RP Honeybear don't care

Fellwalker crew cabin
SMERC
Gashmere

NARA

Nara could not argue the logic in Itami's statement. She did not know to what extent the nanites would be able to repair her injuries and would feel more comfortable in vicinity of someone she trusted. "Eir o shor" // "As you wish" she whispered quietly in Nira'las. At the very least whatever happened she was beginning to feel that her friend would be there with her, as she would with him. The blush on her cheeks deepened from pink to crimson as his hand moved from her shoulder to her balled fist. Her ears twitched a little as she relaxed her hand underneath his touch giving it a gentle squeeze. Agony continued to plague her abdomen and torso, but with the ranger by her side she was not panicked.

Hallway
System Material Exploitation and Recovery Center
White Ridge
Gashmere

Once Itami had gone up the shaft, Sassa moved to return to the group. It didn’t take long for the cyan and magenta-haired Neko to assess the condition of the rest of the team as she did, taking particular note of Sanda’s injuries along with the status of Black Wolf Squad, the latter who still seemed to be in good fighting shape.

She wasn’t sure if she could say the same for Sanda.

Nevertheless, Sassa followed after the Ranger as she moved towards the doors leading into the control room. All the while, the Infantry Neko pushed her digital mind to its limits, taking advantage of her dilated perception of time to visually scan for traps, sensor triggers, or hidden cameras within the corridor.

Now more than ever, nothing could be left to chance.

The bullets were doing nothing and then he caught a shine as he then saw the flash before being hit with the concussive force. "God damn these fucking....another fucking trap!" He said as he made sure all power was still being put towards his shields. He could not feel the heat, but being blown back as the others were caught up in it, he took a lot of damage as there were multiple new pieces of metal in his armor, his HUD was shorting out for a moment before stabilizing. His rifle was trashed and his left forearm slot was damaged. His power was stable, and his suit was still up and running, but he was now angry and ready to give them back their own bullshit.

When there was word of medical teams being dispatched Zanvent did not consent to treatment as he drew his carbine and checked it over, seeing that it was still workable he was ready to move forward. Sanda's order was the right thing to do, they could not turn back now...even if they did they would not have enough time to escape the impending destruction of the facility. They could only move forward.

Floor 10
SMERC
Gashmere

When you have a child, the world has a hostage

The end of the passage was a T intersection. The smoldering remains of the volumetric projector and four improvised explosives littered the smooth stone floor. On the wall in bold block letters were two indicators; CONTROL ROOM with an arrow pointing right, and POWER GENERATION pointing left. Looking down the respective passages showed them team members two identical heavy, durandium double doors in either direction. The halls continued to display a riot of neon colors strew haphazardly about.

Halfway to the control room door, on the ground, was the sundered half of a childs doll elephant. Torn in half, covered in the paint, the stuffing spilling out of the torso and onto the stained and radiated floor. Other implements seemed to be strewn about the passageway, as if discarded in a panic. Clipboards, personal computers, papers, and a few articles of clothing were all visible. They all were covered in paint, but if disturbed would reveal they had been discarded before the halls were painted....


Fellwalker crew cabin
SMERC
Gashmere

The Kodian medical officer stepped forward, a hypo-cylinder in his massive paw. "I have loaded this with a mix of pain killers and surgical nano-bots tuned to your .... unique, physiology. The pain killers should take effect within the next few moments. The Nano-bots will work to repair the damage to your skeletal system, I suspect the fractures will be repaired in a max of fourteen hours probably sooner. The bruising, I cannot do anything more except recommend you take it easy and try not to laugh or breath too hard."

He pressed the hypo against the exposed portion of Nara's neck. A chime sounded in the cabin, "Wounded incoming, prepare to receive casualties." The Medic pressed and held an intercom key on the wall. "WILCO", he said, turning to Itami and Nara. "Need you two to move to the ambulatory area." He said, indicating four Kodian sized crash seats with five point harness systems. He grabbed his helmet and locked it into place, "Watch her, hit the button on the wall and talk if anything seems weird." The medic said to Itami through his suits PA system. "I'll be right back, try to stay out of my way." He then turned and cycled the hatch into the airlock, leaving Itami and Nara alone in the Trauma Bay of the Fellwalker.

Fellwalker crew cabin
SMERC
Gashmere
Itami
He nodded, his hands never leaving hers which squeezed his, even in pain. Itami's mind was on the situation going on around them, so his mind had fooled itself into not blushing, though if the situation were different, he would be bright red right now. Nodding once more to the medical officers instructions, he would slowly help Nara to a seated position, before leading her to one of the four crash seats. "How are you feeling, Nara?" A brief show of worry crossed his face as he helped strap in. Walking over to the wall, he would press it. "Sir, you need additional medical help, I am a trained combat medic." That said he would release the button, ensure their PA's were secure and take the seat next to her. The way they were seated he was seated on the seat to the right of her, this way he could protect her from the edge in case of an attack.
Floor 10
SMERC
Gashmere

77

77 was in his element, he posted to the left of the T-intersection, with his gatling cannon already spinning in case anything attempted to surprise them. He was easily one of the best to operate as rear guard of those still assembled in the underbelly of this facility.

Fellwalker crew cabin
SMERC
Gashmere
NARA

Nara nodded ascent as she listened to the Kodian's words. Though the odds of laughter or breathing too hard were unlikely to happen in the near future. She sighed with relief as the pain began to subside, withdrawing her hand from Itami's. The blush on her cheeks momentarily deepening realizing what she had done. Her eyes flitted up to his "I am sorry, I did not mean to....not without permission.." she shook her head as she apologized for holding his hand in such a manner.

She did not resist his assistance with getting into a seated position. If this were any other scenario she might have relished the moment. However, they were both in a very dangerous situation and the team was still inside with whatever wretched beings deemed it necessary to do this. Her form leaned into his support as she pushed herself off of the trauma bed to a standing position. Her nose wrinkled in discomfort as they made their way over to the crash seats. Once they made it over to the seats, watched him strap her in with a curious look on her face. She very clearly looked tiny in comparison to its usual occupants and she wondered if Itami was in his right mind. "It feels like I took a library shelf to the chest, otherwise I feel much better. Thank you my friend." The tactical way in which he had positioned himself was not lost on her, but she was not going to be of much use strapped in like this. She tilted her head to the side and looked at him. "You know I might not be of much use, but I will not be of any use strapped up like this" she said holding her hands out a little to display her restraints. Man those pain meds really must have been kicking in.

Hallway
System Material Exploitation and Recovery Center
White Ridge
Gashmere

Sassa scanned the remains of the volumetric projector and the improvised explosives for traps and sensor triggers, but otherwise passed them by as she moved ahead towards the T junction. As the hulking Freespace mercenary revved up his gatling gun, the cyan and magenta-haired Nekovalkyrja flashed an encrypted transmission to the rest of the task force. There were decisions to make, which needed to be carried out quickly, efficiently, and carefully.

More often than not, only two of those three conditions were possible to satisfy. However, the Task Force now faced the seemingly impossible task of making sure that all three were achieved.

It was an undertaking that Sassa didn’t dare back down from.

//We should split up.// Sassa transmitted, framing the tone of her message as a suggestion for the officers to contemplate. //Even with the wounded, we have enough firepower to take the control and the power generation rooms simultaneously.// The Infantry Neko added, even knowing that her assessment could easily be cast into doubt.

Hallway
System Material Exploitation and Recovery Center
White Ridge
Gashmere

Miko made his way down the hallway behind the group. His fist was clenched hard feeling guilty for allowing one of his team mates to get hurt. Miko was angry though he not consumed by rage. His mind was now shaper, more focused on the objective. Suduce, subdue, surrender, seizure or sacrifice were the standards Miko knew best. Though this fairy was doing a very good job of crossing off the first three options for him. They could have been friends but they were making it very hard to love when they kept knocking down friends. Then again maybe that was the play in motion for this. He had not considered that this fairy might have a grudge against the Belmonts. For all he knew this was an ex girl friend of Alastair lashing out at his brother. For a moment he felt sorry for the fairy and the hardship they might have faced. Wanting nothing more than to be hugged and told it will be alright. To have a lap to lay on and let down their guard.

A smile crossed his face as he made it to the fork in the road. A fitting moment he thought to himself having just decided which path he planned to take just moments ago. "Clearly they want us to split up. Divide and conquer would make the most sense. I'd also expected both paths to be trapped. I also have confidence that the power room is rigged to explode. They might also be playing a game of defuse the bomb. The team in the control room would need to give hints to the group in the power room in order to know how to disarm the bomb. All one needs to do is think in terms of childish games and can start to figure out the bad guy." Miko then walked over to the wall and found a run of cables. He pulled them from the wall. Two of the remaining drones he attached one end to each of them. They then attached to his back leaving one near his side. "So how shall we split up?" He asked of the group as he checked his weapon.

T-intersection. Countdown timer: 12 mins

Sanda's HUD might be damaged, but her own cybernetics were still functioning. A quick check and she had the countdown timer reset. The less than 15 mins. Miercoles! They were running out of time. Sanda glanced down each hallway at the doors. Of course they were going to be booby trapped, but they didn't have any time to check or disarm then even if they wanted to.

Sanda had never know such a hopeless situation. She had done countess simulations of fights she couldn't win but this was different. In those simulations it was because the enemy was too numerals and the whole point was to see how long you could last in a fight before being overwhelmed. This was a fight against time and a madman. A madman who took a sick pleasurer in making others suffer and had been several steps ahead of them since the beginning. Millions would die if they didn't take control of the control room in the next few mins and stop those asteroids.

Time seemed to slow for Sanda. She felt as if this was the end. This would be the place where Sanda Hoshi died. Yes she had a ST backup, but would that backup really be her? Just because it would possess all of her memories, would it have her soul as well? Sanda had a lot to live for. She had a sister she loved, plus her niece and nephew. She was engaged to marry a man she loved with all her heart. Would an ST backup of her love them the same? Would Estrella and Caffran feel the same about a backup? She really didn't want to die.

But Sanda was a soldier. She was Ranger and Giretsu and she had taken a vow to serve the Star Army and all those under its protection. Even if it meant laying down her own life and her own happiness. Sanda prepared a brief, encrypted message to her sister and Caffran then send the data file to Sassa.

The doors were probably booby trapped, but there was no time to spare. Someone would need to sacrifice themselves. "Move now!" Sanda ordered. "Para Yamatai!" Sanda took off towards the door marked Control room at a dead sprint, using her suits thrusters for added speed and force. She raised her plasma revolver and fired three times at the lock and hinges of the door to weaken it half a heartbeat before she slammed into it at full force.

Hallway
System Material Exploitation and Recovery Center
White Ridge
Gashmere

A moment was all it took.

“Hoshi-Hei, wait!” Sassa called out, utilizing her voice in a departure from the telepathic transmissions she had sent before. Nevertheless, it seemed that the Ranger was intent upon charging into the fray and ending the mission, whether it was with her own death or the deaths of the terrorists.

The Infantry Neko had only a flash of a second to make the decision, but for her, that was all it took. Not only was she obligated follow Sandra’s order, but she needed to ensure that whatever the Ranger did, it was the latter outcome which came of it, and not the former. Her digital mind immediately revved into high gear as time slowed like molasses within her perception. If Sanda wasn’t going to slow down, all that was left to them was a prayer and a battlecry.

And yet, it seemed that was all they had to begin with.

Immediately, the Infantry Neko willed her Molly’s ICFS into activity and pulled her aether katana free from its place on her back, uncollapsing the weapon in the process. Suddenly, the ICFS carried her to Sanda’s side with terrifying velocity, distorting spacetime itself in the process as the Ranger shoulder-charged into the door…

“Yamatai Banzai!” Sassa howled out as she followed Sanda in throwing her weight against the door!

T-intersection. Countdown timer: 12 mins

Miko reached up and rubbed his hand from front to back of his helmet. This was a natural twitch of his to stroke his hair prior to doing something reckless. Though instead in this moment it was more important to act smart. The person pulling the strings of this little adventure wanted the team to feel hopeless, act out in mindless disregard. He checked the time and could tell the countdown had caused the urge to rush. He watched as Sanda and Sassa charged down the path towards the door leading to the control room.

Miko figured he'd have to decide on his own the path best to take. The one in charge did not really give a direct order, more a shout and run towards certain doom. Miko decided he'd go the route less traveled and head down the path marked power generation. Though unlike the others, he'd check for traps along the way and find a more gentle way to enter the power room. "Welp, just going to walk this way." He said to those remaining as he pointed down the hallway. He took a step forward, determined to see this through. Though not for Star Army, not for his pride or for the glory. This was a selfish reason, one he held most dear. It was nothing more than to see the smile on the face of his beloved Sora. This lit his soul on fire, a look of determination like none other. He took another step forward, the battle music playing in his mind. Shit just got real.

System Material Exploitation and Recovery Center
White Ridge
Gashmere

Power Generation

The large double doors were unremarkable in every way. Down to the "SAFETY FIRST - WEAR YOUR PPE" sign that was spray painted across them, they swung easily to the side granting access to the large auditorium sized room beyond. Two large geothermal power generators dominated the room as they hummed away, oblivious to the chaos taking place throughout the facility. There was no sign of tampering or enemy activity in the room. In fact the only sign of life at all came from the small office on the far wall. An elderly Kodian, as evidenced by the preponderance of silver fur, in a blue jumpsuit was reclined in an office chair. A pair of massive noise canceling headphones clasped snuggly on his head, and a long line of saliva ran from the side of his mouth as a sound like gravel being crushed signaled his massive snore which was audible even over the generators themselves.

Control Room

Sanda and Sassa burst through the double doors, the augmented strength of their power armored frames shattering them. Before them stood a long room. The walls to the left and right were lined with control consoles, each a semi circle with a large roatating chair anchored to the floor before it. A long trench ran the length of the room with more consoles back to back the length of the trench. At the far side, a raised platform stood overlooking the rest of the room, three larger consoles that were obviously designed to overlook the entire operation.

What stood out the most though, was the silent ranks of Kodian workers standing before them. All civilians, none had weapons or armor to speak of. They had been splattered with the radio active paint, some had visible chemical burns but did not seem to feel or be effected by it. They stood evenly spaced, jaws slack and hanging open. A dead, hollow look shone from their eyes. They took note of the entrance of the soldiers, and slowly began to advance towards them.

Control Room
System Material Exploitation and Recovery Center
White Ridge
Gashmere

"BANZA-” Sassa howled with renewed fury as she tore through the double doors with the Ranger by her side, shattering them by virtue of her enhanced strength and momentum. However, the sight of the Kodian civilians workers covered in radioactive paint gave the Infantry Neko sudden pause, her disciplined habits taking over as her computerized mind quickly processed the scene before her.

And yet, for all of her discipline and restraint, Sassa’s Nekovalkyrja blood sang for violence.

“Yamero! Stop, right now!” The Infantry Neko shouted at the top of her lungs in both Trade and Yamataigo, projecting her voice across the room via her Molly’s external microphone as she leveled her forearm towards the advancing group of Kodian civilians, her aether katana already primed to lash out. “Stop, or we will shoot!” She tried once more, her voice beginning to shake.

“Last warning! Not one step further!”

T Cross

"Shit!" He said as he heard Sanda before watching her charge, Sassa was right behind her as he saw Miko take a turn towards the other room. He looked between the two choices, before bringing up his rifle and commanding the armor to move toward the Power Generation room. He caught up to Miko at the doors as he looked up to see the Kodian sitting in the far control room. "We need to seize the room Miko, the others will take the control room at the other end...I feel like I have honestly made...a wrong choice, but this is all for the same thing right?" He would say before continuing forward, he would see there was still power to his thrusters. "Let's move and do our part!" He would say before moving forward into the power generator room, taking it slow and sweeping across the floor, his power armor was scorched, plastered with paint, and covered in mechanical scarring that would need to be fixed once this was all over.

He would hopefully make it up to that room with ease with or without Miko and he would see the Kodian with the large headphones before signaling Miko to help take care of this, non-lethal if at all possible. However, the objective was to get him away from the controls if at all possible, and he would press in and move to the Kodian, as long as there was not a booby trap or the Kodian moving he would rush in and kick the Kodian away from the controls and train his sights on the head of the big bastard. He was no longer worried about how he may be presenting himself...this was a critical moment...he just hoped Miko was backing him up and that Sanda and Sassa were able to get control of the main room.

As long as the Kodian was detained Zanven would speak, directing his words to the beast. "What the FUCK is going on here? Who is in charge, and how can we reverse the giant fucking rock coming for us?! You have one chance!" He would say as the barrel was inches away from the Kodain's furry forehead. "Miko, how is the room looking?"

Zanven Brax said:

T Cross

"Shit!" He said as he heard Sanda before watching her charge, Sassa was right behind her as he saw Miko take a turn towards the other room. He looked between the two choices, before bringing up his rifle and commanding the armor to move toward the Power Generation room. He caught up to Miko at the doors as he looked up to see the Kodian sitting in the far control room. "We need to seize the room Miko, the others will take the control room at the other end...I feel like I have honestly made...a wrong choice, but this is all for the same thing right?" He would say before continuing forward, he would see there was still power to his thrusters. "Let's move and do our part!" He would say before moving forward into the power generator room, taking it slow and sweeping across the floor, his power armor was scorched, plastered with paint, and covered in mechanical scarring that would need to be fixed once this was all over.

He would hopefully make it up to that room with ease with or without Miko and he would see the Kodian with the large headphones before signaling Miko to help take care of this, non-lethal if at all possible. However, the objective was to get him away from the controls if at all possible, and he would press in and move to the Kodian, as long as there was not a booby trap or the Kodian moving he would rush in and kick the Kodian away from the controls and train his sights on the head of the big bastard. He was no longer worried about how he may be presenting himself...this was a critical moment...he just hoped Miko was backing him up and that Sanda and Sassa were able to get control of the main room.

As long as the Kodian was detained Zanven would speak, directing his words to the beast. "What the FUCK is going on here? Who is in charge, and how can we reverse the giant fucking rock coming for us?! You have one chance!" He would say as the barrel was inches away from the Kodain's furry forehead. "Miko, how is the room looking?"

Click to expand...

The elderly Kodian remained reclined in the chair, his thunderous snoring seeming to drown out the din of the two massive generators in the room beyond. As Zanven trained his weapon on the Kodian, the Kodians right paw reached down to scratch at some itch in its groin, before going back to hanging over the arm of the chair. Completely oblivious to the presence of Miko or Zanven.

Fellwalker crew cabin
SMERC
Gashmere

Itami

He blinked after Nara apologized for holding and squeezing his hand. "No need to apologize, Nara. You were in pain and I was here to support you." After he strapped her in and not hearing from the medical officer, he looked back to Nara after she mentioned her inability to move due to the straps. "Yes, well, I am uninjured thanks to you, the least I can do is insure that you are protected while you recover." His primary concern right now was the protection of his friend. "From what it sounds like you should recover in half a day, Nara." He didn't mention his previous request of them sharing quarters for the duration of their mission on Gashmere.

77

The Mercenary opted to not join either of the groups and remained where he stood, with his gatling cannon ready in case of any surprises. He stood ready to aid either of the two teams. "I will stand by for any requests for aid, while insuring that the hallway remains clear for our escape back topside." His gatling was no longer revving, but he was ready to snap into action with shotgun and blade.

Power Generation

After seeing the state of the room, Miko walked behind Zan with his hands behind his head. It would seem they either forgot to trap this room or a surprise had yet to happen. Miko watched as Zan kicked the Kodian around the room on his roller chair. He could tell this Kodian could use some more steps in their life, too bottom heavy to be tipped over in his chair. "Welp, if this is one of the bad guys, they sure picked a real winner." He said as he walked over to the Kodian. He reached out and gave him a knock on the head. "Hello, anyone in there. Boss sent us down to check on the power generation." He said in a firm stern voice. "Don't mind the guy with a gun, some things happen so they sent a bodyguard." Miko said leaving out the fact he was in full armor and heavily armed himself.

Fellwalker crew cabin
SMERC
Gashmere
NARA

Nara nodded quietly folding her hands in her lap. "Thank you friend," she responded while her gaze fell down to where her hands were folded. "The fractured ribs should be repaired within twelve hours. However, the bruising will be a bit longer I am afraid." she paused nervously wringing her hands together a little. If her bones were going healed that soon she should give him the opportunity to opt out of his prior offer. Even though she would feel more comfortable quartered with someone she trusted. "Given that my ribs should be back to normal soon, you do not have to feel obliged to keep to your offer of sharing quarters." she flicked her eyes up to the side to watch his reaction. There she had given him an out in the event he wanted it.

Miko said:

Power Generation

After seeing the state of the room, Miko walked behind Zan with his hands behind his head. It would seem they either forgot to trap this room or a surprise had yet to happen. Miko watched as Zan kicked the Kodian around the room on his roller chair. He could tell this Kodian could use some more steps in their life, too bottom heavy to be tipped over in his chair. "Welp, if this is one of the bad guys, they sure picked a real winner." He said as he walked over to the Kodian. He reached out and gave him a knock on the head. "Hello, anyone in there. Boss sent us down to check on the power generation." He said in a firm stern voice. "Don't mind the guy with a gun, some things happen so they sent a bodyguard." Miko said leaving out the fact he was in full armor and heavily armed himself.

Click to expand...

The Kodian started awake, "Wha...whats going on? Did something happen to Jenny and Gene?" The Kodian glanced around the armored figures of Zanven and Miko, then back at the consoles. "Oh good, they are fine." The Kodian rubbed the back of his head with his paw, as he began to look at the two soldiers in his "office". "Series 4 Mindy, Aether Beam Saber-Rifle, nice. Can't Say I am a fan of your paint job. Now why are you in my facility, and further more, why are you in my office?" The Kodian asked as he righted his chair and plopped back down in it.

Control Room (Finally)

Sanda burst through the door of the control room, slightly surprised that it wasn't booby trapped. She instantly scanned the room. She might not have the digital mind of Sassa, but she was still able to take stock of the room quickly. And she did not like what she saw.

When they first entered the facility, Sanda had been concerned about the possibility of hostages. She knew that it was something that the enemy could hold over them but Sanda had resolved early on that any hostages had to be treated as a secondary priority. If not, then there was a risk to many many many more lives than a few hostages. She heard Sassa's warning as the Kodian's began to move towards them.

Sanda said nothing but raised her revolver and fired at the nearest one, headshot. She had to push the notion that they were hostages. They had to be treated as hostiles or there was no way she could complete her mission. Besides, these workers were doomed anyway. Those radiation burns would be fatal. She fired again, but knew her revolver didn't have the rate of fire needed. She switched the revolver to her left hand. Even if it was broken, her suit would still function. It would be excruciatingly painful and would probably destroy her arm, but it had to be done. She drew her straight silver blade, the one with the dragon engraving, her engagement gift from Caffran, in her right hand and moved into the workers. She would carve a path if she had to to the master control station at the top of the raised platform.