Chapter 1
1335 Hours, January 19th 2499
Kinetic Incorporated. Corporate headquarters/ Mars/ Sol. System
“Production has tripled in the past three years, military contractors are all coming to us for their weapon needs. I believe if we continue this marketing strategy we can make over nine trillion by next year, and that’s with marketing cost.” The man said to the group of investors and CEOs that sat in front of him. Behind him was a huge view screen, showing charts and graphs, indicating how this company was truly becoming a major power of its own. “Any questions?” he finished grabbing a glass of water on the table near him. Taking a small sip he set it down, looking at the major executives in front of him.
The silence finally broke, a man sitting in the chair that centered the huge conference table stood. “Tell me Alexis.” he said “How soon can we put these contracts into production? I have yet to see any contracts from the UNSC or any other private companies as well.” The President of the company asked
Alexis had been worried he would ask that. “Well Mr. Hans.” Alexis said clearing his throat. “I have several negotiations running with the UNSC, they are gearing up for something, sending out multi trillion dollar contracts to anyone who will make the weapons they need. I have a team on Reach as we speak negotiating with one of their Admirals. Seems they love our prices and just might hand over every weapon contract to us. That could mean putting every other contractor out there out of business, we’d make so much gross income we wouldn‘t know what to do with it all.” he said with a half grin. His tactic was seeming to work, as the more he spoke the more the men and women here seemed to love his idea‘s. Perfect. There was a beep on the intercom. “Sir.” The feminine voice said. It was one of the secretaries. “I have a man here looking for Mr. Titov, he says it’s urgent.”
Alexis looked confused, it had to be one of his customers, odd they didn’t call him before making it all the way out to Mars. None the less it could be another buyer waiting. “If you’ll excuse me gentlemen, my associate here will take over.” Alexis said. He moved out of the room, walking down the hallway, and out of the double glass doors. From there he went to the elevator, pressing the button the machine quickly arrived. He entered, the back of the elevator was all clear class, the huge skyscraper overlooked much of the Martian landscape. Their terraforming project was working, slowly. The elevator moved up quickly, arriving at the 54th floor. With a ding the door opened revealing a couple corner offices and a wooden desk. There sat his secretary Sarah. “Who is he?” Alexis asked, walking towards her.
She looked up from nibbling on a tuna sandwich, it was after all lunch time. The blond hair, blue eyed women was to say the least gorgeous. She was young and only in her early twenties. Alexis had had several times thought about her, that is to say none he’d ever share with his wife. Her perfectly round face looked up at him.
Alexis stopped at her desk. Resting his hands it. “Who’s the guy?” He asked her. “I was in a very important meeting.”
“I’m sorry to disturb you but he said it couldn’t wait. He wouldn’t give me his name, that it was between the two of you, is he one of your customers? ONI perhaps?” she asked him curiously.
Alexis looked at her. “The last time I worked with ONI they nearly cost me my job, those spooks are so *** secretive I can’t tell anyone anything without calling them first. No I haven’t the slightest thought of who it could be.” he said
“Well here you are.” she said as she passed up several envelopes. “These are from today, all from Earth. Seems your team is doing well.” Sarah grinned at him, he knew what she wanted, he was after all cut, Alexis never stopped working out, kept his mind off the stresses of multi trillion dollar contracts up for grabs. If he wasn’t so loyal to his wife he just might let her have her way with him, but he was to in love for that.
“Thanks Sarah.” he said as he grabbed the papers. He turned around heading to his office. “Titov” engraved on the front of the double doors. Alexis entered his four digit code into the terminal. “Welcome Alexis.” The computer said, one of the wooden doors opened. A man sat facing away from the entrance, his legs we’re perched upon Alexis’s desk. Cigar smoke radiated upwards from the front of the mans head. He was dressed in a fine suit. The door shut, and the man took notice.
“Can I help you sir?” Alexis said as he approached the bulky figure. But the person ignored him, continuing to puff at his cigar. There was an awkward silence. “Sir you do know this is a no smoking building?” Mr. Titov said, irritated the man was smoking in his nice office.
Finally the man spoke. “Have you forgotten me already Alex?” The deep Arabic voice hit Alexis hard. Memories suddenly engulfed him, his heart began to ache. The figure stood and spun around. “It is me my friend.”
Alex looked at him stunned. “You?” he asked in a whisper. Disgust engulfing him.
“That’s no way to talk to a friend, what’s it been? 15 years now? Jeeze Alex you haven’t changed much, some wrinkles here and there.”
Alexis looked at the balding man. “Why are you here?” Alexis demanded, moving towards him, his combat training from long ago began to reemerge. Anger and frustration engulfed him.
“Come now Alex, is that anyway to talk to your old boss?” the man jested. Puffing at his cigar again. “How are your kids? Are you married? We need to catch up. Please take a seat.”
Alexis moved around the bulky man, he sat behind his desk. “Now look dear Alex, I know it has been some time, and I know we left things on a bad note, but I come here to make peace with you. After all you are my best assassin.”
“Was your best.” Alexis corrected him. “I am no longer one of your weapons to use when and where ever you want Asad. You have some nerve coming here.”
The man chuckled. “Oh come now, you must put the past behind you my friend.”
“What is your true purpose here Asad?” Alexis questioned. “ I know you to well, it may have been 15 years since my last job but I have never forgotten how you work. So out with it before I have you throne off this premises.”
Asad raised his hands in compliance. “Always the straightforward one. That’s why you we’re my best. To be honest Alex I have come here because I am in need of your help.”
“My help?” Alex replied angrily. “What could I possible help you in?”
Asad smiled. “We have a mole in our organization. One that is now in the protective custody of ONI. He must be eliminated, what he knows could jeopardize everyone of the organizations members.”
Alexis was confused, they must have trained other assassins. “Send one of your best in.” he replied to Asad. “I’m sure there are ones better than me.”
“Just one.” Asad spat back. “And I am saddened to say he was killed in an attempt to get to the mole. All my others lack the skill and experience. I am asking for your help, in return you will be paid, greatly.”
Alexis was in need of money, his two children would need money for education, and what of his retirement? The company he was working for wasn’t exactly happy with his marketing tactics. He had early bankrupted them with his last job.
“Think of your two children, and your pretty wife.” Asad said in a smirk.
Alexis became angry but retained it. “Whats the job?” he said
Chapter 21855 Hours, January 19th 2499
UNSC Frigate Alliance/ Orbit over Mars/ Sol. System “Sir, seems our man Asad has made contact with someone planet side. How should we proceed?” she asked him, looking behind the shoulder of one of the marines. The triangular symbol of ONI was printed on their shoulders. The entire ships crew was mostly made up of ONI personnel.. The Major came over to the tactical view screen, a drone had taken several photos of Asad and Alexis entering a vehicle, their convoy of three cars was moving away from the skyscraper, towards the suburbs.
The man sighed heavily. “Now we got you.” He whispered.
He then cleared his throat “ Do we have a name on the man entering the car with Asad?” he asked
“Give me an angle on the car, security camera three.” The captain said to the marine in the chair.
“Yes ma’am.” he replied. He tapped at his keyboard and within seconds the three of them could see the faces entering the car.
“Isolate the unknown’s face, and compare it to UNSC wide photo databases.” The Major said. The man’s face was scarred, he looked young but not to young. The Captain found her self attracted to this character. She quickly stowed the thought, she couldn’t be thinking about the enemy, no matter how good looking they were.
“Match confirmed, hang on a moment.” The computer spoke at them. Suddenly a page pulled up.
“Alexis Titov. Lives here on Mars, he works for Kinetic Incorporated, Jesus Christ that’s a hell of an income.” The marine said.
“Military background?” The major questioned.
“ Um.“ The marine pulled up Alexis’s military file. “Served in the Core for three years, he was an excellent sniper, and it seems he even qualified for ODST training, also says he was discharged after a accident on an Op.”
“The reason?” The captain questioned.
The marine clicked on the file. “CLASSIFIED.” The computer said at them. “Password required.”
“Son of a-” The Captain started. “What was he into?” she whispered, This man was mysterious.
“Well that leaves us little choice, who knows how long it will be before we see Asad again, I’m authorizing an extraction team to apprehend them.”
“Sir?” The Captain said. To much was going on here. “Extraction team? We have one on stand by?”
The Major looked at her. “You think I’d come unprepared? No, not this time. I want you to lead the Op, I want them both arrested.”
“But wait both sir? This Alexis man hasn’t done anything wrong.” she questioned.
“Yes Captain, obviously this man is important to Asad, he must be questioned at the very least.” He replied. “You’re going to lead the Op, get down to the launch bay. I’m going to go inform the Commander on the bridge. I don’t feel like getting yelled out for leaving him in the dark again. Your flight leaves in 30 minutes Captain, I suggest you get prepped.” He finished.
“Yes sir.” she said saluting him. She turned, moving towards the elevator.
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