The Iron Fish
14-05-2005, 23:04
The Offices of The Iron Intelligence Agency (IIA)
Budo, Capital of The Iron Fish
2100 Hours
Peter Lock sits in a large leather chair at the head of a table. Around the table are seated various people, who we will come to soon.
The room itself is, for the lack of a better term, flashy. There are screens and computers all around. There is also a large sign in the corner of the room that denotes the current level of danger to The Iron Fish.
This is currently set on “Probable.” Underneath that there is, “Possible,” and “Unlikely.” Above that there is, “Immediate Danger.”
Around the table sit three men and one empty chair.
The first Charles Lock, Peter’s brother and trusted right-hand man.
The second, General Brasco, Chief of Defence and Head of the Military.
The third is The Undersecretary to The Emperor’s personal aide. There to be the eyes and ears of The Undersecretary.
The fourth seat is vacant.
They are all staring intently at a TV screen…
“And our main news again is that The Department of Law and Order has been hit with a fresh scandal after it was revealed to us that it’s recently appointed head has defected to the rebel movement. The DLA has yet to comment, but it is feared that a rebel attack is imminent. People have been advised by a Spokesperson for The Undersecretary to The Emperor to stay calm and wait for a statement soon…”
“How…” asks Peter, “did the media get wind of this? How do they know so much? How do they know it so soon? In short, gentlemen I’d like to know…who is our leak?”
Charles is the first to speak.
“Peter, we don’t know. But we will find out.”
“Well do we think it’s a leak here or at the DLA?”
“Well, knowing the DLA it’s probably on their end. But we won’t know for sure for a while yet.”
“How hard can it be to keep things secret? Can’t we keep something quiet for five minutes?”
At this point General Brasco speaks up.
“I hate to interrupt, Lock, but we have more pressing issues at hand?”
“I know, General. I know.”
He indicates to the Undersecretary’s personal aide.
“John, what does the Undersecretary have to say?”
“He says get your act together.”
“That’s it?”
“That’s it.”
“Well be sure to thank him for that.”
“I will.”
Charles jumps in.
“Look, Peter, the best way to deal with this is to locate the rebels, send in the strike team and kill them all.”
“And how would you suggest we find them?”
“We are working on it. It shouldn’t be too long now. And in any event, if they are planning on an attack it won’t be tonight…”
MEANWHILE IN CENTRAL BUDO…
A man walks into the offices of the Department of Law and Order. He uses a pass card to gain access. The pass card belongs to one Theodore Grey, a low-level computer technician in the DLA.
The pass was stolen from Theodore by a man named Michael Longhorn and given to a rebel suicide bomber who, in approximately twelve seconds will detonate a device strapped to his waist.
Ten seconds.
The man stands in the central hub of the DLA. He is starting to attract looks. People do not recognise him.
Five seconds.
Julie Simons approaches the man. She intends to ask him for ID, as it standard practice.
Julie only started at the DLA a week ago.
One second.
No seconds.
BANG.
Glass shatters. Bodies fall to the ground. The DLA is a raging inferno. The building itself trembles. The blast sends people simply walking past flying into the road.
The first blow has been struck in this war.
The Emperor will not be pleased.
Budo, Capital of The Iron Fish
2100 Hours
Peter Lock sits in a large leather chair at the head of a table. Around the table are seated various people, who we will come to soon.
The room itself is, for the lack of a better term, flashy. There are screens and computers all around. There is also a large sign in the corner of the room that denotes the current level of danger to The Iron Fish.
This is currently set on “Probable.” Underneath that there is, “Possible,” and “Unlikely.” Above that there is, “Immediate Danger.”
Around the table sit three men and one empty chair.
The first Charles Lock, Peter’s brother and trusted right-hand man.
The second, General Brasco, Chief of Defence and Head of the Military.
The third is The Undersecretary to The Emperor’s personal aide. There to be the eyes and ears of The Undersecretary.
The fourth seat is vacant.
They are all staring intently at a TV screen…
“And our main news again is that The Department of Law and Order has been hit with a fresh scandal after it was revealed to us that it’s recently appointed head has defected to the rebel movement. The DLA has yet to comment, but it is feared that a rebel attack is imminent. People have been advised by a Spokesperson for The Undersecretary to The Emperor to stay calm and wait for a statement soon…”
“How…” asks Peter, “did the media get wind of this? How do they know so much? How do they know it so soon? In short, gentlemen I’d like to know…who is our leak?”
Charles is the first to speak.
“Peter, we don’t know. But we will find out.”
“Well do we think it’s a leak here or at the DLA?”
“Well, knowing the DLA it’s probably on their end. But we won’t know for sure for a while yet.”
“How hard can it be to keep things secret? Can’t we keep something quiet for five minutes?”
At this point General Brasco speaks up.
“I hate to interrupt, Lock, but we have more pressing issues at hand?”
“I know, General. I know.”
He indicates to the Undersecretary’s personal aide.
“John, what does the Undersecretary have to say?”
“He says get your act together.”
“That’s it?”
“That’s it.”
“Well be sure to thank him for that.”
“I will.”
Charles jumps in.
“Look, Peter, the best way to deal with this is to locate the rebels, send in the strike team and kill them all.”
“And how would you suggest we find them?”
“We are working on it. It shouldn’t be too long now. And in any event, if they are planning on an attack it won’t be tonight…”
MEANWHILE IN CENTRAL BUDO…
A man walks into the offices of the Department of Law and Order. He uses a pass card to gain access. The pass card belongs to one Theodore Grey, a low-level computer technician in the DLA.
The pass was stolen from Theodore by a man named Michael Longhorn and given to a rebel suicide bomber who, in approximately twelve seconds will detonate a device strapped to his waist.
Ten seconds.
The man stands in the central hub of the DLA. He is starting to attract looks. People do not recognise him.
Five seconds.
Julie Simons approaches the man. She intends to ask him for ID, as it standard practice.
Julie only started at the DLA a week ago.
One second.
No seconds.
BANG.
Glass shatters. Bodies fall to the ground. The DLA is a raging inferno. The building itself trembles. The blast sends people simply walking past flying into the road.
The first blow has been struck in this war.
The Emperor will not be pleased.