>>6137634“Do you have any suggestions for a secondary plan?” You ask. The killer remained silent. Worthless. You spitball a suggestion. “We do have a Chicago Red Dogs Mechanized Division in Helsinki for an adjacent mission. Perhaps-”
The door opened and you immediately stopped talking. Looking past your long locks of black hair, you see a man enter. The limber man stepped in, face poised with stern, stubborn strength. Dark blonde hair, hazel eyes, and a strong jawline make his ancestry of Chicago eugenics clear to even an Nipponese peasant like you. He wears silver-coated armor, far removed from anything of Finnish modesty or standard philosophies of resource efficiency. It was a suit built to last, to never be lost, recycled, nor replaced. The suit embodied the ethic of the American design philosophy and engineering, and it was the iconic armor of the highest acting combat authorities of the far city of storms.
“We are <span class="mu-i">not</span> deploying Clifford,” declared Chicago High Judge Gabriel as he entered the interrogation room.
A foreign legal authority in close works with Katriina would absolutely be given permission to access many areas of Stormwatch HQ, sure. But this quickly? “You’re aware of the situation?” You ask.
Though he only reaches up to your chest, he easily captures the room. His boots were designed to broadcast loud footfalls; all legal proceedings need to be announced. “Yes. And the last thing that that scum needs is access to <span class="mu-i">more</span> firearms than what the Deathwatch gave to him as they died. I refuse even the slightest risk of giving that bastard the Big Dog’s Rotary Cannon.”
Confusion makes itself known on your face. The lawman from Chicago doesn’t have faith in the giant robot he brought? “There is no way an Old Oak can lay low a Red Dogs mechanized suit…?”
“They can defeat the targeting computer,” Gabriel answers.
You look skyward. <span class="mu-i">Of course</span> they can. If there’s one thing an Old Oak can do, is making themselves scarce. Even if they do appear on the camera, the AIs and targeting systems would be unable to recognize them as a target.
“And besides that, I am not risking exposure to the Red Dog crew, either. It’s enough of a problem that <span class="mu-i">we</span> know.” He looks around. “Where’s that Swan?”
“Not here,” you answer.
“Typical,” the high judge groans.
