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Deltaview Force: An Opco Boone Adventure: Difference between revisions
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Deltaview Force: An Opco Boone Adventure (view source)
Revision as of 09:35, 17 November 2022
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===Cubicle=== | ===Cubicle=== | ||
A.J. cocked his GMSLA and kicked off the planking. Revealed: rubble-showered youth in sharp suit, prone, pale face and pinned under collapsed pitch book stack. It was heavy, but not load-bearing. | A.J. cocked his GMSLA and kicked off the planking round the cube. Revealed: rubble-showered youth in sharp suit, prone, pale face and pinned under collapsed pitch book stack. It was heavy, but not load-bearing. | ||
“Don’t move, son. | “Don’t move, son. We’ll have you out off there in no time.” | ||
“I’m fiiiine. I’m fliiiying.” | |||
The poor little punk was in a state. Dust-caked, dehydrated, eyes red and rolling wild in wide sockets. | The poor little punk was in a state. Dust-caked, dehydrated, eyes red and rolling wild in wide sockets. | ||
“I have it!” | “I have it!” He mumbled it through a mouthful of sand and plaster. “I can ''get'' you some —” | ||
“P.A.D. Masks! Now!” | “P.A.D. Masks! Now!” Boone’s tone was urgent. The squad masked up ''toute de suite''. | ||
The squad masked up ''toute de suite''. | |||
A.J. yammered, “What is it?” | A.J. yammered, “What is it?” | ||
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Boone held out a flat-palm that said “quiet ops”. He unholstered his Z10 commlink and jacked up a secure connection back to control. | Boone held out a flat-palm that said “quiet ops”. He unholstered his Z10 commlink and jacked up a secure connection back to control. | ||
“This is Boone to Control Room: Aggie, do you copy?” | |||
A static-crackled ''Roger'' said she did. | A static-crackled ''Roger'' said she did. | ||
“We’ve got a damaged squidboy with pitch books and a red herring. We’re gonna need a wall thrown up around this unit pronto.” | |||
Static crackle. “On it, Boone. Have your unit affirm confidentiality. [[OneNDA]] Protocol, over.” | |||
“OneNDA terms affirmed, over.” | |||
“You all okay over?” | |||
“Yeah, it’s fine. Precautionary measure only at this time, Aggie. Kid’s a di-Alpha-head gabbling with a draft [[Offering circular|OM]]. Most likely stale or public-side but some risk of [[MNPI]] infection.” | |||
Aggie said, “[[Unpublished price-sensitive information|Oopsie]].” | Aggie said, “[[Unpublished price-sensitive information|Oopsie]].” | ||
Boone yukked. The squad yukked. | Boone yukked. The squad yukked. “That’s solid A grade material, Agster. Love your work.” | ||
The Squidboy wore a lapel badge. It said “{{Caps|Renfield}}” [[A.J.]] nudged him with his boot. All the signs. Tell-tale blue/red track-change marks running up his arm. Tossed-out [[rider]]s and [[mark-up]] littered the splintered cubicle. A half-done [[CBT]] module cycled lazily on his screen. | The Squidboy wore a lapel badge. It said “{{Caps|Renfield}}” [[A.J.]] nudged him with his boot. All the signs. Tell-tale blue/red track-change marks running up his arm. Tossed-out [[rider]]s and [[mark-up]] littered the splintered cubicle. A half-done [[CBT]] module cycled lazily on his screen. | ||
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The kid hacked out a wet splutter, shook his head and staggered up. Chalk motes lifted off his suit. | The kid hacked out a wet splutter, shook his head and staggered up. Chalk motes lifted off his suit. | ||
Roly cocked, shouldered and pointed. “Hold it right there, tiger.” | |||
The kid regarded Roly’s up-close muzzle and ''gurned''. “Oh, no, I’m clean, man. I’m ''straight''. I’m a Wickerman, through and through.” | |||
Roly stepped back. Boone shrugged: it was plausible. The kid had the likely pedigree and squid-like air of assurance. The suit ''was'' sharp: it screamed [[Wickliffe]], ''sans doubte''. The kid clutched a fat book. | |||
“Relax: I’m a [[Red herring ninja|ninja]], too. ''Look''.” | “Relax: I’m a [[Red herring ninja|ninja]], too. ''Look''.” | ||
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He bowed his head and held out the book like a votive. | He bowed his head and held out the book like a votive. | ||
[[Punchface]] stretched out a hand to take it. Boone smacked it down. “Don’t ''touch''.” | [[Punchface]] stretched out a hand to take it. Boone smacked it down. “Don’t ''touch'', Cadet Punchface. Put the [[Prospectus|red herring]] down, Wickerboy.” | ||
The kid tossed the deck on the floor. It landed face down and spun. | |||
[[A.J.]] prodded it with his piece. He scoped the back. It was blobbed, de-blobbed and annotated in tight black cursive. | [[A.J.]] prodded it with his piece. He scoped the back jacket. It was blobbed, de-blobbed and annotated in tight black cursive. | ||
“Football Team checks out, sir.” [[A.J.]] eyeballed the kid. “This is strong work.” | “Football Team checks out, sir.” [[A.J.]] eyeballed the kid. “This is strong work.” | ||
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Punchface freaked & squeaked. “Freeze!” | Punchface freaked & squeaked. “Freeze!” | ||
The squid kid was fly. “Chill, man. | The squid kid was fly. “Chill, man. I’m just late on [[CBT]], is all. If I don’t finish on time they will know.” | ||
Boone said, “Stand down, Roly.” Boone looked at the kid. “''Who'' will?” | Boone said, “Stand ''down'', Roly.” Boone looked at the kid. “''Who'' will?” | ||
“Compliance goons. They monitor by the keystroke. I’m on their shit-list already. I missed the [[occupational safety and health|OSH]] module last week.” | “Compliance goons. They monitor by the keystroke. I’m on their shit-list already. I missed the [[occupational safety and health|OSH]] module last week.” | ||
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Boone alt-tabbed for signs of Leisure Suit Larry. No dice. The kid’s story checked out. He tabbed back and scanned the screen. A corner-mounted timer counted down. ''Four minutes and falling''. | Boone alt-tabbed for signs of Leisure Suit Larry. No dice. The kid’s story checked out. He tabbed back and scanned the screen. A corner-mounted timer counted down. ''Four minutes and falling''. | ||
“What’s that?” | |||
That’s the goddamn deadline counter. These dudes are serious. I’ve been pulling all nighters on this goddam [[CDO]], so I’m late again. I gotta get this done or my ass is toast. | |||
“Okay. It’s D.” | “Okay. It’s D.” | ||
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The comlink crackled. “Boone, this is control room. The wall is active. Code word: Project Viper. OneNDA protocol affirmative. You may proceed.” | The comlink crackled. “Boone, this is control room. The wall is active. Code word: Project Viper. OneNDA protocol affirmative. You may proceed.” | ||
Boone opened up the comlink on back to base. | Boone opened up the comlink on back to base. “He’s pretty far gone, Aggie. I think it’s stale. But he’s packing a red herring. Take no chances.” | ||
The squid kid said, “I teach you the Superman.” He clawed back the pitch book. | The squid kid said, “I teach you the Superman.” He clawed back the pitch book. | ||
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“How is having no hope of making money so clever? | “How is having no hope of making money so clever? | ||
“Yes it is! It is all ''disclosed'' man! We’re only taking orders stapled to [[big-boy letter]]s! We’re | “Yes it is! It is all ''disclosed'' man! We’re only taking orders stapled to [[big-boy letter]]s! We’re ’wildly'' over-subscribed!” | ||
“But this company won’t make any money?” | “But this company won’t make any money?” | ||