A figure shifted in the predawn light. Behind him the sun began making its’ first appearance in days, illuminating his rocky perch. The high ridge he stood upon stretched for miles to the north and south, holding the valley below in darkness for a few more minutes.
A second figure stepped up beside the first, looking down as the dawn slowly revealed a massive compound abutting a canyon that cut across the land like a gaping wound. “The men are in position m’lord. We await your signal.” he said, pitched so his voice wouldn't be carried on the wind to those in the valley below.
Good, he thought, going over the gun placements in his head again. Those were the real danger. If he timed it wrong, his men would be cut to shreds as they came out of the sun. He wasn't concerned that he was vastly outnumbered; he knew most of those in the compound were scientists or doctors, with a few elite squads in the mix for security. This wasn’t supposed to be an assault, it was a recon mission.
As he turned to the man who spoke, a flash of red caught his eye from the compound. He held his hand to stop the question on his subordinate’s lips. A moment of concentration and his view of the compound seemed to zoom in on the flash of red he saw.
He couldn't quite make out her features but he was immediately struck by her. She had long red hair, but that wasn’t what had caught his attention from such distance. No, it was the crimson wings protruding from her back that he’d seen. The sight made his anger rise, confirming what his sources had suspected of the people here.
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His vision dialed back to its natural magnification as he changed his game plan on the fly. This was where his people were being experimented on for sure. This was no longer just a recon mission. “They're here. The plan has changed. Get the men off the ground now but stay in the sun until I signal. Then you come in fast and low. Quell all opposition. I want prisoners.” he growled, his anger evident in his face.
“What’s the new signal sir?”
“You’ll know.” he said, and without another word stepped off the edge of the cliff, unconcerned by the 20 meter drop to the next ledge. He landed lightly, knees slightly bent, and continued on down in similar leaps and drops, expending a little bit of energy to slow his fall before he hit.
A few minutes later he reached the valley floor, no sign that the 400 meter ridge was anything but an easy stroll. The walls of the compound were a short dash away so he took a minute to check that his gear was still functioning, and take a nip from a metal flask in his breast pocket. A glance at the top of the wall showed no guards in sight, so he took off at a dead sprint, reaching the wall much sooner than should have been possible, at least, by the standards of a majority of the population.
‘Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more’ he thought to himself as he launched his grappling hook to the top of the wall with another small expenditure of his energy to nudge it into position. A quick climb later he was crouching on the wall stowing the hook back in its' proper pouch on his thigh, the wonder of modern technology making it possible to have large lengths of cord in such a small package he thought, trying to distract himself from the rage boiling up inside.