Chapter 217 -- LFN Storyboard 2

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Date Posted: 18:44:06 02/22/12 Wed
Author: taurus2124
Author Host/IP: CPE-58-161-104-81.kybq1.win.bigpond.net.au / 58.161.104.81
Subject: Chapter 217
In reply to: taurus2124 's message, "NEW CHAPTERS of The Rising Dragons" on 18:31:50 02/22/12 Wed

Chapter 217

Walter and Birkoff entered a small circular room lit with eerie green and pink lights. �Wow! I�ve heard about this section.� Walter exclaimed taking in their surroundings.

�What's stored here Walter?"

�Each segment is a Mission. When you see one that's lit up that means it's active. It also houses all personal data on Level 5 operatives and above.�

Somewhat overawed, Birkoff took a quick moment to cast his eyes around the room as well. The walls were lined with rows of panels indicating the subject residing inside the databank and he studied the various panels lining both sides. They passed a bank of blank monitors then a series of labelled ones. Walter walked over and started to read the panel labels but couldn�t find what he was after. He looked around and then saw a panel marked PERSONNEL.

�Hey Birkoff � Got it � over here � I think this is what we�re looking for.�

�Good.�

�Okay can you open it?�

Birkoff immediately rushed over and examined the panel. There was a handle at the bottom of the panel and he pressed it to access the computer. The shield immediately rolled up to reveal a screen and keyboard.

�Look amigo � There�s a docking port for your gizmo about waist height. Can you see it?�

�Yes.�

Excitedly he replied. �Plug in your panel then.�

Birkoff did so and suddenly a command bar appeared as the monitor pulled up a search request � ENTER ACCESS CODE.

He�d hacked into many a mechanism but this was something new to him. What was the code?he wondered. He looked at Walter who shrugged his shoulders.

�Now what?�

Birkoff knew he was flying blind but when all else failed he reverted to the high security access code from the Vickers Log. �Nothing. Just wait.�

Punching in the code, he tapped his fingers anxiously while beside him Walter waited with bated breath. It seemed as if they waited an eternity but in a manner of seconds several windows appeared with the last one on the monitor screen reading � LIST DIRECTORY - FILE SET <05-958-4>

�Yes!�

Walter also gave a slight �whoop� when he saw what was on the screen and watched as Birkoff quickly keyed in the request instructions � MICHAEL SAMUELLE�S MEDICAL RECORDS.

ACCESSING DIRECTORY appeared on the screen and once again the two men waited for the computer to process the demand. With eager eyes Walter and Birkoff watched it search for Michael's name to download the information.

Suddenly, another window appeared but the information was not what they wanted. The emblazoned bright red letters of the warning icon were glaring, flashing a statement that nearly dashed their hopes. ACCESS DENIED. However, when other instructions appeared beneath the statement lettered in blue, they breathed a sigh hoping that the extra Intel would show how they could access what was denied them. Their hopes faded though, when it was apparent that what they sought was not possible. SECURITY LEVEL 9 - ERROR <984-A>

Discouraged the two men felt downhearted as they stared at the screen in puzzlement. However, it was not at all surprising that Michael's personnel information was restricted and only accessible by Operations or Madeline. It made perfect sense that this particular cold operative�s files would be the most difficult to access. Birkoff tried everything possible that he could think of to access the encrypted code that would let them view Michael�s Intel � but to no avail.

�We tried Walter but without Level 9 authority there is no way we can access Michael�s personal data.�

�Yeah ��

After having come so far it was such a letdown that they were not able to get the Intel they wanted.

�We gave it our best shot.�

�Alright then. We�re done. Fold it up Birkoff. Let�s go. I guess we better get out of here before we�re missed.�

Birkoff pulled his gizmo out of the port, closed down the computer, lowered the shield and replaced everything as it was before leaving no clues that anyone had tried to access classified material files. In a hurry to leave before both he and Walter were discovered, the two men then made their way to the exit but as soon as they left the room an alarm sounded. The piercing sound had them freezing in place.

�Do you hear that?� Birkoff nervously asked knowing that their goose was cooked. They�d finally been discovered. There was no way that they�d be able to talk their way out of this one.

�Yes, I hear it. They've added an egress code.�

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

However, Walter did not appear panicked. Remembering back to the days when Adrian was in charge of Section One he�d been responsible for many a scenario such as what they now faced. There was a solution to their dilemma but they had to be quiet and they needed to get away from here A.S.A.P. �In about ten seconds, two operatives should enter from the Southeast to check why the alarm was activated. So we�ll go the other way.�

�Are you sure?�

�Sure I�m sure.�

Birkoff gave him an evil eye look as if to say, you�ve gotta be joking. �This is a grade two breach Walter, they�ll close all access points.�

�Trust me � I�ll get us out of here without being seen.�

�I�m never going to forgive you if you get us killed Walter � remember that!�

Birkoff was sceptical but what choice did he have but to put his blind faith in his friend.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The two men scurried away down a corridor toward the Northwest as quietly as possible. No sooner had Birkoff and Walter disappeared from sight than two operatives hurried down a circular set of stairs and converged on the room. Raising their weapons they each took one side of the open door. Ames nodded to the other operative and together they entered the room weapons at the ready. Finding it empty, they lowered their guns and surveyed the room. There was no evidence of any tampering with sensitive files, nothing appeared to be out of place and there were no clues left behind that they could act upon. The two operatives decided in order to maximize their chance of finding an intruder they would need to split up to search the corridors in different directions. If there was a trespasser in this area, they would find them soon enough as the only way anyone could escape from this room was to take either one or the other corridor. Ames also called for back up to converge on the corridors from the egress point thus giving any intruder no way to avoid capture.

Hobbs took off down the Northwest corridor in which Birkoff and Walter had made their escape to search for the intruder but he was unaware that Ames had unfortunately been left behind. His colleague had been trapped when the doors suddenly closed behind him before he was able to exit the room.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Perspiration poured off Seymour�s forehead and his nervousness was heightened every time he heard the slightest noise thinking that they had been discovered. However, unbeknownst to them, the two friends were doing a good job of eluding the operative who had come to investigate the breach. Nevertheless, Birkoff was very uneasy and continually checked to make sure they were not being followed. He jumped at any little noise and kept his scanner at the ready to check for heat spots ahead and behind them.

�Walter!� He whispered anxiously looking scared. �Someone's coming.�

�How do you know?�

�I�ve picked up an infra-red heat schematic. I'm tracking it. What do we do? What do we do?� He repeated with alarm lacing his voice.

�Birkoff, just stay calm.�

With another panicked reply he blurted out. �I can't!�

�Yes y'can. Listen to me carefully.� Walter reassured him firmly. �Just keep calm and do exactly as I say.�

They continually kept out of sight of the operative who had come their way keeping one step ahead of him at all times. The two friends entered a new winding corridor and raced along as quietly as they could until they came to dissecting passageways. Realising just where he was, Walter suddenly stopped. He looked to his left then he looked at the floor.

Birkoff nearly ran into him. �What are you doing?�

�Looking for something.�

�Looking for what?� He asked incredulously aware that they were being followed and time was of the essence if they were to avoid being seen and detained. �Walter � we�re in dire straits here.�

Walter ignored his friend�s panicked pleas as he found what he was looking for� a small indentation on the wall. Identifying the panel, he pressed it, waited for the secret escape route to appear then ushered Birkoff through.

�How? � How did you � ?� Birkoff mumbled surprisingly as the panel silently closed behind them separating them from the operative who was searching for them.

Walter raised an eyebrow in mock triumph. �I'm a rebel. When you�ve been hanging around this place as long as I � well you get my drift? � Now follow me.�

They walked over to some circular stairs that obviously led back to the top level. Making their way up they were soon back on an unsecured level. Once there, they righted their clothes. Relieved, Birkoff wiped the sweat from his brow and Walter straightened his bandana then they strolled toward Section's Common Area, doing their best to act nonchalant.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Hot on the heels of the suspected intruder the operative turned the corner with his gun drawn, only to be surprised to find nothing and no one in the corridor. Perplexed he lowered his weapon and shook his head in disbelief. He thought that he�d been on to something but it had been a wild goose chase after all and he�d come up with no proof that there had ever been an intruder in this corridor. Perhaps it had been a false alarm. Other operatives soon approached from the dissected passageways but had nothing to report. They too had come up empty handed. Hobbs then contacted his colleague.

�Ames? Did you find anything?�

�No � I�m trapped in the room.�

�What?�

�The door closed before I was able to escape. Did you see anyone in the Northwest corridor?�

�No. No one.�

�What about the other operatives?�

�No � nothing.�

�You better report in then,� he replied unaware of the fate that would befall him.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Play on text from � End Game, Open Heart, and Gates of Hell

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