RP: 4th Fleet (NSN) [4th AASP] Mess

10 minutes after their shuttle had left the Yamatain starbase, it had again docked with its mother ship allowing its passengers to return to the bridge. As Wazu entered he would ask Drei,

"Where is Zoey?"

"She is tied up at the moment." Drei would respond.

Wazu would nod and then begin to bring up the information on the recent events on Nepleslia. Images gathered from starships and soldiers on the ground were being displayed around the edges of the room as Wazu began to explain what they were going to do about it.

"It looks like we've lost the senate and the Sky Marshall. Drei is unable to contact them and the current image of their meeting location looks like rubble." He would bring up the image of what used to be a cathedral. A small text bar on the top of the image would indicate that the image was being produced from the sensors on-board a communications relay starship above nepleslia, showing a live image of the rubble left behind, nearly flat ground for a solid kilometer and burning buildings beyond that. Small shapes would occasional be moving around, some in the center of the blast, others moving in from the sides.

"The NNN building has been captured by Mishhu, and is being used to broadcast a 'we have joined the NMX' message to the city. We can not shut it down short of destroying the building or capturing it on foot because the receivers for that building have been shut off or destroyed, no signals going in but plenty going out. A group of marines from a nearby training base are on their way there and should be arriving shortly. It dose not help that everyone is trying to use the InterNEP all at the same time and its connects are being strained to the breaking point.

This is compounded by the Water and Sanitation systems of the city having been destroyed in the attack. We'll need to have them repaired quickly otherwise we'll have a lot of deaths on our hands.

We also do not know where the attackers are and have to assume they are still on the loose. I suggest you start with the NNN building, there will be marines there to protect you and you will be able to access Drei's network via datapad to look at security cameras and re-task the sensors over the city. We can also get you a voidwalker spacesuit if you are worried about contamination Orion.

I would also like your opinions on the discussion we had with the Yamatains. We will also need to send our counter proposal sooner or later."

Once on the shuttle, Orion would continue to think about what was happening in Nepleslia. Was Nepleslia really that easy to attack? The whole thing seemed like it was such a surprise attack that the planet's security had no time to react. In spite of their current situation, Orion felt reluctant to enter action. But the situation seemed to deem his service important.

"...Very well Heram, I will do what I can to restore systems to Nepleslian hands. I must remind you, though, I'm only an engineer. I've only once before been to a Sector 47 situation like this... and it didn't end up well... I hope you stay well out of trouble while I do this. And Orchid and Zoey as well. I consider you all great friends of mine. I wouldn't want to lose any more brothers and sisters..."

Orion raised his open humanoid hand and waved it from side to side at Heram. "It's quite alright, Heram. I don't need to be reminded that when I'm planetside my body will be... crawling with... microscopic pests... As long as I keep my Bio-Refinery system sealed to the surrounding atmosphere I should be fine. The reason I got so suddenly scared back at the restaurant was because I had opened the system... I am hoping no virus or bacteria got in while I was ingesting the liquid.

Regardless, I will be fine as long as I get some sterilization once I leave planetside.

On that note, I would also like to retrieve my personal belongings from the orbiting station I was staying at before you hired me. It's imperative that I get those back." Then Orion would turn to look at the viewport on the shuttle, watching the large power armored men running about the city and all the spaceships floating just above a green, white and blue planet. Orion's neon lights glew a bright red for a second before Wazu mentioned the talk with the Yamatai.

"Hm?

--Oh. Yes. The Yamatai.

Well it was a very walka dick move for them to be so condescending about Nepleslia's condition and my opinions. There shouldn't be anything stopping them from agreeing with our plans of joining forces. It's much as you said, cooperation leads to trust. Without cooperation, there will be no need of trust. And this whole issue about 'earning trust'... as if trust were something to be earned!

It is merely something either you have about someone or something, or you don't. If the Yamatai would prove themselves to be more friendly and actively help everyone else perhaps they wouldn't be so mistrusted anymore. Us Freespacers have nothing against Yamatai, other that they have attacked us and continue doing so out of prejudice. If Yamatai ceased attacking us, we would not have anything against them, and our trust on them would swell! I can't believe the...!"

Orion stopped then turned to Heram, wondering. "I'm sorry, am I ranting? I think I may have deviated from the subject." An audible sigh escaped his speakers. "What I mean to say is, as a Freespacer, I do not understand the red tapes Yamatai wishes to go through. If we are all fighting the NMX, why would we not assemble a joint task force?! 'An enemy of an enemy is my friend.' That is the basic principle I'm trying to get to here.

It is inconceivable to me that these people wouldn't understand this! Regardless of however we may feel towards each other, we have a common enemy that is ruining our lives and we have to get rid of it BEFORE we can begin fighting against each other." Then Orion stopped himself.

"Honestly, Heram. I don't think I can very much talk about this subject without feeling the burn inside of me at the moment. Perhaps we're better off talking about this subject later."

"I asked for your opinion, it is alright to rant," Wazu replied, "And I trust you working on the systems at NNN far more than I do the marines. Getting everything operational there again should be a simple matter and Drei has the specs for the tower on hand. She will be able to guide you through any setup or repairs you may have to make. You will also need to keep a handle on the marines there, do not let them wreck any of the equipment that NNN is using to transmit with otherwise we will not be able to transmit a 'we got everything under control' signal to everyone viewing the NNN broadcast as easily. Although we do have a powerful transmitter in orbit, NNN does distribute a lot of their content through physical connects that date back decades.

And your personal belongings.... and I have been depriving Orchid here of food too. Drei has her order arrived yet?" A quick response was displayed on his screen, followed by the door to the bridge opening, allowing one of the spherical junker drones to wobble into the room, a small plastic box suspended above its head by two of the mechanical tendrils that were placed randomly around the spherical body. The clear top of the plastic box would show beef Medallions with small roasted potatoes and green pieces of Asparagus placed on either side. A fork and knife were also included inside a small pouch on the underside of the box along with a cloth napkin.

Wazu would then turn back to Orion, "Right, your things. This is a bit of a crisis that needs dealing with immediately. Would you like to have someone bring your things here? Or can you wait to pick them up until after we have resolved the immediate problems?"

"And Orchid, do you have an opinion on this or are you still feeling a bit overwhelmed? You have not said much so far."

Orchid heard her name and looked up at Wazu, “What exactly happened? Do you know where all Nepleslia was hit? I mean we only left home for an hour or so and suddenly you’re saying the planet is attacked! It doesn’t really seem possible and the whole idea is so much to take in.”

She noticed the food container on top of the rather adorable little drone. She reached down and gently took the package from the drone as she thanked it.

She set the food on the table and turned back to Wazu, “I’m afraid I’ve lost my appetite. How did this even happen? I there any way I can help?”

Wazu would pick up a datapad, detaching it from the chair he was sitting in and having Drei display all of the current information about the situation on it before sliding it across the table towards Orchid.

"Finding out how it happened is one of the things we need to find out. It is likely gear and personnel were smuggled in. The Senate has strongly disapproved of various types of contraband legislation so there is very little oversight on what can and can't come into Nepleslia. They also recently repealed gun registration.

In addition to dealing with the Yamatains, it is likely we will have to develop countermeasures against his kind of attack as well, however I am afraid that might be getting ahead of ourselves. We need to focus on the immediate things, restoring news services, restoring water, restoring power, and restoring sanitation systems. Any ideas on how to go about that would be helpful.

Right now I'm thinking we can restore utilities using mass produced starship parts from NAM factories on Nepleslia. Hooking them up to the current utility grid can not be that difficult,"

--

As Wazu spoke the screen showing the marines going towards the NNN building would show their car come to a stop just outside of the NNN lobby as someone off screen fired a hail of bullets into the lobby, cutting down potted plants, windows, and decorative fixtures alike. It also showed a taco stand pushed up against one of the windows with what looked like a man sized taco flopping around.

Orion closed his right fist and opened his left hand, and punched open palm. "Very well. I will try my best to inform the marines that the systems are of high importance. I will be relying on Drei to tell me where critical points of the system are to inform the marines not to strike those areas, and subsequently will head to them to plug in and begin to restore order." He extended his arms in the air and began a bit of an inspirational statement. "I will not fail you Heram! Nor will I fail Nepleslia! The NMX have been constantly destroying our cities, disrupting our peace! Never again! No longer will we sit back and let them destroy our space!

We will be victorious!"

And then Heram addressed his things. He put both of his humanoid arms to their respective sides and answered. "Hm. That didn't cross my mind. If it wouldn't be too bothersome, I suppose I wouldn't mind someone bringing me my belongings from the station. I will leave the station's name and station room number in the NSS Asp forum that you may read it through your Data Jockey, or so that the retriever may read it. In that case, I will need weapons... in my belongings is a gyrogun which I created myself, but considering they will be being brought to the Asp while I'm gone, I will need a replacement in the meanwhile.

I will require a high-caliber weapon. NMX are fairly large, and I am more than able to handle large weaponry single-handedly."

“Your items will be waiting for you in your room when you return to the ship. Our guns….” Wazu paused for a moment, “Um, I have not actually used a gun in quite some time, I do not think our armory is stocked either. There are a set of K4 tanks in the cargo hold, you could grab the machine guns off of them. You could also ask Drei to fabricate one for you quickly. The standard power armor infantry weapon is the HPAR but if your arms can not handle that I would suggest going with something a little more compact. If you find a gun you want to buy I can arrange for Drei to manufacture that here too, NAM has plenty of manufacturing agreements so we can get our hands on just about anything.”

“I will be coming with you too, but I need to focus on co-coordinating NAM’s response to this. As for the Yamatains, well… We can send them a modified treaty that sounds good and full of ‘let us fight the NMX’ language. They should be able to see the logic in that even if we leave out specifics about how. ”

Wazu would pause for a bit, “Orchid and I should also arm ourselves. We can not stay in the tank the entire time.” He would turn to her and ask, “Do you know how to use a gun?”

If Orion could nod, he would've. Instead, he verbally agreed. "Understood. In that case, I'll be looking for my weapons." The Freespacer turned around, and walked out of the bridge.

- - - - -

"...way this could get any worse would be if the NMX literally attacked now and subdued the planet into surrendering!" The rather gruff marine to the right looked at his fellow soldier with some scrutiny. "You sayin' we couldn' beat the squids?" The other put his hands open in front of him and waved them at him. "Look man, I'm not saying we couldn't hold our own, but they've beat Yamatai up in th-- is that a rainbow-colored robot taking a W31 from a K4?"

The dark skin toned marine looked at the direction his friend was looking at. He hadn't even noticed anyone coming into the cargo hold until now. The large, three armed, colorful robot was just casually picking up the W3100, and picking up the grab bag bullet chain with the strange hydraulic arm atop it's frame, then wrapping the chain around the hydraulic arm with it's left, humanoid arm.

Both marines looked at each other, then back at the robot. "Shouldn't we stop it?"

The other chuckled. "You go 'head if you need ta', man. I'm not gonna question it. I didn' see anything, you know what I'm sayin?"

Both marines watched in awe as the robot headed out of the cargo hold with the W3100 in one hand, the ammunition chain wrapped around the hydraulic arm atop it.

"You know, I take back what I was saying. Maybe we can take the squids on."

"Damn straight. G'damnit I love my job." Said the gruff, dark skinned Nepleslian as he saw the robot leave the hold.