[center][h1][color=teal]A G A T H A[/color][/h1][img]http://66.media.tumblr.com/51fc61ac770a524e9468f174afa94d7f/tumblr_inline_n1xc79Kcic1rb3m8r.png[/img][/center]

[b][center]NC Pilot Barracks, New Anchorage CC

[color=gray][[ Around 0200 Hours ]][/color] [/center][/b]


Despite the horrific odds the were likely stacked against the motley crew of poorly armed pilots, Agatha had a feeling they were going to turn out alright. She sidled up beside the left door, back pressed against cool steel as her finger slipped inside the guard and caressed the trigger of her sidearm. There was comfort in armament, and protection in a hardened wall, but more than anything else the aged lioness found assurance in the skill of her squad mates. Agatha knew that Stein didn’t share her thoughts on the roles of leadership even if she was proving her point with the level headed direction she offered in their time of crisis.


Eli came forward with a succinct declaration of two pilots absent, revealing yet another child was somewhere out there in harm’s way. The savage grin working its way across her face abated and turned into a taut line that was more appropriate to the situation.


[color=teal]”Look Eli, I’m sure that Vera just went to the bathroom or maybe saw a doctor for post surgery discomfort. Tahlia, well, a woman who smells like a smoke box is probably doing as she does.”[/color]


The look Agatha received in return said enough, it was clear Eli wasn’t about to leave it at assumptions. The frigid girl looked on, as though trying to glare through the wall and see the restrooms, the offices, the halls in all. A brief scowl flickered over her face, sour but sure, something was clawing at her, something nigh unnegotiable. 


It was brief moments like this that Agatha had to wonder why there were so many mothers among the pilots, Eli being as good a birth mother to Vera as Agatha was to her own kids. Agatha would have been liable to skin her husband alive if he took the girls out for ice cream without telling her beforehand, so empathy abounded for the tensed knife aficionado. 


[color=teal]”And by all that is decent in this world, give us a call out before you close in with that knife. If I wind up shooting you in the back outside of VR i’d never be able to look Vera in the eye again.”[/color] Agatha spat out, recalling their first squad VR simulation together. It was remarkably similar to their current scenario, barring that there were now very real consequences for their actions and if Eli were to come down with a sudden case of tunnel vision then she’s liable to step into heat from the wrong direction. [color=teal][i]I swear those two were glaring at me for days after that. Kind of adorable if they weren’t doing it to me.[/i][/color]


Again Eli gave her a look, less narrowed but hinting at incredulity, like she was almost offended at the idea. [color=6ecff6]”I won’t stab you unless you give me a reason to.”[/color]


Agatha smothered a chuckle, assuming this was Eli’s attempt at humor. She watched Alan’s group leave out the right without being perforated in the process and reckoned they’d be good on their end. As Stein hit the manual release and pulled the door open she had her Tenormin leveled on the left side, ready for anything. [color=teal] “Clear.”[/color]


[color=0076a3]“Keep your eyes open — it’s dark, but we aren’t [i]blind[/i].”[/color]


The eldest pilot stepped into the hall, swiftly crossing to press herself against the wall and creep down to the corner, sidearm ready for anyone that may approach as she peeked around. [color=teal]”Clear.”[/color]


With no enemies in her sights she motioned for Eli and Stein to move forward while she covered their rear. As mobile as she may have been in the Charon, on foot it was better to leave pointman duty to the young woman who could react far more quickly. That Eli had a knife rather than a handgun, and had abysmal accuracy in comparison to the others present, was why Agatha thought she made the best pointman with Stein nestled safely between them. 

Into the darkness they went, steel bared in defiance of the intruders upon their home. They hoped they wouldn't encounter the enemy before they linked up at the armory, but the distant staccato of weapon’s fire told her otherwise.