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Argoth Chronicles: ADF8
by Robert Drake
The siren died off in the distance as the vehicle sped out of sight down the barren road leading from the metropolis city of Rale-5.
Mech pulled out this communicator and pressed a black button on the interface, “Hey Kaz. I just left the ranch. Have someone call the Ralos and tell them to not to bother investigating this one.”
“How many?
“Three…all dead.”
“Was it bad?”
“Not really. The bastards recognized me before I had even got out of the car so I didn’t. I hit one and managed to shoot up the other two before they could hit the road.”
There was a long pause on the other end, “Alright Mech. Get back to base. Good work.”
“Not really boss, but someone killed Falter and someone gave the guys who killed Falter weapons and someone had to make sure the guys who gave the guys who killed Falter weapons didn’t give anyone else weapons.”
“I’m gonna assume that’s flawless logic and move on. Get back to base. Scars and Rob brought in the new recruit and I want everyone here.”
“Yep. Mech out.”
Mech put the small device back on his belt next to a well worn holster. Another car sped down the road hovering just inches above the path sending waves of dust into the air. Mech hopped into his own gray and black car and drove off towards Rale-5.
“Hey Mech. They’re all waiting for you in the theatre.”
“Good times Scars. Why aren’t you in there?”
“I got assigned to watch for you.”
“So how’s the new guy?”
“Girl.”
“I’ll let all the other guys fill in the generic chauvinistic comments that should follow that.”
“Yeah they have.”
“Good.”
Scars, a short man with brown hair carrying a rifle, led Mech into the gray cement building hidden amongst a veritable junk heap of heavily used and badly damaged military vehicles. The theatre was a semi-circular room that could hold about forty people. Currently it held nine. Four men wearing the black body armor and gray-green uniform of the ADF8 sat in a small group together towards the side. Scars and Mech took seats beside them.
Kaz sat in the front next to a woman wearing the uniform of the Rale-5 police. The two were talking with a tall man standing behind a podium.
Mech turned to his comrades, “What’s Commander Bassardat doing here?”
“Well Mech, if you had been on time you’d know that already.”
“Cut me some slack. I took out those gun-runners who supplied the Firewings that got Falter.”
“Yeah?”
“Yep. Three of them. Not gonna trouble anyone anymore. What have you guys done lately?”
A lanky man with blond hair cracked his knuckles, “That warehouse we broke into a few weeks ago?”
“What about it?”
“I was tracking the guy who owned it. He sent me on a little chase, but I managed to get the Ralos on his tail and they picked him up yesterday.”
“Good one Rob.”
“Thanks”
“Gentleman. Perhaps you’d like to sit closer to the podium?”
“We’re good Commander.”
“But I’m not. You’d think I was a pariah the way you’re all turned away in the corner.”
The six armored men got up slowly and sat behind Kaz and the Rale-5 Police Officer. Commander Bassardat straightened his dark blue uniform and looked over the men.
“I am glad everyone could make it. I haven’t seen this unit all together in a long time. I’d like to go over the current situation this unit faces not just for the benefit of your newest member here, but for everyone. I think we need a bit more focus.”
Mech leaned towards Scars, “Does he realize there’s like three of us in here?”
Scars laughed.
“As you know I am the overall leader of Argoth Defense Force Unit Eight. Since the war started there has been an increase in smuggling and pirating activities near this planet. As such the amount of activity that falls within the jurisdiction of the ADF has increased greatly. Furthermore our missions have become more violent. Juve Falter was a victim of that violence. We normally prefer recruiting soldiers over law enforcement, but with the war going all the soldiers have been claimed by the galactic government. To replace Falter it was decided by myself and Lieutenant Denton to bring in Officer Saran Osira.”
The six ADF members sat silently shifting their stares between Saran sitting in front of them and Commander Bassardat standing at the podium until Lieutenant Kaz Denton turned and glared.
“Sorry boss.”
“You could clap or something.”
“It doesn’t matter Lieutenant. All your members will meet together soon enough. That was only the first order of business. ADF8’s jurisdiction is primary outside of the city of Rale-5, but as of this week General Grange has given us permission to go into the city at our leisure. ADF7 has been overwhelmed and requested our assistance in keeping mercenaries and militant types from turning the city into a war zone.”
“When was it not a war zone?”
“Quiet Rob.”
“As I was saying. ADF7 needs our assistance. To those ends I want to see more patrols in the western half of the city. Are there any questions?”
“I got one.”
“Yes Mech?”
“Are there different rules of engagement in the city?”
“No. You all retain force as necessary permission at your discretion, but this is a city and there are civilians.”
“Yeah maybe three.”
“And civilians are not to be injured. Greater caution must be taken. I’ve been allowed to give you all a lot of leeway in how you handle your assignments, but if you cause more havoc that you’re solving there will be inquiries and changes made. That’s just the way it has to be. You all make a big enough mess with the Rale-5 Police as it is. Don’t make their lives any harder. Are there any more questions?”
The room was silent.
“Then Delta Squad is dismissed. Good luck everyone and make sure to welcome Officer Osira.”
Commander Bassardat left the room and Lieutenant Kaz Denton stood at the podium. He gently pulled Saran Osira up and she stood behind him like a soldier at attention.
“This is our newest member. I want you all to play nice. Bassardat wants those patrols ASAP so while you all get acquainted I’m going to go write up some orders. Everyone clear on this?”
“What are Alpha Squad and Sevens Squad doing?”
“Bassardat has already spoken with them. Alpha is going to take double duty outside of the city and Sevens is taking the eastern half of Rale-5.”
“Righto boss.”
Kaz left the room the same way the Commander had minutes prior leaving the Rale Police Officer still standing there. The room was silent.
“So…hello everyone. I’m Saran Osira…uh…formerly of the Rale-5 Police. Who are all of you?”
“What unit of the Ralos?”
“We don’t like being called Ralos.”
“They probably don’t, but We like calling them Ralos. Welcome to the ADF. We’re called the awesomos.”
“We are?”
“We should be.”
“Yeah we should. So what unit?”
“Unit 11-50 Interdictions.”
“At least we got one of those who know how to drive.”
Saran took out a pad of paper, “What are all of your names?”
The six looked at each other till a sandy haired man in his mid twenties shook his head, “I’m Copper. I’m Delta Squad’s pilot so I’m the go-to guy for air assistance. We only have an old shuttle and my ‘Chopper’, which is just one of your Ralo flight decks with some gun mods on it, so don’t think ADF can call in bombing runs or anything like that.”
“I don’t know. You strafed up that one smuggler’s car pretty good.”
“What can I say? I try.”
“Yeah it’s just too bad you can’t help us guys in the buildings. That’s my job. I’m Scars. Unlike Copper here, I don’t have a specialty. I just shoot stuff and keep Mech from getting blown to ribbons.”
“Is your name Scars?”
“No. It’s Belleg, but Mech named me Scars and it stuck. I’ll be damned if I know why.” Scars had brown hair, a clean-shaven, unmarred face, and dark blue eyes.
“Alright. Which one of you is Mech?”
“That’s me and what are you writing down?”
“Your names.”
“Don’t bother. There are only eight of us in Delta Squad and one of em’s you. You might work with Alpha and Sevens squad here and there, but even if you do there aren’t more than thirty of us total.”
“What do you mean thirty? What about Beta and Charlie squads.”
“There are no Beta and Charlie squads. Just Alpha, Delta, and Sevens. We got to name the squad and we liked Delta better than Beta and Charlie. Anyways each squad has eight or nine people and there are a few technician types that dance between units…so yeah…I’d say just over thirty people in ADF8.
“How many ADF units are there?”
“Eight. We’re the last because we’re cooler than the other seven.”
“How many members do the other squads have?”
“Same. Around thirty. There aren’t more than three hundred ADF members on this entire planet. You'll never meet two hundred and fifty of them, so don't bother writing anything down. We don't go by our names anyway. My name’s Mechath Belard...but I'm called Mech. The guy over there...his name is like Syda Volido or some crap like that, but we call him Stride. You'll get the names. Don't worry about that.”
“I don’t believe there are only three hundred ADF members. On Interdiction I was always cleaning up your guys’ mess. Dead bodies, exploded buildings, random acts of violence everywhere. There is no way that was just three hundred guys.”
“A hell of a lot less than three hundred. At most sixty since ADF7 and 8 are the only units near here. ADF6 is in Numok, and ADF5 looks over Rale-4. ADF1-2-3 and 4 are near other cities.”
Saran stood there dumbfounded.
“You’ll learn our methods real quick. You Ralos didn’t deal with the same kind of trouble we do.”
“We brought down criminals like you’ve never seen. You’re just brutes to us.”
“Brought down criminals? Well sure, but criminals are small fry. We go after the big guns...smugglers, bounty hunters gone extra-legal, assorted mercenary soldier types, and pretty much anyone else with lots of ammunition and a record of using it. As much as I hate to say it, half our record of destruction is only thanks to the guys we’re after.”
The ADF members nodded.
“I’ll believe it when I see it. Do you have a specialty?”
Mech nodded, “Electronics mostly, but I also work as Scars backup gun a lot.” Mech pointed to a thin faced man next to him with soft eyes, brown hair, and a short beard, “This is Stride. He’s our sniper, the best there is.”
“My real name is Cyve Volid, but you can call me Stride like everyone else. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“It is good to meet you Mr. Stride.”
Mech laughed, “Well we know who her favorite is now. The red headed menace sitting here is Dasmond. He blows things up.”
The burly man with red hair and a beaming smile shook his fist powerful, “Damn straight. I’m Dasmond the Fireball and if you need anything demolished, turned into smithereens, made smaller by an order of magnitude, or generally destroyed I’m your man.”
“I’ll remember that. Thank you.”
“No problem hun. I used to work with Falter, but he had to go get himself killed so it’s good to have another gunner here.”
“That’s good I guess.” Saran barely concealed a look of horror.
Mech smiled at Dasmond, “We’re all gonna seem a bit cold. Falter was a friend, but we can’t get too choked up. Dasmond makes every party worth going to…him and Rob, which is the last guy here.”
“Hello, I’m Rob…just Rob.”
“Yeah. We never gave him a kick-ass nickname.”
“Saran smiled, “I like the name Rob.”
“Thank you. I’m the mechanic mostly. I also co-pilot with Copper when he needs it. I’ll make sure you get a communicator.”
Saran nodded, “It’s good to meet all of you. Is there anything else I should know?”
Scar grinned, “If you don’t learn to call the cops Ralos we won’t like you and you’ll be sad.”
“I’ll remember that.”
Mech’s communicator beeped, “Mech here.”
“Alright. I’ll pass that along.”
Mech stood up and the group quieted, “That was Kaz. He wants Copper in the air and Scars and I on the road. The rest of you are supposed to get to the operations room.”
“Ugh. What’s up now?”
“I don’t know. Back to the grind.”
The ADF members stood and marched to their respective destinations.
Saran called out, “Good luck everyone. It’s good to meet to all.”
Mech spun and saluted casually, “Yep. Good to have you. Welcome to the team.”
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