Heart of Winter Incident

From Beyond the Frontier
Revision as of 04:16, 8 October 2016 by Asid Mjolnir (talk | contribs)
(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
Jump to: navigation, search

The Heart of Winter Incident marked the creation of the Expedition, and involved the destruction of the SFCV Heart of Winter (BB1-02).

Executive Summary

The Heart of Winter Incident occurred in May of 2503 CE, surrounding the catastrophic destruction of the SFCV Heart of Winter (BB1-02) in orbit over the capitol planet of The Initiative, Sanctuary. In the immediate aftermath of the destruction, a scratch force was assembled to investigate the wreckage, and recover any records from the vessel's systems. Prior to boarding, and again once aboard, the team discovered suits of standard-issue armor corrupted by an unknown black substance, that had seemed to mutate the crew within.

Involved Personnel

Replacement Personnel

After Action Report

The sun shines down on a calm day, a day of merriment and joy in the city of Terra Casus, the oldest city in the Initiative. Founded four hundred and eighty years earlier, the city is home to several million people, almost all of whom are out in the streets for the Planetfall Festival, a festival to commemorate the first time humans set foot on this world, so many years ago. Civil Defense Force detachments roam the streets, to keep order and deter any who would interrupt the festival, while food vendors and merchants crowd the streets to sell their wares.

For many, it was a day of peace and quiet, a day to celebrate, yet for others, it was a day to work, to continue the daily grind required to live.


  • Lance Corporal Peter Webber, Civil Defense Force
    • 1st Sanctuary Civil Defense Force Mobile Infantry Battalion

Pete woke well before dawn. He always did, since joining the Civil Defense Force anyway. After having his tea, he dressed for his morning run. He made his way through the streets he would be later patrolling. At the moment, they were pretty much deserted, bar a few people putting up barriers, banners, information stands and the like. After making his way round, he headed back to his room. Grabbing an isotonic drink from his little fridge, he went through his warm down routine. Once completed, he showered and got changed into his uniform. He checked himself in the mirror. Everything seamed fine, accept his chin, he needed to get it fixed. He rubbed his rough chin before shrugging and heading out.

It was still dark as he approached the armoury. A solitary bright light shone at the entrance, revealing a solitary guard there. As he began to step into the light a voice bellowed "HALT". This was despite his black uniform with maroon highlights. He recognised it straight away. It Jack, a new recruit, fresh out of training. "Corporal Parks? They have you on guard duty?" Lowering his weapon, Parks shot to attention. "I'm sorry Corporal Webber, I was unaware it was you." Pete scrunched his face and moved towards him. "You still don't. You only know me a voice." Pete had a assisted in his training. The recruit had only met him in full body armour. "For all you know, I could be his evil twin." He added, slightly sternly. Jack looked up (he was four inches shorter than Pete) with a raised eye brow. "I didn't know you had a twin." The Corporal cracked a wry smile "I don't, but be more vigilant next time.". Tapping the young recruit on the shoulder, he headed inside.

"Lance Corporal Peter Webber," came a voice from behind the desk. "Master Sergeant Luis Kimmel" He replied as he approached them. "Trust you to be here," He paused to look at the clock on the wall. "An hour before most others get up." Pete lent on the desk. "Someone has to make sure you are doing your job." Both men chuckled. When Pete first arrived, he had been placed in the armoury. He soon found a new friend. "Sidearm?" "Sidearm." After going through the whole signing of the weapon out, Luis handed him the weapon. Checking it over, he placed it in his leg holster.

After having a quick chat with Kimmel, he headed out. He wandered the streets. Although the sun wasn't up yet, you could tell it was close. He grabbed a quick bite to eat at one of those all night places, before grabbing a copy of the early edition of the local news feed. He perused through it as he made his way to the briefing hall. It was used more for training, but they still called it that. Putting his feet up, he caught up on the latest news as he waited for everyone to arrive. Eventually people started to filter in, so he sat properly. Major Brady took them through the plan, saying what teams would be where. He mostly paid attention to Group Seven's, Gamma Team. That was the one he had been assigned to.

Once he had finished and dismissed everyone, he began to make his way out, but stopped when he heard the Major call his name. Waiting for a gap in the crowd, he made his way over. "Sir" He simply said as he stood at attention. "At ease Corporal." The Major said as he moved a little closer. "As you know, Sergeant Lee was down as your team leader." Pete nodded in acknowledgement. "Well unfortunately, he suffered a fall last night and will be unable to perform his duties. Do you think you could do it?" Pete's eyes widened. He had been left in charge of small groups before, but mostly, he was lower down the pecking order. "I believe so sir.". He wanted to say something like "Frak yeah", but this would have been a little unprofessional. "Good. Your team will be waiting." Said the Major as he walked away.

By the time people were filling the streets, Pete had got his team in place. As they made their way down the street, Pete spotted some stairs leading up the side of a building. Going up slightly, he quickly looked both directions. Although they were away from where the main events were taking place, a lot of citizens were using this street to get there. A small number of stalls had set up, where space aloud. Suddenly he spotted someone. A woman that authorities had been after for some time. She only stole small items, but she stole a lot of things. He motioned to two of the privates to follow him towards the stalls. "Hello Ayah" He said with a slightly sinister grin. The girl turned around quickly. Seeing the uniform, she knocked some pots off the stand she was at. They fell into Pete as she ran. One of the Privates tried to help him up. "Forget, go after her!" Quickly getting up, he dusted himself down as he followed them through the growing crowd.


As hard as she tried, Chevy couldn't help but look like the newbie she was as she stepped off the transport and walked along the ramp to the docks. There had been so many 'firsts' for her since leaving the old, dusty, tired, boring, mundane...well, since leaving the asteroid rock Pedras XIII that had been her home her entire life.

Sure, she'd been on ships...the little shuttles that ran to the space station and the larger ones that darted from mine to mine, and she'd spent plenty of time on the massive belt ships that moved rocks from the mines to cargo ships, but this was the first time she'd been on anything like the cruise transport that carried passengers from place to place. It was luxurious, the small cabin she was assigned to better than her own room, heck, her house back home, and the rest of it, the dining room, the lounges, even the corridors were grand!

Now, as she walked along the street, she couldn't help but gawk. Although she was closer to thirty than twenty, she'd never been on an actual planet before and it was...well, amazing. She was sure that in time she'd be jaded to it, but for now she just couldn't stop looking around and taking it all in.

Of course, she'd have to eventually stop gazing around with her mouth hanging open and get herself some new clothes -- the drab jumpsuit clearly marked her as an outsider from a mining area, a greenhorn and a stripling, easy pickings for anyone looking for a mark. Not that she was really any of those things -- she was fairly certain that she could see after herself, her time in the mines giving her plenty of opportunity to learn to fight and scrap -- and she was alert to her surroundings...

Alert enough that she heard the shouts, saw a girl scamper through the crowd, followed my uniformed marauders, and even though she didn't know what the kid's crime was, she felt compelled to intervene. She had a motive -- if the girl was being chased, that meant she couldn't be tracked, and maybe, just maybe, Chevy could hunt her down herself and find out how one got rid of the dammed chip implant to become invisible.

Besides, it was authority verses the rebellious, just the sort of cause that Chevy relished!

As soon as the small figure was by her, Chevy, using her frumpy appearance to her advantage, 'inadvertently' stepped into the path of the pursuers, making sure that as the lead barreled into her and knocked her off her feet, she grabbed his shirt and pulled him down with her, rolling into the track of the others.

Once on the ground she let out a distressed cry, then 'passed out'.


High in orbit over Sanctuary, space began to bubble and split. A once proud, mighty vessel slipped from the tormented reality of FTL. It plowed past the orbital defenses, heedless of the automated calls and warnings, the ship's hull breached and ripped in a multitude of places. It plunged into the atmosphere.

The calm, relaxed air of the city began to change in a heartbeat as the sky, already bright with reflected sunlight, began to take on an almost blinding glow as a deafening roar began to grow. Sirens and klaxons came on, as an automated announcement rang through the streets. "All citizens are advised to seek shelter at this time. This is not a drill. The anti-orbital cannons will be going live immediately. This is not a drill." Even as the last words faded away, the howling shriek of the anti-orbital defenses rose, as almost blindingly bright flashes lit up.

High in the air over the city, the ship began to break up, sections of it falling free, only to be destroyed by the anti-orbital cannons. But other pieces continued their freefall. It was from one of these sections that a long tube, perhaps two and a half meters long, and another one wide, fell to the planet below, untouched by the fury of the cannons.

This pod, an escape pod, crashed to the planet below, landing not too distant from Peter and Eusebia, the hatch on the front denting from the impact. Brilliant white lettering pronounced it has having come from one of the SFC's vessels, the SFCV Heart of Winter.


  • Lance Corporal Peter Webber, Civil Defense Force
    • 1st Sanctuary Civil Defense Force Mobile Infantry Battalion

As he made his way along the street, he saw one of his men go down. "For crying out loud" He thought to himself as the second one went as well. As he caught up. he dragged them up. "Get after her you fools." He couldn't see Ayah anywhere, but it didn't mean they couldn't find her. He looked down at the woman at his feet. She seemed to be about the same age as him, but he wasn't sure. Squatting down beside her, he checked her vitals. Nothing damaged. Not that he could tell. Grabbing her arms, he pulled her to the side. No need for people to step over her. Placing her in the recovery position, he pulled out his restraints and attached them to her hands. He wasn't taking chances.

He took a seat beside her as he waited for her to wake up. Or for the men to come back. As he waited, he found himself talking to her, not even knowing if she could hear. "Why did you have to ruin my good day?". Sighing, Pete shook his head before looking at his prisoner. "I get given command of a team, AND we were about to capture someone who has eluded us for an age, and you come in and ruin it." He paused for a moment and looked up. He thought he could see something entering the atmosphere. He thought nothing of it though. A lot of ships were coming in for the celebrations. "Obstruction of Justice can hold a heavy penalty." He could she the object getting closer, but still at this point, thought nothing of it. "So I'm told." He added to his previous statement. Although he had arrested people in the past, it was usually his team leader that took control.

As he continued to watch the object getting closer, he heard the announcement. "All citizens are advised to seek shelter at this time. This is not a drill. The anti-orbital cannons will be going live immediately. This is not a drill." He raised an eyebrow, but before he could say anything, he saw the first blast hit the object. "Holy crap," He called. As he stood. "You really need to wake up now!" He shouted at his prisoner as he picked her up and ran across the street. There was a covered ally way. Not the best shelter, but it would have to suffice at the moment. Laying he down on a door step, he rested he against the door frame. Turning, he made his way into the street. "EVERYONE FIND SHELTER!" He shouted, waving everyone in the right direction. "DO NOT STOP TO GATHER YOUR THINGS, JUST MOVE AS FAST AS YOU CAN! At that point, he looked at the firing above. If it wasn't for what they were doing, you would almost think it was beautiful. This soon faded from thought as he saw part of the vessel falling towards him. "EVERYBODY MOVE!"he shouted as dashed into the covered ally way and dived to the ground.

He heard it crash to the ground and scrape along the street. Standing up again, he looked towards the street. Dust filled the air. Slowly he made his way back out. Looking around the corner, he looked towards it. As the dust began to clear, he noticed the marking, indicating that it was an escape pod and where it came from. Although Pete didn't really pay attention to ship names, this was one he had heard of. Curios as to why it was being shot down, he pulled out his side arm before activating his com unit. "This is Lance Corporal Webber, a pod from the Heart of Winter has landed at my location. Require assistance." He couldn't be sure who was inside, and he didn't know how many pods had come down. He decided to wait until backup arrived.


As the man, obviously with some notion of authority, came up beside her, Chevy stayed still, although she cracked an eye to get a look at him, quickly going back to feigning unconsciousness. But then the little bastard turned the tables on her and cuffed her before she could protest. She hadn't counted on that, and now maintaining her ruse was her best option while she sorted things out in her head.

Of course, she should have known better, she was often too rash, and more than once had had to dig her way out of a hole of her own making. But here she was again, restrained and detained merely for 'tripping'.

At least it was entertaining listening to his monologue, and it was all she could do not to laugh at the poor guy. Heck, it was an 'accident', not like he, or she, had done anything on purpose, exactly. And she thought her Dad was a harsh task-master!

And then suddenly alarms were blaring and people were shouting, and Chevy's eyes flew open in surprise as the man picked her up and started to run. She was tempted to struggle and tell him that she was fine, but then, she was afraid he'd trip and leave them both sprawled in the open, and right now that didn't sound like a good idea, so she just stayed limp.

Then the crash, more screams, debris falling everywhere, chaos and smoke...and her captor ran to the edge of the alley, leaving her alone.

Problem was, while this was a chance to get away -- she was pretty sure she could get out of the cuffs if she really tired -- Chevy was insanely curious, and that got the better of her. Pushing to her feet, she rose and moved up behind him, peering over his shoulder at the wreckage. While she had no idea what the markings were, she didn't care, it was some sort of pod-thingy, and likely had someone in there.

"They might need help," she declared. She wasn't crazy-charitable in helping fellow-man, but what the heck, here was the adventure she'd craved, laying right here in the street!

"Come on!" Starting to wrench at the handcuffs, she darted out of the alley, running toward the pod!

--- As Eusebia and Peter ran towards the escape pod,steam began to hiss from around the hatch. A low thump resounded, before the hatch shifted on it's rails. A black goo began to seep out from beneath it, before the hatch slid out of the way, an armored figure in powered armor stumbling out, black goo seeping out from around the seals. The armored figure began to stumble towards the pair, a staggering shuffle with their hands hanging limply, hunched over and swaying.


  • Lance Corporal Peter Webber, Civil Defense Force
    • 1st Sanctuary Civil Defense Force Mobile Infantry Battalion

Pete was more concerned with the pod than his prisoner. As he watched, he was waving people away from it. Why they still hadn't gone to shelter he wasn't sure. He felt a presence behind him. Looking over his shoulder, he saw it was the woman he had arrested. "They might need help," He raised an eyebrow. "Yes, that is why I have called for backup." He said in a rather sarcastic tone. Without warning though, he dashed passed him. "Come on!" She called. He was stunned for a moment about the crassness of her. Anybody could be in that pod. Shaking his head, he followed her.

As he caught up, he placed a hand on her shoulder. "Wait up, if you are going to help, let me take those off." He began to remove the restraints. As he did, he heard a hiss come from the pod. Instinctively, he pushed her behind him. The goo began to bleed out, he took a step back, holding out his arms. His eyes widened as he saw the figure emerge. "I think you should move back. Let me deal with it." He said to the woman as he kept his eyes fixated on the armoured figure that was now stumbling towards them. He quickly tapped his com once more. "Yeah, if I could get that assistance, that would be great." He decided to keep the com open. Although he wasn't going to admit it, he was a little scared of what ever was going on. On a sub-conscious level, he was thinking, "If they hear my screams, perhaps they will come running.".

The figure grew closer and closer. "Sir or madam." He could tell the gender. "Stop where you are immediately." He raised his weapon. What was happening to this person, and what was that goo? Is it infectious? Will it only effect them? He didn't know, and didn't want to chance it.


"Wait up, if you are going to help, let me take those off."

"Really?" Chevy raised an eyebrow as she looked at him, surprised and please that he was 1) freeing her, and 2) not holding her back and telling her that 'this is no place for civilians' and that she should stand back and let the pros handle it. Seemed like the 'pros' had their hands full as it was.

Then the thing opened and she hesitated. Adventure was one thing, but in her head it most definitely did not include goo of any sort. Who knew what that stuff was?

"I think you should move back. Let me deal with it."

"Uh, sure..." Chevy's nose wrinkled up and her good sense warned her to get away while she could, but...well, how often did something like this happen? So, instead of running, she followed after Soldier-boy, staying a few steps behind him. "What is it?" she whispered, not expecting an answer.

"Yeah, if I could get that assistance, that would be great."

"Right behind you," Chevy muttered, shrugging. All right, she wasn't 'assistance' per sae, and she wasn't armed besides a little blade in her Leathermans Tool, but she could at least call for help again if something really bad happened!

The figure grew closer and closer. "Sir or madam." He couldn't tell the gender. "Stop where you are immediately."

"I don't think it cares," Chevy whispered, now right behind Peter, at his shoulder. "Maybe it wants us to take it to our leader?" She chuckled nervously, hoping the person would stop, and still too intrigued to get while the gettin' was good!


The armored figure continued to shamble towards the two, their arms hanging limply, black goo oozing from supposedly air-tight seals. It's head swiveled towards them, a rasping coming from the external speakers, static overlapping with an almost inhuman, guttural, noise, before it let out an inhuman, feral scream of rage, leaping towards Eusebia and Peter, taking a swipe at Eusebia, the fist of the armor clenched like a giant metal club.

  • Lance Corporal Peter Webber, Civil Defense Force
    • 1st Sanctuary Civil Defense Force Mobile Infantry Battalion

Pete gave a quick glance to the woman. He didn't think it was time for jokes. With a frown, he looked at the figure which was now getting a little too close for comfort. Straightening his arm, he aimed his weapon. Bringing up his other arm he steadied his aim. "Stop where you are right now, or I will be forced to fire." It did little to stop them. Sounds that sounded like an animal dying or something worse came from the figure. It began a surge forward, aiming for the woman. Without further warnings, Pete fired a couple of shots towards it. The first one hit but the second one missed.

The figure, without even flinching, turned towards Pete. He could see a decent hole in the abdomen of the armour. Oozing more of the dark goop, it looked painful, but wasn't slowing the figure down. Webber began taking large steps away from the woman, drawing the figure towards him. Aiming once more, he shot it in the leg. All he got was a guttural grunt. Remembering his com was still open, he called louder. "Well I don't know if I'm getting any assistance, but if you could send some heavy weapons. This thing isn't dropping."

He then looked toward the woman with a worry in his face. He wasn't sure how he was going to stop it. Then he felt something he hoped not to, the wall. He quickly looked either side of him. There was no where he could quickly duck into. Looking back at the figure, he began to raise his weapon up towards the neck area. He looked over to the woman "RUN! GET HELP!" He shouted before putting all his focus on the figure. He was going to fire everything he had at this thing. His finger was on the trigger tight, any tighter and he would fire.


The armored figure continued to shamble towards the two, their arms hanging limply, black goo oozing from supposedly air-tight seals.

Oh, no, that just wasn't right...oozing ooze could never be a good thing and Chevy had the good sense to back away. As much as she was curious, and looking for adventure, and even wanting to help a fellow living-being if she could, this was very much not what she had bargained for!

Then the thing roared and she cringed, covering her ears, for a moment squeezing her eyes shut but opening them just in time to dodge certain death!

And then the guard-guy started to play the hero (not that she was complaining) and drew the attention from her to himself. Rooter where she was, she watched, her fingers crossed...

Only just the guard wasn't doing too good, and it didn't look very helpful for him...

"RUN! GET HELP!"

Chevy was inclined to do just that, only...where to run? She had no idea where 'help' might be, especially since no one had yet answered the frantic radio calls.

"Ah, hell!" The wreckage was close by, and Chevy to it, scooping up a chunk of pipe and charging toward the 'Icky-Thing-That-Should-Be-Dead and swung at the head, then stumbled back out of arm's reach, hoping to give the guard a chance to regroup and act.


The armored figure stumbled, it's shambling walk changing into a more uneven, unsteady walk towards Peter, taking a swing at him that missed wildly and instead made a fist-sized hole in the wall, letting out an inarticulate scream of rage into peters face, it's own voice sounding inhuman through the speakers in it's armor.

As Eusebia's pipe swung into contact with the armored helmet, the visor covering the figure's face shattered, revealing the person within; or, rather, what was left of them. The figure's eyes were dead, glowing a faint pale-blue as the skin had turned into a darkened sludge with the consistency of bubblegum, stuck in contact with the interior of the helmet. The thing opened it's mouth again, black sludge dribbling down it's chin and nose as it seemed to cough, webs of the stuff covering the interior of the helmet.


  • Lance Corporal Peter Webber, Civil Defense Force
    • 1st Sanctuary Civil Defense Force Mobile Infantry Battalion
  • System Operator, Central Command
    • Radio Dispatcher, Central Military Command

Pete was about to fire, when it swung and hit the wall. Falling to one side, the thing was towering above him. Pushing himself along the wall, he was sure he was gone. Suddenly, he heard the clunk as the woman hit him. When he saw their face, he almost threw up. He managed to hold it down. Using this distraction, he jumped up and moved away. He was now the other side of it. "God, that is gross." He said to no one in particular. He was about to aim at the thing once more, when he saw it, his weapon, on the fall by the wall. In the commotion, he must have dropped it.

Through his implant, Webber could hear the crisp notes of someone speaking, the bone conduction ensuring only he could hear it. "Central to Webber, a rapid response force has been dispatched. They are two minutes away. Do you copy?"

Meanwhile, the armoured figure roared, spraying black ooze from it's mouth and nostrils, as it lumbered towards Peter, swinging wildly.

Pete was once again, backing away. This time, he was aiming towards the alley where he had taken shelter before. Hearing the voice, he rolled his eyes. "Now they respond." He thought to himself, before responding. "Copy Central. I recommend they open fire on site. They don't want to give it an inch." He looked over to the woman. "If I can get it in the alley, go for my gun." He pointed to where he had been before. He didn't know if she was licensed, but it was better than allowing her to put herself in danger. He wouldn't be able to live with himself he allowed something to happen to her.

"Your recommendation has been passed along. They will be weapons free," The emotionless voice on the other end spoke, as the armoured figure lumbered after him, a wild swing nearly grazing Peter's nose, before it leapt forwards after him.


Fire on sight...

Well, Chevy knew enough that if reinforcements got here and started blazing away there were going to be people in the way. Sure, most had scrambled to safety already, but there were still a few who were confused or just hysterically frozen in place, and there were the injured and those helping them.

Gabbing the first person who seemed to have some light of intelligence in his eyes, she shook the man roughly. "Listen to me," she snapped, "you need to get these people away or down, do you understand me? NOW!"

She didn't wait to see if the man complied, but turned and moved toward Pete and the intruder, wincing as it screeched again, spattering yuck everywhere. She sure hoped that stuff wasn't toxic, and even if it was benign she would make a point to avoid it. Pausing only long enough to scoop up the gun, she darted into the alley, suddenly not quite sure what to do. Sure, she had some experience in street fighting, but using a rifle? She'd handled them a few times, but never for anything like this!

Still, she was smart enough to know that if she just started shooting wildly at the thing, it wouldn't stop all the bullets, and there would likely be more strays than hits, and those would more than likely find Pete...

Taking a breath, she aimed low, at the thing's feet and ankles. Hopefully, if it couldn't walk the guard would have a better chance of dealing with it until his friends got here...

Hopefully!


The creature roared, spinning around to focus on Eusebia at the sounds of her footsteps, lumbering towards her with a slow, methodical step, it's hands grazing the walls of the alley with it's next swing, a rasping noise as the metal gauntlets scraped the walls, leaving thin, shallow furrows.

Behind them, a loud roar came from the drive fans of collection of hovercraft, namely APCs and combat cars. A shrill whine began to build up, as a figure popped into sight atop one of the vehicles. A tribarrel began to spin, preparing to fire past Eusebia at the creature. A series of long shrieks began to echo, as the creature danced and jerked, it's body being ripped asunder by the impacts of the weapons.

But as it died, foul black ooze began to well out, spurting out towards Eusebia and Peter, mere flecks and droplets reaching the two, as a dismounted squad in armor began jogging towards them. "You two! Hold your positions!" The squad leader called, their voice amplified by their helmet speakers, as two of the soldiers ran to the corrupted figure, to ensure it was dead and down.


  • Lance Corporal Peter Webber, Civil Defense Force
    • 1st Sanctuary Civil Defense Force Mobile Infantry Battalion

Pete slowly backed away up the alley. As the thing swung for him, he leaned back, losing his balance. He hit the floor so hard, he grunted. With his hands, he pushed himself further up the alley. Suddenly, it stopped and turned. Taking advantage, he pushed himself quickly to gain some ground. Looking around the thing, he could see the woman holding his weapon. She was aiming low. He quickly got up and took a few rushed steps back and to the side.

That's when he heard the noise. He looked up slightly. Not that it helped, with the alley being covered. "Wait, they're here." He shouted as he dashed into a doorway, hoping she would do the same. It didn't provide much, but it was better than nothing. As the tribarrel opened up, the ooze began to fly. Putting a hand up, he looked towards the door. When it stopped, he slowly turned to see the mess on the floor. Stepping out, he rushed over to the woman. Taking his weapon back, he placed a hand on her shoulder. "Are you okay?"

He was distracted by a voice. "You two! Hold your positions!" He looked up at the squad leader. "Sir, with all due respect, she is a civilian." He said, pointing at the woman. "And unless you know something about this thing that I don't, I think we need to be quarantined. Especially me, considering I got quite close to it." He wasn't normally one for speaking out of turn, but it was something he felt needed to be said.


Gasping, Chevy stumbled back as the thing moved toward her, raising the rifle, but then hearing the craft come up behind her. The cavalry had arrived, and she was more than happy to let them take over! Of course, she would have appreciated if they hadn't splattered the thing's oggy ooze everywhere, and she planned to get it washed off as soon as she had a chance.

"Are you okay?"

She noticed her new ally moving toward her and she inched in his direction, hoping he'd be on her side and keep the new arrivals from harassing her. "Thanks," she muttered, handing him his gun back. "What the hell was that?"

Before he could answer they got yelled at, something else she didn't appreciate.

"You two! Hold your positions!"

"Now, I just..." Chevy was bristling, she hated authority who was too swollen in the head to think past the end of its nose, and these guys thought they were in charge of her. But her bristling was tempered by Webber's intervention.

"Sir, with all due respect, she is a civilian." He said, pointing at the woman.

"Yeah," she grumbled, glaring at the team, starting past them. The square was still in chaos, and she wanted to help, but first she wanted to find a room and get cleaned up, get that ooze off, and...

"And unless you know something about this thing that I don't, I think we need to be quarantined. Especially me, considering I got quite close to it."

"What?!" Stopping in her tracks, Chevy turned to look at Peter, then to the others, who had formed a sort of blockade at the mouth of the alley. "Now just hold on a minute! I'm a citizen and you can't..." Well, apparently they could, or she'd have to fight her way through, and that wouldn't go well in her favor, even if she was a good scrapper.

"Quarantine? Really?" Deflated, she shook her head. "All right, but...hell, how long?" Maybe they'd at least give her a nice room in a five-star hotel with a big, cushy bed and extravagant meals on the government tab? She hoped, anyway. "I need my duffel..." This wasn't working out the way she'd wanted, and she'd raise holy hell if her dad managed to track her down and drag her home because of this!


The armored troopers began approaching, the lead one speaking. "I understand that, Corporal," the armored trooper spoke, his rifle pointed skywards in a very casual way. "And CentCom agrees, you two will have to be placed under quarantine and for debriefing." The figure turned their head, glancing at Chevy. "Sorry, ma'am, but we don't know what caused them to do that. Until we can verify you're not a danger to yourself or others, we're going to have to place you under a medical quarantine," The closest one paused, running a finger over their visor, which depolarized revealing a dark-skinned and rounded face, with short-cut hair and pale brown eyes. "Furthermore," He continued, without breaking stride. "Central Command's going to want a word with you two, get an impression of your experience, see if anything you observed can give them a chance to get a handle on it. So, really, I must ask you to come along. We'll send someone to retrieve your kit bag, to avoid contamination from whatever it was that thing got on you," He said, giving a friendly smile.

"You two, head for the first APC," He said, gesturing, before turning to his unit. "Second, third, fourth, you three squads stay here, and hold down the fort, keep people away from the body until the eggheads get here. Assist anyone in the immediate area as you see fit," He ordered, keeping the speakers on for Peter and Eusebia's benefit, before he began walking towards the APC he'd indicated. "First squad, mount up!" He called, a handful of the armored troopers slowly making their way back towards it. "Oh, right, ma'am-" The man turned to Eusebia, "Where'd you drop your kit bag?"


"Danger to myself and others," Chevy muttered under her breath, shaking her head. What was this? Psych eval time? Yes, she knew what he meant, but she didn't like his attitude. Well, she didn't like any authority, but what could she do? She was stuck here and had no desire to either be shot or end up like that man(?)who had just landed/crashed/arrived unconventionally...

She was tempted to run over and give Mr.-I'm-The-Big-Shot-In-Charge the biggest, rubbiest hug in the world, but she had a feeling he'd mow her down before she got that far!

At least he was reasonable and conceded on getting her gear, and she sighed, nodding across the courtyard. "Over there, if no one's stolen it yet," she told him, although it looked like people were too busy picking up the pieces to worry about her meager belongings.

The Lieutenant glanced at Eusebia, before making a gesture to one of his team, who peeled off to grab the dropped duffle. "I think most people were too busy to try stealing anything," He said, shaking his head, before glancing at Peter. "Sorry it took so long for backup to get here, Central's still fielding priority calls regarding the situation down here and in orbit," He said, before he gestured towards the APC. "Central wants you two to come in, both to make sure you're not going to be a danger to anyone, as well as tell them what you saw," He stiffened, as if shocked, his eyes momentarily glazing over with the look of someone using their neural implant.

After a moment, the Lieutenant shook his head, his eyes deglazing. "We'll have to give you two a quick bath, then our orders are to drop you off at the nearest spaceport. They'd like you two to brief one of the teams heading to what wreckage remains, in case anything remains, and possibly join them, since you've some experience with zero-G work, coming from an asteroid mine. You'd, of course, be compensated for your time," He said, glancing at Eusebia, as he walked to the front of the APC, knocking on the driver's hatch. "Corporal," He called in to the driver. "You got the directions to the spaceport all loaded up?"


"Central wants you two to come in, both to make sure you're not going to be a danger to anyone, as well as tell them what you saw,"

"Well, isn't that just dandy," Chevy muttered under her breath, shaking her head. Figures her first day of 'freedom' would end with her being a prisoner! "What if I didn't see anything?" Of course, she knew she was too into things to make that claim, but she could wish!

"We'll have to give you two a quick bath, then our orders are to drop you off at the nearest spaceport. They'd like you two to brief one of the teams heading to what wreckage remains, in case anything remains, and possibly join them, since you've some experience with zero-G work, coming from an asteroid mine. You'd, of course, be compensated for your time,"

Chevy was about to make a snide remark about the bath when she heard 'compensated' and that stopped her. "Paid? Really?" Well, there was no question that she could use some credits, any little would be nice, so she shrugged, relenting. "Guess I could go..." What the heck, she had no real plans anyway.

"Corporal," He called in to the driver. "You got the directions to the spaceport all loaded up?"

Standing by his truck, Alem had been watching the proceedings, and frowned as the small group approached him, holding up a hand. "I do, but just hold on a second there...sir. With all respect.." not really "...I'd prefer you decon them here instead of contaminating my truck..." Which he would have to clean up, and that would take hours!

"What's he mean?" Again, Chevy's nose wrinkled up. "There's nowhere to take a bath here." God, if the stuff was lethal, wouldn't they all be dead by now anyway?


The lieutenant glanced back at Eusebia, shaking his head with a grin. "Yes, compensated. You're still a citizen and while this is for the good of the public, they're authorizing a pay voucher for you," He said, before glancing back at Corporal Maruki. "Properly, it's the government's truck," the lieutenant grinned, shifting to glance back at Roa and Webber. "Alright, decon first," He made a gesture, as members of his team began taking out decontamination kits from the racks of equipment stored on the sides of the vehicles. They spread out a tarp, using small struts to raise the edges, as others hung a curtain from the edges of the destroyed building and the closer vehicles, to give Webber and Roa some measure of privacy.

"Alright, you two, I'll have jumpsuits waiting when you two are done. Get in, two of my men'll spray you down until we're satisfied," The lieutenant ordered, as he gestured to the hastily built decon shower, two armored soldiers standing by holding hoses fed from backpack tanks.

A few minutes of foam later, two jumpsuits in plain grey were passed to the two, along with towels and boots. The lieutenant waited a few moments, before tugging open the curtains. "You two better be ready, or you can finish dressing while we ride," He said, gesturing towards the waiting APCs. "You happy, Maruki?" He called, jokingly, as the lieutenant headed for the passenger compartment.


"Yes, compensated. You're still a citizen and while this is for the good of the public, they're authorizing a pay voucher for you,"

"Well, can't argue with that." Chevy shrugged, smiling. A little credit never hurt, did it? As for her doing the public 'good', that was a little laughable, but what the heck?

As the driver groused about his truck, she turned to look at him with a glare. How were they supposed to shower out here?

"Properly, it's the government's truck," the lieutenant grinned, shifting to glance back at Roa and Webber. "Alright, decon first,"

"Decon...but..." Chevy took a step back and looked at Peter, although there was nowhere to go. Did they really expect her...

"Down to the skivvies!" Alem grinned, although there was nothing untoward in it. He'd make sure both the 'victims' had privacy, but that didn't mean he couldn't tease them! "Step behind the curtains, please, and scrub up!"

"Alright, you two, I'll have jumpsuits waiting when you two are done. Get in, two of my men'll spray you down until we're satisfied,"

Muttering, Chevy complied...not like she had a choice! Besides, she really did have the heebie jeebies at having even a speck of that goo on her, and was happy to get it washed off! "Yeah, all right..." She grabbed the suit and went to scrub down.

"You two better be ready, or you can finish dressing while we ride," He said, gesturing towards the waiting APCs.

The jumpsuit was two sizes too big and frankly pretty ugly, and Chevy had to roll the cuffs so she didn't trip over the legs, but she was ready when they were called, and shuffled to the truck like it was a death-march. Climbing in, she plopped in a seat and pulled her knees up to her chest.

"You happy, Maruki?" He called, jokingly, as the lieutenant headed for the passenger compartment.

"Very!" Grinning, Alem got into the driver's seat and started the transport up, more than happy to get as far away from the hazmat cleanup as he could, before he was recruited to help with that. Too much work and too much exposure!


The Lieutenant took a seat in the back of the APC in one of the sideways mounted seats, his rifle going into a convenient slot located between his seat and the one beside it, the massive seat a tight fit for his armored form. "Maruki, you still remember your training on spacecraft?" He called into the intercom, leaving it on speaker so the others could hear. "Command wants us to go up to the wreckage, since the nearest teams are trying to keep any riots from breaking out-" He paused, glancing at Peter and Eusebia. "That includes you two, if you're willing. You'll have an armed escort aboard the wreckage. They thought your zero-g training from the asteroid mines might come in handy," He said, "As well as both of your experience with that thing back there."

As the convoy of APCs and combat cars began rolling, monitors flicked on displaying the quiet streets, banners and things of celebration abandoned in a heartbeat, plazas that had been bursting with celebrators only minutes earlier were cleared and almost silent. Here and there, buildings and streets were marred by pieces of wreckage. Armored teams moved through the streets, gathering up bits and pieces.


"Maruki, you still remember your training on spacecraft?" He called into the intercom, leaving it on speaker so the others could hear. "Command wants us to go up to the wreckage, since the nearest teams are trying to keep any riots from breaking out-"

"Of course!" Alem replied with a grin, "not something you forget, can do it in my sleep!" Well, mostly! He set the controls on the craft, then headed for the spot in question, putting on a bit of speed while watching for civilians that might get in the way.

"That includes you two, if you're willing. You'll have an armed escort aboard the wreckage. They thought your zero-g training from the asteroid mines might come in handy,"

"I have a choice?" Chevy raised an eyebrow, then shrugged. "Sure, what the heck...can only die, right?" One of her goals had been adventure, right, so here it was, why turn it down? "So, you have any idea what that is? Or where it came from? Or...anything?" Even a little info was better than none...


The lieutenant laughed, softly. "Maruki, you'd forget what some people forget! I knew this guy who forgot how to-" He paused, glancing at Roa, and coughed. "Nevermind," He said, hurriedly. "That's what we're going to find out. We don't know where the Heart of Winter was for the past year and some, so logs, star charts, anything that can give us a clue of what happened aboard, and where it's been, could be vital to our mission," The lieutenant said, before he looked down at his armored hands. "Three-hundred officers and crew, and a hundred marines, three meters of synthetic polymers, diamond plating, and ceramics. It should've been next to impossible for anything to take it out," He said, in an almost hushed tone. "And we've got to go to the wreckage and see what we can find."


The lieutenant laughed, softly. "Maruki, you'd forget what some people forget! I knew this guy who forgot how to-" He paused, glancing at Roa, and coughed. "Nevermind," He said, hurriedly.

Alem grinned. "Some things a man don't forget!" He noticed that the young woman seemed to be taking it all in stride, but then, she'd grown up in a mining colony, where things could be pretty gruff, and you couldn't survive if you were overly sensitive.

"That's what we're going to find out. We don't know where the Heart of Winter was for the past year and some, so logs, star charts, anything that can give us a clue of what happened aboard, and where it's been, could be vital to our mission,"

"Oh..." Chevy nodded. She'd heard of the Heart of Winter, who hadn't, and was intrigued...it was an honor to be investigating the mystery. "I'll help where I can."

"Three-hundred officers and crew, and a hundred marines, three meters of synthetic polymers, diamond plating, and ceramics. It should've been next to impossible for anything to take it out," He said, in an almost hushed tone. "And we've got to go to the wreckage and see what we can find."

Looking at the man, Chevy took a breath, realizing that this wasn't an adventure, it was sober serious, and they could die in their mission. While that frightened her a little, it didn't unnerve her or bend her resolve. "Just tell me what you want me to do and I'm there, okay?"

She was pretty much out of her league here, and she knew that all of their survival depended on doing what she was told.


  • Lieutenant Kota Jacobs, Ground Forces Command
    • First Mechanized Infantry, First Division

Lieutenant Jacobs laughed, momentarily startled out of his somber mood. "I would hope not! But with some people, you never know, right?" He shot back, before turning his attention fully to Roa. He took his helmet fully off, and ran a hand over his shaved scalp. "Thank you," He said, finally, after a moment of contemplating Eusebia. "Hopefully we won't run into more of those, but if we do, your primary focus will be giving pointers on how not to get smashed, whatever weaknesses you might've noticed, anything, really," He said, finally, watching the city whiz by in the panels showing feeds from cameras mounted outside the APC. soon buildings gave way to rolling hills, the peaceful, almost idyllic setting broken by the rails running beside the road.

"And, if worst comes to worst, you and Alem will put your skills with zero-gravity and ships to use to recover anything you might come across. If it's damaged, it'll be more like mining than engineering trying to pry something loose," Jacobs said, with a weak chuckle. The screens flickered, now displaying a low wall that surrounded the shuttle pads of the spaceport. Situated at the end of a natural valley, many of the larger hangars for ships were cut from the living rock, while the shuttleport and port buildings were situated atop the hills surrounding the valley, walled in against disaster.

The door began to cycle down, Jacobs and his men disembarking. Ahead of them, a man in a plain black uniform stood beside a waiting handtruck, piled high with armor and equipment. "Go ahead and suit up, Roa," Jacobs said, picking up one of the pieces of armor and rapping his knuckles on it. He set it back down in the pile, and picked up a piece of belt webbing, with a holster and several pouches riding on it. "Good, they made sure to give you something. Hope you won't need it," He said, setting the holster and belt back down, carefully.


"Hopefully we won't run into more of those, but if we do, your primary focus will be giving pointers on how not to get smashed, whatever weaknesses you might've noticed, anything, really,"

"Weakness?" Chevy frowned, then chuckled. "It's weakness is that it had no social skills," she muttered dryly. Well, and it was a little slow...kinda.

"And, if worst comes to worst, you and Alem will put your skills with zero-gravity and ships to use to recover anything you might come across. If it's damaged, it'll be more like mining than engineering trying to pry something loose,"

"Sure." Chevy nodded, glancing at the driver, feeling a bit of reassurance that she wouldn't be alone, although she was completely out of her element, but then, she was flexible and able to make it up as she went!

"Go ahead and suit up, Roa," Jacobs said, picking up one of the pieces of armor and rapping his knuckles on it. He set it back down in the pile, and picked up a piece of belt webbing, with a holster and several pouches riding on it. "Good, they made sure to give you something. Hope you won't need it,"

"Yeah, you and me both." She looked over the armor, it wasn't what she was accustomed to, but the basics were the same and she was able to organize the pieces and get them all in place securely. This was a little more cumbersome than what she was used to, but then, it had a different purpose.

"So...guess I'm ready." She glanced at the military sorts, expecting them to check her over to be sure it was right.

  • Lieutenant Kota Jacobs, Ground Forces Command
    • 1st Mechanized Infantry, 1st Division

Lieutenant Jacobs stepped forwards, checking the seals on Roa's armor. He took a moment to adjust one of the armor plates, before he nodded. "Good work. I know it's not quite the same as mining armor, but considering they both came from the same original designs..." He shook his head, and handed her the equipment belt to strap on over the armor. "Alright, everyone, let's go!" He called, making his way towards the berm that protected one of the nearby shuttle pads. Inside the berm was a drainage channel surrounding a square landing pad.

A squat, ungainly, squarish craft rested on a series of wheels at the center of the pad. It was studded with armor plates and sensor pods, and a set of stubby wings jutted out from it's top. A loading ramp in the back was lowered, into the dimly lit interior. Red light bathed the insides, as the lieutenant and his team stepped in, taking their places in the low, form-fitting seats. The seats seemed like they might swallow an unarmored figured, but were cramped to the bulk of the men and women in their combat armor. Slots built into the dividers between seats accepted their weapons, clamped them down so nothing would go hurtling around like a missile inside the craft while they were airborne. "You need help getting strapped in?" The lieutenant asked, glancing towards Roa.


"Alright, everyone, let's go!"

"Thanks." Chevy grabbed the belt and cinched it on so that it rode low on her hips, at a comfortable level for working, then fell in with the rest of the group, trying to focus on the task at hand.

For a moment she stopped to gawk at the interior of the craft, feeling more out of place than ever...

But wasn't this great?! Who would have thought she'd be doing anything like this?

A little nudge from behind jolted her out of her trance and she glanced over her shoulder to see the pilot grinning at her.

"Move it, Rookie," Alem ordered, although his tone was teasing. The girl was cute, and maybe too soft to be here, that remained to be seen, but he'd keep an eye on her where he could and int he mean time, a little joking didn't hurt.

Chevy stuck her tongue out at him, then stepped forward and took a seat, slipping the restraints over her shoulders.

"You need help getting strapped in?"

"No...yes, sir," Chevy replied, "I think I get it, but no sense letting a little pride get me killed, right?"


  • Lieutenant Kota Jacobs, Ground Forces Command
    • 1st Mechanized Infantry, 1st Division

The Lieutenant grinned, reaching over to check the restraints, making a few tiny alterations here and there. "You had it nearly perfect, just not tight enough since you're wearing different armor. no biggie," He said, before dropping into a seat beside her, and fixing his own restraints. "So, what brought you to Sanctuary?" He asked, glancing over the divider at her, as the ramp for the shuttle began to whirr closed.

Moments later, a roar began to grow as the engines began to grow, as the engines kicked in, lifting the small shuttle from it's pad, and into orbit. Around them, dozens of fighters and other similar craft were flying a patrol around the wreckage that hung in a low orbit over the planet, visible in their helmets (for those who chose to call it up).

As they broke the atmosphere, and the pressure on their bodies lessened, the Lieutenant unhooked himself, bouncing his way to the forward end of the passenger/cargo space, and turned to look at the two rows of men and women. He took a moment to pull something from his belt, before fiddling with it, a miniature version of the wreckage (clearly drawn from an engineering plan and altered to reflect the wreck's state) appeared over his hand. "Ladies and gentlemen, we're working with a limited time frame with which to get into the wreckage and recover any related materials. First and second fireteams will be inserting here-" The image zoomed on the aft end, and two small airlocks were highlighted. "They will make their way to the engine compartment." At this, a large area inside the hologram lit up. "Third and fourth fireteams will be inserted here-" This time the hologram zoomed in on the forward end of the wreck, dangerously near the ragged tear that marked where the forward half of the vessel had been. "And aiming for the Combat Information Center-" Another highlighted compartment. "Your objectives are to locate and secure any files, stellar charts, logs, or other material that might shed light on the events that led to today, you are to secure them." The Lieutenant paused, taking a deep breath. "In the unlikely event that you encounter survivors, check for infection. If they are not infected, you are to secure them for transport, and notify me for instructions. We have a little under an hour to get this done. Any questions?" He called, over their headsets. After a brief moment, he made a gesture, and there was a hiss as the air in the compartment began to be pumped out, leaving them with naught but their sealed suits as protection against the lack of atmosphere. As the last of the air hissed out, the airlock began to open, pointed almost directly at the ventral (top) armor of the ruined warship that hung motionless below them.

"Eusebia, you'll be with fireteam three with me. Maruki, you as well, while Fernandez, you'll swap and take Maruki's spot in fireteam two," He said, gesturing for them to undo their restraints. "Fireteams one and two-" He called, "Move it on out!"

The first two teams, located nearer the hatch, stood and began kicking off against the deck of the shuttle, pushing themselves out into the void separating the shuttle and the ruined battleship below. Even from the distance they were at, the tears and craters were visible against the normally pitted armor of the warship, as plumes of gas still vented out here and there, immediately freezing into ice and reflecting the light of the nearby star as faint twinkles. Other debris, less picturesque in description and nature floated free as well, hanging in a faint cloud around the ship but for what had been blown further away from the ship.


Chevy watched and listened carefully as the objectives were explained, knowing the critical importance of the debriefing, and that her safety hinged on knowing what she was doing...and on doing what she was told.

They'd have to be careful, she knew...there were plenty of rough edges just waiting to rip open one's suit and kill them just like that! And besides, who knew what was there that they hadn't planned on.

Taking a breath, she stood, then followed the rest of her team -- well, the pilot was behind her -- and couldn't help but marvel at the beauty of the destruction. It was ironic, she thought, how something so horrible could be so artistic.

Moving carefully, she turned her focus to the task at hand, watching where she was moving.

Behind the girl, Alem kept an eye on her, but she did seem to know some of what she was doing as she moved easily in the over-sized suit.


  • Lieutenant Kota Jacobs, Ground Forces Command
    • 1st Mechanized Infantry, 1st Division

As the teams made their way from the shuttle several dozen meters "above" the wreck, Lieutenant Jacobs glanced at Roa. "It's something to see, isn't it," He murmured, on a private channel to her. As they, and the last of the fireteam came to a landing, Lieutenant Jacobs moving towards one of the airlocks, his magnetic boots clunking along the hull. "Weapons at the ready," He called, over the general frequency, as he began to unlock the airlock, using the manual emergency unlock. As the airlock cycled open under the manual controls, a dark corridor, with flickering illumination from glow strips, was revealed. "Seems something took out the inner airlock hatch," Jacobs said, indicating ragged edges where a second airlock would be. One of the other members of the fireteam levered themselves through the gap, into corridors large enough for three people in armor to squeeze past each other, or two to walk abreast.

Within was chaos, with hatches pulled open, the metal of the corridors dimpled and scored by weapons fire. Jagged spikes from a flechette rifle jutted out from the walls here and there. A detached gauntlet, belonging to a piece of armor, hung motionless, slowly twirling through the corridor. As it caught in the light, a trail of red ice was visible trailing from the opening. Slowly, as the team made their way past, Jacobs glanced into once air-tight compartments, the hatches blasted open, bent, or somehow obstructed. Things, indescribable, hung here and there.

After several minutes of slowly traversing the wreckage, Jacobs held up a hand, gesturing at the corridor ahead. Black slime, and tendrils of some biological oddity had covered the bulkheads and deck ahead, glistening in the stark white light of their flashlights.


"It's something to see, isn't it,"

Chevy nodded, looking around in awe. There really was a sort of beauty to it, in a raw, macabre sort of way. And the realization that lives had been lost here sent a chill through her.

"Not close to anything I've ever been involved with," she murmured. And keeping that in mind would help her to stay focused, crucial to survival.

"Weapons at the ready,"

Again, she nodded, although she didn't have a weapon of her own. There was a marginal sense of security being with the trained soldiers, although from the looks of the wreckage there was plenty of reason to worry. After all, the crew had likely thought they were trained to handle just about anything, and look how that had worked out!

"Seems something took out the inner airlock hatch,"

"That's a lot of power," Alem murmured, staying close to the girl, ready to do whatever it took to protect her, either from a threat or herself. After all, she had no military training, and he had to wonder how much sense she had -- after all, she'd agreed to this folly!

"What's that stuff?" Chevy moved close to the walls, careful not to touch anything as she peered at the slime, half expecting it to snake out and grab her! She turned to look Jacobs. "Should we get a sample?"

---

  • Lieutenant Kota Jacobs, Ground Forces Command
    • 1st Mechanized Infantry, 1st Division

"Not close to anything I've ever been involved with,"

Lieutenant Jacobs nodded, in silent understanding, as he trudged along, ducking under various debris to avoid sending it hurtling down the corridor. As he viewed the slime, he considered Eusebia's words. "More than you'd imagine," The lieutenant said. "Synthetic diamond plating over the surface of the ship, hardest surface that we could easily get," He murmured, glancing at her. A part of him felt bad, that his orders had dragged a civilian up here, and he was impressed at how calm and collected she seemed to be handling the disaster.

"Yeah, go for it, I'll cover you," He said, stepping to the side to let her advance past him, his rifle coming up past her, to aim down the corridor, in case anything appeared. "Maruki, keep an eye on the back while we do this,"

Assuming Eusebia approached the slime, the black gunk began to pulsate and quiver, breaking off ice crystals that had formed on the exterior of its surface.

Behind them, however, one of the monsters shambled along the corridor, towards them, it's magnetic boots preventing it from drifting away, it's arms hanging limply at its sides.


"Sure, all right." Chevy was as curious as the next guy, and especially where 'unknown' was involved. She approached the slime, looking it over as she got closer, but then when she saw it move she flinched back, her nose wrinkling up.

"What th' hell?" Looking uncertainly at Jacobs she shrugged. "Um...I'm not so keen on...ya know, getting close to that..."

Gesturing toward the slime, she looked that way, barely dodging a crystal that floated at her. She had no idea what would happen if the things touched her, even if it was just on her suit, but her imagination had a myriad of scenarios!

Still, it the LT insisted, she'd grab a sample of the stuff, and truth was, she really did want to know what it was, she just wasn't willing to have it crawling up her nose or in her ears!

"Heads up!" Alem called as one of the...well, maybe one of the crew...started coming at them. He turned to face the thing, wondering just what was inside the suit and what it would do...there were too many ifs, and he didn't like ifs on the best of days. Still, he was a man who would shoot first and ask questions later...


  • Lieutenant Kota Jacobs, Ground Forces Command
    • 1st Mechanized Infantry, 1st Division

Lieutenant Jacobs stared at the armored figured approaching, his hand flexing on the grip of his rifle. "Maruki, three round burst, aim for the head, I'll hit the chest," He ordered, looking at the thing, raising his rifle, and fired off a quick burst. Despite the armor piercing rounds fired by both men punching clear through the suited figure, and causing a spray of black goo to float down the corridor behind it (away from them), rapidly freezing, the thing continued to shamble towards them, almost coming into arm's reach. Kota took a step back, gesturing for Alem to do the same, compressing the team slightly. "New plan-" he mumbled, looking at the ruined helmet and the twisted, mutilated face within, "Just unload on the damn thing," He snapped, using his implant to switch the rifle to automatic, as he began to fire. He watched as the projectiles ripped through the walking corpse, black gunk oozing out and freezing as it hung in the corridor, drifting this way and that.

"Roa, tell me you've got the sample-" Jacobs called, "Evan-" He snapped to one of the men standing beside Roa, rifle at the ready. "See if you can jump over the gunk, and check if the other side is clear," He called. "If it is, take Roa with you."

"Yessir," Evan called, demagnetizing his boots, and pushing off from the deck to float to the top of the corridor, making his way along it with pushes from his hand. After a few meters, he called back, "It's clear! Come on down," He said, looking at Roa, as he "landed" on the far end of the corridor, his boots magnetizing to hold him down.


Alem nodded, bringing his rifle up and waiting for the call to shoot, then pinging some rounds into the thing's head. They all hit home, but despite that, it didn't seem to be the least phased and just kept coming at them.

Cursing, he glanced at Jacobs, who was smart enough to give the order to just spray the 'dammed thing'.

"Roa, tell me you've got the sample-"

"Working on it!" Chevy called. Sure, she was used to working in some dicey conditions, but nothing like this, and it unnerved her, taking her concentration to ignore what was going on and trust the others to keep her safe. Not only that, but she wasn't sure about getting too close to the crud she had to gather.

"Got it!" she finally called, reluctantly putting the sealed jar into her pack...she hated having the stuff so close, afraid it might 'get out'. Then Evan signaled her and she followed his lead, pushing off the deck and hopping over the danger area, coming to a rest beside him.

"I sure hope that stuff isn't toxic," she grumbled. Fat chance of that!

  • Lieutenant Kota Jacobs, Ground Forces Command
    • First Mechanized Infantry, First Division

"One can hope," Evan murmured back, before he froze in place. Screaming had begun to issue over their headsets. Lieutenant Jacobs murmured a curse, "Fireteams one and two, come in," He called. Static hissed over the open channel, in response. Lieutenant Jacobs cursed softly. "Fireteam four, peel off and head to their objective. Maruki, you, me, Roa, and Evan will continue to the CIC, let's move it," He called, going to hop over the slime puddle. He began moving down the corridor, as the other fire team peeled away, heading aft. "Everyone, keep on your toes," the Lieutenant said, as he began pacing along.

As the four of them began moving along, they came across a large, armored, hatch, that had buckled and bent under the force of an explosion. "Well, shit," Evan murmured, his helmet helpfully relaying his words to the others.


The cries in the headset startled Chevy, and for a moment she froze, a chill coursing through her as she realized what the screams meant, or more, the silence that followed. This wasn't what she'd bargained on, and certainly wasn't what she'd been prepared for.

More than happy to have directions to follow, Chevy was jarred into action by Alem, who gave her a firm but gentle nudge to get moving. Watching her step, she kept up with the Lieutenant, nearly smacking into him as he stopped and cursed.

"What?" She looked around him at the hatch and sucked in a breath. "What the heck did that?"

"And how do we get past it?" Alem added, turning around so he could watch their backs. They'd have to figure a way through the obstruction. Or maybe they could manage to get the thing open anyway, not that it would do them much good if they couldn't close it again...


  • Lieutenant Kota Jacobs, Ground Forces Command
    • First Mechanized Infantry, First Division

Lieutenant Jacobs peered at Eusebia, a frown on his face beneath his helmet. "I don't know, I suspect it was whatever is inhabiting the crew," He muttered, quietly. "Sooner we get off this wreck-" He froze in place, staring at the ruined hatch ahead, as emergency lights flickered into life, taking on a sickly warning color. Even as text began to scroll over the team's visors, Jacobs began trying to tug a section of the hatch back. "Maruki, you grab the other panel," He called, trying to peel one of the armored leaves away.

With a slow, tortuous twisting that surely would've raised an unholy racket in an atmosphere, the metal began to bend backwards, flowering open for them. "Ladies and gents, our time on this ship is growing more limited," Jacobs called, as the text began to resolve itself into a warning.

Critical Reactor Failure - Estimated Five Minutes To Core Overload

Through the hatch was a cramped compartment centered around a tactical plotter, with consoles scattered around. But it was here as well that the black ooze was at its thickest, clinging to the walls, smeared over the railings that surrounded some of the workstations. Motionless bodies hung, weightless, above the deck, some with gaping wounds, others killed by decompression or suffocation. Lieutenant Jacobs charged into the room, momentarily brushing into one of the bodies when he failed to duck low enough. As the body spun under the accidental contact, it's back was revealed to the team, a knife, covered in the black ooze, jutting from it's back. The corpse's face twisted into an inhuman snarl, as it began twisting and writhing. The black substance was visible through the dead skin, replacing many of the figure's veins. The mystery substance oozed, like a sludge in the sub-zero temperatures, from the corpses' mouth, over the already black uniform.

"Team, hold them off!" Lieutenant Jacobs snarled, raising his rifle and unleashing a short burst into the body, as other figures in the room seemed to come alive in the darkness. "Roa, underneath the plotter-" A large table-like console in the center of the room, with a holographic top. "Grab the chips," He called, unaware of the black gunk already covering parts of the console.


Grab the chips? Was he crazy? Despite her bravado and adventurous spirit, all Chevy wanted to do was run home where it was safe. And besides, there was all that...goo...

"But I..." Well, the longer she dallied the greater the risk, so, lip curled up in disgust, she reached gingerly, avoiding the guck as she started plucking chips and dropping them into a seal-able pouch to let the hazmat geeks decide how to deal with.

"Don't be fancy there, Princess!" Alem called as he fired bursts at anything moving that he didn't recognize. He appreciated her care around the goop, but they needed to hurry.

"Go them!" Chevy called, moving over by the men, more than ready to get out of here...


  • Lieutenant Kota Jacobs, Ground Forces Command
    • First Mechanized Infantry, First Division

Something violent shook the wreckage, shaking those still attached by their magnetic boots like ragdolls. A brief scream of static came on over their radios, before being cut off, Lieutenant Jacobs letting out an enraged snarl as his rifle fire joined that of Alem and Evan (the other team member). As Roa grabbed the last of the chips, the muck began moving along, filling in the hole where her hand had been moments earlier. "Time to go," Lieutenant Jacobs called, his back to Roa, Evan on Roa's opposite side from the lieutenant.

As something began to launch towards Roa, Evan went to shove her aside, a figure in armor matching that of the team slamming into the man's outstretched arm, sending him flying backwards against the console that Roa had just vacated. Immediately, the black goo began to swarm over him, plumes of atmosphere coming from new holes in the seals. Lieutenant Jacobs turned, firing a shot into the prone body, before he beckoned at Roa. "C'mon!" He called, shouldering his way towards the hatchway leading into the room. "Alem, lead the way back to our insertion point," He called, "Roa, you follow him, I'll be right behind," The Lieutenant called, spinning on his heel to cover their backs.

---

Time to go?! No kidding!

Chevy was more than happy to get the hell out of here, she just hoped that it wasn't too late for that.

She cringed as she pulled her hand back, barely avoiding getting the goo on it. Then the screams started and she went pale, nearly freezing in her tracks. But in an instant she was off balance, and it took her a moment to process what had happened, but by then it was too late...

"Shit!" Chevy gasped, for an instant hesitating, but she had the good sense to know that wasn't a good thing, so she forced herself to look away and follow after the Corporal.

"Stay close!" Alem cautioned, tempering his pace just a bit so that the girl didn't fall behind. He kept his rifle up as they moved, shooting anything that crossed their path that didn't look right or move right...


  • Lieutenant Kota Jacobs, Ground Forces Command
    • First Mechanized Infantry, First Division

The Lieutenant fell back, after them, as the team made their way towards where they'd entered, with the former crew chasing after them. The Lieutenant's rifle spat rounds behind them, before he turned and began sprinting to catch up. As the team reached the waiting shuttle, the countdown on their helmets rapidly counted down, racing towards zero as the power core began to reach its critical mass.

As the team piled into the shuttle, the hatch still closing behind them, the ship behind them began to fragment as its core and what weapons remained aboard began to detonate, rocking the wreckage, still visible in the distance to the unaided eye. The shuttle began speeding towards the atmosphere, the Lieutenant sitting back and taking a deep breath, as atmosphere began to filter back into the passenger compartment. After a few moments, he reached up and pulled his helmet from his head, making as if to fling it across the compartment, before he dropped into a seat and clipped it to his belt. He didn't say anything, just rubbing his face with his gauntleted hands for a moment. "We've orders to return to Central Control for debriefing," He said, finally, glancing up and towards one of the displays showing the growing debris field, and the armada of vessels surrounding it. A pair of fighters, invisible against the darkness of space, but highlighted on the display, had formed up around the shuttle on its descent.


Chevy was still trying to catch her breath as she scrambled into a seat and buckled in, holding on as she rode out the turbulence. Something didn't really make sense, but she hadn't had time to think about what had just happened...she was too busy being thankful that the ones that were here had made it out alive.

"Crap," she muttered, regretting that she'd ever gotten involved in this, and then the LT said something about 'Central Control' and she cringed.

"Debriefing?" Yeah, she didn't like the sound of that. "I don't suppose I can bow out of that?" Somehow, she had the feeling that 'debrief' more correctly meant 'detain' and 'incarcerate'.


  • Lieutenant Jason McCallister, Ranger Exploration Corps
    • Aide, Central Control
  • Jointpost with Game Moderator

Since the arrival of the SFCV Heart of Winter in orbit over Sanctuary, Central Control had been akin to an overturned anthill in the activity. Soldiers, guards, and staff were busy putty down the dozens of emergencies that had arisen in the nearby cities, and had been busy attempting to control the response to the disaster. Lieutenant McCallister, assigned as an aide in Central Control, while his wounds healed, had been privy to some of the details of the on-going emergency, but had had very little directed at him during the events. But now he could hear through his neural implant a summons directing him to report to the main control center.

Jason’s typical brisk steps were already in motion as the order was given to him to report to Central Control. He was somewhat apprehensive but in a positive light. The Lieutenant was new around here but was adjusting at a decent pace. Considering what had happened after his first venture into becoming an Officer, he held his head high and often acted like it hadn’t happened. The mechanical arm took some getting used to. The neural implant was a whole different story, it was so weird hearing other commands in his head that weren’t his own. It was kind of handy, but still weird. Like his arm, he’d get used to it nonetheless, especially since he was here to do what he did best.

Jason McCallister, reporting as requested.” He entered the room with a curt salute.

As Jason stepped in, he could see the beehive of activity in the large room, it's center dominated by a number of holoprojection tables, with staff running around. A senior officer beckoned Jason over, returning his salute curtly. "Lieutenant," the man said, leaning over one of the holograms, his eyes scanning it. It showed a crippled warship against a planet, a number of smaller warships buzzing around it. A readout beside the crippled vessel gave indications of it's status. "The team inserting into the wreckage will be touching down on the landing pad here at Central in a few minutes. I'd like you to accompany the security team to greet them."

The room was lit by the holographic projectors, and a series of dim blue lights and the reflected light of dozens of screens, in this deep basement of the complex.

“Understood, sir.” Jason studied the holographic images as his eyes adjusted to the lighting. “Are there any other details I should be aware of at this time?” Sure, it was an easy request. It was also a request that was not that hard by any means: just accompany a security team. Almost an everyday sort of thing that got him out, which he usually liked. Ready and willing to help, he waited for more information.

The array of small warships buzzing around the warship appeared to be chaotic at this point in time. “Are they going to be anticipating any backup soon?” he asked, pointing to the downed warship.

The man gave him a bland look. "You haven't been kept in the loop, have you," he scratched his chin, glancing back to the plot. "That would be the SFCV Heart of Winter, it just arrived back. No response from anyone aboard, and half of it broke up in orbit. The team coming back from boarding it will need to be kept under observation, hence the security team, Lieutenant." He made a vague gesture, before standing upright. "I don't know who will do the debriefing, yet, but as soon as we're told, you'll escort them there. Any questions?"

Jason shook his head. “No, sir. I’m ready.” Strange things could happen at a moment’s notice, and he was as prepared as he could be for such things. He was recently brought to Central Control, and was still learning about current happenings and the like, and was still getting to know his superiors. In all other senses, he felt fairly well equipped to do whatever was asked of him, so he had that going for him at the very least. Any trained soldier ought to feel that way, after all. As long as he had something to do, he didn’t mind an easy mission. It was a bonus if it was a challenging one.

The officer just nodded, glancing back distractedly to the holographic plot. "You carrying your sidearm, Lieutenant?" He asked, bushy eyebrows twitching as he glanced back up at Jason.

“I always have at least one weapon on me,” Jason replied with a brief nod. The question was probably brought about as a precaution, but he wouldn’t start asking why. He’d always preferred to carry a weapon on him at all times, just in case a bad surprise came along.

"Let's hope you don't need it, Lieutenant," The older officer said, before nodding. "The security team will be meeting you near the front entrance, Best get a move on, son."

“I hope not, but I’ll be ready sir.” Jason said with a casual shrug. “I’ll head out right now.” He turned around in a swift pivot, and moved out to go meet the security team.

The long winding hallways of Central Control's buried structure were mazelike, often lit by dim blue lighting until sensors detected movement and brought up brighter lights, only to let it fade behind Jason. Eventually, though, he found himself approaching the main entrance, a large foyer with a domed ceiling cut from the mountainside, a rich, glossy marble floor emblazoned with the governmental seal. Terminals and reception desks were scattered around, clerks attempting to serve the needs of citizens who might wander to the government complex. But they were few and far between this particular day, leaving the large chamber empty feeling. A security team, decked out in combat armor, stood near the large double doors leading out of the buried complex. "Lieutenant McCallister," one of them called, Jason's cybernetic eye identifying the man as Sergeant Alex Jones, GFC.

Studying the group as he walked up to them, he greeted the team with a nod. They were certainly well prepared. Though he didn’t have the armor, he was as ready as any of them. “I’m here and ready to mobilize, Sergeant Jones.” He offered a handshake to Jones.

Jones took Jason's hand, delicate with his grip lest his armor's augmented strength crush Jason's hand. "Copy that, sir." He said, before turning his head to snap at his team, "C'mon you lot, time to move," He called, the team moving out the front door. They exited onto a large square, walled in by high stone walls perhaps twenty feet high, where soldiers patrolled between guard towers. An effort had been made to make the walls feel vaguely medieval, with red-tiled roofs for the guard towers, and fitted stone blocks rather than poured concrete for the walls. The walled in area was given over to a small training field and motor pool, where tanks, combat cars, and APCs awaited their crews, but the team ignored these, walking towards a stairwell cut from the mountainside, leading up to the landing pads used for shuttles directly coming to the complex.

Jason followed near the front of the group, heading towards the landing pads. He knew the area fairly well by now, so that helped him get around without looking stupid, he wasn’t so new as to not know where everything was. All was clear, but he kept a wary eye about just in case. His cybernetic eye was ever on high alert, ready to switch modes or focus on something at a second’s notice. The scar on his face that was close to his eye indicated that battle damage was the only reason why he had the cybernetic eye, much like his arm. It was advantageous to him regardless, especially in battle.

As the team approached the landing pad, a point of light in the sky grew, as a shuttle dropped through the atmosphere like a brick, approaching the landing pad...


"Afraid being a civilian won't get you out of this, Miss Chev," Alem commented with a grin, "and believe me, misery loves company." He patted the girl on the arm reassuringly, confident in the 'system', not seeing it in the suspicious light that she did. Besides, they had no choice in the matter, so she may as well be comfortable.

"Come on, now," he said with a smile as the shuttle docked, "just go with it."

"To the dungeon," Chevy muttered as she stood, hoping he was right. And on the one hand she wanted to believe that...the 'authorities' just wanted information, to know as much as they could to determine what had happened and how to prevent it.

But then there was the cynical side of her that was afraid that they had too much knowledge, that they had maybe stumbled on something they shouldn't, and it would have to be squelched...and the best way to do that was for them to conveniently disappear...and silly Chevy, she had pretty much admitted up front that no one knew where she was...

Or maybe she was just being paranoid?

  • Lieutenant Kota Jacobs, Ground Forces Command
    • First Mechanized Infantry, First Division

Lieutenant Jacobs stood up, glancing at Alem and Chev, trying to pull on a brave face, as the hatch of the shuttle opened onto the landing pad. His eyes took in the security team that awaited them, lead by a Lieutenant of the Ranger Exploration Corps, standing on the pad carved from the living rock of a mountain. As the security team stepped forwards to form up around them, still clad in their armor, the sergeant of the security team stepped forwards, "We've orders to escort you through Central. We're headed underground to one of the lower levels, please make sure you keep your hands off your weapons, just to be safe."

The sergeant began walking, with Lieutenant Jacobs following, gesturing for Chevy and Alem to come closer, "Be honest and tell them the truth, we'll get through this," He said, softly, before speaking up to the other Lieutenant, "So, how've things down here been, while we were up there?" He asked, calmly.


  • Lieutenant Jason McCallister, Ranger Exploration Corps
    • Aide, Central Control
  • Lieutenant Kota Jacobs, Ground Forces Command
    • First Mechanized Infantry, First Division
  • Jointpost with Game Moderator

“None of us are sure of what caused the wreck. I don’t know much more than your team does, and the civilians are just as tense as we are.” Jason said to the Lieutenant. “Rumors about the physical status of the few survivors has drifted among some of us and our superiors, so that’s why we’re here. I had orders to support you guys, partially because we don’t know what to expect out of the strange short-comings of the ship’s ventures.” He shrugged. “I have some certainty we’re prepared for whatever the cause of the accident was. It’s…troublesome. Most ships don’t turn back on the course without good reason.”

"Yeah," Kota muttered, glancing down at the helmet in his hands. "Team's here to make sure we don't get outta line, huh?" He asked, gesturing at the squad that had formed around him, Alem, and Roa. He opened his mouth to say more, when Jason's implant "chimed" with an alert of an incoming message.

The message began to play through his implant, gratifyingly short. "Bring the survivors down to sub-level 16. Another security team will be escorting the four of you the rest of the way." Meanwhile, around them, they had begun to enter back into the complex through the main entrance. The lobby, normally packed, was empty, only a handful of the normal staff to greet visitors were still present.

“That’s not what I was implying but I suppose you could look at it that way,” Jason went a little quiet when he began to listen to the message. He wasn’t sure why they weren’t going to debrief at the previously established location, but he followed the instructions anyway. He’d keep an eye out for the security team once they did get to the survivors.

The security team seemed content to just form a ring around them, walking without seeming to be in a threatening mood. Kota glanced at Jason, "New orders, huh?" He asked, as if he could guess at the message. Having someone talking in your head put a universally distracted look on everyone's face.

“Correct.” Jason said with a light shrug. “Well it looks like we have a good group now,” he said quietly as they started walking past the briefing rooms towards an elevator that would take them to the level of the new designated location. He wasn’t going to assume the security team knew any more than he did. They all had yet to determine what had been the cause of the ship’s accident. It seemed too unexpected, too…eerie? … something along those lines. Honestly, Jason couldn’t find the right words to explain it, but even if he was here to help, a decent team with a mix of experiences was always welcomed. His higher ups’ leadership was usually on top of things in these regards. Only bits of these things crossed his mind as he stood there observing the security team, looking relaxed. Kota knew more about what happened to the ship than Jason did, when they were at the site of the wreckage. Whatever had happened, it must have been an unpleasant surprise, and Jason could only begin to wonder. He was itching to ask him, but he’d wait until they arrived at their destination.

The elevator sank deeper into the depths of the base, silent, the security team seeming packed in and uncomfortable in the confined space. Kota's gaze turned to the info panel. "We're going below the briefing rooms?" He asked, a hint of surprise to his voice.

“Yup. I really don’t know why, it wasn’t my decision.” Jason leaned against the wall of the elevator, near a corner next to Kota and the others that had been with him earlier, stretching his legs briefly. At first, it had been so easy to get lost in this place, but he was fairly used to it now, and the guidance of both the Command Interface (which wasn’t uncommon) and the cybernetic left eye helped things tremendously in so many areas. Even in the bright lighting of the elevator, it glowed a little bit. The helmet currently off, the large facial/neck scar showed too, and it trailed well below the armor of his left shoulder. He wasn’t sure why the others were a little nervous, they had done their job and came back in one piece. There was little to worry about, right?

"Yeah, ours is not to wonder why, and all that," Kota murmured, glancing first at Jason's eye, then at the door as the elevator slowed and then stopped. It opened, to reveal a dimly lit corridor, with sloping walls, and sloping pillars, lit only by a dim blue glow that seemed to come from inlaid panels where the floor and the walls joined. Another team in armor stood, waiting patiently. Cloaks over their armor seemed to shimmer and blur their outlines, making them hard to focus on, The leader of the new team glanced at the leader of the team on the elevator, "We'll take over from here." They said, before glancing to Jason, Kota, and the others. "Come along."

Jason squinted at the other team. They appeared kind of intimidating to him, but he was usually confident regardless. He took brisk steps forward without hesitation. He’d be a helping hand to the trio at this point. He still expected a normal debrief.

Kota gave the other team an uncomfortable look, but decided to follow. The team in the armor began setting a rapid pace through what felt like miles of underground tunnels. Here and there, windows in the wall gave way to dimly lit labs without even the faintest trace of activity in them. During their journey, they didn't even run into a single person, even Jason's implant having no map of down here. Eventually the team came down a large, thick, doorway, set into the stone of a wall. Two more of the figures stood silently by it, motionless, until the team arrived.

At this point, Jason was beginning to think the precautions being taken were a little over-the-top, but he held his tongue and stayed quiet, walking up to the heavy duty door. “Can I ask why we were told to come here instead? My orders directed us here but they left no reason why.” Helmet tucked under his arm, he waited for them to open the large door. He felt only somewhat at ease that there was another security team with them.


If she wasn't already uneasy enough -- regardless of how 'casual' the guards acted, they were still an armed guard and in complete control -- their dismissal as the team was handed off made Chevy feel even more unsettled. The new guard were disconcerting at least, and utterly intimidating, at least to her. And it didn't help being so far away from any chance of escape...they could be locked away down here and no one would ever know, would ever find them...

And it only made fear course through her when the Lieutenant questioned the new orders. Something just seemed off, and as much as she just hoped it was because of some sort of potential contamination issues, Chevy wasn't so sure and she hesitated in her step.

Sensing the girl's unease, heck, she'd slowed and he'd nearly run her over, Alem dropped an arm around her shoulder, hoping to reassure her, although he had his own doubts as well. While he wanted to believe in the 'goodness' of the establishment, but he was having his doubts...


The soldiers on either side of the double-door each turned to open a side. Slowly, the door creaked open, a dimly lit chamber revealed to them. Their guards gestured for them to enter, before closing the door behind them with the same ominous creak.

The four found themselves in a massive, circular room, with dim sunlight, or a close approximation streaming down from the ceiling hundreds of feet above, motes of light dancing in the stream. Evenly spaced around the walls of the room were niches, filled with life-sized statues of men and women, each with an urn and a plaque at its feet. These niches and statues continued up the walls, with narrow balconies running around the perimeter. They were known historical figures, ones who had led the Initiative. On the wall opposite the door the team had entered in was an empty niche, leading into a shadowed pathway.

Ahead of them, in the direct center of the room, was a stone chair, a single man seated on it, eyes closed as if asleep. Before him hung the faint shimmer of a hologram, impossible to read from their position. The man was garbed in the same black uniforms that every soldier wore, but his lacked any rank or insignia, not even a name. His pale skin was weathered and lined by age, his pale white hair worn short. A hand rose up, brushing a strand back from his forehead, before his eyes opened, turning to peer at the four of them. "Come in, come in," He said, pushing himself to his feet, reaching for a pair of glasses hanging from his breast pocket. "I don't bite. But I must admit I have some questions that I would care to hear an answer to," He said, peering at them. "Mostly about what happened up on the ship. Though I imagine you've many questions as well," He said, smiling, with a hint of amusement. He turned his gaze to Jason, giving him a piercing stare, that seemed to go through him. "Your purpose here in this meeting will soon be explain, never you fear."


His sweeping, cautious and wary gaze took in the changing scene around them. Jason liked the looks of the place, sure, but he was on edge like the rest of those that followed him here. He pursed his lips, looking like he wanted to say something else. The young man wanted answers right away, he never liked having to wait for answers. It made him edgy and impatient, and more tense than he should be in more stressful situations. This wasn't one of those quite yet, and Jason hoped it wouldn't be, that the worst had already been dealt with when the survivors were retrieved and such.

"They have the answers as to what happened on the ship," Jason said, gesturing at the trio. "I have questions too, sir." He knew he'd have to wait his turn though, since his first question hadn't been addressed. He didn't know who this guy was, but he wondered if he should. He was getting weird. "But we do have to know, who are you?"


Worser and worser...

Chevy didn't like this one bit and when they were herded into the huge chamber, confronted with the man in the chair, sitting there looking like the Emperor from Star Wars, she couldn't help but frown, although she kept behind the men, peeking around them but more than happy to shrink into the background. And while the 'Emperor' seemed congenial enough, she wasn't about to push the limits and find out. This was Military crap, and she was only guilty by association...she'd keep quiet and maybe they would forget about her...

As for Alem, he, too, was unsettled, but he stood shoulder to shoulder with Jacobs, showing solidarity, as well as shielding the civilian...

"The helmet cams will show most of what we saw," he commented, "and there were samples..." He had no idea what had happened to those, but he tried to stay focused and look at this as an intriguing adventure and not some sort of conspiracy fiasco.


The old man turned his gaze towards Jason, a hint of a frown on his elderly face, before it flicked away into a thoughtful, considering look. "You may call me Guide," He said, as an answer to Jason's question. "You might call me a guide for the Initiative." He turned his gaze towards Kota, Alem, and Eusebia, raising a brow as Alem spoke. "True, but the helmet cams don't catch the immaterial. Feelings, thoughts, things you don't say. Sometimes men and women who have done things have a sixth sense for things that don't feel right, and those can be just as useful as something we can see and prove," He murmured, his voice carrying in the stillness of the vast chamber. He took a step to the side, as if trying to peer past Alem and Kota, at Eusebia. "Young lady, you can come out, I don't bite," He said, with a small smile. "I imagine that, as a civilian, you feel very out of place."

He stood, turning his gaze around the room at the countless statues, "You four are in a place that few people ever see," He said, turning to walk around the uncomfortable-looking stone chair. "This is a room meant to house the remains and memories of those who came before us, the other 'guides'. They- no, we, are the opposite of the Senate. A single mind, a single purpose, to safeguard the Initiative, to make decisions affecting the lives of billions of people, the kind of choices that you cannot entrust to a committee." He pursed his lips. "Our ancestors knew such a thing would be needed, which is why it was there, from the first day, to counter the Senate and the council." He turned back to them. "I will review your recordings," He said, taking a seat in the chair, with a visible wince.

"But I... I feel as if you've said everything you four will say. So, instead, I have a proposal," He smiled, faintly. "Since the beginning, my predecessors have had people who reported directly to them, men and women who were chosen for their ability to do the impossible, to survive and thrive. I would like to extend an offer of this distinction to the four of you, with the mandate to seek out the dangerous and the alien, things that should not be, like whatever corrupted the crew of the vessel. Does this interest the four of you?"

Kota paused, his mouth half open, before he closed it, peering at the others, unwilling to be the first to answer. He wanted to know what the others would say.


Great, he had to be the one to say something first. Not surprisingly, the somewhat subtle reactions of the group were hard to read, but he presumed his reaction was similar as theirs. Was there a catch to this offer? Why was 'The Guide' bringing this up now? Was there an ulterior motive? They had a right to be a little paranoid, especially Kota, Chevy and Alem. He supposed he'd be the one to say something. He wasn't discomforted by that thought either.

"That sounds like a fine offer, but is there a catch?" He also presumed they'd have to decide fairly quick. "I myself don't have a lot of information other than what I've observed and heard from others." he shrugged. "I'm interested in this 'offer'. But I'm not speaking for the others. Which predecessors do you speak of?" Haven't they been doing this kind of thing already? They all had different duties, and his focused on the REC. Apparently it might be up until this point in time. Jason had a lot of time to ponder what this all meant as he stood there. He turned his gaze towards the others momentarily, looking for further reactions.

This guide/leader of the Initiative wanted more answers, and he was clearly doing what he could to get more, as well as more involvement out of the others for this debriefing. Jason didn't have much to fear as of now.


"Me?" Chevy looked at the others, then 'Guide', biting back the urge to laugh. What skills did she have? Or training?

Sure, she'd survived that hulk-ship...and that big thing in the town square, but she was just some grunt who had little experience outside of a mining colony. But still, if this was legit, well, it would be an interesting gig, to say the least, and besides, she doubted that, in a set-up this elaborate, they would make a mistake in who they asked to do what. She could have easily been culled out, but they'd included her.

"Um, sure, not like I have anywhere more exciting to be. I mean, so long as the others are in..."

"And there's a way out?" Alem added that bit as he looked at 'Guardian' steadily, assessing him. "If we decide we don't like it or don't fit?" He didn't want to feel like he'd be trapped into anything, not that he thought that this would be a bad gig... it would sure beat the mundane!


The Guardian peered at Jason, tilting his head in thought. "A catch, as you so bluntly put it, is your work will mostly be considered classified. The Senate will know, and you will formally be recognized as being part of an expedition. The exact nature of your operations, however, will not be disclosed." He drummed his fingers on the back of the stone seat, "My predecessors in such a role, the men and women who have guided the Initiative these centuries, trying to help decide what was best for the whole, I thought my earlier statements would make it clear what I meant," He said, with a patient smile, before he turned to consider Alem and Chevy.

"Yes, you," He intoned, peering at Chevy, "You were trained as an engineer, on Pedras. Engineers are always in demand," He slapped his hand down on the chair, grinning at her with a face full of youthful energy despite his clearly advanced age. "There are always ways out of anything in life. Like being in the military, you can resign, or you can leave in a body-bag. But you won't discuss your missions," He gave Alem a hard look, the youthful exuberance he'd exhibited moments earlier fading away. "But, please, relax. As I earlier stated, if I meant you ill-will, you never would've been permitted to land, let alone walk through the halls with your weapons, down into one of the most secure levels of the seat of government for all of human-inhabited space. And certainly not to such a room as this," He said, stepping away from the seat in the center, his footsteps echoing in the enormous chamber, as he strode to one of the statues, peering at it intensely. "Do you know how many of my predecessors are enshrined here, their histories chronicled for us to peruse? Hundreds of years of history," He said, not directed at anyone in particular, but loud enough that they could hear. "I would not risk bringing you here if I meant you ill-will. So, what will be your answers?"

Kota peered at the others, before he took a step forwards, "I'm in," He said, pursing his lips. He had a feeling the man was on the up-and-up, the location was just too... secure and important to let anyone walk in. And, besides, if this man were the head of the government, as he so indirectly put it, he was still Kota's indirect boss.

Jason nodded in agreement with Kota. "I'm in as well. It all sounds interesting." He was rather surprised they were the so-called 'chosen' options for these assignment/missions the leader was arranging a special group for. He'd leave logistics up to said higher-up since they were all part of their own teams already. He wasn't sure what to expect other than roll with it and hope for the best. He expected that any immediate orders would be directly from this mysterious leader.

A thought occurred to him as he stood there listening; his fraternal twin brother would probably be jealous of this opportunity the handful of them were getting, but he put that thought aside. His brother was on another planet, doing his own thing, testing new technologies in weapons and armor. Like Chevy, Raiden was a civilian, and comfortable in his little niche.

"What else do we need to do for you as of now, sir?" they all knew the man had brought them here because of the shortcomings of recent events. Jason wasn't sure what answers he himself could give the man, but he knew he had questions.


"Guess I'm in, too." Chevy shrugged, feeling a mix of misgiving and excitement. "Got nothin' else to do, so..." She shrugged again. "Yeah, what now?" Like, maybe, debriefing...or some kind of training...unless they were just expected to 'wing it', which she was sure they could, since they already had...

"Just... I don't want to necessarily be a 'legacy'... those are all dead now, right?"

At that, Alem chuckled. "Girl has a point!" Then he shrugged. "I'm in, too, someone has to keep an eye on this lot!"

So, life was about to get interesting!


The old man smiled, wryly, at them. "Then from this point on, you'll undergo some training-" He fixed a pointed gaze on Chevy. "Some firearms training for the young lady," He said, though the smile was kindly. "You'll be presented to the Senate in a month, after some retraining," He said, as he took a seat. "Now, go, one of my men will guide you to one of the bases to stay at." He peered at them, before he sat back, making a gesture as the air shimmered into a hologram before him.

Return to Top