Hobbes watched the Lovesant delegation arrive from the far end of the hanger, near the door. He felt little desire to talk to them after the incident with the probe going berserk, but he supposed it was his job.
"Commander Hobbes, 195 Ace Squadron," he said, approaching the group with his hand outstretched to the man he guessed was the president.
The CEO shook the hand, his grip loose. Shaking a few strands of dark hair from his eyes, he smiled. "Nice to meet you, Commander Hobbes. Armand Lovesant, of the Lovesant corporation." He hesitated. "You pilot a... Quicksilver, correct? Good Frame, reliable."
The woman behind him rolled her eyes. "Here we go..."
Sune double checked the damage on her frame before shaking her head in negation. "That and the ship, it's going to be quite a bundle to fix." She said inbetween her teeth as she begun to walk to observe Hobbes adress the Lovesant bastard. Typical business weasel, he was. She really wished to hold that sleaze at gunpoint and have him spout all the secrets they had withheld from them. She absolutely hated deception among supposed allies.
Rolling her eyes, she stood behind them, arms crossed.
Alexei walked through the hangar and came to a large metal door with a keypad next to it. He punched in a combination, and the door opened with a hiss. The lights inside the room turned on, revealing metal men, barely larger than the average human. They were lined against the walls in two rows of 7.
Alexei walked up to one and tapped it. "Roxy, meet Hercules. What you see here are what the military like to call Light Surgical Engagement Mail, or L.S.E.M. They were modified from mining suits, which themselves seem to have been based on old military hardware. Inventive recursion rears its ugly head. These guys are meant for two purposes, a) providing a hard to attack defense against AMF boarding parties, and b) providing precise, but destructive support on ground assault missions. What you'll be doing is the latter. Now, the reason only you can go out is because we're part of the Navy, and therefore we are only allowed to take one of these off of the ship with out clearance from the higher-ups." Alexei placed his hand on a monitor, and the suit split into its component parts, held in place by the rack it was on.
"This suit will let you move faster, and hit harder. Most of the effort will be exerted by the suit, it just responds to your movements. However, in order for the interface to connect in such a way that it doesn't injure you..." Alexei pulled a folded mass of fabric from a small locker, he held it up to show it was a large, vaguely human-shaped suit.
"You'll have to wear this. Don't worry, there is a button on the wrist cuff that shrinks it down to fit your body. Not sure exactly how, so I'll say it's witchcraft." Alexei folded the suit and tossed it to Roxy. He pointed to the rear of the room. "Changing room's over there. A word of warning, make sure every thing's sorted out before hand. If you put both legs in one of its legs before you shrinks it, and yes, it has happened, it will be a pain to get you back out. Make sure nothing sensitive gets caught or folded either. Just a fair warning."
edited 4th Feb '11 4:25:01 PM by lockonlockon
TVTropes Nuzlocke Thread. - Arceus Help Us All.Earl went to his room. He found his Claymore and Trench coat. Both tokens from his father. He took a deep breath and wondered to himself why he had them. His father was an embarrassment to the family, in spite of his combat record. Earl sought desperately to surpass him. ...Why?
It was simply what he was expected to do. Both to respect his father and to be ashamed of him. Perhaps this was him realizing, before boarding the ship to charge at unknown enemies with nothing more than a sword and a machine gun, that he had inherited more from his father than he ever wanted to admit to.
He wrapped the belt around him, feeling the weight of the Claymore at his side.
Regardless, today he was taking action of his own initiative. He wasn't sure why. He didn't know the former commander well, but she had apologized to him. Maybe it was because it meant so much to Bishop who always seemed angry at him. Maybe it was so that just once he would make his own decision.
He moved his first arm through the sleeve of his trench coat, then the second, then pulled the back up by his shoulders.
It was very bit as stupid and headstrong as what his father used to do.
He pulled he Trench-coat back to allow him to reach the sword more easily.
Regardless, he thought, today, whether he survives or not, he will have finally escaped from that shadow he had lived in his entire life. Perhaps that is why his father acted as wild as he did.
He took the Plasma Rifle in his hands.
It was time.
edited 4th Feb '11 4:45:59 PM by Fauxlosophe
Roxy gazed with some reverence at the L.S.E.M. as Alexei explained the details to her. She only just managed to catch the lining suit he tossed to her, fumbling and clutching the material to her chest. She hadn't known what use she could really have been in the rescue... with this, surely she'd be able to do her part.
"Ah, thank you Alexei...!" She bowed to him awkwardly, unable to even attempt a salute while holding the specialized mass of fabric. "If you'll excuse me then."
She quicky made her way to the changing room. Once inside, she let the suit unfold, holding it out in front of her. Only one of them could use the Mail and Alexei had chosen to give it to her. Her old doubts about fitting in with the team tried to rise up then, wondering how she could be trusted with something so important. Roxanne closed her eyes and shook her head. She was trusted, they were counting on her and she was counting on them, all to get Lady venne Bannikberg back. She blinked her eyes open, as determined a look as she'd ever had crossing her face.
Shortly after she stepped back into the hanger, the protective fabric comfortably adjusted to her form. She stood formally before Alexei and lifted her right hand to her temple.
"Eighth Knight Special Roxanne Bishop, ready to suit up!"
Alexei smirked. "Excellent. We could be arriving soon, but let's get you used to the mail." Alexei pulled the boots of the suit off of the rack and set them on te floor with a considerable thud. He then proceeded to lay out the rest of the armor. "Alright, these are heavy, so I'll be helping you put it on. To make sure we don't injure you, we'll start with the legs." Alexei gestured for Roxy to come over and picked up a shorts-like piece of armor. As he helped her put it on, Alexei decided to strike up some conversation. "Say, Roxy? Where did you grow up?"
TVTropes Nuzlocke Thread. - Arceus Help Us All.Roxy held as still as she could, letting Alexei fit on the complicated looking Mail and only moving as he needed her to.
"Minor Dauston after I left Eden. I mean I was really young then, too. All my identification stuff says I'm from Eden, but I hardly remember it. I never even got to go back for a visit... so I don't think it counts! Dauston is my home, I guess. Sometimes I wonder if I did something bad and got shipped away, I grew up at the Lightfellow Military Academy, even though no one believes me when I say that."
Alexei assembled the mail, making certain it linked up properly. He put on the boots then moved on to the breastplate. "I can see why, you don't seem the military academy type. But I do believe you. What was Dauston like?"
TVTropes Nuzlocke Thread. - Arceus Help Us All."Everyone says the school is really strict, but there're always things you could get away with if you know what to do! Plus I got to spend a lot of time at Novagauge when they started looking at my simulator results." Roxy wiggled her toes in the heavy boots, wondering if she could really move around that easily in the Mail. Even though it hadn't looked bulky when it was on display, wearing it was another story. "Anyway, Dauston's ok. The Academy is sort of off on its own with other training places, getting into a city takes a while even on a shuttle. You know the beach on Yokolit? That's what the cities are all like, people everywhere you look. It's not as hot though, at least."
"Really? Must be relaxing..." Alexei Put on the arms and gauntlets. "Alright, this is enough to get you familiar with the movement, we'll put on the helmet later. Roxy looked quite odd with her small, girlish, pig-tailed head peeking out of an intimidating, if not necessarily bulky suit of armor. Alexei shrugged and walked over to the monitor and pressed a button. The high-pitched whir could be heard from the mail. Alexei stood back. "Alright, go ahead and try to stand up."
edited 5th Feb '11 5:43:46 AM by lockonlockon
TVTropes Nuzlocke Thread. - Arceus Help Us All.— Natalie Romelia —
The Commander was sitting the meeting room, waiting for both Commander Hobbes and the Lovesant representatives to arrive.
Fear the Gothilolions! | Anime listRoxy blinked down at the armor as the whirring noise began. This was military equipment, she reminded herself. It could be dangerous, and was probably expensive too. She craned her neck, looking back towards the Firefly. She needed to be careful, that was four sure.
Starting very slowly, she rose up in the suit to a standing position. To her relief the Mail's weight wasn't a problem at all, it reacted immediately to her movements so that it felt almost like an automatic recliner pushing her body up into position. Roxy flexed her fingers, looking down to see the armored digits imitating the movement.
"Hey Alexei, have you ever used one of these yourself?"
"Not really, I prefer to do things the old fashioned way. Try walking."
TVTropes Nuzlocke Thread. - Arceus Help Us All.Roxanne Bishop
"Old fashioned, huh? With an attitude like that, Novagauge would never had made the Firefly," Roxy took a small step forward, and then another. She'd expected it to be like wearing heavy winter boots and instead found herself moving awkwardly only because she was trying to compensate for problems which weren't there. The Mail's interconnected joints moved fluidly, like the muscles of any animal. Only the clanking of each boot as it was placed on the deck indicated she wasn't simply barefoot. Roxy began to move faster, starting a wide circle around Alexei. "In fact, we probably wouldn't have Frames at all if everyone liked to do things the old fashioned way right?" She could sense the unused power the suit offered, and it took a lot of willpower to keep herself from breaking into a run; to see how fast she could really go.
Julia Zalez
"Captain Zalez to Ms. Karamoto, how are the ship's repairs coming?"
edited 5th Feb '11 5:18:40 PM by Satinel
—Karamoto Tsubaki—
"Finishing up hull repairs. We should be flow-safe in thirty seconds. I'll get to work on the frames once we're in."
—Alexei Niktokov—
"I don't oppose progress. I just prefer the way I take on missions to the way I would with the mail. It's all that Praetorian Guard training, really."
TVTropes Nuzlocke Thread. - Arceus Help Us All.Julia Zalez
"Should be flow-safe?" Julia asked warily. "You can have a full minute or more to be certain we arrive intact, before the enemy tries to punch some new holes into the ship."
Roxanne Bishop
Roxy nodded her head. "Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you or anything!"
"Attention everyone," The Captain's voice rang throughout the hanger over the various speakers. "Prepare yourselves for FTL travel. Be aware we'll most likely drop out into a combat situation."
—Karamoto Tsubaki— "Roger that, milady." Tsubaki returned to welding the plating onto the hull of the ship.
—Alexei Niktokov—
"No offense taken." Alexei picked up a round, featureless helmet. A large black visor covered the front of the face. "Lightweight, completely bulletproof. You've got a heads-up-display on the visor." Alexei placed his fingers on a button on the side. "press this twice and hold down to open it." the visor quickly slid up. "Press it once to close it again." The visor slid back down. Alexei placed the helmet on Roxy's head. "A word of warning, be careful with delicate stuff. The mail should only exert a lot of force if it detects sufficient resistance, but you can never be too careful. In short, no high-fives, pats on the back, or impassioned hugs."
Alexei turned to leave. "I'd better get ready. We'll sortie in the heavy shuttle. I'll be back soon."
edited 5th Feb '11 8:50:13 PM by lockonlockon
TVTropes Nuzlocke Thread. - Arceus Help Us All.Colette was in the meantime, preparing for the mission on her room. She had already taken a quick shower and dressed in her military uniform. Now, she was carefully putting on her battle armor. As far as they went this was a light one, it didn't even cover the entirety of her body, just the most important targets, though it's barrier should be able to protect everything that went unarmored. Colette preferred it this way, any heavier and she would start finding her mobility impeded.
Apart from the armor barriers she also carried another, wrist mounted energy shield. It was Fortescue tradition to always carry one with them.
As for her weapons, she had picked up everything she would need on her way to the room. A trusty combat rifle, the standard model of the Centauri, about five grenades, three two stun and two standard ones, a heavy pistol for emergencies and a combat knife for close combat situations.
Colette paused for a moment as she spotted her saber resting on her bed. It was a useless weapon, used merely for ceremonial situations. She did know how to put it to deadly use... but there was no way it could be more practical than any other of the weapons she carried.
And yet...
She couldn't help but pick it up and secure it on her belt. The moment she carried with her she felt more at ease. She figured it would at least be good for her morale, and it wouldn't get in her way much.
"Very well... I'm ready" Colette said, noticing her small pet looking at her from under her bed. The woman smiled looking at the cub and got on her knees to pet at his head "Don't worry, I'll be back soon. Be a good boy and guard the room"
Alexei opened the closet in his quarters. He shoved the clothing out of the way to reveal a suitcase. He picked up the suitcase and laid it on his bed. Turning the wheels on the locks, Alexei unlatched the case. Inside a vest, barely a centimeter thick. The fluid inside would stop bullets, but not heat weaponry, a risk he had to take. Alexei Took off his uniform and put on the vest. He pulled out a multitude of knives, sliding them into pockets on the vest. Alexei picked up a black trenchcoat and put it on. He filled its pockets with a pair of palmtop computers, knives, and an EMP for good measure. Alexei put on his gloves and reached into his pants pocket. From it, he pulled his yo-yo. He threw it once, and laid it in the suitcase. Looking at the white mask attached to the upper half of the suitcase, he shook his head.
This isn't for my Emperor or his country. This is for my sister, and her regiment.
Alexei picked the yo-yo back up and placed it in his pocket. Closing the suitcase and returning it to its place, Alexei walked out of his quarters and made his way to the hangar.
TVTropes Nuzlocke Thread. - Arceus Help Us All.

Julia Zalez
"Stuart, Von Strantz," the captain greeted them, from her position over the communication officer's shoulder. "You should let Niktokov know that command isn't too thrilled with his decision on Persephone." She smiled thinly. "I told them getting the regiment's official commander back would probably be the best way to avoid detours in the future. Speaking of which, it looks like our best bet in backtracking the signal is jumping into the Flow. We have an idea of the general direction, once we're on the same wavelength as the distress call we should be able to pinpoint it."
Roxanne Bishop
Roxy followed Alexei to the hanger, to check on whatever it was he was hoping to find there. She put her hand to her mouth as she spied the collapsed Firefly. In her excitement hearing Lorraine's voice, she hadn't dwelled on how much damage it had actually taken. That sort of thing was always recorded in simulations, but every 'game' started with a fresh version of the frame. She'd been too careless... hopefully the repairs would be easy enough that Novagauge wouldn't find out all the details.