[center][h1][b][color=ed1c24]TERRA[/color][/b][/h1][/center] [color=ed1c24]"Yes, of course I'll come.[/color] Something that Narra would have to get use to was that Terra had priorities. Even Red-Star had to get use to the fact that she was active and roaming about in unexpected ways, would have rational explanations and possibly lies for them, and would really only alter (temporarily) if a direct order was given. Her way of doing things plus her control made it exceedingly difficult to know what she was thinking, so as long as she reported acceptable answers to questions, they were none the wiser. Now, Commander Narra had nothing to fear from this mode of action, but he had to live with the fact that she found certain methods better for her. Checking up on Kxeyun after making sure Hisako was alright was the order of operations in her mind, and it seemed prudent that - while she had the communicator out - that she should give the Commander a heads-up into her plans. So now, she headed to the operations room, waited her turn to speak, and then dropped [i]this[/i] on him. [color=ed1c24]"Now then, as you ask, I do have a plan regarding the defectors. We've been unexpectedly successful in gaining new NC pilots in the last battle. I fully-expected to have to kill, but instead I brought you Hisako and somebody else brought in Tabris. With this and Kxeyun and myself, we have an effective group of new defectors. Initially, I was just going to suggest sort of a welcoming defector's party, but I think that this should serve as merely a point to establish a squad which I will manage personally. You have treated me well here, and I wish to convey that to other defectors under my wing, that during their transition out of what they know and into something better that they can trust their surroundings because they can place their trust in me, one who has been through the same situation."[/color] Granted, this was a bit different for each person. Kxeyun escaped from an NC bloodsport, Tabris was a brain in a mech, and Hisako was a slave forced to comply both mentally and physically with all demands until now. None of them have had it easy, but then none of them were playing a long game against Red-Star, quietly sowing dissent since the age of ten. It was the sort of thing you had to be made for, and she had been. They did it to themselves. [color=ed1c24]"The fact is that such defections must be getting a great deal of attention and murmurings in their areas, particularly in Red-Star. Their new genetically-engineered soldier torched a hangar and left with her NC. The Grand Sword Star was taken without a fight. Their experimental NC-human hybrid goes rogue. All this, and I'm sure a great deal of people know of Kxeyun's escape from Denver-Vegas by now. Quite alot of attention will be focused on Haven. Red-Star will want us taken down more than ever before, but they were committed to that, anyway. The squad I propose should happen as a statement to those who don't want to be where they are that there is something better."[/color] She'd said her peace. Terra believed that she should command those who trusted her, or that she believed she could gain the trust OF, in short order. Now, the Commander would have to decide. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [center][h1][b][color=2e3192]DREAD[/color][/b][/h1][/center] [center][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3b9bSxMrHnM[/youtube][/center] No one talked to Dread as he exited Ursa Nova. In fact, almost nobody talked ot Dread ever, except in reports and communications on what they wanted him to do. The last person to make small-talk with him ended up quickly punched in the face and then his groin crushed through a relentless stomping. It was probably because he'd told anyone maintaining his mech [color=2e3192][b]"Just keep it running at optimum and [i]shut up[/i]."[/b][/color] and that guy didn't listen. Since he was technically a Comrade, no matter HOW horrible he acted, his orders were absolute insofar as lower-grades were, so absolutely no one stopped him from nearly killing this guy. They were afraid of him, besides, and that seemed to keep him in an acceptable mood. Today, he had crushed an enemy NC and burned down or destroyed a fair amount of city. THAT was how you dominate people. You ruin their lives. Australia was a piss-hole anyway. It has trees that catch fire without anyonee even doing anything, just [i]ignite[/i] if the temperature rises. Anyway, while his mood was fairly-amicable at the moment, he was actually looking forward to blowing off some steam in a very special way. 'Give him someone to kill', they said. It's just as well. He didn't want to hear their pathetic meetings about their long plans and short sights. He saw what happened. He was there when it happened. They lost some of their decent pieces on the board. How utterly pathetic. Well, no matter. It was time to satiate his own rumblings. No, not [i]hunger![/i] EAT human flesh? Disgusting! Human beings weren't worth the blood it took to make them live, not outside of his own self. Don't be stupid... No, the chamber in the hold they set aside for him had several victims for [i]slaughter[/i] lined up. As instructed, they were blindfolded and left UNgagged, but cuffed hand and foot, to prevent departure, with the key left firmly in HIS hands. There were only a few here, but he needed not too many to keep himself amused. The game lay in the build-up and the pay-off. So, with four here - two men and two women - he entered the room. Immediately, he saw something that gave him displeasure, though. He closed the door behind him and walked over to the table that was off to the side and sighed in irritation. [b][color=2e3192]"Tools... Always with the tools. Like I need special assistance to get what I want. Idiots..."[/color][/b] Now, there [i]was[/i] some of the predictable noise going on here, a bit of panic and whimpering, one of the men demanding to know what they were doing here. [i]That one[/i] was the expendable one. Oh, was it not mentioned? He had managed to push someone into grabbing a pair here that were [i]special guests[/i], ones that he was looking forward to recording for later. You see, it'd taken a while, because they didn't share her name, but eventually he located them: The parents of that [i]defective[/i], Terra Laedo. Oh yes, she was there today, and those assholes had called him back before he could lash into her and the other one, the [i]slave[/i] who decided to leave her masters. But enough about disappointment. It was time to begin. This game would be played in stages. Now, for those who are faint of heart, we won't be going into details, but it goes without saying that a man like Dread was rather viceral and creative in how he did things. For instance, the expendable man... His answer would come in the form of his being given no chance, no warning, just beating. He was meat to be tenderized, by hand. Dread did not use tools like a doctor or a carpenter. Was he some low-class performer? NO! He was greater than all who stand idly by! His own two hands were enough. Beat the fool senseless, break his limbs, tear out a couple of his teeth, crack those ribs... All of this to instill the right amount of panic and fear in the room. That's right, he's preparing a [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HVvgfFsU4k]fear turkey![/url] His special guests would hear him working on the man, and then he'd fully-release the expendable [i]woman[/i] so they could hear the full range of her panic as she became the next victim. This did not take as long, but it was potent in reinforcing what was to happen next. He removed cuffs on the hands of Terra's mother and told her to get rid of all the others on her husband and herself. [b][color=2e3192]"You two get a rare privilege with me. You get to [i]understand[/i]. The fullness of my anger cannot be contained within a single vessel alone. It must be beaten into the flesh of another to relieve the unimaginable strain of...having to watch you all [i]exist[/i]."[/color][/b] [b]"If you hate others so much, why are you bothering to gloat?"[/b] Oh, the father was a sharp one. Yes, Dread even gave him a [i]smile[/i]. It wasn't a pleasant one. [b][color=2e3192]"Because I want your daughter to understand what's coming for her."[/color][/b] [b]"I get it now. You're recording this for her benefit. Another Red-Star stooge trying to scare us into submission."[/b] The man almost didn't see it coming. The hand moved so quickly that the flinch barely had time to register before his head was in a grip like a vice and he was pulled towards Dread's face. His wife tried to ply him off, but he shoved her to the ground. They were both getting on in years and not particularly strong, and Dread killed people with his bare hands. No chance, and that man had just put him in a full-on rage as he shouted in his ear. [color=2e3192][b]"It's not about THEM! FUCK [i]THEM![/i] I'M the one that matters! NO ONE DEFIES ME!! NO ONE!! ESCAPES!! [i]ME!!![/i]"[/b][/color] He saw his wife going for the table of tools and things, causing him to release the man and kick the table over with enough force to slam it into the wall. The look on his face was pure murder. [color=2e3192][b]"You touch even [i]one of those[/i] filthy things and I'll break you [i]slowly[/i] and leave you for the [i]animals![/i]"[/b][/color] Then, he punched her to put her in a daze, just in case she got any other ideas. He went back to the father, grabbing him by throat. [color=2e3192][b]"Your daughter left you to die. I will make sure she gets her [i]money's worth[/i]."[/b][/color] Terra's father remained defiant as he spoke with gritted teeth. [i]There[/i] was the proof that they were related... [b]"My daughter left because she must... I was a good father...and that is why she will kill every one of you."[/b] That just made his blood [i]boil[/i]...and his grip tighten. However, the door opened, just then. Damn them, for having the master key to this place. He should've torn it from their fingers, as well. Several men with guns and a squad leader or something above a grunt stood inside the room now. Dread didn't like his face. He also didn't like his words. "Release them, Dread. Command wants these two for their own purposes, not your amusement. I don't know how you got a hole of them, but they're more valuable to us [i]alive[/i]." He released the father and approached the soldier speaking for the squad, ignoring their guns. He saw the look in their eyes, looking at his face, looking at this place... They didn't want to be here, interrupting this. They wanted to be as far away from here as possible. This other jackass, though. He was smug, judgemental, and suddenly...he had Dread's forehead [i]smashing[/i] his nose in with a headbutt, making him fold like an origami crane and hitting the floor. [color=2e3192][b]"She [i]left them[/i], you idiot! You think their pathetic hostage plans are gonna get her back now?! They are waste material to be FLUSHED!"[/b][/color] One of the other soldiers piped in, much more insecurely than [i]this[/i] dumbass. [i]He[/i] gets it. "Comrade Dread, please! It's orders from the top rank! They believe there's still a use for them!" They could see that Dread was debating lashing out even farther than just this man or even just this room, but he had no inclination to start [i]that[/i] kind of fun, just yet. They had been [i]pleased[/i] that his performance had yielded results, and they would shower him with gifts for that. They ruined his plans for pushing Terra into a death mode that would bring the ultimate rage-inducing battle now. For now, he would have to do without. He gestured for them to take the two away, but when one of the soldiers moved to pick up their squad leader, an iron grip forced his hand away. [b][color=2e3192]"Leave [i]that[/i]."[/color][/b] That one would suffer a long and fruitful death, as Dread explored just how long a man could survive while he was killing him.