War of Elysium

Chapter Eight: The Ministry's Way.

         The fighting had begun. First, a fleet of bombers to soften Elysium's defences. All they really did was help the anti-air turrets get a little practice in before the assault. A few waves of mechs had been pushed back but it was clear the main assault force was yet to make an appearance. 

Raptor had their orders. As shit as they were. Reese walked the chaotic halls of Elysium preparing for the fight of his life. There were so many questions racing through his mind. Why were they attacking now? How do they still have access to the generator after Reese stole the plans? How had Hosun managed to get to the council? What would be his next move?

He helped a private shift a sheet of metal as he considered. They were preparing for gorilla combat, they knew the MOGs would breach the walls soo enough. They had planned on winning by holding choke points within the halls and tunnels. A group of civilians worked away, welding steel to doors and walls. Everyone was at work. Soldier and civilian. Every abled bodied man had taken arms and been sent to the walls. Every capable civilian woman had been assigned to protect and hold the civilian shelters where the children and infirm would hide.

Hosun never made a successful move without Akemi at his side. How had he advanced so far? Reese remembered the day Akemi disappeared. July seventh, 2161. Nearly fourteen years ago. She showed up once during the early rebellion in 65' but he never saw her. Was it so hard to believe she simply faked her death to go to work for Hosun? They had been close, very close, it wouldn't be far fetched. The idea sat uneasily with him. She had abandoned him, the boy she adopted and supposedly loved, to abscond with a man she had never shown any romantic attachment to? What about her daughter? Yua, she was called. Perfect Yua. Small enough to fit in the palm of his hand. Reese had always justified Akemi leaving as an attempt to keep Yua from a military life. How was fighting alongside Hosun keeping her from the military?

Reese walked on. He heard cannons blast and artillery crews argue. He made his way to the hangar. Lara and Archie would meet him there. He didn't know where Iris was sent but she was likely still working of Apotheosis with Ade. He marched through, deep in thought. Too deep in thought. He continued on his winding path, not noticing how quiet it had grown. Not noticing the half completed constructions and hastily dropped tools.
Had he been more aware, he'd no doubt have raised his eyes higher... And seen the bodies hang.

        The three met in the hangar, unequipped and poorly prepared. Archie wore denim shorts and a Hawaiian button up shirt with a ammo carrier vest hastily attached. Lara wore a black leather jacket and pink rimmed combat boots. She did, however, have her rifle preassembled. Normally she would do so on the trip over, she must have been practicing when the alarms went off. 
"Sir." Lara greeted as he marched towards a metal locker. He opened it to reveal a tight oversuit. He stepped into it and zipped it up. "What do we know?" Archie asked in an overtly serious tone.
"Less than we should." Reese answered as he slotted magazines into his carrier. 
"How didn't we see them coming?" Lara asked. "A force that size should have been visible days ago." Reese didn't reply. He pulled a rifle from his locker, checked it and slung it over his shoulder. 
"Sir!" Lara pled. She wanted answers that Reese didn't have. He brushed past her and opened Daphi. "Get in." He ordered. They did, they silently sat and Archie warmed up the engines. Reese sealed the door shut and tinted the window black.

"There's a spy." Reese declared. There was no doubt in his voice but there seemed a tinge of anger.
"A spy?" Lara repeated.
"Somebody has infiltrated into our unit, copied the plans for the generator and sabotaged the long ranged scanners." The three sat in contemplation. 
"That would be alot... Even for you, Reese. Who would be able to do all that without raising an alarm?" Lara asked. It was true, Reese was the best infiltrator the Alliance had and he doubted even he would manage. 
"That's the problem. A better infiltrator than me? I've only heard of one person who could qualify." He said. The realisation dawned on Lara, she understood what he was suggesting. 
"You can't be serious?" She doubted. "Akemi?" 
"Who?" Archie asked.
"Ito Akemi. Reese's adoptive - bitch - mother." She explained. 
"Hey!" Reese protested.
"She turned you into a killer, ruined your life and abandoned you when you needed her most... She may have called herself your mother, Reese, but she wasn't capable of a mothers love. You deserved better than her."
"Now is not the time for this. If it is her, we need to deal with her quickly." Reese said. He suppressed he anger in his voice and kept as cool as he could. Lara didn't know Akemi like he did, she wasn't there to see how much he owed her. He knew that it didn't matter. If she was sabotaging Elysium, she had to be dealt with like any other spy; quickly and lethally.