Hounds of Orion

Cameron didn’t get a good look at the planet Qal’Gar when the Fenris pulled into the system from slip space. Nor did he have time to take in the landscape when they landed planet side, before he and Logan were escorted from the ship into a docking tube that led into the Syl-Tech Biotechnical Research Laboratory. Even as the guards ushered them and a few other pairs of pilots into a sterile conference room, illuminated by a bright white light, he was disappointed to see there were no windows in the room, only three milk white walls, and a large black screen that functioned as the fourth. The only evidence he used to get a grasp of the area of operation was from the briefing packed he’d read on the trip to the planet describing a lush tropical rainforest and the attire of the other pilots, all of which were wearing clothing similar to Logan, a mixture of combat fatigues or cargo pants with compression shirts.

It was at that point, that he realized the eyes on him now, as more than a handful of people were observing his strange attire of a tunic and trousers, looking out of place and out of time amongst the hardened soldiers.

“I really need to get a change of wardrobe…” He said softly, loud enough that only Logan could hear as he spied a gaggle of pilots pointing in his direction, chuckling with amusement. He sighed and turned to look at Logan who’s nose was deep inside of the briefing packet for what must have been the third time today.

“Are you listening?” He asked, to which Logan replied with a nod.

“Yes…” Logan said drolly, not looking up from the packet, “I heard you clearly. You want to look like a pilot and not some backwater bumpkin.”

Cameron’s eye twitched in annoyance, and he ground his teeth, letting out an annoyed grumble, his eyes trailing down to the packet where Logan had it flipped to the initial overview with the words containment breach circled in red ink. He raised any eyebrow, speaking up voice his curiosity, “Why are you reading that, anyway? We’ve been over it like five times before coming here.”

Logan slowly looked up, his face passive as responded, “I’m trying to formulate a plan.”

“You don’t think the person who put this all together has a plan?” Cameron shot back, looking incredulous.

“I’m sure they do,” Logan said, skepticism evident in his voice, “But, I’m also sure it’s a shit plan.”

“And what makes you think that?” Cameron asked, looking around the room. “I mean, this place seems pretty high tech, I’m going to assume they’re smart enough to put a tactical plan together.”

“Yes, they are,” Logan began, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “But they’re going to plan on getting back what they want, not making sure we survive. To them that just means they have to pay us. Why the hell would they care what happens to a bunch of mercs as long as the job gets done?”

Cameron’s eyes go wide in understand as he nodded, following along, “So you’re making an exit strategy in case things go south.”

Logan nodded in confirmation, before his eyes went back to looking at the packet, his voice rising back to its usual volume. “I just can’t figure out what the hell it is that breached containment.”

“Perhaps I can be of use in answering that question.” A tinny metallic voice, devoid of emotion rang out behind them, drawing all eyes to the doorway where… something stood. It was humanoid, that much was for certain, with a masculine voice and silhouette that remained hidden underneath a series of flowing white robes, sterile in appearance and devoid of dust or stains. But that was where the similarities ended. Its head and hands, being the only body parts visible, appeared to be made of an opaque gray plastic. The head was bald and smooth, lacking any facial features, replaced instead with a series of colorful lights blinking periodically underneath the casing, as copper circuitry pulsed rhythmically around the head and neck.

All was silent as everyone stared at the figure, to which it responded with a silence of its own, its head turning as it slowly scanned the room. After several awkward moments it spoke again, the lights inside of it pulsing in tandem with every syllable.

“You seem… shocked,” It said, cocking its head to the side as if to study the group, “Does my appearance frighten you? Or is it mere confusion?”

“I think a little of both,” A nasally voice rang out from Cameron’s left, and the figure nodded curtly.

“Understandable. I assume you were expecting someone more… biological?” The being asked, as Cameron and everyone else nodded in answer. It gave another curt nod, stepping through the threshold and causing the door to slide shut with a low-toned hiss.

“Acknowledged. I apologize for any confusion… allow me to introduce myself,” It said, walking across the room and approaching the wall screen, all eyes following it as it did so.

“My name is PR-04X1, but you may call me ‘Proxy’. I am here as a representative of the Syl-Tech Corporation. None of our directors were available to speak with you at this time, so I have been assigned as your… proxy. Heh.” It’s blinking light flashed yellow as it made an attempt at a joke.

“Hold on a second now,” A gruff, bear of a man with matted, wild, neon red hair chimed in, leaning forward in his chair, speaking in a rumbling baritone. “I’ve read the briefing front and back, and everything points to yall’s fault for this… containment breach. Yet Syl-Tech can even bother to show up here in person, instead making us do business with a glorified calculator?”

“You must be new,” Another man responded to the red heads outburst. He was lean and toned, with shoulder-length blonde hair hiding half of his face and spoke in an amused and pompous tone, “To think a company listed on the galactic fortune five hundred is going to send a chairman down here for a few Alpha classes and a bunch of Squires. Absurd.”

The red head sat back for a moment and crossed his arms muttering to himself something that sounded like, “I was just asking…” before Proxy held up its hands to silence the murmurs, it’s glow taking on a calming baby blue.

“Gentlemen, allow me to assure you that my presence here does not a lack of understanding as to the severity of this situation on Syl-Tech’s part. It is quite the opposite. In actuality, the fact you are all gathered here is proof that we at Syl-Tech will take every precaution necessary to write a wrong caused in one of our labs. Allow me to also note, that Syl-Tech does not claim responsibility for this breach and in fact places all blame with the ex-employee who was present at the time of the breach. Syl-Tech has acted in good faith to handle this incident after said ex-employee was unable or unwilling to do so, due to physical expiration.”

Cameron leaned over, eyes still on Proxy as he whispered into Logan’s ear. “What the hell does physical exp-”

“They killed him,” Logan shot back in a hushed growl, answering Cameron’s question before he could finish.

“Oh.”

“Now, if there are no more questions,” Proxy said, clapping its hands together as the wall screen glowed to life. “Allow me to start with a presentation.”