Friday 10 February 2012

the valley of fear

The title seemed relevant under the current bloody circumstances.

... so. A few days after the fact and I'm still a fucking mess. Damn it. Damn it all. Haven't slept in... no, that's not important. Though I need more cigarettes. Horrible, nasty habit. But as long as it keeps my hands from shaking, well, to each their own, no?

It's tossing convenient that Jan ended up on the Squad right before this, because it made the subsequent investigation a lot easier. And by a lot easier, I mean slightly less difficult than trying to get Ronin to read "Crime and Punishment", because whoever did this, well, to put it simply, they're good. Horrifyingly good. Barely left anything conclusive behind. In fact, most normal investigative teams wouldn't have found anything. But normal investigative teams aren't Thomas and I. So before any of the evidence decayed or was removed by unknown factors, we got straight to work.

What we found was downright disturbing.

Traces of para-aramid synthetic fiber were found on the bullets found to belong to the Knight Squad. And since we're hardly outfitted with body armour, it's obvious that it came from the aggressors. 

The reports we've gathered described... military like tactics. The Squad didn't notice they were being hunted until it was too late. They were slowly corralled into the building like animals. And once they were in position, well, it seems they didn't stand much of a chance. As we mentioned before, there is evidence of a struggle and multiple bodies being removed, but right now, it's... not looking good. 

And what we found? Barely identifiable. Morgan was shot expertly in the joints, got an artery nicked, and was apparently e-e-executed when he didn't bleed to death fast enough. Not only that, but the sniper that went after Photo and I seems to be using something like the AWM. Army gun. Bloody hell.

And as for the official status of all this? The word went out about an hour ago; the syringes are believed to not be in Moriarty's property based on eyewitness accounts, but as of now, they're... unaccounted for. Nobody has found a trace of the missing members of the Knight Squad.

To make matters worse, another proxy has turned up dead. One bullet, right in the brain. From behind. Blood splatters imply that the poor bastard didn't even see it coming.

... We're being hunted. Gargoyle is right; I've been in service for quite a long time now, and we've never seen anything like this. Killsquads that must take an incredible amount of resources and money to run. Whole teams being wiped out in one fell swoop with clinical accuracy. 

With one man seemingly behind it all.

Let me make something perfectly clear for all of you out there. Goldstein is not your friend. He is not your saviour or companion. He is not a friendly face. Fuck, I'm, I'm really only starting to realize how far his reach is, how big the scope of this all is. But, from what I've seen, he's barely even a man. Inhuman, scheming, like the spider in the centre of its web. Motionless, until it feels something get caught within it. Unseen of until it wants to be seen.

Well I see you. All your genius for the world to see. Happy with all the chaos you've created, you fucking bastard? Pleased with a job well done? You should've just stayed quiet, not bothered with games. What do you want? What do you stand to gain from this? Truly, enlighten me. Feel free. I'm bloody well FUCKING waiting!!!

... Megalomaniac prick. I... suppose I'll report back in soon. Especially if I find anything. If... If you're a proxy, I'd suggest getting to a safe place and staying put. We're still not sure of the scope of this problem, but better to miss a quota then get a bullet to the face. And Runners? Be tossing careful as well. We're not sure how friendly these people are.

Now if you don't mind, I have an investigation to get back to. 

27 comments:

  1. Are you fucking serious? Now we have corporate, private armies.

    I'm SERIOUSLY holding out for aliens at this point. NOTHING is going to surprise me anymore.

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    1. One squad does not an army make, young swordsman. But the funding of an operation like this is still something I'm wondering about.

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  2. Sleep is essential to maintaining a body in Proper Working Order for any extended period of time.

    I have access to drugs, would prefer if it were not necessary to use them.

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    1. Enter my workspace and you'll be getting a coffee mug launched at your face. You've been warned. Not in the best of moods right now.

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    2. And now Sherlock here thinks he's Godot.

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    3. ... see why I don't like my title? Hardly chose it, and it opens me up to things like... this. My title aside, I DO live in a Cafe. Just for the record.

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    4. Was going to provide more coffee.

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  3. Thank you for noticing.

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  4. hmmm. you know, you guys are puzzlers. i like you, yet i shouldn't. but i know what your titles shall be:

    i, whitelight, hereby dub thee...//Cat Lovers//.

    where did hamish get to anyway?

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    Replies
    1. Hmm, you know, capitalization is a big part of people taking you seriously. Seems you're somewhat deficient in that area.

      ... Hamish is around. Pudgy little bastard has already gained a little weight, because I'm reasonably sure we're all spoiling him.

      Delete
    2. I Can Totally Capitalize Things. i just prefer not to. because my capslock button is broken, so i have to press shift every time and i am so lazy that i don't want to do that.

      but i do it for titles, because that's my job. suck it, shift button.

      Delete
  5. It saddens me to think there are brilliant minds such as your's on the side of that wretched monster, "Joseph", it really does. Maybe you should take a closer look at the faction you've chosen to be a part or, hmmmm~?

    <3

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    1. You know, I might've been more inclined to listen to you if you didn't slaughter my rival team by... haha, proxy.

      I'm taking you down, Moriarty. Then, maybe, we can talk.

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    2. Yeah, cause I look at Joseph and I think "this is a man who is completely in control of who he works for."

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  6. Looks like it's time for this old man to return to the field.

    -The Grigori

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  7. I'm not going to wait for Photographer or Free or anyone else with a sharp nose to catch the hint. Too much at stake this time.

    "Thank you, no, //neighbour.//"

    He's CLOSE to you. Be weary of Everything.

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    Replies
    1. I'm sure they appreciate the gesture, but I don't advertise, neighbour.

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    2. Oh, well then I instantly believe you, jerkass~
      }:3c

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    3. Neighbour has always been a mite more accurate than friend, in my estimation. It's a pretty small world.

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  8. Oh for christ's bloody sake SHUT UP.

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  9. Y'know, we already had a guy named Moriarty. You can't just re-use names like that. It's unrealistic for two people to use the same pretentious handle in this big internet circle of ours, and it's straining my sense of immersion. I'll never be able to take any of you seriously again, oh Lord! What has become of the integrity of the internet when yeah fuck this, this is stupid. Pickles and bells, lemons and spoons!

    The frostiness. Get some.

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    Replies
    1. What a terrible comment to end on. These seem to be less names then titles. There has been atleast one other instance shown here where some one took some one elses name simply cause that person died. It's something people do.

      I pray for the next Morningstar. Seems like a cursed name.

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    2. Superstition and prayer are both symptoms of Lack of Purpose. Unfortunate. Second Morningstar merely of inferior calibre.

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    3. Ill concede that I lack purpose, but I do believe superstition to have it's value and place. A purpose of its own. Even if that purpuse is to highlight my own lack of purpose. I would like to think there is more to it then that.

      My, I'm rambling.

      That aside, I ment pray as more of a cultural term. I wish the next Morningstar, should there ever again be one, well.

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    4. Let's hope there is not another Star, at least not of the Morning variety. His poor replacement.

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