[hr][center][b][u][h3][FREIGHT][/H3][/U][/B][/center][hr]

Leaving Shieldtown after Thunderdome Protocol physically hurt. The girls had assured her that that they had everything under control. Vi had radioed that she was en-route to locate Jade, and Wolf had seen the cyber-warrior crash into a wave of [i]Ferals[/i] on their way out. Getting pressed against Astrid's back during their ride to Freight made up for the anxiety a little.

[color=8dc73f][HK][/color] had slaved [color=8dc73f][Albatross-02][/color] to Wolf's receiver, and the matte drone sailed silently behind them like a wraith on insulated thrusters. It had a couple of AGM-65 Mavericks, and a .50 Cal machinegun along with the Enhanced Observation suite. Not a [i]lot[/i] of ordinance, but in a pinch nothing turned the tables like a surprise missile from a platform nobody knew was there. Wolf knelt on the lip of the overlook where they had stopped while [color=8dc73f][Albatross-02][/color] highlighted all the Halcyon goons wandering around in the open, and a few inside buildings that pinged on thermal. The structures of Freight weren't very well insulated, thankfully.

[color=8dc73f][OBSERVING[/color] [color=f26522]24[/color][color=8dc73f] HOSTILES][/color]
[color=8dc73f][NOTATING[/color] [color=f26522]13[/color][color=8dc73f] PRIOR DISTURBANCES][/color]
[color=8dc73f][RUNNING PATH_TO_VICTORY.SIM]
[PROCESSING] . . .
[SUGGESTING KINGSLAYER.PRTCL TO HOST] -|[/color]

[i]No, [color=8dc73f][HK][/color], I know we want this elevator but we aren't here to conquer it. This is a [b]stealth[/b] mission.[/i]

Wolf rolled her eyes a little as [color=8dc73f][HK][/color] highlighted several infrastructure targets for AGM strikes insistently. It was still technically considered "stealth" if nobody was around to talk about what happened, and sowing chaos in the settlement would be [i]so[/i] easy. Wolf stamped out the notion firmly. 

[i]Stealth means nobody knew we were there, [color=8dc73f][HK][/color].[/i]

[color=8dc73f][HOST REJECTS SUGGESTED COURSE OF ACTION]. . .
[REGRETTABLE] -|[/color]

[b][color=92278f]"Well... Looks like we're dealing with about twenty that aren't working or otherwise distracted. They're spooked, moving in full fireteams. Looks like someone did a number on one of their transports, and a large number of them are still cleaning up from the early [i]Hunt[/i]. No [i]Rippers[/i], thankfully,"[/color][/b]

[color=8dc73f][LOCATING TARGET FOR INTRUSION]
[PATHFINDING]. . . -|[/color]

[color=8dc73f][HK][/color] drew a NAV-line into the Elevator facility for the [color=8dc73f][Vulture][/color] drone on her back to follow. 

[i]Yes, [color=8dc73f][HK][/color] [i]we[/i] can get in and out that way without being seen, that doesn't get Astrid inside.[/i]

[color=8dc73f][CONSIDERING SUGGESTIONS FROM...[/color] [i][color=00aeef]guest[/color][/i][color=8dc73f]] -|[/color]

[i]Ugh. Fine. I'll ask. Brat.[/i]

[color=92278f][b]"If we cause too big a disturbance they'll probably lock down the Elevator again, but from what I can tell it looks like they're in a hurry to launch it. Got any ideas?"[/b][/color]