RP: YSS Miharu Mission 5, Part 1: Amaya's Gate

Re: Mission 5: Amaya's Gate

She was... she was...

Miharu-Heisho covered her face with her palm, moving as if in a daze. Yuzuki's head was ringing. The snap and pop of disconnected or ruptured power lines loomed over her head, and crackled out from behind the bulkhead covers. The distinct smell of their burning filled her nostrils. If she hadn't been acclimated to it, by now, she would have choked on it. There was no denying, at this point, that the ship was on its very last leg - no sense, now, in trying to make the assemblies in engineering work properly anymore. Everything that she could do, to keep them up and running, had been done - at this point, the Hoshi was infinantely more combat capable.

She left the engineers belowdecks, or those of them that still remained; stepping into the armor bay, Yuzuki took a few seconds to assess the situation, wearing a grim expression that was becomming regular. She stood in the accessway for a few seconds, looking at the group that had assembled, then at the equipment.

Eventually, she stated dryly, "Storage won't do it any good. Let me take a look at it."

Re: Mission 5: Amaya's Gate

"The Taisa ordered me to put Eve's bones into storage," Nimura nonchalantly returned to Yuzuki. Nimura closed the container shut and after sliding it into the carbo bay she added: "I'll attend to the units here. Nakamura-Heisho is in the other bay, likely trying to piece together his custom unit. Perhaps you can assist him."

Re: Mission 5: Amaya's Gate

"Uh..." mumbled Asher, eying Nyton walk out, handing out orders, but necessarily denying his request. Guess that means, 'Do it afta' y'done takin' a leak.' thought he who was not actually going to pee.

So, the naked Yamataian made his quick, and rapid sojourn through the ship, passing the restrooms, and hobbling on down to the med-bay. His arm waggled a little in pain as he went, but it hurt even less so than before. He slowed down a bit as he approached the Hoshi's med-bay, and then tip-toed toward the edge of the door way. As it opened, he took a look inside, and checked to see if any sprites or crew were hum-bubbling about.

Re: Mission 5: Amaya's Gate

Shortly after Asher came into the medlab, Hinoto strode in.

Hinoto was a head turner, and Asher already knew that. As far as neko bombshells were ranked on Miharu, she was 'Queen'.

However, this time, Asher's head turned to notice her more out of a sense of foreboding. The snow-haired sprite was in a foul moon and she exuded it. Most sane people would probably find an homocidally-inclined ship avatar scary - given precedent, Asher was liable to find that sexy (Hinoto made it easy).

Her eyes, their hard steel-gray reflecting her mood, landed on Asher and she stalked toward him (less mature nekos might've stomped to him, but Hinoto seemed to stick to the ship's grace under pressure motto so far). "Soul Transfer?" She asked him in her best business-like tone, and Asher instinctively understood it wasn't really a question. "Lean down. I'll run your backup."

Re: Mission 5: Amaya's Gate

Asher stared at Hinoto's chest, switching between her appealing features as he strode toward her. Indeed, to Asher, the invariable aura of blood and boobiliciousness this girl exuded was enough to get him ancy, and his naked body showed it. When she stopped in front of him, he bit his lip and met her steely-gray gaze with his blood-red stare for but a moment. Unlike hers, his eyes carried an almost zen-like focus, as if finding the path to enlightenment. If she were to take notice, this path would apparently lead to her breasts, which Asher had gone back to staring at. In fact, the only thing going on inside his head was, Fondle, fondle, fondle, fight, fondle, fondle, fondle, fuck, fondle, fondle, fondle, fondle.

"Soul Transfer?" She asked him in her best business-like tone, and Asher instinctively understood it wasn't really a question. "Lean down. I'll run your backup."

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"Man, I'd lean you down ova' that table and run you from tha' back all tha' way up." bumbled Asher, now reacting to outward stimuli. "I'd do things so unspeakable to that body a'yours, y'couldn't help but speak about it. I'd do it for so long, tha' Mishhu would have t'take a number and wait. I'd tear up that ass so hard, tha' enemy'd think it wass' tha' rear-end of tha' Miharu."

Then, the over-focused, zen-like stare broke. Snapping out of it, Asher shook his head, flailing his hair around like a dog's fur shaking off water. He blinked at Hinoto, finally looking her in the eyes again, then turned his gaze down to the soul-transfer machine.

"Yeah. Yeah, I'd 'preciate that." said the Malifarian, apparently just now responding to her help in fairly over-casual tone compared to how he had just sexually assaulted her with his words. He moved over to the machine and laid down.

Re: Mission 5: Amaya's Gate

Ayumu got to work monitoring other patients while Azumi finished checking Tom. "Is there anything else you need, Freeman-Juni?" she asked.

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The engineer acknowledged the Taisa's request for his presence, then turned his attention to the nurse.

"I'll need a soul backup, but I must see the Taisa now," he said as he reached for a white robe to slip on. "I'll get to that after I'm done. Thanks for your help."

He turned swiftly and left the medical bay, walking briskly with a sour expression on his face.

I can't believe we're going to fight Melisson. Can't anyone see that we're lucky enough to be able to fly out of here in one piece?!

He pulled a uniform from a nearby locker. Unfortunately, it was a yellow-paneled uniform and it was a tad tight. It would have to do.

Of course, he didn't have his rank pin either, but that didn't matter. Everyone on the ship knew he was a Juni and it was hardly justifiable to waste time making himself look prim and proper while Miharu was nearly in her death throes.

Morale was probably collapsing in the subdeck. Even with Eve dead, there was no way he could spin the current situation enough to where it would boost confidence among the technicians. A battle with Melisson right now meant, at least to Tom, death or surrender. The sprites probably knew that as well. He could almost see the glassy looks of resignation they would hold in their eyes when he broke the news...

Lost in thought, Tom just then realized that he had reached the bridge. He collected himself with a deep breath before entering.

Re: Mission 5: Amaya's Gate

Fred said:

With that done she spoke to Yukari, her voice barely above a whisper: "I've never wanted my revenge to carry this cost... but I don't think I ever really considered it until Eve was dead and seeing how much blood that victory was worth."

"In all my drive to get to this point," Kotori closed her eyes, and red tears spilled down her cheeks. "...I never realized that on the trip here, I gained a home."

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Yukari's body moved before her mind. She went to the Taisa — Kotori — and put her arms around her shoulders and waist. She brought the Taisa's head down so it was comfortable on her body, so Kotori could lean on something if her body started to shake.

She offered no hard words. No stirring phrases or firm statements of belief. Those were too much, her instincts told her. Kotori — warrior, commander, princess, savior — was vulnerable right now. The Signaler body could twist and repel psionics but not push away her emotions.

"Shhhh," she said, soothing her. "It will be right again, soon. We are here for you, Koto-san. Your home is here."

Kotori had no home. Her mother defied her plans, her "father" possibly was dead and she had no future — her body would die someday and her existence would end. Yamatai's ultimate, if implicit, promise was immortality, and she would not have it.

Yukari had to take a few deep breaths to keep herself from sobbing, too. Sadness was the only thing she allowed herself to feel, however briefly. "We are here," she continued to repeat. "Your home is here."

Re: Mission 5: Amaya's Gate

@Bridge:

Kotori returned a grateful squeeze to Yukari, allowing her head to be nestled in the crook of her friend's neck before Nyton made his entry. At that moment, the Taisa removed herself from her XO's arms and had the red trails wiped from her cheeks by the time Tom made his own entrance.

After a deep breath Kotori had her composure back and was all business. "How do we stand at present?" She asked the three.

* * *

@Hoshi's medlab:

Hinoto made a inaudible growl as she had Asher settle correctly in before moving the ST reader portion of the equipment over his head.

"This will give you an headache," she warned nonchalantly in accidental-mimicry of Sanjuro before she started the recording process.

Re: Mission 5: Amaya's Gate

"Hey, whadja' say--Hughrf?" blarghed Asher as the device settled over his head started dribbling his brain inside his skull. Instantly the Malifarian was reminded of another reason why he hated going to the med-bay. Soul transfers were like getting thrown into an oven inside a tin-can, and then activating large amount of high-force firecrackers wrapped around that tin can, causing the can to bounce around inside the oven. That's how Asher viewed, at least.

Re: Mission 5: Amaya's Gate

Back in the armor bay, Kai was now straining to get his armor up on a rack so he could finish work on it- It had gained some more spears of blood as the scorched skin on his hands cracked and ripped open, causing more than a little bit of pain for the Pilot, but nothing he couldn't handle by growling, grunting, or cursing loudly (not that his curses were actual curse words).

With quite some effort, the blond Yamataiain managed this feat, and stood back to look over his handywork, scorched and bloodstained as it was, as his hands stung and dripped at his sides, staining his pants and coloring parts of his shirtless torso red, but the freely flowing blood was a good thing- it meant his Yamataian hemosynth was getting to the surface and moving the healing process along.

His next course of action was to grab a tool kit (turning it red in the process) and pry off just about all of the outer plates, as well as the sections damaged by his plasma fire, and then search for replacement capacitors and armor plates. He also grabbed a small electronics repair kit, which was normally used for standard servicing, but would have to do to help him patch the daisy's electronics together. he quickly brought up a schematic of his armor via Volumetric window, and sat down in front of it, sorting out his parts to begin the process of practically rebuilding the thing.

Re: Mission 5: Amaya's Gate

Nyton calmly looked at Kotori before placing his right hand to his hip. "We currently have maybe four dedicated Armor pilots with little to no injury. Kurohoshi-Juni is in the medical center recovering from severe trauma to her chest. We are attempting to salvage and restore our Armor. However, every suit was damaged during the battle so it will take some time, your highness."

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Ayumu looked over from her rounds and saw that Kyou needed some assistance. "I can assist you Gunshin-Hei. Please, follow me." she remarked while leading her to one.

Re: Mission 5: Amaya's Gate

Kyou followed, getting ready for one of the more unpleasant experiences she had to deal with semi-regularly. "If there's any way to make it quicker, I'd appreciate it. Claymere-Taii needs me back as soon as I can get there." As she sat down, she braced herself, even though she knew it wouldn't help, really.

Re: Mission 5: Amaya's Gate

"..."

If whatever ordeal they had just went through could be labeled a victory, once Tom caught full view of the Taisa's disfigured condition, the engineer thought it a Pyrrhic one. He bowed swiftly in order to not be caught staring at the Taisa, but this caused his tight uniform to scrape against the freshly-healed wound on his chest.

He winced, his hands balled against his sides for a brief moment, but the engineer did not make a sound other than the sharp intake and release of air.

He returned to eye level, his face somber as he listened to Nyton's report. It was succinct, but brutal. What the engineer had to add wouldn't help.

"Taisa, frankly, we're in very bad shape," he said. "Miharu has sustained irreparable damage across multiple systems..."

He actually had to pause a moment, as his brain went through all the damage sustained to the ship. It was a difficult challenge to even sort it into a manageable chunk of information for the Taisa.

"General condition: Our main hull is no longer structurally sound enough to resist explosive decompression if retentions shields go down. We have multiple hull breaches... in the port wing pod, another above the starboard capacitor chamber and, of course, the wardroom. We have no outer hull to speak of, it having been shed off in the battle against the Takumi. Percentage wise, total hull strength is somewhere in the 30% range. Any further distress will likely result in Miharu's destruction."

His drew a breath and looked between the three others before continuing.

"We lost the main gun. There's nothing I can do to bring it back... in order to prevent an explosion, I had to slag it. Our combat effectiveness is severely hampered as a result. We have about half our capacitors remaining... the other were destroyed. Coolant levels are approximately 40% but stable. We lost an aether generator, the redundant shield generator and the fold drive. We have enough energy to continue functioning, however, and navigation, I believe, can still be utilized.... Miharu has also suffered irreparable communications damage. MEGAMI itself sustained light damage and should remain operational, if slightly hindered."

Tom crossed his arms and squeezed his hands against them. He broke eye contact with the others, finding solace in a spot on the floor. It was clear he was uncomfortable.

"We lost a few technicians during the operation... I would like to bring them back if possible..."

Re: Mission 5: Amaya's Gate

Yukari felt like she winced through Tom's entire report. She could see he was in physical pain, but it was the mental anguish that was carried by his words and onto her ears. She wanted to comfort him as she had comforted Kotori, but not with everyone there.

Tom would not want it anyway, she thought. Not after what I said.

Re: Mission 5: Amaya's Gate

@Bridge:

A Mindy power armor came in the bridge to pick up the scrapped ventilation system as Kotori stoically absorbed the grim news her tactical officer and chief engineer offered.

"We have spare M10s to make up for our hardware losses," she told Nyton. "Have our soldiers leave the damaged suits behind and use the new ones - our techs will be able to attend to the damage ones when time will allow."

She then turned to Tom. "As far as-"

The Taisa was interrupted by Hoshi's AI. "New contact detected," the ship's computer warned.

Kotori's expression froze. "To your stations," she said for Nyton and Yukari's benefit before telling Tom: "You get the Operations console." The console she was pointing out was on the right of Yukari's central station, and boasted ship condition and power management operation - something the savaged main engineering presently lacked.

@Hoshi's medlab:

Nothing so unpleasant could last forever. Asher regained his senses with his ST backup having been completed.

Hinoto slid the hardware off from over his forehead and declared: "You're good to go."

@Hoshi's port armor bay:

"You may wish to give up on this armor and instead commandeer one of the M10 power armors we have in the main hull's port hangar bay," Hoshi helpfully informed Kai. "A few of them have Dragoon cores, whom have the synthetic inserts you favor."

Re: Mission 5: Amaya's Gate

"Augh! Damn! Fuck that." Asher growled as he sat up on the table. He held his head tightly, running his fingers through his messy brown hair. The lasting ring in his head caused him to blink a few times, and lightly tap at the side of his head. He stood, his naked frame stumbling a little to the door. Finally, he said something, but it was unintelligible from how he shook his head so rapidly while saying.

"Hey, Hinoto." the Malifarian started, standing at the door of the medical-bay. "I juss 'kinda noticed, but you seem a lil'..." It was then that Asher fully grasped what had happened before had laid down to get his scan. The words he had spoken to her had run so clearly through his mind. Before, he had made so many propositions, but got distracted by the dual-satisfaction of dames and duty. He chose duty only to get the back-up out of the way.

But...

He finally understood that Hinoto's angry looking expression was not because she was feral and wanting to hop his incredible naked body. She was actually, in fact, angry and/or frustrated about something. "Uh, y'know, I'm juss' gunna' go. Stay shooty, Hino."

Re: Mission 5: Amaya's Gate

Without a word, Tom moved to the Operations console and ran checks through it, bringing all the necessary data he needed to his attention. He tried to remain calm, but he felt his heart racing.

Re: Mission 5: Amaya's Gate

Nyton's face was stoic in the face of the new threat. He felt calm though, calmer than he had in some time. With a quick bow to Kotori he moved over to the tactical station and ran a check to see what weapon systems they still had operational. As he did so he then sent out telepathic messages to the remaining Armor team members.

"Westwood, stop taking a piss break in the medlab and get suited up. We have contact."

"Gunshin, ST will have to wait. Get suited up and rearmed. Contact detected."

"Nimura, if you do not have any urgent orders in support of engineering then we need you in the Armor bay. Contact has been detected."

"Nakamura, get suited up and stand by. Contact detected."

With messages sent Nyton let out a breath. "What did you find, Hoshi? Let me see what we have."

Re: Mission 5: Amaya's Gate

"Westwood, stop taking a piss break in the medlab and get suited up. We have contact."

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Asher's shoulders hunched up, and his head sunk, as if he were being reprimanded, or trying to duck his head under some flying projectile. He looked around real quick to see where Nyton was. The Malifarian still had no idea that his commander was Nepleslian, so he thought the communication was his actual words. Though after a few seconds of glancing up and down the halls, he figured out that it was telepathic communication.

Huh... thought the red-eyed man, still a little addled by hearing that familiar commanding tone from no where. For about a few seconds, he thought he was dead meat for grabbing a back-up. Though, as he began to realize his situation, he began to shuttle down the hall quickly, now responding to the order.

Re: Mission 5: Amaya's Gate

Yukari went back to her seat with a gravity-assisted leap. She gently set down and immediately began manipulating the manual controls that still worked. Her headset, before ignored, suddenly took up its original designed purpose.

"All personnel: Reclaim your battle stations," Yukari said over the comm, voice smooth. "We have a new contact. I repeat, all personnel: Reclaim your battle stations."

Yukari's fingers actually twinged at the thought of the target. Melisson is making her move, and we have few options to stop her. But stop her we must.

We have killed one demon today. What is one more?