03-21-2021, 10:56 PM
“Mmm...that’s it.” Nika tried to keep it simple especially since Jacinda had to carry everything, even if it just amounted to an efficiently packed rucksack. She’d instructed Gillian to offer an exo-suit but it wasn’t clear if the other woman would wear it. Nika certainly took advantage of them and she was young and zippy. Cross, while not a centenarian...had likely not taken care of herself like Nika had. It was probably some combination of the gung-ho American attitude mixed with a lack of regular resources from Rome. She’d analyzed the feeds from their last encounter and the other woman had mentioned her back was hurting. So that was it really. Jacinda was old and hurt and Nika didn’t want to be more of a burden than she was turning out to be with this fiasco.
Nika hadn’t been a part of any sort of atheri team for what, six...eight years now? It was hard for her to rely on someone else, especially given past events but the die was cast here. She hadn’t spared a thought on where the rest of the Spice Girls were; one person was enough. Truth be told, the more people that came the more awkward this became. Needing rescue like some child. It was embarrassing. Nika made a vexed sound that echoed in the egg. Who’d set this up, anyway? ...and why the hell go through so much trouble? The hardware alone was...geez...expensive. Then setup and… Thoughts for later.
Nika spent an unknown amount of time turning outcomes over, inside out and upside down in her head. The problem was she was no longer insulated. So then the shock could easily be lethal or do any number of interesting things to her. There really was no precedent. Since that was the only real constant, Nika focused on streamlining the instructions Jacinda would need both to trigger the charge and what to do in the aftermath. Assuming they didn’t end up fried to a crisp.
Cross meanwhile had been ferried back to Ukraine, this time in a much more spacious insertion drone called Eeny, and deposited two or so hours north of Nika’s position. Route C had her travel downhill at least in case she encountered hostiles...she’d have the high ground. Their escape route was similarly planned. Assuming a lot.
It was doubtful Jacinda was in full tactical assassin evening wear and therefore not likely to have access to the eyes and ears of her micro drone defensive net via HUD in an aperture helmet but the little guys were dutifully escorting her nonetheless. Gillian would have given her a forearm tactical interface and earpiece at minimum. Those were non-negotiable as necessary to communicate with Nika once they were in range.
Critical thinking finalized, she’d busied herself tidying up the flayed suit and making sure no metal or batteries remained in the baselayer she wore. Nika’s earpiece made a double “tch, tch” which instantly snapped her attention outward. Not that she could see anything through the dark egg’s walls. “X?” A com drone would have been instructed to sync up when the elder woman got in range. 1000 yards maybe?
Nika hadn’t been a part of any sort of atheri team for what, six...eight years now? It was hard for her to rely on someone else, especially given past events but the die was cast here. She hadn’t spared a thought on where the rest of the Spice Girls were; one person was enough. Truth be told, the more people that came the more awkward this became. Needing rescue like some child. It was embarrassing. Nika made a vexed sound that echoed in the egg. Who’d set this up, anyway? ...and why the hell go through so much trouble? The hardware alone was...geez...expensive. Then setup and… Thoughts for later.
Nika spent an unknown amount of time turning outcomes over, inside out and upside down in her head. The problem was she was no longer insulated. So then the shock could easily be lethal or do any number of interesting things to her. There really was no precedent. Since that was the only real constant, Nika focused on streamlining the instructions Jacinda would need both to trigger the charge and what to do in the aftermath. Assuming they didn’t end up fried to a crisp.
Cross meanwhile had been ferried back to Ukraine, this time in a much more spacious insertion drone called Eeny, and deposited two or so hours north of Nika’s position. Route C had her travel downhill at least in case she encountered hostiles...she’d have the high ground. Their escape route was similarly planned. Assuming a lot.
It was doubtful Jacinda was in full tactical assassin evening wear and therefore not likely to have access to the eyes and ears of her micro drone defensive net via HUD in an aperture helmet but the little guys were dutifully escorting her nonetheless. Gillian would have given her a forearm tactical interface and earpiece at minimum. Those were non-negotiable as necessary to communicate with Nika once they were in range.
Critical thinking finalized, she’d busied herself tidying up the flayed suit and making sure no metal or batteries remained in the baselayer she wore. Nika’s earpiece made a double “tch, tch” which instantly snapped her attention outward. Not that she could see anything through the dark egg’s walls. “X?” A com drone would have been instructed to sync up when the elder woman got in range. 1000 yards maybe?