Jan had a tendency to plan out when he went to bed and when he would come out. It was a rather rude awakening then when this schedule was thrown on its head. “Oh bloody hell, what is it now…” He answered the beeping intercom.

[color=8882be]“The mission has been rescheduled due to unforeseen circumstances. Report to the briefing room in 0500 hours.”[/color] The commanding voice of Sophia resounded. Jan fell back in his bed for a moment, rubbed the sleep out of his eyes, and searched around the room for his clothes. By 0440 hours, he was fully dressed and buzzing through the hallways, in the other direction, technicians and engineers made their way to the hangar to get started on the pre-mission diagnostics.

Jan wasn’t alone by the time he reached the corridor leading up to the briefing room as he noticed Stein turn from a corner. Perhaps it was a bit ironic, crossing paths in the same corridor as they did after his simulation the other day, but it wasn’t like it was improbable either. Stein seemed more alert than Jan though, indicating she had been awake for sometime now. 

“Would it have killed anyone to make the alarm clock on the intercom a less grating sound?” Jan opened conversation with his partner for the day.

[color=0076a3]“Perhaps you should have been awake already, Officer Van Gent.”[/color] Stein responded, her tone as flat as ever.

“Heh… good morning to you too.” Evidently, Jan’s sharp tongue hadn’t been dulled by the rude awakening.

Stein nodded as she held her hands behind her back in a military posture. [color=0076a3]“I hope Officer Moore shapes up. I won’t be accountable for his behavior on-field.”[/color]

“Well, I say we should worry about our own hides for now. Moore won’t be flying with us today, so why worry about him?” Before there was anything else to add, they rounded the last corner before the briefing room.

[color=0076a3]“It is only a matter of time.”[/color] Stein replied as she took a light breath before leaning against one of the walls of the briefing room.  [color=0076a3]“But you are right, I should be worried about you— considering how ‘unpredictable’ people seem to think you are.”[/color]

“Yeah, that’s the sort of reputation you get when your basic strategy is charging forward and unleashing plasma-beam hell on people.” Jan smiled as he sat down on one of the chairs, awaiting what the commander would have to add on yesterday’s general briefing.

[color=8882be]”So, are you two done flirting? Here’s the updated info, then.”[/color]. Their C.O. had a quick once-over with the documents in her hand, then hit the projector.

[color=8882be]”Volkov’s ‘Archeological Capture’ mission and its parameters have been changed. The pay has been increased 100%, but now it appears that the weapon is already operating and is simply being tweaked at this stage of redevelopment. You’ll be launching in a few minutes, and now, if it’s necessary to blow it all to kingdom come, Volkov wouldn’t give a damn.”[/color]

She motioned over to the screen, showing a picture of two NC’s, a dull red quadruped and a light-blue ‘chicken-legged’ design. [color=8882be]”Red-Oni and Fubuki are still guarding the target, and it appears they have MP-NC’s as well. If you aren’t familiar, they’re a new concept that many of the Ruling Companies are trying out. Dumbed-down, simplified, and mass-produced NC analogues. Ain’t worth a shit in comparison to the real deal, but nice and cheap.”[/color]

Stein nodded, though she felt the cheap mechs were a waste on decent pilots. Unless they were somehow unmanned? Something to think on for later.

She finished the little ‘updated briefing’, [color=8882be]”Really, that’s all that seemed to have been changed. The plan is that at 50 klicks away, you’ll separate in-flight and go clockwise and counterclockwise respectively. Pincer-attack. The Little Dragon will focus on the MP-NC’s and the weapon itself, while the Goldenspur will keep the NC’s proper and the standard defenders busy.”[/color]

[color=0076a3]“Noted, Commander.”[/color]

“I look forward to meeting those guys… haven’t fought them before, but I have heard Red-Oni is rather… a flamboyant character.”

[color=0076a3]“They do have a bit of a reputation. Fubuki doesn’t like to talk, and Red Oni talks [i]too much.[/i] Don’t let it distract you.”[/color] Stein nodded, agreeing with Jan’s comment.

[color=8882be]”Yeah, neither is Red-Oni a complete idiot. Fubuki’s the higher ranking one, but considering what I heard, Red-Oni’s the one who’s actually getting stuff done. If you treat him how he acts, you’re going to be sent straight to hell.”[/color]

[color=0076a3]”if you believe in that sort of thing.”[/color]

“Heh, Well, let’s not dwell on that, lest we end up like Moore.”

[color=0076a3]“If this is all, Commander, I request dismissal so I can prepare for launch.”[/color]

[color=8882be]”Dismissed, the two of you. Don’t fuck up so soon, you hear?”[/color]

[color=0076a3]“Affirmative.”[/color] Stein moved her hands from behind her back into a salute before going off to prepare for launch.

“Right, I’ll be getting a quick breakfast before we set off… I’d rather not risk my life on an empty stomach.” And with that said, Jan also left the room, moving toward the mess hall.

[color=8882be]”...He does realize there probably isn’t going to be enough time for that, right?”[/color]