Chapter 24 - At the armory again (2/2)
”Hmm. OK. I guess you are right. It is best to be prepared,” answered Albert.
”Thanks for understanding,” said Balthazar.
”Hmm, I understand now that I have misjudged you and that you are going to be a member of my team. You wish to be an individual authority and a liaison not one of my team. Am I right?” asked Albert.
”Yes, I don't want to be a member of your team nor do I think I can work at the same pace as the rest of your team or back up any member of your team. I am not capable of working as a member of your team. So, I just want to know them to make my own decisions if the situation requires,” said Balthazar trying to explain his point.
”Ok. It's fine. I am willing to tell you as you have asked,” said Albert accepting Balthazar's premise.
”So, let us start with you. What is your position once we are there? What would you be doing? What are the weapons you are proficient in? What kind of combat suit would you be wearing?” asked Balthazar.
”Well, I would be carrying a life-size force-field shield, a combat suit mostly defense oriented supporting flight and standard issue gun and a portable staff for close combat. I would be beside you and Bolena preferably at all times,” said Albert.
”Ok. You are the person who is going to be stalking us. Cool!” said Balthazar smiling. ”What about the rest?”
”There are six others, Lila, Lily, Charles, Jordan, Sean and Nolan. Jordan and Sean would be undercover in disguise as personnel working there. We don't want Bolena to know of any of my team, except me. Lila and Lily, the twins are in charge of monitoring all electronic surveillance at Apropos. They wouldn't be seen once we reach the planet. They will always be working indoors. Charles and Nolan would be at vantage points outside monitoring her whenever she is outside in open spaces.”
”Why specially for open spaces. Why can't Charles and Nolan just follow Bolena in disguise as personnel. Do we expect something specially in open spaces?” asked Balthazar
”No. No. That is just their forte. They are good at observing in open spaces and outside,” said Albert. Seeing the confused expression on Balthazar, he said, ”Dude, they are snipers.”
”Oh!”
”They will be wearing the batsuit you have seen. A modification which supports stealth and reconnaissance mostly.”
”Oh! When can we meet them?”
”Let's get you fitted with your suit. Then we leave immediately.”
”Yeah, the earlier the better I guess.”
”Yeah! It is best, we don't have too many suspicious people around her. You are her brother, who came to visit, and I am your bodyguard after the explosion at the military base. So, none other than us would be in close proximity.”
”OK. The ones who are already guarding Bolena? What can you tell me about them.”
”They will be leaving Bolena entirely to us. They are mostly a scouting team and not really that good at protection details. If you see them observing Bolena after we take over, you can be sure they are working against us,” said Albert. He had also previously had suspicions about the possibility of someone betraying them. So, his team were already informed to take care of suspicious elements.
”Wow. Never seen you being that frank about your team dude. What magic spell did you put him under kid?” came a feminine voice suddenly. The person was carrying a large white case with her.
”He sent you?” asked Albert turning to look at the person walking towards them. ”Of all the idiots that he could send, Leon choose you,” he continued with a bit of aversion and what seemed to be a slight amount of fear.
”Of course, I am the best there is at weapons design. Pleasure to meet you Balthazar,” said the woman extending her hand. She was a little more than 5 feet tall, vanilla faced, had slit like irises and pink hair that fell to her shoulders. She spoke very fast as if she was in a hurry.
”This would be Miss Edgerton. She is one of the up and coming experts in designing weapons and combat tools,” said Albert introducing her to Balthazar.
”Nice to meet you, Miss Edgerton,” said Balthazar.
”Call me Ellie. Miss Edgerton's my mother,” she said.
”Just don't follow her to any lab or help her with any experiments. Her assistants tend to get hurt periodically,” said Albert looking sternly at her. He felt uneasy wondering if she was involved in making of the new suit. He had broken his leg wearing a combat suit designed by her and wary about her designs since then.
”He is exaggerating. It happened once. He is just a bit too squeamish. I am really good at it. Else why would they employ me? Huh!” she said to both of them.
Albert rolled his eyes. ”Just give us the suit. Is it tested?” he asked.
”Yes, even Morgan tested it. It is perfectly safe and functional. No need to worry. Your boy is in safe hands,” she said as she opened the case she was carrying. Inside it was dark suit. It was clearly armor plated and made of some coarse material. Even the entire head would be covered by it.
”Made of vibration absorbent materials that can resist temperatures of upto 1500 K. Has sensors that can detect any projectile near you and create an extremely strong force field about 1 millimetre away from the suit,” said Ellie pulling out the suit and showing it off.
”Like the batsuit?” asked Balthazar pointing at it.
”Batsuit?” she asked looking at the direction he pointed. ”Oh, that one! That is made to abduct and assault mostly. That is for a completely different purpose than this beauty. This is made to guard a target unlike that. It is meant to safeguard yourself against the worst possible outcomes. Though it has flight capabilities and has stealth capabilities and creates an illusion to appear as if you are wearing something else. It has a completely different purpose.”
”OK. Wait is this supposed to protect me or enable me to protect Bolena?”
”It is to protect yourself. Although you can protect another person by extending the force field over the usual range in case of an emergency, it severely depletes the energy source of the suit and would last for a maximum of 40 minutes max. I wouldn't suggest doing it.”
”So, I am not being equipped to protect Bolena?”
”You can carry firearms. But that is all. We have another suit, which we intend to be used for Bolena. It has similar specs. You want to protect Bolena. You best convince her to use it,” said Albert answering his question.
”You are an alliance military colonel, right? Why don't you have a firearm equipped already? You have the permit to carry firearms and use it in case of an emergency. Right?” started Ellie.
”Let me show you some of my babies,” she said catching Balthazar and pulling him.
Luckily, Albert stopped her. ”We are in a hurry, Ellie. Why don't you two set a meeting for another time?” he asked. They had to go to the planet and do it as soon as possible.
”Yes. I would love to discuss, it with you sometime else. I am extremely interested in any sort of new weapons. Why don't we exchange contact details?” he said taking the case from her. The quickly took each other's contact details and waved goodbye as he left the armory along Albert.