02-28-2014, 08:29 PM
The two black SUVs raced down the street, their drivers easily demonstrating a very high degree of training and experience at such things as they wove through the traffic and barreled towards the forming crowd. Hundreds of people had already gathered to watch what was happening, but it seemed most were just bystanders, not interested yet in interfering.
Provost Boipelo glanced over his shoulder at Reed and Jacques, and at a thumbs-up from his boss, the Provost flipped a switch mounted to the dashboard. Mounted to the roof of both vehicles were directional LRAD (long range acoustic device) emitters. The systems were far from cutting edge, but the technology had been in use for decades and proven effective. The models used by the Legion were two or three generations behind, but were still entirely effective for their needs.
The crowd ahead immediately scattered, hands pressed to their ears and driven by an imperative need to get out of the field of effect of the horrible sound that seemed on the verge of blowing their eardrums. The waves swept outwards from right to left (or left to right), a wave that unconsciously urged the afflicted civilians to flee out of the vehicle's path to escape the painful noise.
The SUVs didn't slow down as they both hoped the curb, and the Provost switched the LRADs off as soon as he was confident the crowd would continue parting ahead of them. Soon enough the disturbance that Mr Trano had hired Jacques and his team about came into view and the two SUVs continued speeding towards the group of men and stranded female journalist.
The vehicles suddenly swerved left and right accordingly, the right-bound vehicle popping the E-brake and burning tires as it swung 180 degrees to face the left bound vehicle. Doors were thrown open and the men piled out with startling ease and familiarity. As they dismounted, Provost Boipelo was first to put boots to the ground, and he hoisted a directional-energy weapon. Again, not next-generation technology, it was still tried-and-tested and deemed effective, although the limited range and uncomfortable weight made the crowd-control device less then ideal in most scenarios.
He flipped the on switch without announcing any warnings; this was a situation where they had no time to spare, and needed to shock the crowd into backing off rather then giving them time to react. Fight or flight was a universal instinct, and in civilians it was easy to spark the flight instinct before a mob-mentality was established.
The weapon came with an antenna-like end which was directed at the men assaulting the camera man, and within seconds of it activating two of the men were staggering back and wretching up their lunch, shivering uncontrollably before dropping to their knees.
The rest of the team moved up quickly, two men physically grabbing the female reporter and running her to one of the SUVs and forcing her into a seat, ignoring her screams and complaints and any effort to resist. Others moved to ward off the crown, not firing but clearly ready to start, their shotguns held at the high ready and faces hidden behind balaclavas and face shields.
Jacques stood near the vehicles, letting his men do their jobs without distracting them with making sure he was safe, although he continued to do what he did best; survey the scene, understand the ebb and flow of the crowd, identify possible threats and, most importantly have a plan. He was already plotting alternate ways of reaching the rendezvous point with the ambulance and police that had been contacted earlier.
His men barked orders in Arabic, commanding the crowd to disperse. Corporal Ime stood next to Reed, her personal escort for the moment. While the man was just a administrative clerk, he clearly knew what he was doing with the shotgun in his hands, and had the same level as close-protection training as the rest of the Legion, always keeping his back to her, standing between her and the cover of the SUV, yet ready to move if she chose to.
The Provost held his weapon at the ready, walking it from the two men already on their hands and knees to the next attacking the near-dead cameraman, while two men approached with a collapsible stretcher they had unfolded with a few deft and practiced movements, ready to strap the injured man down and load him into one of the vehicles for extraction.
Provost Boipelo glanced over his shoulder at Reed and Jacques, and at a thumbs-up from his boss, the Provost flipped a switch mounted to the dashboard. Mounted to the roof of both vehicles were directional LRAD (long range acoustic device) emitters. The systems were far from cutting edge, but the technology had been in use for decades and proven effective. The models used by the Legion were two or three generations behind, but were still entirely effective for their needs.
The crowd ahead immediately scattered, hands pressed to their ears and driven by an imperative need to get out of the field of effect of the horrible sound that seemed on the verge of blowing their eardrums. The waves swept outwards from right to left (or left to right), a wave that unconsciously urged the afflicted civilians to flee out of the vehicle's path to escape the painful noise.
The SUVs didn't slow down as they both hoped the curb, and the Provost switched the LRADs off as soon as he was confident the crowd would continue parting ahead of them. Soon enough the disturbance that Mr Trano had hired Jacques and his team about came into view and the two SUVs continued speeding towards the group of men and stranded female journalist.
The vehicles suddenly swerved left and right accordingly, the right-bound vehicle popping the E-brake and burning tires as it swung 180 degrees to face the left bound vehicle. Doors were thrown open and the men piled out with startling ease and familiarity. As they dismounted, Provost Boipelo was first to put boots to the ground, and he hoisted a directional-energy weapon. Again, not next-generation technology, it was still tried-and-tested and deemed effective, although the limited range and uncomfortable weight made the crowd-control device less then ideal in most scenarios.
He flipped the on switch without announcing any warnings; this was a situation where they had no time to spare, and needed to shock the crowd into backing off rather then giving them time to react. Fight or flight was a universal instinct, and in civilians it was easy to spark the flight instinct before a mob-mentality was established.
The weapon came with an antenna-like end which was directed at the men assaulting the camera man, and within seconds of it activating two of the men were staggering back and wretching up their lunch, shivering uncontrollably before dropping to their knees.
The rest of the team moved up quickly, two men physically grabbing the female reporter and running her to one of the SUVs and forcing her into a seat, ignoring her screams and complaints and any effort to resist. Others moved to ward off the crown, not firing but clearly ready to start, their shotguns held at the high ready and faces hidden behind balaclavas and face shields.
Jacques stood near the vehicles, letting his men do their jobs without distracting them with making sure he was safe, although he continued to do what he did best; survey the scene, understand the ebb and flow of the crowd, identify possible threats and, most importantly have a plan. He was already plotting alternate ways of reaching the rendezvous point with the ambulance and police that had been contacted earlier.
His men barked orders in Arabic, commanding the crowd to disperse. Corporal Ime stood next to Reed, her personal escort for the moment. While the man was just a administrative clerk, he clearly knew what he was doing with the shotgun in his hands, and had the same level as close-protection training as the rest of the Legion, always keeping his back to her, standing between her and the cover of the SUV, yet ready to move if she chose to.
The Provost held his weapon at the ready, walking it from the two men already on their hands and knees to the next attacking the near-dead cameraman, while two men approached with a collapsible stretcher they had unfolded with a few deft and practiced movements, ready to strap the injured man down and load him into one of the vehicles for extraction.