The Mark Of Rebirth

Farthington walked into the meeting room where Tokei, Nanik, and Kaelith were already waiting and took a seat at the long uniquely made table. Its surface is a reflective black panel with a matte black border around it similar to a display.

Tokei’s fingers rapped on the table and the rhythmic sound reverberated in the quiet room, “Now that he’s here why don’t we start with the meeting?”

Nanik straightened up in his seat and prepared to introduce himself, “Ahem, my name is Nanik Iman and I am the leader of the Shadow Phoenix Special Operations group. The reason why I’ve gathered you all here today is to discuss tomorrow’s upcoming mission that you will be taking on.”

Kaelith and Farthington seemed to be more attentive at the mention of a mission they had to do. Their eyes seemingly gleaming.

Farthington was the first to speak up, “Are we gonna get any… extra funding for this ‘mission’?”

Nanik suddenly had a grin creep up his face, “Indeed, I’m thinking of a 250 Aero bonus.”

Farthington’s grin matched that of Nanik and Kaelith also smiled wryly, all three with a capitalist mentality that was clearly fueling the three of them.

Clearing my throat to get their attention, I tried to get the meeting back on track. “Anyway, we were going to discuss the Kyritite shipment weren’t we?”

“Ah, yes,” replied Nanik seeing Tokei's obivously annoyed tone. “The mission involves intercepting a shipment of Kyritite,” he began, his volcanic orange eyes locking onto each of us in turn. “This rare metal is crucial for a highly important project we’re working on. Unfortunately, the government has monopolized the supply, making conventional acquisition impossible. We need to get our hands on it through… unconventional means.”

Kaelith’s brow furrowed in thought. “What exactly do we need Kyritite for?” he asked, his voice tinged with curiosity.

Nanik nodded, appreciating the question. “Tokei has been working on a project that requires the metal for its high conductivity and unique properties,” he explained. “It’s essential for creating efficient, high-speed processing chips, and without it, we won’t be able to complete the project.”

Farthington leaned back in his chair, a contemplative look on his face. “So, it’s a heist then,” he mused, his tone half-joking but his eyes sharp with curiosity. “Sounds risky. What’s the plan?”

I leaned forward, my fingers gliding over the reflective black surface of the table, activating a holographic display. A detailed map of the Slithering Desert materialized before us, the stark lines and topography glowing with an eerie blue light. “The government’s supplier of Kyritite, the Stetson Trading Company, will be transporting the metal in a secured convoy through the Slithering Desert, which separates the continents of Erbium and Tekuno,” I began, pointing to the highlighted route.

The Slithering Desert: It stretched out before us, a vast and treacherous expanse of swirling sands and towering dunes, infamous for its harsh climate and perilous creatures. The desert’s name was no mere metaphor; it writhed and twisted across the land like a living entity, a natural barrier that had long stymied efforts to connect Erbium and Tekuno. Its ecosystem, though sparse, was home to a deadly array of fauna, the most feared among them being the Tunnel Boring Snake.

The Tunnel Boring Snake was a leviathan of the desert, its body as vast and sinuous as a subway train. Its rough, segmented hide glistened with a metallic sheen, and its gaping maw, lined with rows of serrated teeth, was capable of boring through solid rock. This monstrous creature tunneled beneath the sands, leaving a network of fragile passages that could collapse without warning. The threat of these tunnels had long prevented the construction of a safe roadway through the desert, turning it into an impassable death trap for ground shipments.

“Imagine a creature as long as a train and as thick as a tree trunk,” I said, my voice lowering to convey the gravity of our task. “It bores tunnels beneath the sand, causing the surface above to weaken and collapse under any significant weight. This thing is the main reason why a roadway between Erbium and Tekuno was delayed for so long.”

Nanik took over, his voice carrying the weight of authority. “However, not too long ago, the countries of Trizen on the Tekuno side and Rizet on the Erbium side collaborated to solve the Tunnel Boring Snake issue. They excavated down to the bedrock and erected large pillars of reinforced steel, resilient enough to withstand the creature's burrowing. On these pillars, they constructed a road that remains elevated fifty feet above the desert floor, forming a secure passage across the desert.”

The holographic display shifted to show the elevated roadway, a gleaming testament to human ingenuity spanning the treacherous sands below. The road, a sleek ribbon of metal and concrete, hovered above the shifting dunes, supported by a forest of steel pillars driven deep into the bedrock. It was a marvel of engineering, a vital lifeline connecting the two continents and bypassing the dangers lurking below.

Kaelith’s eyes widened as he took in the enormity of the project. “So, the convoy will be traveling along this elevated road?” he asked, his voice tinged with both awe and apprehension.

“Exactly,” Nanik confirmed, his gaze intense. “Our mission is to intercept the convoy as it crosses the desert. The elevated road is heavily guarded, but we’ve identified a weak point where we can create a diversion. While their security is focused on the disturbance, we’ll seize the Kyritite and replace it with a decoy.”

Farthington leaned forward, his earlier levity replaced by a serious determination. “How do we handle the diversion?” he asked, his mind already working through the logistics.

I tapped the display, bringing up a schematic of the convoy. “We’ll deploy a series of remotely triggered charges along a section of the road, simulating a structural failure,” I explained. “The convoy will halt, and the guards will be preoccupied with securing the area. That’s when we move in, using the confusion to swap the Kyritite shipment.”

Kaelith frowned, his analytical mind picking up on a potential flaw. “What about the Tunnel Boring Snakes? Won’t the vibrations from the charges attract them?”

Nanik nodded, acknowledging the concern. “It’s a calculated risk,” he admitted. “The charges are designed to minimize seismic impact, but there’s always a chance we might draw the snakes’ attention. We’ll need to be fast and precise, in and out before they can pose a threat.”

The room fell silent as the weight of the plan settled over us. It was a daring gambit, fraught with peril, but the prize was worth the risk. The Kyritite was crucial, a linchpin in our efforts to complete the high-speed processing project. Without it, we were at a standstill, our progress stymied by the government’s monopolization of the metal.

Farthington and Kaelith exchanged glances, their earlier excitement tempered by the gravity of the task ahead. Yet, in their eyes, I saw something else—a glimmer of greed, bright and unmistakable.

Farthington leaned forward, a calculating gleam in his eyes. “This mission seems fraught with danger, so I believe that we should get a more… adequate compensation to match the risk we’re taking,” he suggested, his voice oily with opportunism. “Perhaps a greater sum would make me more enthusiastic about the mission.” Kaelith, nodding along eagerly, seemed equally captivated by the idea of a bigger payout.

Nanik leaned back in his chair, a slow smile spreading across his face as he observed the two. His eyes sparkled with a mix of amusement and challenge. “Alright then, how does 1,000 Aero sound to you?” he replied, his voice smooth and indulgent, as if he were offering a treat to a pair of hungry animals.

The effect was immediate. Farthington’s eyes lit up with a predatory gleam, a droplet of saliva forming at the corner of his mouth as if he could already taste the wealth. His fingers drummed on the table in barely restrained excitement. Kaelith, meanwhile, looked like he might faint from sheer happiness, his face flushing as a grin spread across his features. His hands twitched with nervous energy, betraying his barely contained anticipation.

I watched the scene unfold, a mixture of irritation and fascination churning within me. The mission, fraught with genuine peril, had turned into a negotiation for these two, their minds already fixated on the potential payout rather than the risks.

Nanik’s smile widened, a flicker of something darker crossing his eyes. “Good,” he said, his voice a low rumble. “Then it’s settled. Complete the mission, and you’ll have your 1,000 Aero.”

Farthington and Kaelith nodded vigorously, their eyes practically shining with greed. The promise of such a reward had turned them into eager participants, their earlier apprehensions swept away by the allure of easy wealth. For them, it was no longer just a mission; it was a golden opportunity to line their pockets.

As the meeting concluded, Nanik caught my eye, a subtle signal that he needed a private word. Once the others had left, he leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper. “About that lead I mentioned,” he said, his tone serious. “I’ve found something that could be a major lead.”