The Arena: The Awakening (1) Read Online Free
Author: James Robert Scott
the stereo.
“What is it, a seventy-two Eldorado?” asked Hank.
“Yep, in body only” replied Fitz. “Picture her with a triple black paint scheme, custom cream interior and a brand new souped-up motor. That should shock a few people when I pull away on a green light!” After a brief pause for Fitz to wipe off the worst of the oil and grease, the two men eagerly shook hands.
“Damn good to see you buddy. Sorry to turn up unannounced but I need to tap into that oversized head of yours.”
“Sounds important” said Fitz, wishing Hank were there for a social visit and not work.
“I need you to take a look at these ballistics reports and tell me what you think” said Hank, passing him the pile of papers. He looked around the garage at all the various mechanical projects, giving Fitz all the time he needed to read the reports. After a few minutes, Fitz closed the reports and sighed.
“I think you’ve got a serious problem with this one”. Fitz had worked for the ballistics division of the National Security Agency prior to his retirement, and his concerned expression worried Hank.
“We trialled this a few years go in the Agency but couldn’t get it to work. Creating the bullet so it had no rifling marks wasn’t a problem but getting it to shatter on impact was. Also, the chemical make-up of gunpowder would damage the end of the bullet and reduce accuracy dramatically. We tried different types of explosive compound, the last one being a two compound epoxy-type resin. It showed promise but budget restraints put an end to it all. Are these reports correct in that someone has actually made this work?”
“Yes” replied Hank. “It’s been used at least three times now and I’ve been asked by the Bureau to find out by who.”
“Best of luck with that my friend,” replied Fitz quietly. “Whoever has the finance and expertise to pull this development off, probably isn’t someone you want to be investigating.” Hank’s confused expression made Fitz clarify.
“It has to be one of the agencies Hank. This isn’t some backwater weapons maker. This is seriously advanced research, with big funding”. Fitz’s tone became more urgent. “If you’ve been handed these by the Bureau to investigate, you can be damn sure you’re not alone in your investigation. Somebody, somewhere, is watching you!” Hank suspected his friend was right, and shook his hand before leaving.
“Perhaps luck is all I need Fitz. I’ve got to have some sometime. I promise my next visit will be a social one”.
Chapter 5
The Mission
As she looked through the 'scope on top of her rifle, Mia muttered under her breath “Wind, four miles an hour at one thousand and fifty yards, adjust two clicks to compensate”.
With her right hand, she slid back the bolt on her rifle with a hefty ' clunk' . On the floor to her right, she picked up one of the three rounds she had in her arsenal. To the layman, these would look more like science fiction ammunition than normal rounds. They were transparent and were in three separate parts. The main cartridge of the round was filled with a green fluid one side and yellow in the other. The main bullet was black instead of the usual copper or lead. As Mia slid the bullet into the chamber of the rifle, it made a chinking sound similar to that of two champagne glasses being clinked together during a toast.
' Clunk, Click! ''
She threw the bolt forward securing the bullet in the chamber and then took a deep breath and refocused down her 'scope. She could see her target’s vehicle arrive at the entrance to the apartment block at the other side of Boston Common from where she was positioned. She could see the flags on the front of his vehicle blowing in the wind.
“Wind, six miles an hour, one thousand and forty-seven yards, one click to compensate” she said to herself.
There was a very brief pause and then a crackled radio transmission: “Mia, green light to proceed when ready”.
Mia
“What is it, a seventy-two Eldorado?” asked Hank.
“Yep, in body only” replied Fitz. “Picture her with a triple black paint scheme, custom cream interior and a brand new souped-up motor. That should shock a few people when I pull away on a green light!” After a brief pause for Fitz to wipe off the worst of the oil and grease, the two men eagerly shook hands.
“Damn good to see you buddy. Sorry to turn up unannounced but I need to tap into that oversized head of yours.”
“Sounds important” said Fitz, wishing Hank were there for a social visit and not work.
“I need you to take a look at these ballistics reports and tell me what you think” said Hank, passing him the pile of papers. He looked around the garage at all the various mechanical projects, giving Fitz all the time he needed to read the reports. After a few minutes, Fitz closed the reports and sighed.
“I think you’ve got a serious problem with this one”. Fitz had worked for the ballistics division of the National Security Agency prior to his retirement, and his concerned expression worried Hank.
“We trialled this a few years go in the Agency but couldn’t get it to work. Creating the bullet so it had no rifling marks wasn’t a problem but getting it to shatter on impact was. Also, the chemical make-up of gunpowder would damage the end of the bullet and reduce accuracy dramatically. We tried different types of explosive compound, the last one being a two compound epoxy-type resin. It showed promise but budget restraints put an end to it all. Are these reports correct in that someone has actually made this work?”
“Yes” replied Hank. “It’s been used at least three times now and I’ve been asked by the Bureau to find out by who.”
“Best of luck with that my friend,” replied Fitz quietly. “Whoever has the finance and expertise to pull this development off, probably isn’t someone you want to be investigating.” Hank’s confused expression made Fitz clarify.
“It has to be one of the agencies Hank. This isn’t some backwater weapons maker. This is seriously advanced research, with big funding”. Fitz’s tone became more urgent. “If you’ve been handed these by the Bureau to investigate, you can be damn sure you’re not alone in your investigation. Somebody, somewhere, is watching you!” Hank suspected his friend was right, and shook his hand before leaving.
“Perhaps luck is all I need Fitz. I’ve got to have some sometime. I promise my next visit will be a social one”.
Chapter 5
The Mission
As she looked through the 'scope on top of her rifle, Mia muttered under her breath “Wind, four miles an hour at one thousand and fifty yards, adjust two clicks to compensate”.
With her right hand, she slid back the bolt on her rifle with a hefty ' clunk' . On the floor to her right, she picked up one of the three rounds she had in her arsenal. To the layman, these would look more like science fiction ammunition than normal rounds. They were transparent and were in three separate parts. The main cartridge of the round was filled with a green fluid one side and yellow in the other. The main bullet was black instead of the usual copper or lead. As Mia slid the bullet into the chamber of the rifle, it made a chinking sound similar to that of two champagne glasses being clinked together during a toast.
' Clunk, Click! ''
She threw the bolt forward securing the bullet in the chamber and then took a deep breath and refocused down her 'scope. She could see her target’s vehicle arrive at the entrance to the apartment block at the other side of Boston Common from where she was positioned. She could see the flags on the front of his vehicle blowing in the wind.
“Wind, six miles an hour, one thousand and forty-seven yards, one click to compensate” she said to herself.
There was a very brief pause and then a crackled radio transmission: “Mia, green light to proceed when ready”.
Mia
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