Year: 2235
“Hanson, get over here!”
“Yes, sir!” Hanson half-heartedly replied, as he begrudgingly walked over to Group Captain Richards. Mick hadn’t liked Richards from the start. Had he known how the GC ran Lion Group he would never have signed up for the police force. Being called directly over was a bad sign. He was worried. Not about something he may have done, but about what he may be asked to do.
“Hanson, you’ve been in this group how long now?” the GC asked with a little bit too much interest, a faint smile on his lips.
“About 8 months now. Sir” Mick replied with a slight pause before sir. Too long a pause.
“I don’t think you like me, Hanson, but that’s ok. I don’t need you to like me so long as you do what I say when I say it. Got it?”
“Yes, sir!” Mick fired back, this time with a little more effort.
“Good. I’ve got a small operation going, something on the side you might say, and if you are going to be part of this group you’d better get on board. Fast. You may even learn to like it.”
Gesturing Mick to follow him the Group Captain walked towards a small huddle of men inspecting a large map of somewhere in the city. Mick didn’t know what to make of it, but he knew better than to ask too many questions. Questions were frowned upon; unquestioning obedience and loyalty were the only requirements in Lion Group.
Whether he liked it or not Mick was stuck with Lion Group for at least another year and four months. He had signed up for the force enthusiastic that he could make a difference; fight crime, catch the bad guys and earn a decent living. The usual things one aspires to do as a Police Enforcer. Mick, however, had drawn the short straw. Lion Group was about the worst you could hope for. Its Captain was a sociopath, the other Enforcers weren’t much better, and they seemed to generate more crime than they solved. He had the feeling that things were about to get much worse.
GC Richards walked up to the men around the map. “I’ve found our sixth man.” Richards said gleefully, slapping his arm around Mick’s shoulders. “Mick, I want you to meet the rest of your new sub-group.” Although Mick had met and spoken to them all many times over the last 8 months Richards pointed around the table introducing the other four men. “Laos, Carter, Harry and Simon, four of the biggest degenerates you could ever hope to meet. Guys, this is Mick.”
One at a time they all mumbled a greeting, and then went back to studying the map. Richards took Mick slightly aside saying, “you’ve met the gang, now find something to keep yourself busy for a couple of hours. When the time comes we’ll brief you on the mission. You better not screw anything up for us, Hanson. There will be hell to pay if you do.” And with that, he took his arm from around Mick’s shoulders and slapped him on the back pushing him away from the group.
Sunsets on Britannia 