Asteroid Blues

While mercenaries were withdrawing cautiously, Djanbazan sniper in the watch tower shouted; “We are surrounded! There are infiltrators in middle section. Impetuous Qapu Khalqi forces reacted with their guns to alert of their comrade. Five mercenaries took cover behind the containers and platforms. “So much for stealth!” cursed Mustafa. “Inform me, Rodriguez!”

Hawwa Rodriguez who is an ex-Zero infiltrator reported, “One Sekban with a rocket launcher and a Djanbazan sniper in the watchtower that is in the north-east. Two sekbans and a Ghulam are in front of the watchtower. I assume there are 3 Ghulam rifleman covering the rear to the north. One Sekban with spitfire and an engineer is in the west-north.”

Mustafa ordered the sniper if he had a clear view. In an instant sniper shot down the rocket launcher and a rocket hit a platform behind the containers. Mustafa yelled at the sniper, “I didn’t order you to shoot.” The merc sniper responded, “I saw that he was aiming us, I had to shoot first.” Sniper took another look to north, but came eye to eye with the Djanbazan sniper this time. Two snipers pulled the trigger in the same time, although merc sniper won the duel.

Mustafa was enraged. “I told you not to be aggressive. They are Haqqislamite soldiers.” Merc helplessly defended himself. “Believe me, I am responding reactively. I did not even begin to engage aggressively.” Frustrated, second in command, Mustafa barked, “Everyone, shoot to wound if you can! I want as much as low casualties!”

Then he heard the gasp in pain of Carmen in comlog. “Carmen, report! What happened?” Rodriguez interrupted, “Our liaison officer, Carmen had been shot down by Sekban doctor. He activated the security antenna.”

Mustafa had lost his patience, “This is enough! Its our turn now. Bring down the space pirates!” Barbossa the Red entered the zone of operations from the north-west flank. Chain-rifled the Sekban with spitfire and the engineer. Two surprised troops fell down unconscious, but managed to hit the Yuan Yuan. The other Yuan Yuan Vixen joined fray from east flank, burned the Sekban doctor first, then finished of with the remaining the Sekban and Ghulam.

As middle of the operation zone fell into hands of mercenaries, it was time to clean the north. A haris team of mercenaries (Sekbans) entered the spot where Barbossa wiped out. They advanced to north and shoot down the remaining Ghulams. Rodriguez deactivated the security antenna while Doctor Hikmet opened the tech coffin which had the blueprints of Batteries. This plans would be very valuable asset to Haqqislam and profitable bargain for Pasha Security Company as well. Qapu Khalqi would extend the contract with more reasonable fees.