[center][img]https://txt-dynamic.static.1001fonts.net/txt/dHRmLjgwLmVkYTYzNS5TR0ZpYVhSaGRDQXpOQ0EsLjA,/red-hat.display.png[/img][/center] [center][img]https://txt-dynamic.static.1001fonts.net/txt/dHRmLjcyLmZhYjU0Ny5TVzVrZFhOMGNtbGhiQ0JFYVhOMGNtbGpkQ0JYWVhKbGFHOTFjMlUsLjAAAAAA/red-hat.display-medium.png[/img][/center] [@glwgameplayer][@KaiserElectric][@Sakaki Chizuru][@Jarl Coolgruuf][hr] Cathrida stood at her end of the table in complete silence. As Johanna and Denzel spoke her human eye narrowed and remained transfixed on Johanna. Her orange piercing stare only briefly left the girl, shifting to Denzel or around the room as others whispered at the corners of the room. Despite Denzel's words and Johanna's own claims the women's gaze did not soften. The girl's quick popping of pills did not go unnoticed by her and the more she thought of the matter the more a feeling of concern began to grow and gnaw at the back of Cathrida's mind. [color=DC143C][i]"There are a few reasons she might have to take pills. One of them could be--No, that couldn't be it. Could it?"[/i][/color] Though Laika had missed seeing the pills, she had felt the sharp sudden spike of emotion from the bespectacled girl. It lasted for what only felt like a moment, nearly lost in the slurry pit of emotions that resonated from Dannie. Yet it stuck with Laika and left her on edge, ready for violence. Standing by Cathrida's side Laika was able to recognize the expression on her captain's face. Looking between Johanna and Cathrida, knowing what at least one of them likely felt, Laika suddenly opened her mouth and spoke aloud. [color=FFA500]"Y-yeah!"[/color] The girl only proclaimed, breaking the momentary silence and drawing Cathrida's gaze. [color=FFA500]"I know HoPPER! I mean, I know [i]about[/i] her. I used to hear her over the landlines. She even got played on the radios in bars 'uncle' drank at. When she was on people always started talking about Zern."[/color] Cathrida looked incredulously at Laika, her human eye and compound sensor eye-patch briefly appearing identical, as both as shrunk into narrow glowing slits. [color=FFA500]"S-she also played some nice music..."[/color] Laika swallowed hard. All the girl could think to do was awkwardly smile back, her body stiffening and seemingly freezing on the spot. Suddenly, Cathrida let out a sigh. Her gaze dropped to the floor as she seemed to relax. [color=DC143C]"If Denzel and my cabin girl vouch for you, then you're more then welcome to join."[/color] Cathrida said, turning back to Johanna her a less intense expression. [color=DC143C]"Not that I have the luxury of picking and choosing right now. If you can fight then that's all that matters, but being technically competent may also be very important in the future."[/color] Cathrida gave one last look around the room. She watched as the workers and deviants at the edge of the light cast from the ceiling, slide even further back towards the walls as she looked towards them. It was as if they were scared of being pulled into the light and absorbed into committing to her efforts. [color=DC143C]"Including Laika, that makes four people joining me to fight. That's good. I assume since you're all here you have a mobile worker or suit of your own. Laika, where did you hide your Scutson?"[/color] Cathrida riffled through the papers scattered across the make-shift table before finding a crude map of Habitat 34's layout. Laika stepped forward and pressed a finger into a north-most part of the habitat. [color=FFA500]"Down in the 3rd Maintenance Level, stuffed in the back of a pipe room. I've had to move it around over the years but that is where it is now. Its not too far from the Northern Hanger, I'd just need to take a lift up."[/color] Laika explained and Cathrida nodded. [color=DC143C]"Then we'll hit the Northern Hanger and steal a mining lander vessel from there. If you leave now we should be able to meet up in the hanger at the same time."[/color] Laika grinned, every hair on her body raising as she realized it was almost time. [color=FFA500]"Yes, Captain!"[/color] Turning on her heel Laika made a wild sprint towards the other end of the hanger, fully intent on running all the way to her Scutson. Cathrida stood and watched as the girl blitzed away, the pirate captain nearly smiling before she remembered where she was. The women paused and took a moment to take in the presence of Denzel, Johanna, and Dannie. [color=DC143C]"Get your mobile suits and meet at the northern hanger. We don't have the privilege of wasting time for stealth, so we'll be going in loud. We'll take the mining lander by force, though there shouldn't be much opposition right away. Its when we get outside of the colony and head for the surface that we should expect a real fight..."[/color][hr] [center][img]https://txt-dynamic.static.1001fonts.net/txt/dHRmLjcyLmYxMjczNy5TVzV6YVdSbElIUm9aU0JCYm01dmJtRWdRMjlzYjI1NS4w/red-hat.display-medium.png[/img][/center][center][img]https://txt-dynamic.static.1001fonts.net/txt/b3RmLjU0LmYxMjczNy5TR0Z1WjJWeS4w/red-hat.display-italic.png[/img][/center][@DostHou][@vietmyke][@Caduceus][@glwgameplayer][@Crusader Lord][@veenknight343][@Golden Spiral][hr] Princess Asallia proceeded out of the umbilical, down the red carpet, and into the hanger to the sound of a clapping and composed crowd. The hanger itself was a large rectangular room, broken up 'cut outs' and what amounted to piers for ships to slide into and dock. Normally the docks were in zero-gravity in order to better facilitate the landing of ships and the loading and unloading of goods. However for the occasion the docks had been added to the 'spin' of the colony itself, placing it firmly under gravity for the time being. [color=FF69B4][i]"Not all members of the nobility or royal family move that gracefully under zero-g. And the fastest way to ruin the festivities is for someone to get a look up the Princess's dress because they floated too high off the ground." [/i][/color] Princess Asallia whispered to Lycoris as they walked together down the carpet. Walking alongside the Princess, heart beating a mile a minute, Lycoris was surprised at how calm and orderly everything seemed. She had expected a cheering, barely contained mob snapping off pictures and howling the Princess's name as did so often happen in her concerts. yet everyone stood, calm, disciplined, and controlled. Even the mobile suits, those standing off on the sides of the room for security and those marching in unison towards the front of the room, appeared more straight backed and at attention then usual. As the Princesses and their company moved towards the front of the room, a band began to play somewhere in the room. Brass and drum instruments quickly filled hanger with a classical, upbeat melody that brought to mind the momentous occasion ahead. Once the Princesses were far enough down the carpet, the nobles aboard the ship were allowed to begin to disembark from the vessel, followed by the passengers and crew. At the front of the room, past the Tommy's standing and moving in formation, were the large open gates that led into the hangers themselves. Sitting in the threshold of the large doors was a beautifully decorated parade float, one in a long line of floats intended to take the princesses through the colony in a grand display of their arrival. [color=9370DB][i]"I thought you just wanted me to come out with you, not sit on a parade float for the whole colony to see!"[/i][/color] Lycoris said in a hushed tone of panic, forcing herself to smile as the two continued to walk. [color=FF69B4]"Deep breathes Lycoris. You need to expose yourself to the things you're afraid of in order to strengthen yourself against them. And don't forget that I'm here with you. Besides, if I have go put up with this, so do you."[/color] Asallia smiled a little more genuinely as she walked and all Lycoris could do was begrudgingly smile along with her. Then a soldier, one of Asallia's persona guards, fast-walked up to the Princess. Leaning in he spoke quickly and quietly into her ear before departing just as fast as he came. Lycoris couldn't hear what the man had said but she could see the strain that sank into Asallia's cheerful expression. [color=FF69B4]"There's been a disturbance."[/color] Asallia whispered. [color=9370DB]"What kind?"[/color] Lycoris felt her pulse jump [color=FF69B4]"Its likely nothing. But if something does happen...Lycoris, when I tell you to close your eyes I want you to close them. And do not open them until I tell you do do so."[/color] [color=9370DB]"But why-"[/color] [color=FF69B4]"Lycoris. Please."[/color] [color=9370DB]"O-Of course..."[/color] Lycoris couldn't hide the grimace that came with the promise and she quietly followed Asallia, who continued to smile and wave even as a threat drew closer.[hr] [center][img]https://txt-dynamic.static.1001fonts.net/txt/dHRmLjYwLmYxMjczNy5UM1YwYzJsa1pTQjBhR1VnUVc1dWIyNWhJRU52Ykc5dWVRLCwuMAAA/red-hat.display-medium.png[/img][/center] [center][img]https://txt-dynamic.static.1001fonts.net/txt/dHRmLjQ4LmYxMjczNy5VM0JoWTJVLC4wAAAA/red-hat.display-medium.png[/img][/center][@GreenGoat][hr] "Damn it, don't let that thing any closer!" A team of four ZIMS-02 Tommys, one of many guarding the 'rear' of the colony, floated in the blackness of space. They had been told the job of guarding the other end of the colony was important. That though the Princesses and the Venue would not be there, that it was still a vital position to guard. Despite the lack of glamour and being stuck far and away from the festivities, the men had resigned themselves to their duty. After all infiltration seemed far and above a more likely threat then an all-out attack...until they received the news. Over the crackling comms and broken transmissions, the leader of the small team had been made aware of a fast approaching unknown target. They couldn't yet see the target, all they knew was the direction it was coming in. "Gutter, set your HE recoiless launcher shells on a timer. Something moving that fast can't have any armor, just hitting it with the shockwave of the explosion should do something!" "Yes, sir!" The Tommy's quickly threw up their weapons and began to fire. 90mm assault rifles sprayed in full auto and five 300mm shells spat from a recoiless launcher cut through space. The timers on the shells quickly ran down before they detonated, briefly lighting up the darkness with small flashes of heat and light. "If we can kill this thing there will be medals in it for all of us!"