RP: YSS Mikomi Mission 3: Part 2-The Caves of Bowhordia

[Sypher]

Henako had received his bunk. Slowly he moved down the corridor towards the mess hall. He was still thinking about the little adventure him and Carlos had had. Now that was scary, fun, but scary. He opened the door to the mess hall and was greeted with the most amazing smell. The smell of food, delicious food. Surprisingly he could smell each main course and they blended very well. He walked over to the table near the back, where Carlos was sitting. There where a few others with him that he didn't know. He hadn't been at the first inspection, due to his deep though and slight stomachache, so had missed all the talk. The only thing he knew about the ship was that it was captained by a man called Bowman. He wasn't even sure if that was his first or second name. He picked up some food, and silently sat down opposite Carlos, or near enough. "Hey, Carlos. Where is our Captain, I should go and meet him." this was all said in a quite tone, as he wasn't in the usual happy mood.

Kestral sat at his table. Deep in thought, with his chopsticks in hand. He watched Rufus leave and thought about standing up there and then to greet the troops. However he wasn't to sure what to say firstly. Secondly he wanted to eat. Though he hadn't quite gotten round to that part as he was still thinking. "Suzi how long until we reach this planet Rufus told me about. Does it have a name?" Kestral asked.

"No sir. There is no record of in on file, so to be honest you can call it what you like. We are now in it's orbit. There is a strange energy signal coming from the planet. It is quite strong. What would you like me to do Kestral." She appeared with this final sentence as this now made it more personal.

Kestral looked at her. "Well give me a minute to give a speech and then let's head down to the planet. Bowhordia that can be its name.... For the time being." He smiled, and Suzi disappeared. Standing up slowly he picked up a glass, and repeated the same exercise Rufus had done only five minutes ago. "People, can I have you attention please. Right well firstly, for those who do not know me, my name is Chusa Kestral Bowman. Captain of this ship." He took a slight pause and looked around the room. "Secondly, i would like to tell you about our new assignment. We have been asked to explore Bowhordia. None of you would have heard of this planet, I hadn't for a matter of fact until five minutes ago. The name has just been made for it as well. There has been odd energy reading from the planet, and out task is to find out what it is. Star Army have sent out one team before us, and they have not been seen since. I have told you this only because I want you to know the importance of this mission, and dangers as well. This should be an adventure." he took a deep breath and examined the crowd once more. "We are now orbiting Bowhordia, and will be landing there shortly. Please be ready, as we do not know what is there. So suit up and get your rifles and pistols ready. Move out." He smiled at them all, and walked out of the room. "Suzi begin landing process."

Henako looked at the man. He wasn't too big, about his height actually, but he could see he was battle scared. "Right well, we better get ready. This sounds fun." His whisper had disappeared, and he almost felt like shouting, he had wanted to get into the action." He moved to his room, and prepped his weapons. Ready to rumble.

Suzi followed Kestral's order, and began the descent on to Bowhordia. The winds where strong up here, and the energy source grew bigger on the radar. She was very confused as to what it could be.

 

[Kayto Styles]

"Yes lets all rush to an energy signature we know nothing about after another team has gone missing......" Drawing a circle in the air to draw up a computer terminal Kato called out. "Suzi what variations of this energy signal can be closely related to known SA signals. List alphabetically and make sure there aren't any subharmonic signal being transmitted on the planets surface preferably anywhere close to where we are landing."

Keying up multiple functions still sitting at the dinning table yet with his back to the food eyes scanning over a screen of information about the planets surface and atmosphere. "Also triangulate where the energy signal is coming from and what potential threats it may cause to electronics and organic material."

 

[Karuna]

Saeki quietly excused herself from the dining table and flitted off to her room, keying her entry code into the door lock and slipping inside. Once within she threw off her stuffy formal clothes and let out a groan of relief. She hated her formal uniform with a passion!

She flopped down naked on the bed and stared up at the ceiling for awhile, thinking of nothing in particular. Her hands went up behind her head and she drew in a deep breath, letting it out slowly. Maybe she'd die this time? It seemed like a tremendously dangerous mission. Unknown power sources, disappearing rescue parties? She had a one-way ticket to pain!

"I suppose I ought to get ready..." she jumped out of bed and pulled on some underwear, then her service uniform. Exiting her room, she wandered down the halls until she came to the armoury, picking herself out a GP-12B and clutching it close to her body. Locked and Loaded!



Meanwhile, Carlos sat with Henako in the mess, picking lightly at his food. He wasn't very hungry at the moment, rather, he was pissed off at their former interim-captain. He managed a grin for Henako and motioned up at Kestral, then returned to picking idly at his food. Finally as the group broke up, Carlos went on his way to change back into his service uniform and gather his things. He had set up temporarily in the mindy bunks, for lack of a better place. Pulling on his uniform, he checked the load on his Type-28 NSP. More than ample. He then went over his medical bag...everything looked to be in order. He slung it over his shoulder, holstered his pistol, and stepped out into the hallway.

 

[Klarth]

As the orders were issued, Natalie inmediatly headed to the MINDY bay, not before thanking the meal she just had. Taking out her katana from the saya while walking, she grasped the blade with her left hand fingers while looking her smilking face reflection on it. Then she brought out a skull patterned handkerchief from her belt and softly passed it through the beautifully crafted silver blade.

She brought back the weapon to its shelter, all psyched up. "Damn... this is going to be a hot one!"

Putting her helmet on and getting inside her Phalanx, she said thru the communicator. "This is Dawning, i am already in position sir, waiting for orders. Mister de la Vega, i still have your pin, i will give it back later. Natalie over."

 

[Abwehran Commander]

Entering the Mindy Bay after the white-haired Geshrin, Masako directly headed over towards the M2s. Stripping as she walked over to them, the young neko was practically naked by the time she reached her target Mindy. Pulling the helmet off, she opened and then slipped herself into its fleshy core, shivering slightly in content as it closed around her and became a second skin.

Slowly placing the helmet over her head, Masako began to check her systems before opening her comm. "Kurohoshi Masako, all system green."

 

[Rei]

That answers that. Eve had thought, making the brief trip to the starboard armor bay, watching the others trapse to the main stores of armors on-board the Mikomi. For the second time that day, she quickly stripped and slipped into her Kylie. I guess Lillian will have to wait. she pulled her helmet on, glad to have arrived before that soldier, Techard.

A calm, conditioned feeling went through the teen as her systems booted online.

"AIES....online,
AIES-FCS...nominal,
Life support..operational,
Seals...nominal,
CFS...online,
PSC...online,
Active-camo...nominal. Good evening, Sergeant Yamazaki."

The darkly toned armor set several centimeters above the deck, and she remained in standby facing the rear of the scout's exit, centered between the bulkheads. Adventure? I thought it was "foolhardy" not "adventure" when one got excited about going after a contingent of fellow soldiers that up and probably died.. the Geshrin thought, wondering if her small home would be ground into some planet again.

 

[Sypher]

Daduar continued on to watch the scene and then his attention was drawn to the man who had just given the speech. He took in his features and then approached. Stepping in front of the man, he snapped to attention and saluted "Chui Daduar Cometblade reporting in for duty, sir!"

Kestral still stood in the place where he had just given the speech. They where beginning landing process, and everything, for the moment, seemed fine. Another man moved over to him, after his introduction Kestral smiled. This was his second in command. "Chusa Kestral Bowman, nice to meet you Daduar. Please call me Kestral. Right well, at the moment, all I need people to do is get ready. Where have you come from?" Kestral asked politely. He had had two female XO, and the third was a male. Third time lucky he supposed.

Daduar felt a sudden wave of relaxation flood over his body; at least this newest commanding officer wasn't a tight-ass about saluting and addressing. "Well then Kestral, I just arrived aboard the Azalea and before that I was onboard of a Arashi Escort for about three weeks and even before that, I was stationed on an Iori Star Fortress for over a year and a half." while drawing out his words to speak, Daduar relaxed his form a bit and eased his tone. "May I ask about any information you may have not divulged to any of the lower crewmen about the nature of our upcoming mission?" those words were spoken in a whisper so, hopefully, the other crewmembers would not hear them.

Kestral looked directly at Daduar, he was glad the man relaxed, he could see he was less tense now. "Well to be perfectly honest, there is not mush more information to tell. That is all. You see I like to tell the crew everything I know, then we have no secrets, and it is easier." He smiled and looked at the crewmembers who where quickly leaving to get ready. "We don't know what is down there, and have only just received a message that the troops who went there, less than a year ago, did not return. There is the situation." There was a slight frown on his face as he was not sure now what to expect form this planet.

Well, as Kestral continued to speak, Daduar smiled a bit. He was glad to have a kind and honest commander this time, unlike the less-than-friendly on the Iori he was first stationed at. "It's good to see such an honest man in the military these days, along with being kind and courteous. I'm guessing that we are preparing to go in a little short while, then? Also, one thing that comes to mind is my height, are there going to be any power armours that I can use on this away mission?" the prospect of combat brought a smile to his face and then he awaited a reply from Kestral.

Kestral smiled at him, and was in one of those situations where you are not sure what to say. So he nodded. "Yeah, I literally just gave the order for Suzi, our AI, to begin descent on the Bowhordia." He looked at the Daduar. "And of course." He laughed. "We have a Phalanx for you here. In the mindy bay with the other's." People where still moving in the background. "Will you be joining me now to get ready?" Kestral asked.

Kestral beamed at the man. He could almost see the excitement in his eyes. "Right the sorted then." He walked after then man, and caught up with him after a second or two, pasted him and led the way to the Mindy bay. It only took him a minute, after being on the ship for a while he had learnt all areas, like the back of his hand. There is you Phalanx. It even has you name on. Suzi must have done that just now. He smiled, and walked over to his Phalanx. "Everything ok?" This was directed at Daduar, although there where other's in the room.

Daduar beamed with happiness as he saw his own personal suit of power armour engraved with his own name on it, he then turned around to speak to Kestral for a moment. "Everything is perfect!" he exclaimed. "Now a quick question, do I put some sort of body glove or do I just strip down and wear what I was born with?" the answer to the question was already known, but he just wanted to project a bit of humour to the crew. After he finished talking, Daduar walked back to his room and quickly changed from his dress uniform to a bone white flight suit and hung up his uniform neatly and then came out. Daduar then stepped up to his Phalanx and put on the helmet then stepped inside, now ready for the mission to begin.

Kestral laughed at this comment. Daduar was deffinatly better with humour than his past two XO's. He seemed friendly and polite, and Kestral loved the way he was trying to get on with the crew. Kestral turned round to face his suit, and got ready to climb into it. Placing the helmet on his head, he stepped in to the Phalanx. "Now i am ready to rumble." He smiled at Daduar. "You know I am originally Infantry." Kestral stated. "Though I had Power Armour training, and once I got here, we became a Power Armour Squad, so have been working on my skills with them." Kestral wasn't sure why he had said all of this, but he didn't care he was having a laugh.

A roar of laughter came through his loudspeaker as he began to move around more in the Phalanx. "Well, let's hope that we'll have much better luck then the last group of people to go down there, eh?" A brief check of all system functions assured him that this power armour was ready for action and put his mind at ease. "Well, if all doesn't go our way we can always make back with their women, eh?"

Kestral nearly fell to the floor with laughter. Not at the comment about the last group, but about their women. "It's true, what if the last group aren't dead, they are just having to much of a relaxing time to respond to their calls." He beamed at Daduar. Did the final cheques on the Phalanx and stood still. "All done. I am going to go and wait in the Bridge, and see how things are going. You can come as well. This way we can speak to Suzi about this energy force." Kestral moved out of the Mindy bay, and arrived at the bridge not two minutes late. "Ok Suzi, let's get this show on the road."

Daduar followed short in tow behind Kestral to the bridge. The form of the Phalanx slumped a little as he waited to hear about the mysterious energy force. He then began to test the full range of movement on the suit, just so he could understand its limitations.

"Suzi can you tell me what this energy force is?â€

 

[Sypher]

Tom Freeman, cook extraordinaire, gleefully threw all the used dishes into the kitchen sink before running off to get into a Phalanx powerarmor. On the way, he stopped to pick up his standard-issue pistol, as well as a small hand axe for utility purposes. He also grabbed some of his tools, just in case. "Looks like its dinner and a movie, folks!"

Daduar continued to stare around the bridge for another moment or two and then left to return to the Mindy Bay. In two minutes, he was there, waiting to take off into the unknown. Though still widely unfamiliar with the use of this power armour, he was getting used to it slowly.

Yamazaki rotated her rail gun, testing the firing arc. Once she had found the system was nominal, she finally reported, "Sergeant Yamazaki, starboard bay. Standing by." a nagging thought reminded her she might not even leave the bay again, as she waited for a reply.

Saeki sighed and trotted on over to the starboard bay, standing in the doorway with abit of a helpless look on her face. She held her tools close and her rifle closer, a frown staining that cute little angelic face. "Uhm...hello?"

Roken finished his food and made his way to the starboard armour bay running past one of the personnel inside the door, "You lost?' Roken asked.

Kestral stood on the bridge. He was still looking at Suzi. The transmission from Eve had just been received. "Ok, Eve stand by, we will be in Bowhordia's atmosphere very soon. Out." He replied quickly as he watched Suzi bring the ship closer to Bowhordia's land. "Everything ok Suzi?" He asked.

"All is well Captain. We will be landing in approximately ten minutes." She looked back at him and gave he a smile. This reassured Kestral slightly, however he was worried also. "I will make my way to the mindy bay. Please get the ST backup's of those you need it." Kestral smiled and walked out.

"I can't say that I don't like these little powerarmor. I look so freakin' awesome." Tom said to nobody in particular, striking a cool little pose with his rifle up. "Tom Freeman. Action hero."

"Will all people who need ST backup's make their way to the meddy bay please. Right now!" The cut of and appeared in the meddy bay, preparing the equipment for those who needed. Slowly they came in and within five minutes all St backups where safe and in to different file.

Daduar came back, it had been a simple process, no violation involved, although the thought of getting an ST backup did make you think there would be. There was a copy of him in case he decided to get killed during the away mission. In a moment, he put the helmet back on and stepped into his Phalanx, doing another systems check to make sure he was ready to go.

"Oh, hello Sergeant.." Eve spoke through her intercom to Saeki. Turning to Roken as she entered, she reminded him, "You'll go from the port bay from now on, so hurry over, Techard." the suit turned around. "We'll be in atmosphere in a few minutes, Sergeant. Your MINDY is over there,â€

 

[Abwehran Commander]

After a soul back-up, the following dive from the Mikomi had left Masako feeling a little bit stunned at how much she couldn't see with her sensors. Following in formation, she landed with the others. She was armed with a GM-06 in her hands, a GM-05 in her back hardpoint, a survival kit taped to her right thigh, and her Type 28A Service Pistol taped to her left thigh.

Landing behind a boulder a couple meters away from the others, she tried speaking through her communications system...only to find out she could only talk to herself. Sighing, she opened her loudspeaker. "Hello? Can you hear me?" she called out after the conclusion of the others fight against the tripod gun.

 

[Rei]

"I'll go sir." Eve radioed, nearing the XO's unit in ACS. "Though I'm less likely to be seen." she reminded the man, hoping he was planning on making himself a target for her to pick something off. Her sensors continued to scan as the intricate AIES system fed her information about relative temprature and gravity on the planet. She had a flashback of Tami, but it was conditonally pushed to the back of her mind as she floated with the air, mimicing it's color.

 

[Klarth]

After the tripod fire, Natalie stood 25 meters from Kestral, deploying her LOTUS drones and making them orbit in a 2 meters radius around her power armor, to scan low frequency resonances in the ground. Nothing out of the extraordinary appeared in the radar, though, so she left the scan in passive mode

"Count me for that, sir. Unless you want me to do something else"

 

[Karuna]

Saeki stood on the outskirts of the group, the adrenaline subsiding a bit and her cool and rational side taking over. She held the beam rifle to her chest, looking around with sharp eyes for any potential threats to pop. She was silent, acting as something of a rear-guard for the group as they worked out who would scout ahead.

 

[Tom]

"Well, that was... interesting." Tom said, relieved that the combat was over. "Guess I'm no action hero. We'll have to stick with Tom Freeman: Delicate Engineer."

He smiled. The young Geshrin was strange indeed, being able to relax like that so quickly after being shot at. Perhaps it was the strange naivety he possessed-- the feeling that, as long as others were with him, everything would turn out fine.

One could feed off social interaction even in times of crisis.

 

[Sypher]

Henako had followed them down. He hadn't uttered a word since he had spoken to Carlos. To be honest he was nervous. He had been in combat once, which had been in one of the brawls, so it wasn't that big. Oh my God, what should I do. He could feel the fear rising in him. No, I can't let it win. NO Henako fell to his knees and whispered the word. Then it was gone, he had battled with it for a short while, but then it was gone. He felt fine, he almost wanted to run out and fight anything that came at them. He was only about two metres away from Kestral; he was behind one of the many boulders. "Sir, I will come. I haven't done much so far, and I feel like I should really get involved."

Kestral was looking over the bolder he was behind. He couldn't see anything, apart from more boulders, and the ridge up ahead. "To be honest, if anyone went I would prefer to go. I am your leader, and I feel like I should take this first one forwards. Daduar, what do you think?" he looked back at the men who where behind him. Kestral hadn't had time to make sure everyone got out of the ship, and had now noticed that there where people missing. "Where is Natalie? Carlos? Is there anyone else?" He was struggling to remember, as his mind wasn't totally focused on them, more on what was around them.

 

[raz]

Nick slowly opened his eyes slowly as if he'd just woken up after a good night's sleep. Placing his hand on the sandy ground next to him, he hefted himself upright, leaning against the rock that had undoubtedly stopped his rolling body. For a few moments, the young Geshrin sat there in the yellow sand, pondering what had just happened as if he'd forgotten something important. He'd never actually worn one of these suits since training, much less jumped out of a moving warship amidst fire from an unknown enemy.

"Damn that was a rough landing,â€

 

[Klarth]

"I am here, captain. 25 meters away from your eight. I´m just running a couple of scans to the ground, sir." - She said by the loudspeaker, narrowing her LOTUS drones radius to 1 meter and copiously checking her scan logs for anything out of normal.

A choppy subspatial message came abroad on one unusual channel of Natalie communications...

This ...s Ni...las Sai..., repeat ... Nicholas Saiga, be a...sed ... I am moving ...wards your position

... She quickly picked the message direction, and it was not far from her position and directed her rifle aim to it. "Nicholas Saiga... hmm, i don´t remeber who is him" she mumbled.

Then answered by the same channel "Nicholas Saiga, this is Natalie Dawning, power armor pilot of the YSS Mikomi of the Star Army of Yamatai. Hold your position until i reach you. Be adviced that any hostile attemps will be subjugated."

Natalie opened a radio communication with her teammates "Natalie here. i am moving towards an unchecked hostility subspace communication. Cover my six. Over"

 

[Sypher]

Suzi hadn't had time to answer Kato's questions. So she came back to him as soon as they where near orbiting Bowhordia. "No there aren't any recognised signals within the energy force. I have never felt anything like this before. I cannot get a lock on the signal, therefore I do not know exactly where it is coming from. This is very strange. It seems that this force can manipulate electronics, however there is no effect to flesh. Does that answer your question?" Suzi got back to dodging the energy beams that where headed for the Mikomi.

The troop where all hidden there, Kestral had received the message from Natalie, and heard that another crewmember was coming in from behind them. Nicholas Saiga, he had read his file." There was a sudden burst of fire from in front of them; it was another gun, placed slightly farther away from the previous. Kestral looked out to see the gun fire another burst. He moved just in time, as the beams went straight past his face. Henako was not so lucky. He was directly behind Kestral, he hadn't seen gun fire, and only just saw the beams when Kestral moved out of the way. He moved suddenly but was not quick enough. He was hit in the face. Lucky it was only a glancing shoot, so it only cut the skin above his cheekbone. There was a lot of blood though, and Henako dropped to the floor. Kestral saw him drop, and fired back at the machine, he heard other's fire, and straight away the thing blew up, like the other one had. Kestral moved over quickly to the officer. Named Henako Kusaki. "Are you alright?" Kestral asked feeling slightly guilty.

Henako looked up at Kestral who was leaning over him. "Yeah just a flesh wound. I'm alright Captain." He mad an attempt at smiling, but it hurt so he stopped.

"Right, you going back to the ship. I know it's not bad, but I want it to be checked out." He smiled down at him, trying to make the man feel a little bit better. "We will be going on a reconnaissance mission shortly so people will be here. If all is ok, you can come back down. This is a direct order."

Henako looked at his leader. "Yes Sir." he didn't want to go back to the ship, but he knew it was for the best. "Are you sure I can't just wipe it clean, and get back...."

"I have given you a direct order, will you please fulfil it." Kestral didn't like getting angry with his officers, but he felt this one was needed. Henako got up to one knee, and saluted. "Yes sir, will be back shortly." He smiled, and shot of from the floor. Destination: the YSS Mikomi. He managed to get a lock on the ship, flying the Phalanx easily up to it, the airlock opened and he stepped in. "Thank you AI. Can I get some medical attention please."

 

[Rei]

"Teichou, I think the PHALANX suits are too visible.." Eve added. She hadn't even had to move since she took up position hovering motionlessly above the gathered soldiers. "It would be unsound to put you in that situation with other options." she reminded the man. The Sergeant Major and I could do it, I bet! she thought to herself, scanning over her sensor reports.

 

[Klarth]

When Natalie finished her radio message, she started to move towards the direction that the subspace message came from, having now her drones doing a cilindrical motion around her just in case she had to activate her shields up. She kept her feet on the ground and the movements slow; an attack can come from any direction.

Suddendly, the firing from where Kestral was made her to fly to the objective. It was a man, wearing Star Army uniform, so Natalie used full throttle to stand in front of him, crouching and pointing her SIAR rifle and drones to him

"I´m gonna take you to the group. If you have any problems, now it is the time to spit it out" she said by the loudspeker

 

[Rei]

She did not just do that. the pilot thought with a twinge of annoyance. "I'll get her sir." Eve offered, jetting after the haphazard Geshrin running in ACS. She came upon the pair of Phalanx armors. "Stand down, AIES ident as friendly. This area is too hot, we'll talk about your conduct when we have the time, soldier!" the young voice snapped at Dawning. An invisible arm grabbed Saiga, hefting his unit airborne as she dragged him back towards the away team.