Service Ladder

“Just a bit longer, Devi. I can see the entry hatch into the elevator shaft!”

“Everything has to be tight…always…ugh…”

“We’ll be out soon,” Mi-Yun whispered as she unlatched the ventilation grate and brought it to rest above her,

“Anything?”

“Gimme a sec,” she held her body in palce and saw nothing coming from below, turning her body again to look upward, “we’re clear at the top. Now for the upper…”

“Mi!!!”

Without warning the cables and pistons came to life and Mi-Yun saw approaching lights at a blinding speed. She felt the grip of Devika yank her legs back into the shaft and not a second too soon as the elevator would have snapper her head clean off. Head still arched back she paused with heavy breath.

“Jeez…thanks, Devi.”

“So eager to rush into everything, Mi…situational awareness! How ‘bout that?”

“Okay, okay!”

Mi-Yun brought her head up to face Devika with a sneer before sliding back out and with some careful maneuvering brought herself upright to the wall. Devika squeezed herself out and hugged the wall next to Mi-Yun. The service ladder was within reach but every movement was made painfully slow as their footing barely covered all of their feet to begin with. Halfway there, luck had been on their side that the elevators hadn’t been moving again. Unfortunately the hiss of pneumatics meant it just ran out.

“Shit! They’re moving again!”

“Jump for the ladder, Mi!”

With as much force as possible, the two leapt off the wall and crashed into the service ladder. Mi-Yun pressed herself in tightly while Devika nearly missed, her right hand extended luckily enough to grip one of the rungs. She felt the wind knocked out of her with a lower rung colliding into her diaphragm, but she had the discipline to remain quiet as the elevator was barely inches next to them. Had they been slower they wouldhave hit the cart and fell to their deaths. Mi-Yun sighed quietly seeing her partner hanging on and pulling herself in but such comfort was short-lived when chatter was heard in the elevator.

“Did you hear something, Erika?” One of the shiks inside inquired. Judging by the tone, it was likely another patrol of Jakos. The Albertonians usually sounded stern and to the point.

“Maintenance is still working on this place, Daena. There’s bound to be some creaking. Yesterday Kiah heard the same sort of knocking around and it was just the cabling.”

“Ok…just need some energy I guess.”

“C’mon…one more hour and we get break for some beach time.”

“That helps!”

Their voices faded away and gave the mercenaries some time to breathe before their descent. Seems security was tighter than what Boss had told them.  But Boss didn’t make mistakes with intel, so if anything this was a test since the last few missions were too easy, as said by Mi-Yun’s big mouth right to him much to the chagrin of Devika. He knew this base wouldn’t be too easy for them. Discovering so many infantry and Albertonian shiks was evidence.

The elevator would pass on occasion but they were prepared to hug the ladder every time, gear and rifles tightly slung and not a sound made from either one of them. A few minutes later and they had finally reached Sublevel 5. Trying to hitch a ride on top of the elevators would be too risky as would be sneaking in one and immediately in front of what would likely be a couple squads of shiks. They would have to attempt another infiltration through the ducts. With both elevator cars above them, Mi-Yun reached over to the cabling links and attached a small device that crimped the wirings. It would only delay any movement for a short period of time before it broke from the force of the pneumatics, but a few minutes is all they would need. With careful movement, the two shimmied their way to the grate, Mi-Yun picking it open with her toolkit and Devika sliding in first. To her comfort, this one happened to be slightly larger, but only slightly.

Mi-Yun followed close behind, the two as quiet as possible as a voice was heard from the other end, followed by another. Devika froze as she was only a couple feet from the grate and noticed two Jakos manning the maintenance booth....

---

Commission for Anonymous of the mercenaries Mi-Yun and Devika. Part of the text was given by the commissioner as well.

I can say, I'm so terribly ashamed for this commission: I had poor anonymous waiting for about 2 years now -remembered it, as I saw some of the older parts of this commission. I'm such a terrible worker ;____;

so sorry-


They're from a mercenary organization known as the Militen Aquila Aurea, or Soldiers of the Golden Eagle.
In Stroeimus, a world controlled by the Alianza Goffyana -or simply the Alliance-, a corrupt congressist of the Central government had given -after a good bribe- concessions to Kasparov-CIA to exploit the natural resources of Stroeimus. -including minerals, fosile fuels, food supplies (fishing, plantations and agriculture) and as well tourism-

Until then, everything alright. However Kasparov CIA rejected to pay as well bribes to the local government, who felt insulted for transgreding the traditional and cultural "oiling" of all and every Alianza governemnt official, and proceded to make Kasparov CIA, and their representatives in Maelstram, to learn to not forget the oiling privilegies of the Alianza officials.

And so, the Militen Aquila Aurea were hired to attack and sabotage outlying shik encroachments and Kasparov CIA outposts in order to cause a panic within the ranks and hurt the shiks through attrition.

Currently their mission is to attack an island outpost that serves as a staging base for shik amphibious ships and helicopters.

EDIT 28.06.2015: Finally coloured it!
the lineart: