Erasure and Affirmation (Hypernaturals 11)

Cutting Comms

The floor plans we have were supplemented with recent aerial infrared imaging. It is a single-story building, so it was possible to take the extra time to schedule an asset for a flyover and a look down. It was a good precaution because the building plans do not totally match as 'as-built' documents filed with the county.

Denise pointed out changes in the final assault briefing. "These coolers, near the loading dock? Not on any building plans. This interior structure here?" She tapped. "Looks like negative pressure white room. Far more ducting and fans than the county knows about."

She switched to a picture of the transformer and power panels. "There are a great deal more circuits in the building than the wiring diagram calls out. The transformer is bigger too."

She switched again. "This appears to be some sort of lab. Counters and air ducts over each one. More than likely these are not counters but isolation chambers. It is hard to tell from the air."

She tapped another room. "This is a data center. Not on any permit."

Morgan followed along. "It's a secret bio-weapons lab. They did not want the building commission to know what they are doing here."

"Exactly. The fire department inspections passed the building because Sirens are deep into fire departments." Denise said.

Morgan traced around with a finger. "If the biotech lab was to be inspected in an above-board and legitimate fashion, it might even pass. It appears it is designed and executed well."

"No cost spared." Denise said. She traced along the same places Morgan had. "If you want to know where the millions Ginger found out about went, it's all right there."

Denise assigned Morgan and me to be part of the assault team going in via the loading dock. Denise decided from looking at the floor plans that most of the interesting things as well as the resistance would be via that avenue. She, therefore, wanted the 'Dynamic Duo' on that route. I told her I thought that label is trademarked.

"It is, Adrian. By a South Korean hip hop duo." Denise told me.

Morgan smirked. "That's a relief. I was worried he would be hurt when I called him 'Robin'. I'm Batman."

"Batwoman." Denise said.

"No. She is someone else." Morgan told her. "Wears a red wig. Has a crazy sister."

"You have been reading up." I complimented Morgan. Morgan was never a comic nerd like Jessica and I. We are influencing her.

"OK. 'Batman with boobs' it is." Denise agreed.

"That's fair. Bats is the world's greatest detective. Though that makes me a gender-flipped Catwoman, not Robin."

"Let us hope you have nine lives then." Morgan said.

Assault coordination fell to Luciana. As my self-assigned guardian, Denise is with Morgan and me.

"You know I can cover Adrian so you can lead this assault. After your talk to the room, you being here, on the front line, is out of place, do you not think?" Morgan asked.

"Denise thinks she is Captain Kirk." I commented. "Goes on all the away missions."

"I think you are a redshirt, in that context.' Denise told me. "Evidence is on my side."

"She has you there." Morgan told me.

"Whose side are you on?" I asked Morgan.

"The one that keeps you alive." Morgan told me. "A goal you keep trying to thwart me on. See the dart in your leg as a reference point in case you forgot your two-day coma. At least your vitals never dipped or I would have had to deal with Jessica being professional by day and a wreck by night. It gets old when I want to be the one falling apart."

"Hmmm." I said to that as there was no suitable response.

"Yes. Hmmm." Morgan replied.

During the night, Crew parachuted onto the building's flat roof and took cover. They spent the night up there prepping and now they are waiting for their signal. I did a night jump once. Even with Vampire night vision, it's creepy. Hitting a roof at night? Impressive. I only had to avoid cactus and mountains.

At 9 AM, when the majority of the people are at work, as the work hours are 8 to 5, we pulled the trigger. Operations often have stupid names. This one is no exception.

"Hobby Horse is a go." Luciana's voice said in our ears. "Phase one. Execute."

Phase one is removing the facility from connection to the outside world. The roof team acknowledged. "Team One. Phase one initiated. Stand by." Came the voice of the team leader.

We waited. A hiss came on the earpiece. "Directional scramblers up." Reported a voice.

"Hobby Horse comms are synced." Someone said. This is so our comms are not affected by the scrambler.

"Satellite offline." Came another.

"Cables cut." Came a third.

"Rerouting security system." Someone reported.

Not all of this is being done from the roof. There is a remote hacker team plugged in to support the on-site operation.

"Hobby Horse phase one complete. Building is isolated and all comms and external systems under our control." The roof team leader said.

"Phase two: Open the gates." Luciana ordered.

Since we now control the external parts of the building, the building management system, the security system, the backup security system, and the tertiary security system, the building obediently did as it was told by its new masters. It deactivated all the fire control systems. All the internal alarms. Unlocked everything. The bad part about a modern security system is modern hackers who have access to every diagram and every model number of your gear and had time to study it. I remembered that time Luciana hacked some cameras by a warehouse when we were hunting Tommy and erased us.

Reality out there is only what Crew wants people to think it is.

"Breach teams: Roll into position." Luciana said.

It was literally a 'roll' as van after van full of Crew went through the obediently open gates, front and rear, unrecorded by unseeing cameras. Somewhere offsite the Siren remote security company is seeing loops with real-time updated time stamps. A nice quiet day, if you are them.

I imagined one Siren Security guy telling the other 'Hey, Fred. Going to go get some coffee and a donut. Want anything?' and Fred saying 'Yeah, Barney. How about one of those donuts with sprinkles on it, because ain't nothing going on here.'

I amuse me.

"Front door team ready." came a report.

"Fire exit one ready." another team tersely added.

"Fire exit three ready" came another crisp report.

The team on every external door on the building called in as they came into place, including us. "Loading dock ready." Denise reported to Luciana.

I wondered briefly at Denise choosing Luciana to run the Operation like this. She is bodaciously good in the field. I know this from working with her. But I get it too. She has been out here and understands the need for strong, crisp, concise control. My respect for Denise as a leader, which was high to start, keeps going up.

"All breach teams. You are Go. Go. Go." Luciana ordered.