BOLSTERING BASTION, PART 1
26 Aug 2021RedivivusCrowd
Gustavo Tran's steps echoed through the hallways of Thurston Dock, at his side keeping pace with a relaxed face was Amanda Colt. While she liked to maintain a casual air at times like these, she could still feel the unease emanating from Mr Tran as they hurried along to their destination. Most wouldn't have been able to pick up on it but Colt had worked with him long enough to see the signs. Gustavo's walking just a little bit faster today, what has him so rattled? Tran bore a suit popular with corporate executives in the Alliance old worlds while Colt bore the uniform and body armour issued to all of SAP CORP's security forces. Tran's suit jacket, usually immaculate and pristine, bore nigh imperceptible wrinkles noticed only by Colt's trained eye as they walked along in silence. While Colt's face was relaxed her eyes were constantly scanning their surroundings and giving every passerby a once over as they moved along, Colt had often been told that she had shifty, untrustworthy eyes by her superiors before she joined the Legion.
Her eyes, brown and speckled with little bits of green crinkled in the corners with amusement as she watched Tran hide how flustered he was. Colt had always preferred how her mother had described her, "You have a spark of mischief in those eyes Amanda, be careful it doesn't get you in trouble." The corner of Colt's mouth turned upwards in a small smirk as she pondered on what her mother would think if she knew what was capable of now. Don't worry mother, I don't get into trouble, I make trouble for others.
"Sir, where are we rushing to?" Colt's seemingly innocent question prompted a humourless smile from Tran as they continued walking but he otherwise gave no reply, Colt arched an eyebrow as they entered an elevator. Tran punched in a code Colt had never seen before which sent them hurtling off to their destination.
Tran waited until the doors of the elevator had fully closed before he dropped his smile and all illusions of calm, turning to Colt, "We don't have much time so listen carefully." Colt's mouth curved into a smile, "I am flattered Mr Tran but I'm afraid..." Tran cut Colt off, "Don't have time for your jokes Colt, something big is about to go down and I need you to be on your best behaviour."
Colt was about to open her mouth for another snarky comment, before Tran's next words cut her off: "I've recieved summons to appear at conference room 4A." Colt tilted her head as she met Tran's gaze, "What about it? Aren't there a dozen conference rooms on this station?" Tran's forehead was slightly damp with sweat and his characteristic smile and easygoing nature were absent as he elaborated. "Conference room 4A isn't on any of the station's schematics or map layouts, there are only a handful of people in the Legion who know about it and even fewer who can compel me to appear there." Colt's jokes and quips died in her throat as his words sank in. He's not joking. Colt dropped her smile and struggled to uphold her relaxed demeanor. "Why am I here then? Feel like this is above my station."
Tran took a handkerchief from within his suit jacket and dabbed his forehead as he replied, "I agree but for some reason unknown to me they have asked for you specifically, I was instructed to bring you along." Colt's mouth grew tight as her eyes took in the interior of the elevator, looking for any escape routes. "May I ask who 'they' are Sir?" Tran's mouth morphed into a small smile as he saw Colt's cool demeanour begin to crumble. "I've been told you're allowed to know so I'll be nice and inform you there are three Fleet Marshalls in the room we're about to enter and at least one of them has something in mind for you."
Colt's mouth felt dry and she could hear her heart beating in her ears as she absorbed Tran's words. Three Fleet Marshalls?! I've never met one and now three are here? The hell is going on... Colt felt nauseous as she wiped sweat off her brow with the back of her sleeve and thoughtlessly ran a hand through her black hair, which had been tied back into a tight bun at the back of her head. The elevator door opened and the pair stepped out into a hallway which led directly to a door at the other end, the bulkheads in this section were rough and dull compared to the more polished finish of the area they had just left. Colt pondered these details as they walked to the door at the other end.
Could this be an area that was in use back when the Federation controlled Thurston Dock? There are no windows here and the elevator took a lot of twists and turns to get here. I have absolutely no idea where we are in the station. Colt looked over her shoulder to see the elevator behind them seal shut. No doubt that is by design.
Waiting for them in front of the door were two heavily armed guards bearing armour and weapons similar to Colt's in make but of far superior quality to her eye. Either one of the could take a direct hit from a rocket and shrug it off after, is that a modded Intimidator? Holy shi... Colt's thoughts were interrupted when the taller of the two held up a hand and looked silently from Colt's face to the sidearm at her waist, the figure's features were obscured by a tinted visor that reflected Colt's face back at her.
Colt looked at Tran for confirmation who nodded before slowly withdrawing his own sidearm from within his suit jacket and passing it grip first to the second sentry who then proceeded to relieve Colt of her weapon. A silence then persisted as the two sentries stared at them without moving or shifting, Colt had taken Tran's advice and was doing her best to be as uninteresting and unprovocative as possible.
The sentry who had initially halted them now spoke, her voice was curt and abrupt, "They're waiting for you." The two of them stepped aside to allow access to the hatch behind them, even after being disarmed Colt could still feel their eyes on them as they passed. Those two were ready to kill both of us on the spot without a second thought if they identified us as threats.
Colt reached his hand out to open the hatch before pausing and turning to Colt, keeping his hands in plain view of the guards at all times, "When we go in there don't speak unless you're spoke to, if they ask you anything answer to the best of your ability, understood?" Colt's eyes widened slightly as she could see genuine concern on Tran's face. Colt gave a single nod, keeping her hands at her sides and her eyes on the door.
Tran gave a small smile, Colt was unsure if he was trying to reassure her or himself. "You're about to meet some of the most powerful men in the Alliance, they don't like loose cannons but they don't like rabbits either, good luck."
And with that Tran opened the hatch and the two of them stepped inside.
*To be continued*