Covert Investigation on Kytreon

After given the all-clear from Novalyse to move in, A.D.R. mobilized the investigations team that they had prepared to launch for the border of Novalyse. They were ready to meet with investigators from OMNE and Novalyse to dig deep into what had happened and hopefully shed some light on that fateful day in Akrai.

Since the attack involved some of ADR's prized scientists, they held no reservations about sending some operatives from their best teams. Ten specialists were sent across two transport ships; they also sent a total of twenty-five standard infantrymen and two fighter ships to stay behind on the border in case of an emergency or the need for a larger military engagement. They brought along with them a good array of some of ADR's advanced military tech, especially surveillance equipment, which would be catalogued thoroughly to be tracked and presented to the proper Novalysian authorities before the ADR operatives even arrived. They would, of course, consent for everything to be checked and cleared as they waited to be briefed on their assignments.

H.4.X and his squadron of securion operatives made it to the border of Novalysian space, they saw the A.D.R ship and stayed close making sure they were in the right spot for pick up.

The securion were well armed for any altercations and well prepped for the investigation, and just as the A.D.R all their equipment would be  reported to the Novalysians to avoid any unpleasant interaction. 

H.4.X awaited the pick up, drumming his fingers, annoyed he was doing this. He greatly disliked going to Novalyse, he left it for a reason. But men had gotten hurt while under his command, and he didn't care what kind of reason these rebels, or terrorists, or whatever the hell they were, had. He wanted justice for hurt men, and he was going to get it no matter how long he had to spend there.

The Novalysian carrier ship moved ot the borders on schedule and waited from the O.M.N.E Corp and A.D.R ships to arrive at the borders.  As the ships approached they would see the borders lined with fighter ships, at their backs many flag ships stood overseeing them.  The mass of vessels nearly made up a solid wall around the borders as far as they could see.  

The wall broke allowing the carrier to retrieve the designated operatives from the colonies of the Assembly.  The operatives would be taken into the load hall where a Vanguard insured their cooperation with inspection and clearances.  Each would be ushered down the line, asked ot remove any weaponry for inspection and state what augmentations they had, if any.  Once they surrendered their weapons they would be walked through metal detectors as well as scanned for dangerous substances and disease with a handheld device they passed over their foreheads.  If tested clean the next steps would begin.

All of the ADR's soldiers and operatives were cleared, and would hand over all of their possessions, ID's, and information rather complacently. They were ordered to be on their best behavior under Novalysian control, and waited readily to hear the mission briefing.

The  OMNE forces went where they were told and did as they were told complying with all of the security procedures completely. The only one of them that had any implants was H.4.X who had cybernetic eyes legs and arms, all of which very obviously Novalysian in origin. They await debriefing with the A.D.R operatives who were also present.

After clearances were finished the Vanguard opened the doors leading out of the loading hall into the rest of the ship. The majority of the teams would be kept inside with their weaponry as the heads of the teams were led down the gunmetal walls to a small briefing room. Axon stood awaiting them behind the table at the back of the room, already seated were two Cascadian operatives who had been chosen to accompany the investigation.

"It looks like its just about time to begin, please have a seat Mason. Your from the ADR....didn't expect them to send me some of their best operatives considering the minimal losses they sustained. Nevertheless, introduce yourselves and have a seat then we will begin." Axon spoke briefly as they entered the room.

:: the 2 Cascadians would stand up, their armor was incredibly sleek look and it was hard to tell if it was the color and texture of mercury or pitch black and it seemed to almost fluctuate in light::

OP1- Hello everyone, I am Sei, and this is my partner Reiji. We're here from the CSS Virtuous to assist in the investigation

H.4.X nodded at axon when he walked in and when he told people to introduce them selves he stood up "I am securion operative H.4.X, though you may call me James Mason. I am the leader of the O.M.N.E Corporation team that was sent in to aid in the investigation and possible retaliation against the individuals who perpetrated the attack. These are my men."

Two operatives stood up and introduced themselves as agents L.0 AND L.Z they were both investigative operatives stationed in the Eli outposts.

The next two were operatives Z.0 and R.Z these women were both military securion soldiers of the highest caliber, used to assault pirates and various other organized crime groups.

and the last two were 13 and 37 present at the UOR during the shooting and trained mostly in security and police work though also used in military operations.

After their introductions they sat down, waiting for the rest to do the same.

"Agent Zeryth," a slender blonde girl spoke up. "I'm commanding the ADR spec-ops for this mission. Four years experience running paramilitary and civilian logistics and intel across our system. I'll be overseeing things on our end, making sure everything goes smoothly."

A young man in sleek armor with piercing eyes went next. "Holloway, point-man for Unit Aardonyx. I shoot people," he grinned in response to all of the other drawn-out explanations. Zeryth elbowed him hard in the side so he would be more formal. "Ahem. Rezaian Emergency Response Squad. Let me elaborate. I shoot people -and- angry rampaging dinosaurs, and anything in between. I lead our front-line emergency management teams, primarily ones that deal with terrorism and wide-scale disasters that put civilians at risk. That better, Zeryth?"

"Detective Sakada," an older, more gentlemanly man of Asian descent said. "Special investigations, twenty-three years combined experience across police and military forces. My team primarily works in investigations with violent crimes such as terrorism, gang activity, multiple-homicide, missing persons, cyber-crime, organized and intercolonial crime."

"It's good to be working with everyone here," Zeryth nodded.

Once they had all taken their seats Axon put his hands down on the table before them, a keypad lighting up as his hands pressed down on the table top. He pressed a sequence of lit keys which dimmed as his fingers glided across them. Soon, before each of those present at the table a holographic screen appeared paused on the image of a helmeted rebel just after the attack.

"I'll get straight to the point. After the rebels cleared out of Akrai the ground team was able to retrieve security of the entire incident. I'll let you decide for yourself what you think of this video."

At the press of a lit key the screens plays the chosen snapshot of the video feed. The rebels threw aside his helmet, letting unkept hair fall into his face. He stepped out of the alleyway toward a dead Vanguard soldier, rolling him over before driving his heel into the side of the deceased man's head. He then looked to a dead woman before as delicately as possible stepping over her body and walking back to retrieve his helmet. As he rose from picking it up the screen froze, showing the dim but distinct blue glow pattern in his eyes. Axon looked to Mason briefly before beginning again.

"What you see before you in the unique light pattern of optical replacements. Mason has similar replacement, in red. Thus we have reason to believe that this was not some run of the mill rebel or pirate attack but rather some kind of inside rebellion. Following recent event's it is extremely difficult to pinpoint exactly what may have been the cause."

"I believe you are correct, Mr. Axon," Detective Sakada began. "If I may?" Unless there were any objections, he continued briefly and politely.

"What occurs to me as I view this footage, Mr. Axon, is that there was little tactical advantage for the assailants in an attempt to take Akrai itself. Being that there are generally only two reasons for such an attack, one being a strategic maneuver and the other being some form of fear-tactic or personal gain, I would think that the answer to many of our questions lies not in what they had to gain, but in what we had to lose. Perhaps there was something more enticing at Akrai that we need to take a closer look at?"

H.4.X nodded "I have to agree with detective Sakada. I don't think this was just for taking the settlement or taking something from us though, there didn't seem to be anything of interest there, not apparently anyway. I feel like there was some other motive behind this attack."

Sei would speak up aswell:: Based on what we see here, it seems likely that if the person we're looking at is in any type of leadership role we should expect any further attack to be much more pinpoint. If you see the way he carefully avoids harming or disturbing the civilian womans body, but blatantly desicrates the Novalysian corpse. This shows a modicum of regret for the loss of innocent life, or at the very least that this ONE soldier feels this way, and that gives a possible us a possible exploit

Axon's eyes following each person has they spoke, nodding as they finished until everyone had had adequate time to respond.

"We are all in agreement that there is more to this attack than meets the eye. Akrai is one of the smaller, more isolated settlements on Kytreon. This site was specifically chosen because it was away from most of the danger during the rioting after Chase was injured. I believe someone who doesn't trust the A.D.R leaked information regarding the whereabouts of the scientists.

Enough speculation on motives however, the name of the man you see before you is Dirk Lawrence, former Lieutenant Colonel before he was dishonorably discharged from Cayrn Company for unnecessary brutality against recruits. I'd have to agree with Sei, if Lawrence is leading the operation we need to approach this quickly and cautiously."

Axon opened a copy of the military report listing the retrieved survivors, dead tolls, and those who are still missing.

"As you can see, we have a total of nine missing individuals according to the registry taken of who was in the settlement at the time, including one Vanguard soldier, one A.D.R Guardsmen, and seven civilians. I must stress exactly how crucial it is that the rebels do not find out exactly what is going on in this investigation, any release to the media will not only jeopardize our current leads but the lives of those who were caught in the cross fire."

"So let me clarify," Zeryth said briskly with a mixture of concern and urgency, "the body of ADR's L.Cpl. Wenning was not recovered at the scene?"

Sakada seemed troubled. "It makes perfect sense that they would have taken one of ours, dead or alive, for any information he might have had on him. Particularly if this was targeted at our researchers - not that I'm saying that was the motive. But regardless, our best lead is this Lawrence fellow. What can you tell us about him?" As he spoke, Sakada replayed the video over and over again, taking second-by-second details of every inch of the footage. He repeatedly paused on Lawrence's face and zoomed in as much as possible.

Aside from the discharge any reason he would want to attack

Axon nodded to Sakada and Zeryth.

"According to our reports Wenning was suppose to be located in building 501, where the ADR was housed at the time of the attack.  Our ground team found no trace of his body or what direction he may have went after leaving the building.  They believe that he was found, treated, and taken along with the other prisoners to be used a leverage for whatever it is that they are after."  

Axon leaned over the table, entering some kind of code into the lit keys before him before the military profile of Dirk Lawrence appeared on their screens as well.  He looked quite different from the gruff, unkept man in the video.  His hair was clipped, his eyes showed the same ocular implants.  The file read as follows:

Name: Dirk Lawrence

Code Name: Smoke

Age: 30

DOB:N/A until liam finishes calender

Class Ranking: 3:10

Mentor: Auron Kage

Familial History: Gerund Lawrence (Father), Melfina Lawrence (Mother)

Recruitment: First Born Tribute

Discharge: Dishonorable (Unreasonable Brutality directed toward New Recruits.)

Training Received: Special Ops- Interrogation, Covert Ops-Intensive.

"Lawrence was specially trained in covert operation at the intensive level, making this investigation significantly more difficult.  He has also been trained extensively in interrogation tactics among other things.  Every moment our POW's are in his custody the more likely he is to receive information regarding what it is he wants.  Dirk Lawrence was perhaps one of our best operatives until his departure, I can think of no other reasons besides his discharge to warrant a disdain for the people he spent years trying to protect."

H.4.X nods while listen to the description of their 'target' and sighs "Well this isn't going to be any kind of easy is it." he leans back slightly "Where do we start? If what you say about his interrogation skills are true we need to move very quietly and very quickly."

Axon nodded.

"I have a ground detachment from Ghost Company stationed just outside the borders of Akrai. They've already done a sweep of the settlement and captured a wounded rebel, male and unknown colonial origin. Your teams will be transported to the surface outside Akrai where you will meet Major Spears and the rest of the team. Right now this is our only lead connecting us to Lawrence and the rest of the assailants, it is extremely important that the prisoner remains alive throughout the investigation."

"Understood," Zeryth said. "I would think that, with the sheer boldness of their attack on Akrai, they'd have the potential to hit it again. With us and our investigation intel in it. Any chance the rebels are still monitoring Akrai or leeching communications? It'd make sense; they know that's where the counter-ops will be."

"We've got tracing equipment," Sakada answered. "Potentially, if they try and touch one speck of data going in or going out, we can get a better line into their position." He grinned with an ever so subtle hint of the expression of a cat hunting mice. "We could even set a trap for them, should they decide to interfere."

"I completely agree and that is why the prisoner has been moved from Akrai to an undisclosed location. Not that I do not trust you and your men, but for the safety of the prisoner until we can get more information Spears is the only person other than myself and the general who knows exactly where he is being held. It would be foolish to move into Akrai with the entire military on guard and I think Lawrence knows that. He won't make a move so brazenly again after so many casualties, he'll wait and plan his next move carefully." Thorne turned to Sakada. "I'll send word to Spears that you intend to set up tracing equipment, the discussion regarding best location would best be had with Morgan."

Sei would speak up, while Reiji was busy looking through any surveillance that was open to him of the settlement after the attack studying any pattern in the rebels as they left and if any groups split off::
Sei- I assume theres been no contact by them in regard to what they want? And are we positive he's been captured, Has there been any indepth search of the surrounding area.You very well might have a wounded man on the ground that has further Intel. Also the Virtuous did not detect any other ships in the vicinity in orbit, or planet side. This means that they have a base of opertions planet side, It would likely be near a settlement or a landing pad or have their own landing pad, they'd need food and supplies. Can you grant access to a map of the planet and highlight all the settlements and any landing zones. Also I know this may be an obscure request but we need to make a hole in the blockade. Whether it be somthing that seems like an over sight or if we visibly have a number of the blockade ships reinforce other area's. it needs to be tempting but not a perfect hole. We need have long range monitoring of said hole so we can watch it but not be seen watching it. If wetake the location of the attack, and if they take they bait and have a ship enter or exits, obviously if it exits we'll need to have it followed until its out of planet sensor range and then picked up, we can use the trajectory of the ship to pinpoint which landing field it used or if they have their own,the 2 points should give us a less then planet sized search area, if the ADR can succesfully ping a communication signal then we have 3 points, we can triangulate

"Sei is correct," Sakada nodded as he listened to the plan. "It could take weeks to scour the entire planet and, in that time, they'd have an opportunity to disperse even more. Especially with missing persons, we need every second we can get. Perhaps, if we run a bait-and-switch operation at the same time as they know that your people are handling an investigation on Akrai, they'll be more likely to slip up."

Axon signed.

"The surrounding area of the settlement has been cleared with no signs of rebels. The prisoner we have in custody is not talking, hence why I have taken the liberty of informing Spears that one of you will be handling the interrogation. You may talk among yourselves to decide who will take lead in that aspect of the investigation.

As for the barricade I do not generally issue orders to break formation however, seeing as how one of our own is involved I agree that it would be best to entice them with an opportunity. I will issue the order as soon as we conclude here, speak with Spears regarding your ideas for a Bait-and-Switch Sakada and I will ensure that everything you need is available to you."

"Understood," Sakada replied.

"Thanks for letting everyone be a part of this," Zeryth nodded. "We're ready to move ASAP. We can get everything worked out on the way."