Monitoring The Spread

Posted on Wed Jun 6th, 2012 @ 7:42pm by Chief Warrant Officer K'Vaal Th'raas

Mission: Heart of an Explorer
Location: Maltorra

Maltorra's twin suns seemed to be exceptionally oppressive today as the dry dusty gusts of wind seemed to dry every bit of moisture from Keldon's skin. The daily dust storms seemed to enhance the effects of the hot sun by coating everything with a light coating of sand blown in from the west. Keldon had to make several detours just to make it here within a reasonable amount of time. Having abandoned the public transport to make the rest of his trip on foot, he was at least appreciative of the fact that those very same winds were creating a kind of protective barrier around this city.

Keldon pulled the collar of his long coat up in an attempt to shield himself from the heat. All of those years acclimating himself to Divitia's environment seemed such a waste of time given his current assignment. Checking his chronometer, he cursed softly to himself " Not much time! I'll have to hurry if I'm to make the meeting on time!" he exclaimed as he quickened his pace.

The populace around him were completely unaware that there was an alien amongst them as he moved through the streets. Every man woman and child looked distinctly disturbed, even though he knew very well that the infection hadn't spread to this city yet, and they were too busy with their own preoccupations to pay any attention to just another man who looked like the rest of them entering a nondescript residential building.

Once he had passed through the sealed, holo-graphically disguised hatch in the basement of the house, the dedicated console recognized the DNA of the operative, and activated its screen.

"You're late, Operative Keldon," the dark shape of the Divitian controller said.

"It couldn't be avoided, seasonal dust storms has delayed almost all but the most essential of travel!" Keldon replied flatly.

Valtor - though it was doubtful that was his real name, just as Keldon wasn't his either. Still, Valtor was impossibly precise when it came to timings, regardless of how miniscule the the timing of the communications were late. "Report!"

"The project's execution phase started thirty one standard days ago in regions six and seven, and has progressed as theorized in all but three of the identified target locations.." Keldon began to say. "The plan to leave two control areas and one safe zone has also realized some positive unintended consequences! Additionally, we've gained access to local research into some of the casualties as well as local efforts to study the phenomenon."

"Do the problems in the execution in the three zones of issue have any significant impact on the operation?" his controller asked. His first priority, as always, was in identifying any issues which could potentially jeopardize the mission.

"Actually no, the growth rates in the three areas have allowed us to study local efforts to understand exactly what is going on." Keldon replied. "We've created multiple delivery systems to maximize the spread of the cultures so as to increase the efficiency of the execution phase of the project. Their own bureaucracy in dealing with something like this will stymie efforts to put adequate resources in place to even begin to study the phenomenon. In the unlikely event that does happen, it will be too late for them to halt the project."

Keldon hit a key on the console and overlaid an image of local weather patterns as well as projected exposure rates over a six month timeline.

"I should also add that they have been making some interesting strides in their space program and perhaps given time, they could develop a launch vehicle capable of evacuating large sections of their populace." Keldon admitted "But a look at their designs indicate that they are at least twenty six solar cycles away from realizing even the most basic of launch vehicles."

"Perhaps. But they look as if they are close enough to constructing single occupancy craft capable of minimal warp," the controller coolly observed. "Plant devices near the key research locations, and activate any assets we have inside. Should they attempt a more desperate launch, steps shall have to be taken to ensure their craft are not detected by anyone else in this region."

"I have already seen to both the gathering of intelligence on the project and the formulation of an actionable plan to deal with such an occurrence." Keldon replied. "I will not bore you with the details of which at this time." He added.

"You will report to me again at the specified time." It wasn't a question or even an invitation; it was a statement. Then the channel closed.

Keldon looked at his reflection in the screen for a few moments longer before turning away to leave. The controller's tone reflected the importance of this assignment, and like so many other times in the past, Keldon had much more at stake than to let the hint of bruised egos to get in the way of successfully completing this mission.

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Operative Keldon (PNPC)
Played by CWO Th'raas

Controller Valtor (PNPC)
Played by Capt Krace