• Starpath: Scoundrels of the Interstellar Highway - Thread 2
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Sting turned slowly, having a feeling something was watching her. In the distance, she spotteda great giant in a comically small fortress. But there was something amiss. She looked down and grabbed her tanktop, staring intensly at the print. [I]Aww hell, that sumbitch is after the flag![/i] In a grandiose, or at least somewhat coordianted fashion, she fell backward and threw her hat into her pit. Sting then rolled over on her stomach and clumsily took her guns out of their holsters. With erratic movements, she crawled flat on her stomach towards the safety of her constructed dwelling. In what was meant as a scream, but escaped her as a wheeze, she said, "Circle up them fuckin wagons, pilgrims" before tumbling head first into the pit.
Seth chuckled "Been a while, she says. Last time I stopped by the bureau for a job, I was what? 10? Been a minute." Amy on the other hand had a hard time trying to say anything. There she was, Mad dog, the legend. Just standing there having a casual chat with everyone. Thoughts on what to say just kept beating back and forth in her head. Act cool. No, more natural. No, more laid back. In reality she still hadn't changed much after getting over her initial excitement. But that was getting harder and harder to maintain.
[QUOTE]"Been a while, she says. Last time I stopped by the bureau for a job, I was what? 10? Been a minute." [/QUOTE] "Really fucking long minute, then." she replied, with a chuckle of her own. She then returned her attention to Taylor and Ira. "Glad to see you two got off Rigel safe and sound. How's things?" Taylor drank a bit more of her screwdriver, before answering. "Well, alright at the moment. We got that frigate parked out there, and we were talking to Seth about a job. And the possibility of getting our UGC bounties removed." "Ahhh. That's good. The faster those bounties are gone, the better." replied Miranda, with a nod. She glanced over to Alex and Amy. Must be some of Taylor's crew. She then noticed that Amy seemed to want to say something, but was forcing herself not to. Taylor glanced over and noticed as well. Then she remembered that Amy was a fan of Miranda, and a grin creeped across her face. "Oh, mom. This is Alex and Amy. Amy's a pretty big fan of you." she said, before taking another sip from her glass. - - - - - - - - - - - - Valkyrie finally returned to the beach after a few more waves, carrying her surfboard as she strolled through the sand. Apparently Karl was building sand castles while Sting was creating a foxhole...or just a hole in general. She returned the board to the shop she had rented it from, then decided to go shopping. The sidewalk was lined with stores, so there was plenty to choose from. And at the moment, she was looking for more clothes. Mainly shirts and such. Best place would be one of the larger stores, since they'd probably have a better selection. She walked till she found herself stepping into a weird sandcastle shaped building. The old music it was blaring out of its speakers made her wince a bit, as it wasn't really great in quality. She did like the song, though. [QUOTE][video=youtube;Fi343_tl3kU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fi343_tl3kU[/video][/QUOTE] Inside, she looked at the various racks of clothes and trinkets. A surf shop, of course, being full of both as well as various other shit that one really wouldn't need on any other type of world. As she looked about, she spotted Ravis. Still in his uniform from the ship. She raised an eyebrow. Must be shopping for other clothes, and the employee only seemed to be confusing him. She walked over, stepping up next to him and patting his shoulder. "I'll help you, out. C'mon." she said, cutting a look towards the employee before looking back to Ravis. This would be her good deed for the day.
"Oh, uh, excuse me..." Ravis said as Valkyrie pulled him aside. "Hello, miss! Welcome to Sandy Randy's! Finding everything alright?" he asked despite fully knowing she had [I]just[/I] walked in the door. The look she gave him told him to butt out, and he nodded and turned away, actually looking relieved as the fake smile disappeared for a moment. Quickly, Ravis and Valkyrie were out of earshot and able to shop in peace. "Thanks," Ravis said, not sure how else to put it. "I don't do well with, uh, sales... salespeople. I just want to feel comfortable, you know, out on the sun... the beach, I mean, the beach, heh heh." Ravis seemed to wince at his own awkwardness.
[QUOTE]"Thanks. I don't do well with, uh, sales... salespeople. I just want to feel comfortable, you know, out on the sun... the beach, I mean, the beach, heh heh."[/QUOTE] "Eh, its fine. Not a fan of salespeople either. They run their mouth and try to get you to buy practically everything under the sun. Anyway..." she said, glancing over to where the employee had been before looking back to Ravis. "So you want comfort...well, something loose fitting and bright colored, since its hot weather. White, tan, yellow, pink, green, and so on. Brighter the better. Reflects the sunlight so you don't fucking roast in your own clothing." she said, tugging at the neon green bikini top she was wearing. The concept of a bat trying to be comfortable in the sun was a bit funny to her, but she kept it to herself. She motioned to a rack of clothes nearby, which featured a line of brightly colored shirts. "Could check through those. See if you like anything."
János left the cell, watching as Constantine stepped in, holding a stun baton in his hand. As the door closed, he laid his back on a neighbouring wall, listening in as Constantine threatened Ryvik. Ryvik's tartly reply followed by the impact sound of the baton striking the kanad, it prompted him to get off the wall and head towards the medbay, as to get Ryvik some medical supplies. While he was at the medbay, he checked in with Ravis to see that he was recovering well, though still not awake. As he returned to the Brig with supplies in hand, he instead found Neasha and Constantine arguing over something that shocked him - Ryvik's release. While he was assured that he wasn't to blame due to his absence during the hostage situation, he still felt some partial responsibility over what happened. While he was given access to his warden rights onboard prior to the two going to sleep, János still worried over the rising tensions. By the time the two awoke once more, on the 13th, things weren't so pretty. Constantine was trying his damnedest to organize a defense force for the ship. He knew he had to help him in some fashion, and so, went to the one person that he knew that could possibly offer their services. He approached Thommas' cell, and knocked to alert the ex-Heavy Vulture of his presence. He proposed to him the idea of assisting the Aurikha in its coming defense, and that in return he would try to negotiate something for him, whether it be a job or even freedom. To János' surprise however, Thommas refused. Despite being possibly more than three weeks under his wardenship, he remained steadfast in his loyalty to Mordecai, unwilling to risk his life for the TBC and stating that the very act of aiding what the Vigil called an "enemy of the state" would be high treason. Responding in a disappointed manner, he left the Brig and headed to assist in the defense of the ship, partaking in a role that he had grown comfortable with, fire suppression via his MAWS' machine gun mode. By the end of the defense, he both regretted his decision to help in this manner and was relieved in a way, considering what Neasha had told him the day prior. The clean-up was just dreadful, but he tried his best to assist. He did grab some minor kanad gear as a memento of the event though. Despite how long the clean-up took, in the week since the defense, he had managed to completely finish his report on Ryvik, though understandably he received the subreport he requested from Constantine a bit late. He spent his time, for the most part, in his Brig office, where he sifted through the ship's intranet to find any info on Chemosh, Moloch and the Children of God - Neasha wasn't lying when she said that it would be a pain to sift through though. It was going to take a while to sift through it all, but fortunately, Intergalactica reported that Wave Galaxias had delayed the re-opening of Pakihi due to "unexpected environmental changes", according to their planetologists, so he didn't mind it as much. At the same time, however, he made sure to check up on Ravis regularly, practically hanging out with him, as the lirya continued to recover. Their last few hangouts occurred in János' office, as Ravis got used to his leg brace, and earlier today, as the two spoke to one another, Ravis reminded the android that he was probably going to join the Muramasa, which the Aurikha should be catching up to. The two shared a goodbye hug, as János wished him good luck, and to greet everyone for him. Right now, János is still in his office, sifting through that intranet. He decided to put some music on, to lighten up his mood, seeing as he didn't have anyone to really talk to. [video=youtube;RM8fef8UC9U]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RM8fef8UC9U[/video] What could he say? If there was one thing that had grown on him during the course of his time as a TBC warden, it was instrumental hip hop.
Ravis gingerly thumbed through the neatly-displayed shirts and shorts until he felt confident that he was blending in. Quickly, he had selected a pair of white and black checkerboard boardshorts, a few pairs of ordinary walk shorts, three pairs of jeans, expensive sunglasses which were more like goggles, complete with an elastic strap, two pairs of sneakers, a pack of cheap boxer shorts and some very colorful socks. The only problem, which Valkyrie picked up on, was that Ravis needed shirts that would either accommodate his wings, such as a Y-back tank top, or that could be modified to do so. That took a long time to figure out, and tried both of their patience. They even ended up searching in the women's section. After two hours of intense shopping, Ravis walked into the street having purchased eight hundred credits' worth of clothes and accessories. "Thanks again," he said, pulling the goggles over his eyes. "I look fresh as hell," he joked, laughing awkwardly. "You know, I've never owned clothes from the 'west.' Everything I lost came from the Collective. I- I looked like a real worker drone. I'm not sad I lost it all. So... thanks!" he repeated with a grin.
[QUOTE]Oh, mom. This is Alex and Amy. Amy's a pretty big fan of you.[/QUOTE] "H-h-hi!" Amy barely managed to squeeze out. Alex didn't say anything. He was having too much fun in expense of his sister. "Taylor, there is another thing." Seth said before drinking again."Orso told me one of your scientists wanted to come with us to Boome. A girl named Amelia. She with you?"
Karl could hear the sound of Sting clumsily taking cover. [i]"Shit."[/i] He carefully grabbed some seaweed to camouflage his head before slowly poking up. "Sting, if you're going to shoot me: don't. I think it would ruin our friendship." He glanced at the sea. "Also you'd have no ammo left for the pirates coming in from the ocean." While waiting for Sting to answer Karl grabbed more seaweed to enhance his camouflage while also using wet sand to hide his face. This was the essence of wilderness survival. A true sign of a hunter who adapts to his surroundings. This was peak performance. ----- Ira listened to the conversation silently. When Miranda briefly looked at her Ira made a sign. [i]We need to talk later.[/i] She hoped that her mother would understand her behaviour. ----- On the other side of the room at a small table with minimal light sat a Human in a plain white summer shirt, khaki-colored combats and with sunglasses covering his eyes. While he stirred his drink he watched Seth carefully. "Sigma Alpha to Sigma Bravo. Target has made contact with secondary objectives. Primary plan appears to be in motion." He took a sip before putting down the glass. "Looks like we won't have to kidnap the Koronovs."
"No problem, man." said Valkyrie, flashing him a thumbs up and a smirk. "I know how it feels to want to get as far from that kinda life as possible. Along with everything that comes with it." She had purchased her own stuff whilst Ravis was buying his own. Shoes, shirts, a stylish pair of round mirrored sunglasses tinted gold (that she was now wearing in place of her old ones.) She had slipped on one of the shirts, made of a white mesh which covered her bikini top, along with a pair of white running shoes. All in all, it was around four hundred credits. About half of what Ravis spent. "We can take this stuff to the ship, then go find the others if you want. Or find some food." she said, motioning towards the docks with a handful of shopping bags. - - - - - - - - - - - - - [QUOTE]"H-h-hi!"[/QUOTE] Miranda acknowledged Ira's signal with a wink, before looking back to Amy. "You don't have to be so nervous. I'm just some old lady." said Miranda, with a bit of a chuckle. She had met plenty of fans of her work before in her travels, always happy to take a picture with them or sign something. It never really bothered her and she acknowledged the fact that she was practically a role model for some, but she always just saw herself as an average woman that hunted criminals for cash. She was just doing a job. Her legendary status came from her fans. As well as her nickname. - - - - - - - - - - - - - [QUOTE]"Orso told me one of your scientists wanted to come with us to Boome. A girl named Amelia. She with you?"[/QUOTE] Taylor looked back to Seth. "Yeah. She should be out on the beach with her friend Porter. They're a package, by the way. Porter follows her almost everywhere."
[QUOTE]You don't have to be so nervous. I'm just some old lady.[/QUOTE] "Old ladies don't usually have a long list of achievements like yours ma'am." Amy began to talk more calmly now. Bits of excitement still lingering in her voice. --- [QUOTE]Yeah. She should be out on the beach with her friend Porter. They're a package, by the way. Porter follows her almost everywhere.[/QUOTE] "I don't see a problem with that. Someone extra to keep her safe won't hurt." Seth stood up from his chair "Now if you folks will excuse me, I have to talk with our friends to set things in motion. Everything is on my tab fyi, so enjoy yourselves some more. Good seeing you again too, Miranda. I'll be sending some pups by the bureau next week so they can cut their teeth on some bounties. Do me a favor, don't go easy on them."
[QUOTE]"Old ladies don't usually have a long list of achievements like yours ma'am."[/QUOTE] Miranda smiled a bit. "Good point, really. Hope my daughters haven't been bugging you too much. Ira's pretty talkative." she said, before Seth stood up. [QUOTE]"...Good seeing you again too, Miranda. I'll be sending some pups by the bureau next week so they can cut their teeth on some bounties. Do me a favor, don't go easy on them."[/QUOTE] "Do I ever?" she asked. "Go easy during training, they die in the field." She glanced over to see Lex was approaching. Lex noticed Taylor and Ira both sitting at the table and smiled. "Surprised to see you two here." she said, stepping up next to Miranda at the table. "...what happened to your hair? [I]And ear?[/I]" she asked, raising an eyebrow as she noticed Taylor's appearance. "Bit of a self-haircut for an op, and...yeah. I got shot at." replied Taylor, reaching up and touching where a piece of her upper left ear had been shot off during the crew's op on Prospera.
As Seth got up so did Sigma Alpha. He took one final sip from his glass, placed some credits on the table and left after nodding towards the leader of the Boome Marines. Sigma Alpha left the building through the front entrance and sat down on a bench outside. From a nearby window Bravo was scanning for potential hostiles through the scope of his silenced rifle. They had strict orders to not let Seth Rollonso be harmed, should the USR attempt to make a moved they would be met by a wall of weapons fire.
"You know. You're really bad at your job if a one-eyed man can spot you from a crowd." Seth chastised Sigma, while walking slowly towards him "I thought I was getting paranoid before I got up to take a smoke break and contact your superiors, then your rigid action-figure frame decided to get up at the same time, completely blowing your cover." He sat down next to him and exhaled cigar smoke. "So which branch are you?" --- [QUOTE]Good point, really. Hope my daughters haven't been bugging you too much. Ira's pretty talkative.[/QUOTE] "Ira's been good company to have around. Don't worry about talking our ears off, we can get the same way." Alex replied. "Taylor's been good to us. Managed to keep most of us together pretty well." Amy continued "It's a nice change of pace to work under someone who gives a damn."
Sigma laughed. "You saw me only because I wanted to, sir." He gestured back towards the bar. "We have the place bugged, which is why we knew that there was no need for our... backup plans." The man leaned back and smiled casually at two ladies who strolled by before he turned back to Seth. "You can call me Mr. White. Office of Intelligence and Defense."
"You're not as good as you say you are." Seth stared towards the beach "I doubt I'm privy to know you had plans like that. Is your partner Mr. Orange, Mr. Blonde or Mr. Pink?"
Sigma chuckled. "Actually he's called Mr. Black." He adjusted the collar of his shirt, briefly revealing his concealed pistol. "If you'd like I can contact my superiors on your behalf."
"You're the one with the direct link. Tell them that they agreed to do it. We just need the when and where on the pre-mission meeting." He was silent for a second. " Another thing. If Vulkov is buying himself up the ladder, put his money to good use. Like paying off UGC bounties for a few specific people. Quicker than forging new identities."
Sigma grunted. He produced a small holopad from one of his pockets and quickly tapped on the screen. "Coordinates have been sent. You'll have to fly to Paraíso and link up with an SDF vessel called the SNV Horizon. After that you will initiate a joint-jump with the Horizon to the pre-mission fleet rendevouz." The operative then got up and looked at Seth. "As for this Vulkov fellow, I'll make it happen. I'm sorry that my superiors didn't manage to keep your men contracted, sir." With that said he nodded and left. Meanwhile Bravo remained in position, watching for any bad guys in the proximity of Seth.
[QUOTE]"Taylor's been good to us. Managed to keep most of us together pretty well." Amy continued "It's a nice change of pace to work under someone who gives a damn."[/QUOTE] "She got it from her father, really. Good to hear Ira's been decent too." responded Miranda, with a nod. She then glanced to Lex as she spoke to Taylor, then looked back to Amy. "Want a picture with me?" she offered. They had plenty of time, really, even if they were hunting a criminal. Plus it probably wouldn't take long to bust the smuggler in the first place. Meanwhile, Lex turned her attention to Ira. "Decided to go armorless, I see." she said. "Personal choice, or forced?"
Ira grunted. "A little bit of both. That repairkit you gave me for my sixteenth birthday turned out to be useful. Again." She shrugged. "Not too much of an issue, as long as Maddie is here." Ira glanced at Alex. "The others aren't too bad either."
[QUOTE]"A little bit of both. That repairkit you gave me for my sixteenth birthday turned out to be useful. Again. Not too much of an issue, as long as Maddie is here. The others aren't too bad either."[/QUOTE] "Yes, you and Taylor seem to work wonderfully together. It's a shame that she didn't follow in her mother's footsteps." said Lex, glancing to Taylor. Taylor was gulping down the rest of her Screwdriver, but replied once she was finished. "I'm in my early thirties. There's always the possibility of a career change in the future, you know." she said. "I'm just fine with mercenary life at the moment."
[QUOTE]I'm sorry that my superiors didn't manage to keep your men contracted, sir.[/QUOTE] "Not your fault, son." After Mr.White left, Seth send a message to Taylor detailing what Sol wanted them to do. Adding [QUOTE]Try to tie up some loose ends if you can. There's still some time.[/QUOTE] After that he remained on the bench for a while, taking the scene in. It had been a while since he had some time to himself. --- [QUOTE]Want a picture with me?[/QUOTE] "Would I?...I mean, yes, thank you."
[QUOTE=Infab;52943962]We can take this stuff to the ship, then go find the others if you want. Or find some food.[/quote] Ravis nodded. "A- Alright, yeah! I mean, I could eat, er, if you're hungry that is, otherwise, um..." he paused a moment and took a deep breath to calm his overactive nerves. "Maybe we could do both. I like the food Alex cooks, but there're some, uh, really cool exotic restaurants here, and maybe we could round a big group up and go." --- The Motchkir settled itself into the trench-like platform near the base's edge and waited for several minutes before opening its exits, allowing time for the gantry walkways to deploy from the skeletal frames on either side and meet up with the doors. Once everything was in place, various figures began to trickle in and out, some in white uniforms, some in armor, others in plainclothes, and finally, a small entourage of blackjackets. Most of them hung their heads and walked in a strange sort of hesitant manner, as if they were pulled along by imaginary ropes. Among them, and yet separate from all, was General Vorokar, who took special pleasure in being recognized by others and saluted, as it was proof that he was still revered by his government after having been "disgraced" just days earlier. He held his head high and took long steps, the conqueror of all that was miserable. [video=youtube;kluI-nFlNtg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kluI-nFlNtg[/video] The trip to Kanadys had gone well. The real Ryvik Sidikan had been transferred into a military hospital in Eihboh while the general himself traveled to the High Council for another hearing. This time, however, he had news to present. By the time the general arrived, late on February 13th, the events surrounding Stalnazyp and Vostokrebh had fully manifested. With the utmost delight, he announced that, in a joint operation with Black Fleet and Peacekeeper assistance, his cell of the GKVR had been responsible for running down Yanim Terika and killing her. Vorokar savored the reactions of Bikrata and his other harshest detractors as he described the various phases of the operation, how a GKVR medical team successfully extracted the Aurikha's location, how the agents responded to unforeseen interference from Killer Gemini and the khergian militias, and how, in the end, it was the batakya which failed to fully defeat the Aurikha despite high-quality intelligence gathered by a courageous GKVR lieutenant. The Grand Vizier made an appearance during the hearings, not specifically for the Terika-Belladonna matter, but rather in interest in the ongoing war efforts. The Councilors hoped he would bring a dose of skepticism into the discussion, to limit Vorokar's ability to take credit for the success. However, to their horror and dejection, he especially commended General Vorokar on his efforts, and requested advisement. "[What, sir, should I recommend your unit accomplish next?]" The Council was dumbstruck by the question- they all knew that the Vizier was a personal friend of Vorokar's, but they did not expect it to extend to such a formal level. Here, the highest executive in the Collective was asking his own subordinate what orders to give. Vorokar didn't allow himself to seem eager to answer, but given how smoothly he gave his response, it was clear that he knew exactly what he wanted and had anticipated this opportunity to advance himself. "[That is an interesting question,]" Vorokar replied. "[As is abundantly clear by firsthand accounts of the action on Rigel, our position on that planet is deteriorating rapidly, sir. As I said earlier, the UGC chose not to take part in the attack on the Aurikha. Had they done so, we might have finished the job completely, but as it sits, we have no more battle-ready units anywhere in the proximity and we can't afford to send them from anywhere else. "[In the long run,]" Vorokar continued, "[I don't believe that our partners in the Community will be interested in occupying a hostile planet, and our presence will either need to grow, or depart entirely. I cannot stress enough the need to retain a presence there. After all that has been sacrificed on that world, seeing it fall into the hands of savages forever would be an insult to generations of our kin. Moreover, we could expect to see more groups like Terika-Belladonna take root in our quadrant if they're allowed to infest that planet and the rest of the border zone.]" "[If I may interrupt,]" the Vizier said, clinching a fist and popping a number of bony old fingers before speaking again, "[if we are to increase our presence on Rigel, and escalation occurs as it has many, many times before, it would be catastrophic to the war effort, would it not?]" Bikrata, having waited anxiously for such a chance to respond, finally stood to be recognized. "[I fully agree, sir, the General is being too ambitious-]" "[Nonsense,]" Vorokar interrupted. Bikrata was mortified by the disrespect, but the Vizier waved her concerns away. "[Yredik, I have never mislead you about my capabilities. We can increase our presence while delaying escalation for as much as five years if we use sufficient espionage to disguise and downplay the occupation. The cell which operated out of Vostokrebh was too brash to stay hidden, and too restrained to be feared. If you place me, or any sufficiently-talented leader in control of a generalized espionage campaign there, we will be invisible, ever-present, and terrifying. It is not just possible, it is absolutely necessary that we begin working now.]" "[And you feel you're the best for the job?]" The Vizier replied, eliciting sounds of discomfort throughout the room. Vorokar, continuing to play ignorant, pretended to think for a moment. Finally, he nodded. "[No one would be better, sir.]" The Vizier looked at his notes for a moment, and the many Councilors waited eagerly for the floor to open to comment. Instead, the Vizier looked up at the room and without an ounce of concern, announced to them, "[It's settled, then.]" The room broke into an angry squawking as the Councilors accused each other of conspiring, as the Vizier was a Rozel and had given this new, important post to a Vor'Pangn he had only known for a few years. Bikrata immediately sought votes for a Council review of the Vizier's competency, but the younger Sidikans were too afraid of the executive's power to challenge him. There was no dignity, no principle, and no legitimacy to the proceeding. It was as if the system in which they had worked their entire lives to maintain had suddenly ceased to matter. Vorokar smiled to the Vizier- "[Delightful! Your insight is admirable, sir!]" And after a quick bow of the head, he exited the Council Chamber and began walking to the GKVR National Headquarters. There was only one concern still left on Vorokar's mind- that damned clone. He had hoped Ryvik's clone would dispose of itself. The bomb he had issued it was primed to explode on command or upon death, and would have ushered in an immediate atmosphere of war on the planet. Vorokar would have blamed Terika-Belladonna and their khergian protectors for the incident, and would have pushed for the same exact position. Vorokar hoped that his ascendance to general leadership of an entire planet's intelligence-gathering apparatus would enhance his career. After Rigel, he planned to move to one of the core planets. From there, he would attempt to place himself in control of the entire GKVR, maybe through acts which were less than honorable. And while his plan would take decades to achieve, they were well worth attempting. While still running the GKVR, Vorokar hoped he would then have gathered enough prominence to be appointed to the High Council by his clan, which had not seen leadership over the Collective in many years. But with the Director of the GKVR being a sitting Vor'Pangn, it might be possible... He shook the thoughts from his head. Despite his recent success, Vorokar still needed to tie up the loose ends from his last operation. According to Lieutenant Traginada, Ryvik's clone was refusing medical evaluation and claimed to have special information for Vorokar's ears only. He had also requested his own armor back out of concern of Killer-Gemini's return. Traginada had practically begged the General to not allow Ryvik to come into possession of his uniquely-destructive armor again, but the General wasn't so ready to distrust him. Ryvik's refusal to report for examination could mean anything. Witnesses described him as high-strung and uncommunicative, and that very well might be due to the death of his sister. Despite all of the exploitation, Vorokar felt a pang of sorrow for his protege, as the loss Ryvik felt was for the loyal Sidikan girl Yanim had been as a child, not the stateless menace she became as an adult. He remembered his own attempts, at Hanza, to recover her from the corrupting abyss of space, and wondered if his failure to convince her to return home ultimately led to her death. He wondered if Ryvik resented that. Additionally, the descriptions and video footage of Killer-Gemini was terrifying and sickening. He did not blame Ryvik for seeking the safety of his power armor. Now, a week had passed, however, and Vorokar did not remember Ryvik's special requests. The general hadn't just come to Rigel to debrief Ryvik, he had come to assume his new permanent post. He stepped down the long ramp and onto the snowy ground, and found Ryvik waiting for him off in the distance, staring intently at the sky. Captain Vixe could see the general leave his entourage behind and walk out onto the plaza where Ryvik stood, stained in shades of pink and orange from the setting sun. Quite fearful of what might happen next, she turned and ran all the way to the platform and begin climbing the stairs aggressively. While her bags were loaded into the lowest deck of the vessel, she checked herself in for transport and didn't look back. She forced herself to remember- [I][That's not Ryvik... That's not Ryvik...][/I] --- [video=youtube;j_pNAykIl8U]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_pNAykIl8U[/video] Arkadam walked through engineering, ignoring everyone and everything on his path to the door at the back of the room. The biometric sensor seemed to await Yanim's thumbprint, and had kept everyone else from getting close to the Archive since her death. Arkadam, however, had changed the requirement when he was alone in the room and speaking to Starvis. Like his implant, the ancient AI provided him decisiveness that his own mind couldn't, and had helped him prepare for this moment. The biometric sensor was, in fact, programmed only to accept his own thumbprint. It slid away, and moments later, he was once again alone with the Archive. He took a knee, grabbing hold of a cable which had linked the Archive to his lover one week prior, and after a moment of searching, he found the socket on his own computer pack which would allow him to interface as well. He laid himself down on his stomach, took a deep breath, and pushed the cable in- and felt a jolt unlike anything he had ever experienced. The world assembled itself around him as he rocketed through it, a being of pure energy splitting through dimensions beyond comprehension, slowly taking form and becoming physical at the same time his surroundings became real. He felt compelled to look at his hands, and as he did so, he suddenly found himself standing on solid ground. He recognized it immediately- the concrete blocks which paved the entrance to the Academy at Eihboh, the great public school which he often passed by in his youth, but was unable to attend because he was an orphan, taking his own separate classes as the Collective molded him into a reluctant puppet of the state. He took one cautious step, and then when he felt himself move in the manner he expected, he allowed himself to look up and survey the world in which he was now standing. It was populated. There were hundreds of other people, not just kanads, but people of other races as well, unlike the real Eihboh. The buildings were an odd mixture of the familiar gray concrete facades and towering glass and neon, reflecting dozens of different styles of different cultures. There was a long roadway trailing away from the school which was overhung by the mag rail track, but trees - trees! - lined the sidewalk along one side, and names and hand-prints were sunken into the concrete in foreign script. It all felt vaguely familiar, and yet wholly new, like a dream. Snow fell in playful flurries in some areas, while others were bright and warm, and covered in stunning ivy greens, chartreuse yellows, and fiery red leaves of every season at once. "[Amazing, isn't it?]" an unexpected voice spoke to him. He turned and, within seconds, fell to his knees as he found himself looking at Vrasaya Rozel, the designated guardian of most of his youth... a woman who had been as close to a mother figure as he had ever known. She passed away from a sudden illness when he was 13, nearly an adult by kanad standards, but before he had completed his basic education. He had always wondered, if she had lived to see him as an adult, whether she would have approved of his eventual choice to run from the Collective. He studied every detail of her face as he looked up at her, and she was exactly as he remembered her. But her expression was surprised and concerned at his reaction. "[I- I'm sorry, Arkadam, I didn't mean to harm you,]" she said. "[I'm Starvis... do you understand? I try to appear only as familiar figures to those who come here, and only for the sake of trustworthiness. I'm not used to biological life, and I didn't realize that this form might bother you.]" Arkadam, no longer able to contain himself, simply sat and wept for a while. He had felt so much agony the week prior that he couldn't release, and even after the successful installation of his implant, he still felt a strange alienation from his feelings. But here, everything was so beautiful, so idyllic, that the addition of Vrasaya was far more than he could bare. It might as well have been heaven. "[It... it doesn't,]" he choked out. "[That voice you're using... it just- it brings back a lot of memories... thank you for using it.]" Starvis smiled, recognizing tears of joy. It gently reached down and lifted Arkadam off the ground. "[Please take your time. You're welcome to stay here as long as you like, but remember that time flows differently here.]" "[Did you create this for her?]" Arkadam asked. Starvis appeared humble. "[I helped. This world all around you is woven out of her memories; she stitched them together in a way which came naturally, and has never questioned their authenticity. She feels safe here. This is her world now.]" "[...Is she happy, then?]" he asked. Starvis nodded. Arkadam broke down again, finally feeling some of the weight come off his shoulders. He finally felt he had done something right to repay the kindness Yanim had provided him. And as he stood and openly wept, Starvis embraced him, and he, too, felt safe.
[QUOTE]"Maybe we could do both. I like the food Alex cooks, but there're some, uh, really cool exotic restaurants here, and maybe we could round a big group up and go."[/QUOTE] "Sounds good. Let's go." said Valk, before walking down the sidewalk towards the docks. The others probably weren't far off. She remembered Amelia, Porter, Karl, and Sting were still on the beach. And Taylor and the others were probably in one of the hotels where Seth had dragged them off to. - - - - - - - - - - - Taylor drew out her holotablet and flicked it on as soon as she felt it vibrate. A message from Seth appeared. [QUOTE]Try to tie up some loose ends if you can. There's still some time.[/QUOTE] She replied promptly, glancing up at the others as she typed. [QUOTE]The stuff I have to do would take a bit, so it can wait till after the op.[/QUOTE] After sending it off, she slipped her tablet back into her pocket, then looked back to the others. Nearby, Miranda straightened up, stepping back from the table and motioning Amy over. "Got a camera or somethin'?" she asked, motioning towards her. "Can't get a pic with no camera." she said, with a bit of a chuckle.
[QUOTE]Got a camera or somethin'?...Can't get a pic with no camera.[/QUOTE] "Oh yeah, right" Amy began to frantically search for something to take a picture with. "Come on, come on..."she muttered. "Relax, Fox. I got you covered." Alex chuckled while holding a camera "Just move on over and I can take the picture." "You're the best! What would I do without you?" Amy was said while moving to Miranda.
Shuttles carrying samples left for orbit while shuttles carrying supplies and equipment made for landwall. Since the week that had passed archeologist Kendra Raines had managed to set up quite an impressive basecamp around the Dirathian temple found several days before. Captain O'Neill of the Red Corsairs muttered angrily to himself from his position inside the improvized ATC-tower. Despite having a roof over his head and warm food O'Neill was as grumpy as ever. Had it been up to him he would have loaded up the temple on his ship and bailed but no, because according to miss "it would ruin the structural integrity" the temple would have to be studied on-site. Right now he watched as some of the newcomers, freelance scientists hired by Raines, logged everything they found and stored it within a fenced area covered by a blue tarp roof. He sighed and took a sip from his coffee. It was horrible. Anthrax entered and sat down. "Raines says she needs one more day untill they're done." O'Neill grunted. "About time. Let the crew know they need to make room for all this... shit." Anthrax nodded. "Right away, Captain." --- Carefully inserting a vibroscalpel between the two rocks Raines slowly started to wiggle it in an attempt to open up the secret space her scans had detected. Behind her two other archeologists stared wide-eyed with one holding a torch. "Just a little more..." Slowly the rock began to move before eventually dropping to the floor. Kendra smiled. Behind it was an advanced panel of a unknown metal with a single button adorning its surface. Raines pressed the button, causing the hidden doorway detected beforehand to open. "Finally." Muttered one of the pirate bodyguards, Shank, whom had managed to clean his rifle and sleep for two hours while the eggheads figured out a way to open up the door. Shank got up and readied his rifle before stepping in through the doorway, followed by Raines. Inside was a large triangular room. Obscure boxes of varying shapes had been positioned in one of the corners while several disconnected terminals occuppied the other. At the center of the room was som sort of podium and ontop of it was a tiny green crystal protected by a shield while hovering in the air. Shank began to rummage through the crates which were filled with small trinkets and devices. "Don't break anything." Said Raines. Shank grunted. "Got it, princess." He replied while waving with his hand in an uninterested manner. Meanwhile Kendra approached the crystal and began to observe it through her handheld scanner. "The readings are off the charts. If I'm readng this right this crystal could power an entire ship." She looked up from her scanner with a wide grin. "Amazing." Shank looked up. "You mean that crystal can make a battleship fly and shoot? For how long?" Raines shook her head. "Not sure, a week? A month? A year?" Shank grinned. "Well then, let's get it." He walked up towards the crystal and slammed his fist into the shield. In a matter of seconds his grin turned into a mask of pain as the shield burned his knuckles down to the bone. [b]"FUCK!"[/b] The smell of burned flesh filled the room while smoke rose from his Shank's left hand. Raines stared in awe. "Amazing." Shank looked up with a bewildered look. "Amazing? That fucking crystal ruined my hand. Time for payback." He raised his rifle, switched the mode to automatic fire and pulled the trigger. Fifteen kinetic rounds were fire into the shield with none coming through. The bullets simply vanished on contact. Raines raised her scanner. "The energy is growing stronger." Shank shook his head. "Perfect. Now what?"
As soon as Amy was ready, Alex snapped a pic. Afterwards, there was a bit more small talk (with Ira talking to Miranda in private for a moment) before Lex got an alert on her holotablet. They had got a hit on their smuggler, he having been spotted at a shopping mall nearby. The pair said goodbye to the rest of the group, both hugging Taylor and Ira before departing to hunt their target. Meanwhile, Valkyrie and Ravis had taken their newly aquired stuff back to the ship, and were now hunting for the crew with Eve joining them. They found them after a few minutes, wandering out of the hotel that Seth and his crew had been staying at. After suggesting that the group go get something to eat together, they rounded up Karl, a drugged up Sting, Amelia, and Porter before heading out. The restaurant, a seemingly high-end place overlooking the ocean, selected catered to a variety of palates so none were left out. It wasn't entirely relaxed, though, as Alex would get into an argument with the chef over parts of the meal. The next day, the crew would run into Karina yet again. Taylor would pay off Amy's debt, giving Karina the credits, and Amy would hand over the blueprints to the stealth suit (though she had made a copy of the blueprints prior to the transfer for TBC use.) Eventually, things would round up on Trixina, with the crew departing alongside Seth. Soon enough, they'd be warping away from the resort world, off to join in an upcoming battle against the Divinity Creed. [video=youtube;g7Y3XMmD3qo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7Y3XMmD3qo[/video]
[quote][video=youtube;EFc-GPakGug]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFc-GPakGug[/video][/quote] The SNV Horizon slowly drifted in far orbit above the lush planet of Paraíso. Sitting in his chair, currently reading reports sent by Epsilon and Sigma teams was Captain Henry Marshall. Aside from the general bridge crew two other key figures of the Phantom Warrior Program were also present on the bridge: SSMC Captain Trudy Smith and Bobby, the onboard robot that acts as a tactical advisor. Trudy, standing at ease to the left of Marshall, was the first to break the silence. "Anything of importance?" Marshall grunted. "Indeed." He put down his holotablet. "Epsilon are getting itchy and Sigma somehow managed to rendevouz with the rest of the fleet. Also this Vulkov fellow managed to scrape up the funds for all the bounties Rollonso listed. In short; things are finally starting to look brighter." Trudy nodded. "What are we waiting for then?" Marshall sighed. "Those damn mercs." Just as he finished his sentence Bobby looked up from his screen. "Incoming jump signature. It's the Muramasa." Marshall smiled and got up. "Attention Muramasa. This is Captain Marshall of the SNV Horizon. We will jump in fifteen minutes, untill then; prepare your hangar for another ship." With that said the transmission ended and a few moments later a single shuttle carrying SDF markings left the Horizon heading for the Muramasa.
[QUOTE]"Attention Muramasa. This is Captain Marshall of the SNV Horizon. We will jump in fifteen minutes, untill then; prepare your hangar for another ship."[/QUOTE] "Understood." responded Taylor, standing from the Captain's chair. She pondered exactly who was coming over. Probably some of the leadership over the operation, she guessed. She departed from the bridge, heading down to the hangar to greet the others once they arrived. Already down in the hangar, still working on the tank, was Valkyrie. She poked her head out of the turret, peering over the armored plating as she watched the SDF shuttle gently entered the hangar and touched down. Taylor stepped into the hangar a moment later, strolling out and stopping with her arms folded. Valkyrie climbed from the tank, and simply sat down on the barrel, straddling it and lighting a cigarette as she looked on.
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