BKM. LOG-004. (Patreon)

LOG-004.The Weyland Yutani standard security kit afforded to most low level enforcers was fairly comprehensive, considering just how cheap it actually was. A set of multipurpose utility overalls, a basic combat cuirass, a surplus sidearm and the most expensive part of the entire batch of equipment, a M41A pulse rifle, all merged together to take a barely trained man or woman and turn them into a Weyland Yutani corporate security officer.Were they the most professional lot? Maybe not entirely, but things tended to be a little more lax on science vessels like this, in his experience. Maybe corporate figured it was okay, since the ship wouldn't be going anywhere if they fucked up, and wasn't large enough for its less than human occupants to make a truly threatening nest out of.Or at least, that's how Mitchell viewed things. Personally, he'd have preferred a bigger gun in the face of what was supposed to be an apex killing machine running loose aboard the vessel (how had it even gotten out of its cell anyway? Damn eggheads, probably left the door unlocked or some shit), but alas, he was just a company grunt trying to pay his bills."Move it you fucking maggots! We've got a bug to put back in its place and sensors are saying the sumbitch is right around this area!"Though they were getting close to where the primary armoury was...maybe he'd get lucky and sarge would let one of them break out the smart gun in there? Man, that'd be sweet...Regardless of his inner thoughts, the sound of over a dozen sets of boots stomping up and down in rapid succession filled the air, coupled by doors swishing open and closing right back up behind them as Dawkins security team B made their way deeper into the locked down east section.Now, Dawkins was an old gal, compared to the newer models coming fresh out of the shipyards. Supposedly, it'd been a military cruiser bought out by Weyland Yutani and refitted into acting as a dedicated research vessel. The best fate it could get really, compared to being broken down for spare parts.In practice, that meant that the cruiser's layout was inherently designed with that initial military purpose in mind (albeit with a few addons brought in by the new owners), which also meant they followed sarge's fancy tracker thing and got to where they needed to be in almost no time flat, leading them to..."What the...?"He didn't say anything himself, but he silently agreed with the woman beside him, even as he stared into the very much open armoury, considering the damned door had apparently been ripped off its hinges."Mitchells! Kenner! Go check it out."Aw Hell.Gulping at his superior's order, the security officer nonetheless stepped forward, even as his counterpart did the same with a curse hissing past her lips.His hands clenched tightly around his rifle, sweat beginning to build up as he advanced. One step forward. Two steps. Three......And they were in the armoury, glancing around warily only to find...nothing.Turning back, Mitchell made to call back to the rest of the team, even as Kenner flinched at something he couldn't rightly see."Hey uh sarge? There ain't nothing too bug-like in he-"Clink!...Huh?Clatter. "SHIT! GRENA-"The last thing he saw as he whirled around to face Kenner, was a bladed tail disappearing into a gouged open vent, alongside what he dully recognized as a damned flashbang rolling to a stop right in front of him.From there...well, he didn't see or hear much of anything, really, save for the constant ringing in his ears.Not very fun, that.---I held back a snigger as a chorus of shouting sounded out from somewhere behind me, even as I continued to drag my massive fucking gun (so huge, so very awesome) and the bundle of 'presents' I'd snatched along with me....Grenades, by the way. The presents were grenades. Just what looked to be a bunch of flashbangs, but still!Grenades!Fuck me though, if these vents weren't more than a little ridiculous. Who the Hell had decided they needed to be this big? Seriously, it's like they were asking for devious monsters of extraterrestrial origin to skulk about in them or something!...Super convenient though-WARRIOR!GIMME A FUCKING MINUTE! I'M CRAWLING HERE!---"God fucking damn it!"Weyland Yutani security sergeant Doyle was not having a good day. First he'd run out of imported cigarettes to keep smoking, then the damn eggheads had lost one of their pet monsters because oh of course they fucking did.Smartest idiots this side of human space, honestly.And now, he had two grunts blindly flailing inside a seemingly ransacked armoury, even as the rest of his rocks for brains men tried to rip the weapons out of their hands before they fucking shot themselves.Holding back a snarl as the two were finally disarmed, the former colonial marine brought a hand down and clicked on his comm link before raising the input."This is Doyle, we've got a problem."A second passed, before the voice of the Dawkins' chief bitchass finally answered."This is Donovan. Define 'problem', sergeant."Shaking his head, the man took note of some of the issues that were no doubt about to become his issues very shortly."We made it to where them fancy cameras of yours said the bug should be. No dice. Worse, two of my guys just got hit with a flashbang."..."How?"Shifting his weight from one booted foot to the other, the sergeant idly adjusted his cap, tapping his fingers against the side of his weapon."Found the armoury broken into. Door's wrecked something fierce, so we figured it was the target. Sent a pair in so they'd draw out the xeno and let the rest of us put it back down. Instead, there was a grenade apparently waiting for the two of em. We're also missing the fucking smart gun, from what I can tell. Now unless your little science project's suddenly learned how to go full commando, we've got at least one troublemaker on board. Possibly more."The old marine waited as several curses filtered over the comm, idly wishing he had something to smoke. Behind him, their team's medic was busy trying to deal with the bleeding coming out of the two would-be sacrificial pawns' ears....Least they knew the equipment worked. Silver linings, he supposed."-amn it all. Alright, it has to be some kind of...I don't know, corporate spy maybe? I'll order team A to lock down the databanks, that's likely their main goal. But how the Hell could they have gotten aboard?"Privately, Doyle figured that effectively sidelining their primary security unit for guard duty wasn't the best of ideas while a hyperlethal murderbug was on the loose, but hey, what did he know? He was paid to shoot shit, not question dumbass decisions."Should I divert some guys to try and track our little saboteur down?""No, I'm uploading a secondary route to your comm link now. I want that specimen found and contained before it manages to cause any more damage! Team A will deal with whatever asshole has decided to fuck with me."Hm. Well alright then.