LPI Karl Agathon

[MB52]

Karl stepped off the transport and squinted his eyes... it was a bright and bleak place.... "Where are we?" he asked as he pulled a pair of Aviators out of his leather jacket and put them on.

"About 10 clicks from the plantation, I figured we'd get further if we were able to sneak in" Isabella commented

"Alright then lets go" He grabbed an assault rifle and began to walk...

"Where do you think your going hotshot?"

"To the plantation...."

"Other way...." She pointed in the opposite direction, as she began walking that way.

They walked for several hours over the rocky terrain... this definitely wasn't a very hospitable place.... by the time they reached sight of the plantation, dusk was threatening. Taking cover, Karl pulled out a small set of binoculars from his jacket and began scanning the area.

"Lots of people working there, plenty of guards..." he handed the binoculars to Isabella.

"Don't worry bout the workers.. the slaves won't help their masters"

"Yeah.. but they may be able to help us"

Night finally came and an eerie silence came over the area. The two slipped into the compound silently and made their way to the main bunker. Outside the entrance two guards stood, one on each side of the door. Karl picked up a rock and tossed it around the corner. Curious one guard came out to see where it had come from, only to find Isabella hiding around the corner with a knife. With a cold professionalism, she sliced his throat and gently dropped him to the ground. He made no sounds. Karl moved swiftly and grabbed the second guard. With a few well timed punches the surprised guard fell to the ground, unconscious.

They moved into the compound, and found a computer terminal.

"Alright, give me one second to crack this" Isabella began to work on the computer.

Karl peeked around the corner... two guards were coming, with their weapons drawn...

"Damn... we have company... keep working I'll hold them off"

He spun around the corner and began firing his rifle, cutting down one of the two guards as he dove across the hall into the room across from the computer room. He got up and turned to deal with the last guard. He raised his rifle and fired as he ran into the room he'd entered... the guard fell without firing a shot.. he quickly made his way back to Isabella

"Where is he"
"One floor down, in a prison cell"
"Ok lets go"
"Wait, there is something here you might want to see" she pointed to the computer.

On the screen were intricate plans, signed by the Don in charge of this area. The plans were a series of terrorist attacks on Liberty planets. One of which, was Denver... and happened 17 years ago

"They never did find the bastard responsible...."

Isabella moved towards the door "If this is the guy who killed your parents, like Mike told me... "

"Then he doesn't leave here alive... lets get Mike out" Karl gripped his rifle firmly and ran out of the room towards the cells, as an alarm sounded.

They made their way to the cells with little problems. Isabella was as talented with a gun as she was beautiful. Ironic for her and Karl's pacifist brother to be involved.... as they approached the rooms, voices could be heard inside. By pure instinct Karl motioned to Isabella to stop with hand signals.

"Who would come to get you!" a voice was heard inside. "Not feeling cooperative? alright then..."

Karl swung open the door to see an outcast guard preparing to strike his brother with the end of his rifle.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you" he stepped in

"What? who are you?" the guard swung, trying to train his rifle on Karl, but was shot down quickly. One bullet to the head was all it took.

"Karl, Isabella?" Mike stood up, his eyes adjusting to the light flooding in through the now open door

"Yup, lets get out of here" Karl reached out to his brother and helped him to his feet, they briefly hugged before Mike grabbed Isabella and passionately kissed her..

"Ok.. Isabella.. get Mike to the ship, I have unfinished business"

"What business?" Mike asked...

"The bastard who killed our parents is here, I'm going to make sure he doesn't do it to anyone else again"

"No, let him live with the guilt, there is no need for further violence..."

"Mike for once... I won't be taking your suggestions... now please go.. I'll meet you at the ship"

Karl ran out of the room and headed for the compound's command center. Resistance would be stiff here. As he moved up the stairs, shots rang out from above. He looked up to see a guard at the top of the stairs firing down at him. He felt a searing pain in his left shoulder but ignored it, bringing his rifle up and unloaded the clip into the guard. Out of ammo... he reached for his trusty side arm and tossed the rifle aside. He climbed the stairs cautiously, well aware of his injury. Upon reaching the top, he shot down another guard, narrowly dodging another bullet. The guards body slumped over the railing and fell to the bottom floor of the compound with a sickening thud. Finally he reached the door to the main command center...

He picked up the weapon the guard had dropped and held it in one hand, his LPI issue side arm in the other. With both weapons ready he kicked down the door and rushed in, firing shots at anything that had a weapon. Which incidentally was everyone in the room. He walked up to a COMM unit and fired a few shots, disabling their communications. Alerted to the noise two guards rushed in, followed by their commander.

By instinct Karl opened fire on the guards, taking them down with ease.. He raised his pistol and aimed at the commander.

"Mr. Agathon, I'm surprised you made it this far, I obviously need to look into hiring new men... "
Karl looked at the man curiously...
"Oh yes I know who you are... the name is unimportant, and I assume you are here to kill me?"
"For what you.."
"For the attack which killed your parents... among a thousand others... I needed to send a message to rival slavers"

The outcast hand dropped to his side arm and pulled his pistol up. Defensively Karl opened fire. but nothing happened. His pistol let out a click.. he had run out of ammo.
The outcast smiled and raised his weapon, taking aim.

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I’ll carry this flag
To the grave if I must
Because it’s flag that I love
And a flag that I trust