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Even through the meters of composite armor, alloy structural bracing, and combat-rated inertial compensation systems Volana could feel the impact of the Orbitals making their way towards the launch catapults. A faint vibration that terminated in the back of her jaw. Back, well before she had even considered going through the selection process for pilots, she had seen the massive mechanical warriors with no small amount of trepidation. A basal, primal fear that was born from the sheer insignificance of her own capabilities next to these Orbitals. Now, after experiencing the world through the electronic gaze of her own Orbital for countless hours, the paradigm had shifted. The lines between her sense of self and the machine which she commanded had already begun to become so very tenuous behind conventional controls, so as to become practically nonexistent from within the [i]Aurora[/i]'s bleeding edge systems.

<<[color=f26522]If you want to check compatibility, I'd sooner suggest dinner.[/color]>>

<<[color=f26522]Better everything work than something get in the way of our full potential, I say. We're dropping into a new world- best make the best impression we can.[/color]>>

Volana's eyes widened momentarily, before narrowing to regard the golden sensor array of the silvery-white Orbital from which the transmission had originated from. The channel closed with a click before her brain could fully form a reply of her own, though in hindsight this was probably for her own good.

Her attention returned to readout of systems running down the side of her field of view, as each shifting from grey to blue in confirmation of startup and operational status.

This was it.

Volana took a breath, attempting to fill her body with something other than anticipation. She was less than successful. A single command started the gantry retracting away from around the [i]Aurora[/i], while the clunk of disconnecting bolts followed a dull thud that reverberated through her body confirmed the power umbilical ejecting. In her peripheral she saw the [i]Bedwyr[/i] begin to move, and watched the practically [i]knightly[/i] machine cross her field of view as Konstantin made his way towards the catapults. The last element on her HUD switched to blue, the [i]Aurora[/i] now completely operating under it's own power for the first time in fifteen years.

At that the [i]Aurora[/i]-no [i]Volana[/i]-took a step forward for the first time once again. A step that was far more steady and assured than the one she had taken after emerging from cryo.

[i]This[/i] was where she belonged. Lightyears from the star which she had called home, displaced over a decade, unreachable by any other soul save those which she had taken the journey with, and unlikely to ever see that place she had called home ever again... and there wasn't anywhere else in this cold sea of stars Volana would rather be.

She followed a few heavy paces behind the [i]Bedwyr[/i] towards the launch catapults, joining the menagerie of Orbitals from across the solar system. The [i]Starstrike[/i] stood poised, it's angular armor bare save for a printed single sigil. Behind it was the no-so-mute pilot's frame, a civilian model  modified to near unrecognizability, followed by a distinctive red and black armored Orbital that her IFF identified as being piloted by the younger girl.

Before her Konstantin secured his mech in the launch pad, and beyond him the barrel of the catapult terminated into the deep black.

<<[color=f26522]This is Stojanovic. I'm headed out.[/color]>>

One moment the heavily armed [i]Bedwyr[/i] was there, the next it was accelerating at breakneck speed down the electromagnetic launcher. There was a burst of light at the end of the track from what she assumed were the [i]Bedwyr[/i]'s thrusters flaring at the last second, followed by Konstantin's IFF tag rising sharply relative to their position.

[color=aquamarine][i]Show off.[/i][/color]

Pulling the supplied heat shield before her, Volana stepped up onto the locking mechanisms.

<<[color=aquamarine]Aurora, full power.[/color]>>

She felt her breath catch for a moment.

<<[color=aquamarine][i]Launching.[/i][/color]>>

Volana felt her body press back into the inertial gel as the magnetic accelerators sent the [i]Aurora[/i] flying down the length of the ship. The g-forces were welcome, giving way to an almost euphoric, child-like excitement that she couldn't quite bury, nor could she stop the smile that spread across her features.

She had been asleep for so very long. But now...

Now she was alive.

A small burst from the [i]Aurora[/i]'s ion thrusters set her course towards the pale brown marble which hung above them, even with the added weight from the heat shield and lift boosters her commands felt responsive and crisp.

<<[color=aquamarine]On your six Stojanović, following you in.[/color]>>