Chapter 293: Salem’s Team
"Well that was interesting." Artillo pointed out from his spot at the co-pilot’s chair. He had been clearly ready to fly off at a moment’s notice in case something went wrong. He was the jumpy type that would have bolted and left them to die if the opportunity had presented itself.
Artillo is a normal human with no enhancements. He was dug up from the Vexical-3’s underworld. He was designing and making space capable vessels without permission. He had gone unnoticed until he dipped his fingers into mechs. Which got him caught by the authorities and imprisoned. But during a raid on a holding facility, the Union freed him as well. Since then he has been working for the Union as one of its best engineers.
"Artillo attempted to fly off several times. I stopped him from doing so." Ram informed them as he looked at them with his head. While his six arms were doing two different tasks. It was an unnerving sight.
Ram is what the Rogue Metal Legion categorizes as an Android. While most others would just toss him under the category of Artificial Intelligence. He had six arms, three on each side of his body. Along with a very out of date and worn down metal Ram’s head. He is the Union’s best engineer and also requested the detail. Ram wanted to be associated with her in case Spectre Jace ever hunted them down. Apparently Jace was a full-on celebrity in the Rogue Metal Legion.
"Can I just shoot him and we can be done with him?" Yuti asked as she sat in a chair sharpening a traditional Katana. "We can not trust scum like him."
Yuti was a newer recruit of the Union. But not new to the world of violence. She served as an Oda Lord’s private Ninja. But during a change of hands she had been effectively fired and chased out of her home. Looking for honorable work she managed to track down the Union and join up. She had a variety of abilities. But her best were hand-to-hand combat and sniping. Interestingly enough she was a pure Siren. Blue skin, small pointed ears, gills, were the only noticeable traits. Her accent and mannerisms were more in line with Oda Empire people.
"No Yuti you cannot shoot him. If we did that the main group would complain about wasting manpower and losing talent." Marcus cut in from his relaxed position in the hold. He flinched for a moment when the ramp opened because of the cold that was leaking in. But now he was more relaxed.
Marcus is a nanohuman like her. But unlike her he holds no pride in that fact. Instead he ignores his system and grows his abilities on his own. He was placed in her squad more than likely to get him out of the way. She had already heard that Marcus and his father were at odds with how they should deal with the Vexical Imperial family. Marcus wanted them dead and his father did not see them as an issue.
"Can we leave this snowball now?" Dag asked as he shivered while crouched near what Ram was working on. Now that she was looking at it, it appeared to be a secondary power source for the Puddle-Jumper.
Dag was a former arena slave. His family had defied the rulers of the Leonair and paid the price. He had ended up in their grand arena where he fought to live and eat. After the shakeup in Leonair he had been freed and was now working for the Union. He was a new member like Yuti. His specialties were hand-to-hand combat. But he was open to learning other things as well. He was even showing a penchant for hacking. Which would be useful considering Salem limited to only what Jace had taught her.
"In a few minutes." Salem answered as she walked up and handed the box that Mountain Man had gifted her to a pair of Ram’s arms that turned to her. "Run an analysis on everything inside. It is a gift, but I am sure there are at least a few tracking devices inside. Look for both dormant and active ones." Ram gave a thumbs up and turned four arms to the task.
Salem is a deep cover spy for the Military Intelligence and Logistics Division of the Vexical Military. Only five people know about her task. It was a job she had long promised to take in exchange for her mother and siblings being saved. While it did come with a nano system based marriage to Jace she did not mind that much. She was already a few weeks into her task and she was annoyed by the Union’s lack of resources. But at the moment she was more annoyed with the passes and flirtation that Marcus constantly sends her way.
"Present?" Marcus asked.
Salem ignored the question, focusing on giving orders instead. "Marcus, get Ajax on a secure frequency." She then turned to the Siren Ninja, "Yuti, you and Artillo get the ship ready to leave on a course for the New Hexarian Republic."
"What about our watchers?" Yuti asked as she stood up and put away her katana and sharpening tools before moving to the pilot’s seat.
"Ignore them. They already know we are going to be heading to the New Hexarian Republic. We will be able to lose them when we cross the border." Salem explained as she opened the paper file that Mountain Man had handed her. It looked like it contained all of his research data on similar anomalies that he had begun calling mirror portals. The anomaly had been tracked to the Hexarian System. It was on one of its moons that had apparently been turned into an unofficial pirate hangout.
"I have him." Marcus announced from his position next to a complex black and green electronic box that they were using for high speed and long range communication. He was holding out the headset to her.
Salem grabbed it and put it on as she continued to read through the data the file contained. It was looking like the Xenoarchaeologist exchanged his research data to get the location of the anomaly. "Salem here."
"Salem, what did you find?" Ajax responded. All business as usual.
"He went to the New Hexarian Republic. He also somehow ended up on MILD’s radar. We had a run-in with one of their agents and the Desert Dogs." Salem explained.
There was a moment of silence before she got a response. "Was there any lethal action in the exchange? Investigate the MILD connection. You do not have permission to enter the New Hexarian Republic."
"Negative, they are doing the smart play. They backed off and plan to follow us. Will investigate the connection when we get the chance. Why can we not enter the republic? I thought the Vexical Empire had open borders with them." Salem asked, they had to do it in complete segments because it took a few seconds for the messages to arrive back and forth.
"The New Hexarian Republic illegally invaded Vexical Prime along with several other nations. A full galactic war is in effect. You will get caught in the middle of the war if you try to get past the border." Ajax explained, causing Salem to blink in surprise for a moment as her mind ran through several thoughts that she was sure showed on her face.
"All the more reason to go now. The Vexical Military will win and then we will lose this opportunity." Salem countered a moment later.
There was a few minutes of silence before Ajax answered her. "Very well, but you will need more manpower. We are sending pickup coordinates, stand by. Be cautious of your tail." Ajax warned.
Salem pulled off the headset. "Set off, Ajax will send a set of coordinates. Plug them in and fly on a direct route."
Yuti gave a thumbs up before the Puddle-Jumper hovered and flew out of the snowy cave that it had been parked in. It began reaching up to the stars. The stars where all humans could do was fight each other. She was already hoping the fighting would not last long. Because so many innocent people would get caught up in the middle.