Kuvexian Ship - Cargo Bay
Cassie didn't answer immediately, the blow to the head taking her momentarily. And that was an understatement. "Not bad. We've got one here," she stated, looking around for some of the others. "I don't know how much more we can do this," she complained. Cassie's armor was battered and bloodied and she wasn't sure where the next shot would come from. "I'm fine, just..."
A massive impact hit the ship as Zanven's torpedoes slammed into its engines, causing massive damage and a chain reaction. The powerful anti-ship torpedoes obliterated the back half of the Kuvexian ship, with large amounts of shrapnel spraying out from fiery orange and glowing purple explosions. The ship started to spin uncontrollably.
In the cargo bay, everyone was violently slammed into the wall or crates towards the rear of the ship. Several Kuvexians were crushed instantly by cargo containers that broke free of their chains. A wall of fire spewed into the cargo bay from the ship's aft, blowing dozens of Kuvexians away. Then, all the air in the bay was rapidly sucked out of the same corridor. As the ship began to spin it created a centripetal acceleration that turned the ship's port side into the floor. All the power except isolated emergency lighting was out. A large amount of secondary explosions ripped through the ship, and the whole place was now generally a disaster area in danger of collapse.
Sanda, Cassie, and Thad were thrown off balance as they were tossed around inside the ship by the centripetal force and slid against the various cargo that was piled against the room's rear wall.
As the ship rocked, Yayoi jumped, and activated her thrusters that allowed her some stability and kept her from getting too hurt, as her feet made contact with the crates. She landed on the floor beneath her and checked on her teammates. Cassie claimed to be fine, but she took note of the damage she had sustained.
Sanda had been moving to a better position up on the second level when the ship rocked with enough force to throw her over the railing. She activated her suit's anti-grav and floated a moment in mid-air before moving back to the relative safety of the walkway where she braced herself against the sudden turbulence.
Thad was about to charge forward when the huge earth shattering explosion hit. He was knocked around like a rag doll as he did his best to keep himself from getting smashed by the cargo crates in the bay. He was unsure if the kuvvy decided to blow up their own ship or if one of the crew did something crazy.
Cheilith tried to cushion her crash against the wall with her arms. "Well, this ride is getting rough."
Delmira swore as the ship was rocked and the neko lost her balance. She rolled to the side before activating her thrusters and floating off the ground.
YSS RESURGENCE - BRIDGE
"Enemy ship disabled," Kalena said. "The other one just left, so it's the last one."
Kinie tried to re-establish contact with the away team. "Away team, this is Resurgence, Status check over."
The entryway to the Bridge slid open as Mochi made his way inside with some hurry. With the majority of the crew away on the enemy ship, there weren't too many hands outside of the Bridge to make sure the Resurgence was ticking over, despite the fire they were taking. Someone had to fill in, and that someone had been him for now.
Still partially clad in the equipment he had donned for the 'Thad Incident', Mochi pulled up his helmet and placed it under one arm, taking in the various displays and bringing himself up to speed. The Elysian listened in, awaiting any response Kinie might get - if needs be there were ways to support the team, even from here.
ENEMY SHIP - CARGO BAY
Thad replied back to Kinie. "Still alive, some better than others. Now could you please stop trying to blow the ship up with us in it please." He tried to laugh but instead coughed up some blood. Most likely had a few broken ribs from being tossed around from the explosions.
"I don't know, I think I might rather forget this ride." Cheilith commented.
As the Kuvexians began to recover they started shooting at the away team again, and they still outnumbered the Star Army team. As the shooting started all over again, Cassie crawled into the elevator. "Don't suppose this is operational," she said, pounding on the dead control panel. She haphazardly tried to stand up and look for a hatch on the ceiling that could lead to the shaft.
Sanda returned fire from the second floor as she quickly surveyed the area. "We need to move." Sanda stated. "Thunder to Blade! Move into the elevator and see if you can find a hatch to acess the shaft!" she rained down covering fire.
"We disabled the enemy ship's engines so it didn't leave with you," Kinie told Thad via comms. "It was about to."
Thad tipped his head down like he was looking over shades towards the back of the ship. At least looking at what was left of said ship anyway. Either way he ducked into cover and started to give return fire towards the remaining kuvvies. Would seem they were going to die fighting.
Cheilith took a few moments, aiming each burst of fire so that it took down a Kuvexian, but they were still coming. She wished she could get close enough to hit them.
Yayoi ducked as they were fired upon, and used some crates as cover to block the hits from aiming at her. She allowed her breaths to calm down before she began firing back, aiming for explosive things near the Kuvexians to try and not only cause a distraction but also to cause the Kuvexians some damage instead. She hoped that this would help thin the Kuvexians a little. At Sanda’s words, she nodded and used another distraction to hurry to the elevator shaft.
Delmira floated above the carnage and was sorely tempted to make a remark about how she must be dead because Kinie sounds like an angel. "I'm fine." Delmira responded instead. Delmira fired a shot before dropping down to the deck and switched her rifle to SMG mode as she moved to rejoin the team.
YSS RESURGENCE - BRIDGE
Mochi, with some apprehension, stepped up towards the Bridge seat currently occupied by Euikoshi. Standing beside her, the blonde officer scanned the displays. He nodded to his green-haired colleague, rubbing his chin gently in thought when he turned to the others. "Captain - if it's getting too hot in there for them, we can calculate a fastest-possible exfil route. If the worst happens, some explosives or an aether torch in the right place might do work. What's the strategy at play?"
"We'll melt everything with the main weapon array and respawn the away team from their backups," Aoba said. "My crew needs to be able to stand on their own. This is a test and it's up to them to sink or swim," he explained to Iemochi. "Not everyone on the crew has met my expectations but I have hope they'll figure it out. It's the Star Army way. We simply don't give up, as an organization or as individual soldiers."
Seinosuke couldn't help but blink once at Aoba's bluntness, before composing himself. A swift nod was offered to the Captain, the science officer steeling his face. "Aye, sir. I'd like to let it be known that one can only learn from experiences they remember. However, this surely is a good benchmark either way." Mochi offered his opinion, but made it clear he wasn't disagreeing with Aoba.
The Elysian patted Euikoshi on the shoulder, an implicit message to stand down, or at least, relax. The desired outcome wasn't the obvious one after all. "Focus on protecting the Resurgence and keeping tabs on incoming enemies and damage." Mochi spoke quietly to his junior green-panel, before making his way closer to Koyama, subtly trying to read her expression.
ENEMY SHIP - CARGO BAY
Air rushed into the elevator from the elevator shaft as finally Cassie resorted to just shooting the hatch open. She coughed over the com system as she spat up blood. "Let's...just get to the bridge and make them surrender," she said. "I wanna go home..."
Sanda got the signal that they had managed to open the hatch to the elevator shaft. "Everyone, move quickly! Blade, take point. Del and I will take up the rear. Move people!" Several shots came her way but Sanda took the most of them on her shield.
"Welp, I dunno about you but I think it is time we got off this boat. Don't think it will take another hit like that." As he watched the team push forward more. At this rate there wouldn't be a bridge left to take.
Cheilith jumped down the elevator shaft.
"No, up! Towards dorsal!" Cassie called to Cheilith, pointing repeatly. "I know it's all backwards now because the ship is spinning out of control. Use the minimap."
Cheilith reversed direction, following after Blade, she unsheathed her sword for a closer encounter and held it by two hands.
Delmira activated her thrusters to push herself forward faster and turned around to cover the teams rear fireing at the Kuvexians.
Yayoi remained silent as she moved with the others of the away team. In her mind she knew that should they fail they'll get respawned in a tank but she hoped before then they succeed.
"Fuck" Thad said under his breath. He expected this mission was going to be the death of him but not like this. His hope now rested on what he had inside his pack, some high explosives, enough to blow a hole in a star ship.
Sparks and aether-yellow fire flew as Delmira took a hit but the enemy aether slagged one of her shoulder accessory packs and her main armor was alright.
Sanda pulled and threw the two grenades she was carrying then jumped down and followed the rest of the team. She had her shield held up to try blocking some of the fire that headed towards the team while firing her rifle at anything that moved.
Due to the ship's spin, the grenades rolled onto the wall of the shaft and exploded there, crushing the top of the elevator in as well as shooting the team up the shaft like bullets in a rifle barrel.
Yayoi watched as the grenades exploded, before she felt herself shooting upwards. She couldn't help but ponder if this was what it was like to be a bullet a moment before she forced herself to focus so that she could act.
YSS RESURGENCE - BRIDGE
It was one thing to test the crew, another thing to have to watch crewmembers fighting a hard battle from the comfort of a Bridge. For some reason, today Mochi didn't feel like playing it safe. Not when he was seeing the others being pushed to their limits. The least he could do was meet them halfway or cover their retreat, if they got the chance to punch out.
Resisting the urge to make some kind of expression, the science officer turned and donned his helmet, making for the Power Armor Bay. There wasn't much use being a spectator. At least, not when they were all but watching their friends be put through hell. His memories of being on away teams just like the one beyond the hull were niggling at the back of his mind and wouldn't keep quiet.
ENEMY SHIP - BRIDGE LEVEL
"Anyone have a crowbar?" Cassie asked as the reached the appropriate door.
Thad reach over her shoulder and handed her a crowbar. "Careful, this can change the very fabric of time." He was glad he had brought this handy tool.
"No Time." Cheilith said, stepping forward, her sword glowed with destructive energy as she plunged it into the door, cutting through the obstruction and the door falling away inwards. She darted in, trying to use the element of surprise.
Delmira sung her rifle and ejected her gatling gun so she could pick it up and hold with one hand while she inspected the ammunition feed. "Got lucky and the ammunition didnt cook off. I will have to see about getting a fail-safe that will automatically eject it next time, or dump the ammo."
The bridge deck had a load of enemies in their shiny gold power armor that had been basically just waiting for them to come out of the elevator door, so there was suddenly a ton of enemy fire coming into the elevator shaft when the door opened.
Cheilith's shield went from Green, to Red, to Gone in an instant as she took the brunt of the fire. However, she didn't stop moving as her sword came down on one of the Kuvexians in Gold armor.
"Is there anything we can use as a shield around here? A blast door or something" Cassie shouted over the sound of explosive energy impacting all around. "It's either that or just Leeroy Jenkins it and kamikaze the bridge. Can't stay here though."
Thad reached up to his chest and pulled a grenade from the belt he wore. He had dropped down into the shaft in order to avoid being blasted. It still gave him sight to throw the grenade into the bridge area.
Again, the grenade stuck to the side of the ship instead of going where it was supposed to, but it did blow up a group of Kuvexians.
Delmira hefted her gatling gun. "i have this." She said and looked at Cassie as she spun the barrels. "Took a hit to the ammunition container so the feed will jam sooner than later."
Yayoi used Cheilith as a shield to get herself to cover. "wouldn't mind Kamikazing myself..' she said in reply to Cassie.
"Go after the gatling gun runs out, only if necessary," Cassie told Yayoi. With Delmira providing covering fire and Cheilith distracting them, she saw her chance and rushed toward the bridge doorway. "Moving in!" she said. Halfway there she realized the control panel for the door had no power. "Shit!"
Now in the middle of the Gold Kuvexians, Cheilith ducked and weaved as she fought, being in the midst of them was a benifit and a detriment as not all of them could shoot her, but the ones that could landed their shots against her now unprotected armor. One by one, the armored bits started to fail as she slashed furiously at the enemies surrounding her.
Sanda was examine the hallway, trying to find another way into the bridge. If they could find another way they could catch the Kuvies in a crossfire. She had her shotgun out as in this close range it would be devastating to be caught by the blast.
Thad knew it was go time. With his two aether blades he'd look to make quick work of the kuvvies that were left standing. He pulled himself up and behind Cassie. After a moment he followed after Chelilith who was engaging the enemy. One Aether blade lit, followed by the seconded as he rushed towards a group of enemy.
Delmira stepped out of cover and layed down a hail of fire from her heavy weapon. The neko smiled under her helmet like a kid in a candy store as she finally got to use her favorite toy.
YSS RESURGENCE - PA BAY
Mochi jogged into the power armor bay, moving over to his own set of Mindy armor - something he hadn't had cause to use in a while, especially with his wife and kids aboard. Being out there while his family needed him was a fear, but the situation on the Resurgence seemed stable for now. It was better to be here right now.
Removing his personal gear and stripping down to his working uniform, the scientist stood there alone in his green panel. Pressing his uniform's communicator, he messaged Poppy - "Poppy, it's Iemochi. I'm getting ready to meet the away team, either here or there. If you're standing by, it may be wise to meet them in the PA bay, in case they're badly hurt."
With that, Mochi began suiting up into his power armor, feeling the cool interior through the fabric of his clothing. The hiss of the metal as it settled in and closed around him. In no time, the officer was out and hovering in space just beyond the Resurgence. Through his MAW's scope, he tried to spot any sign of the battle from the outside of the enemy ship. After a moment, the Elysian used his Leader Module to cast the others' helmet cams into his HUD. If nothing else, he could cover their retreat.
ENEMY SHIP - BRIDGE LEVEL
After a brutal, and bloody fight, the away team managed to defeat the Kuvexian defenders, leaving them all in terrible shape. There was blood, burns, and holds everywhere. At this point the Kuvexians cracked open the brigde door on their own and began attempting to chat.
"It appears you folks have me at disadvantage," a Kuvexian businesswoman in holographic robes looking like a schoolgirl's chromed-out binder from the YE 20s. "We would like to negotiate a surrender," he said, having no other option.
Delmira disconnected the ammunition feed from her gatling and set it down in a corner to hopefuy be recovered later. She grabbed her rifle and aimed it down the hall at the bridge door just in case it was a trap.
Yayoi held her rifle now that the Kuvexian was ready to talk, but she watched him and waited for whether she'll have to shoot him or not. His Kuvxian appearance had brought some anger from her Hanako resistance days though.
Cheilith glanced around for her missing left arm as they had a moment to breathe. The Hemosynth was doing it's job and stopping her from dying. However, the adrenaline from the combat kept her from really feeling the loss... yet.
Sanda smiled under her helmet. "Good, we accept your unconditional surrender. Have all your crew discard all weapons and move towards the hanger bay. We will collect them there."
"My name is Countess Vizamuner Vlon Locheanar Briserari," the Kuvexian woman explained. "Our ship was previously part of the Kuvexian Navy but we're just explorers now. Might I show you the way to our shuttle bay as this ship appears to be about to explode?"
Thad gave no notice to the kuvvy captive. He had primed enough explosives to send them back to whatever hell they come from so was not too worried. However he did notice Cheilith was looking for something, which he guessed to be her missing arm. "Looks like you could use, a hand." He chuckled to himself while he dug through the bodies looking for the missing arm. He found it under a body, still together at least. He reached down and picked it up before handing it to her.
Yayoi silently couldnt help but think Whats with these guys and their long names Her thoughts werent transmitted as she watched him for any sudden moves.
Cheilith nodded thanks to Thad, "Thanks, I'd rather be remembered then dismembered." She didn't know if it would work, but she pressed the severed limb where it should be and hoped the Hemosynth did the rest.
Delmira picked up her gatling gun it may not have ammunition but she could beat a kuvexian to death with it if they tried anything. She slung her rifle and drew her aether beam saber rifle to use one handed if needed. Delmira held her weapon level on the count and any surviveing bridge crew in case anyone tried to attack.
Sanda looked around at a bridge's display screens. She wasn't a starship operator by any
means, but all the flashing red lights seemed to confirm what the Count was saying. "If you please Count. We'll get you and your people off this ship before she detonates. I'll leave your status as an explorer up to my superiors." Sanda then quickly contacted the ship as it seemed no one else had.
"Thunder to Resurgence. We have taken control of the ship and have captured a Count or such. I'm no bridge bunny, but I don't think this ship has long. We're making our way with our prisoners to the hanger. We're taking a ride off this wreck and some help from the Kuvies. Most of the team is pretty beat up. Advice having a med team and guards as soon as we land."
Vizamuner nodded and she and a small handful of Kuvexian ship crew and soldiers led the armor team through the wrecked ship to a nearby shuttle bay where the shuttles were piled up on one of the walls. Together the Star Army soldiers worked with the Kuvexians to move one of the shuttles into a launch-able position and got the hatch open so everyone could get on board it.
Thad was about to get on the ship and paused for a moment. He had learned a lesson from the talk with Aoba not to carry live ammo. He tossed the primed shape charges back into the ship. His boss would be happy with him know he did good.
Delmira cocked an eyebrow at Thad not that he could see her before she gave him a gentle shove. "All right enough fun with the boom toys get on."
"Aoba said I wasn't allowed explosives anymore, I am just following orders." A smile crossed his face as he got onboard the ship.
Cassie didn't want to sit next to the Kuvexians after all the hell she'd been through watching her fleet destroyed. She sat in the corner nervously.
Yayoi moved to sit beside Cassie, as she didnt want to sit next to the Kuvexians as she felt the urge to kill them would be high.
Cheilith held her arm, keeping herself together as it started to mend it's self. She was proud of what she had managed to do, even with her injury. Most of her armor was warped or damaged from the beating it had taken, but there hadn't been anything else to do but charge in.
Sanda stood up front where she could keep an eye on all the prisoners and the pilot. Her shotgun was held in her arms low where she could get it into action quick if any of them tried anything.
Thad took a seat right next to the VIP and put his arm around them. "We are going to be best of buddies."
One of the Kuvexian pilots glanced back at the unusual sight and then hit the accelerator, sending the ship out into space and towards the Resurgence. Behind them, the heavily damaged Kuvexian ship finally exploded in a fireball. Zanven's fighter escorted them back and in a couple minutes the aay team was back on the Resurgence.
"Maxioums! Get away from the Count!" Sanda still hadn't forgiven him for all the stupidity he had done. This was just another example of how unprofessional he was and she would make damn sure the Captain knew about it.
"Thaddeus remove your arm from him right now!." Delmira said at about the same time Sanda was laying into him.
"What, they are behaving so no worry about them ending up in the sex cave back on the ship. At least they better behave." He was full on laughing at all the fuse about his actions.
Sanda marched forward and grabbed Thad by the arm and pushed him away. "I said, Leave. Her. Alone."
Demira all but face palmed. "Thad i am not your CO-" She stopped and watched Sanda before resumeing. "I am not your CO so i cant order you but i strongly suggest you dont touch her. Lest you want to get in more trouble back on the ship."
"Alright, alright...you can be good cop today. I will go sit over by Cassie." He placed his arms up to show he'd not put up a fight.
"You sure she might try to kill you." Delmira said to Thad and turned around to look over the others.
"Probablemente le compraría un trago si lo hiciera." Sanda muttered.
Yayoi shook her head at the antics of the crew and smirked as Sanda mentioned buying Cassie a drink if she killed Thad.
Thad waved his hand and paid little attention to the rest of the crew. He sat next to Cassie and took out a med kit to do something nice.
YSS RESURGENCE - SHUTTLE BAY
Mochi saw the shuttlecraft coming and gave the pilots a wave as they drew closer. The scientist shot off a transmission to the crew - "We should make sure that thing isn't carrying any explosives before it docks, really. Not sure if that's possible.."
He guided them back in through the Resurgence's entrance, taking the initiative to free himself from his brief outing in the Mindy while they were disembarking. The Elysian officer thought it best to make sure he was on scene for receipt of the prisoner, in case Aoba and Koyama wished to stay on the Bridge. Hopefully Poppy had got his earlier request too and would be there soon.
