Of Terrorists and Territory (& Crumpets)

[Incindre]

Two gunships took off again from their positions at Pillars 1 and 3 drop zones each carrying four persons.
Constable Walden the burly man who had been in the staff car with Junior Constable Higgins held onto the railings and stood at the edge of the gunships compartment looking out over the buildings they were ascending next to.
So all we gotta do is flick a switch in a box? Sounds like a job for one man not four! he spoke into the headset he had put on as he entered.
Youre not just up here to flick a switch Constable, Inspector Rogers said as he made a rough landing on the bridge where it joined a larger highway, Disembark and take a rifle each from the back.
The three Officers looked confused as they couldnt see anything immediately until the smallest of the group opened a sliding compartment at the back. They were presented with a rack of antique looking firearms.

Damn, a genuine slug frowah! Never fought Id use one of these... Walden muttered as he cradled the old weapon in his arms.
You sure these things work inspector? I mean these must be older than the gunship! his moustached compatriot asked their leader as he stepped through from the cockpit.
Rogers nodded, the stripped down vessel had been purchased over two decades ago from a mortgagee sale where it had seen service as a wealthy businessmans game hunting platform. In traditional style however hunters used charged powder guns, no one within the BPA had any reason to remove the classic weaponry from their housing.

Theyll work, Charge Powder doesnt sour in protected conditions such as that. The Inspector assured him, Besides, should you need to use it, a bullet is faster that a bolt from this distance.

The four men disembarked and made their way across the maglev tracks to the switchbox which could be seen on the bridge wall. The moustached man tried to open the lid of the corroding yellow compartment but couldnt. Locked! he exclaimed.
Stand back! Rogers pulled out his Plasma pistol and unloaded half a cap into the lock which melted away in streams of molten steel.

The Inspector opened the cage and pulled the large lever down upon which the softly glowing rails dimmed and were retracted from the merge points on the highway with a horrendous metallic grown.

Rogers stood back and activated his communicator.
This is Bridge team one to Bridge Team two, disconnection complete.
There was a pause, then a vibration and the rails glow went out completely.
Bridge Team two, mission complete, Inspector Lindsays voice came through.
Were moving to sniping positions, over. She said.
Copy that, doing the same here, over. Rogers replied. He changed channels, Superintendant Calvert sir! Where would be the best place for us to put the snipers?
Back in The Hub Benford Calverts fingers manipulated a 3D map, never pausing, always moving. North east of your current position there is a block of flats, get up onto the top balcony of that and you have coverage of two of the support pillars.
Copy that Sir. The voice came from speakers recessed in the room making a surround sound system, no one knew if it would ever come in use for anything apart from movies but it was fairly entertaining being able to know which way Rogers was facing going off the distant market hub sounds.

The gunships took off leaving the bridge shut down, Silsbury was informed. This meant that no traffic could be on the bridge if it fell, but if it fell it would be doing a lot more damage on the market anyway.

The two ships touched down in their positions and the snipers took their positions.
Walden tensed, things down at ground level were not looking fantastic through his scope...

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Currently Retired

Signs and Portents