Chương 76: HUMANITY V MANKIND
(The Siene, Paris, July 2023)
Sean walked along a bridge river, feeding the pigeons that gathered on the railings some bread from time to time.
As he did so, he discreetly threw a small circular disc into the river, then quickly walking off the bridge.
"Done," he radioed.
"I still think that we should have tried another chance," he muttered, disappearing into the busy Paris streets.
After getting the name Joseph Campbell, the operators of the now disavowed Team Zero managed to trace his whereabouts using Archangel's social media accounts. Campbell, or rather Sir Campbell, the Duke of Argyll, is the head of Pegasus, Archangel's own PMC, and one of its board members too.
Now, Archangel is planning to unveil a new product in Paris, inviting many prestigious figures and organisations. With the non-stop media coverage, Team Zero managed to find the whereabouts of Sir Campbell with little difficulty. The plan is to intercept him on his motorboat ride through the Siene river on his way to the ceremony. During the chaos, they will control Sir Campbell and extract intel from him.
This is quite literally Mission Impossible, as not only will Team Zero have to face off against Pegasus, but also their comrades in Task Force Prime and the Assault Pathfinders 3rd Company; as well as the French police and Spades International.
The reason for that is that Archangel has invited many UN leaders including Director Kovac of UNSSD to the ceremony, citing their product as a breakthrough in human technology, along with other figures like the French Minister of Health. Thus, security detail in Paris is set at an all time high, the French government allowing UNSSD operators to conduct military operations on its soil for the first time since UNSSD is established.
Hence, to accomplish a task like taking in Sir Campbell in broad daylight is almost akin to cheating in a exam filled with invigilators, a near impossible task. Despite this, Xiao Tian knew that they do not have a better opportunity, hence deciding in the end to give a shot.
All of Team Zero set off to the Philippines 3 days ago, then booking a private jet using fake passports, arriving in Paris. As Charlotte is not in France in the moment, Xiao Tian and Nanami decided not to contact her and get Spades International to help hide them. After all, the last thing they need is to implicate her and their friends in Bravo Team.
Thus, with the help of Louis, they managed to rent a place in Marseille, where they are using as their temporary base, as well as a safe house in the outskirts of Paris.
Sean exited the bridge, sitting back into the SUV that Phineas had rented.
"How was the view?" asked Ariel in the front passenger seat.
"Lot's of pigeons," mused Sean.
Phineas stepped on the accelerator, letting the autopilot take them. But just as they are about to turn, a motorcade drove past them, flying the UN flag.
"That's Director Kovac!" exclaimed Sean in awe, seeing the familiar luxury executive car in the middle of the motorcade. "I have been in UNSSD my whole life, this is the closest I ever got to the higher ups," he commented.
They watched the motorcade disappear into the distance, then driving off in another direction, to order takeaway for lunch and to prepare themselves for the operation.
(On the motorcade)
Aya is seated next to Director Kovac, wedging him in the middle with Vera. Seated in front of them are Albert and Walter, looking out at the road carefully.
Director Kovac is busy on his phone, typing away to work emails and messages.
"I really did not want to come," he texted Secretary Li, who remained in Sulawesi.
"No choice though, denying an invitation from a prestigious firm that had successfully cultivated the people of Earth to see itself as the pioneer of science is not going to do well for PR." replied Secretary Li. "This is an opportunity to improve public opinion and help us to secure our budget."
"You know how we feel about Archangel and Sir Howard," texted Director Kovac, with a forlorn expression in his face.
Sir Howard, or the Duke of Norfolk is the founder of Archangel.
"Yeah, nobility, bound to be reactionary," replied Secretary Li. "But we still have to maintain good relations, for the greater good."
Sir Howard has always been seen as the model businessman and aristocrat with his frequent charity donations. He named his company "Archangel" to signify his wish to protect, guide and inspire mankind through science, pretty ironic when the name is a religious inference. Nevertheless, there has always been rumors of him being a closeted supporter of eugenics.
Director Kovac sighed, recounting the conversation they had 10 years ago, when he just became the Director of UNSSD.
(10 years ago, Arundel Castle, UK)
"I congratulate you on your success in becoming the Director," smiled Sir Howard in a private meeting room, adorned in luxurious items, including several artworks. He poured Director Kovac a cup of tea.
"Thank you, Sir Howard," said Director Kovac. He brought the cup to his lips, but did not drink from it, instead merely sniffing it slightly and set it down on the coffee table, sitting across Sir Howard.
"So formal and distant already Nikola?" mused Sir Howard. "It feels like just yesterday you were my student at Oxford."
"Though I must say that I find it rather interesting that you chose to return to Yugoslavia when all of your peers stayed in UK." he laughed. "And then when we next met, you were the Director of the State Security Service, and now, you are about to be one of the most powerful man on the planet. Not exactly a career for a student of medicine and science."
Director Kovac smiled. "Perhaps I am simply built different."
"What's your opinion of the Sellardraxians?" asked Sir Howard out of the blue.
"One of mankind," said Director Kovac almost immediately. "Those that remained on Earth that is."
"But they are so different from us," replied Sir Howard.
Director Kovac smiled. "They practice the same cultures as us, they believe in the same religions and ideologies as us, how aren't they unworthy of being part of mankind? Besides, humanity and Sellardraxians are close enough to interbreed, sometimes I wonder if we are really 2 different species."
"You raise a good point," said Sir Howard, drinking from his cup of tea. "I have always been perplexed by one thing."
"You see, humanity has evolved a great way from our primitive ancestors," he said. "We have achieved all sorts of feats through the development of science, but peculiarly enough, our bodies remained the same. You and I are still running the same body hardware as our ancestors did millions of years ago."
"Why didn't our bodies evolve?" asked Sir Howard. "Humans are pathetic as a species compared to all of the other sentient life we have seen."
Director Kovac replied that he does not know the answer.
"I feel that humans have already reached our biological limits, and it frightens me frankly. When the Sellardraxians appeared I was initially overjoyed, because I thought they are proof that humanity is still evolving," he said.
"But then, I realised that despite bypassing the reproductive isolation, we are still 2 different species at the end of the day," he sighed.
"However, I came to the same conclusion as you eventually," he said. "We are all "mankind" because of our shared way of lives."
Director Kovac frowned. "I don't understand what you are saying."
"It does not matter if something is genetically human," said Sir Howard. "What matters is the self-perception. Perhaps, it's about time we give up on humanity and start afresh."
"A new species that shall replace, no, serve as the much needed upgrade of humans that carry out legacy forward. A mankind without humanity."
"You mean the Sellardraxains?" asked Director Kovac, alarmed.
"No, they are a mere stopgap."
(Present)
"And that's why rumours always spread, because they have a degree of truth," thought Director Kovac.
He looked outside the window, seeing that they have entered a busy street filled with protesters protesting against increased miliarisation on the sides.
"MAKE LOVE, NOT WAR!" they chanted, throwing rubbish at the UN motorcade, The French police officers there tried their best to hold them back. Such a scene prompted him to sigh in exasperation.
The motorcade did a left turn, entering a tunnel
Just then, a violent collision occurred with the vehicles in front of them as several trucks suddenly drove out, stopping the motorcade.
"AMBUSH!" yelled Vera, grabbing her AKS-74U and firing at the attackers that had disembarked.
"Go back, go back!" yelled Walter as Albert put the car in reverse, trying to leave the tunnel, only for a mini robot to detonate near the car, flattening the wheels and rendering the car immobile.
Director Kovac calmly pulled out his custom weapon: a modernised M172 variant of the Mauser C96 fitted with a red dot sight and compensator.
He attached the wood holster onto the grip, using it as a stock, transforming the weapon into a submachine gun of sorts.
"Are you crazy sir?" muttered Aya in shock.
He grinned. "Oh, I kind of miss this."
He fired the gun just slightly above Vera who had bend down to reload, killing 2 attackers.
Aya opened the door on her side after blasting off the attackers, disembarking, charging forward, shooting her L119A2.
The other Task Force Prime operators behind them disembarked too, pressing the attack, boxing the attackers in.
"C'mon boys and girls!" exclaimed Director Kovac who had disembarked too, firing his M1712 at the attackers ahead.
He reloaded the 20 round magazine, then moving forward, linking up with Aya.
"Sir, please stay in the car!" yelled Aya.
"Take care of yourself Captain!" he replied.
Soon, the attackers had been mostly vanquished, and the motorcade suffered zero casualties, even those who were caught in the collision remained alive.
Director Kovac and Aya walked through the bodies of the attackers, checking them.
"Stay back!" yelled 2 wounded attackers, both raising pistols at them. Aya and Director Kovac promptly fired, flooring them but keeping them alive.
"Detain the survivors, find out who they are and what they want," ordered Director Kovac, keeping his gun.
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