"Thanks, muffin." Black gave Phase a stiff pat on the chassis and took the pliars with a sort of twitch at the corners of his mouth that could've been interpreted as a kind of rapid-fire smirk. Even the most ferocious and torturous interrogator would never know just how fond he was of the tiny egg or the prizes normally contained within. The walking heavy metal cliche was quick to squat next to his airbike and immediately shove the pliars into an open lighting socket on the bike, then with a tiny grunt tear free a rusted and tangled wire.
Meanwhile, Cloudheart sat stooped over with hands on her knees while she watched her miniature Junker interact with Phase's leggy brick. She smiled to behold the chihuahua-sized metal arachnid scuttle about in a circle around the creature with its single stalk-eye camera twisting and tilting to get every detail of this potential new friend. Satisfied that everything was well, she stood straight and gave 'Bricklet' (which was now going to be its name if anyone asked her) a gentle scruff of the (brick) neck, then pealed into a child-like giggle and shot up to go grab her armor.
Cloudheart wasn't gone very long. It seemed she'd only stepped around the corner for a moment before popping back into view. Unable to fit her child-like frame into the beastly power-armor impliments, the tiny Freespacer made due by securing her own personal armor in advance. Over the patchwork blazer of many colors she had worn before was a plain, olive colored vest of plates which ended in a tabbard-like red cloth that dangled over her rump and between her knees. Strapped over this was chest-rig holding several magazines for the Origin Industries Peashooter that might've been a beefy pistol to some, but was more like a carbine to her. Confidently, Cloudheart chambered a round and slid the beastly weapon into a crossdraw holster on her left thigh, which was consequently about the size of her left thigh. Though she'd never fought anything before, upon receiving this assignment the little Mindtwister was sure to study up on marksmanship and had been fed several compliment sandwiches over her awkward, yet effective use of large-bore handguns.
With everyone showing up toting guns and dressed in expensive military equipment, Killroyal decided to stop tinkering with his airbike once more and return Phase's pliars to their adorable little container. He planted his hands on his hips and looked everyone over before snapping his fingers. The immediate effect of this was that Elway, who'd been looming silently in his black Raider armor, approached and stood beside the Commantimidator.
Commandant Dad looked over his children with approving eyes, even nodding at Domicile's choice. He had wrongly imagined that she intented to get up close with her colorful armor and punch, tear, and squeeze her way to victory without any apparent weapons.
Of note also was Elway's gaze, for Linda caught it firmly when she arrived. His face remained stoic, but the way his eyes met hers seemed to send a message, silently letting her know that he was aware of her inquiries the previous night without dispensing approval or disapproval. Those hard-set eyes kept boring into her, even as he handed the datapad to Commandant Black and the murderous Themarmander read their intended mission aloud.
"At seventeen-four-four hours last night, a freighter entered into Nepleslian space from Yamatai without forwarding its route to local authorities." He explained, reading almost verbatim what was written for him on the datapad. "When approached and asked to heave-to for a customs inspection, the vessel did not respond. The NNPD customs vessel 'Armistice' attempted to open fire, but was immediately disabled by an electronic attack. Two hours later, Star Military patrol craft approached and requested the vessel heave-to for inspection. They were then immediately subject to a mass systems failure which we suspect is also the result of an electronic attack. Finally, a little after midnight, the recon cruiser 'Stalwart' launched a boarding shuttle with orders to forcibly breach her hull. The shuttle's computers vented the compartment while the marines were suiting up. We lost six men and women to these mother fuckers."
Black tossed the datapad haphazardly over his shoulder and didn't even look to see it skittering across the ground as he crossed his arms and snarled, "Now, if it were up to me we would vaporize the sons-of-bitches at range, but Naval Intel wants to know how they're fucking up our computers. So Admiral Feldstrum has ordered Harmonious Solarsailor with its atypical systems to approach and board. We are to salvage as much as we can, but you hear me kids: I do not mind watching anyone who raises a gun to you beautiful munchkins get their brains turned into pencil shavings."
Black stopped to lick his lips and then went on while pacing up to Harmony. The frigate politely slid open the entryway to the newly-installed crew compartment at his approach and he stopped himself to watch as a cylinder popped loose from the front of the 'Spacer craft, and then spread open a pair of sharp, fang-like durandium petals which revealed a narrow passageway leading into a wide ready-room.
"Sweet shit-eating Sandra Silicone." Remarked Black, before turning back to the assembled team and reminded them, "Anyhow, kids, I want the wire-headed weasel who's making these cyber attacks alive. Everyone else can die. Kill 'em all if you have to, Command be damned. I ain't puttin' my brats at risk over giving rights to dirty bastards who killed six of some other poor guy's brats. I'll work up a game plan inside your machine-sibling... So get in your machine-sibling!"
Following a thick and outstretched index finger, everyone soon found themselves inside of Harmonious Solarsailor's new ready-room. Between the ship and Halcyone, the new set up was pretty sweet. Though there was no time to investigate, to the rear there was another passage which seemed to lead to a larger series of rooms within the belly of the fattened frigate. The ready room wasn't without its niceties, however. A pair of sweeping benches ran along either side of the room with a bank of monitors and displays in the middle. It wasn't quite a bridge, but when the ship was crewed by itself there was no need for a bridge. When everyone was inside and settled into the dimly-lit ready room, Harmony closed itself up and quietly took them away from the cargo bay and into open space while Black and Elway sat behind the bank of displays murmuring silent battle plans.
-----
ISC Ruby Rose, Fifteen Minutes Earlier
The sound of thick boots clacking on smooth tile announced the presence of a man wearing the uniform of the now-defunct UOC Peacekeepers in a conference room where three other men sat speaking in hushed tones. He was a tall, darkened man with severe features and long black hair braided tight behind him. Mao-Sung Chow regarded the room with serious eyes and walked purposefully around the length of the table before stopping at the end where the three men sat and giving them all a deep bow.
"Peacekeeper Chow." Greeted one of the men, a stocky privateer with thick lips and a smile which suggested he was always up to something. "We were just talking about how well Daxton has been doing on this voyage."
The privateer gestured to a thin, smug-looking boy with a large cybernetic eye. The boy shrugged with a confident grin and suggested, "What can I say, my bosses taught me well."
Peacekeeper Chow showed no reaction to either of them, instead pointing his gaze to the man at the head of the table. The gentleman was a hardened-looking sort, if a little fattened by age, and was presently reading a report whilst simultaneously having trouble fitting into the uniform of a Red Faction Colonel. "Colonel Fallon, we have dropped out of fold and are currently cruising through an FTL deadzone. Surely they will attempt to stop us again. And yet, you have not deployed any of my men, nor have you issued breath masks to the crew."
"Keep a lid on it, Peacekeeper." Warned the Colonel without looking up from his report, "Daxton's got it handled. Deckers sent us a good kid for this, money well spent. Anything they throw at us, he'll stop it before it even gets close."
Chow's jaw tightened and his hand shifted to the mono-edged ninjato at his hip. Gruffly, he repeated his warnings, "I do not think the hacker will keep us safe forever, sir. I hate to see what might happen should a boarding party get through when your crew isn't even at general quarters. I also question the purpose of hiring mercenairies when you do not use them for--"
"Do not forget that you're one of those mercenaries, Peacekeeper Chow." Growled the Colonel, now abandoning his reports to fix Chow with harsh, glowering eyes. "Just do what I say and enjoy the time off. When we get planetside, there will be plenty for you to do. The General's warehouse is what needs security, not my ship."
"Of course, Colonel." Chow bowed deeply once more and turned on his heel to leave the room.
Outside, a muscular white-haired man in a matching Peacekeeper uniform waited for him and wordlessly matched step with Chow; the two of them striding down the corridor. Chow sighed and spoke first after a fashion. "Lu-Fou Lang, my friend and confidant. What do you make of the Colonel's behavior?"
"Arrogance, Master." Came the baritone reply.
"And what do you suggest I do? We've been hired as mercenaries. We no longer serve justice, but only-- these people." Chow frowned hard, shaking both hands in front of him to emphasize the words.
"If we are attacked, I reccommend we abandon the Nepleslians here and continue on our course to their paymasters." Suggested Lang. "Their stupidity shouldn't deprive their paymasters of everything they've paid for, and I know the men would follow you before that Colonel of theirs."
"Honor suggests I should follow that very Colonel even to my death." Chow reminded him.
Lang sighed and shook his head. "Master, you would waste yourself trying to honor that which is honorless. At the first sign of attack, order the men into shuttles and we shall depart. Whether we leave for our ultimate destination or return to Asura, we should leave these fools behind to burn."
It was Chow's turn to sigh. They strode around a corner and the two of them came to a stop in front of an elevator. The former Peacekeeper turned to face his retainer and shook his head. "If we pack into the shuttles and leave before we're certain that they'll die, they could speak poorly of us to our mutual paymaster. We must at least stay and put forth a token effort. I mean..." He shook his head and contorted his face in anger, "I'm just trying to feed my men, but acting as a warband for these criminals is not how I envisioned it."
"We understand your position, Master." Came the reassuring words, along with a reassuring bow from Lu-Fou. "The men would not have followed you here if we did not still trust your wisdom. The fires of Jiyuu still burn in our hearts, and we still tread upon the ashes of the Colonies. I will prepare the men for a quick departure whenever you say we must go. That way, whichever you decide, we'll be prepared for it."
Chow let himself smile and lay a ginger hand on Lu-Fou's shoulder. "I appreciate that, Lang. You've always been..." He struggled to find the words for such a serious and stern-faced friend.
"I am your loyal retainer." Suggested Lang with a tilt of his head, before shuffling backwards and away. Peacekeeper Chow smiled at his retreating form, some of the tension washed from his features. It wouldn't be gone for long, though, as the shudders of the first impact would strike the Ruby Rose in just over an hour.
-----
Spaaace!
The Ruby Rose cut through the FTL deadzone at a slow pace, stars waving past it as the Courier 2B pushed its massive bulk through the narrow passageway of safe space between gravitic waves and electromagnetic disturbances. A ways behind it, at the far end of the passage, Harmonious Solarsailor dropped out of fold and rocketed into range. The 'Spacer frigate made a much easier job of the passageway, its comparatively tiny and agile form zig-zagging and rolling through the the intricacies of the passage. It felt alive as it soared through the stars, twisting anyway it pleased with no negative effect on the passengers within. Well, that was mostly because they couldn't look outside. If they could, some of them might surely jettison breakfast. Still, for Harmonious Solarsailor, this was home and the ship cut through every corner of the passage at high speed on a sharp intercept course with the fat freighter that lumbered beyond.
As it came nearer, the Ruby Rose deployed a series of custom turrets to fire a barrage of mass-driver cannonfire at the frigate; but found that all of its shots were deftly and skillfully dodged. In response, Harmonious Solarsailor fired three Pseudoflares right into the Courier 2B's engine nozzles, bathing the hull of the ship in thermonuclear fire and cutting its acceleration down to nothing, leaving the freighter to drift harmlessly in space.
In the ready room, Harmonious Solarsailor spoke to an expectant Commandant Black. "As ordered, I've disabled the other vessel. Their engines and weapons systems are down, which should make for a most harmonious approach. I'm moving in to attach for boarding now, Killroyal."
"Thanks, ship." The Commandant replied. He had been strapping an HHG to his thigh and a FatCOM to his head during the final approach, and now he turned to the assembled team as they closed in and covered the bulletin points of the battle plan. "Alright, buckaroos. Get in, secure the ship. Take prisoners when opportune, leave corpses when needed. I want Garvey with the engineer down in that engine room. Get control of vital systems."
He pointed to Alistair, "Thorn, you find a junction or a terminal or something and hook up to their systems. Shut down whatever they've got doing the hacking and try to take remote control of the bridge."
Then to Eir. "Smith, figure out who's gonna cover Thorn and then take the rest with you to storm the bridge. Once we control the ship, Garvey and Thorn will fan out and neutralize any remaining crewmembers while Smith hold the POWs. Elway will provide advance recon data from within the ship."
There was a shaking that rumbled the entire room as Harmony sliced the Ruby Rose open like a can of sardines and jutted her drinking-straw into the side of the Courier's cargo hold. Those durandium petals spread open to reveal the wreckage beyond. Dented hull plating and twisted support beams were piled at waist level in the wide warehouse-sized expanse of the cargo bay. A supply technician lie crumpled and unmoving on the ground in a pool of blood, curled a little too sharply around one of the loose girders. There was a great metal partition beyond him and beyond that, through the cracks, it seemed like the cargo bay stretched on forever.
"Alright marines," Barked Killroyal, throwing a hand to point to the newly opened way, while behind him Elway rocketed into the bay. Elway squatted on the floor and began to shimmer and fade from view just as he was about to leap into a powerful somersault that would remain unseen by anyone. Once again, the bay was seemingly empty, and the time had come.
"Move your asses!"
