Questions did arise, actual useful questions that could carry this to the next stage, once he addressed the first two.  Garrett decided to begin with the grim and unfortunate nature of their information about the X and how it came to them.  He'd reviewed the more [i]viceral[/i] and horrid parts himself.  Briefly, he considered not sharing the nature of full impact with the group, but they needed to be mentally prepared.  The dragon wouldn't care, but even HE needed to know there were limits to every being, that even HIS mortality would be in question.

[color=0072bc][b]"The information regarding the X directly from BSL Station comes in two forms.  The first is directly from station personnel itself and the second is from the AI that we had built into the gunship we supplied Samus Aran with.  Transmissions from the sation had stopped soon after the initial outbreak.  They barely had the chance to begin examination and most communications then on were frantic action reports and...distress calls, in which some members of the staff were in the process of being devoured."[/b][/color]

The Admiral paused, remembering the recordings.  People, conscious people, begging for help at their workstation...even as the X infection consumed them from within OR without, their bodies melting away to create some hideous deformed mutant or just a...puddle on the ground.  Some members of command were intrigued by these things.  Admiral Garrett was not among them.  He had been seizing Zebesian bio-tech research to recreate the Metroid, as they had done.  The Metroid was an animal, with a defined weakness.  It was controllable, and apparently...it was necessary.  Some would argue that the Metroid was also too dangerous.  Perhaps, perhaps not.  It was certainly as much a bone of contention with the bounty hunter out there as was anything to do with the X.  No matter.  He continued.

[b][color=0072bc]"The main source of data on the X - their adaptive nature, their consuming methods, their ability to consume even data from machinery, and of course their ability to take different forms in an act of combative mimickry - all of this came from the AI we implanted on the gunship.  However, after some time, the AI went rogue and stopped transmitting, which is why we do not have any data on the final hours of the BSL Station.  No doubt the outpost will have recorded data on what the X in the vicinity has been up to [i]since then[/i], especially if they've been overrun.  The planet may have to be scorched, evenn though we left no ships there for intelligent X Parasites to escape with."[/color][/b]

He couldn't imagine how the X had managed to get anywhere off of their planet besides the station, though.  Did a meteor filled with X-mass hit the planet?  How likely was THAT?  SR-387 and 388 may have been 'close by', but that's on the astronomical scale.  In reality, it was like hitting Mars with a rocket from Earth.  Even if the X literally ate rocket scientists, you'd be talking about a fiery spitball, not a rocket with maneuvering thrusters.  What was it that happened...?  Well, they'd find out.

[b][color=0072bc]"As for the bounter hunter...she is to be taken alive.  Yes, she may do her 'thing'.  We haven't forgotten her abilities.  We have prepared for that.  We have prepared for extra support and combat ability on this mission in the form of the rest of the team.  Follow me."[/color][/b]

Admiral Garrett made for the door as all the moniters shut off at a glance and a nod from his person.  The door opened, and he - with all the guards inside this room and a few outside - escorted them down the hall to another room.  In this room, the two occupants had been listening to the briefing this entire time, but they already had it prior to the arrival of the group that was gathered now.  This had been because they had more specific parts of the mission to pay attention to and prepare for.  This room was what appeared to be an observation/training area, the group coming into the observation part of said room.  The occupant they immediately saw was a dark-haired felinoid, who had had the chance to observe the other figure in the training area for some time.  Garrett gestured to the cat-man first.

[b][color=0072bc]"This is Tribunal Cassius Svent of the Collective, based out of Elciazia.  Mr. Svent has elected to be a part of this mission as well, but he is of [i]particular[/i] importance because he is the main support agent.  While you all will be given your quarantine belts here and now - he has them at the moment - he has additional quarantine and energy supply equipment to extend the effectiveness of all of you, and therefore to extend your lives while dealing with the X.  He is also a fully-trained medic, and while I realize that won't mean much if the X infect you, you may end up sustaining 'clean' injuries that require him, and so he will be able to treat you.  The [i]last[/i] member of your team is our measure to ensure Samus Aran's capture and to generally safeguard the mission..."[/color][/b]

He gestured to the observation window, allowing the lot of them to view the final team member, whom Cassius had been watching deal with a number of automated drones.  It was not a human being.  It was not an [i]alien[/i] being.  It was a [i]machine[/i]...  This humanoid device was standing over 6 feet, at least, cast in a blue-black armor with three red eyes comprising its 'face', the eyes set side-by-side...by side, with wings and engines on its back.  It was standing in a room full of destroyed robot drones.  Clearly, it had just been through live-fire testing.  It - He? - seemed to be staring at the observation window, perhaps waiting for the next challenge.

[b][color=0072bc]"This is Zen.  He was developed by a scientist looking to create an artificial being which could ensure the safety and security of intelligent life [i]within[/i] the Federation.  Although his creator is not [i]from[/i] the military, a machine being made for such applications requires military oversight, hence why his file appeared on my desk.  I green-lit him personally for this mission.  But don't take [i]my[/i] word for it..."[/color][/b]

The Admiral now gestured to the training area of the room as several trapdoors opened up in the ceiling, dropping down...Space Pirates!  These must've been captured members of the Zebesian, brought here from whatever incarceration they were housed in so that they could test the android's abilities.  Garrett smirked over at Kaze, as though to say 'Hah.  Zebesians are hard to find now, my ass...'.  Zen was immeediately aware of their presence.  He was surrounded by a dozen or so of the creatures.  And though they were a little confused, themselves, it didn't take long for the alien crustaceans to recognize a threat and attack!  And yes, they were armed!

[center][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blPxb9sPBlY[/youtube][/center]

No sooner had they opened fire than Zen had leapt up and engaged its engine system, quickly avoiding fire while pointing its arms at enemy combatants, shooting off consecutive laser blasts against one opponent after the next.  Those wise enough to leap out of the way were quickly tracked and fired at with the other arm, striking them in mid-air so they could be fired upon while they lay prone.  Zen seemed to immediately take advantage of physical weakness to compound on disabling or destroying an enemy.  A pirate that launched itself right at him from the wall found itself gripped by one of his hands without even looking, and an electro-shocking system stunned the creature allowing him to drop it to the ground and stomp down heavily on it, cracking open the exoskeleton.  Several gun ports on its body fired upon whatever pirates happened to be facing it dead on, there, and it ducked as several attacked from behind.  The android quickly crawled aside from this assault on all-fours before firing back with concentrated beams from its eyes, focusing on all three pirate attackers there and blasting them apart.

[b][color=0072bc]"Zen is a fully-functional AI-driven android combatant, and unlike previous developments of the Federation in this direction...he has no organic parts for the X to infect.  His creator, Dr. Zenigawa, had been teaching him in simulation up to this point.  We have been completing his real-world training with live-fire exercises to make certain his readiness.  We can't have an AI that confuses reality for fiction and fails to understand the meaning of real-life consequences.  I made [i]certain[/i] he understood that lives were on the line here.  It's why he's been training non-stop now."[/color][/b]

The android seemed to have finished them all, but then a last pirate - which had been clinging to the delivery chute this entire time - dropped down on him from behind!  There was a brief struggle as the Zebesian tried to damage him with its claws, but Zen flipped and hit the ground to pound the creature with his weight, followed by a retractable electro-charged blade coming out of its wrist to slice it apart!  Garrett hit the button for the intercom into the room.

[b][color=0072bc]"Alright, Zen.  That's enough.  Come and meet the team."[/color][/b]

[b][color=ed1c24]"Yes, Admiral."[/color][/b]

The voice emanating from whatever speakers the machine possessed was that of a deep-sounding vocal.  Zen was not made to sound pleasant.  He wasn't pretending to be nice here.  He was providing what he was designed for: Security.  Nothing says security like a damn-powerful guard with an intimidating voice.  He now stepped through the heavy-armored door that connected the two chambers and appeared in their midst.  He appeared to be examining each and every one of them now.

[b][color=0072bc]"Well, I'll leave you all to get acquainted and to begin your mission.  Don't take too long.  Time is a factor here.  I have to get back to overseeing just about every other [i]fucking[/i] thing keeping me from my memoirs.  So, if you'll excuse me.  Oh, and before you ask, anyone here who does not have their own vessel will be transported on one of our fast military transport ships.  Claypool there can sign it out for you.  Zen has had a gunship retrofitted with his own support equipment, largely in case the bounter hunter has some ideas on aerial combat.  Good luck, all of you, and get a move on."[/color][/b]

Okay, so...  They were assembled, they had a couple of additions to the team they weren't expecting, and they had the go...to go.  Admiral Garrett was out the door and he would expect results.  They had an idea on where to start, if nothing else.  They had all of their equipment, here and now.  They were ready.

Anybody getting a bad feeling about this?  Anybody been getting a bad feeling right from the start?  You should...