Free Web NovelChapter 535: Chapter 535 Assault on the Odium Syndicate
"We’ve finished identifying most of their defenses. We should be ready to begin whenever you give the order." Jasmine said, telling Avery the results of the report she had just received.
He glanced over at her and nodded before turning his eyes back over to the screen in front of him.
Currently, the view of their target was being displayed by a cloaked probe they had sent out to gather information.
The production facility had ended up being larger than they had expected it to be.
It was around the size of a medium sized colony. Only a bit smaller than the colony that Avery had grown up on.
That just went to show how much Paradise the Odium Syndicate was manufacturing.
Avery could not be certain, but he imagined that this faciality produced most of the drug that was distributed in this region of space.
Considering the reports that Cerise had given him on the Odium Syndicate’s activity and the spread of Paradise in the Dramid Alliance, he estimated that there were likely only three or four other stations like this one under the criminal organization’s control.
Losing this production faciality would undoubtedly be a major blow to their operations.
’And once we raid the place, we should be able to get far more information on their members and other bases. This isn’t like the distribution center that has public activities to cover up their illicit dealings. The only thing going on here is the creation of a highly addictive and illegal substance. There won’t be as much reason to safeguard their data here.’ Avery thought, already managing the gains that they were going to obtain from this mission.
Still, he pushed his thoughts of victory to the back of his mind.
He had heard plenty of sayings warning against being overconfident in victory before the results had been decided.
His company had a long way to go and what was bound to be an intense battle before they could claim any prizes.
"I suppose that we’re ready to begin phase one now."
Avery reached his hand over to the console in front of him and hit send on a message he had already crafted.
A confirmation came from Victoria a few moments later and her ship disembarked from the Intrepid’s hangar.
Avery watched with a slight grin on his face as her corvette showed up on the Intrepid’s viewscreen and then suddenly vanished.
"The longer I’m in this business, the more grateful I am we were able to secure that vessel. I don’t know how we would jobs like these without its stealth capabilities."
"Yes, it certainly has proved its worth time and time again. And Victoria too. Even the most useful tool is worthless in the hands of someone unable to use it properly." Jasmine replied.
There was no disagreement from Avery about that notion. He could still remember how he had acted like a bumbling fool the first time he had piloted the Dauntless.
You could give the strongest weapons in the galaxy to someone incompetent, and it still would not make them truly powerful.
The next few hours went by uneventfully as Victoria worked towards her assignment. No one else would be able to make a move until she had completed it.
Fortunately, right on schedule, she sent a transmission confirming that she had finished.
"Good, now they won’t be able to call for help. As long as we capture and eliminate everyone, no one will ever no that it was us that attacked." Jasmine said, a ruthlessness in her eyes.
While she was someone that had a strong sense of justice and wanted to protect people, those that committed acts that she considered utterly reprehensible received none of her compassion.
Considering what the Odium Syndicate’s only product was and their goals in creating and distributing it, Jasmine only saw them as filth that needed to be cleaned up.
Naturally, Avery was of a similar mindset, though his feeling were not nearly as strong as his wife’s.
He had no qualms with eliminating dangerous criminals. Especially when he was being paid to do so.
"We’ve confirmed that the isolation beacon network is properly in place and working as intended. No transmissions will be getting in or out around the area of space within the station’s vicinity." One of the bridge crew announced.
"Then I suppose that its time for us to get going. Jasmine, have you heard from Ezra? Are he and his squad ready?"
"Yep, I just received word from him right after we confirmed the target has been isolated from communications. All of the pilots are in position and ready to launch at any time."
Avery smiled hearing this. It seemed that Ezra was as diligent as ever.
With all of their preparations in place, Avery gave the order to advance.
It was time for them to go and properly introduce themselves to the Odium Syndicate.
...
When the Intrepid dropped out of light speed at the edge of the area of space where the production faciality was located, all of its weapon systems were still hidden.
The plan was not to begin hostilities immediately but instead continued pretending to be a cargo vessel working for the Odium Syndicate.
Under strict scrutiny, the fake orders that Avery’s team had crafted would be uncovered as false, but that hardly mattered.
All this little ruse was for was to allow them to get closer and into a better position before
"Send out our request. We’re just here for a pickup." Avery said, having to hold back a grin.
It was obvious that the station had already noticed the Intrepid, as they were not trying to hide.
Nevertheless, to so far as anyone working at the production facility was concerned, a harmless cargo vessel had just entered their space. Nothing out of the ordinary or to be concerned about.
"We’re receiving a transmission from them. I’m guessing they’ve spotted an inconsistency in our message."
This was to be expected, so Avery accepted the call. All the while, the Intrepid was still closing in on the base.
Once the transmission was connected, the imagine of a short, bulbous man who had thinning, patchy brown hair on top of his balding head.
Honestly, he was the most unhealthy-looking person Avery could remember ever seeing, and there was little doubt he was the type to indulge in whatever he wanted without a care for the harm it did to his body.
"I’m the manager of this station, Bartholomew Carlson. We don’t have any record of your orders or approval for your arrival. Explain at once!"
Along with the man’s unappealing appearance, his voice was unbearably grating.
Avery had to resist the urge to slam his hands over his ears.
"What do you mean? I received this assignment directly from Francis Delinger. I’ve been receiving shipments to be taken into the Dramid Alliance from his distribution center, but now he has trusted me to come and receive deliveries directly from the source. Here, I’ll send over my records. Everything should be in order." Avery said, doing his best act surprised by this discrepancy and name dropping the Odium Syndicate executive in charge of the distribution center.
He managed to keep this back and forth going for several more minutes as both sides asserted that they were correct. freeweɓnovēl.coɱ
Of course, not once had the Intrepid slowed down to wait for the station manger’s approval and kept approaching.
’We’re almost at the perfect range to hit them with the Intrepid’s arguably best weapon. This will be the first time we’ve had a real opportunity to use it in combat, so I can’t wait to see it in action.’ Avery thought as he kept arguing with Bartholomew. frёewebnoѵēl.com
Eventually, the man became fed-up with trying to get to the bottom of things.
Red faced, he shouted, "Stop your ship already! There’s nothing in my system to indicate that you should be here! Lower your shields and prepare to be boarded. I’m going to have your ship locked down and inspected while I contact Francis directly. You’d better hope he corroborates what you’ve said and covers for your ass. Otherwise, you and your crew are going to be paying a permeant trip to one of our testing stations."
Avery could tell that he had managed to piss the guy off from his expression and the tone of his voice.
He did not really care though. He had already bought enough time.
"Sorry, I’m afraid that is not going to be happening. You won’t be getting into contact with the rest of the Odium Syndicate every again, and it’s you who are going to be taking an unpleasant trip soon. Either to our brig, or the afterlife. I’m still deciding on which one." Avery responded with a shrug and his lips turned up into a wide grin.
After waiting to see the stunned look Bartholomew’s face, Avery had the call terminated and gave the order for the Intrepid to deploy its weapon systems.
