The Guardians came to the courthouse for the official release ceremony. Several Guardian staff were also present, with Sweet among the Guardians at the podium. As the freed clone started to speak, he apparently noticed an incoming missile. The clone triggered his Zap powers and retreated. Desist also flew out of the attack zone. The missile struck northwest of its target, injuring two police officers.
Several assassins attacked the clone then, two from the crowd and two from the courthouse. The clone was gunned down by Mercury, the other assassins then ringed the clone and terminated him. Entropy and White Leopard attempted to intervene, but were unable to break the gauntlet. It is estimated that the clone was dead within 15 seconds of the initial attack.
Doctor Desist also attempted to help, but found the immediate battleground had been sealed by a standard tech based forcefield. The four assassins then faced off against Sweet, Entropy, and White Leopard. Rather than press their numerical advantage, the killers negotiated. The Guardians, unwilling to risk civilian casualties, decided to allow the assassins to depart. Entropy and the assassins exchanged business cards and they withdrew.
CONCLUSIONS:
This was a professional hit. The Shadow Company was apparently hired by CIA and Chess leaders to kill the Zap clone rather than risk any damage he might do as a civilian. The government also wanted vivisection to study the cloning techniques used is his development.
There was no way to save the clone. The threat to the clone was presumed to be Totem personnel or human rights activists. The Guardians had no way to protect the clone. Only the government could, and it wanted the clone dead. An analysis of the battle upholds the decision to let the Shadow Company go. Simulations show that the Shadow Company would have terminated Sweet, Entropy and White Leopard while only losing one or two members while Desist stopped the rocket launcher. The Shadow Company could have retreated then or dealt with Desist. No simulation run forecast a Guardian victory. Several involved civilian casualties.
The Guardians are not affected by the loss of the clone. He was dying of genetic instability already, as shown by his falling from weak initial gunfire. Any scouting benefit he gave would be negated by the possibility of a Totem horse in our midst.
FOLLOW-UP: A full update on the Shadow Company is underway. A meeting with Panther has been suggested. As this was a sanctioned hit, there is little that can be done. Shadow Company was only doing their job. The government officials involved are shielded. Starting a feud with the Shadow Company would be counter-productive. Any action against them should be discussed thoroughly. In the final analysis, having outsiders kill the clone was infinitely preferable than having the Guardian Chess agents required to do it, as well could have happened.