Mochi was in the science bay as he usually seemed to be, working on the various projects and ideas that SARA's collaborative network generated. Today he was hammering away at a console, trying to glean insight from a chunk of killer robot that he had collected from their last mission. The specimen was difficult to research given it had been created to interface and react with an entire planet of circuits. Every now and again, the father of five would step back from his standing workbench and pace around the room, thinking of new angles that he might have missed.
At some point Euikoshi had exited the room, leaving him alone, but their work environment was relaxed and he'd stopped keeping track of such things long ago. What was very odd, however, was the sight of flashing gunmetal as his lab doors slid open.
Mochi stopped his pacing, frozen in a position of rubbing his chin with one hand. Mindies? The science lab was so detached from the rest of the ship on the Fuji-class that they must have gone out of their way to come up here. What was going on? There'd been no call to general quarters or elevation of any readiness condition - he'd surely know as a department head.
There were at least three of them, which meant that there was either a silent mutiny happening, or something about as concerning was afoot. The blonde Elysian's face hardened as he considered what to do. Behind him was his secure armored closet, a necessity after being so far from the power armour bay in the case of boarding, a lesson he'd learned from experience. He surely didn't have time to open it, which only left his sidearm and his body.
Mochi couldn't guess at the identities of whoever was piloting the Mindies given their faces were obscured, or unfamiliar new recruits. Slowly, the Shosa brought the hand down that cupped his chin, to his side. If this was a mutiny, he should be hearing gunshots from the corridor any minute now as Aoba and the other officers were put down. As a moment or two ticked by, that became less likely.
"I'm guessing this is an assassination, but if it isn't, explain quickly." The Elysian spoke quickly and deliberately, his emerald eyes meeting each of the soldiers' in turn. Mochi had more training and experience than many, but he would have to be quick with the revolver at his side if they had been sent by the Bellflower Party, SAINT or whoever else had a chip on their shoulder in regards to his family. The face of Arbles and his kids popped into his mind. If they'd erased the STs, he might never go home to his family, if they were even safe right now. This was serious.
Already, the ex-SOFT Elysian was readying himself to quick draw if they seemed to be going to open fire without explanation. Hopefully, it wouldn't come to that, but the newcomers would need to elaborate quickly, as so far he'd heard of no orders or plans to justify this hostile incursion.
