YE 46.2
After a few hours, the crew got an update from captain Aoba. He called everyone available to the wardroom for dinner and announcements. "Alright crew, we received word from the local Delsaurian government on Koenic that they've mobilized their forces and are conducting a raid on the old base where the NMX forces were holding Sanda. However, they are not experts in fighting the Mishhuvurthyar and have asked for our help in eliminating the threat once and for all. We're putting a team together to fight our way down through the ancient sewers to defeat the Mishhuvurthyar that is the source of all the...reanimated creatures there. We also have an update from Dr. Pink."
"Hello everyone," the ship's Chief Medical Officer waved, then brushed her hands through her plentiful pink hair. "I wanted to give you an update that Sanda is doing better and with the aid of hemosynth treatments I have been able to accelerate her healing so that she is now almost as good as new and can join you on the next mission."
Aoba looked at Poppy, "Apparently the local governor was impressed by Poppy and wants to see her again. Not only that, they want to discuss joining Yamatai with me to give them better protection against the Mishhuvurthyar threat. So let's show them the power of the Star Army in action and get these NMX forces off their back."
Yoshiro headed to the wardroom after talking with Trowa about the situation he felt like he put himself in. Trowa was right in that he was treating Sanda as if she was a civillian and he was taking too much responsibilty on to himself. He was scared when Sanda went missing and he was deseperate to save her and when he did, she was infected. When heard about the NMX, he was ready for a fight and was raring to go.
Within those two hours, Toidorno had finally taken the opportunity to 'wine down', (a phrase he had yet to learn was incorrect), and he'd changed out of his Clan vacuum suit, quickly bathed out some of the dust and blood, and had made himself presentable once more. He was honored to be included in the call to the wardroom, seating himself next to Joto Heisho Yoshiro in a show of support. He'd seen the distress the younger man had been struggling with, and Toidorno believed that simply being close to him might show him that his fellow crewmembers supported him, and felt he had done well. He listened quietly to the Captain's words, and then to Poppy's revelation to the crew.
Yayoi sat at the table, pleased with Poppy's report, some of which she'd already known. She actually smiled when she listened to Aoba's briefing. She looked forward to wearing her Mindy again. Especially to neutralize the Mishhu.
"Hai" The voice of the Resurgence's resident birb responded to the captians briefing, and consequent orders. Chiheisen had sat out the previous away mission to fill other security related roles, but the Elysian seemed keen on getting back out into the field. She idly cleaned up what was left on her plate, setting it to the side for the time being.
In the meantime, next to the Elysian was a rather hungry Kokoro Hayashi, chewing away at a rather stacked plate of food...
Pushing her food around on her plate without eating it, Mineko thought about the update to the situation on Koenic idly. She had been interested in the animated corpses, but knowing they were simply Mishhuvurthyar parasites infecting hosts meant her mind no longer had a riddle to puzzle. As such, she seemed listless and disinterested in what Aoba and Poppy had to say afterwards, only perking mildly at Sanda's status.
"Salmon night and I'm not hungry," Mineko moaned out. "Such is life."
Yoshiro grabbed some food and then sat back down to eat. He ate his usual meal that he ate at breakfast. "Time to go on the hunt to see the a future of a nation downtrodden by the Mishhu? I am in for that game." Yoshiro said and smiled "Time for blood to be shed and the enemy shall fear the sword that is Yamatai."
"So...." Cassie said, "More crawling through reptilian shit, eh? she laughed darkly. "Hunting the boss monster." She went to get some of the ginger-galzed salmon, rices, and a little of the spinach, finishing it with a dinner roll.
"This time you'll have Mindys instead of the Explorer armor." Trowa told Cassie. "The Explorer armor is good, but with a confirmed NMX presence we're not taking any chances."
"sounds good, and this time, I'll go down, instead of Yuri.. speaking of, I havent checked in with her" Yayoi said.
"Yuri was a great addition to the away team," Mineko said, breaking out of her aloof reverie as she remembered how Yuri's mother had pulled the medic out just when things started to go bad planetside. "You should be proud of her."
"The Governor's choice to seek our direct support is a positive sign." Toidorno reflected aloud. "They wouldn't ask us to take this risk if they did not trust us... To some extent. There is... also the factor that Yamatai's lives are risked, not their own..."
"What if it's a trap?" Pidole asked. "It's possible the sewers could be rigged with explosives or something," she pointed out. "They might know we're coming, now."
Yayoi actually smiled again when Mineko spoke of Yuri during the away mission. "I am pleased she was a great addition. to the away team" She said.
Toidorno thought of Pidole's concerns. The Hidden Sun Clan has been spending years attempting to weed out their own infestations of the Defilers in the western worlds of their territory. Pidole's worry was quite well-founded. "If we do not engage them, we would be offending the Governor... This may be a trap that... we must put our paws into." He looked at Cassie. "Reptilian shit that we must crawl into, perhaps." He seemed to realize that he'd said 'we'... How quickly he'd come to feel a part of this, despite beign of a separate nation, separate species... He closed his eyes for a moment, reflecting on that.
"We could have two groups if we know it's a trap. One that's bait and one that's prepared for such," Mineko said.
Judah folded his arms as he listened closely to what everyone was talking about, thinking about the potential dangers that where ahead of them, he gave a small nod in agreement. "That is true... Anything can be a trap."
"Almost anything," Mineko corrected, thinking of something in particular that brought a smile to her deadpan face.
"I could be the bait." Sanda said as she came into the wardroom. She had dressed and looked good, if a little tired.
"Should we start taking bets on if you end up in the infirmary tonight, then?" Mineko said after her short-lived smile had fallen.
"As fun as... bets are" Chiheisen raised an eyebrow at Mineko as the latter joked. The Elysian crossed her arms as she leaned back on her chair a little, eyes staring down at her now empty plate. "Perhaps comprising the away team with drones to scout ahead for us would be a wiser strategy- without putting the away team at risk of an ambush or- combusting..."
"Hermana, you sure you want that?" Yayoi asked Sanda.
"It was a joke," Mineko said to Chichi. "A bad one, but a joke meant to point out how little we need to put Sanda in the face of danger."
"Sanda, it is good to see you." Yoshiro said. He was glad that Sanda had gotten out of the med lab and back in to action.
"We can use drones as scouts," Euikoshi suggested. "Or people with current, updated mental backups," she shrugged.
Judah let out a chuckle as he unfolded his arms as he looked over at Euikoshi. "What if we just simply tied a rope to the bait and see what happens."
Sanda grinned at Mineko, showing that she the Mishhu hadn't taken her sense of humor. "The NMX think they have taken control of me." Sanda continued. "What if we made it look like I succeeded and the Resurgence just dissapeared. Then I returned to the planet. The NMX would think I had succeeded and they might try reaching out to me. Then I can find their base location. The away team can track me and move in if anything goes wrong and they're not convinced."
"Taisho Irim would have my head if I deliebrately crashed the ship," Aoba said, making a neck-slicing gesture. "But we could fake leaving the system."
What Sanda had proposed was absolutely insane and Yoshiro was smiling about it. "I can lead the away team if you wish, captain." Yoshiro said and ate some more. He was impresseed at the boldness of the plan that she was proposing .
Yayoi blinked at what Sanda was suggesting.
Toidorno steepled his paws together at Sanda's bold proposal. He couldn't help but be impressed. To walk back into danger so readily? She certainly seemed to exhibit the lightning that was her theme. He huffed thoughtfully, looking to the other crewmembers to see what they thought of the idea.
"They'd expect to be in communication with the parasite," Aoba pointed out. "We can't talk back to them in Mishhu telepathy," Aoba said. "...Can we?" he asked, looking at Euikoshi.
"When I was captured, I didn't see any actual Mishhu around. Just Delsaurians in NMX suits. They were speaking basic so that's how I knew I had been infected. We might not need to speak Mishhu, unless our spooks happen to know Mishhu." Sanda glanced over at Miniko and raised a tattooed eyebrow as if to say. Can you do that?
Kokoro stopped her haphazard chewing of turkey, almost choking on her food as Aoba asked the science officer about mishhuvurthyar communications. She tried to play off her sudden food choke as a happy little accident, nervously chuckling as she glanced at Erika, Mineko, and then Aoba in that order...
"Try not to die before the fight" Chiheisen shot at Kokoro with an eyeroll, making the latter growl back at her roommate.
Yayoi leaned back in her seat as she thought about what was being suggested.
"If any one ship in the fleet can, we can," Mineko said, eyes staying on Sanda as her thoughts stayed on the Nekovalkyrja choking on her food, Kokoro.
"If we're really going to set Sanda out as bait, I'd like to request Erika and I perform a preliminary insertion to create a base of operations on the planet outside of Qel'noran control just on the outskirts of Fornox City,"Mineko asked, head turning to Aoba as she asked her question.
"My shuttle is a stealth shuttle. We can sneak the shuttle out and let it bring the away team down as the ship appears to leave," Beryl suggested.
Trowa smiled. "We can even use a few explosives to make masks the ships deparcher to a make it appear that we have in fact been destroyed. Might not look good to our Delsaurian allies, but it would increase Sanda's chances to make contact."
"If nothing else, perhaps removing the ship would make their bikers feel safe to emerge again," Kalena said. She had been the one shooting at them from the skies in the rescue.
"Judah, are you interested in being the medic for the away team this time?" Poppy asked the new medic, hoping to give him some real experience in the field.
Judah looked over towards Poppy as he gave her a nod, his eyes lit up in excitement at the oppurtunity. "I'd love to be part of the away team!"
"Very well. If you find yourself needing help, just call me," Poppy told Judah.
"I got a few scores to settle with those guys. My k/d is down because of how they cheated." Yoshiro said like an angry gamer and laughed, feeling like his old self.
"If we wish to make the explosion story convincing, we could seek help from the Governor in... creating our..." he struggled to think of the word. "Our false tale." He wished he knew a word like 'charade' in Yamataigo. "The Governor could release a statement, or a video."
Yayoi glanced over as yuri quietly enters the wardroom, grabs some food and scurries out. Before Yayoi focused on the convorsation again.
"I would like set up a remote off-site base of operations if the Resurgence is leaving the system," Mineko said.
"Granted," Aoba nodded. "It might make sense to operate out of the shuttle," he added.
"How long would that take?" Sanda asked. She had gotten a plate of food but wasn't wolfing it down in her usall manner which spoke to those that noticed such things that she was taking it slower than her normal self.
"Alright, I'll start setting up equipment and fabricating anything we don't have," Mineko said, setting her uneaten plate of salmon into her hands and standing.
"Very well," Aoba nodded. He put his food into a to-go tray and headed to his captain's cabin for a quiet dinner.
Yayoi glanced towards Sanda, and took note of her slow eating.
Mineko looked down at Sanda's plate, saying "Who'd have thought all it would take to act more like me is a worm in your belly, huh?"
Toidorno watched as the Captain left, and then shifted his attention to the others at the table. "Fight well, on the planet." he said, knowing that they certainly would. "I think your... trick is a fine one. It should make your enemy off-balance."
Sanda looked at Mineko in mock hurt. "Ouch, you're saying I'm acting like a Neko? That cuts deep for a Nepleslian born girl. You need me to come help you get things ready for your makeshift base? You know, carry the heavy stuff for you?"
"Wouldn't want you to waste your energy," Mineko said tersely. A soft smile threatened to push up, but didn't quite make it all the way.
- - -
YSS Resurgence
Ke-T7 Stealth Shuttle "Beryls of Fun"
Once again, cargo specialist Beryl had set up her shuttle for the away team to use on their mission. She had secured a mobile console to one corner as an impromptu workstation and added a chair for it, and she had loaded the shuttle with enough supplies for a week of combat and/or life in the desert. Two rows of seating were available for the away team, and the shuttle had several armor storage ranks and Mindy munitions aboard, as well as antennas and communications gear for the mini base. It would be a bit crowded.
Yoshiro was in the shuttle prepping his weapons and sharpening his salvage sword. He was checking his loadout and ammunition for his weaponry, which consisted of a GP12, his sword he got as a gift from Salvage and his NSP. He made sure that his armor was armed with missiles and a rocket launcher with extra rockets.
Yayoi checked her Mindy's weapon once last time as she sat in the shuttle.
Looking like a true VIP's entourage, Mineko was outfitted with some piece of equipment on every part of her person. She even had a hand each on an anti-jammer unit and a comms device to keep them steady during the shuttle ride and had employed Erika to do the same.
Chiheisen sat down after entering the shuttle, the Elysian closing her eyes as she finished tying her hair up into a halo braid. She slid the helmet on, locking it into place.
Kokoro wasnt going to be taking a heavy combat role for this mission, but even she was in her own, freshly requisitioned Mindy 4! The Nekovalkrja was too busy fascinating over her new Kalamari attachment on her suit, using two of her Mindy's tentacle attatchments to play around with her backup NSP- quite skillfully.
Judah sat down after entering the shuttle and taking his seat, he went through his weapons and double checking he had his medical bags for all the correct items in them. He looked around as he watched the others prepare.
Yoshiro noticed Kokoro as he put on his armor. "Hey Koko, you doing okay?" He asked as he climbed into his armor. He was ready to play his saved state and then improve his score. "I hope you are ready to go. You take it easy and you'll make it through, okay?"
"Hai! Ready!" Kokoro straightened herself up as Yoshiro spoke to her, accidentally dropping the NSP she was spinning around with her mechanical tentacle appendages... "oops.."
"Glad my battle buddy is coming down this time." Sanda said to Yayoi as she brought her gear on board. For the moment, Sanda was still in her Explorer uniform. It might look better if she reapeared in the same clothes she had on when she was captured.
Yayoi glanced over to Sanda "While I was told Yuri performed well, I dont want to take chances, and really want to kill Mishhu" Yayoi commented to her sister.
Once everyone was prepared and ready, Beryl sealed up her shuttle and they quietly and gently drifted from the YSS Resurgence's shuttle bay into space above the planet Koenic. Aoba executed the plan, creating a large explosion and then warping the ship out of the area.
"Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war!!!" Yoshiro shouted and laughed. "Let the enemy come and be slayed by my hand and know to fear the blades of Yamatai!" He had to earn his callsign after all.
"I can't wait to let my dogs slip out at the end of the night when I take off this armor," Mineko murmured, looking at her feet as she clinked the heels of her armor together.
Yayoi glanced to Yoshiro as he started his usual theatrics.
Chiheisen furrowed her brow as she quickly turned off her Mindy armor's sound input so she didnt have to hear Yoshiro yell. She sent Yayoi a message over her armors communications system. 'Let me know when he stops screeching about death to the enemy'
"Do you have to yell inside the ship?" Sanda asked irritably as she rubbed her ear.
"Sorry Sanda. Just glad to see you back." Yoshiro said with an embarassed look on his face. He was happy about all that had transpired after the talk with Trowa and Yuri.
"save the shouting for the enemy, Poet" Yayoi commented outloud.
"Of course, Yayoi." Yoshiro said with a grin as he put on his helmet. Slapping the side of his helmet to make sure his faculties were working.
"Guys, it's the coolest thing that happens, getting to hear this guy scream battlecries. Unless you're about to do something more epic, please don't stop him from being as cool as he is," Mineko muttered as she looked at the wall, embarassed to be saying as much.
"Let him screem all he wants to in battle. We're still on the ship." Sanda retorted.
"What happened to your pre-game battle music drowning out everything around you?" Mineko asked, confused. "You're more focused, too... Look at that, you Neko in training, you!"
Sanda made a face. She did do that didn't she. "Hump." Sanda snorted then grinned as she stuck out her tounge at Mineko , who couldn't help but laugh back and shake her head. Sanda turned back to Yoshiro. "Sorry... For snapping. Just some jitters after the last mission."
Slowly and without drawing attention to itself, Beryl's shuttle made its way down to the surface, coming to to a stop in the barren sands of the hot deserts some distance away from the city of Fornox. As soon as the door opened, Cassie rushed out and took up a defensive position, scanning for activity. "Man...we should have brought our own airbikes," she complained after a moment. "Looks clear in this area. Euikoshi made us a map with routes to the sewers and the enemy base, which is probably still getting raided by the locals."
"It's all right Sanda. I know how you feel. I admit I can be annoying at times." Yoshiro said.
Yayoi silently walked out as she prepared herself for battle.
Chiheisen stepped outside and took a defensive position, the Elysian using her LATR's scope to scout out their surroundings along with Cassie.
"Time to walk across the desert like the movies," Cassie shrugged, getting up from her position and grabbing her rucksack full of supplies and two large canteens of water
"If you walk without rhythm, you won't attract the worm." Yoshiro said as he walked out and smiled
"worms?' Yayoi asked confusedly.
"It is just something I heard in a movie once." Yoshiro said to Yayoi.
"Go to Mevar sometime, they have real Mishhu sand worms," Cassie warned Yoshiro. "If we don't kick the NMX off soon, maybe this world's next."
= = =
OOC: JP by Wes, Ame, Cowboy, Charaa, Sunny D, Yoshiro, Liza, Soban, Zanven
Hollander as guest character Toidorno Sejgui
