Slamurai — Roleplayer Guild

Cecilia

"Follow..." boomed Yggdrasil's voice. 

Cecilia trailed slightly behind Platinum Knight, who's inscrutable motives were always buried under that helmet. In all her years of service, Cecilia did not feel like she'd gotten to know her superior any better than when they'd first met. The man was like an automaton, concerned only with what was necessary and efficient. Cecilia knew better than to pry, so she'd become content with simply following his orders and giving him her full cooperation, no questions asked. 

No sooner than they'd started to leave, the young librarian from the Intelligence Division joined them - donned in invisibility enchantments. Cecilia could see her just fine, however. She toyed with the ring on her finger, taking a small delight in its nullification of Tori's defenses. When she was sure the girl was looking at her, Cecilia shot her a piercing  gaze, telling her all it needed to; a friendly reminder that very few could evade the notice of the Observation Division.

Cecilia had no guesses as to why Yggdrasil intended to bring the librarian along, but if he had a role for her to play, it was probably within good reason.

Cradle Headquarters - Hamarr

"Please, Mr. Bentz, have a seat." 

Richard sat himself into a plush office chair adjacent to the desk in the rear of the room. He was face-to-face with a smiling representative with tidy makeup and not a wrinkle in her garments. The nameplate sitting on the desk read Amelia E. Blake. As his eyes wandered the room, he marveled at how spotless and free of clutter it was; like the cover of a home and living magazine. 

"Coffee? Tea?" 

"I'll have a coffee, thanks. Black with sugar."

Amelia stood and stepped over to a small beverage machine at the left of the room, a well-rehearsed grace in her gait. She passed him a cup and saucer that looked almost too expensive to drink from and returned to her seat. 

"The Director wished to express his regret that he could not meet you personally, Mr. Bentz. He was very impressed with the way you handled the operation."

"Oh, we just did our job, Ms. Blake," Richard replied. "It was our pleasure to aid Cradle Industries in this endeavor."

"Of course. Your team retrieved an extremely valuable asset to us."

"What do you think the OSU will make of this? I don't suppose they'd just allow... whatever it was we stole to remain in Cradle's possession?"

The representative gave Richard a wry smile and continued, "Most likely not, but that's where you come in. The Director wishes to extend your contract with Cradle - indefinitely." 

"Indefinitely?!" Richard blurted, in the middle of a sip. 

"That's right; the Panthers are valuable to the security of this company, Mr. Bentz. The Director wishes to keep your team close by, in the event Cradle meets any other complications down the line. In truth, 'indefinitely' is however long it takes for Cradle to complete its top-priority project; which has resumed, thanks to your retrieval of the asset earlier this week. Realistically speaking, we've estimated a period of about four months until its completion."

"Cradle's really giving pouring everything into this, huh?" Richard mused. "Well, if the Director plans to keep us around solely for the security of this... project - would it be too much to ask just what it was we stole?"

"The Director wanted to speak to you personally regarding that matter," Amelia sighed. "I'm afraid I cannot disclose any details without his express consent, but I can tell you that this project will-"

BAFOOM

The two were startled by what sounded like a dull explosion outside. The Cradle representative bounded to the window, pulling open the blinds to reveal the aftermath of a collision between a nearby section of Cradle's headquarters and what was probably a rocket. Debris and smoke hemorrhaged from the point of impact.

"Dammit!" Amelia cursed, her hands balled into fists and teeth gritted. "We'll resume later, Mr. Bentz. Have your team defend the headquarters at all costs!" She dialed a number and brought her padd to her ear.

"Director? ... Yes, that's correct. Cradle Headquarters is under attack. ... Yes, sir. Bentz is on it. ... I will, sir." She shot Richard a grave look and he gave her a nod, gathering himself from the chair and making a call of his own.

-----

"Pwuah!"

Cecilia slammed the glass on the surface of the bar, setting it next to what could only be described as a pile of discarded shot glasses. Cheers erupted from around the bar; onlookers who had paused their pool and dart games to witness a head-to-head between Cecilia and a one-eyed veteran with a ruddy face. 

"Looks like you're straining a little, there," she jeered. 

"Whuh? Ne'er! Ah've got plen'y o' figh' n' me yet," the old man gurgled. He reached for another glass, visibly tittering in his seat. 

"Yeah? I think you've had your last-"

BAFOOM

"What the fuck?" 

The noise in the bar dropped to an empty silence as a blast echoed from the streets. Cecilia turned to the other Panthers, who had also been downing glasses and making merriment just a few second prior. The bartender grabbed a remote, flipping through the TV stations until he got to a local channel, a shaky news anchor fronting the headlines. 

"-urging everyone to stay inside until an all-clear has been given. There has been no confirmation of who may be responsible for this. Authorities say Cradle Industries's headquarters have been damaged-"

BABOOM
BOOM
PAPAPAPAPAPAM

More violent sounds could be heard, both outside the bar and coming from the TV's speakers.

"Fuck; Richard!" Cecilia hissed. Then, the Panthers' padds beeped and she brought hers to her ear.

"Panthers!" Richard shouted. "Cradle's under attack! Get to the Samigina ASAP! You are to protect the HQ at all costs, do you understand me?"

"We copy, Director! On our way!" Cecilia jumped from the barstool and waved her teammates outside. "You heard 'im! Let's go!"

The Panthers stormed outside in search of the nearest taxi, leaving behind empty bottles and a weeks worth of cleanup. 

"But... your tab!"

-----

On-board the Samigina, crewmen zig-zagged around the hangar, postponing tests and checks to get the FRAMEs combat-ready after a moment's notice. Richard's voice echoed through the cabins, alerting everyone on-board of the sudden shitstorm they'd just gotten pulled into. The machines had already had weapons affixed to their hardpoints - urban-oriented loadouts. They were already being disconnected and lined up, prepping for launch with hardly any time after the pilots arrived. All that was required was they pull on their helmets and harnesses and strap in.

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