//------------------------------// // 2a - Synchronize // Story: Half-Life : A World Beyond // by Random Gamer //------------------------------// "So, Trixie and Random are trying to make it out of City 7. Since they are going alone, I suggest we help them in any way we can." said Clara. "Any plans?" I asked. "Obviously, one does not simply walk out of the city. Only a few members of the Civil Protection are allowed to do that, and no one has yet reached a high enough rank that would allow them to do so." Darek explained. "Well, at least not anyone we know. Soldiers, on the other hand, can go anywhere they're needed. Or to be more precise, where the dropships or their armoured troop carriers, APCs, take them. What we need is a disguise, fully capable of getting through a checkpoint without any questions asked. Medium ranked uniforms will do but only for a short time. After that, we'll have to disappear, literally." I scratched my head, trying to think of something, while Clara looked into the distance. "Well, we could either go to the train station or the guard tower since both of them are full of CPs" said Clara, sharing her thoughs with us. "Well, which one? It doesn't really matter to me, but I could to you. After all, you aren't assassins." "I'd take the guard tower since it's closer and not as fortified." I said. "I'm not going to waste my time on the train station and run into every single soldier heading from Novum Prospectu. A newbie once attempted that and boy oh boy, were they pissed. So many holes in him our medic though he was a fence." "I agree with you on that, but don't forget we are supposed to go to NLO after this, not Novum Prospectu." said Clara. "Well, unless any of the leaders gives us new objectives. I highly doubt we'll just stay there for safekeeping. A little break from the sneaking and reconnaissance would be nice, though. "I doubt he's stupid enough to board a train there while disguised." said Darek "Not to mention all the checkpoints he would have to pass both here and in Novum Prospectum. Don't even get started on the poor folks who tried that and returned with their brains missing. Stupid, brain-dead bastards." I sighed and we gathered our gear consisting of ragged uniforms with hidden lambda symbols, some weapons and went to the guard tower. It was a tall blue mettalic building near the ruined, yet never used clinic, full of CPs on all floors. It was also reaching deep into the underground and, with a bit of luck and good orientation, was our best ticket in. Luckily, we found a lone guard and I was able to silently assassinate him and take his clothes. They were a bit tight, but I shrugged it off, knowing that sooner or later, I'll get used to it. Keeping with the tone of secrey, I dropped his lifeless body down into a shaft, effectively buying me some time until they find and identify the body. Bonus time of they only find a part of it. It didn't really pay attention what the pony looked like but it was most certainly a very unfortunate stallion, which possibly just joined because he wanted more food. I turned on the radio and started the second part of the plan - the lure. "Sector 47, multiple rank 1 anti-citizens, need immediate assistance." I muttered through the build-in radio, hoping to attract atleast two more CPs. "En route to sector." They quickly muttered and just as I have predicted, two units were dispacthed and arrived shortly after. I played along and pretended that I was taking Darek and Clara for questioning, but instead went deeper underground, waited until the two CPs let their guard down and then killed both of them in close combat with a pistol. The holes in the helmets didn't matter since we had old, replacament helmets and used only those. Using the same tactic as me, my partners in crime put on their clothes and got rid of their bodies, dropping each of them into a nearby shaft. With that done, a vital part of out mission was complete and we could safely say the rest will be a piece of cake. "Think they'll be convicted?" asked Darek. "This is mostly for the looks. All of us were units at one point in time and we all had the lowest rank before being discharged." In the most desparate times, we all swore allegiance just to get some food and water. The ruthless Combine banned us from duty after they caugh us stealing supplies and smuggling them to other citizens, figthing againts the hunger Nightmare Moon had created. We also leaked some information out, but the supplies appeared to be more important. "Sector 47, cleared of hostiles, dispatch a cleaning unit." I muttered through the built in radio. "Oh, right. That'll give us some time 'till they ID their bodies. About half a day 'till they find out" said Clara. "It isn't much, but it's more than enough time we need." "Let's not waste any time then." I said. "We need to find out where Random and Trixie are." Darek nodded and we approached one of terminals on the lowest part of the guard tower, presumably used by the CPs we killed. Darek hacked into it in ten seconds flat and checked all the for Trixie and Random but after finding him, he just sighed loudly and shook his head. "Why in the bloody hell did they choose to go through the canals?" he uttered. "That's a very dangerous, fortified and much longer route. There's absolutely no chance the two of them can get though. Without our immediate help, they won't make it. Let's go." "I think I have an idea." proclaimed Clara. "I'll find a sniper nest and provide fire support, while you two go after them and help if you can. Play along, let them though checkpoints, and try to make sure nothing stands in their way. I know Trixie and I know she's capable of bringing down a whole brigade if cornered, but she's also a very potent magnet to trouble. Keep them out of it, and when all hell breaks loose, open fire. I know it's a dangerous, possibly suicidal, plan and you'll lose your disguise rather quickly, but we have no other choice. However, if any of you have another plan, I'll be more than glad to hear it." Both of us scratched our heads, trying to put something better up, but we ultimately just nodded in approval. "Understood." I said. "But please, be careful Clara. We can't afford to lose you." Clara smiled at us. "You think I would leave you?" she said. "You're like family to me. See you later." Clara performed a skilled jump and left the room through the ventilation. I had no idea how she did that jump or how she learned it, but it was awesome and it's good to have ponies like her in the team. "Isn't she like... a big sister to us?" asked Darek. I smiled and shook my head. Obviously, Darek never read the same rebel-written books I did. Big sisters are stalkers were featured in my books, as well as big daddies and little sisters. Frankly, all of them were disturbing in nature and heavily-described looks. Note to self - never build a city underwater. "What?!" He asked in confusion. "I never had a sister!" I didn't explain it to him and with a sigh, we continued going along the tunels beneath the guard tower, hoping to reach Random and Trixie before it was too late. Thanfully, they were well lit and soon after, we found the right way.