THE DUEL
28 Mar 2022Jav Marlo
THE DUEL28 MAR 3308, Harma system, Pegasi Sector.
(Deep breath, deep breath)
Yes, one step at a time. Like this… Don't fall asleep. (Deep breath) Keep focus. (Deep breath) Keep walking.
A mysterious figure
This is the operative six of seven… (deep breath)… reporting in case I might not be able to come back.
A mysterious figure walking slowly
(Deep breath), I am sending this message from a tiny pirate enclave called Jenkerson's Anvil, on the Harma system.
A mysterious figure abandoning a settlement
(Deep breath) If you receive this message and I do not come back, do not come looking for me. (Deep breath) It will be pointless. The pirates will probably dispose of my body and dismantle my ship. (Deep breath) Yes, my ship, I must get back to my ship. Yes. Keep focus.
A mysterious figure struggling to walk
(Deep breath) Damn it is hard to walk. (Deep breath) I know my prime order was to search and keep vigilance. But I was authorized too to engage if a safe opportunity arises. (Deep breath) And I saw the opportunity. He was alone. That hyper augmented witch that travels with him had left the system. (Cough) We were on a lost lawless pirate settlement with no security were nobody cared about us. (Deep breath) I have done it. I have fulfilled my mission. (Cough) I have killed commander Jav Marlo.
The mysterious figure
(Cough) I better start by the beginning. (Deep breath) I tracked commander Marlo and Ayumi to the Harma system. They are getting quite a reputation in the Pegasi sector, not just by running missions, but also by breaking some noses and removing some eyeballs. I witnessed an encounter Ayumi had with a pirate months ago in Huberath Gateway. Who could have imagined that the rogue imperial girl could be so dangerous. I took mental note to avoid hand to hand combat with her. Even with my training, it is clear she could easily subdue me.
A mysterious figure onboard his Diamondback Explorer
(Deep breath) I managed to track the Clipper commander Marlo got from Admiral Patreus to this place called Jenkerson's Anvil. So, I decided to land two klicks away from the settlement and do some visual reckon.
A mysterious Diamondback Explorer landed out of Jenkerson's Anvil
(Deep breath) The plan was simple. Confirming the presence of commander Marlo and trying to figure out the reason for him being here. His last incursion into Imperial space has made it clear that he is becoming far too dangerous for us and that he should be watched over.
A mysterious figure abandoning his ship
(Deep breath) The place is just a small settlement, with several habitat modules and a saloon. It also seems to be a weapons cache the pirates use to prepare their ships for their raids.
The mysterious figure arriving to Jenkerson's Anvil
(Deep breath) On the outskirts of the place, I could see the ominous presence of commander Marlo´s Clipper, almost bigger than the settlement.
The mysterious figure observing Jav Marlo's Clipper
(Deep breath) Too big to land on the small landing pad of the base, the elegant and overpowered imperial ship looked so much out of place.
Jav Marlo's Clipper
(Deep breath) I lurked by the saloon and waited for my prey.
The mysterious figure lurking
(Cough) I had not to wait long before spotting commander Marlo. I had confirmed that he was on the base and, what is more important, that he was alone.
Commander Marlo entering into the saloon
(Deep breath) For several days I waited and observed commander´s Marlo whereabouts. It seemed that he was working on some major upgrades for his ship. And every evening he came to the saloon to have a drink before retiring to his ship for sleep.
The mysterious figure lurking commander Marlo
(Cough) But most important, he was alone. That witch Ayumi was not with him. I lost track of her when she was flying commander Marlo's Cobra Mk III because I decided I had better chances following the Clipper and I was right. Perhaps they decided to split, (cough) or she has abandoned him.
Commander Marlo drinking alone at the saloon in Jenkerson's Anvil
(Deep breath) I pose no threat to commander Marlo on space with my tracking ship. He would obliterate me in open combat with that Clipper. But, for the first time in months, commander Marlo was staying at a place, not moving every few hours, his ship was stranded, he was keeping a routine and he was alone. The opportunity was too good to miss it.
The mysterious figure planning a strike on commander Marlo
So, I came up with a plan. (Cough) I disguised myself as a bounty hunter. Pirates despise bounty hunters. And it is dangerous to pose as one in the Pegasi Sector, but bounty hunters are also feared. And in a tiny settlement like Jenkerson's Anvil I doubted anybody would have to guts to face a bounty hunter that dared to walk openly around the place.
The mysterious operative disguised as a bounty hunter entering the saloon
(Deep breath) I waited for commander Marlo to make his daily appear and made my approach. (Cough) I used a profile analyser on commander Marlo and claimed in loud voice that he had several bounties on him on Imperial space. It was a lie. His bounties have been cleared, and he probably knew it, but the pirates on the room did not. The room froze.
The mysterious operative using a profile analyser on commander Marlo
(Cough) Commander Marlo said that “he was not in Imperial space at the moment”. But I insisted that my intention was to bring him back to claim the prize on his head. As I expected, he challenged me to try it, and he doomed himself. (Cough) I ask him to meet me outside for a duel.
Commander Marlo and the mysterious operative talking
(Deep breath) I guess he probably saw it was a trap. A masked stranger appears suddenly in the middle of nowhere and asks him for a duel he can refuse claiming some bounty it does not exist. (Cough) He probably saw the setup. But, for what I have seen, he and Ayumi have invested so much, for some reason, to fit into the pirate gangs, that he could not risk to be seen like a coward now. He accepted the duel.
Commander Marlo and the mysterious operative setting the conditions of the duel
(Deep breath) We walked outside and found a quiet place by the landing pad.
Commander Marlo and the mysterious operative meeting outside
We agreed not to use shields, so the duel would be to death. (Cough)
Commander Marlo and the mysterious operative preparing to duel
I must say that commander's Marlo cold blood surprised me. I guess It has to do with his military training. (Deep breath) Most commanders, even the ones used to space battling are not used to get her hands dirty and fear the ground combat. But he did not hesitate to take the challenge.
Commander Marlo facing the mysterious operative
(Cough) But that was not going to change anything. His friend Ayumi, with her augments, she could have been faster than me, but with my cover operations training and conditioning, I thought commander Marlo did not stand a chance. I had planned everything carefully.
The mysterious operative facing commander Marlo
(Deep breath) Commander Marlo was packing a Manticore Tormentor. An incredible powerful plasma pistol capable of obliterating an unshielded foe on a single blast; unless he wears a full armor, like in my case.
Commander Marlo's Manticore Tormentor
(Cough) On the contrary, I was packing a Takada Zenith laser pistol. A less powerful gun, but quicker. It compensates its lack of power with its burst function but, at close range, and against an unarmored foe, that did not matter much.
The mysterious operative Takada Zenith laser pistol
(Deep breath) We got ready to shoot.
Commander Marlo and the mysterious operative readying to shoot
(Cough) I waited for commander Marlo to try to do his move trusting on my augmented reflexes.
Commander Marlo readying to shoot
(Deep breath) I had waited for that moment so much. I was ordered to follow him into the Formidine Rift years ago, and almost managed to kill him there; and then lost track of him and found him again on many occasions. I never had tracked any prey for so much time as commander Marlo, not even professor Palin. He knows too much, he had become too dangerous, he had to die. (Cough) Finally, after all the chasing, I got ready to collect my prey.
The mysterious operative ready to shoot
With an incredibly swift movement, Commander Marlo draw his weapon much faster that I could have ever anticipated; (deep breath) but not enough.
Commander Marlo drawing his weapon
(Cough) My conditioning and augments served me well, I draw my laser gun faster than him and fired a full burst before commander Marlo could even pull the trigger.
The mysterious operative firing on Commander Marlo
I hit him on the chest. (Cough) I could see it clearly. (Cough) A full hit in the middle of the chest. Enough to kill anyone not wearing an armor, like he was.
Commander Marlo taking a shot to the chest
(Cough) But, somehow, he remained standing. (Deep breath) At least for a second. (Cough) Enough time to fire a plasma bolt straight at me before my second burst hit him and made him collapse to the ground.
Commander Marlo firing the mysterious figure
I left him there, lying on the dirt, moveless (cough), wondering myself how he could resist the first burst. (Deep breath) I wanted to examine to body, but I heard some of the pirates approaching to find the outcome of the duel. (Cough) I was in no shape to face them. (Heavy cough) Commander Marlo´s bolt hit me too.
The mysterious operative slowly walking towards his ship
I have to leave this place. (Cough) My conditioning is keeping me conscious, but I do not know how much my body will respond. (Deep breath). He knew, (cough) he knew I was wearing armor, and… (cough) the bastard fired me to the head.
The mysterious operative heading towards his ship
(Deep breath) The helmet saved me. (Cough) But I can feel my charred skin inside it. (Cough) Melted along with the circuits and the metal. (Deep breath) I can barely see. My left eye is blinded. (Cough) Probably lost. And it is so hard to breathe.
The mysterious operative approaching his ship
(Cough) I got some stim packs on the ship. (Deep breath) If I can get onboard and stabilize myself, (cough) perhaps I could keep myself conscious for a couple of hours. (Cough) Enough to reach a safe harbor out of the Pegasi Sector. (Deep breath) I cannot risk to remain here to heal. (Cough) If that Ayumi witch decides to return and finds me she (heavy cough)… well… she might find out.
The mysterious operative arriving to his ship
I better take my chances in space (cough). But I am not taking any risks. (Cough) I am deleting my ship´s flight log and databanks in case it is lost. (Heavy cough) But I am sending this transmission first.
(Deep breath) This is operative six of seven, from the Harma system. (Cough) End recording and send report.
Operative six of seven sending a report