Maddox glanced at Jag. "Leave them Jag. It's their contracts on the line."
He continued to work on some equipment while opening up a channel to Taylor. "Hey Taylor, you might want to send János down to the armory."
Markus spun around and had become visibly dazed from the hit, swaying from side to side as he turned around and pointed his knife at Johannes.
He took a few fast steps before doing a spin to bring the knife around for a full force horizontal slice directed at Johannes' upper torso.
[i]Johannes moves his left arm up, letting the knife glance off the armor on his arm, and grabs Markus' wrist tightly. He freezes his fingers in place over the man's wrist, and turns, twisting Markus' arm up and around, behind his back, squeezing to make him drop the knife. As he does so, he positions himself behind Markus, a thin blade of ice at his neck from behind, the cold edge gently brushing against his adam's apple.[/i][b] "Do you yield?"[/b]
Markus drops his knife and raises his hand slowly.
When Johannes lets him go he jostles himself out of the hold and steps away, turning around to look at Johannes.
"They put ya on ice all that time just cause ya was a freak a' nature." he said with clear disdain while feeling the area where Johannes' icy hand had hold onto him.
He picks up his knife and puts it back into the chestrig.
He begins to walk out of the armory, still slightly disoriented from the first blow, before stopping at the door and giving Johannes one last glare, "Don't got walking slow, cunt" he says pointing a finger at Johannes and giving him the cutthroat gesture before heexits the armory.
((Don't go walking slow - Khergian phrase translated into english. Means "stay frosty" or to watch ones back. Can be advise or a threat, depending on the situation or tone it is uttered in.))
[QUOTE]"Do keep in mind I will not be present to convince the UGC troops guarding the AOPN's so you'll have to make due on your own."[/QUOTE]
"Understood, ma'am." said Taylor, with a salute. She then turned and started towards the door, but paused when she received a message from Mad. She replied promptly, as she walked towards the armory herself. "János? Why? What's going on?"
[B]....[/B]
Meanwhile, Valkyrie and Bucky were doing their tune-ups inside Frosty's fighter. With Frosty observing of course. As they worked on the various consoles and panels (as they couldn't tweak anything on the outside yet since they were in the middle of warp), Valkyrie eyed some of the symbols and markings along the inside of the ship. She had been in here before, but hadn't really payed particular attention to them. They looked really familiar. Especially the star with a snake through it.
She remembered it from a planet that she had fought on up in one of the northern quadrants. The group she had been with at the time was scrapping with another over that particular planet, both wanting to use it as a base because of its positioning close to high traffic trade routes. Suddenly, some weird cult guys came out of nowhere, ambushed both sides, and slaughtered a lot of their men. She remembered it vividly because one of the cultists rushed her, spraying flames everywhere like a flamethrower using just his bare hands. He wore a hood that had no holes in it cut out for the eyes and mouth, and a spiked crown or something. She managed to get away from him before he could roast her, falling back and retreating with some of the other pirates that were left.
Some of those cultists bore flags and markings exactly like the ones Frosty had all over the inside of his fighter. She looked back at Frosty and studied him for a few moments, then looked back at the symbol before continuing her work. She'd have to watch him.
((Ps. In case I made Markus hightail it out of there it's because I need to go to sleep to get up for the shift tomorrow, Thank god for evening shifts next week.
Infab has control over Yuga and Markus.))
[i]Johannes melts the ice and lets his suit reclaim it. He scoffs as Markus leaves, and calls out to him.[/i][b] "If you mean to do harm, you might want to try harder next time, klerelijer"[/b]
[i]He turns to Maddox.[/i][b] "So, about those drill pods."[/b]
Frosty noticed Valkyrie stare at him for a few moments.
He gave her a smile and a thumbs up.
[video=youtube;no12ubHqR1E]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=no12ubHqR1E[/video]
The weapons of the SNV Redstar roared as the mighty vessel opened fire on the kaxan pirate vessel. Tearing off large chunks of armor with its many gauss cannons and kinetic batteries, this action could only delay the inevitable for so long.
Several small holes located at the belly of the enemy kaxan Tick-class cruiser deployed metal tentacles which moved towards the Redstar using hundreds of tiny thrusters.
"Brace for impact!" Yelled Zhaneys just as the first of the smaller tentacles hit the armor. Unable to burrow deep, the smaller metal tendrils grabbed hold of whatever metal they could before retracting. While only damaging the outer layer of the hull armor, it was enough to expose several weak points for the larger troop-ferrying tendrils.
"Defense teams?" Asked Zhaneys as he turned to Zhu.
"Ready. All outer bulkheads have been sealed off and our defenses are ready."
Zhaneys nodded and turned to the weapons officer. "I want a tactical solution in ten. Make use of that loaded MAC shot. The defense teams can only buy us so much time."
-----
"Lock and load people!" Said the squad officer as he put on his helmet. Clad in the standard Sol Navy boarding tropper armor, he and his squad were trained and equipped to handle situations like this. Of course, for most of his team this was their first time against non-human pirates.
The squad formed up around a handful of defensive barriers, crates and other items which had been used to form a defenisve line. It was one of many defensive strongpoints currently in place all around the SNV Redstar meant to defend and hold the bulkheads leading to the areas exposed by the kaxan boarding tendrils.
The officer cocked his carbine and took up point next to a TIGER. The robotic soldiers stood silently with their weapons ready facing the door.
All was quiet except for the sound of weapons being readied and nervous breathing.
Looking at a pair of soldiers mounting a light machinegun on a tripod, the officer gestured towards the door.
"As soon as that door blows open I want to hear that LMG sing, Mendez."
One of the LMG troopers was about to reply when another soldier held up her hand. "Listen."
Barely audible, the sound of metal-clad boots could be heard coming from the other side of the bulkhead door alongside whispers in an alien tongue spoken only by the kaxan.
The soldiers aimed down their sights.
A pair of plasma cutters started to cut through the door, from the SDF side the cutters looked like two bright blue balls of light slowly moving towards the center of the door.
The moment the cutters reached the center the door flung open and kinetic projectiles started to fly into the thick smoke coming from the other side.
Out from the smoke came several [url=https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/71236376/Starpath%20RP/Kaxan%20Raider.jpg]kaxan raiders[/url], armed with pistols, swords and shotguns the pirates yelled in their primitive tongue as they rushed towards the SDF line.
While their red scaled armor was was both menacing and effective, it was no match against focused kinetic fire.
As the pirates reached the SDF defenders the TIGER units broke off to engage in hand-to-hand combat.
One of the pirates let out a loud scream as he was about to cut the head off of one of the robots when he was suddenly gunned down by the SDF officer.
"Hold the line!"
-----
"It's crazy, but it could work." Said Zhu as the weapons officer presented his plan alongside a pair of officers from the Combat Information Center staff.
"It's a longshot but it's our best bet right now."
Before any of the other officers present could object Zhaneys raised his hand. "Do it."
Zhu got a look of joy over his his face and nodded. "Aye aye, sir."
He turned to the command console. "Engineering, boost powers to shields. Expand it to three hundred meters."
[i]"Uh bridge, repeat last over. It almost sounded like you told us to expand the shield."[/i] Replied the head of engineering.
Zhu grinned. "You heard right. Get to it."
[i]"Ten-four!"[/i]
Zhu continued. "Marauders one through twelve, mobilize for ground support ops and prepare for deployment."
Soon the shields of the Redstar slowly began to expand outwards. As the expansion halted the shield was now covering the bow of the kaxan vessel.
Twelve [url=https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/71236376/Starpath%20RP/SDF%20Marauder%20Gunship.jpg]Marauder gunships[/url] deployed form the Redstar's aft hangar.
[i]"Rider Two through Twelve, form up on my tail."[/i]
[i]"Good copy, Rider Lead. Forming up."[/i]
Staying close to the Redstar, the gunships approached the kaxan vessel. At the same time several TIGERs moved alongside the Redstar's hull towards the tendrils while carrying small fuse charges.
Normally the gunships wouldn't be able to deploy unless within atmospehere however the Redstar had created a sort of artifical atmospheric bubble with its expanded shield.
Zhu looked at Zhaneys. "All units in position."
Lord Admiral Zhaneys nodded. "Go."
Zhu re-opened the comms channel. "Green light, green light to engage."
The squadron leader grinned as he flipped the button safety. "All wings, open fire."
In a matter of seconds the gunships, having formed up around the kaxan vessel which traded personal defenses in favor of thick armor, opened fire with everything they had. Rockets, kinetic shots and cluster charges.
All of the wepaons fire was directed next to the seam formed by the Redstar's expanded shield.
Cracks started to form in the armor as the punishment was too heavy. The gunships retreated back to the Redstar just as the TIGER units placed the fuse charges.
[i]"We're in!"[/i] Yelled the squadron leader. The TIGERs huddled down and magnetized every last part of themselves to the hull.
Then it happened. In a matter of seconds the dozens of SDF fuse charges, comprised of a concentrated plasma bomb, detonated which effectively severed the tendrils. At the same time the shield dispersed and the artifical atmosphere with it.
Zhaneys and his crew could only watch in awe as the vaccum of space tore the kaxan ship into two pieces.
The pirates had been repelled and the crew of the SNV Redstar had invented a new way of dealing with stubborn pirates.
[editline]10th June 2016[/editline]
Maddox sighed in relief as Markus walked off. "It was about to get intense down here. Looks like the situation cooled down." He replied to Taylor.
He turned to Johannes. "You'd have to ask Valkyrie or any of the other engineers about that. I make weapons and armor, not express tickets to hell."
[i]Johannes laughs and nods.[/i][b] "Fair enough. I'll have to talk to the engineering staff, then. Or perhaps I should pitch the idea to the Captain first?"[/b]
Bucky happily hums while she works. She gets her half of the work done first, and then moves to help Valkyrie. While her hands do their things with the starfighter she starts putting together a prototype design in her head for the device Frosty wants. She figures out a way to do build it all with spare parts from the Muramasa's hold. "Got a design slapped together for that upgrade Frosty wants. Should be easy, we've got enough time to piece it together before we exit warp I think. We can still even hang out if you want."
-------------------------------------------------------
Hariim dutifully works on the tech for Johanne's suit in his quarters. The soft tones of remixed plasma wave sensor recordings issue forth from his room like some odd cosmic lullaby.
[QUOTE]"It was about to get intense down here. Looks like the situation cooled down."[/QUOTE]
"Alright." said Taylor, just as she entered the armory. She looked around, nodding to Jag who was standing nearby, and then at Johannes and Mad. "Mad, gonna need you to make some explosives. Valkyrie will help. Gotta be small and inconspicuous, but pack enough power to take out the AOPNs." She walks over and sets the armband that Yuga had given her on the counter. "Gonna need a bunch of copies of those too. We're gonna have to blend in a bit to even get close to the AOPNs."
She looked at Johannes. "Looks like you'll be seeing combat soon. Got everything ready?"
[B]....[/B]
[QUOTE]"Got a design slapped together for that upgrade Frosty wants. Should be easy, we've got enough time to piece it together before we exit warp I think. We can still even hang out if you want."[/QUOTE]
"I'm gonna have to hold off on that for now. I've got to get Cerberus ready for action, so the ground team will have some drone backup." said Valkyrie. She glanced over at Bucky. "I imagine you can handle Frosty's little sound thingy by yourself, right?"
Shortly after she finished talking, she received a message from Taylor. Explosives duty in the armory. "Oooohhh, I've got some explosives to build too." she said, with a grin.
Bucky nods. "Yeah, I got it. Go do your thing, Valk." She takes over the rest of the work so Valkyrie can go handle her stuff.
[i]Johannes grins and nods, flexing in his suit idly to readjust the way the sleeves and armor platings were resting (not flexing as in showing off muscles ooh look at sexy me oh la la dutch fever).[/i][b] "Yes ma'am. Worked with Maddox all last night upgrading my suit's armor and shielding, and we added a jump-jet system to assist in zero-g maneuvering. Maddox is confident that it will also allow me to launch myself in any direction I should desire under standard Earth gravity equivalents."[/b][i] Johannes bends down and taps on one of the micro-thrusters on the back of his thighs, then straightens up.[/i][b] "That being said, I had an idea for a new weapon we might be able to use for ship-based combat. It'd be going pretty old school and could be viewed as dangerous, but the suggestion also includes me volunteering to be the one to use it. Interested?"[/b]
Maddox nodded. "Yes ma'am." He replied with a smile. "Armbands will be done in thirty, assuming the nano constructor doesn't act up."
Valkyrie then entered the armory which led to Maddox excusing himself before getting to work.
He walked with Valk to one of the center tables. "Looks like we'll be making bombs together." Said Maddox with a sly grin on his face.
"How much do you know about explosives? I got some ideas but I'm gonna need your help, and input, to pull it off."
[QUOTE]"That being said, I had an idea for a new weapon we might be able to use for ship-based combat. It'd be going pretty old school and could be viewed as dangerous, but the suggestion also includes me volunteering to be the one to use it. Interested?"[/QUOTE]
"Shoot. Always up for new ideas." said Taylor, folding her arms as she faced him.
[B]....[/B]
[QUOTE]"How much do you know about explosives? I got some ideas but I'm gonna need your help, and input, to pull it off."[/QUOTE]
"Quite a bit. Shaped charges, Bouncing Betties, makeshift rockets, handmade grenades...personal favorite was homemade plasma grenades. Those are always fun." she said, naming off things using the fingers on her hands. "I'm game for anything as long as it makes one hell of a boom in the end." she said, with a large grin.
[i]Johannes grins at Taylor, wide as a madman, his eyes lit up like stars.[/i][b] "Boarding Drill Pods. We used to use them for ship-capturing during the Kuiper Belt skirmishes in the 2200's. They're basically one man drop pods, but instead of being made to drop into atmospheres and land on planets, they're rocket assisted boarding craft. They're launched from the ship, then navigation computers guide them to their target at high velocity, drill through the hull, and deposits an angry boarding marine right on their ship. That was what my squadron specialized in. They called us the Shock Troops from Hell."[/b]
Maddox grinned, revealing a love for explosives hidden behind the normal "boyscout" act.
He grabbed a large sack and dumped it on the table and then dropped a small box next to it.
"Nitro-X. Completely harmless without a detonator, easy to transport and very effective. It is often used in ship munitions but can in some cases be used to make handheld explosives."
He put his tablet on the table, on the screen was a picture of a UGC sandbag in a dark color scheme and with the UGC emblem printed on its surface.
"I had an idea that we could pack about ten fake sandbags with N-X, after all it won't be a uncommon sight at a base near the front, and then place them around the targets. It has a good effect and low risk, plus whoever plants the detonators only need to prime it by hitting a single button."
He gestured towards another box full of makeshift parts. "We're gonna need to create some dummy bombs too which can be used as distractions. If we can plant these alongside some other target, like a command structure, hopefully the UGC will overlook the real threat."
Maddox looked at Valkyrie. "Thoughts?"
((GTG now, tired as HECK. Infab got temp. control over Mad.))
[I]Meanwhile, on Gibel[/I]
"ORDER! ORDER IN THE HALL!" Councilman Korosov yelled from on top of the podium as the arguing in the hall was drowning out what the high councill had to say. The following days after Mordecai's assassination had left the goverment in a state of chaos. For all his plans and schemes, the Executor had never apointed anyone to take his spot should such a event happen. Karina was a logial choice, but she had dissapeared shortly after calling security. The other candidate was his second in command from Zuriel (Astorov) and he had declined after his position as tyrant led him experience the true burden of ruling a planet. Now the councill was facing the chalenge of picking a new Executor and the list of names was ever growing.
"Get off the podium Korosov! Your old and outdated solutions wont help us in this matter. The Death Vigil needs a new direction in which to develop and now is the time."
"The corpse isn't even cold yet, councilwoman Eliza! And now is not the time for you to push your agenda!"
"He's been dead for several days now! The corpse is as about as cold as the metal parts in his body. And what agenda? My agenda to transform this mercenary group into a political power house? Need I remind you how valuable the resources on this planet are? We can control the sector in 15 years and.."
"Oh blow it our your ass, you old crone!"
"ORDER! I WILL HAVE ORDER IN THIS HALL! I will not tolerate any more outbursts!"
"Then maybe you should not be in such a hurry to pick a new Executor if you cannot keep your own house in order, councilman Korosov." Korosov froze up when he heard that voice. It couldn't be. It's not possible. He looked towards the entrance of the hall and his face went pale. As far as he was concerned, he was staring at a ghost. Mordecai was no only alive, but also walking about, flanked by Karina and what apears to be his pet project, Archangel."From what I understand. During my absence, you bumbling idiots have spend the last several days focusing on who should take my place, rather than taking care of my organization."
Mordecai moved towards the center of the hall, armed guards following close behind, the last two locking the doors behind them. He looked around the room and there was clear discust on his face. "I was shot through the heart! I spend the last several days in intense surgery. The anestesia wore off half way through the procedure and I spend the rest of the time in pain and thinking what I would do to the ones responcible of putting me in this position. I only survived by my own willpower and my burning anger." He paused and observed as Archangel was directing the guards into position. "Or that's what I though that kept me alive. In rality, it was the implants and artificial organs that kept me alive. The anger was still there however. Anger that my would be usurpers would use such a cowardly way to dispose of me. Do I not deserve something better?" He waited for and answer, but none came."Hmm, thought so. In any case. I know who the responcible ones are. They have been added to the Death vigil blacklist and are on shoot on sight directive. Them beeing the Elysium combine. But they are not the only conspirators. In fact, some of them are in this very room. Looking at me, like a ghost from beyond the grave. I do believe it is time for us to clean house. Gards! Initiate order 13!"
The guards stationed all around the room unholstered their weapons and took aim. The panicked sounds were followed by salvos of gunfire. Pools of blood formed around the tables and ran down the steps. Bodies pilled on as the councill were ripped apart from the gunfire. After the last shot rang out and the casing fell on the floor, a earie silence filled the room. Mordecai turned to face Karina, who was now standing next to him. "It is nice to clear out the house every once in a while. Isn't it?" Before Karina could answer, she felt something sink in her stomach. She looked down and was horrified. Mordecai had sank a knife into her. She clutched his shoulder in order to stay on her feet. "It is a shame that you were among the conspirators. I was rather enjoying your company. Including Zuriel. Oh don't look at me like that, my dear. Archangel discovered those e-mails. You should have kept a better password." He knocked her down on the floor. "Now, you have two options. Stay on the ground and bleed to death or run towards a near by hospital. But there is a catch, you see. If you go to a hospital, you are to leave this planet. Forever. Should you return, your family is to be executed for harboring a terorist. Of course you could choose to die here, you will be known as one once the news breaks out and they will probably face the same fate. Tough choice, better make your decision quickly, my dear."
Karina clutched her wound and managed to get back on her feet, she looked towards Mordecai with nothing, but hatred for the man in her eyes. She knew what she had to do. She staggered towards the door, as the two guards unlocked it and let her through. Mordecai looked at Archangel. "This is the last we'll see of her. Shame really. She was lovely to have around. But a weed is a weed and needs to be torn out, not matter how beutiful it may look."
"You could have just killed her and be done with it."
"Yes. But I do hate taking away such beauty from the galaxy. It is already a rather ugly place. These days even more so. Anyway, enough time waisting. Time to get back to work. Get me in contact with Toreno. Have him send over a clean up crew and to meet with me. I have many task for him, picking a new assistant is among them. Oh and you will find your mission briefing back with the Vultures. I need you to be my enforcer now more than ever, Archangel. And this next task is something, you may enjoy."
----
Amy shook her head after seeing the result of the conflict. "Good thing nobody took me up on that bet. Nice job, Sub-zero."
[QUOTE]"Boarding Drill Pods. We used to use them for ship-capturing during the Kuiper Belt skirmishes in the 2200's. They're basically one man drop pods, but instead of being made to drop into atmospheres and land on planets, they're rocket assisted boarding craft. They're launched from the ship, then navigation computers guide them to their target at high velocity, drill through the hull, and deposits an angry boarding marine right on their ship. That was what my squadron specialized in. They called us the Shock Troops from Hell."[/QUOTE]
"So its basically like weaponizing a life pod." said Taylor, raising an eyebrow. She herself had boarded an enemy ship before, but her method was a bit simpler. Jet over to the ship, walk across the side, strap an explosive to it, detonate, watch the explosive decompression, and waltz right in. "Seems like a one-and-done thing, unless they're able to return to the ship that launched them."
Taylor heard Amy's comment, then looked back at Johannes. "Bet?...Do I need to ask?"
[B]....[/B]
"Clever. I like it. Should make some that we can throw too. Would be great for taking out large ordinance on the run, or fucks in heavy armor." said Valkyrie, looking the box over. She cut a look towards Taylor after the 'fucks in heavy armor' comment.
[b]"Depends on how you build them. The pods the Netherlands Marines used were single-use. Cheaper and manufactured en-masse under government contract. But the PMC I contracted to after my tour of duty was up had a different design. Re-usable main pod and engine, but when the drill cut through the hull it opened up like a flower to anchor it, and once you were done you could get back in, the drill would detatch, the hatch would seal, and the pod could be piloted back. I have the specifications for those particular models in my suit's computer, I'm sure it could be brought up to date and modified to be more cost effective by our engineering team no problem."[/b][i] Johannes glances at Amy and smiles, winking with his good eye.[/i][b] "Thanks Liefje."[/b][i] He then turns to address Taylor.[/i][b] "Nothing bad. Just a sparring match between me and the Abbo."[/b]
"So that's what Mad was telling me about. Next time, use the training room." says Taylor, pointing to Vakarus's training room nearby. "Better to fight in there than in here. Anyway, I'll mention your idea to the Captain." she continued, before looking over at Jag.
"How's the plans for the training sessions coming, Jag?" she asked, strolling over to him.
[i]Johannes nods his thanks, then keys his intercom up and pings Hariim.[/i]
[highlight]Hariim: Personal Comm Ping from Johannes Van Der Meijde[/highlight]
Jag let out an deep sign while selecting it's equipment for the upcoming mission planet side.
It's time within the medical bay rendered the towering Sanghvi weary to the Muramasa's artificial gravity.
However, frustrated by it's physical fatigue. It was even more annoyed by Markus and Johannes's skirmish.
Tilting it's body to right with it's head hanging down before sluggishly turning it's body around.
Jag then straighten itself while hastily walking between Markus and Johannes.
"Comrades," Jag said clammily before Markus interrupted with his knife thrown towards Johannes.
Jag look quickly turn to look at Maddox and Markus's little fight with Johannes in a annoy motion.
Though physically weary, the Sanghvi pushed forward towards them.
The Sanghvi tired to walk forward before being taken off guard as the two drive into an free for all between each other.
Jag tired to intervene but was knocked back onto the metal floor of the armory by an stray punch.
Laying on it's backside, Jag slowly arose from the floor an a moment later.
Instead of reacting, it chose to simply to walk away from the bawl.
Keeping quiet while Johannes declared himself the victor after beating down Markus.
Kindling the reckless merc's bitterness and spite towards anyone outside of himself.
Jag looked down on him with contempt while it held itself next the wall.
It's cloak covered it's limbs holding onto the wall to keep the tired Sanghvi stand straight.
It's slowly breath in and out, regaining it's sense of balance while crew went in and out.
Through, Jag felt some contempt for itself. Founding it was unacceptable for letting the crew get out of line.
Even if it wasn't a captain anymore, it's previous responsibilities still weighted heavily on it's shoulders.
[Quote]
"How's the plans for the training sessions coming, Jag?"[/QUOTE]
Jag turned it's head over to face Taylor, letting out an deep breath before answering her.
"Just ironing out some minor details but my plans should be available to you within the hour, First Officer Taylor." Jag said while picking itself up from off the wall.
Yanim slightly grimaced as Red called her the kanad word for "ma'am." Stepping casually into the cortex of the massive craft, she pressed her thumb into a biometric scanner and signed herself into the intranet. The screen was immediately filled with information about every aspect of the carrier's many subsystems. "Now then," she grumbled, "let's dispense with the illusions."
"Illusions?" Red echoed.
"Forgive me, but I can't help but question this generosity," she continued as she scoured the holographic screen for information, minimizing the ship's presence and calling up the mission file. "I've had a history with gift-givers sending me looking for important artifacts."
"I'm aware," Red replied as he watched the words on the screen fly by, "but you know us far better than you knew Harken Saw, and superficial similarities aside, the circumstances couldn't be more different."
"You know what I'm going to ask."
"You want the whole truth. Doesn't everyone?" Red crossed his arms and looked up to the ceiling with a sigh. "You should know better than anyone that information can be just as dangerous a weapon. What I can tell you is that some pieces of this puzzle are nothing but liabilities- you would gain nothing by knowing except a secret worth extracting by force."
"I don't care," Yanim snapped. "In the past, I waited far too long to ask questions. I want to know- what are the Archives?"
Red, with equal sincerity, emphasized his punctuated words with three chops of his hand- "[B]They are Archives.[/B] They're boxes full of data which can only be utilized in a particular way, and if we have anything to do with it, they [I]won't[/I] be. Do you understand?"
"Then why are we recovering the Archives? Why not have us destroy them?"
"Because the data contained within them is key to stopping a greater threat, and that is [I]all[/I] I can tell you." Red's voice had become grave, but never hostile, and Yanim found herself reminded of why she had always been able to trust him. She mulled over his words for a moment before speaking again.
"You told me earlier that there are other players vying for the Archives. The Death Vigil, specifically," she said as she leaned back into her seat. Red nodded. "So, it can be assumed that they're planning to use these Archives for their intended purpose, correct? Does this have something to do with the 'greater threat?'"
"It does," Red responded. "It isn't just about how quickly we can recover the Archives; it's about how quickly we can use the information contained within to avert disaster. If we're too slow, the entire southwest quadrant, and maybe the entire galaxy, will pay an ultimate price." He looked out the windows as the stars which were beginning to form in the evening sky. "It may already be too late."
"How so?" Yanim asked, suddenly alert.
"Tri-Enterprises is collapsing from within much faster than any of us thought possible. Our enemies, including the Death Vigil, are rapidly mobilizing and it's clear that YsCom intends to meet that threat, rather than trying to defuse it. Argos is alone in its efforts to preserve peace, it seems. That is another reason why we have invested so heavily into your company."
"What do you mean?"
"Terika-Belladonna is one of the few partners we can trust to see the bigger picture, and to do the right thing for the galaxy when the chips are down." Yanim halfway smiled at the comment, some near-forgotten inkling of a positive self-image passing through her mind. She stood and shook Red's hand.
"It has to be done," she said, quietly.
---
With the Argos personnel having departed, and the lieutenants having joined Yanim on the bridge, the Aurikha finally lifted off on the evening of the 15th, hours after the departure of the Muramasa toward Voyak. Once in space, its new owners set about searching for an arms factory to buy; it would be a smaller facility, one with mobile equipment. It would be broken down and reassembled within one of the carrier's numerous empty hangar bays. And it would produce lots of TAC-85s.
((Tomorrow, I'll write the update that brings the crew to Voyak.))
Maddox nodded. "Good point." He suddenly got an idea and went to get a box of three R-DO mines. "How does 'N-X spidermine' sound to you?"
[B]*THUD*[/B]
The sound of an angry fist slamming into a metallic wall echoed throughout Moloch's shuttle. He was way off course from the path he was travelling on as his navigator went haywire during warp. He suspected the Ayr marines had tinkered with his shuttle without him noticing, which may be what went wrong. This made him angry, as he beseeched his god to lay a curse on their entire race.
The coordinates were supposed to take him closer to the center of the galaxy so he could continue travelling along the route his people took, but instead now he's quite far away from it. He looked at his map and saw he was near some planet named 'Voyak'.
Oh well, it would be a bit until his warp core cooled off and was available to be used again. He may as well stop there and inspect just went wrong with his shuttle.
Hariim answers the call while polishing up some of the trickier bits of code he's had to write in order to the new computer system to work in Johanne's suit. "Whaddya need, Johannes?"
[I]Johannes slips his helmet on and leaves the armory as he responds to Hariim[/I][b] "I have some new programming requirements for the computer system to enable the new modules Maddox put in the suit and my firearms. Where are you? I'll swing by and let you pull the necessary data and schematics off my helmet."[/b]
"My quarters, currently putting together the new computer systems for your suit. Swing by whenever." Hariim replies as he begins putting together the next set of programs needed to get Johanne's old hardware to talk to and work with the new hardware he's about to get.
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