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Post by Jordanna on May 1, 2008 21:42:49 GMT -5
"I know the 'thing' in that lab, Highsmith," said Vance, in a cold, dangerous voice. "I was a soldier too--and so was he. He was one of the best I ever served with... and this is the way his country thanked him."
Highsmith was awkwardly silent. Vance made a quiet noise of disgust and abruptly turned back to the table, shaking his head.
"Have you got any questions, Regina?" he asked quietly. "...I need a minute."
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Post by skybright on May 1, 2008 23:04:15 GMT -5
Daws nodded quietly and turned back to Highsmith with a stony expression. "So tell me this, hotshot, just how many so-called 'scientists' are you guys keeping under wraps? How many people are in on this little Nazi project of yours?"
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Post by Jordanna on May 2, 2008 21:31:39 GMT -5
"I don't know the science business," Highsmith snarled. "I just stand guard eight hours a night--when everyone's asleep. I couldn't tell you anything even if I wanted to."
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Post by skybright on May 2, 2008 23:41:39 GMT -5
Daws scowled. "Then you're lucky we're the nice kind of folks who don't treat other people like they're disposable . . . unlike your bosses."
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Post by Jordanna on May 3, 2008 20:45:00 GMT -5
Highsmith set his jaw. "There's no point in talking to you," he growled, and hunched himself back against the wall, defiant and defensive as a man preparing to withstand a long siege.
Vance shrugged and decided to let the man stew for a while. He moved back to Cole, with an apologetic half-smile. "I'll bet your head's not feeling too good by now."
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Post by skybright on May 4, 2008 21:13:05 GMT -5
Cole sighed deeply and looked up with a slightly ill expression. "You have no idea, Major." He murmured.
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Post by Jordanna on May 4, 2008 22:28:30 GMT -5
"Okay then." Vance nodded to Cole's scribbled notes. "Let's see what you've got. Maybe it'll be enough."
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Post by skybright on May 5, 2008 1:05:27 GMT -5
Cole nodded wearily and stood, moving to the side of the table. "I suppose the best place to start is with that self-destruct you mentioned. While he was deciding whether or not to believe you, he ran through several locations that a switch like that might be located, if it exists."
After a moment's examination, Cole marked out three spots on the map of the tunnels, shrugging. "They're only vague guesses from someone who doesn't have access everywhere inside -- the real thing could easily be located somewhere he doesn't even know about. But it's something."
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Post by Jordanna on May 5, 2008 21:33:43 GMT -5
"Yeah, it is." Vance rubbed his jaw and studied the map. "Maybe Proteus can get to those spots and check them out before we start raising the roof."
Nate frowned. "Proteus isn't exactly up with modern technology. Even if he found the destruct switch, you think he could take it out by himself?"
"It's a fair point. We'll have to ask him about it--but right now it seems like the only option." The Major turned back to Cole. "What about passwords? It looked like you were having some luck with that."
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Post by skybright on May 5, 2008 23:36:17 GMT -5
Cole nodded and passed Vance one of the sheets of notepaper. "It took some doing, but those are the passwords I could get -- and the things they're used for." He said.
He gestured to a group of words clustered close together near the bottom of the page. "The pass phrases for the main doors -- they rotate every night of the week." He explained. "I've marked them with the night they're used for -- luckily Highsmith keeps that sort of information in a very ordered part of his mind."
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Post by Jordanna on May 6, 2008 22:45:57 GMT -5
"Yeah, some things even fall into military discipline in the brain." Vance looked over the list of passwords. "That should be a big help, especially to Proteus."
He looked back up at Cole. "What could you get about security in general--guards and mechanical systems?"
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Post by skybright on May 7, 2008 0:44:06 GMT -5
Cole rubbed his eyes and then thumbed through his small sheaf of notepaper. "There are guards stationed throughout the complex -- not just on the surface, like Highsmith and his comrades, but within the tunnels as well." He said, "Presumably that's meant to make any full-scale assault through the front more difficult.
"As for systems, there are the standard alarms you'd expect -- including a number of heat-sensing apparatus around the complex perimeter."
"We knew about those already." Daws interjected quietly.
Cole nodded. "The main entrance to the tunnels has also been fitted with a pair of heavy blast-proof doors. They're meant to be closed and sealed in case intruders make it inside -- and when sealed, they're designed to be virtually impenetrable." Cole spread his hands. "If they close, whoever is left inside is going to be trapped there."
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Post by Jordanna on May 7, 2008 22:46:29 GMT -5
"Leave that to me," said a quiet voice from the doorway, and the group turned to see Proteus stepping into the room. He gave a faint, self-deprecating smile.
"Sorry I took so long--Highsmith's pals roped me into a poker game."
Sid raised his eyebrows. "Howja make out?"
The shapeshifter shrugged--and took from his pocket a roll of cash, which he pushed toward the nightclub owner. "Do me a favor. Divvy that up as a bonus for the Spooks working for you at Lusus Naturae."
Sid chuckled quietly and shook his head.
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Post by skybright on May 8, 2008 18:30:18 GMT -5
Daws grinned. "That's the Proteus we all know." She remarked cheerfully. "And poor Highsmith'll never even know what he missed out on."
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Post by Jordanna on May 8, 2008 21:39:13 GMT -5
Major Vance was too focused on grim realities to be affected by the moment of levity. He looked intently at Proteus. "What do you mean, leave the blast door to you?"
"I mean, leave it to me," Proteus repeated earnestly. "What part of that didn't you get?"
Henry blinked at the shapeshifter. "Really--what do you propose to do about it?"
"Take it out. What else?" Proteus glanced around the group, with a serious, confident expression. "Trust me. When it's time to leave, that door won't be standing between you and the outside."
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Post by skybright on May 8, 2008 23:18:22 GMT -5
Daws examined Proteus for a moment, then shrugged gravely. "Fair enough." She said. "Near as I can tell, getting in to the place is still our biggest logistical problem, anyway."
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Post by Jordanna on May 9, 2008 21:17:15 GMT -5
"As far as I can tell, I won't have too much trouble myself." Proteus looked inquisitively at Cole's notes, then picked up the pad and studied it. "These passwords oughta be a help, too.
"The guards carry some kind of fancy high-tech rifles that the bigshots must be pretty protective of. They're stored in an armory just inside the tunnel entrance--have to be logged in and out every time a guard goes on duty--so walking in the door to pick up weapons is nothing unusual."
Proteus frowned. "I could go in and try to take a real look around, before we start all this. Say I forgot to check the safety on my gun when I dropped it off, or something. If I could buy enough time, maybe I could find out about that abandoned tunnel entrance, at least."
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Post by skybright on May 9, 2008 21:26:02 GMT -5
Daws glanced inquisitively at Cole, who shrugged slightly. "There's nothing in Highsmith's mind about any hidden tunnel," he said in answer to her unspoken question, "So if you want any information about it, that may be the only way for you to get it."
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Post by Jordanna on May 9, 2008 22:19:27 GMT -5
"We're running out of time," Vance muttered, then glanced back at Proteus. "Okay then. If you think you can get any more intel, go. Auger will drive you closer to the complex. We'll be waiting."
Proteus nodded. "I won't be long--I can't stretch my luck." He headed for the door. "See ya."
"Good luck." Vance watched the shapeshifter depart, then turned back to Cole. "Back to your intel... Does Highsmith know anything about where Colonel Ashley is held in the tunnels? Judging by his remarks, he's at least seen him."
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Post by skybright on May 9, 2008 22:33:41 GMT -5
Cole nodded, massaging his temple. "Yes . . . he knows the location of the lab -- here." After a moment's examination, he circled a spot set well back within the network of tunnels on the map.
"Highsmith is a bit vague on the exact layout of the place -- I don't think he's been there often. But Ashley is kept either in the lab or near it at all times, for security reasons."
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