Laderen Corridor, Chudan
The sheets of metal went skidding along the ground after the kick, although the Vekimen just trampled over them or along the walls and ceiling, undeterred. The aliens were stunned easily enough, collapsing in a heap with each NSP shot or blast from the android's similar weapons. But this only slowed them down enough for the team to avoid being completely overrun, and distracted them long enough to run right into the Vekimen firing squad that had circled around behind them.
Without her CFS or barriers up, the heavy weapon did a number on Alexis at such close range. She went down in a heap, her suit blaring warnings inside her head. The midsection of her Mindy had been pierced in several areas, and her own midsection underneath wasn't doing so well either. Hemosynth from both the armor's lining and her own body was oozing across her suit. If she remained still for a while it might be able to seal over enough for her to try standing, if she was careful. Thankfully the helmet was intact, and her air supply seemed non-Vekimen-scented for the moment.
Two armed Vekimen stood guard over the fallen Operative, while the large cannon adjusted its aim to point at the android. Skade had thrown down what they could identify as weapons, but it had shot at them from its hands, so they were understandably wary. Nearby, the team could hear the Vekimen examining their fallen comrades, as well as retrieving the pair from the crates in the storage room. They seemed to be aware that the fallen ones were all still breathing and apparently uninjured, even if they weren't entirely sure how the intruders had accomplished that. Once the Vekimen were sure the android was no longer a threat, the masked officer cautiously approached the group. As the fighting here died out, everyone present could hear a commotion elsewhere in the station, the Vekimen seeming more sensitive to it than the away team.
Main Corridor, Jodan
The first infected Vekimen that had approached them went down hard as Edtoto plowed into it. It at least succeeded in wrenching Sara's rifle out of her grip, tendrils flinging it down the corridor. It didn't have time to do much else, as the heavy suit crashing into it crunched it into the floor, the mass of tendrils ripped out at the base as those metal jaws chomped at it. The remains of the Vekimen twitched pitifully under the armored one. Sara found the other infected rushing her were only slowed down by stun bursts, but would start to drop if heavier fire was used. However, they were still at risk of damaging the station.
Ingrid could tell they were surrounded easily enough, as infected began to pour in from every direction, even the way they had just come. They fell to shots from her LASR, but there was always another body to replace the last, which seemed to be a running theme for Vekimen attacks. Yuko and Kiko were a bit slower to react, as grasping tendrils latched onto their rifles as well, trying to rip them free. Other tentacles sent them to the ground, starting to drag the pair away from the rest of their group, into the mass of infected Vekimen.
YSS Heartbreaker, Bridge
Sally could see the various feeds from the crew members crackling, turning to static one by one. "Taii, they're moving too far into the station. We've lost contact with Jodan entirely. Chudan...um..." Every few seconds a grainy image would flash across the screen Usagi was inspecting, from Skade's viewpoint. A sea of unfriendly Vekimen faces. "Well, Chudan has certainly made contact with the uninfected Vekimen."
"Have Gedan change position to the Laderen airlock for possible extraction. They might be able to boost communications to Chudan as well." The Captain looked up from the staticy images to signal for Rin's attention. "Ittou, contact the Seisenkyo and relay a message to Star Army Command. The Taisho will want to be made aware of our successful contact with the Vekimen...as well as the presence of Mishhuvurthyar. It will take some time for their support teams to mobilize."
Meanwhile, the I'ee team at the barricade could hear signs of the closer conflict, and soon had their own unfriendlies to worry about. A few stray infected from the group that had circled around behind the away team had split off to return to the main shuttle bay, rushing towards the insectoids, tendrils violently flailing in the air above them.
