The Anomaly

[Rodent]

Chapter 13- The Setting

Against the Park were several hotels, all cordoned and sealed off before the Duke's arrival. It could have been a perfect defense, but it needs one weak link to break the chain. A Police officer of medium rank had been bribed beforehand and he was creating holes, gaps in the defense through which several young men and women sneaked through into different buildings surrounding.

Pierre Blanchard ran quickly along the deserted Building Corridors, stopping briefly to look into each room and more importantly, it's window. In his right hand was a Black Briefcase, he tried not to look at that. Jogging almost to the end of the hall, he repeated the process with another room, and found what he was looking for. The Window was open of course, a safety precaution. What was important was that beyond the window, the view to where Etienne was giving his speech was perfect for what he needed.

He got into radio contact with his peers, the response was more or less the same. They had found what they needed, or in the process of finding it. He grunted sourly, and wiped perspiration off his forehead. Nervous did not even begin to describe his emotional state, but his mind was firm. In the background, a man's persuasive voice urged him on to do something for Great Gallia.......

Shaking his head, he opened the Briefcase. Inside were the parts of what would be a makeshift Sniper Rifle. Very Old fashioned, but a shot to the head is still a shot to the head. Hands Trembling, he tried to recall how to assemble it. It was surprisingly simple to do, and soon he had a weapon of destruction in his hands. He made radio contact again, everyone was in position......

The plan was simple. From Different buildings, each sniper was to shoot a different target, all of some importance, throw a grenade to cause confusion, and make a run for it. A small Shuttle waited for them in a wood nearby. They all had black Suits on, designed to protect them against stray laser and gun shots. Pierre sighed deeply, he was to shoot the Duke.

Shuffling to the window, he quickly put the drapes back on, and put the Sniper Rifle through them so that only the barrel and the scope was visible. He began to take aim.......


***

Not all of the Guards arranged were amateurs. A few were from the Duke's personal guard, well trained....very well trained. Tells something about the gap between the Aristocracy and the masses. They looked sharply around them, taking in every detail, and one of them noticed a drape being drawn in the nearby building.....

Bleu-One, I saw something. Drape being drawn in building northwest of Hummer.

Oui Bleu-Six, Four already reported in seeing a drape drawn at a different location, get into the building fast and investigate.

Understood.

A keen eye would have noticed select people from the Guard walking off speedily, shoving their way through the crowds to their destination. Sadly, no one was noticing.

***

Pierre cursed as the Duke fidgeted once again to another position on the Dais, and began re-adjusting his sights. Can't the Damn man stay still?. They had orders to all shoot at the same time, for obvious reasons, Most of them had their targets locked, but they did not have moving targets.

He could dimly hear the Duke's voice, saying something about the Greatness of Gallia, and laughed under his breath.I have seen the truth He thought bitterly. It took him a fair while to adjust his sights again, only a little recalibration remained and then he could finally get it over with.....Just a little more.....

The Door cracked open.

All he could do was curse as a Black man quickly took hold of him and threw him to the ground, pinning his hands behind his back. He could dimly hear demands to know what he was doing here, but he could no longer hear. Dimly floating into his minds were curses over the Radio as his companions were also seized. He pressed the button near his left hand to send an emergency transmission that all had gone wrong.

Adeline

Andie was monitoring all frequencies, and he could not have missed the emergency transmission when it came. He didn't. He looked at his comrades sitting, and actually had the gall to smile.

Ansel gave the tiniest of nods in return, directed at Jean-Paul. Jean moved over to the transmission control and sent a brief, concentrated, coded transmission back.

All the cards had been dealt.