Urizen
Lemons
Asura
Izurich
Expllo
Th3King0fChaos
Enzayne
Cu Chulainn
OwO
Sloth
Apprentice Pilot Kyra Newman
IC 286.08.16 // Petrichor-8 System, Frontier Planet Alora // Approaching planet's surface.
1423 hours // @Raijinslayer@Supermaxx@Lemons@Fading Memory@Feyblue
Clack. Clack. Clack.
Upon the metal bird that would bring her to hell, Kyra had been so nerve shot it was almost comical. Her first mission ever got her already regretting the contract she signed with the MHA, missing the comfort of her room and VR pod the second she’d stepped aboard. Surrounded by soldiers from every side, not even allowed to hide within the mech she’d been shipped with, the bespectacled girl chose instead to hide from the galaxy at large the only way she knew how.
Clack. Clack. Clack.
The game system that lit up her face was the latest of the VirtualChild line of handheld devices, a prototype released only to a select few before it would hit the shelves after half an Earth year. Bought using the generous package that came from her signing, it was one of the few luxuries she could continue to enjoy during her training. Though it did not come with a customizable, touch-sensitive control scheme as most game systems of the time are made with, the brunette actually enjoyed the haptic feedback of buttons beneath her fingers, the click of each press helping drown out the sounds of the world around her.
Clack. Clack. Cla-
The constant movement from her right side eventually made the young woman pause her game, popping out one of her earpieces and furtively glancing toward her seatmate, wondering what had gotten him so riled up. The blue-haired Pilot she was seated alongside had been noticeably squeamish throughout the journey, though his nervousness seemed to be from excitement rather than fear, at times wondering if she had heard him pumping himself up underneath the sounds of the game in her ears. Now though, he was moving to and fro next to her, leaning forward and back as if trying to look past her, and it was through his thankless shuffling that Kyra happened to hear the tail end of the commencement happening before them. And a joke she immediately passed off reacting to when she realized whom it was pointed toward.
Nervously, she noticed the two Constellations standing before the seated group, explaining the premise of their mission and calling for names soon after. The name that came from the blonde’s lips made her physically shrink in her seat, recognizing it as the man who would be her warden on-field. She watched the leaders’ expressions as people began their introductions from her seat, noting how they changed as each person stood and announced their presence.
Though the larger man, Rigel, had been a welcoming albeit overbearing sort who had greeted her heartily when she stepped onto the ship, his face became strangely hesitant beneath his glasses when the half-mechanical redhead had stood up and stated her name. The other, Antares, who while dismissive and barely gave Kyra a glance, narrowed his eyes at the young woman in a way that didn’t seem positive. Not that she could blame him, merely the sight of the… whatever she was, had caused the brunette to skitter out of sight, peering out from behind a corner when the subject- no, probably better to think of the metallic girl as ‘Aissi’ now -happened to be walking down the same corridor as her from the other end.
Continuing on, Rigel seemed ready to crack out that boisterous laugh when her seatmate, Alto, had claimed his rig would be the star of the show, the muscle man’s grin crinkling as if barely suppressing a return greeting. Antares didn’t break eye contact with Aissi until the gruff voice of her retainer made him. The grizzled veteran who was effectively the highest ranked member of the operation, Kyra wondered how their first flight together on a planet’s surface would go. Sure, she read his file, knew who he was and what he was capable of in the worst conditions, and even informed that she had been assigned to his side as a favor from a Captain of all things, but it took more than a few words on a screen for her to get an idea of how to work with someone. Just like anyone who has ever queued for a team-based match could tell you, you’ll never know what someone’s like until you see them on the field.
“Hah!” Rigel finally broke his self imposed vigil at Lictor’s jab, his held smile revealing he wasn’t bothered in the slightest as he raised the ‘vaseline-filled’ glove in question, pumping his fist as the various mechanisms inside hissed and clicked. “I cannot say anything about my breath, but this gauntlet of mine was perfectly made for me. No hand products required!”
“Sir.” Antares immediately broke his gaze from the sub- Aissi -and addressed his superior, his tensed shoulders settling slightly as he nodded once in acknowledgement of the command. It was clear that the man set to watch over her performance had more pull than she thought if he could tame his peers with but a word, and the brunette shrunk a little more in her seat.
The next introduction surprised her, not expecting the next Constellation to say her entire name verbatim. She’d seen the file, and thought that the system had bugged, but apparently that string of names was real. Something Rigel mirrored, lowering his shades to reveal dull blue eyes that appraised Zhejiang owlishly. “...Huh.”
“We shall endeavor to live up to your expectations,” Unlike his partner, the blond didn’t visibly react to the name, doing a slight bow as a formal gesture with his sword held at his hip. Realizing it would be her turn next, Kyra unclipped the harness that had strapped her to the chair, rising to stand and say her piece before unceremoniously being cut off by a soft voice.
“Iona Smirnov, Stardust-Class, Callsign Dombay,” they began, mirroring the blond’s gesture with a much deeper bow that went down to the waist. Hair as white as snow aside from a single dark streak, and eyes closed even while greeting their superiors, they continued, “Thank you for guiding us through this mission, masters.”
The exchange was quick enough that when they sat back down without further comment, she was still standing unawares. And, when the two Constellations moved their attention onto her instead, the brunette felt her face burning while she shot up to stand fully and snapped a salute, eyes screwed shut. “A-Apprentice Pilot Kyra Newman. At your s-service sirs!”
“Nervous?” She heard the deep voice of Rigel comment, and she nearly winced when he hit the nail on the head. Bobbing her head slowly, as if afraid that agreeing with them would be a sign of weakness, she heard the man laugh once again and felt her ears heated up when Antares spoke in her defense.
“Enough. At ease, Apprentice Pilot.” Not even attempting to open her eyes to see their expressions, the bespectacled girl plopped back into her seat and covered her face with her hands while keeping her ears open to at least take note of what they were saying. She didn’t want to make another dumb mistake on her first mission.
“Remember those names, marines.” Antares seemed to be addressing the soldiers now, hearing the thud of his boots on the metal floor as he walked over toward the group on the other side. “Those are the VIPs you will be supporting on this mission. Many of them will be the future of mankind. They all come back alive, understood?”
“Sir, yes sir!” A wave of voices cried out, around fifty responding in perfect unison. Kyra couldn’t help but notice his wording, and mentally winced. Hopefully someone else other than her was being subtly excluded from his idea of the future.
“Please be advised that we will be landing in the hot zone shortly,” a female voice from the intercom rang out within the compartment, the smile audible as she proceeded with her announcement. “Thank you for flying with MHA Airlines, we hope to see you again soo-”
Cut off as someone vested the microphone from the woman speaking, Kyra could still hear a faint chuckle in the background before the speakers crackled and silenced themselves.
“Look alive!” Rigel yelled vigorously as the ship began to rumble, the roar of the thrusters growing louder as it began the landing sequence on the planet’s surface. He gestured with his massive gauntlet for everyone to rise, his pearly whites shining. “Get ready to depart! I want Pilots in their mechs and everyone else prepared to move out as soon as that hangar door opens!”
“S-Sir, yes sir!” Not given a chance to think, Kyra nearly forgot to salute the two Constellations in her haste toward her machine, the near forgotten game system turned off and stored in the bag by her waist without bothering to save. Gazing up at a monitor displaying the situation outside, the brunette heard herself gulp at the sight of war, real war, happening not far from the landing zone.
She could only hope that her first mission was just as simple as the briefing made it sound.
Upon the metal bird that would bring her to hell, Kyra had been so nerve shot it was almost comical. Her first mission ever got her already regretting the contract she signed with the MHA, missing the comfort of her room and VR pod the second she’d stepped aboard. Surrounded by soldiers from every side, not even allowed to hide within the mech she’d been shipped with, the bespectacled girl chose instead to hide from the galaxy at large the only way she knew how.
Clack. Clack. Clack.
The game system that lit up her face was the latest of the VirtualChild line of handheld devices, a prototype released only to a select few before it would hit the shelves after half an Earth year. Bought using the generous package that came from her signing, it was one of the few luxuries she could continue to enjoy during her training. Though it did not come with a customizable, touch-sensitive control scheme as most game systems of the time are made with, the brunette actually enjoyed the haptic feedback of buttons beneath her fingers, the click of each press helping drown out the sounds of the world around her.
Clack. Clack. Cla-
The constant movement from her right side eventually made the young woman pause her game, popping out one of her earpieces and furtively glancing toward her seatmate, wondering what had gotten him so riled up. The blue-haired Pilot she was seated alongside had been noticeably squeamish throughout the journey, though his nervousness seemed to be from excitement rather than fear, at times wondering if she had heard him pumping himself up underneath the sounds of the game in her ears. Now though, he was moving to and fro next to her, leaning forward and back as if trying to look past her, and it was through his thankless shuffling that Kyra happened to hear the tail end of the commencement happening before them. And a joke she immediately passed off reacting to when she realized whom it was pointed toward.
Nervously, she noticed the two Constellations standing before the seated group, explaining the premise of their mission and calling for names soon after. The name that came from the blonde’s lips made her physically shrink in her seat, recognizing it as the man who would be her warden on-field. She watched the leaders’ expressions as people began their introductions from her seat, noting how they changed as each person stood and announced their presence.
Though the larger man, Rigel, had been a welcoming albeit overbearing sort who had greeted her heartily when she stepped onto the ship, his face became strangely hesitant beneath his glasses when the half-mechanical redhead had stood up and stated her name. The other, Antares, who while dismissive and barely gave Kyra a glance, narrowed his eyes at the young woman in a way that didn’t seem positive. Not that she could blame him, merely the sight of the… whatever she was, had caused the brunette to skitter out of sight, peering out from behind a corner when the subject- no, probably better to think of the metallic girl as ‘Aissi’ now -happened to be walking down the same corridor as her from the other end.
Continuing on, Rigel seemed ready to crack out that boisterous laugh when her seatmate, Alto, had claimed his rig would be the star of the show, the muscle man’s grin crinkling as if barely suppressing a return greeting. Antares didn’t break eye contact with Aissi until the gruff voice of her retainer made him. The grizzled veteran who was effectively the highest ranked member of the operation, Kyra wondered how their first flight together on a planet’s surface would go. Sure, she read his file, knew who he was and what he was capable of in the worst conditions, and even informed that she had been assigned to his side as a favor from a Captain of all things, but it took more than a few words on a screen for her to get an idea of how to work with someone. Just like anyone who has ever queued for a team-based match could tell you, you’ll never know what someone’s like until you see them on the field.
“Hah!” Rigel finally broke his self imposed vigil at Lictor’s jab, his held smile revealing he wasn’t bothered in the slightest as he raised the ‘vaseline-filled’ glove in question, pumping his fist as the various mechanisms inside hissed and clicked. “I cannot say anything about my breath, but this gauntlet of mine was perfectly made for me. No hand products required!”
“Sir.” Antares immediately broke his gaze from the sub- Aissi -and addressed his superior, his tensed shoulders settling slightly as he nodded once in acknowledgement of the command. It was clear that the man set to watch over her performance had more pull than she thought if he could tame his peers with but a word, and the brunette shrunk a little more in her seat.
The next introduction surprised her, not expecting the next Constellation to say her entire name verbatim. She’d seen the file, and thought that the system had bugged, but apparently that string of names was real. Something Rigel mirrored, lowering his shades to reveal dull blue eyes that appraised Zhejiang owlishly. “...Huh.”
“We shall endeavor to live up to your expectations,” Unlike his partner, the blond didn’t visibly react to the name, doing a slight bow as a formal gesture with his sword held at his hip. Realizing it would be her turn next, Kyra unclipped the harness that had strapped her to the chair, rising to stand and say her piece before unceremoniously being cut off by a soft voice.
“Iona Smirnov, Stardust-Class, Callsign Dombay,” they began, mirroring the blond’s gesture with a much deeper bow that went down to the waist. Hair as white as snow aside from a single dark streak, and eyes closed even while greeting their superiors, they continued, “Thank you for guiding us through this mission, masters.”
The exchange was quick enough that when they sat back down without further comment, she was still standing unawares. And, when the two Constellations moved their attention onto her instead, the brunette felt her face burning while she shot up to stand fully and snapped a salute, eyes screwed shut. “A-Apprentice Pilot Kyra Newman. At your s-service sirs!”
“Nervous?” She heard the deep voice of Rigel comment, and she nearly winced when he hit the nail on the head. Bobbing her head slowly, as if afraid that agreeing with them would be a sign of weakness, she heard the man laugh once again and felt her ears heated up when Antares spoke in her defense.
“Enough. At ease, Apprentice Pilot.” Not even attempting to open her eyes to see their expressions, the bespectacled girl plopped back into her seat and covered her face with her hands while keeping her ears open to at least take note of what they were saying. She didn’t want to make another dumb mistake on her first mission.
“Remember those names, marines.” Antares seemed to be addressing the soldiers now, hearing the thud of his boots on the metal floor as he walked over toward the group on the other side. “Those are the VIPs you will be supporting on this mission. Many of them will be the future of mankind. They all come back alive, understood?”
“Sir, yes sir!” A wave of voices cried out, around fifty responding in perfect unison. Kyra couldn’t help but notice his wording, and mentally winced. Hopefully someone else other than her was being subtly excluded from his idea of the future.
“Please be advised that we will be landing in the hot zone shortly,” a female voice from the intercom rang out within the compartment, the smile audible as she proceeded with her announcement. “Thank you for flying with MHA Airlines, we hope to see you again soo-”
Cut off as someone vested the microphone from the woman speaking, Kyra could still hear a faint chuckle in the background before the speakers crackled and silenced themselves.
“Look alive!” Rigel yelled vigorously as the ship began to rumble, the roar of the thrusters growing louder as it began the landing sequence on the planet’s surface. He gestured with his massive gauntlet for everyone to rise, his pearly whites shining. “Get ready to depart! I want Pilots in their mechs and everyone else prepared to move out as soon as that hangar door opens!”
“S-Sir, yes sir!” Not given a chance to think, Kyra nearly forgot to salute the two Constellations in her haste toward her machine, the near forgotten game system turned off and stored in the bag by her waist without bothering to save. Gazing up at a monitor displaying the situation outside, the brunette heard herself gulp at the sight of war, real war, happening not far from the landing zone.
She could only hope that her first mission was just as simple as the briefing made it sound.
Red Giant Ahkari Ganju
IC 286.08.16 // Petrichor-8 System, Frontier Planet Alora // Approaching Princess D-47's Nest
1424 hours // @Eisenhorn@McMolly@Asura@vietmyke@OwO
She’d certainly found herself saddled with a colorful cast of personalities.
Ahkari immediately felt her mood improve as she saw the two Pilots play off of one another, close enough that one was comfortable enough to have his cigarette stolen by the other. Or, well, more than likely Sabine had just done as she wished and Howe didn’t have a chance to stop her. Though she didn’t usually key herself in to Pilot chatter, the few times she had to convey orders it was usually the pink haired woman’s voice she had to shout over, a bit too casual with the situation to be healthy.
Rudis’ situation was… it wasn’t great. There was a level of dignity expected of Constellations while off their home worlds, but with how great of a toll the war on Alora had taken on everyone, Ahkari thought it best to just ignore it and accept the help. Pilots generally knew that Constellations were as human as anyone else, but she hoped that the general soldier morale wouldn’t take a hit seeing one of the illustrious Constellations acting like a beast. It wasn’t anything she could hold against the redhead though, if she didn’t have the position of command, she would’ve probably feasted in a similar yet more polite manner herself.
Selene, who seemed more preoccupied with her fellows than the mission, at least voiced her acceptance of the strategy while flitting around the various groups, lending a hand to her comrades no matter the rank or background. Thankfully, the Constellation had something on hand to help with Sabine’s wound, something Ahkari hadn’t noticed herself in her haste to get the various forces to go along with her plan. Perhaps, if she were in a sounder mental state, she would’ve gotten a medic to check on the Pilot and not require someone else to do it for her.
Something like how calm Odessa appeared to be, not only agreeing with the need to speed up the mission, but offering an alternative strategy. That, she could mull over, but the unsaid attempt to comfort her would be something she’d have to do without. The commander knew if she accepted it, allowed herself to be warmed by the concern over not just the planet, but herself, it would only hurt so much more if they were to fail. So she hardened her heart, steeled her mind, and took the words and gestures at face value, as a subordinate approaching their superior with an idea of their own.
The rest of the Constellations and Pilots weighed in as well, lending their swords and mechs to the cause despite the odds. Even the Proto-Class, which in any other circumstance she would’ve sent back to the forward base. However, in this situation she needed every able body she could muster, and reluctantly did nothing but acknowledge their sacrifice with a knowing look.
“...It’s worth a shot,” Ahkari eventually replied to Odessa after a long pause, nodding to herself as she slowly acclimated to the idea. While it stung her pride just a little to think that they weren’t able to complete the mission on their own, with a planet on death’s door that mattered little. It was uncertain just how effective it would be in weakening the forces along their path, but it was better than nothing. At the very least, it would give the people at the command center something to do. She rose her voice as she addressed everyone there as a whole.
“Thank you, all of you.” The Red Giant allowed her gratitude to bleed into her words, the relief that she would not be diving into hell alone the most she allowed herself to feel. “I cannot give you my word that we will all return safely. Even with the help the forward base can give us, the path ahead of us is steep. We will cut a bloody trail to the Nest with everything we have, our bodies the stepping stones for others to walk should we fail. There will be no reprieve until the mission is done, and at the end of all things this planet may need to be abandoned regardless of our efforts.”
She took a breath, not only to allow those heavy words sometime to settle in the minds of her men and women, but to steady herself. To come to terms with the fact that all she was doing could be for nothing, that the people who she will sacrifice for the mission could have lived the rest of their lives had she simply ordered a retreat. To understand that even if the worst came to fruition, and she was forced to leave her home behind, that she could learn to live with that burden for the rest of her life.
When the woman spoke again, it was with such sincerity that any who heard it would believe it to be true. “I can only swear to you this: the Princess of those damnable monsters will not live to see another sunrise.”
Face set with determination, Ahkari heard maybe a handful of voices cheer at the declaration, but she hadn’t said it for morale. Whether their company succeeded or failed, she was certain another would see the trail they’ll blaze and walk the path they’d left behind. It didn’t matter who it was fighting alongside them on this planet, but every human who walked on the soil had the same mind as she. The Aberrants were a poison, a disease within the universe, and they would purge it no matter the cost.
She called over one of the groups of communications staff carrying the various technologies required to radio into the various groups on the planet’s surface. Were she in any less of a serious scenario, she might’ve laughed at how they clumsily moved around with double their numbers’ load of equipment, but all she did was address the highest ranked among them as she ordered, “Staff Sergeant Barnes. I need a direct line to Brigadier General Ackeroid.”
The Staff Sergeant in question looked stunned, staring at her like a deer in headlights for a moment before quickly snapping to reality. “Ma’am, as he’s currently the acting general for the operation, jumping the chain of command is not advised. In this case, it would be best to contact a Colonel beneath him first, or-”
“I know the regulations, Barnes,” Ahkari hissed, disbelief in her voice over the fact that he was playing politics in a time like this. The Staff Sergeant had been a straggler she picked up early on in the war, and while he was very good at his job, he was one of those who liked to stick his nose where it didn’t belong. Stickler for the codes, disliking the idea that a Constellation had taken command over the grunts when an MHA officer should have, and buying into the idea that the Sects and the MHA should power check each other. It was a pain in the ass, and this case was one she wouldn’t let him bully her into changing her mind. “Get me the Brigadier General, now.”
“But-”
“That’s an order, Staff Sergeant.”
Not even allowing him to speak, the Constellation stepped up to him until she was deep within his comfort zone. She may have lost to him somewhat in height, a few inches shorter than the information officer, but the death glare she gave him at such close quarters was enough to cow him as he very quickly paled and nodded. “Yes, commander.”
She let him do his thing, setting up the devices required to reach the Brigadier General through the communications haze caused by the presence of high caste Aberrants. They’d probably only get one shot at it as putting a temporary communications array up in the heat of combat wasn’t happening, and only a brief conversation in order to make certain nothing caught wind of their strategy, but she’d make do with what they had.
“As for the rest of you,” Ahkari turned to the Pilots and Constellations once more, internally wincing over the fact that she busted someone’s ass in front of them but choosing to ignore it as she addressed the small group. “Make your last minute preparations. Hug your friends, lick your wounds, pray to your gods if you have them. We depart as soon as we get the ‘go-ahead’ from the chain of command. ‘May the Constellations light the way, and the Pilots plot the course.’”
She snuck in that last phrase, a line that popped up in propaganda quite often, just before the communications squad gave her a thumbs up. They were ready. Having them move the display further into the hotel, she gave her warriors one last look. After this was all over, she probably wouldn’t see half of them at the end of the journey, if she was lucky enough to survive this endeavor herself. She could only hope that there wasn’t anyone waiting for them off-planet, the dour thought weighing heavily in her mind as she cleared her throat, smoothing her tired appearance the best she could just as the holographic image of the Brigadier General came alive. The man she knew was in his forties seemed to have aged dozens of years over the course of a month, and the expression on his face was grim as his eyes met with hers.
“Lenard,” Ahkari greeted casually, sending the man a salute that he mirrored but a moment later. “Should I congratulate you on the promotion?”
“This better be good, Commander Aurigae,” the Brigadier General replied, his voice colder than she’d ever heard it during their joint training on the planet long ago. It saddened her, just a little bit, but she stomped the feeling down as she put on a serious expression.
“I have a request.”
Ahkari immediately felt her mood improve as she saw the two Pilots play off of one another, close enough that one was comfortable enough to have his cigarette stolen by the other. Or, well, more than likely Sabine had just done as she wished and Howe didn’t have a chance to stop her. Though she didn’t usually key herself in to Pilot chatter, the few times she had to convey orders it was usually the pink haired woman’s voice she had to shout over, a bit too casual with the situation to be healthy.
Rudis’ situation was… it wasn’t great. There was a level of dignity expected of Constellations while off their home worlds, but with how great of a toll the war on Alora had taken on everyone, Ahkari thought it best to just ignore it and accept the help. Pilots generally knew that Constellations were as human as anyone else, but she hoped that the general soldier morale wouldn’t take a hit seeing one of the illustrious Constellations acting like a beast. It wasn’t anything she could hold against the redhead though, if she didn’t have the position of command, she would’ve probably feasted in a similar yet more polite manner herself.
Selene, who seemed more preoccupied with her fellows than the mission, at least voiced her acceptance of the strategy while flitting around the various groups, lending a hand to her comrades no matter the rank or background. Thankfully, the Constellation had something on hand to help with Sabine’s wound, something Ahkari hadn’t noticed herself in her haste to get the various forces to go along with her plan. Perhaps, if she were in a sounder mental state, she would’ve gotten a medic to check on the Pilot and not require someone else to do it for her.
Something like how calm Odessa appeared to be, not only agreeing with the need to speed up the mission, but offering an alternative strategy. That, she could mull over, but the unsaid attempt to comfort her would be something she’d have to do without. The commander knew if she accepted it, allowed herself to be warmed by the concern over not just the planet, but herself, it would only hurt so much more if they were to fail. So she hardened her heart, steeled her mind, and took the words and gestures at face value, as a subordinate approaching their superior with an idea of their own.
The rest of the Constellations and Pilots weighed in as well, lending their swords and mechs to the cause despite the odds. Even the Proto-Class, which in any other circumstance she would’ve sent back to the forward base. However, in this situation she needed every able body she could muster, and reluctantly did nothing but acknowledge their sacrifice with a knowing look.
“...It’s worth a shot,” Ahkari eventually replied to Odessa after a long pause, nodding to herself as she slowly acclimated to the idea. While it stung her pride just a little to think that they weren’t able to complete the mission on their own, with a planet on death’s door that mattered little. It was uncertain just how effective it would be in weakening the forces along their path, but it was better than nothing. At the very least, it would give the people at the command center something to do. She rose her voice as she addressed everyone there as a whole.
“Thank you, all of you.” The Red Giant allowed her gratitude to bleed into her words, the relief that she would not be diving into hell alone the most she allowed herself to feel. “I cannot give you my word that we will all return safely. Even with the help the forward base can give us, the path ahead of us is steep. We will cut a bloody trail to the Nest with everything we have, our bodies the stepping stones for others to walk should we fail. There will be no reprieve until the mission is done, and at the end of all things this planet may need to be abandoned regardless of our efforts.”
She took a breath, not only to allow those heavy words sometime to settle in the minds of her men and women, but to steady herself. To come to terms with the fact that all she was doing could be for nothing, that the people who she will sacrifice for the mission could have lived the rest of their lives had she simply ordered a retreat. To understand that even if the worst came to fruition, and she was forced to leave her home behind, that she could learn to live with that burden for the rest of her life.
When the woman spoke again, it was with such sincerity that any who heard it would believe it to be true. “I can only swear to you this: the Princess of those damnable monsters will not live to see another sunrise.”
Face set with determination, Ahkari heard maybe a handful of voices cheer at the declaration, but she hadn’t said it for morale. Whether their company succeeded or failed, she was certain another would see the trail they’ll blaze and walk the path they’d left behind. It didn’t matter who it was fighting alongside them on this planet, but every human who walked on the soil had the same mind as she. The Aberrants were a poison, a disease within the universe, and they would purge it no matter the cost.
She called over one of the groups of communications staff carrying the various technologies required to radio into the various groups on the planet’s surface. Were she in any less of a serious scenario, she might’ve laughed at how they clumsily moved around with double their numbers’ load of equipment, but all she did was address the highest ranked among them as she ordered, “Staff Sergeant Barnes. I need a direct line to Brigadier General Ackeroid.”
The Staff Sergeant in question looked stunned, staring at her like a deer in headlights for a moment before quickly snapping to reality. “Ma’am, as he’s currently the acting general for the operation, jumping the chain of command is not advised. In this case, it would be best to contact a Colonel beneath him first, or-”
“I know the regulations, Barnes,” Ahkari hissed, disbelief in her voice over the fact that he was playing politics in a time like this. The Staff Sergeant had been a straggler she picked up early on in the war, and while he was very good at his job, he was one of those who liked to stick his nose where it didn’t belong. Stickler for the codes, disliking the idea that a Constellation had taken command over the grunts when an MHA officer should have, and buying into the idea that the Sects and the MHA should power check each other. It was a pain in the ass, and this case was one she wouldn’t let him bully her into changing her mind. “Get me the Brigadier General, now.”
“But-”
“That’s an order, Staff Sergeant.”
Not even allowing him to speak, the Constellation stepped up to him until she was deep within his comfort zone. She may have lost to him somewhat in height, a few inches shorter than the information officer, but the death glare she gave him at such close quarters was enough to cow him as he very quickly paled and nodded. “Yes, commander.”
She let him do his thing, setting up the devices required to reach the Brigadier General through the communications haze caused by the presence of high caste Aberrants. They’d probably only get one shot at it as putting a temporary communications array up in the heat of combat wasn’t happening, and only a brief conversation in order to make certain nothing caught wind of their strategy, but she’d make do with what they had.
“As for the rest of you,” Ahkari turned to the Pilots and Constellations once more, internally wincing over the fact that she busted someone’s ass in front of them but choosing to ignore it as she addressed the small group. “Make your last minute preparations. Hug your friends, lick your wounds, pray to your gods if you have them. We depart as soon as we get the ‘go-ahead’ from the chain of command. ‘May the Constellations light the way, and the Pilots plot the course.’”
She snuck in that last phrase, a line that popped up in propaganda quite often, just before the communications squad gave her a thumbs up. They were ready. Having them move the display further into the hotel, she gave her warriors one last look. After this was all over, she probably wouldn’t see half of them at the end of the journey, if she was lucky enough to survive this endeavor herself. She could only hope that there wasn’t anyone waiting for them off-planet, the dour thought weighing heavily in her mind as she cleared her throat, smoothing her tired appearance the best she could just as the holographic image of the Brigadier General came alive. The man she knew was in his forties seemed to have aged dozens of years over the course of a month, and the expression on his face was grim as his eyes met with hers.
“Lenard,” Ahkari greeted casually, sending the man a salute that he mirrored but a moment later. “Should I congratulate you on the promotion?”
“This better be good, Commander Aurigae,” the Brigadier General replied, his voice colder than she’d ever heard it during their joint training on the planet long ago. It saddened her, just a little bit, but she stomped the feeling down as she put on a serious expression.
“I have a request.”
