intelligence | Inbox for saltburnt.

[ Through high-pitched static and contorted technical noise reminiscent of dial-up internet, only a few words make it through: ]

████████ ███ █████ ██ injured ███ ███████ ███ ███ █ ███ unharmed█ ████████ ████████ █████████ massive ███████ ███████ ███ ████████

[ Gabriel winces, holding the phone away from his ear. Nonetheless, he catches everything, and prioritizes. ]

They're scrambling you. What's the nature of the injury? [ In case he's getting just as chopped and screwed. ] Repeat: What is the nature of the injury?

[ It could be the barrier, and the three of them are the unharmed subjects. Or it could be the other way around. It wouldn't surprise him if the house was somehow picking and choose words to confuse and panic him. ]

[ Michael can hear him clearly but her hopes of returning a clear transmission are low. It's an imperfect solution, and quite a deep pull, but she has confidence that Gabriel will recognize her switch to a brevity code.

She repeats her message several times, hoping for each word to make it through at least once. ]

███████████ clean² ██████ ██ ███ ████
███████████ █████ ██████ no joy⁴ ████
███████████ █████ bandit³ ██ ███ cold⁵
Chattermark¹ █████ ██████ ██ ███ ████

[ KEY:
1. Begin using briefed communication procedures to counter communications jamming.
2. No visible battle damage.
3. A SUSPECT whose orbital parameters are such that it may become a collection and/or counterspace concern to a spacecraft.
4. Aircrew does not have visual contact with the TARGET or BANDIT.
5. Defined area is not expected to receive fire. ]

[ Gabriel is spinning plates, using all the time he's got left with the resources he's, from the Balfours' perspective, abused. Anyone available, he's directing to test possible exits, and keep a lid on the lockdown. Any real power he has, he used up facilitating the breakout. It's a matter of minutes before he loses the trust of everyone in this room.

He couldn't be more grateful to be working with a professional. Swapping to text, he sends several, ]

ROGER - GREEN LIGHT - HOUSE SICK

[ I hear you. Proceed with the mission. The manor has shut down. ]

R̷̛̝̙̯̲̦̬͍͈͑͛͌̐̔͌̀̊̈́̇̌̓̚ ̷̢̪̱̬̳͛͜ ̶͎̦̣̏̑̈́̋̆̆̿͌̕̚͠E̶͉͙͖̬͎̿̇Ŗ̶̭̦̰͎͇̳̝̓̎̅͜͝ ̵̧̣͉̻̘͚̜̜̖̣̝̒̄̑̈́̒̈́̐̕͜͝W̵̡̢̨͉͖̙̖͎̞̺̎̇̄͜͝I̵Ļ̵͍̮̫̗͇̮̟͔̬́̂͂̌̉̀͑͘C̵̨̨̰̮̼̤̳͓̮̠͇̲̤̗͙̯͒̽́̊̈́́̂͋̈́̀͘̚͝Ǫ̶̗̜̩̻̽̒́̄̌̃̾͌̾̍͋̓͘̚

[ Over the next three days, Michael is able to employ code, sometimes quite creatively, to keep Gabriel apprised as much as possible despite the interference. On the morning of the fourth day, when the van doors finally give and the camera crew flees, she types her first full message in days while trekking back across the estate. ]

We're out. Walking back to the manor now. ETA 25 minutes.

How are things inside?

[ In that time, Lorca is not stripped of his rank nor his post. The atmosphere turns on him — it's clear he's not welcome there. But he doesn't need to be liked. Every day, he has eyes on the van, he has an ear out for egress. ]

Lockdown appears to have been lifted.
A medical team will meet you. [ He'll be with them. ]

[ In the hierarchy of needs, thirst and hunger take oppressive reign. A catalogue of textbook symptoms and full-body weakness make the walk back to the house more of a stumble, here and there. Not near enough for Michael Burnham to deprioritize the mission. ]

We got something.
The data is on my phone.

[ If she loses consciousness, he'll know where to look. ]

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