you, Centurion, it was an honour to work with you."

 

"Same here, get some pants."

 

Walking back to the rover assisting the poor deranged Minor, Muircastle quipped, "Linus, save that drone footage, Mutual of Omicron might be able to make some us of it."

 

"Definitely some good footage. Maybe the special effects team could get you some pants. You think they might edit out the parts where I am sobbing?"