Soresu
Well-Known Member
VSV Wyrm of the Endless Sky
Messhall
Malakai 1, 935
09:23, Commonwealth Standard Time
When the Wyrm of the Endless Sky had finally finished its slow approach towards the orbital elevator of Maekardan, the Iromakuanhe capital world, the members of Bahram Wing had more or less stuck around the mess hall and had passed the time by whatever was on hand. As the sense of unease between the runners and the star ship crew had dissolved, the trip had become rather passable.
The hookah bar at the center of the hall was now a source of fragrant smoke and idle conversation between excited crew members. Playing cards once strewn across some of the tables were finally being put away, resulting in a variety of expressions among the people at the tables.
Serhan and Ibaz had been chatting idly in the wardroom when the message from the bridge came. Without so much as a second thought, the two of them rushed to see what was going on. It wasn't exactly auspicious to have an urgent message from the bridge crew when one arrives in port.
The bridge was silent when they entered the room.
The communications operator turned to the two officers with an uncertain look. "Lanranr, Marranr. We've lost contact with the concert tower and the surrounding colony! The Vanguard's network is saying they cut the wired connections and are using particles to jam the transmissions of the entire fleet stationed there!"
"Put us on alert." The captain turned to Serhan and nodded. The man's look seemed to say 'I won't give you any orders, because you're thinking the exact same thing' more clearly than any banal exchanged of words. "And have our people in the hangar prep their VANDR for launch."
"Warning! The Wyrm of the Endless Sky is now entering combat readiness mode. All personnel to your stations. I repeat..." The alarmed voice of the Wyrm's missions operator resounded throughout the ship, calling the attentions of the crew to the situation at hand. After three or four repetitions of the same phrase, the young woman calling out something more relevant to the frame runners who were guests aboard the vessel. "Bahram Wing, your commanding officer will meet you at the hangar bay."
'Ismat frowned at the announcement. Time to go back to work. "Seems as though we both have to be going, right Rashek? Thank you for spending time with me," she said with a smile. "I hope we meet again soon~ Take care." She turned to leave behind the man that had been keeping her company since their meal.. Hopefully it wouldn't be a last meal. With that, the VIA operative headed towards the hangar.
Rashek frowned a little at the announcement as Ismat' left him to stand there. With a small. 'Huh', in a conclusive fashion he wandered off down an adjacent corridor.
Alia looked around. "..." Closing her eyes, she sighed and flops onto the table. "Being a mechanist on a ship full of them makes life boring." She grumbled.
After Zalus heard the announcement he quickly left the supper room he had found his way too. He straighten out his shirt as he ran down the corridor towards the hangar. He really hoped that Nara had been given a new body so he wouldn't have to use an unfamiliar VANDR "...what kind of attitude is that supposed to be!?!" Khiyai blinked and stood herself up from her chair, slamming her hands onto the surface.
It seemed that she'd finally regained her old confidence and energy, at the cost of being a little bit edgier and vocal. "I'm not going to accept that we can't do anything because this ship has a lot of mechanists. There's only one Alia Jyotsna and one, Khiyai Sahrzad on this ship, and none of the regulars can replace them!"
Alia watched Khiyai with a raised brow. "Ok then... What should we do?"
As Serhan arrived in the hangar, he was greeted by one of the mechanist staff, who set out to explain the situation. He was a young man not a year over twenty with sandy blond hair and skin that verged on a light brown. "Sir! We were able to install the NI core 'Nara' into a new body, as you requested. Unfortunately, we had to retrofit one of the two civilian-types we had in storage and bring it up to spec to give him the same performance as the rest."
The officer blinked and glanced back at the younger enlisted man. "Was it completely converted back to the 1a model?"
"All the weapons and thrust systems are fine and the unit looks identical to the original model, but we weren't able to reinforce the armor or the improve the shield capacitors." The mechanist explained with a dour, plain face. "He'll have to fly a bit more fragile, or not at all."
"I'll be careful in deploying him, then. Good work." Serhan nodded again before taking his leave to get dressed.
'Ismat poked her head into the hangar. Serhan wasn't there and the announcement did say he'd meet the runners there. It didn't exactly say to get ready to head out, but 'Ismat could guess. She scooted off to go and get into her link suit.
Zalus jogged into the hangar from the locker room pulling the last bit of his Link suit on and looked around the Room to try and spot Serhan. He caught sight of him as he fastened up his suit. He ran over to his commander and saluted him. "Reporting sir! What can I do for you today?"
"Excuse me, Ninlil, I have to go" Zus said, after hearing the message. She nodded to Reovan, and headed back toward the hangar bay. Apparently it was time for them to suit up again. She was ready to get back into the game, to see if she could figure out who it was exactly that wanted Ninlil, and why they were so bent on messing with Iroma society.
It turned out the Marranr had been just the same as 'Ismat, as she found him pulling his own link suit up past his waist when she entered the Wyrm's ready room. "..." The officer turned his head slightly as she approached, before letting out a small 'Ah'. He wasn't wearing his glasses again. "Sitari. I'll leave the room to you, then." He said, gently threading his arms through the sleeves as he stepped past her and back out into the hangar.
Khiyai seemed to think at great length about this, before taking her superior by the shoulder and giving her a bright grin. "Aaah! Doesn't the racer have rocket anchors? If it comes down to a rescue operation, we might be able to help out..." The junior mechanist made a nervous laugh and glanced away, her face a little red.
"...if we aren't stepping into a battlefield."
"Uh, yes, Marranr," 'Ismat replied. She did one scan around the room before stripping down to her skivvies. She then slipped into her linksuit.
Alia watched her junior with detached interest. "All signs point to a sortie, so combat would be a given, your idea has merit, but we would be flying an unarmed ship in a live fire combat situation." Alia said.
Zus appeared in the ready room moments later, noting 'Ismat already getting into her link suit. "Saints darn it, I wasn't the first to make it here!" the blond joked, chuckling to herself as she found a locker that contained her gear. She quickly stripped to her undergarments and switched to her link suit. "You up for another mission, Sitari? or you ready for them to stop?"
"Hm? Ah, Storhan. I suppose I'm ready. That last one was too easy," 'Ismat replied, as she finished putting on her suit. "What about you? Now that you don't have Ninlil to protect and all." She moved to stow away her uniform.
"It'll be better for me without her, I was afraid of banging her around. Now I can go all out. Besides; I want to find out who's behind all this nonsense." Zus seemed much more chipper than someone should have been considering they were about to face a battle in all likelihood.
'Ismat nodded. "You seem happy. Is being kissed by an NI that nice?" Her uniform was now in her own locker, and she readied herself to leave, though she stayed to be polite.
"Uhhh..." Zus blushed a little as the memory came back to her "I dunno... How do you even know about that??" the girl asked looking embarrassed. "I suppose it's similar to getting kissed by a normal person..." she admitted, meekly.
Reovan popped into the ready room, huffing and out of breath, she gave a nod to 'Ismat and Zus before changing into her own link suit. She'd been relaxing at the hookah when the announcement was made and it'd taken some effort on her part to get up and ready to go out.
'Ismat couldn't help but giggle as she waved to Reovan. "I have my ways~" she answered Zus. It was her job to know things as VIA anyway.
"Alia, take the main of the Wing as an escort and head out to the elevator colony for search and rescue. I'll be taking Sitari and Ka'salm out to link up with the Graiv Haidan unit in the area." Serhan's coolly controlled voice came up over communications, as he he hurried across the scaffolding overhead to get into his unit. As quickly as they could have seen his link suit-clad figure pass by, the cockpit hatch was shut and his nameless white VANDR powering up.
"Our wing is going to be useless if we can't get around the communications blackout." The brackets holding the mecha in place disengaged, allowing the organoid powered frame to plummet through the alcove it rested in and into the void of space. "Maintain contact with the Wyrm and each other. This is not an ordinary patrol in the badlands."
Zus made her way quickly to Paralovi, mounting the familiar frame and quickly plugging in, powering up the unit and getting ready to launch whenever ordered. "I'm ready to go. just give me the word and I'm off" The Eyr Ranr notified her commander.
It was not long after the Marranr had launched from the Wyrm of the Endless Sky before a black with silver trim VANDR formed up along side the other frame. Having launched earlier from the other bay. A short wave laser communications pinging Serhan's VANDR. It was a Frame Runner from the Wyrm's wing, a Vayranr requesting to assist and go along to also linkup with the Graiv Haidan unit.
"Just follow my lead and keep them off me, Vayshirin." Alia and the escort comprised of the main of the wing deployed a few moments after Serhan, heading in the opposite direction of the Marranr and the newly-launched black VANDR.
Scurrying out of the ready room, 'Ismat made her way to her VANDR, Rina. She deftly climbed in, connecting herself with the frame and beginning the initialization process. Before long, 'Ismat launched too, floating down to meet up with Serhan to see another Frame was with the Marranr. Who could that be?
Serhan tilted the head of his unit to catch a glimpse of the black and silver frame, nodding to it to acknowledge the officer's request. "Take point. Sitari and I will cover your flanks." Serhan replied, lasering the message to both the junior officer and his newly-launched subordinate. "Do you have a name for me?"
"Rashek, Rashek Baseil." Came the reply from the Black VANDR as it flew past the duo, taking up a point position in front of the pair. "I'll be the only one joining us three from the Wyrm, the rest staying as support."
Wait... Rashek? He was coming? 'Ismat nearly face palmed. "Ah, Rashek. Nice of you to join us?" she replied rather awkwardly. This was something completely unexpected. The surprised VIA operative mulled over this new event as her VANDR moved into position.
"I see. Thank, you for assisting us Vayranr." Serhan replied in a terse tone. The frame officer found it a little strange that he would request to join up with them now, but didn't make much of it for the moment. Any kind of assistance was welcome in these uncertain circumstances, especially coming from a veteran runner.
The approaching debris field seemed to become denser as they moved closer to the rally point where the garrison had been posted. At first, the components seemed to be parts from Soono and shrapnel from detonated munitions, but Commonwealth architecture and Vanguard vessels seemed to become increasingly prevalent, mixed with ash and clouds of softly glowing blue particles emanating from broken reactors and fizzling weapon modules.
Sensors had dropped to less than a percent of their effectiveness with all particle pollution in the area, and in every direction was a mass of derelict vessels emitting distress beacons in dozens of frequencies.
"...What happened?" 'Ismat asked out loud, looking about as she dodged the large floating bits. This was really disconcerting, seeing this much destruction. She made sure to keep her guard up, since this did seem like prime ambush territory. They were near blind, which is never good.
The Black VANDR on point remained silent despite the gratitude, and welcome received. He was focused, the sensors dimmed, his VANDR had attempted to compensate, but it had been a useless gesture. Too much debris, emissions, and chaos drifted around them.
A chunk of what had been part of an unlucky civilian freighter barred Rashek's way, casually he pushed it aside, thankful the optics of the VANDR still worked well enough. The distinctive crackle of radio filled his 'ears' as pleas, and the sound of automated distress messages came through. He filtered them.
"Battle, that's what. Look around you." The Black VANDR pointed towards the distinctive shape of a Soono that had a large gaping hole in the torso that still glowed a dull orange from laser fire. "From the looks of it, some civilian craft were caught in the cross fire." What had once been an Ur-Class Ferry had been shorn in half, pockmarks running along the hull.
It drifted off to the left side of them, a reminder that the area was hostile, lives had been lost, and the possibility of something still lurked out there.
Zalus had launched late, the rush to get to the other members of his wing a hectic one in the chaos that had been the hangar bay. As he advanced he batted debris away and kept an eye out for movement. "Well this could have been better. At least we know they killed some of the bastards."The young runner said kicking aside a burnt-out Soono torso. "Do we have any ships in the Area? These folks won't be able to survive to long out here..." Continuing to talk to Nara as they continued onwards.
Although blanketed by the ambient radiation of the field, a number of distinct signatures dropped into view of the sensors of the four in the debris field. Nothing less than frame-scale nuclear reactors, their signatures numbering in the dozens, maybe hundreds. Most were distorted or bleeding into local space and some dropped out as quickly as they had come online, but a number too large for the four of them were still largely intact. They were surrounded!
A shower of autocannon fire hailed down from above them, followed by a swarm of damaged Soono bull rushed them from all around, their remaining limbs blazing for a strike. Serhan, Rashek and 'Ismat all took a few hits before a derelict cargo ship drifted overhead and blocked the barrage. Zalus had managed to evade the stray shells being fired at his cohorts and placed himself to counterattack, but was now the only one of the four still in view of the enemy.
'Ismat cursed as she instinctively brought her weapons online, forming katars on Rina's hands and swords on the feet, as well as charging the shockbites. This was not going to be a pretty fight. "Any idea how many of them there are?" she asked nervously, floating a bit along with the cover provided by the debris.
Zalus charged his cannons aiming a shot at one of the Soono with operational autocannons and started to form long blades on Nara's arms. "Why don't we ever get to be the ones ambushing Soono? Answer me that please!" Zalus then quickly moved to duck behind the closest cover he could find in the debris field to protect his weaker Vandr.
'Ismat continued to evade much of the enemy's fire in great part due to the heavy cover between herself and the linear weapon-toting enemies parked at the very edge of her sensors, and was prepared for the sudden charge by a trio of Soono coming in at her from the front. All three appeared to be more or less intact, with their dual gyrating fists active and ready to strike.
Letting out an aggravated sigh, 'Ismat flew backwards as she let loose short bursts of CELB, as suppressive fire, as she aimed and fired her shockbites. She made sure not to be idiotic and run into some obstruction along the derelict ship's hull or otherwise, as well as to stop if she got to edge of said cover.
Zalus struck the Soono in the chest with both Shockbites at once, causing a massive and catastrophic surges as charged particles flooded into its power train. After a few seconds, the unit flared up and detonated, sending ADNR shrapnel and irradiated internals in every direction.
The surrounding units were effectively alerted to his presence causing his flight into the deeper debris to be a narrow escape from a shower of autocannon slugs and flak bursts. From all sides, damaged Soono with blazing hands poured out after him, perhaps moving to repay him for destroying their comrade.
"Let's just go with lots as a number." Rashek said, staying as close to the Cargoship as possible as he activated the MRS of his frame. Oh this was a spot he didn't like to be in, being the ambushee all the same. Things could turn around. And that's why he fired three of the beacon flares in the rear hip pods sending them off in different directions, and begun priming the Shock bites after a few seconds.
Ten seconds and I'm going to be lit up like a Eyr Ranr on a Slajatki-on binge. His VANDR continued to creep behind the now derelict ship, the Beacon Flares now sending out a wide range of signals and false IFF tags, the Black VANDR swung out from behind the cargo ship, the forearm mounted LCPA cannons would begin to train on the first bogey and fire.
The middle of the three Soono 'Ismat was fighting had been quickly torn apart by the suppressive fire, the already weakened wreck of a frame not lasting more than three seconds before its internals failed and the chassis neatly folded onto itself and detonated into a cloud of radiation, broken ADNR armor and flayed organoid tissues. The other two subsequently dove into the cargo ship and began following 'Ismat... directly beneath her and the meter-thick hull that separated them.
Zalus poured what fire he could into the charging Soono from his CELB arrays. Taking what carefully aimed shots he could with his shockbites on the most intact Soono charging him. "Well That was a nice little explosion wasn't it dear?" Zalus said to Nara.
"Lets do that again." As the charging Soono were with-in close range Zalus cut his CELB fire and launched a volley of missiles towards the Soono before performing a sublight jump, away to a new area of cover.
'Ismat quickly separated her VANDR from the hull, though she tried to stay under cover as she did so. This time she readied her Star Locust missiles, ready to unleash a barrage as soon as the Soono showed themselves.
Without any enemy attempting to intercept him, Rashek burst past the corner and flawless blasted a pair of Soono apart, causing them to detonate and pelt nearby units with additional shrapnel. All thre beacon flares had apparently ben intercepted, but had lasted long enough to give him a chance at a clear shot.
The enemy still hadn't noticed him, despite the trail of particles emanating from his unit's forearms, but had moved in to where the two Soono had just been downed.
The volley of laser fire and missiles made quick work of the Soono leading the pack, sending those at the front back into those behind them. Zalus had escaped from the enemy for a few seconds and managed to stay out of the sights of the enemy units that had started the ambush, but was now too far to reach any of his cohorts or his commander.
The two Soono took direct hits from Rina's missile barrage, causing their already-fragile power train to overheat and overload. Both units suddenly spiraled out of control mid-flight until they neatly impacted one of the maneuvering thrusters on the derelict, and ceased moving entirely, shifting little as small jets of smoke burst out from their torso and shoulder areas.
Rashek assessed the little diversionary tactic's handy work as more of the automated machines moved in to where their brethren had been shot down. He brought up the Star Locusts next. Charging the MASC drive as the shroud around him dropped flexing the hands of his VANDR as he did so the jump pre-planned. Sensor functionality returning to their normal, at the moment sub par levels, locking on to a number of the Soono units that had dropped into the area.
He essentially was showing himself before a salvo of the missiles lept from the shoulder pods. A hand rose, the ERP within it showering the area ahead with particles before the MASC 'jumped' the VANDR away.
Zalus charged his shockbites as he unleashed suppressive fire into the charging ranks with his CELBs. "Nara get us closer to the others on the next jump!" Zalus cut his CELB fire as he unloaded a second volley of missiles into the Soono swarm and the two charged cannon shots he had been holding onto in hopes of taking out some of the Soono with the powerful shots at this range.
Zalus then quickly jumped away to the location Nara had decided upon and readied himself to rush for cover.
Just as the Soono turned to respond to the sudden and obvious spatial distortion caused by Rashek's sub light jump, they were immediately faced with a shower of PASD missiles. The shambling Soono nearest to Rashek were immediately crippled or destroyed, while the units that had evaded the initial attack were already dashing towards him for a counter-attack, firing well-aimed bursts of their free electron laser cannons.
Nara didn't honestly know how to respond to the request, but went about trying to calculate where to move based on orbital drift and the previous sub light jump it had made... but found itself struggling to complete the equations as Zalus had dropped into view of a rather large group of autocannon-equipped Soono, preparing to bear down on him in full force.
Rashek saw the explosions about fifty thousand kilometers away, that, and the other ugly as sin automatons coming his way! He engaged the shields, immediately moving his VANDR in a quick strafe 'downwards' laser fire blooming before him as he did so. The fire continued as he tried to duck and weave about the debris, using it as limited cover, the LCPA's on his unit's forearms priming again as the CELB systems now answered the FEL fire in kind.
All the while, he was looking about, for something, anything to use to his advantage at the moment. The first two ambushes going perfectly...well, almost. But now it was a question of what to use next.
PAUSE
Messhall
Malakai 1, 935
09:23, Commonwealth Standard Time
When the Wyrm of the Endless Sky had finally finished its slow approach towards the orbital elevator of Maekardan, the Iromakuanhe capital world, the members of Bahram Wing had more or less stuck around the mess hall and had passed the time by whatever was on hand. As the sense of unease between the runners and the star ship crew had dissolved, the trip had become rather passable.
The hookah bar at the center of the hall was now a source of fragrant smoke and idle conversation between excited crew members. Playing cards once strewn across some of the tables were finally being put away, resulting in a variety of expressions among the people at the tables.
Serhan and Ibaz had been chatting idly in the wardroom when the message from the bridge came. Without so much as a second thought, the two of them rushed to see what was going on. It wasn't exactly auspicious to have an urgent message from the bridge crew when one arrives in port.
The bridge was silent when they entered the room.
The communications operator turned to the two officers with an uncertain look. "Lanranr, Marranr. We've lost contact with the concert tower and the surrounding colony! The Vanguard's network is saying they cut the wired connections and are using particles to jam the transmissions of the entire fleet stationed there!"
"Put us on alert." The captain turned to Serhan and nodded. The man's look seemed to say 'I won't give you any orders, because you're thinking the exact same thing' more clearly than any banal exchanged of words. "And have our people in the hangar prep their VANDR for launch."
"Warning! The Wyrm of the Endless Sky is now entering combat readiness mode. All personnel to your stations. I repeat..." The alarmed voice of the Wyrm's missions operator resounded throughout the ship, calling the attentions of the crew to the situation at hand. After three or four repetitions of the same phrase, the young woman calling out something more relevant to the frame runners who were guests aboard the vessel. "Bahram Wing, your commanding officer will meet you at the hangar bay."
'Ismat frowned at the announcement. Time to go back to work. "Seems as though we both have to be going, right Rashek? Thank you for spending time with me," she said with a smile. "I hope we meet again soon~ Take care." She turned to leave behind the man that had been keeping her company since their meal.. Hopefully it wouldn't be a last meal. With that, the VIA operative headed towards the hangar.
Rashek frowned a little at the announcement as Ismat' left him to stand there. With a small. 'Huh', in a conclusive fashion he wandered off down an adjacent corridor.
Alia looked around. "..." Closing her eyes, she sighed and flops onto the table. "Being a mechanist on a ship full of them makes life boring." She grumbled.
After Zalus heard the announcement he quickly left the supper room he had found his way too. He straighten out his shirt as he ran down the corridor towards the hangar. He really hoped that Nara had been given a new body so he wouldn't have to use an unfamiliar VANDR "...what kind of attitude is that supposed to be!?!" Khiyai blinked and stood herself up from her chair, slamming her hands onto the surface.
It seemed that she'd finally regained her old confidence and energy, at the cost of being a little bit edgier and vocal. "I'm not going to accept that we can't do anything because this ship has a lot of mechanists. There's only one Alia Jyotsna and one, Khiyai Sahrzad on this ship, and none of the regulars can replace them!"
Alia watched Khiyai with a raised brow. "Ok then... What should we do?"
As Serhan arrived in the hangar, he was greeted by one of the mechanist staff, who set out to explain the situation. He was a young man not a year over twenty with sandy blond hair and skin that verged on a light brown. "Sir! We were able to install the NI core 'Nara' into a new body, as you requested. Unfortunately, we had to retrofit one of the two civilian-types we had in storage and bring it up to spec to give him the same performance as the rest."
The officer blinked and glanced back at the younger enlisted man. "Was it completely converted back to the 1a model?"
"All the weapons and thrust systems are fine and the unit looks identical to the original model, but we weren't able to reinforce the armor or the improve the shield capacitors." The mechanist explained with a dour, plain face. "He'll have to fly a bit more fragile, or not at all."
"I'll be careful in deploying him, then. Good work." Serhan nodded again before taking his leave to get dressed.
'Ismat poked her head into the hangar. Serhan wasn't there and the announcement did say he'd meet the runners there. It didn't exactly say to get ready to head out, but 'Ismat could guess. She scooted off to go and get into her link suit.
Zalus jogged into the hangar from the locker room pulling the last bit of his Link suit on and looked around the Room to try and spot Serhan. He caught sight of him as he fastened up his suit. He ran over to his commander and saluted him. "Reporting sir! What can I do for you today?"
"Excuse me, Ninlil, I have to go" Zus said, after hearing the message. She nodded to Reovan, and headed back toward the hangar bay. Apparently it was time for them to suit up again. She was ready to get back into the game, to see if she could figure out who it was exactly that wanted Ninlil, and why they were so bent on messing with Iroma society.
It turned out the Marranr had been just the same as 'Ismat, as she found him pulling his own link suit up past his waist when she entered the Wyrm's ready room. "..." The officer turned his head slightly as she approached, before letting out a small 'Ah'. He wasn't wearing his glasses again. "Sitari. I'll leave the room to you, then." He said, gently threading his arms through the sleeves as he stepped past her and back out into the hangar.
Khiyai seemed to think at great length about this, before taking her superior by the shoulder and giving her a bright grin. "Aaah! Doesn't the racer have rocket anchors? If it comes down to a rescue operation, we might be able to help out..." The junior mechanist made a nervous laugh and glanced away, her face a little red.
"...if we aren't stepping into a battlefield."
"Uh, yes, Marranr," 'Ismat replied. She did one scan around the room before stripping down to her skivvies. She then slipped into her linksuit.
Alia watched her junior with detached interest. "All signs point to a sortie, so combat would be a given, your idea has merit, but we would be flying an unarmed ship in a live fire combat situation." Alia said.
Zus appeared in the ready room moments later, noting 'Ismat already getting into her link suit. "Saints darn it, I wasn't the first to make it here!" the blond joked, chuckling to herself as she found a locker that contained her gear. She quickly stripped to her undergarments and switched to her link suit. "You up for another mission, Sitari? or you ready for them to stop?"
"Hm? Ah, Storhan. I suppose I'm ready. That last one was too easy," 'Ismat replied, as she finished putting on her suit. "What about you? Now that you don't have Ninlil to protect and all." She moved to stow away her uniform.
"It'll be better for me without her, I was afraid of banging her around. Now I can go all out. Besides; I want to find out who's behind all this nonsense." Zus seemed much more chipper than someone should have been considering they were about to face a battle in all likelihood.
'Ismat nodded. "You seem happy. Is being kissed by an NI that nice?" Her uniform was now in her own locker, and she readied herself to leave, though she stayed to be polite.
"Uhhh..." Zus blushed a little as the memory came back to her "I dunno... How do you even know about that??" the girl asked looking embarrassed. "I suppose it's similar to getting kissed by a normal person..." she admitted, meekly.
Reovan popped into the ready room, huffing and out of breath, she gave a nod to 'Ismat and Zus before changing into her own link suit. She'd been relaxing at the hookah when the announcement was made and it'd taken some effort on her part to get up and ready to go out.
'Ismat couldn't help but giggle as she waved to Reovan. "I have my ways~" she answered Zus. It was her job to know things as VIA anyway.
"Alia, take the main of the Wing as an escort and head out to the elevator colony for search and rescue. I'll be taking Sitari and Ka'salm out to link up with the Graiv Haidan unit in the area." Serhan's coolly controlled voice came up over communications, as he he hurried across the scaffolding overhead to get into his unit. As quickly as they could have seen his link suit-clad figure pass by, the cockpit hatch was shut and his nameless white VANDR powering up.
"Our wing is going to be useless if we can't get around the communications blackout." The brackets holding the mecha in place disengaged, allowing the organoid powered frame to plummet through the alcove it rested in and into the void of space. "Maintain contact with the Wyrm and each other. This is not an ordinary patrol in the badlands."
Zus made her way quickly to Paralovi, mounting the familiar frame and quickly plugging in, powering up the unit and getting ready to launch whenever ordered. "I'm ready to go. just give me the word and I'm off" The Eyr Ranr notified her commander.
It was not long after the Marranr had launched from the Wyrm of the Endless Sky before a black with silver trim VANDR formed up along side the other frame. Having launched earlier from the other bay. A short wave laser communications pinging Serhan's VANDR. It was a Frame Runner from the Wyrm's wing, a Vayranr requesting to assist and go along to also linkup with the Graiv Haidan unit.
"Just follow my lead and keep them off me, Vayshirin." Alia and the escort comprised of the main of the wing deployed a few moments after Serhan, heading in the opposite direction of the Marranr and the newly-launched black VANDR.
Scurrying out of the ready room, 'Ismat made her way to her VANDR, Rina. She deftly climbed in, connecting herself with the frame and beginning the initialization process. Before long, 'Ismat launched too, floating down to meet up with Serhan to see another Frame was with the Marranr. Who could that be?
Serhan tilted the head of his unit to catch a glimpse of the black and silver frame, nodding to it to acknowledge the officer's request. "Take point. Sitari and I will cover your flanks." Serhan replied, lasering the message to both the junior officer and his newly-launched subordinate. "Do you have a name for me?"
"Rashek, Rashek Baseil." Came the reply from the Black VANDR as it flew past the duo, taking up a point position in front of the pair. "I'll be the only one joining us three from the Wyrm, the rest staying as support."
Wait... Rashek? He was coming? 'Ismat nearly face palmed. "Ah, Rashek. Nice of you to join us?" she replied rather awkwardly. This was something completely unexpected. The surprised VIA operative mulled over this new event as her VANDR moved into position.
"I see. Thank, you for assisting us Vayranr." Serhan replied in a terse tone. The frame officer found it a little strange that he would request to join up with them now, but didn't make much of it for the moment. Any kind of assistance was welcome in these uncertain circumstances, especially coming from a veteran runner.
The approaching debris field seemed to become denser as they moved closer to the rally point where the garrison had been posted. At first, the components seemed to be parts from Soono and shrapnel from detonated munitions, but Commonwealth architecture and Vanguard vessels seemed to become increasingly prevalent, mixed with ash and clouds of softly glowing blue particles emanating from broken reactors and fizzling weapon modules.
Sensors had dropped to less than a percent of their effectiveness with all particle pollution in the area, and in every direction was a mass of derelict vessels emitting distress beacons in dozens of frequencies.
"...What happened?" 'Ismat asked out loud, looking about as she dodged the large floating bits. This was really disconcerting, seeing this much destruction. She made sure to keep her guard up, since this did seem like prime ambush territory. They were near blind, which is never good.
The Black VANDR on point remained silent despite the gratitude, and welcome received. He was focused, the sensors dimmed, his VANDR had attempted to compensate, but it had been a useless gesture. Too much debris, emissions, and chaos drifted around them.
A chunk of what had been part of an unlucky civilian freighter barred Rashek's way, casually he pushed it aside, thankful the optics of the VANDR still worked well enough. The distinctive crackle of radio filled his 'ears' as pleas, and the sound of automated distress messages came through. He filtered them.
"Battle, that's what. Look around you." The Black VANDR pointed towards the distinctive shape of a Soono that had a large gaping hole in the torso that still glowed a dull orange from laser fire. "From the looks of it, some civilian craft were caught in the cross fire." What had once been an Ur-Class Ferry had been shorn in half, pockmarks running along the hull.
It drifted off to the left side of them, a reminder that the area was hostile, lives had been lost, and the possibility of something still lurked out there.
Zalus had launched late, the rush to get to the other members of his wing a hectic one in the chaos that had been the hangar bay. As he advanced he batted debris away and kept an eye out for movement. "Well this could have been better. At least we know they killed some of the bastards."The young runner said kicking aside a burnt-out Soono torso. "Do we have any ships in the Area? These folks won't be able to survive to long out here..." Continuing to talk to Nara as they continued onwards.
Although blanketed by the ambient radiation of the field, a number of distinct signatures dropped into view of the sensors of the four in the debris field. Nothing less than frame-scale nuclear reactors, their signatures numbering in the dozens, maybe hundreds. Most were distorted or bleeding into local space and some dropped out as quickly as they had come online, but a number too large for the four of them were still largely intact. They were surrounded!
A shower of autocannon fire hailed down from above them, followed by a swarm of damaged Soono bull rushed them from all around, their remaining limbs blazing for a strike. Serhan, Rashek and 'Ismat all took a few hits before a derelict cargo ship drifted overhead and blocked the barrage. Zalus had managed to evade the stray shells being fired at his cohorts and placed himself to counterattack, but was now the only one of the four still in view of the enemy.
'Ismat cursed as she instinctively brought her weapons online, forming katars on Rina's hands and swords on the feet, as well as charging the shockbites. This was not going to be a pretty fight. "Any idea how many of them there are?" she asked nervously, floating a bit along with the cover provided by the debris.
Zalus charged his cannons aiming a shot at one of the Soono with operational autocannons and started to form long blades on Nara's arms. "Why don't we ever get to be the ones ambushing Soono? Answer me that please!" Zalus then quickly moved to duck behind the closest cover he could find in the debris field to protect his weaker Vandr.
'Ismat continued to evade much of the enemy's fire in great part due to the heavy cover between herself and the linear weapon-toting enemies parked at the very edge of her sensors, and was prepared for the sudden charge by a trio of Soono coming in at her from the front. All three appeared to be more or less intact, with their dual gyrating fists active and ready to strike.
Letting out an aggravated sigh, 'Ismat flew backwards as she let loose short bursts of CELB, as suppressive fire, as she aimed and fired her shockbites. She made sure not to be idiotic and run into some obstruction along the derelict ship's hull or otherwise, as well as to stop if she got to edge of said cover.
Zalus struck the Soono in the chest with both Shockbites at once, causing a massive and catastrophic surges as charged particles flooded into its power train. After a few seconds, the unit flared up and detonated, sending ADNR shrapnel and irradiated internals in every direction.
The surrounding units were effectively alerted to his presence causing his flight into the deeper debris to be a narrow escape from a shower of autocannon slugs and flak bursts. From all sides, damaged Soono with blazing hands poured out after him, perhaps moving to repay him for destroying their comrade.
"Let's just go with lots as a number." Rashek said, staying as close to the Cargoship as possible as he activated the MRS of his frame. Oh this was a spot he didn't like to be in, being the ambushee all the same. Things could turn around. And that's why he fired three of the beacon flares in the rear hip pods sending them off in different directions, and begun priming the Shock bites after a few seconds.
Ten seconds and I'm going to be lit up like a Eyr Ranr on a Slajatki-on binge. His VANDR continued to creep behind the now derelict ship, the Beacon Flares now sending out a wide range of signals and false IFF tags, the Black VANDR swung out from behind the cargo ship, the forearm mounted LCPA cannons would begin to train on the first bogey and fire.
The middle of the three Soono 'Ismat was fighting had been quickly torn apart by the suppressive fire, the already weakened wreck of a frame not lasting more than three seconds before its internals failed and the chassis neatly folded onto itself and detonated into a cloud of radiation, broken ADNR armor and flayed organoid tissues. The other two subsequently dove into the cargo ship and began following 'Ismat... directly beneath her and the meter-thick hull that separated them.
Zalus poured what fire he could into the charging Soono from his CELB arrays. Taking what carefully aimed shots he could with his shockbites on the most intact Soono charging him. "Well That was a nice little explosion wasn't it dear?" Zalus said to Nara.
"Lets do that again." As the charging Soono were with-in close range Zalus cut his CELB fire and launched a volley of missiles towards the Soono before performing a sublight jump, away to a new area of cover.
'Ismat quickly separated her VANDR from the hull, though she tried to stay under cover as she did so. This time she readied her Star Locust missiles, ready to unleash a barrage as soon as the Soono showed themselves.
Without any enemy attempting to intercept him, Rashek burst past the corner and flawless blasted a pair of Soono apart, causing them to detonate and pelt nearby units with additional shrapnel. All thre beacon flares had apparently ben intercepted, but had lasted long enough to give him a chance at a clear shot.
The enemy still hadn't noticed him, despite the trail of particles emanating from his unit's forearms, but had moved in to where the two Soono had just been downed.
The volley of laser fire and missiles made quick work of the Soono leading the pack, sending those at the front back into those behind them. Zalus had escaped from the enemy for a few seconds and managed to stay out of the sights of the enemy units that had started the ambush, but was now too far to reach any of his cohorts or his commander.
The two Soono took direct hits from Rina's missile barrage, causing their already-fragile power train to overheat and overload. Both units suddenly spiraled out of control mid-flight until they neatly impacted one of the maneuvering thrusters on the derelict, and ceased moving entirely, shifting little as small jets of smoke burst out from their torso and shoulder areas.
Rashek assessed the little diversionary tactic's handy work as more of the automated machines moved in to where their brethren had been shot down. He brought up the Star Locusts next. Charging the MASC drive as the shroud around him dropped flexing the hands of his VANDR as he did so the jump pre-planned. Sensor functionality returning to their normal, at the moment sub par levels, locking on to a number of the Soono units that had dropped into the area.
He essentially was showing himself before a salvo of the missiles lept from the shoulder pods. A hand rose, the ERP within it showering the area ahead with particles before the MASC 'jumped' the VANDR away.
Zalus charged his shockbites as he unleashed suppressive fire into the charging ranks with his CELBs. "Nara get us closer to the others on the next jump!" Zalus cut his CELB fire as he unloaded a second volley of missiles into the Soono swarm and the two charged cannon shots he had been holding onto in hopes of taking out some of the Soono with the powerful shots at this range.
Zalus then quickly jumped away to the location Nara had decided upon and readied himself to rush for cover.
Just as the Soono turned to respond to the sudden and obvious spatial distortion caused by Rashek's sub light jump, they were immediately faced with a shower of PASD missiles. The shambling Soono nearest to Rashek were immediately crippled or destroyed, while the units that had evaded the initial attack were already dashing towards him for a counter-attack, firing well-aimed bursts of their free electron laser cannons.
Nara didn't honestly know how to respond to the request, but went about trying to calculate where to move based on orbital drift and the previous sub light jump it had made... but found itself struggling to complete the equations as Zalus had dropped into view of a rather large group of autocannon-equipped Soono, preparing to bear down on him in full force.
Rashek saw the explosions about fifty thousand kilometers away, that, and the other ugly as sin automatons coming his way! He engaged the shields, immediately moving his VANDR in a quick strafe 'downwards' laser fire blooming before him as he did so. The fire continued as he tried to duck and weave about the debris, using it as limited cover, the LCPA's on his unit's forearms priming again as the CELB systems now answered the FEL fire in kind.
All the while, he was looking about, for something, anything to use to his advantage at the moment. The first two ambushes going perfectly...well, almost. But now it was a question of what to use next.
PAUSE
