The Mission (part 1)

Agent 7338

Your next mission is infiltration and sabotage.

Subject: Planet Sirrus III
Objective:

1. Infiltrate the weapons facility at 1253.5/553.2
2. Locate the storage depot and destroy it with a neutrino detonator. Secondary Objective: Agent 4583 is a prisoner in that facility. Locate and rescue.

Mission specifics:

You will approach Sirrus III in a Class 4 stealth fighter and land no closer than 5 km from the weapons facility. You are authorized the use of a personal stealth suit, any mid range personal laser weapons, any mid range personal blaster weapons, Class 2 grenades and any personal melee weapons. Intelligence support indicates that the storage depot is in the northern sector of the facility. The neutrino detonator needs to be within 50 meters of the depot to completely destroy it.

Acknowledge.

---

Breaching the complete darkness, a light indicator activates. A slow pulsing blue that matches the breathing of the creature wearing this communication device. It would almost look like a regular gaming headset if it wasn't for the two triangle-shaped receiver and transmitter at the top. The triangles and a ring on the outside of each earpieces illuminate again now, as the creature breaths in. Its body twitches and the indicator turns to a solid blue, indicating that the boot sequence has completed successfully.

The distinctive sound of a hydraulic system breaks the silence as the instructions from High Command download to the headset. In the dimly-lit room holding the storage chamber, a hexagonal shape, about three feet in diameter pushes out of the wall. On its front, a plate bearing the serial number 7338. A humanoid shape sits up from the inside of that chamber. The room becomes brighter, revealing sensual curves covered in a shiny black material that covers the entire body of agent 7338. It pushes off its pod, the knee-high stiletto boot of its left leg making contact with the floor first, testing for stability and then joined by the other foot. As it walks into the brightness of the corridor, the communication device turns to green and transmits:

7338:: Code 202 — mission received, proceeding to the armoury.

...

It is busier than usual in the drone hive, 7338 notices from its sensors. On the internal display of its visors, the serial numbers of other active units are shown above their heads as they pass by. All of them clad in a similar rubbery shiny casing that monitors their vitals and deliver rewards to their nervous systems as they accomplish their objectives. Such positive reinforcement has shown to be an excellent method of mind control in the laboratories of Hexagon, the corporation that brought drones to the world, two decades ago. Of course, the kind of rewards delivered is different for each drone. Tuned and timed precisely during the initial ~~brainwashing~~ conversion process for maximum results.

A tall unit wearing a dark grey suit, adorned with flattering hot pink stripes ambles out of the armoury. It is uncommon for drones to be distracted by their primal instincts, but they are, under the hood, plain biological beings. 7338's attention is captivated by this alluring drone as it reaches its first destination. So much, in fact, that it does not notice the puppy drone following the tall one out of the door and almost trips on it. Puppy drones were also humans before their conversion. Their arms and legs are bound by their rubbery envelope, so that they have to move on all fours, like good puppies. This is linked to the kind of rewards that is best suited to them.

The feeling of sharp, knife-like scratches brings the attention of agent 7338 back into focus. It inhales deeply as the sensation progresses from its solar plexus, to between its breasts and ends at its throat, just under its chin. The communication headgear flashes pink as a reward is delivered and brings our drone back on track. Endorphin and dopamine releasing in its bloodstream.

... Right, acquiring equipment:

• Two neutrino detonators (one for backup, in case the other fails);
• A personal stealth suit;
• A laser hand gun that uses Compact Uranium Manifold (CUM) power cells;
• An ammunition belt containing 12 CUM power cells and 3 class-2 grenades;
• And a vibrating kubotan, for close encounter.

Its selection reviewed and confirmed by the armoury keeper, our protagonist heads back down the hallway, towards the launch bay. Its headset, still green, blinks twice as it communicates its progress.