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RP: ISC Phoenix [Mission 6] - The Trounce of Tami

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Luca

Luca

The Ultimate Badass
🎖️ Game Master
MISSION 6 - START!!

The crew slept soundly that night, contented by their victories - except for the patriarch, and his son. Both had trouble sleeping - imagining what'd happen if they won. With these nightmarish visions in mind, both were now convicted to stop it at any cost.

Then the morning came, and the crew assembled over breakfast. The choice of cornflakes, toast, eggs, bacon, tea and coffee.

"Luca, what's up?" Jimmy leaned over and looked at his captain, who hadn't touched his toast at all, "You look worried."

"I'm sorry Jim, but last night I got some disturbing news," Luca announced, he iterated what happened on the news report. Long story short, the Mishhu were back - and ripping things up in Yamatai.

"Excellent!" John exclaimed, "An opportunity to kick arse!"
"Take names!" Mel added enthusiastically.
"Save lives!" Jim included.

"Yes, that's all fun and good," Sebastian said, "But there are millions, probably in the balance. Where should we head first?"

"Tami." Luca said, "I can't let a place like that go to waste." He nodded his head, "Now get suited up - ASAP! Vincent, bring anything you want, Arin, get the Flamethrower, Robert, take what you please, John, move the Shuttles into the Ship - and name the ship ISC Big Bird..."
 
Robert sighed as he heard the news. He glanced down at his knife. "I don't supposed that a knife will do much good against the Mishu, will it?" He jumped up from the table and went to the locker and grabbed up one of the stock SMGs, his fitted body armor, a headset, and came back to the kitchen. He had a bright look in his eye. "So, Mr. Pavone Sr., would you happen to know a guy that used to modify melee weapons?"
 
"Not that my input really matters on this subject, Robert," Vincent deadpanned as he started to explain what he knew of the Mishhu to Robert. "Basically, they have some sort of chitinous shell that's pretty tough and does a good job of holding back anything short of PA weaponry. They've also got these nasty tentacles that stab stuff and... Well... You've probably heard the rumors." The massive ID-Sol shrugged.

"That's about all I've got. You'll want to talk to the Captain, he's a vet from Yamatai and probably fought the things more than once."
 
"You mean this thing?" Arin asked, holding up a T-F1 Dragonsbreath she found in the base, it was a fine piece of engineering, combining Yamataian compactability and Nepleslian utility. It fit nicely on the side of her waist opposite her ESG, and had other uses than toasting living things to a cinder. It would add much needed literal firepower to her arsenal. Maybe she could buy one of her own later with her payday.

'But don't forget its hazard pay...'

"I can't be wearing this." She complained, briefly brushing her NAM coat, partly for legitimate reasons and partly for not having the time to buy new clothes. "Nepleslia hasn't taken an official stance, I can't be wearing the uniform of the national company to the fight!"
 
Meanwhile, Vincent had already swapped out of his dirty clothes from the previous mission, and was now dressed in a nondescript black tank-top, a ballistics mesh vest, a pair of blue jeans and his usual combat boots, forgoing the unadorned head for a pair of tinted shooter's glasses and a black version, unadorned version of a SMoDIN duty cap.

"I can let you use my jacket again, if I have to," Vincent said as he finished attaching the numerous ammunition belts around his person, attaching his BAR and Hand Cannons to the combat harness over his tank top. He had also attached the ammunition drum to the chaingun and the chaingun itself, just in case. "However, I guess otherwise we can just quickly acquire a disguise for you or something. I can shuttle you over to the city real quick, if I have to."
 
Laeliel - for all the morning person she wasn't - couldn't help but to grin wickedly upon learning that the Mishhu were back and giving the heretical Nekovalkyrja hell once more. It was enough to put a spring into the pessimist's step - if she had been walking, that is.

Instead it just brought light to her eyes, the sadistic expression the woman now wore the closest thing to 'happy' any of those gathered would have seen her. Finishing her morning meal with renewed vigour, Laeliel was soon ready to ship out, her shabby street clothing and lockpick/hotwire kit hidden on her person the only equipment she needed, quite apart from the fact that it was also all that she owned...

"This," she said almost huskily, "is something that I must see."
 
"You mean you actually want to be part of this mission instead of moping around and sighing a lot?" Vincent layered his statement in sarcasm and then wrapped it up in a hearty helping of disbelief.
 
Valo whom had remained attached to the ships power supply had all but finished what repairs he actually could on himself and was watching inbound transmissions. The Mishhu report caught his attention among the many broadcasts.

Valo felt what was possibly known as intuition, or perhaps a mere educated guess as to what was to happen next. ~~How curious...I get the strange feeling that the crew of this vessel will manage to become involved in this incident.~~
 
When everyone had suited up sufficiently, Luca stood outside, waiting for everyone to assemble. Luca was outfitted in everything he and his harnesses could carry.
Everyone else had loaded themselves with whatever they could carry.

"Okay, the shuttles are loaded," John reported, "We can make a stop off to fly-through gunshop and get ammo, weapons, clothing - whatever we need through there."

When they came and assembled in a row, Luca had to address the crew, he stood at attention, next to the ISC Big Bird, which John had loaded both the Junker and the ISC Phoenix into.

"Ladies, Gentlemen, Friends," Luca started with conviction, "Today, we're putting our lives on the line for the sake of billions of others," He paused and sighed lightly, frowning, "As fun as it sounds - I have to be honest with you all, we may not return from this one."

John, Mel, Hitori, Jim, Mitch, Crane, Anna and Sebastian glanced about to the other people in the crew, noting the expressions of dismay and doubt - The captain's optimism had appeared to fade.

"But no matter - If the possibility is that we're going to die, then we'll fight as though we've nothing to lose - fuck the odds!" The captain stood tall, yelling and inspiring his crew, raising his hand high in the air:

"If things go south - we might as well go out with a bang - no matter the odds! We've got the gear, and we'll get extra support from the other Yamataians, Nepleslians, Aliens and mercenaries from abroad - and together we'll hold the forests of Tami like we'd hold a lover on a lonely night!

"We'll preserve it's beauty yet for our friends and children to see! The tendrils of the Mishhu cannot take us apart when we're all together!!"

He then stopped, and saluted his crew sharply, who returned the favour.

During this speech and unknown to the crew, Luca had his communicator turned on, in his pocket - recording the soliloquy and posted it to a public communications channel. He was going to get help.

"Now let's hussle and drive 'em out!!"

Luca went to the bridge of the ISC Big Bird, and sat at the captain's chair. John took up the controls, with Vincent welcome to co-pilot. Hitori remained near Luca, standing nearby. Jim and Crane stayed at the bunks - ready to administer medical treatment when they could.

Anna and Sebastian were sitting in the lounge - wondering what sort of conviction had come over their son. Mel and Mitch were on the opposite couches - self-medicating with alcohol and cigars before battle ahead.

Tensions were high, the odds seemed impossible - but that was how it always was for the crew.

Fuck the odds - I've done this before... Luca thought to himself, sitting down and considering the outcomes. Victory and triumph, stalemate and retreat, defeat and loss. It made him shudder.

"Ready to go when you are," John said over P.A.
 
Arin chuckled as she boarded the newly registered Vampire-Class, she seems to be relishing the next mission. New places, new faces and new parts to collect. Nothing could be worse than the last mission, right?

... Right?
 
Vincent looked sour as he settled into his position on the bridge. While the rest of the crew descended into their delusions of grandeur, Vincent scowled and frowned as he keyed in the engine warm-up sequence. On the one hand, pay was pay- if the captain wanted to fight the Mishhu and Vincent got paid, then that was alright. However, there was the nagging "what if" as always- what if the Mishhu were larger in numbers than they had expected? What if Luca was killed?

Worse, what if Arin was killed?

Or Mitch, Mel, John, Hitori, Sebastian, Anna, or Jimmy? (As far as he was concerned, Laeliel could fall off a cliff and the world would become a brighter, sunnier place.)

Vincent shook off the foreboding feelings about his crewmates's possible doom and settled into a grim demeanor, setting up the launch procedures. "Valo," He said as he continued working, "Identify Luca Pavone as commander of this ship and respond to his orders. His decisions override mine."
 
Robert slipped into a seat near Vincent. "Hey Vincent, you ok man? Ever since the Boss decided that we were going to go help out, you've been kinda pissed."
 
Vincent's control panel gave a light beep. "Understood sir." The line was silent for a moment, but only for a moment. "Did you perhaps, locate the replacement piece needed for repairs? Or shall I be remaining on board the Phoenix for now?"
 
"Have you finished your diagnostic and recognized all system problems, Valo? If you have any damage beyond the Quantum Foam Generator we'll stop in at a robotics shop somewhere in the city and get what you need. In short, not really." Vincent grumbled to the computer, ignoring Robert as he continued to look over the diagnostics coming up on his screen, looking over Valo's results and the Big Bird's statistics.
 
Robert was annoyed that Vincent ignored him, but he could tell that pushing it wouldn't help things. "Well, if you need to talk about it, I'm always listening." With a friendly pat to the shoulder, Robert spun out of the chair and wandered down the hall. He stopped for a second, looked around for anyone that might be listening. "Hey Valo, since you're intergrated with the ship systems for the moment. Can you answer a question for me?"
 
The screen flickered as a layout of Valo's body came on screen. "diagnostic scan has been completed." The model on screen zoomed in on Valo's chest. "All current systems are fully operational. However as noted on screen." The image moved back and forth across the arms showing and listing where the internal weapon systems were suppose to be. "My primary weapons have been removed as per contract of my Decommissioning."

Valo's voice suddenly came from another panel next to Robert. "Yes Robert. How may I be of assistance?"
 
Robert flushed as he looked rather embarressed, after another glance around, hoping that no one was listening. "Ummmm, do you...ahrem...uh... do you feel it when ever we touch random parts of the ship? It's something I've always wondered if AIs knew." He blurted out.
 
Valo attempted to ponder the question. After a moment he responded. "An interesting inquiry. This vessel does not have a sense of "touch" as you would call it. I can detect where you are, but not what you are doing. If the ship was damaged I would know, yet I would not feel what you know as pain."
 
"Okay, let's move." John said over intercom, lifting the back ramp and pressure sealing the ship's inside, "Hold on!"

John performed some radio procedures to clear for takeoff without fuss, and the ship's landing gears retracted as it took flight unsteadily, then rose into the skies steadily.
"So," Luca asked, crossing one of his legs in his chair, "How are we going to get our gear from a fly-through vendor?"

"Simple," John said, "Merchants in shuttles fly in, we take a look, we buy stuff, they fly out. I've sent out a call for a weapons and ammo dealer, and a clothing and gear merchant."
"Really?" Luca asked as the ISC Big Bird began to penetrate atmosphere, "Good business idea - but how do you deal with pirates pretending to be merchants?"

"Again, simple - shoot 'em," John replied plainly as the Big Bird was now orbiting Nepleslia. Two blips came up on radar, with messages replying to John's call, and two small shuttles approached. John directed them to land in the spare bay.

Both shuttles appeared to be pretty plain on sight, bearing Lorath design qualities, and designated as such on radar, and both landed so the airlocks faced the crew when they came to the bay.

The doors to the one on the left opened, and a variety of guns could be seen inside, and something that looked utterly, horrendously powerful could be spotted in amongst the racks. A familiar merchant stepping out with a smile on his face, prepared to do business.
"War's on its way - and makes your mind unease," The familiar merchant gave his slogan, in Trade, "So buy my stuff, 'cos it's the bee's knees."

The second shuttle opened, and inside could be seen suits of clothing, armour, and even a few Lorath 'Wind' armour suits for sale for 10,000 KS each. A not-so familiar merchant, similar in clothing to the more familiar one stepped out.
"Clothing? Harnesses? Accessories?" The other, female merchant asked rhetorically, "You won't be disappointed, I guarantee it."

The crew were welcomed to browse.
 
Vincent had joined the rest of the crew at the Big Bird's docking compartment to watch the merchants pile in with their shuttles. He watched patiently as the ships closed in, expecting nothing special...

And then he saw the Deviance.

"Ho... Ly... Shit..." Vincent stared at the sole largest example of overcompensation that mankind had ever seen- a device that combined the rate of fire and spread of a chaingun with the recoil and stopping power of a 16-gauge shotgun, wrapped up in an ID-Sol sized package. Hell, the gun even had a sign draped over it that said "Not for use by improperly augmented Nepleslians or Yamataians." The thing practically called out to him.

While he browsed through clothing and purchased a new pair of pants (25 KS), and a suit of 'Wind' armor (10,000 KS), he asked the weapons merchant, "How much is the Deviance in KS?"
 
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