Nassau System
Approaching Planet "Morant"
Atuan II, Hangar

"Yoshiko, what's taking so long with those missiles?" Kelly called out from above, his hands working frantically to get the systems synched with the new hardware they were using. There wasn't a speck of rest since boarding, as preparations for the oncoming battle had to start immediately, even before entering jump. They didn't even have time to enjoy that new ship smell the Atuan II had!

"I'm unpacking them as fast as I can!" the grease smeared, wrench wielding girl waggled the metal instrument at him. "And that's not mentioning actually loading them with the Impulse you know!" she replied, happily stressed by the pressure of her work. Since getting back on the job and away from the drama of booze plus cars, Yoshiko had lit up like a torch and went right to work. It seemed nothing could go wrong as the moments counted down to deployme - no, no, that was politically incorrect - 'Live Field Test Time' he thought sarcastically, emphasizing the quotations to himself.

"Alright, since we're all busy as hell, I"ll brief you all as we all work." Kelly started over the PA system. "Intel cracked open the info we managed to snatch and grab on that god forsaken rock, and it pointed us straight to HIGA's Corporate Headquarters right here." The dark skinned Nepleslian stopped as an autoloader nearby started chugging away, rapidly putting big 75mm rounds into even bigger ammunition magazines. "Intel shows they haven't managed to get any black market buyers - yet - but they've likely already started churning them out to fight alongside their crap-tastic Zilant and different Demon types, so make sure to 'test' every weapon you got on these big twenty meter tall piles of junk."

He went on. "We're splitting up into three primary 'test teams'. First, the Frame Assault Test Team which will be at the forefront of the assault, and then there's the two power armor teams. The Power Armor Assault Test Team will be attached to the Frame team and provide support, keeping the pesky Demons off of us." Kelly explained, having learned from the recordings of the previous 'test run'. He wasn't going to send them in again without backup.

"And finally, we have the Power Armor Retrieval Test Team charged with infiltrating the facility while we raise hell. As the name implies, this team's gotta snatch that stolen data on the M1 series, or blow it up failing that. Master Sergeant Sarri, you're in charge of that test team." he spoke in a joking manner. "And remember, we're collecting frame, suit and weapon system telemetry everyone, so make sure to pull out all the stops!" As the ammo counters started to go green while Yoshiko started loading the first of the missiles, Kelly looked at the timer. Any moment now.

"Any questions guys?"

Mark stepped into the hangar from the corridors of the ship. He'd just then finished transferring his belongings to his room and meticulously cleaning it before gathering his notes just in time for the briefing. With the briefing finished, Mark was still uncertain as to his role in this particular engagement.

"I'm terribly sorry, Farms." He pestered at Kelly, "But I ain't quite clear on my position here. What's an information officer s'posed to be up to in this situation? I don't know how to pilot these frames, so unless there's another co-pilot's chair around here, I don't know where I'm supposed to jive at, dig?"

"And what exactly are each of us using this time around? I do hope that we all get something suiting our. . . individual talents, rather than a set of test dummies," A biting tone echoed over the comms from a rather bitey Taela. The neko was currently embroiled in exploring the new ship, as memorizing the new layout probably will be vital in coming days. Mainly in case something like an emergency assault.

"Yeah, I dig." Kelly replied smoothly, eyes looking up at the current frames available. "Ok. For our frames and loadouts, its free for all this time around, so everyone, grab what you'll work with best. Except for you Yoshiko."

"Awww, but I haven't even gotten to take Unit 2 out for a spin in like, forever!" the Ex-Nekovalkyrja pouted as she leaned out from behind a privacy screen set up in the hangar. She'd finished loading up the missiles, and was now half suited up in her pilot suit. Needless to say, the optics aboard the frame Kelly was aboard automatically zoomed in on her lingerie. 'Must... not... commentonbounceyness!' Kelly thought, willing himself into silence with difficulty.

"Y-yes, well, you'll be keeping Mark safe with you inside a Kirin; we'll likely need his comms skill if we're to intercept and figure out where the info is stored." Kelly replied when he managed to recollect himself. Yoshiko withdrew back behind the screen partway, now leering at him.

"...Only if you take my Frame out instead of yours." she bargained.

"What? Why?!" Kelly spoke with surprise.

"Because."

"Because of what?" The dark skinned Nepleslian asked in confusion.

"I said because, and that's final!" she yelled, finally withdrawing back behind the privacy screen to fully dress herself. Kelly sat there for a moment, silent within his personal frame. 'And she just loaded it too.' He shook his head; there wasn't any point in arguing since the two were technically the same model. If anything, hers was likely better, considering it had the Zesuaium claw blades she salvaged.

"Ok...any other questions guys?"

Camellia yawned when she was told she was leading the infiltration team. "That's funny?" She asked, inquiring about the tone. "I'll get in, get the goods and get out without a scratch." She said.

Vici watched the screen with Yoshiko changing her clothes with gusto. "Ah Yoshiko, I have sudden urge to become your roommate now," she joked and turned to Kelly. "Don't worry, pink will suit you. Plus it is good mecha. Anyway, I will take Blitzkrieg again," she pointed to now Black painted Asura in the hangar. She also made menral note to put some yellow on it too.

She also checked over the new toys delivered. Viki whistled seeing what new was around. "Shöne," she said going over the list. "Ja gutt, Ich möchte ein- I mean I want one chain-straight, two 50mm Gausses and that lovely 300mm gauss. Hmm load it up with APHE ammo. And stock her up with missiles of course. Also give me 80 self-guided HE missiles, 5 particle clouds and 15 EMP. THat should do it." She said. She then pulled her sleeves up. "Gutt I am going to help her load her up now Kelly," She said and winked at dark-skinned man. "You can watch if you want," She added unzipping her jump-suit a little to give her some cleavage. Also to tease the man.

"Oi, Ya all need ta stop flappin yer jaws so much" Shinji called out over his and Meena's Kirin's loudspeakers. The frame, still wearing Origin parade colors, slowly went about a diagnostics, venting off one vernier after another, winding up the IAPD's and cycling the hydraulics and other actuating systems, as the AI system ran its own diagnostics on the electronics and sensors.

"Weah awmost through heah, so ya guy are all da ones das' behind, y'hear?" his thickly accented voice scolded them.

Lucien showed up late to the briefing, his shirt was untucked and his hair was a mess - and he didn't smell of alcohol. Instead he had the faint whisp of a greasy breakfast wavering over him - the best improvised Nepleslian hangover cure, since Yamataians didn't seem to have hangovers, and on the rare occasion that they did, there was a pill to counteract the effects.

He nodded to Taela's point in agreement, "Aye, las' time we suited up, our prototypes couldnae knock th' skin off a rice puddin'," He cricked his neck, "Thankfully we're gettin' something with balls this time, roight?"

Lucien then remembered that he made his loadout orders last night before passing out. He didn't remember what he ordered though, so he was pleasantly surprised to find the following items deviating from the standard loadout attached to a black and red painted Asura:

A Frame Longsword replaced one of the Chain Straights and a Hyper Rifle with four magazines to replace the Graser. This enabled him to have a sword in one hand and the Hyper Rifle in the other hand if he so wished. The Plasma Pistols were good backups, and he always considered himself naked without the Targa.

"So that's wot I ordered last night," He scratched his chinfluff before looking to Camelia, "Sounds like you'll be in close quarters mos' the time. Mind if I wotch yer back?"

He then looked at himself and wondered if something was missing. He quickly realised something, "Ah, shite, hold that thought, I fergot to suit up," He rushed to the lockers and behind the men's privacy screen, and emerged a minute later in his frame jumpsuit with his ODM 10mm by his side, "Aight, ready when ye are."

Mark nodded his new arrangements and marked them on his Datapad. He made his way over to the privacy screen and lent into the most gentlemanly position close to Yoshiko he could have. He sighed in spite of himself, wondering what on earth made them put him with Nekos and former Nekos on each assignment. 'Maybe it's my ability to speak fluent Yamatai-go.' he pondered, scratching at his chin as he idly watched the wall of the hangar. His eyes traced up and down the shapes of the shadows at play as workers moved about preparing for combat.

"Yoshiko, sweetie." He started, checking his SEP II for doing something's sake, "How different is your body from its previous form? Does it feel different to not be a neko anymore? Is it scary?"

"Its something called 'sarcasm' Camellia." Kelly chuckled. "If you don't get it that's fine. I'm not going to explain it and risk killing the joke." the dark skinned Nepleslian half explained before starting to get out of his frame. Kelly was glad he only started to get out, especially when Victoria started speaking up over the vid-feed and unzipped a bit. 'Man. Sometimes I feel like I'm in a manga with giant mecha and fanservice!' He thought as he walked over to Yoshiko's Frame. 'I love my job!'

Kelly stood and looked over the pink frame with red flame decals using his datapad. Everything was good to go, and just as he was about to get in, a lightbulb went off in his head. "Oh! Camellia! Though you got the mini-missile pods off of some Mindy 2's hooked up onto your Impulse to go along with our Gauss Rifle, be careful! This is the first time we've put them onto the suits!" he called over to her.

By the time Shinji complained though, Kelly already settled himself into Yoshiko's 'Pinkie'. He poked his head out of the hatch just to yell at the other man. "Hey, what are you Shinji, our mom?" Kelly shook his head before climbing back into the cockpit, looking over the equipment list as Lucien spoke. "The hell?" Again, he popped his head out. "Hey! Lucien! If you're complaining about the old gear being shit, grab some of the new stuff instead!" He turned towards the Ex-Neko of the crew.

"Can you help Lucien get set up Yoshiko? Victoria's coming down to help you I think." he called down to her.

"But I just got into my pilot suit!" Yoshiko complained. Grumbling, she undressed again as she spoke to Mark, who was on the other side of the screen. The Ex-Neko gave a surprising amount of thought into it before answering though. "Its...well, a little bit more boring." she simply stated, climbing into the Impulse. "I can't float around, and I can't just put up a volumetric image of clothing if I don't feel like putting on the real thing either." She stepped out from cover and gave him a sour face. "And my apparel array broke!" Yoshiko pouted before yelling, waving.

"Hey! Lucien! Tell me what gear you want quick! We got five!"