Starpath: Scoundrels of the Interstellar Highway - Thread 2 - Games

Starpath: Scoundrels of the Interstellar Highway - Thread 2

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Taylor shifted in the captain's chair, attempting to get comfortable as the ship lifted into orbit. Despite having been captain of the crew for a few weeks, this felt oddly different. Maybe it was the pressure. Maybe it was the new ship, an actual legitimate warship. Maybe it was the idea that they could get their names cleared and be relatively free again...well, it wouldn't remove the Death Vigil bounties, but the rest would be gone. She sighed, before clicking a button the chair. The vessel's ship-wide intercom switch. "Testing...looks like it works fine. This is Taylor, obviously. If you're not too busy, I'll need you guys to join me on the bridge for a moment. I've got something to discuss with you all regarding a possible job and a chance to clear our UGC bounties." Valkyrie remained where she was on the bridge, her arms folded. Clear their bounties with the UGC? She wanted to [I][B]keep[/B][/I] her bounties. She liked having a big numerical [I]'fuck you'[/I] to flash to police, soldiers, and bounty hunters. She was proud of it.

János nodded the entire time Ryvik further explained himself, or at least, explained what he was willing to say. The additional details would help paint a clearer picture of what had happened on his end of things throughout the conflict. As Ryvik continued though, János did admit to himself that he may have taken the running like hell comment too literally. And then, Ryvik just explained his separation with Vixe and his assumption of her escape... just like that. János was surprised, since he was so certain that there may have been some hidden reason behind his unwillingness to reveal how she escaped, but no, Ryvik just earnestly didn't know. Ryvik then displayed his frustration for János' line of questioning, capping off by revealing that the crew also knew the same details of Vixe's escape. He pouted slightly at the comment, since he wouldn't have known that fact. And then Ryvik just shuffled to his bed, whilst commenting that torture was more preferable to János' way of doing things. He'd heard that same comment in his past, but never with such anger attached to it. He sat on the floor for half a minute more after Ryvik laid down, and promptly brought himself off it. He looked at him for a moment, before heading towards the cell gate. He gave the gate two knocks with the side of his fist, so that Constantine knew he was done. "I just hope," János spoke to Ryvik in a saddened tone as he waited, "you're well aware of the implications of what you just," he stated. A statement of care and worry, but simultaneously interpretable as a threat.

Amy had barely enough time to put her luggage in her new cabin when the announcement came in. That sounded too good to be true. But what if? She left her room and went to the bridge. --- From deep in the ship's kitchen, Alex put down the knife he was using for his 'back to basics' meal. 'Wonder what the captain has in mind?' he thought as he left for the bridge.

Ira stood nearby Valkyrie with a face of uncomfort. She always hated spaceships. This one was no different. She sighed and counted to then. At least Taylor was here. She looked down at her now-patched up helmet fixed using spare parts. As soon as she put it on she was blinded by notifications of more than a dozen warrants for Valkyrie. Ira chuckled. "I think my helmet works, can't even see your face through these bounty notifications." She said to Valkyrie. --- Karl was sitting at the gunner's terminal inside the bridge and calmly went over the information presented to him on the screen. While he had some doubts about mercenary work, mostly regarding the morals of it all, he had reminded himself that he left showbiz to do something new. To be his own free man instead of some holoscreen profile. He glanced at Taylor. "Captain, weapon systems operational."

[QUOTE]"I think my helmet works, can't even see your face through these bounty notifications."[/QUOTE] "Good. Lets keep those bounties rollin' in." she said, with a smirk as she glanced over towards Ira. - - - - - - - - - [QUOTE]"Captain, weapon systems operational."[/QUOTE] "Perfect." replied Taylor, glancing over to Karl. She was glad the frigate had loads more firepower than the first Muramasa had...and more armor. She sat back in the chair, waiting for the others to arrive on the bridge.

Ira chuckled. "Not sure that's going to help you in the long run. Especially not since Sting and I partnered up for the sole reason of turning in bounties." She said through her voice modulator which made her sound like a man with a raspy voice. "That is assuming you don't know any bigger fish." --- Karl tapped on the screen and sighed. He spun around his chair. "So captain, about this plan you mentioned. Will it clear our names? I'm still on the fence regarding this whole mercenary thing. Would be nice to know my options."

[QUOTE]"Not sure that's going to help you in the long run. Especially not since Sting and I partnered up for the sole reason of turning in bounties...That is assuming you don't know any bigger fish."[/QUOTE] Valkyrie looked to Ira, her expression rather dark. "If you want to try and take me, go right ahead. Just know that I will kill you. I'll rend the flesh from your bones, and throw the rest of you into the ship's garbage disposal unit." She turned to face Ira, her expression remaining the same. "I have plans after I help Taylor, and you [I]will not[/I] be interrupting them. I don't care how close you are to Taylor, or who you have helping you. I will make damn sure that you never draw another breath if you screw with me. Do you understand me, Ira?" Valk returned her attention to the front of the bridge after finishing. "...and if you think I'm going to rat someone else out to you, you've got another thing coming. [I]I'm not a fucking snitch.[/I]" - - - - - - - - - - - - - [QUOTE]"So captain, about this plan you mentioned. Will it clear our names? I'm still on the fence regarding this whole mercenary thing. Would be nice to know my options."[/QUOTE] "Well, according to the information given to me, we would have to travel to Trixina within the next two weeks. Its sort of a neutral zone for mercs, so we'd be safe there. Also a pretty nice resort planet from what I hear. Once there, we'd meet with Seth, of the Boome Marines. We'll have to do something for him, but in exchange, we'd get our UGC bounties removed and we'd also get paid. Alex and Amy will also get to settle a few things from their past. My guess is we'll be clashing with Creed or something." explained Taylor, glancing over to Karl.

Ira grunted. "You sure are one special snowflake, Blackwell." --- Karl nodded. "Sounds good. I've only been to Trixina once, never did get to see the resorts. Just its big cave-dwelling amphibious monstrosities."

The Koronovs looked at each other when they heard the supposed plan. Alex remained silent while trying to think things over, but Amy, on the other hand, had a few things to add. "I've been there two times on business. People there don't like mercs but like our money. Reason for that was Trixina being where three mercenary groups attacked the Boomes and set off a chain reaction that caused the Union to be created in the first place. After that, it became a neutral ground for the big boys to sit down and talk. If he's inviting us there, he's serious about it."

Vixe shivered as she shuffled toward Vostokrebh on foot, up to her knees in snow. Despite wearing the customary tall boots that the Collective was known for, which were designed to prevent moisture from getting into her socks, they had been rendered ineffective after the several-kilometer march and she was beginning to feel as if she were unprotected from the knees down. She also rubbed her bandages; it was too late at this point to prevent scarring, but at least she could get a decent prosthesis for her missing ear- so long as the authorities continued to back her actions. She paused as she finally found the road again. Vostokrebh was now within sight, and a number of trucks and other vehicles were rolling along the rugged trenches in the ice in both directions. She waived one of the returning vehicles down, which pulled off to the side as best it could to avoid blocking traffic. The doors flew open, revealing a small unit of batakya soldiers, not from Vostokrebh, but rather reinforcements from elsewhere, and a few SS agents from the second bureau. They, to Vixe's delight, seemed overjoyed to see her, and not in the sort of sinister way she had come to expect from their partners in the GKVR. One even through her arm around her. "[Captain Vixe! Stars provide your safe return!]" the agent declared, buoyantly. "[This whole convoy is part of the rescue operation... all these troops were off looking for you and the other survivors!]" Vixe allowed herself to smile despite the exhaustion she felt as she climbed into the warm cabin and seated herself among the soldiers, who excitedly welcomed her. "[Thank you,]" she said, sheepishly. "[I used the stern auxiliary escape hatch... I would have brought other survivors with me but Lieutenant Ryvik was the only one-]" "[Who?]" one of the other SS agents cut in. "[Oh, you mean the blackjacket?]" Vixe nodded, remembering that these agents wouldn't have been personally familiar with him. "[We got separated, though. I was hoping he would have turned up...]" "[Hey,]" one of the soldiers reassured her, "[whatever happened, don't blame yourself, Captain. The odds were overwhelming.]" "[We recovered the black box,]" one of the agents explained. "[It corroborated everything we were told about the circumstances of your attempted scuttle. Very few leaders possess that sort of courage... The base commander was already praising your actions.]" Vixe blinked. After everything that had happened three days prior and overnight, she had found herself back in the Collective's good graces all because she had attempted suicide? It felt wrong; she hadn't done it just out of a sense of duty, she did it because she had no other option. "[I only did what I had to do...]" she tried to explain. "[Of course,]" several of the passengers agreed. One of the SS agents leaned in close- "[...But we know the enemy tried to bargain with your life, and you stayed resolute.]" Vixe had forgotten Yanim's offer in the midst of the chaos. Perhaps, then, she really had been brave. But it wasn't what she thought it would be. For all her fantasies about finding a worthy opponent, it never struck her that when she was at the helm, each of them, Vixe and Yanim, held the other's life in their hands. With Ryvik's help, and with his heart, she found the strength to draw even rather than surrender. She hung her head a moment, wishing he could be at her side again. "[That's true,]" she finally replied. But despite the praise, she still felt as if she would never command a vessel again.

Hooded and robed from head to toe, Hanai stepped into the room where her boss was waiting. To say that this is one of the most expensive rooms in the entire galaxy wouldn’t be enough. There were shelves stocked with all sorts of rare and strange drugs like red dust, bora leaves, and even old fashioned cocaine. Inhalers, hookahs, and pipes of all shapes and sizes were scattered about as well. And the stench of incense and burning filled would overload the senses of anyone, sticking to their nostrils like glue. This was a drug den alright. A drug den that doubled as High Captain Hynam’s “office”. “Ah, my dear Hanai! Please, come in!” beckoned a voice beyond the haziness within. The different smoke clouds wafting and mixing in the air were giving Hanai a contact high already as she stepped inside. She couldn’t see past five feet in front of her; the bong fog was that thick. Trailing the high captain’s voice as best as she could, she ended up almost bumping into the chair she was sitting in. “Yes, yes... you wanted to speak to me?” Hanai did a deep bow before saying anything. “High Captain, I bring terrible news regarding my search for Captain Goto’s cargo.” “How terrible exactly?” said Hynam after inhaling some fumes from her hookah. Hanai pauses for a moment, trying to strengthen her composure so as to not break down in front of Hynam and embarrass herself. “...It ended in total failure, High Captain. My crew is no more. I was the only one who survived.” An entire ship packed with all sorts of dangerous weapons and a crew hand picked by Hanai herself, completely wasted on a silly mission that got almost all of them killed! If Hynam wasn’t under the influence of several different kinds of depressants, she would be screaming her head off right now. Still, she gave Hanai a look that could kill. “That’s very, very disappointing, Hanai. Very unfortunate as well. Perhaps it’d make you look less incompetent if you tell me exactly what happened?” Uh oh. Time to remember all the nasty details. All of the ones she didn’t want to remember. She took a deep breath as she began recounting what happened. “We went inside the pit, and... we found a planet inside. As we moved closer, a transmission told us to turn around. We should have...” “And why is that so, Hanai?” asked Hynam. “The planet... it was full of these horrible, strange people! They shot our ship down, they dragged us out and threw us in cages like animals!” She had to pause for a moment. Hynam started becoming impatient. “And? Did you escape?” “We could not! There was nowhere we could go! They took us to this place, this hall... They dragged my crew out on a slab and mutilated them one by one! They all watched! They all laughed!” “And what did they do with you?” “They saw that I was the captain. They had something ‘very special’ planned for me. They threw me in a cell and beat me until I couldn’t move...” “So how did you escape?” “One of them freed me. He opened my cell and freed me. I found a shuttle, and I fled.” “I see.” Hynam took another rip. “How bad are the damages to your person?” “Enough that I came before you robed like this.” replied Hanai. “May I see? Just so that I can know you are not lying to me.” Hanai pulled down her hood, exposing her heavily scarred face and new cybernetic eye, courtesy of the TSC. “Now where did you get that eye? I thought you Ayr hated cybernetics.” “The Transentience Cult had abducted me as I fled the pit. They tore off my limbs, gave me cybernetic ones... I don’t like them at all, high captain.” "Mmmm... So you've been through a lot as of late. I take it you will relax here for a while?" For a moment, Hanai thought. She needed to relax, yes, but the feeling for revenge had overtaken her long ago. She wanted to kill the madmen who butchered her crew. She wanted to hurt them [I]bad [/I]for what they've done to her friends. One dead for every second of agony they put had her through. She stood straight up and looked Hynam right in the eye. "I will not. I intend on returning to my duties as soon as possible. If I may request, I require a new crew and a new ship." "So soon? You just got here! You need to rest here for a few days. I cannot have you going back out there as you are currently." Oh dear. This will not do. The thought of staying angered Hanai. Why should she sit here and do nothing while the Artisynth carve up more victims? Why should she stay here and let them get away with it all? Being told to relax for a while enraged her. "What? I-I must! I have to! I cannot stay here while those horrible people claim more victims!" "Hanai, you're raising your voice to me. Calm down." "You don't understand! They can't get away with what they've done! Goran, Ryjak, Kryscilla, Maximov, all dead! Slaughtered [B]RIGHT INFRONT OF ME![/B] Those monsters! [I][B]I'LL KILL THEM ALL-[/B][/I]" Hynam, not one to be yelled at like this, stood up and scooped up a big pile of red dust. "[B]I SAID CALM THE FUCK DOWN.[/B]" she screamed, while throwing the drug pile right into Hanai's face. After wiping her hands, she sat back in her chair again. "You're staying here until I say so, you understand? You obviously aren't well." Hanai weakly nodded. "I apologize for the outburst, high captain. But may I be issued a new ship at least?" "Now why would you need a new one, when your old ship is perfectly fine?" "Perfectly fine? High captain, it was destroyed by those madmen!" "Then explain to me why is it sitting in the docks currently? I'm not giving you another ship, not when you have your old one still!" At first, it was confusion. Then, came the realization as to what this could possibly mean. No doubt, as far as she knew it only meant one thing: [B][I]They are here[/I][/B]. This unsettling revelation hit her harder than any bullet she's been shot with. She knew it was them. It had to be. Her ship was left behind on Karbala as nothing more but a crashed wreck. How else could it have arrived? She started feeling uneasy. She started sweating, her knees started buckling, her hands started shaking, and the need to faint is overtaking her. Hynam noticed, and gave her some drugs in order to make her feel better. "Here. Take some of these. Now, leave me alone and go relax will you?" "T-Thanks, high captain..." She tried to bow as she left, but almost fell over. The drugs her boss drowned her face in are starting to take effect. She couldn't focus, and what a horrible time it was to be under the influence, at the same time a group of insane zealots tracking her down to kill her. Stumbling out of the door, she tried making her way towards where several other Blackstar pirates were. She had to warn them. She needed to tell them of the danger they're all in. But, of course, it's hard to tell where you're going when you're drugged out to the point right and left are exactly the same. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [quote]Meanwhile, not too far away.[/quote] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fLpkhDYy70[/media] Moonlight illuminated the barren and empty streets below. Not a soul was wandering about, not a single person mingling on the road. The only movement came from the eyes of guards posted about the place, diligently scanning around for any uninvited intruders intending to bother or harm any of the high captains and VIPs. Indeed, this area was a cordoned off section of Rook’s Wharf where the high captains could stay away from the rest of the pirate rabble and have their privacy. Two guards sat across from eachother at a table. It was littered with playing cards, burned out cigarettes, and bottles of alcohol. Both of them were goofing off as neither of them were expecting any kind of company. They were informed only one person was invited in the past hours for a meeting with the high captain of Blackstar, and they were already inside. But still, someone walked past them towards the main entrance. “Hey, cunt! This is private property, so bugger off!” They didn’t listen. They were too busy trying to pry open the hand scanner to the entrance door. One guard raised his gun while the other walked towards the intruder. “You deaf? He said get the fuck out of here!” Still, no reply from the stranger. One of the guards seized him by the shoulder. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” It finally replied. “Trespassing.” "You motherfuck-" [B][I]*THWIP!* [/I][/B] Two bullets from above pierced the night air, lodging themselves firmly into the skulls of the two guards with enough force that the one by the stranger's head exploded, sending several pieces of chunky red kibble all over the stranger. "Typhon, you fool! Look at this! My vest is ruined now!" whispered the stranger into his helmet radio. "Perhaps you should've been wearing a raincoat, Nergal!" came the response. "Enough! Let's hide the bodies before the other guards notice!" said another. Again from above, two shadows dropped from a balcony up high. Together, they took the bodies of the guards and dumped them in a nearby trash bin, save for one of their severed hands. A thick, bloody, meaty slap hit the hand scanner, opening the entrance doors. Nergal could hardly contain his excitement, while Typhon kept calm and alert. Meanwhile, Amon went back up on the balcony with his radio and rifle in order to keep an eye out for the two as they advanced inward. In near pitch black conditions while hunting a target that knows they're coming for them, greatly outnumbered and outgunned, surrounded by enemies at every turn, and no option to escape off-world should they be detected. The Quds were in their element. Down in an alley, not too far away, three guards were walking towards their posts. "Oi, Jack! You got a light?" said one. Another one next to him tossed him his lighter. "Cheers, man." He took a big puff before turning back to the others with him. "Say, you heard about what happened about that Bloodrunners ship?" "The one that warped into Ayr space?" replied another. "Yeah. They said it was carrying something weird that left the pit, but lost it when they fucked up their warp." "Man, I pity them. Those idiots just haven't been the same since Mad Doc got killed." "Yep. Ain't that some shit-" [I][B]*SHUNK.* [/B][/I] Before he could finish, something from the shadows leaped out before him. A machete plunged itself through the back of his head, the very tip protruding between the eyes. Just as suddenly as he was attacked, his body was yanked into the night, only a splattering of blood where it once stood. "What the hell-" A bullet had split his head open. The third one panicked and tried to alert the rest of his comrades, but a well-place shot blew off his arm, a second shot blew his head clean off his shoulders shortly after. The confirmation came through. "Dead. Move up." Nergal and Typhon continued stalking until they reached an open area with no cover. Should they be discovered out in the open, they'd be dead meat. Amon suggested a different course of action. "Too risky. Move through the buildings to the right instead." More company waited for them inside. The room was full of pirates gathered together for whiskey and cigars. A mini celebration was happening tonight to honor one of them. "Now I propose a toast to Dekker!" One pirate lifted his bottle. "Congratulations on getting your own squad after what happened last night!" Another wasn't so supportive. "Yeah, big shit. Anyone could do that." "I'm a bit out of the loop here. What happened?" "Basically, two Tahmk were fighting over to eat some dude's dead body. So Dekker's had enough of their shit, and he goes up to one of them and kicks them right in the-" The door was kicked with enough strength it flew off it's hinges. Inside stepped a pirate with a knife at his neck, held by a very pale looking man. Simultaneously, they all raised their guns, pointing them at the head of the intruder. "Who the fuck are you!?" barked one. "Someone who will kill this man if you do not back away!" it replied as it moved up the wall, making the pirates step back in order to keep this distance. Unfortunately, this put them in front of a window, in the sight of Amon and Typhon. Before they could notice their mistake, a hailstorm of projectiles cut them down, finished by Nergal slicing his hostage's neck. Another room cleared, but many more to go. The Quds continued in their advance until they saw something... strange. Something was shambling their way. The night time conditions made it hard to tell what it was exactly, but it looked like something hooded and dressed in rags desperatley trying to walk in a straight line. "Amon, are you seeing this?" "I cannot. You're in a spot I can't see. Proceed with caution." ---------------------------------------------------------------- Hanai could see the air itself move around her as she tried getting off the floor. The walls pulsated and breathed, the pipes and wires flying overhead beat like veins, and her own reflection on the wet floor simply laughed at her. But there was something she could make out however, something sticking out from this surreal scene. It looked like someone sleeping on the ground, draped in a red blanket. Hanai kneeled down and tried to wake this man up to see if he could help her back to her cabin. "E-Excuse me, sir!". But there was no response. An ominous shadow cast itself above her, making her turn around in surprise. A man with skin as white as snow stood tall in front of her, and as sudden as he appeared, seized her by the shoulders and slammed her against the wall. Instinctivly, she grabbed his helmet and tried shoving him away to no avail though it did manage to take off his helmet. In that split second as he tried to put it back on, she got an idea. She pulled out the bags of red dust Hynam gave her and threw it at his exposed chest and head. More than a handful got caught in his mouth and nose, causing him to cough and hack as she tried running away. But as she did, another pale man saw her and shot her in the leg, causing her to fall. Nergal managed to get his helmet back on and leaped onto Hanai. "Hello, beautiful!" He reeled his head back... [I][B]*THWACK!* [/B][/I] Out with a headbutt. Everything went black. Negal hoisted up Hanai's body over his shoulder. "Amon, I-I have her...". The dust was kicking in. The sensations making him feel like vomiting. "Shoot her! Quickly! Shoot her and leave! The others have found the bodies, you need to leave!" stressed Amon. "Nergal! We have company!" screamed Typhon. Shouting voices of different languages and the sounds of stampeding groups could be heard from the streets around them. Typhon sprinted as fast as he could to the exit, but noticed too late Nergal wasn't following. "Where are you!? What are you doing!?" Amon and Typhon screamed at him over comms, but there was no reply except for panted breathing and growling. "Damn you, Nergal!!" Amon checked his tracker, but only saw him and Typhon's blips appearing on it. Nergal was nowhere to be seen neither on the tracker or with his binoculars. He had disappeared into the night, taking Hanai with him.

[quote]Meanwhile on Gryphon IV Sector 7D "Hell's Bridge" SDF Bunker #278-A[/quote] Lieutenant Alyssa Labelle fired a short burst, striking down one of the enemy shock troopers advancing across the bridge. The enemy returned fire only to have all their shots scatter across the torned up concrete structure of the bunker. She muttered several unflattering words as she dumped her spent magazine on the floor and switched it with a fresh one. She only had one more magazine left. She wasn't the only one. The squad had been stuck inside the bunker at Hell's Bridge for three days with their reinforcements having been re-routed to support a failing hardpoint of the SDF defense line miles away. With no support but a battered tank, two LMG teams and a couple of OMS troopers Alyssa and her squad had long since abandoned the idea of fighting in shifts. The Fists of Sol were rushing the bridge and that meant all hands on deck for the SDF defenders. Khergian rock music blared from one of the bunker's speakers while the two LMGs were sending hailstorm after hailstorm of bullets into the Fists' lines. The sound of a Khergian woman growling was quickly overpowered by the tank as it launched three missiles at one of the Fist ASVs attempting to speed across the bridge. It was a bottleneck, a slaughterhouse and a fucking mess. One of the marines cried out in pain as a plasma projectile struck his helmet, melting his left ear. One of the OMS troopers responded with comforting words and a truckload of biofoam. "You're marine damnit! Get back up [b]now![/b]" [i]"Enemy mechanized platoon BREAK supported by heavy armor in range within eight mikes, over."[/i] Echoed the radio across the bunker. Corporal William Shaun cursed several times before hitting the 'send'-button. "Command this is Griffin Delta, we're not gonna be able to hold out against an enemy force of that size." He looked at his weary comrades. "We're still fighting off the two latest waves, over." Shaun gripped his rifle harder with his other hand as the rest of the squad continued to lay down heavy fire through the portholes. Static could be heard from the radio. [i]"Griffin Command to Griffin Delta. Callsign Broadsword is inbound on your POS. ETA five mikes. You better get the hell out of there while you still can, over."[/i] Alyssa struck down another shock trooper as he tried to move between cover. "Gotch'a motherfucker." She glanced to her left. "Simonov! SITREP!" The squad marksman laughed like a madman. "All green, ma'am!" He shot a medic in the head as he was trying to patch up one of his comrades. "These assholes don't give up, do they?" From the other side of the bunker McVance could be heard chuckling inbetween the sound of his LMG. "They're as tenacious as your deadbeat-wife Simonov!" Alyssa shook her head. "Shaun! News?" Corporal Shaun looked up with a grim expression on his face. "LT! Command is telling us to get the fuck out of here!" The liuetenant shot another soldier before glancing back. "What for?" "They're bombing the fucking bridge. We need to fall back otherwise we're gonna be roasted in five!" In the background a sick guitar solo could be heard accompanied by beating drums. Labelle cursed. "Shit!" She gestured at Simonov. "Simonov! Watch my sector!" Simonov nodded and took up position at Alyssa's porthole as she lowered her weapon and moved back to Shaun. She kneeled down. "As long as we are inside here we can survive a strike. That doesn't apply to the troopers outside so you need to tell them to bounce, ASAP. Leave the tank." Shaun nodded and Alyssa went back to portholes. "Coming up, left side." She said as she took over Simonov's former position. Shaun scrambled to get up, rushing out from the bunker's rear exit and into the trenches surrounding it. Outside he found the OMS captain, currently bandaging one of his men. "Captain! New orders!" The captain looked up. "Receiving." The guitar solo ended and the growling resumed. "Command is telling us to fall back. They're bombing the bridge in four mikes. The LT is gonna make a last stand inside the bunker while everyone here falls back." The captain nodded and stood up, letting a marine medic tend to the wounded. "Understood. We'll be out. Anything else?" "Leave the tank." --- Even at an altitude so far up into the sky the sound of battle echoed from the valley below. Broadsword activated the enhanced dampeners and armed his payload. "This is Broadsword. Heavy payload inbound on sector seven delta. Any friendlies in the area, over?" The comms sparked to life. Static and gunfire could be heard. [i]"Broadsword this is Griffin Delta. We're holding ground on the northern end of the bridge, over."[/i] "Roger that Griffin Delta. Payload coordinates is danger close. Hold onto your helmets down there." Broadsword began his descent to the bridge below, flying at a supersonic speed. The targeting computer to his left alerted him that he was currently at an optimal strike course that would guarantee mission success and maximize enemy casualties. It did not account for friendlies. --- Shaun joined the rets of his squad in the defense of the bunker. Outside their fellow soldiers had already put a good three-hundred meters between them and the bunker, guaranteeing safety. McVance cranked up the volume to max, airing the sound of Khergian metal to the other side of the bridge. Footsoldiers from the Fists of Sol gained more ground by the second now that there were no machineguns nor tanks firing at them. Enemy officers yelled for their squads to rally and push the bunker sitting on the hill infront of them. Suddenly the sky itself shook as an SDF supersonic bomber appeared. It was heading towards the bridge. Realizing their mistake the soldiers standing on the bridge hurried up, rushing forward to reach the north end before they would be blown to smithereens. "Keep shooting!" Yelled Alyssa. She switched to her pistol and began popping off shots, aiming at the legs of the hostiles in order to make them fall. Broadsword released its payload ontop of the bridge and disappared into the sky. For a second there was only silence. Then the bomb detonated, erasing the bridge from existence. The shockwave sent soldiers, wrecks and rocks flying in all directions. "Get down!" Inside the bunker everyone dropped to the floor. For some it was too late. McVance was struck by a rock, giving him a severe concussion followed by even more pain as he collapsed onto the floor. Shaun fared the worst, just as he was about to get down a piece of metal tore away his lower left arm and half his rifle with it. The Khergian music continued to play as Alyssa and Simonov applied a tourniquet to Shaun, preventing him from bleeding out. In the background a new song started to play, a song about a squad of militiamen holding their ground against the onslaught of the Collective against all odds.

The truck rumbled along the bumpy road which snaked down the side of the valley to Vostokrebh, providing a good view of the previous night's damage. The fires had badly damaged two smaller buildings, but the headquarters remained intact, and work was already underway to get the comm centers up and running again properly so that its operators would no longer need to work in the inadequate backup facilities. A broken window at the hospital had been patched with a large sheet of plywood, and a charred out shell of a tank stood as the only other reminders of what had happened there. Of course, the Viokhmar was the most expensive loss of the battle. While Vixe sat wondering what she would do now that she was in safe hands, the driver did something surprising and switched on the civilian-band radio, tuning into one of the two local INTERGALACTICA stations, which was broadcasting in Khergian. Few of the kanads in the vehicle could understand what was being said, but nobody would have been able to decipher the human trade language on the other channel except maybe one of the Bureau II agents. Quickly, they realized the broadcast was discussing the attack on Vostokrebh, and a soldier in the back of the truck began giving summarized translations into Kanad. "[...They're saying... 'khergian-lead assault backed by mercenaries... notorious 'Bloody Fox...' to rescue... illegal prisoners... heavy casualties... [I]-on our side-[/I] ...two different narratives... ...Collective calling it a 'terrorist attack' ...mercenary-lead, khergian backed ...reprisal for ...police actions. Fate of Yanim Terika unknown... Intelligence warns of new threat... 'Killer-Gemini...']" "[Looks like neither side is being honest,]" Vixe remarked. "[I think I know what they're talking about with that Killer-Gemini matter. Lieutenant Ryvik claimed he got into a fight with an 'assassin' that followed him all the way from Stalnazyp to the Viokhmar. He was terrified of her; I saw her on camera, too.]" The Bureau II officers shifted uncomfortably. "[She's still in the area. Several of the first responders to the Viokhmar got picked off.]" "[Doesn't she look just like Terika?]" one of the soldiers gossiped. "[Yeah,]" Vixe replied. "[Maybe it's a clone or something. I'm more worried about the real thing, to be honest. She wasn't dead when we abandoned the wreck, and considering what her team has managed to do in the past, I wouldn't count her out.]" "[Oh! That reminds me!]" one of the agents said. "[One of our best surgeons survived a close brush with her. She's the only one who was there for Terika's interrogation who's still alive,]" he explained, excitedly. "[We might find out where the enemy is hiding once she comes out of her coma.]"

[QUOTE]Meanwhile, on an Upyri-held station in the eastern Renegade Quadrant...[/QUOTE] "[Welcome aboard Vizra Station, gentlemen.]" said the Upyri scientist, greeting a pair of Naval Troopers as they stepped off the platform onto the elevator. ONI had specifically requested that the pair of Troopers, Bott and Fiedler, be brought to Vizra Station, due to their engagement and knowledge of the parasite attack on Durakas, of which they were the only survivors. They wanted to know everything that Bott and Fiedler knew about the creatures. How they acted, how they possessed things, what the creature in the vat looked like, how the man they fought acted and looked like. [I]Everything.[/I] In exchange, Bott and Fiedler would be promoted and assigned to duties away from the frontlines, which both of them really wanted after the shit they had gone through. The elevator lurched its way downward, decending into the stations bowels. The station itself was scientific in nature, meant to study creatures and objects discovered in the Renegade Quadrant. Its close proximity to Ker and other fortress worlds in the area meant that if they needed assistance, they could get it fairly quickly. Be it defense from pirates, or something inside the station. There was a detachment of Naval Troopers aboard the station, though, just in case something did happen aboard the station. They could deal with the problem while they waited for reinforcements. Eventually the elevator came to a stop, and off stepped Bott and Fiedler, following the scientist that had greeted them. He escorted them to the administration floor of the station, where they were greeted and given the proper authorization to move about the station. Next, they were taken to an observation room, overlooking the room where the parasites that they had captured on Durakas were being held and tested on. So far, the scientists' findings were simple. The parasites felt the compuslive need to attack, burrow into, and dwell inside other organic beings. They also seemed to dislike extremely hot temperatures. When prodded with a thermal lance, the parasites seemed to curl up into a ball. When the lance was pressed against them for long periods of time, the sticky outer shells would harden, effectively trapping it inside its own exoskeleton. Fiedler and Bott would go on to explain the things they noticed in regards to how the creatures acted back on Durakas. "[The man we encountered...he wasn't able to speak. Acted sort of like a zombie. I think they disable the higher brain functions of the hosts that they burrow into.]" said Fiedler. "[Very interesting. We've noticed that they behave almost like insects outside of a host. They scurry around in containment, and seem to communicate with one another.]" replied one of the scientists, gazing down through the observation window into the labs. [QUOTE][video=youtube;BCvSbWRf0g8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCvSbWRf0g8[/video][/QUOTE] The conversation regarding the parasites would last for at least an hour, before an alert sounded off. Originating from the lab itself. Apparently during an experiment, one of the creatures had been able to get loose. It attacked one of the scientists, burrowing into his chest and effectively 'killing' him. During the commotion, he had allowed the containment cell to remain open, letting the other parasites inside loose. "[Ah fuck, not again.]" muttered Bott. Fiedler looked to the scientist, who seemed relatively calm about the ordeal. "[The Troopers aboard the station will handle it. We will alert a local fortress world, though, for reinforcements.]" said the scientist, with a nod. Fiedler, however, didn't seemed all that calm about it. "[I hope the Troopers have flamethrowers then, from what you've told me about these things.]" "[Better. Plasmathrowers.]" stated the scientist.

[QUOTE]Gibel, at the top floor of the Zuggurat[/QUOTE] Nathaniel continued to observe the events unfolded on Prospera. Reports of the situation continued to be grim and it looked like they could have identified the terrorists. When he heard the possibility of Creed, his anger swelled. The same bastards that took everything from him at a young age now dared to come to him again. If he wasnt tied to being here until the Executor would come back, he would have left for Prospera long ago. While the planet's police force was scrambling to keep the situation under control, he had been assembling a strike team from the forces they had stationed there. On one of the screens, the Reaper in charge of the group was receiving his commands. "What are the chances for you to pull this off with zero civilian casualties?" The Reaper couldn't answer before they were both interrupted by Mordecai entering the room. "Nathaniel, I'll be handling the situation from here on out." Stern and confident as always, Nathaniel thought "I need you on a ship and joining the fleet. I chose you to win a war, not sit here and babysit a gambling planet." "Executor, before I go, there is a situation on Prospera that is..." "I know, I was briefed on the way here. Now please, do hurry up." Nathaniel saluted before leaving the room. Now the conversation was between him and the officer. Mordecai looked over the names of potential candidates for the strike team and then looked towards the Reaper "Looks like my Horseman favored you to take charge, so I will trust his judgment. What's your name, son?" "Slade Beckwith, sir." "Alright, your orders are as follows. Identify your enemy and eliminate with extreme prejudice. I don't want any of those rats escaping you. Am I clear?" Slade simply nodded "Good. I'd hate to be disappointed" --- [QUOTE]On board the Starving buzzard[/QUOTE] After their last mission, the Vultures were granted leave. That was the case for most of them at least. As requested by Archangel, Specter and Countess stayed on board the ship to oversee and test improvements to the ship. The trio stood on the bridge when a notification for a call caught Specter's attention. "Arc got somebody on the line for you." Specter spoke up over the comms "Reaper priority. It's from Rigel? Did somebody get their snowman knocked over?" "Can it, Specter. Just patch them through." A second later, the holographic image of the Death Vigil officer appeared. To the organic crew's surprise, he was a Turl'nir. While insectoid species in the Vigil's ranks weren't unheard of, not many of them made it past the rank of sergeant. "Horseman Archangel, a pleasure. I come with you with news regarding the Bloody fox and her crew." He made chittering and clicking noises as he spoke, somewhat unnerving Specter "Our informant from the Omega brothers reports that the crew managed to not only assault the Stalnazyp base and free the prisoners there, but they managed to force a ship to crash right on top of it." "Are they there now?" "No, Horseman. They left hours ago. The local news is in chaos trying to pass on their version of what actually happened and many of the stationed UGC personnel are dead, so we cannot perform a proper search ourselves. " He chittered shortly awaiting a response. "Very well. If something else about that crew shows up, I want to be notified." The commune was cut and the hologram disappeared. "So what now, boss?" Countess asked, "Do we go to Rigel and look for clues?" "No point in doing that, but we can do something else." "What are you doing, Arc?" "The Omega brothers have been kind enough to supply us with some their contact information. Congratulating them on their victory seems appropriate." [QUOTE]To Captain Caine of the Muramasa We wish to congratulate you and your crew on a successful mission. Job well done! We understand going up against the UGC wasn't an easy decision to make, but hopefully, your band of outlaws and degenerates enjoyed themselves among all that death and destruction. Doubtful that the loverboy approved, but he didn't seem the bigger picture type. We'd also like to share that there are no grudges regarding the Archive piece. Seeing as it's in our possession now. As always, it's been a pleasure, but we must cut this short. But now you know where to find us if you wish to continue. Your friends, The Vultures PS-Mad dog was really nice to talk with. Kind enough for a picture even. [/QUOTE] "And now we wait for an angry response."

As Taylor let the others talk over their feelings and thoughts on the matter of Seth's proposal, her holotablet vibrated in her pocket. A message? She drew out her holotablet, turning it on and checking. Yeah. It was a message alright. From those Death Vigil goons. She remembered the conversation she had with her mother where she mentioned that Archangel had came by. And she was still furious about it. She opened the message, reading over it as she leaned forwards in the captain's chair. A moment later, her face bore an expression of intense, boiling rage. The Vultures and Archangel knew about their actions on Rigel. That wasn't what had infuriated her, though. That metal bastard had attached a picture he had taken with her mother to the message. She muttered a string of expletives, the words seething through her teeth as she looked at the picture. The feud was between the two of them, Archangel and Taylor. Her mother had nothing to do with it, but he insisted on bringing her into this. She knew it was just to poke and prod at her, and she knew that Miranda could take care of herself. She had been doing so for well over fourty or fifty years now. That didn't stop Taylor from getting upset, though. He should have left her fucking mother out of it. She typed a simple statement in reply, then sent it off. [QUOTE]To: Archangel The next time I see you, I'm breaking your other arm. [I]And the rest of your fucking body, too.[/I] That's a promise. [B][I]Stay the hell away from my mother.[/I][/B] - Taylor Caine[/QUOTE]

[Quote][/Quote] [Quote][Img]http://www.conceptart.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1903252&d=1391415122[/Img] [Quote]"About..say about 100 or so years ago from this very day, my own personal committee of my closest advisors had told me, unanimously that I, quote, should pack up and head out elsewhere. Start looking for a merger deal back in Sol or Upyri space. Hell, one of them even told about this big little starting company out on the fringes that said we were just what their boss man was looking for in regards was to a merger. But I simply stared them straight in the face with a puzzled look, they then begin to say that that the Elysian dream was over, it's was dead, gone forever. But I mean after the grand collapse in the 270s, who can blame them? However, what I did next was that I put my foot down and gave each of one of those pencil pushers a good stern look straight in the eyes. I said that we will stay.That we won't turn our heads and abandon this system like what Sol did, or whatever the hell they called themselves back then so many years ago at the first sign of trouble. That I and this corporation that had built was born on in this great system and that instead of falling apart like the plutocracy of a planetary government. That we should stay and rebuild this system, that we shouldn't leave this beautiful star system and surely take the rest of the Elysium's lifeline with us. That we will stay in Piraeus....That we will deny Mr. Harken Saw's bargains of a merger into his bloody empire. That we will hold steadfast on this rock till the very end and prosper. And prosper we sure as hell did." [I]-Edmond, 2384, On the eve of his retirement as CEO of Menelaus Industries, an industry stable of heavy industrial and Starship hardware Gaxalywide.[/I][/Quote][/Quote] [Quote][/Quote] --- [I]2385 Acropolis, High Chairmen Parker Sebastian's Private office[/I] "...So What does all of this mean?" Parker said while arising from his chair within his office, it's window view overlooking the entirety of the dense cityscape that stood over the planet's surface. "Well.." A masked voice said to him, flank by the two ever so familiar metal men. "The Threat: Sigma Prime was grown to a point to where even we may not be able to contain its infectious influence...It continues to subvert and bypass any and all methods of containment, leaving us with little resources to combat outside elements. The possibility of an outbreak has risen....Exponentially." Red said in a humorless voice, his words bringing a strong shock to the High Chairman's face. "I thought that you had every single thing relating to that's thing damned existence destroyed?" The Chairman said with rising anger in his voice, "For the time within the century we have finally gotten this system back on track, sacrificing much to climb out of the horrible pit we've been in since the grand collapse...And now we're back on the tip of destruction once more after of sacrificing much of what we didn't have solely on [B]your[/B] word. Now you can't even properly contain it!? Because if that...Thing ever breaks out-" "I-We all know what would happen sir.." Red hastily said, interrupting the furious Chairman. "For it would assuredly spell the end of the Elysian state, maybe even the rest of the known Galaxy of if our worst predictions are correct." Red said stoically towards the Chairman. Chairman slowly backed away from the red, towards his desk and taking a quick shot of the whiskey on it. His anger slowly giving into that of total despair. The room laid silent for some time, the Chairman turning to look down at merely one of the many massive cities that made up of his realm, Elysium. For the mere thought of losing his power, his people, his family. Shook the normally calm and collected Chairman to his very core for even Argos, the underground network of black ops that always stood one step ahead of everyone else we're truly afraid of this threat. What chance did his Empire really have if his always fatefully shield and sword were powerless to the stop this dreadful storm tearing apart everything he held dear? The Chairman pondered his thoughts as he reached into his coat pockets to find a picture of his wife and children, staring down at them as a tear begin to drop upon it. Staining the worn, yellowed piece of paper. "I'll make a few calls..." Parker said bitterly towards the masked man and his puppet masters as he put the picture back into his coat. "I won't fail my people." Red placed hands behind his back and straighten his stance in face of the Chairman. "And neither shall we."

Captain Connor O'Neill of the Red Corsairs sighed deeply and watched as the rain continued to pour down through the canopy of leaves above. On the ground solid earth turned into a muddy mixture mixed with deep holes of brown water. Great. This is why he hated ground ops. "Captain?" Connor's daydreaming was interrupted by his first mate and second in command Anthrax who stared at him from beneath his mask. "Yes?" Replied Connor. "Our client says we're on the right track. Should be coming up on the temple soon." Connor grunted and looked past Anthrax. Surrounded by a dozen of his men, who were armed to the teeth, was Kendra Raines. A rich archeologist babbling about some "Dirathian relics". Connor didn't care as long as he was paid. He looked at Anthrax. "Alright. Tell the men to stay alert." Anthrax nodded. Despite having done similar trips into the fringes he'd never been this far out. That meant there was no chance of receiving backup if his ship decided to jump. It also meant that there were no medical facilities, no nearby supply caches and that everything not wearing the color of the Red Corsairs was hostile. Be it flesh-eating plants, hyperlethal predators in the trees or nightmarish creatures hiding in the mud everything decreased his, as well as his crew, chances of survival greatly. Then there was the Scourge. He'd never seen them himself, only heard the stories. Hopefully they could get off this planet soon. Kendra looked up from her map and pointed. "That way." Two of the pirates nodded and began to cut down branches using their machetes while another two stayed close with rifles at the ready. It was no secret that the pirates didn't like her but Kendra tried to make the best out of the situation. She had long given up on making jokes after several hostile looks from the crew. She chuckled to herself as she followed the four pirates into the bush. Anthrax, the pirate lieutenant, glanced at her. "Something funny ma'am?" Kendra shook her head. "No, not really." She paused and looked at Anthrax. "It's just that two years ago when I was finishing up my theoretical studies I would never have guessed that a girl like me would travel all the way from Sol into the fringes of the galaxy accompanied by a group of pirates." Anthrax grunted. "Life has its mysteries." Before Kendra could respond one of the pirates stopped. "Look!" Infront of them were a final barrier of vines and bushes blocking their path. On the other side was a clearing with a structure made out of stone. A green crystal appeared to be firmly placed on the top of it. "Looks like the ship scanners weren't too far off." Said Connor. Kendra could barely contain herself as the pirates slashed and cut through the last vines. She almost rushed into the clearing when Anthrax grabbed her. "Wait." He gestured for four pirates armed with rifles to move ahead. They nodded and slowly crept into the clearing, scanning for threats. Several alien birds lifted to the sky as the pirates made their way towards the temple. One of them carefully knocked twice on the hard surface. He glanced back at the rest. "It's real." Kendra sighed. Some relics thought to be connected to the Dirathians found in the past had shown themselves to be advanced holograms, possibly functioning as decoys. One of the other pirates lowered his weapon. "We're clear." Anthrax lifted his hand. "Now you can go."

The door slid open, and Ryvik lifted his head to watch as Constantine stepped into the cell. He was holding a stun baton in his hand and had a pistol strapped to his hip. "Didn't your stooge tell you everything you asked of me?" Ryvik asked, laying flat on his back. "Get out of that bed, no one told you that you can sleep." "I'm not sleeping," Ryvik replied, tartly. "I'm injured." "Are you dying?" Constantine asked, rhetorically. "No." "Then get the fuck out of that bed." "No." Constantine struck him with the baton. Ryvik reflexively clinched up from the shock, and felt the human grab him by his hair. He was jerked out of his bed and painfully dropped on the floor. Constantine then nudged him onto his back using his foot. "Are we done playing games, kanad?" "Akhaaaa..." Ryvik hissed as he rolled over, getting himself up onto his hands and knees. Constantine put his foot in the middle of his back and forced him back down, hard, so that Ryvik's chin hit the metal floor and caused him to cut his gums with his fangs. "I asked you a question, you ugly little freak." "...ask anything..." Ryvik grunted, trying again to roll over. Constantine took a few steps away, giving him room to breathe. "Why were you trying to capture Iska Volgrim?" "Because she's a criminal, an enemy of the Collective, and because we wanted to lure my sister into an ambush." "And once you captured Yanim?" Ryvik wiped the blood away from his mouth before answering. "Interrogation. Except, I'd be the one asking the questions. None of this chemical torture bullshit they put them through." "Oh, so just the regular type, then?" Constantine mocked him. "What about the rest of us?" "We had a theory that if you cut the head off the beast, the rest of it would die out. We didn't care about capturing any of you because we figure you'd scatter and stop being a threat." Constantine rubbed his chin. "So we're not dangerous unless we're assembled?" Ryvik nodded. "None of you were a challenge to the Collective until you became the Belladonna Company. As individuals, you're all pretty much inconsequential. Well, to be honest, we've been a little worried about Valencia Blackwell..." "Has that changed since Vostokrebh?" Constantine interrupted. Ryvik thought about it. "If I had to guess, you'd all still be wanted, but not under active pursuit like you've been. That's assuming you leave Rigel soon. If you don't leave... Well, the local garrison would love to see you all hung, that's for sure." "How soon will they find us?" Constantine demanded. "In a few days, tops," Ryvik replied. "The scouting drones are already looking for this ship, and you're too close to Vostokrebh... If your repairs are going to take a week to make, you're fucked." "Yeah, yeah, just like we were fucked the first two times we fought on this planet." "That's not a question." "Shut up. How large will the assembled force be?" "I don't know," Ryvik replied. "Estimate it!" Constantine yelled. "Fuck, I don't know, anywhere between a hundred and five thousand batakya soldiers? It's impossible to know how much the Black Fleet is going to contribute. I'm not from [I]that[/I] department." Constantine huffed for a moment. "Well, at least János got you talking, even if you've got piss-all to say." "Yeah, well, he's annoying, but he's not an asshole." Constantine struck him with the baton again. "Maybe I am an asshole. But you're getting exactly what you deserve, you goose-stepping motherfucker. Your sister was a killer, but she contributed a million times to this galaxy more than you ever will." "So just kill me, then!" Ryvik yelled back at him. "Stop beating around the bush and-" Constantine struck him repeatedly with the baton, knocking him back to the floor, trying to cover his face with his arms. Ryvik, having not felt a will to fight since his run-in with Beta, experienced a re-ignition which overcame his pain and hesitation. As Constantine's baton fell again, Ryvik seized onto his arm in his left hand, pulling himself in and throwing a haymaker, shocking his human antagonist with a heavy blow to the jaw. While Constantine stumbled backwards, Ryvik let his own hand slide down Constantine's arm until he felt the shaft of the baton, which he gripped before throwing his whole body weight into a leaping kick. His heel landed squarely in Constantine's ribs, but the impact was delayed; Ryvik was close enough that his knee was bent, and he sprung out, tearing the baton loose from Constantine's hand in the process. The two landed on the ground three meters apart from each other. "Goddammit!" Constantine yelled, fumbling for the pistol he brought in for this exact scenario. Unfortunately, he had considered Ryvik's resistance so unlikely that he was caught totally off guard nonetheless. By the time he had retrieved it from its holster and switched off the safety, Ryvik had gotten to his feet and closed on him, smashing his arm with the baton with an agonizing electric shock. Constantine hadn't let go, but his hand was so numb from the zap that he couldn't squeeze his finger, and Ryvik followed it up with two more hammering strikes that caused him to see stars. "H-Help!" Constantine cried out desperately, the gun finally falling out of his now-limp hand. Ryvik slid the pistol across the room with his foot, sending it clacking into the far side of the cell. Then, he finally stopped swinging and simply towered over his foe. "Are you done!?" he roared, seizing Constantine by the collar while holding the baton inches from his eyes. "You can't stop the Collective by beating me senseless, you old pig! I'm only a man; do you hear me? I'm only a man!" He struck the wall next to Constantine's head, causing the baton to spark with a loud pop. He was breathing hard, and the rage was slowly dissipating. The pain from his earlier wounds was coursing through his limbs. "...Now. I'm giving you two choices, human. You can go pick up that pistol and finish me off, or you can release me. Because if you don't do either, [I]I'm[/I] going to get that pistol and shoot us both in the head!"

[quote]CONSTANTINE: Neasha, please come to the brig.[/quote] The serek let out a sigh as she turned away from the workers who were currently preparing to cremate the Boss's remains. She pulled out her tablet and replied, "anything wrong?" [quote]CONSTANTINE: Our prisoner here wants to make a deal with us.[/quote] Neasha rolled her eyes. "Fine, on my way," she said, making her way into the hall, toward the brig. She doubted that Ryvik actually had anything to offer, and wondered why Constantine wasn't just taking it regardless. When she entered the brig, she was shocked to find a pair of SULP employees looking helpless near the cell door, while Ryvik (armed) and Constantine sat inside, staring daggers at each other from across the cell. "What the hell?" she shouted at them through the small window. "Ah, good, you're here," Ryvik replied, smugly. "Mr. Constantine and I have come to a bit of an understanding, here." "Ioannis, did you fucking-" "I'm sorry," he said, angry and humiliated. "Apparently, I got old without noticing." Ryvik cleared his throat. "As I was saying, we have a deal. I need proof that my sister is dead, Miss Kyral. I'll run it back to my 'friends' at the third bureau, [I]personally,[/I] and discourage them from retaliating further against your company. I'll make them believe that you two are more interested in future collaboration than Yanim was. I can't stop the batakya from attacking on their own accord, but at least it improves your chances." Neasha groaned. "And I'm assuming you'll shoot Constantine if I say no..?" "I'll shoot us both, actually," Ryvik replied, dead serious. "Alright," Neasha replied. "You'll get what you want. I'll have my employees take photos before and during the cremation." "The body would be more convincing," Ryvik countered. Neasha shook her head. "Not going to happen. Yanim's ashes are going to be scattered in the desert on Duroma. That's how she always wanted it, and I'm going to respect her wishes. Besides, she's riddled with M-921; the longer she sits there rotting, the more of a bio-hazard her corpse is going to become." "Fine," Ryvik snapped, "then give me her mask and any other distinct personal belongings I can carry."

Vixe exited the base commander's office, a new medal freshly pinned to her chest. "[The investigation into the events on the tundra will continue,]" he told her, "[but we will always acknowledge bravery wherever we see it.]" [I][What about Ryakir?][/I] She thought when he had said it. [I][What about Kyrskada?][/I] She wandered down to the 2nd floor fire escape of the headquarters, which was currently the only accessible entrance as the main one was taped off and being repaired, and looked over the wounded base, watching as the trucks came and went. The door opened behind her, and a human Peacekeeper emerged with a phirin companion. They were speaking a language Vixe didn't recognize, but she heard the name "Viokhmar" and the word "blackjacket" and became attuned to them. Following at a discreet distance, she climbed down the stairs and proceeded toward one of the base's thoroughfares, where a small crowd had gathered to see one of the last returning convoys of trucks pouring in. At the rear, clad in odd, mismatched clothing, Ryvik's clone sat on an open flatbed with a number of other kanads, holding up his sister's mask like a war trophy. Cheers resonated throughout the crowd, but Ryvik wasn't sharing any of the enthusiasm. Vixe was one of the few in attendance who understood why. The trucks came to a halt in the plaza near the HQ, and the soldiers began disembarking into a mob, forming a wedge behind which Ryvik could walk to his own commanders unhindered, carting along a trunk filled with a selection of Yanim's personal belongings, including her original "demon's tail" and her trademark scarf. There was to be no mistaking the legitimacy of Ryvik's claim. As he passed by in seemingly-unbreakable concentration, she called out his name. He glanced over and the two made eye contact briefly, but he didn't stop. Something told her it was better if she didn't get close. She stood there with the crowd for a while, unable to understand most of the chattering going on around her, and continued to wait long after they had dissipated. Only when she was alone again did she feel like moving, and so she shuffled off toward the barracks to check into her temporary sleeping quarters. She felt his journal in her pocket, and thought that now would be a good time to read it. --- Neasha and Constantine spent several hours arguing over the embarrassment of Ryvik's departure between their preparations for the inevitable third battle with the Black Fleet. With the crew's departure, the Aurikha was at its absolute weakest in terms of defenses, but at least they were close to restoring shields so that anything short of an orbital strike would be unlikely to wipe them out immediately. They hadn't had any sleep in more than a day, and tensions were running high. Only at Hestia's repeated urging did they agree to get some sleep. When they awoke several hours later, the situation had deteriorated even further. [quote]February 13th, 2385 Half of the SULP crew has deserted us. Apparently they caught wind of the impending attack and decided that we're a lost cause. Repairs on the ship have slowed to a crawl, and the remaining crew have resorted to breaking open our production crates to arm themselves with TAC rifles and ammunition in case of an attack. Constantine has contacted his allies on Seloveha for guidance regarding the missing employees while I've been trying to arrange contact with the khergian militia. I haven't been able to get in touch with Iska Volgrim, my first inclination, but after some of the reactions I've received, I'm skeptical that we'll receive much help. Maybe I'm just contacting the wrong people; I have to keep trying for the survival of this ship and the company. On a positive note, Ravis woke up again today and his conditions continue to improve. Arkadam also survived a brain biopsy, but only time will tell whether Hestia will be able to culture his cells in the same manner Yanim had done in preparation for her implant two years ago. I really hope he gets better. He keeps pacing the halls, talking under his breath as if he's talking to her... -Neasha Kyral, Terika-Belladonna Company[/quote]

[QUOTE]Aboard the Muramasa II...[/QUOTE] [QUOTE][video=youtube;iin88DxJlpo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iin88DxJlpo[/video][/QUOTE] Music could be faintly heard coming from Valkyrie's quarters, along with an assortment of other noises. She had been working through the night on Alex's new foot, using whatever she could find on the frigate to manufacture a working replacement from scratch. And so far, it was going beautifully. The foot itself was mostly finished, and she just had to construct the plasma cutter that would be implanted inside it. That was gonna be a bit difficult, but nothing she couldn't handle. The only problems she had through the night were her shoulder, which was still healing after the brawl at the base. That'd fade in time, especially since that dose of medical nanomachines were still repairing the tissue that had been damaged by the plasma blade. She glanced over to the blade on the workbench nearby, eyeing the grip. She'd try and tweak it later, maybe reinforce the grip itself and make it actually fit her hand instead of a Kanad's like it was made for. Eventually, she straightened up and flexed her shoulder a bit. Time to take a break. She reached over and tapped her holotablet, effectively muting it, before turning off any equipment she still had running on the bench. She opted to walk around the frigate, looking to see what the others were doing. Maybe get some of her goodbyes in now before she actually left later. She slipped on her jacket, and stepped out into the hallway. The vessel itself was much larger than the others that they had been on, besides the Aurikha, but it didn't bother her really. She had been on much larger vessels before. She walked through the halls of the vessel, before pausing at the bar when she spotted Taylor drinking inside. As Valk walked inside, Taylor glanced back over her shoulder and simply waved the bottle in her hand at her. "Hey." she said, before downing some more of the contents of the bottle. Probably vodka. Taylor was partial to it, so it was fully expected to see her with it if you caught her in the bar. "Figured you'd be up on the bridge." said Valkyrie, walking over. She stepped over behind the bar, grabbing a beer from the fridge and popping the cap off the top using the corner of the bar. "Well, Eve has things taken care of on the bridge. I decided to just...come sit in here." responded Taylor. Valk sat down on a stool next to her, before glancing to her. "So you're leaving, eh? Had your fun and cashing out like Markus? Not really surprised to be honest." said Taylor, as she looked at the bottle sitting before her. "Well, there's a bit more to it than that, you know." responded Valk. Taylor glanced to her. "Like what? You've done this on most of the jobs we've worked together on." "I'm starting my own pirate group. Even got a ship being built for just the occasion. Friend of mine is overseeing it." said Valk, before taking another sip of her beer. Taylor looked to Valk fully. She's actually going to do it? Instead of roaming around and joining every other group and faction in the galaxy? "Well, congrats I guess." said Taylor finally. "Yeah, yeah. Anyway...there was something else I wanted to talk to you about besides that." said Valk. "If you're gonna ask me to join you, I think you know the answer to that." said Taylor, with a bit of a chuckle. Valk chuckled as well. "I'm not that fucking stupid." She took another drink of her beer, before saying "...I'm not gonna bother you anymore. Sure, I'll keep teasing you and such, but I'm not gonna try and fight or kill you anymore. No more grudges between us." Taylor looked confused, looking to Valk yet again. What? Valkyrie was ending their feud? What the hell had come over her? Valk never ended feuds untill she got vengeance. The kanad sergeant was a prime example of it. Valk looked over and noticed Taylor's confusion. "[I]Really[/I] fucking strange coming from me, right? Well...I'll explain it. See, since we've met, we've basically been fighting one another. And its gone nowhere, really. We beat the hell out of one another, leave, meet again a few months later, then beat each other up again. The problem is you've never tried to kill me. Hell, you barely fight back. You teach me a lesson, then leave. There's no real fun in it if I'm the only one in it for the long haul." She sighed, then ran her hand through her hair. "Hell, with the way we screw with one another, we're practically like siblings instead of fucking enemies...so I'm done. I'm not fighting you anymore." Taylor was stunned. "...are you alright? Did you hit your head or something during the crash?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. Valk chuckled. "Relax. I'm not brain damaged any more than I was before. And I'm not sick. I'm still the same bitch you know. I'm just through fighting you. I've got other things to worry about now." Taylor looked at her for a moment, then smiled a little. "Alright. I get it." "Good." said Valk.

[quote]"Half-Way" Orbital Cargo Terminal, western fringe.[/quote] [media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pl_9EJrFqPU[/media] The Steel legion troopers encircled the human while the two Atiuans closed the final gap. One of them was wearing a golden medallion around his neck while the other was taking notes on a tablet. "You can't do this, Sepa! This is my first major haul in months!" the human said in a raised voice. The Atiuan with the medallion put up his hand with a open palm, "In accordance with our agreement, we will confiscate the jump drives and the materials." The human rolled his eyes and threw his arms out, "If you take my jump drives I won't be able to do more runs and..." Sepa turned to his college, "Ttitj uk kiy yotptayp." She started scrolling through files and then spoke up, "Ypayy T, itpetp. Otetpue." Sepa put his arms behind his back, "My associate informs me that you have a class t debt and that you are overdue. And I remind you, in accordance with the contract you signed we can confiscate your possessions should you not pay the agreed upon amount before the agreed upon date." The human shook his head, "By the 9th treaty I, as a independent captain, is exempt from confiscation of my goods if it will cripple my operations." he spat, waiving a finger shakily towards Sepa. Sepa's archivist showed him something on the tablet. "The article you are referring to only accommodates independent fleets. You Fiske, captain or otherwise, are currently only in possession of a single vessel." he continued He motioned to the Steel legion grunts, "Seize the materials and call in a crew to dismantle Captain Fiske's jump drives." Fiske leapt towards Sepa, but was stopped by two grunts, "You fuckers think you can just waltz in and steal from me!?" he screamed as he fought the restraining soldiers. With his unbroken calm, Sepa continued, "You made a mistake that generated a lot of problems and our organization made those problems go away. But it seems patterns are hard to break and that our investment in your operations we're not as fruitful as we had hoped. We are here to reclaim our capital and cease our support. Your payment will be noted in our ledger." Fiske spat on the ground, "But what about the fucking jump drives!? They we're not part of the contract!" he said, wild-eyed and winded. "Our organization have negotiated a new agreement with a more capable individual, the jump drives will be put to better use in their hands." Sepa turned to his college once again, "Otetyee pke ptatyaypiot. I jipp ittots [I]Jester[/I] atoup pke etjitey." he said before making his way out of the hangar.

"Ah, Zadra. Are you ready to greet our Atiuan friends? After all, they're the ones that will be supplying us with proper jump drives for the Guillotine." asked Jester, her blue eyes slowly drifting over to where the Garlon was standing nearby. Zadra Masir was eyeing one of the vessels docked at the cargo terminal, her arms folded as she gazed up at it. Jester smiled. Zadra was the the engineer she had mentioned to Valkyrie, after learning of her extensive skills with vessels of various sizes. A diamond in the rough amongst the Blackstar, and a perfect fit for the Reavers. She was even more interesting to Jester, though, as Zadra was from another galaxy. Much like the Atiuyy that they were planning to meet. Jester admired the way the Atiuyy handled everything, really. Everything was done in strict order, it seemed, and focused on financial gain. Contracts were issued, and enforced to the letter. She had dealt with them before, back when she was a bit more organic so many years ago. Though her previous dealings with them had lead to a less than fruitful payoff, thanks to a certain famous bounty hunter, she expected the payoff for this to be much better. Especially considering who would be running the show. She pondered, though, if they would have the materials to construct a special sort of engine she had just happened to have located the schematics for. As she stood there, she glanced around a bit. A few of the workers in the area gave her odd looks followed by terrified expressions. She was surprised that people knew of her way out here on the western fringe. Of course, she was a wanted terrorist across most of the galaxy, but the Federation loved to tack on that little charge of serial killer. As some stared at her, she returned the gaze and a disturbing smile creeped across her face. They twitched, and quickly returned to their duties. Zadra finally decided to walk back over to where Jester was standing. "So why did you need to bring me along? There were some issues I was assisting with back at the shipyard." she asked, slipping her hands into her jumpsuit's pockets. Jester returned her attention to her. "I brought you along so you could inspect the jump drives once they're delivered. You're much more informed of their inner workings than I am, my dear." said Jester, tilting her head slightly and smiling at Zadra. "How are you even going to pay for them?" asked Zadra, raising an eyebrow. She knew a little about the Atiuyy. Mainly that they dealt with contracts and you had to haggle for deals since most of them charged obscene prices to begin with. "With credits, of course. After living as long as I have, and doing what I do, you tend to gather a decent sum of money. I also called in a few favors from people that owed me." replied Jester. That's how this whole picture was coming together. Jester was collecting.

Sepa entered the hangar and stopped in the doorway. Taking out small tablet from his pouch, he read a few lines and walked over to Jester and Zadra. With a long gaze he eyed the engineer and then turned to Jester, "Our agreement did not encompass a second party in our negotiations." he spoke calmly.

[QUOTE]"Our agreement did not encompass a second party in our negotiations."[/QUOTE] "Indeed. She's not part of the negotiations. Merely here to examine the jump drives for me. She's my chief engineer, you see." said Jester, glancing to Zadra before looking back to Sepa. She shifted her stance a bit, continuing to keep her arms crossed behind her back. "Shall we begin the negotiations?"

Sepa squinted "This is a breach of protocol..." he said but then relaxed, "However, our organization has several investors whom are interested in this operation. I will make an exception... [I]this time.[/I]" Tapping the tablet, he brought up the scans for the jump drives and handed it to Jester, "The object is a standard Anvar K-16. We will try to procure something of higher standards until a later date for a additional fee. This will do for now, as our executives have stressed that the operations ought to commence as soon as possible, as per our earlier negotiations."

Jester looked over the scans, as Zadra stepped up next to her to see. Everything looked to be in order, and it looked as though it work work for the time being, until something better was aquired such as the warp drives she planned to have built. K-16s were rather reliable for the most part, and were usually found on most larger scale vessels throughout the galaxy. Once Zadra gave her a thumbs-up, Jester smiled. "Very good." she said, before handing the tablet back.

Sepa took his tablet and began tapping in details regarding the trade. "I will notify the crew to bring the engine here once they are finished." Putting the tablet away, he the focused on Jester, "But I must remind you that your beneficieries will not have patience for long. This is the final transaction you will conduct with us. Next time you wish to do business I expect you to have something to show for it and I also expect your commander to be there in person."

"Oh, I'll have something to show for it. Don't worry. As for...my commander, she's currently finishing up some business elsewhere. She will be with me next time." said Jester, with a bow. Rather agitated, it seems. The favors she cashed in on seemed to have poked and prodded at some sensitive strings. She was practically beaming inside, taking delight in the pressure. She knew how the Atiuyy were. Don't pay, they repossess. Or worse. Lucky for Jester, she never liked to owe people. She liked when people owed her. The last time she had worked together with the Atiuyy, she made damn sure she paid everything off. This will be no different. "My apologies if I've caused you any discomfort." she said, with her trademark smile.

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