“We've cut off the feed sir, but anyone looking at the entertainment systems aboard saw the first two minutes and nineteen seconds of the assault,” said the wide eyed internal data management officer.
The command chair on the bridge of the Diplomat was always a source of irritation for Hampon. It was far too large, his feet didn't touch the deck, and people stared when he wasn't looking. He didn't take the opportunity to command in person often, but when he heard that Jacob Valance had gotten free he dropped everything and headed straight for the command chair.
“Why did it take so long?”
“His interface, it was different somehow. It looked a bit like a direct neural connection to the ship.”
“Where is he now?”
“He just cut through a security door using one of our own plasma torches,” the officer reported, looking up and meeting his eye for the first time in days. She had been serving on the circular bridge for months, and managed to suppress the smile he knew she had every time she saw him.
“How did he get a high powered plasma torch?”
“One of our maintenance staff surrendered it when the escapee threatened his life. We have the maintenance worker in custody now.”
“Because taking him into custody will solve all our problems,” Hampon muttered. He brought up the holographic list of damage and casualties incurred as Jake made his way though the command carrier. The sheer magnitude of it was staggering; the man was equipped to wage a one man war and Lister knew that a good part of that was thanks to the years of experience he had in the field as a bounty hunter and equipment from the Triton. “We only have ourselves to blame,” he sighed as he established a link to his best security officer. “Captain Fornier, have four teams of your best men go on a hunt for Jake Valance. You are to force him off the ship and kill anyone you find with him. Make sure that there is no doubt in his mind that you're trying to kill him, use live rounds and every measure you'd normally use to neutralize a dangerous escapee. The faster this is accomplished the better. We have over two hundred fifty thousand new initiates aboard, he must not be allowed to spook them or we will have a nightmarish mess to clean up. Or rather, you will be left to clean it up. Do you understand?”
The Captain saluted, her steel blue eyes were steady and devoid of emotion as she acknowledged him. “I'll lead a team myself. You do realize that there is a high chance of fatality using live rounds.”
“Yes, thank you for reminding me,” He rolled his eyes and glowered at the Captain, an expression he was sure would have more weight if he didn't look like he was ten years old. “If you kill him by mistake I'll dock your staff one week's pay. You have two hours, then I'll have to put some kind of escalated measure into place and you will be fired.”
Here's hoping we can keep track of him once he lands on Pandem. Hampon thought to himself as he cut the transmission and turned his attention back to the most important thing on his mission screens. The preparation for deployment of the West Watcher army on the planet below.
He brought up the holographic display of the First Battle Group and it filled his field of view. Tank divisions, ground command vessels and hundreds of dropships, fighters and picket ships were preparing to launch from every carrier in the fleet, all bound for the green and blue planet below.