Zero Sum

Space Elevator Stealth Mission

"So you expect me to run into much gunfire in this cozy little research station?" Vector spoke to no one in particular, or so it seemed. He was alone in the ascending platform, seated atop the chamber carrying a payload of some sort. Alone for miles in fact, since the platform was ascending from the planet, up along a heavily reinforced elevator, that ascended all the way into outer space.

"These people are very temperamental," replied a voice from the comm that Vector had inside of his helmet, "there is no telling what they will do if you are discovered." Vector felt the emphasis on the word discovered. "That is why this is supposed to be strictly a reconnaissance mission, no engaging, and no being found, we need data first and foremost."

Obviously that is why the Doc had reached out to Vector. Although to call him Doc was a stretch, Dr Plypro was not interested in medicine or the well being of others. All that mattered to him was advancing his knowledge in extraterrestrial artifacts. And Vector was well regarded for his services of completing a job, just about any job, no questions asked. The fact that he rarely if ever used a firearm was a plus, and he was a professional at leaving no trace behind.

"Decades ago," the doctor continued, "one would never have expected that this planet would possess a space station of this magnitude. Much less would require armed forces in outer space." The Doc shifted in his seat. He was a rotund man with orange skin, he used that seat to get around. The seat had mechanical spider like arms extending from it, they did most of the work he needed done for him.

 "I mean these astronauts are scientists, there are no firefights, there should only be science." The Doc paused to wonder to himself. If he were a member of that space team, he would definitely find some measure of relief having armed men around himself, in light of recent developments.

"Easy for you to say." Retorted Vector, "you are safe in that middle-of-nowhere hideout of yours. I bet I could not spot your place even from up here."

The Doc paused before replying, catching the undertone in Vectors statement. True enough, if Vector was somehow detected, all the Doc had to do was vaporize this hideout, and act like he had never before even met Vector. Which of course, was already true to an extent, never having actually met in person. All their communications were done remotely, by drone proxy, or any other manner of ways that kept the two at a physical distance.

"Things have been very different as of late." The Doc finally replied. He was not a native of Earth, but he had lived here for many years. Or, more accurately, a clone of himself had. When his unmanned exploration vehicle came across this planet, it began generating a clone of the Doc. All of it preprogrammed into the vehicle, in case it stumbled onto intelligent life. The original Doc had sent scores of these vehicles out into space hundreds of years ago.

"Decades ago," the Doc started again, "there was no space elevator along the planet's equator. After its construction, space stations were able to be spread more thin across interplanetary space," the Doc paused again. "Beyond that, there was no reason for humans to expect," even to someone like him saying it aloud, "aliens," seemed ridiculous.

Not just aliens but alien intelligence. Hostile alien intelligence. Plypro was an alien in the strictest sense of the word. Born on this planet but not from it. Growing rather attached to it, he would add hesitantly. But even he had yet to see what the creatures in that vessel look like. No one had. It seems that their craft just appeared suddenly, and now just sits in Earth's orbit.

However, what has been discovered, are artifacts built clearly for hostile intent. The equivalent of weapons storehouses floating in near planetary space. Near is a relative term of course, these artifacts are, at their nearest, about triple the distance of the planets nearest moon. And this would be the first flight of such distance ever attempted. By this species that is. The astronauts would be on the vessel now, and their findings would be broadcast to this outpost. Vector's task was to hack into that broadcast, so the Doc could have an idea of whatever was in that space vessel.