Path of the Hunters [PART 3]

"Hey, if it's got remote access, Katherine can hack it." Stated the ODST with a shrug.

The blade vanished. There was no real way it could be used... That she could think of at least. "You can try."

Cross shook his head. "Hacking won't do any good. Their systems are riddled with viruses that erase all their data, if someone tries to access it illegally."

Nova looked up at the dog. "Maybe we could provide them with a little motivation..."

The ODST chuckled, "Win-win."

Cross stared at the soldier annoyed. "We're you even listening? We need that info, if we're gonna pull a blackmail job."

"Motivation?" she murmured, ignoring the ODST.

He shrugged, "Hey, either get blackmail or send them to the dark ages. Either way, you screw them over, albeit one is more temporary than the other."

Nova leaned in closer. "Just think. Tuefel's blade could send them on a power trip. They might want to take everything for themselves. It also might make them cocky enough that their closets will slip open, even a little."

"What about the Baudoins?" Crescent interjected. "They're already working on such a plot. There would be a massive power struggle, that could make both sides even more paranoid."

Cross rolled his eyes. "You think they wouldn't have written records? Their archives are filled with books that could more than compensate for the loss of computer data."

"Yeah, but it'll distract them for while while they recover and try to track hacking attempt." Pointed out the ODST, "And like you said, they have hard copies, so it's just ease of access that's lost."

"Nothing is written, but they 'ave many back-ups." Aurélie frowned. She didn't want to hand the Tuefel blade over... It would only get lost again and would solve nothing. "My grand-père 'as given me a lot of information over the past few months... I need to think."

"Guarded. Like. A fortress. We can't use a big force to take them, or risk causing an international scene. Covert doesn't even start on how convoluted this thing has to be."

Nova sighed, rubbing his temple with a free hand.

Mani looked downward, eyes softening. "...I hope Elesis and the baby are okay. I just realized that they aren't with us..."

"Don't worry, dear," Sol said, pulling her into a comforting embrace. "I'm sure she can handle things."

Aurélie looked up, frowning. "There's no telling 'ow long they 'ave been following us. We need to get them soon."

Cross tore himself away from the soldier, reached into his pocket. "Let's find out." He pulled out a tracking device of sorts, punched a few buttons, and stared at it for a moment. Then, he smiled. "They're fine, for now. Elesis has her out of the city."

"Bonne." She looked at her son, sighing quietly. "What a mess..."

The ODST sighed, "I don't remember the last time we went loud. The Commander must really like you people."

"And what a day for it all to happen on," Cross said. "Valentine's Day, of all-" He was cut off by sharp beeping from his device. He looked back to it, and his eyes widened. "No... They've been captured..."

Mani gasped, burrowing her face in Sol's chest, sobbing. "No... Not my baby..."

Sol stroked her softly, tears welling up in his own eyes.

"You have my sympathies, ma'am..." Stated the ODST softly.

The dog's eyes closed. "We 'ave to get them back. Quickly."

Sol looked up slowly, a dark glare in his eyes. "...This just got real."

Cross got up, banged on the door of the pilot's cabin. "Pilot! Turn this boat around! We've got hostages to save!"

The door opened, revealing the two individuals flying it. The co-pilot responded, "No can do. One, you hold no rank or control here, two, we are under orders to fly to base, and three, do you even have any idea where the hostages are?"

She looked to Mani. "Do you 'ave anything that would wake Damien up? We need to get to them. Now."

"Or you could ask the second-in-command." Pointed out the ODST.

"And that would be?"

Cross turned to the soldier impatiently. "Please tell me it's you."

"Sorry, no." He stated with a shrug. "Corperal, get Katherine on the line."

"Yessir" Called back the co-pilot as he tapped a few things into a keyboard, then a holographic figure of a women appeared on a pedestal-like object in the cockpit.

She looked around, took note that Damien was unconcious before sighing, "I'm in charge now, aren't I?"

"Yes ma'am."

She sighed, "Ok, first things first, I'm Katherine, Damien's personal AI and second in command. What is it that you want?"