D.E.L.T.A. Report - One
[D.E.L.T.A. Mission Report - Operation Codename: You’ve Really Got a Hold On Me]
[Operatives: O1C Jackhammer (mission leader); O3C Reshape; REC Marten Daltrey]
[Report prepared by Jackhammer]
Political activists in Colombia struck at an oil mine. Guerrilla soldiers had taken the workers hostage: their lives (and the continued operation of one of the most profitable mines in the country) in exchange for the release of several high profile terrorists currently being held by the government. A request was made for DELTA Agency to assist in the rescue of the hostages and the apprehension of the terrorists behind the attack.
I (Operative First Class 'Jackhammer') was given this mission and assigned a team consisting of Operative Third Class 'Reshape' and new recruit 'Marten Daltrey' who has elected not to use a codename. As required for an honest report, I will add here that I had objected to the inclusion of Mr. Daltrey on a basis of his use of military grade munitions, a form of weaponry not accepted by DELTA until his recruitment. My objection was noted and denied.
At 0600 we were air dropped five miles out from the mining facility. We continued on foot to the site, settling at an unnoticed location to take reconnaissance of the target. By my count we were facing eighty (80) visible soldiers, including an estimated additional count of ten (10) more in concealed cover or vehicles. The leader of the guerrilla unit, a renowned terrorist identified as ‘El Lagarto,’ was situated at a central position. Forty hostages had been bound and set around him on their knees, hands behind their backs.
As planned, Reshape took the form of a soldier, perfectly replicating one of the enemy troops, including uniform and insignia. From our vantage point Daltrey and I were able to witness Reshape’s successful infiltration and unnoticed integration into the enemy ranks. He approached El Lagarto, acting as a messenger delivering word of the Colombian government’s decision to agree to the group’s terms. Unfortunately, it was then that the plan unraveled.
The smoke rose in a haze, drifting its twisting silver shapes through the crisp Autumn air. I watched it absently and took another long, slow draw off of its source. My gaze shifted, eyes wandering to watch the lazy descent of a fallen leaf, turned gold like all the others in the multitude of trees that surrounded the academy grounds. Like the leaf, my time here was also done.
“Those things will kill you, you know.”
I turned to watch Alexandre Lewiston as he approached down the gravel walkway. A cigarette of his own burned between his fingers. I gave him a slight smile.
“They’ll take longer doing it than most of the trouble I get into,” I said.
“Mmm-hmm.” He stopped at my side and together we leaned back against the cool metal of my rental car. “Like this new business you’ve gone and gotten yourself involved in.”
I nodded but said nothing.
“I don’t approve of it,” he continued. “Never have, for you or any of our kids. You know that. They’re not safe.”
“I know their reputation,” I said. “ ‘Three out, two back in,’ right? If they’re even that lucky.”
“Luck seems to be the heart of it, at that. They’re all talented, many of them incredibly successful solos before joining, but the life expectancy of a DELTA operative is slim to none.”
“Maybe I’ll be the exception to the rule. I seem to excel at that.” I gave him a joking grin, but he didn’t laugh. He turned to face me instead, dropping the dwindling remains of his cigarette as he did and crushing it under the well polished toe of his shoe.
“Marten,” he said in a soft tone. “We could still use you here. I could still use you. Maybe you’re not meant to be an active superhero. Maybe you’re not even meant to be one of our field recruiters. I could put you on the faculty. Professor Daltrey has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?”
I was touched. The headmaster of Falconest Academy was not usually so persistent on trivial things such as my employment. “I’m honored at the offer. Really, I am. But this is what I was trained for. Why was I brought here if not to put my skills to use?” I shrugged and patted at the boxy shape that pressed against the inside of my jacket. “Besides, what would I teach? Marksmanship with a weapon you guys were reluctant enough to let me use in the first place?”
Headmaster Lewiston sighed but he gave a nod of reluctant acceptance. “Times change, and with it what rules we must be willing to break. Dark days are coming, Marten. Perhaps those such as yourself will be the light in the darkness.” Despite his ominous words he held out his hand, which I grasped with a single brisk shake.
“Look, when my contract with DELTA ends in a year, I’ll give a serious consideration to coming back. It all depends on the experience, you know?”
“I will welcome you back any time, Marten,” he smiled at me, but I could tell what he was thinking. I was joining DELTA Agency, world famous for its high turnover rate due to fatalities on the field. This was likely the last time he would ever see me alive.
I opened the car door and slid into the driver seat, peeking into the rearview mirror at the trio of boxes in the back seat containing all of my worldly possessions. “I’ll prove you wrong, sir,” I said as I closed the door. I drove away from Falconest Academy, leaving it, and my past, far behind.
It happened quickly, before either of us on watch could react. El Lagarto turned, drew his pistol, and delivered an executionary shot into Reshape’s head. From the body language we were able to determine that El Lagarto was aware of us and our general position. Soldiers began to fan out and approach. I was the first to move forward. I entered into combat against the soldiers, making use of my super-human strength and bulletproof skin to disable weapons and soldiers alike.
I was able to hear gunshots from behind me and knew that Daltrey had also begun to respond to the assault, however at that time I was unable to witness what his own shots were directed toward. When I had cleared myself of my own combat I was able to investigate Daltrey’s own handiwork. Amazingly he had disabled those guards positioned around the hostages with pinpoint accuracy, yet rather than fatal bullet wounds the guards had been pinned to earth in slabs of ice that left them both unharmed and incapable of causing harm. El Lagarto was counted among these. I understood that during my melee combat with the enemy, Daltrey had efficiently subdued all remaining enemy units, including heavy artillery vehicles.
DELTA Agency was able to successfully rescue all hostages and recover full operative use of the mining facility for the Colombian government, per contract.
DELTA Agency regrets to report Operative Third Class Reshape as Killed In Action.
Operative First Class Jackhammer recommends Recruit Marten Daltrey for advancement in rank after a single mission.
[Report End]
[Operatives: O1C Jackhammer (mission leader); O3C Reshape; REC Marten Daltrey]
[Report prepared by Jackhammer]
Political activists in Colombia struck at an oil mine. Guerrilla soldiers had taken the workers hostage: their lives (and the continued operation of one of the most profitable mines in the country) in exchange for the release of several high profile terrorists currently being held by the government. A request was made for DELTA Agency to assist in the rescue of the hostages and the apprehension of the terrorists behind the attack.
I (Operative First Class 'Jackhammer') was given this mission and assigned a team consisting of Operative Third Class 'Reshape' and new recruit 'Marten Daltrey' who has elected not to use a codename. As required for an honest report, I will add here that I had objected to the inclusion of Mr. Daltrey on a basis of his use of military grade munitions, a form of weaponry not accepted by DELTA until his recruitment. My objection was noted and denied.
At 0600 we were air dropped five miles out from the mining facility. We continued on foot to the site, settling at an unnoticed location to take reconnaissance of the target. By my count we were facing eighty (80) visible soldiers, including an estimated additional count of ten (10) more in concealed cover or vehicles. The leader of the guerrilla unit, a renowned terrorist identified as ‘El Lagarto,’ was situated at a central position. Forty hostages had been bound and set around him on their knees, hands behind their backs.
As planned, Reshape took the form of a soldier, perfectly replicating one of the enemy troops, including uniform and insignia. From our vantage point Daltrey and I were able to witness Reshape’s successful infiltration and unnoticed integration into the enemy ranks. He approached El Lagarto, acting as a messenger delivering word of the Colombian government’s decision to agree to the group’s terms. Unfortunately, it was then that the plan unraveled.
The smoke rose in a haze, drifting its twisting silver shapes through the crisp Autumn air. I watched it absently and took another long, slow draw off of its source. My gaze shifted, eyes wandering to watch the lazy descent of a fallen leaf, turned gold like all the others in the multitude of trees that surrounded the academy grounds. Like the leaf, my time here was also done.
“Those things will kill you, you know.”
I turned to watch Alexandre Lewiston as he approached down the gravel walkway. A cigarette of his own burned between his fingers. I gave him a slight smile.
“They’ll take longer doing it than most of the trouble I get into,” I said.
“Mmm-hmm.” He stopped at my side and together we leaned back against the cool metal of my rental car. “Like this new business you’ve gone and gotten yourself involved in.”
I nodded but said nothing.
“I don’t approve of it,” he continued. “Never have, for you or any of our kids. You know that. They’re not safe.”
“I know their reputation,” I said. “ ‘Three out, two back in,’ right? If they’re even that lucky.”
“Luck seems to be the heart of it, at that. They’re all talented, many of them incredibly successful solos before joining, but the life expectancy of a DELTA operative is slim to none.”
“Maybe I’ll be the exception to the rule. I seem to excel at that.” I gave him a joking grin, but he didn’t laugh. He turned to face me instead, dropping the dwindling remains of his cigarette as he did and crushing it under the well polished toe of his shoe.
“Marten,” he said in a soft tone. “We could still use you here. I could still use you. Maybe you’re not meant to be an active superhero. Maybe you’re not even meant to be one of our field recruiters. I could put you on the faculty. Professor Daltrey has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?”
I was touched. The headmaster of Falconest Academy was not usually so persistent on trivial things such as my employment. “I’m honored at the offer. Really, I am. But this is what I was trained for. Why was I brought here if not to put my skills to use?” I shrugged and patted at the boxy shape that pressed against the inside of my jacket. “Besides, what would I teach? Marksmanship with a weapon you guys were reluctant enough to let me use in the first place?”
Headmaster Lewiston sighed but he gave a nod of reluctant acceptance. “Times change, and with it what rules we must be willing to break. Dark days are coming, Marten. Perhaps those such as yourself will be the light in the darkness.” Despite his ominous words he held out his hand, which I grasped with a single brisk shake.
“Look, when my contract with DELTA ends in a year, I’ll give a serious consideration to coming back. It all depends on the experience, you know?”
“I will welcome you back any time, Marten,” he smiled at me, but I could tell what he was thinking. I was joining DELTA Agency, world famous for its high turnover rate due to fatalities on the field. This was likely the last time he would ever see me alive.
I opened the car door and slid into the driver seat, peeking into the rearview mirror at the trio of boxes in the back seat containing all of my worldly possessions. “I’ll prove you wrong, sir,” I said as I closed the door. I drove away from Falconest Academy, leaving it, and my past, far behind.
It happened quickly, before either of us on watch could react. El Lagarto turned, drew his pistol, and delivered an executionary shot into Reshape’s head. From the body language we were able to determine that El Lagarto was aware of us and our general position. Soldiers began to fan out and approach. I was the first to move forward. I entered into combat against the soldiers, making use of my super-human strength and bulletproof skin to disable weapons and soldiers alike.
I was able to hear gunshots from behind me and knew that Daltrey had also begun to respond to the assault, however at that time I was unable to witness what his own shots were directed toward. When I had cleared myself of my own combat I was able to investigate Daltrey’s own handiwork. Amazingly he had disabled those guards positioned around the hostages with pinpoint accuracy, yet rather than fatal bullet wounds the guards had been pinned to earth in slabs of ice that left them both unharmed and incapable of causing harm. El Lagarto was counted among these. I understood that during my melee combat with the enemy, Daltrey had efficiently subdued all remaining enemy units, including heavy artillery vehicles.
DELTA Agency was able to successfully rescue all hostages and recover full operative use of the mining facility for the Colombian government, per contract.
DELTA Agency regrets to report Operative Third Class Reshape as Killed In Action.
Operative First Class Jackhammer recommends Recruit Marten Daltrey for advancement in rank after a single mission.
[Report End]