#section iii

“Agent Locke.”

Jameson Locke glanced up from his datapad at the soft beep that indicated the screen on the wall had been remotely activated, and was met with the sight of Vice Admiral Miranda Rennet. Fair skin, sapphire blue eyes and raven-black hair pulled back in a tight bun. Clad in the standard officer’s BDU with an ONI logo on her collar, Rennet was leant back in a chair, a glass wall behind her that looked out over… a cave?

“Ma’am.”

Rennet’s left eyebrow twitched upwards. “Call in your team. There’s been an incident on the planet Andesia.”

Locke’s eyebrows raised. “Andesia? What does ONI want with an independent colony world?”

He paused.

“Y’know what, forget I asked. What’s our mission?”

“A UNSC diplomat was planetside to discuss strengthened relations between Andesia and the UNSC. At 11:33:12 local time, Roman Hayes, the diplomat, left the president of Andesia’s estate and stepped into Laywood Square. At 11:34:02, Roman Hayes was hit by a single sniper round that killed him instantly.”

Locke pursed his lips, sitting his datapad down and crossing his arms. “Any other casualties?”

“Negative,” Rennet replied. “just Hayes. Section II is already calling it a piece of political theatre to show us that we don’t have power on their world, and frankly I agree with them.”

The agent shook his head, pressing himself to his feet and resting his hip on the edge of his desk. “It’s not.”

“Enlighten me, James. I’m just an Admiral, not an Agent.”

“Miranda, since when has anything Section II says ever been anything close to the truth? Andesia is an independent world with little military power. What the hell would they have to gain from assassinating a UNSC diplomat?”

“More attention?” She offered with a shrug.

“Fair enough,” Locke conceded with an inclination of his head. “but I mean politically, militarily. What would they have to gain? If the UNSC wanted to it could just sweep in and cut them all down and they couldn’t do a damn thing. It’s not the Andesian government, it doesn’t make sense.”

Rennet raised her hands, shaking her hands. “Whatever you say, Locke. Wheels up in six hours.”

“Understood.”

———————————————————————

Calling all IFT Agents, wheels up in six hours.

Locke out.