The Fall of Bonn

[Echo 7-7]

Tucker not so much pressed but punched the door's activation keypad. The door slid open to reveal a middle-aged Rheinlander sitting behind a computer. Startled by the sudden intrusion, he jumped up from his desk, but calmed down when he recognised the man standing in the doorway. Hands shaking nervously, he put down the sidearm he had been directing at the doorway. INTERSPACE was emblazoned on his pale grey jumpsuit.

"Ah, h-herr Tucker. I was wondering when you would show up."

Found him at last. Took me a good while to find the sneaky bastard.

"We are going to escape, yes? We have to get out of here!"

Tucker glanced over his shoulder to check no one was watching, then stepped inside and sealed the door.

"Don't worry... I'm here to ensure the project's secrecy."

The other man breathed a small sigh of relief.

Tucker raised his gun.

"Tucker! Wait! No-"

*Bang, bang.*

The Interspace employee slumped to the floor, two bloody holes violating his chest and forehead. Tucker emptied the rest of the clip into the computer, shattering the screen and scattering optronic shrapnel flying across the room. Stepping around the mess, he rumaged through the desk drawers until he found a small silver flask. Reaching under the desk, he pulled out the Interspace man's briefcase and emptied the contents onto the ground.

The words CONFIDENTIAL - ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS were emblazoned on the papers. Tucker unscrewed the flask and tipped it over the paper, the clear liquid soaking into the pages. He stood back and reached into his coat pocket, pulling out a lighter.

No going back now.

Tucker flicked the lighter on and tossed it onto the stack of documents. A small flame grew from the corner, then rapidly consumed the rest of the pile.

Time to leave.

He ditched the spent energy clip and reloaded his pistol. He had only two spare clips left. Taking one last look at the room, he blasted the fire alarm and stepped out, shutting the door behind him. Then, he input a 10-key sequence into the door lock. By the time anyone cracks that code, the contents will be long gone.

*****

The hour was late, and the Rheinlanders had near-complete control of Bonn Station. At least, that's what Tucker thought. He had no way of knowing the status of the Corporate HQ Nodes - internal communications were down.

I wonder if my final hours will be spent behind this damn barricade before the stormtroopers kill us all.

James Tucker was sheltering behind makeshift defenses, deep within Bonn, huddled with a group of remaining Interspace Security personnel. I guess they're not all hopeless. These guys are either real tough nuts, or damn lucky.

He had "acquired" a carbine from a wounded Rheinland marine a few hours ago. There was enough power left to last for a while... but would it run out before reinforcements arrived?

Who was he kidding - they were the reinforcements, and there was no one coming to save them.

Suddenly, one of the ICS guards yelled out. "They're cutting through the doors!"

Tucker cursed and adjusted his position, training the gun on the doorway. Some kind of cutting beam was being used to carve a breach into the heavy double doors.

Here we go...

---

There was a sig here, once.