Shadow Angels (short story)
Sarna News
| Shadow Angels | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Short story by Craig A. Reed, Jr. | |||
| First Publication | |||
| Published | 28 February 2016 | ||
| Publisher | BattleCorps | ||
| Pages | 13 | ||
| Chronology | |||
| Era | Clan Invasion era | ||
| Timeline | 15 November 3052 — 19 November 3052 | ||
| Series | |||
| |||
Shadow Angels is a short story by Craig A. Reed, Jr. that was first published online on BattleCorps on 28 February 2016 as the seventh part of the Slack Tide series. It was later republished in print in the BattleCorps anthology Slack Tide in 2020.
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A specialist hiding behind Clan lines on Graus must rely on a mysterious extraction team to reach safety. Can the Shadow Angels complete their mission while under fire, or will "Murphy" rear his ugly head yet again?
Plot Summary[edit]
On 15 November 3052, on Graus in the Clan Jade Falcon Occupation Zone, Professor Victoria Kingsolver is pursued by Clan authorities while working undercover as a university lecturer. She and her research team had successfully located a hidden Star League Memory Core, but the Clan Jade Falcon occupation of Graus stranded them on-planet. Members of her team begin to disappear, targeted by the Clan Jade Falcon Watch.
While on campus, Victoria is intercepted by Jack Rasor and his mercenary unit, the Shadow Angels, who have been hired to extract her and her team. Rasor, along with Mouse, Ginger, and Red, escorts Victoria away from Jade Falcon forces led by Star Captain Kumar. Assisted by Synthia "Sid" Davenport III, a teenage computer prodigy monitoring security systems remotely, the Shadow Angels fight their way clear and bring Victoria to their safehouse, where she is reunited with her surviving teammates. Here, the mercenaries medical support Doc provides initial care while Victoria explains that the memory core remains hidden in the university. The mercenaries prepare a recovery operation, and Victoria insists on accompanying them, as only she and Professor Tarlaton Seabring can access the palm-scanner lock.
On 17 November 3052, Rasor, Ginger, Mouse, Red, and Victoria infiltrate the university at night. Sid manipulates the security network, but they discover evidence of a trap set by Kumar. Reaching the basement, Mouse removes a bookcase concealing the vault, and Victoria unlocks the secure door. The team recovers the Star League Memory Core, but their escape triggers a firefight with Jade Falcon Elementals. Using smoke, gas, and jamming broadcasts of loud "'Mech Metal" music, the Shadow Angels break contact and flee in Red's hovertruck.
Two days later, the Shadow Angels and Victoria's team board a Mark VII Landing Craft and prepare to rendezvous with a waiting DropShip. Rasor assures Victoria that she and her people will be safely delivered off-world. Meanwhile, Sid completes a covert copy of the memory core's database, and Rasor discusses plans to sell the information to potential buyers, including Chandrasekhar Kurita.
Featured Characters[edit]
- Professor Victoria Kingsolver
- Jack Rasor
- Professor Tarlaton Seabring
- Synthia "Sid" Davenport III
- Star Captain Kumar
- Doc
- Ginger
- Lisa
- Mouse
- Red
- Silent
- Chandrasekhar Kurita (mentioned)
- Gloria (mentioned)
- Hamid (mentioned)
- Murphy (mentioned)
- Philip (mentioned)
- Sebastián (mentioned)