Pilot

It was another beautiful country night, the full moon hovered high in the sky with its celestial soft glow, illuminating the wet ground and forest below it with its gentle caress. The stars added to the already beautiful night, peppered across the sky in gorgeous random patterns that where somehow not so random.

Constellations formed, stories were told. This was what Selena had always loved about space, the reason she had join the SMF in the first place along with many others, she loved the freedom and dangers offered by the vast territory of space.

Where gravity had no imposition, where things that seemed impossible on earth were more than probable in space. However, being on land had its perks as well, for although she was far better at being a captain of a ship, she still had many other skills to access.

The security systems had been disabled, meeting no security interference she’d reached the entry point, the bathroom window. It was a tinted red, the type of window that was one way, and this night it was partially opened.

Pulling her flexi cam out of her back pocket she stretched up, placing the monitor glasses on she spied inside the bathroom. All she seen was an empty room, on all frequencies and modes it was clear of both security and people.

Pulling the camera back she took the glasses off and lifted herself up, she trained physically with her husband Harold every day for this sort of thing, he was a former SMF officer and six year UFC champion, so she could handle a simple lift.

Pushing the window up she peered inside once again, still clear she hefted herself in, landing softly on the bathroom’s tiles. She stood motionless for a moment, listening for any movement in the hall, the house was supposed to be vacant but screw ups in the Intel department did happen from time to time.

Certain there was no one she crept to the door, opening it a crack she withdrew the camera once more and looked outside in the halls, seeing nothing but disabled camera and ornate walls with a elegant Persian rug.

Placing the camera back she entered the hallway, pulling her satellite phone out she speed dialled the agency’s number, " Agent Athena in position, awaiting authorization for phase two."

There was a slight pause before a voice answered, " Proceed with phase two, lethal force prohibited, we cannot afford casualties" Selena hung up the phone, feeling for her gun on her belt she read over the mansion blueprints, beginning to head to the main office.

This must have been a high priority mission, although discretion was always used this mission had overblown secrecy all over, encrypted orders and secret meetings. Her mission was simple, crack the safe and grab the files regarding a project codenamed Gaslow.

This was a very beautiful mansion, it was of old design, being elegant in every way. The white walls with ornate paintings of famous painters from the 16th century, modern architecture had no beautiful designs anymore, all domes to improve the safety, never minding the beauty.

Beauty was an odd concept now, why waste such money on beautiful when it did not matter if a house was beautiful or ugly, if the foundation was bad they would both crumple to the ground, but it was still nice.

Finding herself in front of the office doors she turned the knob, finding it locked she cursed silently, pulling out her pick locking kit, and with ease that came with experience the locks turned with a mechanical click as she pushed the door open.

She was glad the security system was disabled, from the initial reckon missions of the mansion this house had been the safest place in all of Prague. Lasers, Infra red cameras, sensors, all disabled to add ease to the job.

Looking around the room she began to look for the safe, spotting something gleam in the fireplace she walked over, crouching inside she spotted the thick vault doors. Pulling her stethoscope out she put it to the vault, slowly turning the gears listening for the familiar click that meant she had the right number.

Safes’ had gotten much less secure as time had progressed, as security systems were improved the theft rate reduced greatly, people became less concerned about getting their belongings stolen thinking their security could handle it all.

Getting the combination right she pulled the safe open, suddenly her phone vibrated against her hip. Pulling the phone out she answered, "Athena here, what the hell do you want?"

The raspy voice of her boss replied, " The owners have arrived ahead of schedule, get the files and get out of there asap, I emphasise that lethal force is prohibited." He hung up on her, she cursed at herself for her bad luck and grabbed the file.

Placing it in the satchel she began to walk out, she heard the door open, the owners talking loudly about the opera they’d just suffered through. Heading to the bathroom as footsteps could be heard coming up the stairs. In less than a minute the security systems would come on-line.

Running as fast as she could she reached the bathroom, jumping up she lowered herself outside, landing on the wet grass she checked if the files were still there and launched in a jolt into the forest. Pulling her phone out she awaited for a clear signal and sent the text message, " Mission accomplished, returning to Bravo Point for pickup."

Running through the thick woods she thought of being in space again, captaining a ship again, the thrill of the power of commanding a crew, the whole mission hinging on her decisions, which was why she enjoyed working for the agency so much.

Travelling a mile south she exited the forest, entering the new section of Prague she sat at the coffee shop, ordering an Irish coffee she looked around waiting for her exit route. She could drink with the satisfaction of a job well done, feeling for the file fear took over her as she felt nothing but air.

Then a voice came from behind her, " Now your good at stealing, but maybe you should be more alert yourself." Sitting down in front of her the man with the curly blonde hair smiled, handing over the files.

Selena smiled slyly, "Hades, sneaky as ever. Lets get out of here, the agency wants this information pronto, what is our mode of transportation for the evening?" He cocked his head to the left, motioning to a large ugly looking white van.

She looked to the left, looking back at him she said, " Your fucking kidding me right Malcolm? The agency usually has better taste than this." Malcolm walked over to the van, sliding the door open with great difficulty to show the backup team, three commandos with assault rifles nodded at her.

Sitting on the seat beside one of them Malcolm slid the door closed and began to drive to the airport, flying in the private jet was almost as good as a spaceship, although it didn’t quite reach the same place in her heart, it was good enough for now.

************************************************************************

The agency headquarters were a work of genius, concealed as a department store it was the most used building in the small town of St-Charles, the type of village people didn’t know much about.

It had been devoid of youth for over fifty years, nothing but a town for old women to gossip, under the entire store over a hundred feet of stairs was the entrance to the agency headquarters.

The agency had no name, people had always addressed it as the agency ever since its creation, their work was unauthorized and their power spread throughout the world. Walking down the main hall, files in her arms she inputted her code, waiting as the thick doors slid open.

Finding herself in the briefing room, she always admired this simple looking room. Made of pure trinium it was the most secure room in the base, at the end of the long glass table sat the boss, dressed in a pin strip suit with legs crossed, looking at her.

She felt awkward being dressed in her black op suit in his presence, sitting down she slid the files over to him, " There you have it boss, the files regarding codename Gaslow, may I ask what it is?"

Not even glancing at the files he smiled, " You didn’t read them, don’t you have any curiosity at all Selena. Without further delay I give you your next mission, and your going to love this one, extremely long term and extremely dangerous and extremely out of this world."

Selena perked up at this, out of this world which meant space. She kept her silence as he continued, " I want you to form a crew of ten to smuggle over a billion dollars worth of cocaine to one of our most prominent associates who finds himself in the far planet of Gaslow."

"These files pertain to the safe route there, using ion engines alone it will take several months to reach there so using this safe route you can all be induced in a cryogenic mode. All you have to do is select four engineers,three doctors and five bridge officers, you will be the captain of course and Harold your 1st officer."

Selena controlled herself as she replied, " I have a crew in mind, but most of them are not of this agency. Ex-soldiers from my SMF regiment, I would trust them with my life. But I will take Malcolm, I value his skills as a tactical officer."

The boss smiled, " You got him, you two can go and take the porsche to wherever you need to get your other crew members, Harold will be joining you as well." Being dismissed she walked out, excited that she would finally get another space mission after over five years of being grounded, she hungered for the freedom of the stars and this smuggling gig would give her exactly that.