The Mercenary Grind

[weapons_mistress]

"Adri, I have a new list of prospective jobs," Millicent called to her best friend, who was currently in the kitchen. "Do you want me to read through them?"

Comments

[weapons_mistress]

"Heh, quite." She goes back to the list before giving a snort. "There's one here that wants you to teach him savate!"

[ze_leaper]

That got another eyeroll.

"Oh, yes. And I am sure that is all he wants."

[weapons_mistress]

That got another chuckle out of Millicent. She narrowed her eyes upon reading the next one.

"This is an odd one. German expedition found, and I'm quoting, a man in a Prussian military uniform "frozen in ice". This one's direct from the German government. Man's still in ice, they want us to act as added security while they take it to a military installation."

[ze_leaper]

That got a head tilt out of her.

"Intriguing," she said after a moment. "A lot of variables, but potentially a lot of pay for not very much work."

[weapons_mistress]

"Indeed, and I admit I'm interested in just who this frozen Prussian is. Another tidbit, according to this report, this is being kept confidential. No word to the press. Very hush hush," she explained.

[ze_leaper]

She nodded. "Secrets? Ohh la la."

Another nod. "That one, then?"

[weapons_mistress]

"I am if you are. We'd have to contact them promptly. They've offered to pay for the plane ride."

[ze_leaper]

"Let us take that one then. It has aroused my curiosity."

[weapons_mistress]

Getting everything set up hadn't taken long. Millicent and Adrienne had been flown by private plane to a relatively unsettled area of the German countryside. When they landed they were greeted by German government officials.

"This way, please," the official asked in German, indicating what appeared to be a barn.

[ze_leaper]

Adrienne tugged her mask into place. It wasn't needed for disguise, but it was part of the look. And she would need to remember the accent.

Millicent's spoken German was better than her own, though she could understand it well enough. So she would let her take the lead.

[weapons_mistress]

"Very well," Millicent responded back in German. "Will we then be filled in on the particulars?"

"Yes. Our boss will explain what is to be expected inside," the agent replied as they made their way into the barn.

The "barn" was actually a makeshift research facility. While not the most advanced facility Millicent had ever seen, it certainly was impressive. An older woman in sunglasses noticed them enter and came over.

"I'll take it from here," she spoke in German to the agents. When they left she spoke in English. "Ms. Zaran, Ms. Batroc, I suspect you have questions."

[ze_leaper]

Adrienne nodded. "Zis seems like an awful lot. What kind of trouble are you expecting, exactly?"

[weapons_mistress]

"Considerable trouble," she replied plainly. "The two of you were hired because you both have strong reputations for discretion. Am I correct?"

"You have heard right," Millicent answered. "So what are we guarding, what are the particulars, and just who are we working for?"

"I am Agent Rossel of the Übermenschlicher Verteidigungsdienst, though Superhuman Defense Force, SDF, will do."

"I've never heard of it," Millicent said, curious.

"Then we're doing our job. Our organization was created as a means of defense against the number of supervillains with deep ties to the dark days of the Third Reich. I'm certain you're aware of the experiments along with the rise of the old Thule Society, ya?"

[ze_leaper]

She nodded again. Everyone in their circle new the stories. There was always some old Nazi or Thule Society weapon or artifact someone was willing to pay for. Often, the buyers were Nazis themselves or Neo-Nazis or worse.

"Zey left much out zere that should never see ze light of day again."

[weapons_mistress]

"Indeed. What very few people know is that before they came into widespread practice among the Nazi elite, they existed as very small fringe elements within the old German Empire of World War 1. One of the Kaiser's advisers had contacts among certain secret societies that believed they could grant a man special powers. von Hindenburg and Ludendorff dismissed it as nonsense. The Kaiser on one of his moments of..whimsy had his adviser discreetly give one of these groups his discrete permission to pursue the creation of an "ubermensch"," Rossel explained as she led the other women deeper inside. They saw a pair of pulleys carefully raising a block of ice. Inside the ice was a mustached-man wearing a Prussian military uniform. "We've been tentative on trying to to extract any DNA until proper security protocols are in place."

Millicent observed the man, not really able to determine how old he was, though he looked middle-age.

[ze_leaper]

"Zen he is just as dangerous as any who might come after him," Adrienne said. "I have heard tales of what attempts to recreate ze super-soldier formula have done to people. I cannot imagine what even earlier science and sorcery might have done."

[weapons_mistress]

"Agreed, so what do we do," Millicent asked.

""Soon we'll be loading the ice onto a truck and taking it to a secure government location. While we have been discreet in our handling of this, my superiors are not entirely convinced no else has has learned of this man. It won't be a large cavalcade, as I've said we are trying to be inconspicuous. We would like you to drive close behind and keep an eye on the perimeter."

[ze_leaper]

Another nod from Adrienne. Provided they weren't going up against, say, a Crimson Dynamo, both she and Millicent could handle super-human opposition.

"Simple," she agreed. "Have you accounted for an aerial attack?"

[weapons_mistress]

Agent Rossel nodded, removing a tarp from a box.

"Miniature rocket launchers, complete with lock-on targeting."

Millicent gave an appreciative whistle. "I approve."

"The German government takes the clean-up of its predecessors' mistakes very seriously."

[ze_leaper]

Even Adrienne let out an appreciative grin. "Well done," she agreed.

"Are zere any particular interesting parties in zis affair, or just ze usual alphabet soup of organizations?"

[weapons_mistress]

"We strongly suspect Hydra may make a run at him. We don't know much about who leads the organization these days, but von Strucker once had strong connections with the old Prussian military, so there may be a link there," Rossel replied.

"Hmph, if there is anyone I do not mind burning bridges with, it's them. We can be off, unless you have nay follow-up questions?" Millicent asked looking over at Adrienne.

[ze_leaper]

"None here," Adrienne said. She too, wouldn't mind settling up with Hydra. Her father's dealings with them had gone rather south, after all.

[weapons_mistress]

"Very good." The agent smoothly lifted her sleeve to check her watch. "Alright then, let's move to it!" The frozen man was loaded into the truck. "Ms. Batroc, seeing as you are a hand-to-hand fighter, perhaps you should join our guest in the truck. They likely will not wish to harm the vehicle with long-range attacks. The back car would likely suit you, Ms. Zaran."

"Logical strategy," Millicent conceded.

[ze_leaper]

"A good plan," she agreed.

Adrienne turned to Millicent. "Good luck to you."

[weapons_mistress]

"You too, soeur dans les bras," Millicent said in turn, throwing in a little French for the fun of it.

The two women took their positions as the German agents took up theirs. It was night and the route they were taking was very scenic so as to make any vehicles stick out like sore thumbs in the eyes of passengers. For a time it went rather smoothly. There were no vehicles in sight..which made it all the more surprising when a giant figure moved from the nearby wood and cut off the truck's path.

"Bloody hell!" Millicent had her infrared activated when the sudden movement occurred. "That's Hydra Mandroid armor!" She quickly grabbed one of the rocket launchers.