[Nexus] Altaran Irregulars HQ/IAV Sanctuary

[Terumitsu]

[Phone Line in a Boring Office Somewhere]

If Magtok was still on the Council, that might be a thing. But seeing how he had left in a huff when his cave was needing defense was quite another matter. "Fine. Good. Whatever. 293 seconds. Look, I know he's normally up to making a show when he does anything but this isn't normal. He's cut the lines and disabled wireless telecommunication in a small area." What followed were a few streets which were affected. What might lend some credence to the caller, though, is that there indeed would be some kind of blackout of the sort in the area described. "I've hacked into one of his robots and I'm using it as a signal booster here but I don't have the time to say more. He is planning a kidnapping and I can't say I know what or why he's doing this. There is no reason for this. It isn't setting up to anything and I'm starting to be afraid for my job at the very least if this sort of thing continues. He needs to be knocked down a few notches or else I hesitate to think what he might start doing to the rest of us if this clone starts to infect the collective with his ideas. Assuming it hasn't started already."

A few long moments of panting followed by: " 217 seconds." the voice on the other side seemed genuinely panicked although they were at least managing it for the most part.

[Rebonack]

[The Office With the Phone]

"Mhmm. I see. Can you tell me who the target of the alleged kidnapping is, ma'am?" Fred prompts. Just knowing that Magtok is planning on doing Magtok-y things really isn't much to go on.

[The Rec Room]

"Yes, well, it is the common training room," Allomyrina replies as she continues running in place. She's going at a pretty decent clip! "I usually head in here as soon as I'm off duty."

Which might seem a little odd.

One might expect people to want to relax after a hard day's work. But Allo is weird. Weird is kinda par for course amongst most Nexus folks.

But anywho! Running. She doesn't seem short of breath, either.

"You're Balthazar, right?"

[Terumitsu]

[The Office With the Phone And A Very Boring Person]

A scraping noise came over the phone, followed by the sounds of hurried motion. In the background there were sounds of clanking feet and conversation but nothing distinct. "Sorry. Have to stay out of sight. 146 seconds. The name is Vasquez. Not the commander but family of them from the information I have. I think the lack of security around her makes him think that she'll make a good target to use as leverage against the Remnant commander. At least that's what I hope. I think he might try to send a message and I'm not talking about telegraphs and post cards either." More panicked breathing and noises from the other end.

"O-one.. One hundred and... Twelve seconds. What more do you need? I have to go soon if I'm to avoid being caught. Have you seen what he has in his contracts for people who commit treason?!." the voice whispered, shaking but still somehow managing real intensity.

[Rebonack]

[Still on the Phone]

"Mhmm, I see," Fred replies.

He writes a few things down on a note pad. Not that it matters. This call is being recorded after all.

"So a relative of the Commander's. Thank you, that should be sufficient. I'll pass the information along."

Despite his gut feeling that this was a prank call he sends the recording and a short note to the folks in charge of security. And maybe the liaison office for the Remnant as well.

Either would be better equipped to handle this sort of thing.

[Terumitsu]

[Still on the Phone]

The noises in the background were getting slowly louder.. "Thank you. I mean that. I-wha.?" The sound of the microphone being dropped overrode what came immediately after. Still, there was a very scared but distant voice saying; "No. Nonononono. I had 67 seconds left. I had- ..Oh sh-" The characteristic honk of a lasgoose rang clear from the speaker which was followed by a pained shout. What came next was a string of curses over the noise of metal feet and shuffling only to be interrupted by another honk and subsequent scream. Or it would have been a scream if not for the gurgling noise. A moment of quiet before the metal clank of feet came closer and then the noise of the microphone being picked up before the phone would go to that beeping dialtone of a dead line.

That.. Was rather dark for a prank call...

[Inigo Montoya]

[The Rec Room]
"I am, yes."

He sets the weights down, looking at woman curiously.

"How do you know me, if I may ask? I'm still fairly new, and not exactly the most social person."

[Darkcomet]

[Briefing Room-Operation Ascendant Debriefing]

Those not injured over the course of Operation Ascendant are summoned to the debriefing room. Vyrn himself is present, seeing as multiple of those that might be doing this otherwise were involved in the mission.

Those summoned consist of Engineer Cross, the assault force members, and N'alae's team. Balthazar and Hill are sent to the infirmary for treatment, while N'alae is rushed to a specialist hospital away from the base.

"The Emissary and officers Hill and Chedid have been sent for medical attention, and so will not be joining us. However, I am glad to know the mission was a success. We'll begin moving to establish a presence at the base soon, and we've already sent transports to try to get as many of the liberated drones to medical attention as we can. However, there is the matter of what exactly happened there. Major Xanatov?"

"The...rift happened when one of the pilots overloaded one of her craft's power cells to hit the Borg, I think, I'm not a tech expert. She'd been clipped by a wrecked aircraft thrown by some sort of...uh, giant drone, sir. We couldn't reach her after that, but with that thing, I don't know if she's dead or not," Noelle says.

Cross interjects. "Perhaps we should speak to the designer of that technology, sir? He would probably know what to do about that. Speaking of technology, the Borg were not building a ship as the Emissary predicted, but instead something else."

"She panicked when I sent her the feed of it, she didn't ever say why," the Major adds, clearly disturbed. "I think we should scrap it, we don't know what it is or what it might do."

"Cool it, Major. The Emissary will inform us of that once she returns."

"If..."

Vyrn stands up, jolting the table slightly. "That is entirely enough from both of you. Do the rest of you have anything to add? You may speak freely." He looks towards the others. The other pilots from the assault force have little to add. Red, Allo, and Nick, since they're probably present, might have more to say.

[Deathkeeper]

Briefing Room- OA Debriefing

Nick raises a hand. "If I may, Sir, this is all the leavings of an enemy that operated on a nanoscopic level with some of their tech. There's no way to check to ensure that every line of communication to those things has been cut, every drone purified and every probe and nanomachine deactivated. I'd say if anything looks suspicious at all, we torch it."

[The Bushranger]

Briefing Room- OA Debriefing

"I'd have to agree. The game isn't worth the candle." Red looks...unusually serious for once. "Yeah, it does nifty stuff. But it could also kill everyone and take over the base."

Taco carts optional.

[Darkcomet]

[Briefing Room-OA Debriefing]

Noelle raises a hand.

"Major?" Vyrn asks, giving her permission to speak.

"If something went wrong down there, she didn't know everything she thought the Emissary did. We don't have anyone who knows what they're doing with this if she doesn't," she points out.

"An...unfortunate, but fair point. Engineer Cross, do you have any comments to make?"

"What about the drones? If we manage to free some, they might be able to give us some insight into the technology," Cross suggests.

"That is possible, but they may be unreliable. I imagine many are seriously emotionally scarred, and others might not be willing to cooperate. We won't force the matter, considering the lackluster quality our work would be likely to have if we tried that, and the dangers involved. But we will inquire with them and learn what we can. If that is all, you are all dismissed."

[At A Later Time, Spire Medical Lab (Cutscene)]

At this point in time, Emissary N'alae is back on duty, looking no worse for wear, at least on the outside. But something is rather thoroughly amiss, given that the diplomat is in a medical lab at all.

She holds up an odd little device, looking at it in the light. Specifically?

A small rounded triangular electronic pendant.

"<I am sorry about this, but you'll never make it out there. I don't have the ability to make you a fully intelligent being. Maybe if I was an actual expert in this, but I'm not. You're just a creative security program. I can't change that, any more than I can let what is effectively a rogue combat automaton loose.>"

N'alae sets it down on a lab table.

"<Nothing good will come of me just letting you run around with this. Even if you were capable of integrating fully, no one knows how to keep that device working properly. The Nexus is a dangerous place, and we don't know what could happen out there. The moment it was damaged, you would be doomed to lose it, or worse. But there's one way for us to understand it, and maybe even allow you to have such an emitter one day, if you ever develop that far. That is all I can offer you. Transmit back to Trog's Tavern holodeck.>" The little device makes a quiet beep. Under the circumstances, it sounds almost sad.

The Emissary sighs. "<...Only gets harder from here,>" she says, as she pulls off her right glove...revealing some rather obstructive cybernetics remaining from her experience with Borg nanoprobes, visibly running along under the skin, especially the fingers. Borg don't really make them for comfort.

"<Our intelligence reports spoke of some interesting reactions to Borg nanoprobes from this technology. But that was an accident, uncontrolled, and I know I have...more control and awareness of my own than I'd like.>" Why is she saying all of this out loud? Maybe so the cameras record it. Did she get approval for this? Or did she just override everything and not tell Vyrn? Or maybe she's just trying to convince herself of all this more than anything else.

"<...And it is far too powerful an opportunity to ignore.>"

Assimilation tubules extend from her fingers.

She takes a deep breath...

And the security footage in the records later goes black.

[Lost_Deep]

Shooting Range

Headshot, Headshot, Headshot.

Holographic targets are cleanly and simply dealt with. The robot responsible, having decided that was enough, turns off the program and puts the rifle back in it's assigned spot. He then picks up the next one in the rack, and takes it to the range. He shoots a near target, a medium range target, a far target. He tries some things, he reloads, he aims for the midsection now, the legs now, the hands now. Extreme range, point blank range, kneeling, prone, from cover, at a target behind cover, etc.

Then he has a line of targets made, and cleanly and simply deals with them.
Headshot, Headshot, Headshot.

HK-51-585 likes guns. Specifically, how they can kill people. He's getting to know the guns that the Irregulars use. Every singe one of them, one by one. That way, when the time comes, he can kill with any one of them.

[The Bushranger]

[Briefing Room-OA Debriefing]

Noelle raises a hand.

"Major?" Vyrn asks, giving her permission to speak.

"If something went wrong down there, she didn't know everything she thought the Emissary did. We don't have anyone who knows what they're doing with this if she doesn't," she points out.

"An...unfortunate, but fair point. Engineer Cross, do you have any comments to make?"

"What about the drones? If we manage to free some, they might be able to give us some insight into the technology," Cross suggests.

"That is possible, but they may be unreliable. I imagine many are seriously emotionally scarred, and others might not be willing to cooperate. We won't force the matter, considering the lackluster quality our work would be likely to have if we tried that, and the dangers involved. But we will inquire with them and learn what we can. If that is all, you are all dismissed."

As the others file out, Red remains behind, paitently waiting for a moment of the Commander's time.

[Darkcomet]

[Briefing Room-OA Debriefing]

As Red stays, he gets no words out of Vyrn. Just a raised eyebrow and a general expectation that he should speak.

[Shooting Range]

"Hey, that's a new one on me. Don't see too many of you 'round here," says somebody as he enters. Looks to be Officer Hill, who takes up a blaster pistol and starts with his own targets. Obviously, he doesn't have the computerized accuracy of an assassin droid, but he's fairly competent all the same.

Still, there's a reason he's more of a shotgun guy. He could be better.

Especially as his aim seems a little thrown off by something. Probably the injuries from Operation Ascendant or something.

[The Bushranger]

[Briefing Room - OA Debriefing]

"I'd heard that Emissary N'alae was badly injured in the assault, Sir," Red begins after little preamble. "I just wanted to hear if she was recovering alright."

[Darkcomet]

[Briefing Room-OA Debriefing]

"In a manner of speaking, yes, she was. But I expect she will recover. I'm mildly surprised to hear you concerned about the Emissary, considering the circumstances of your recruitment," Vyrn observes. "Regardless, her dying is highly unlikely. She was sent to another medical facility due to the...exotic nature of what happened." Red can probably guess what that means.

"I would be more concerned about her mental well-being than the physical, after this."

And if he couldn't, that was probably another major hint.

[The Bushranger]

[Briefing Room - OA Debriefing]

Red shrugs a bit. "Hey, as much as we're all howlin' mad psychos around here, sir, I like to think I have some human decency left." he pauses. "Besides, if something happened to her, who would I have to tease about being a logical space elf?"

For a moment, there's that infuriating grin.

"Thanks for that, sir. I should probably get back to overseeing repairs on the robot, by your leave."

[Lost_Deep]

Shooting Range

"Rhetorical Question: Come now, so many new guns, and I'm just going to assume I can use them all? Statement: Especially the variety of slugthrowers. Bullet-based guns, whatever the proper term is." 565 comments casually. "Statement: Not to mention the wide, wide variety of other weapons. I need to know how to shoot anything, so that if I am handed a weapon, I can kill with it."

He goes and puts that gun back. "Statement: Even if they have abominate amounts of kickback and projectile drop. Statement: I like that the wounds aren't self-cauterizing, though. I'm betting that's entertaining with live targets."

[Darkcomet]

[Briefing Room-OA Debriefing]

Vyrn doesn't comment on the joke. It may or may not have gone completely over his head. "It goes without saying, of course, that officially her current condition is the result of a simple illness. But yes, I believe you should be doing that."

Whee, giant robot repairs.

[Shooting Range]

"That and some things seem better-prepared for one thing or the other. We tend to prefer the energy weapons around here, but the number of different things around means we need to keep a lot of different guns around. Me, I'm more of an 'impractically heavy shotgun' kind of guy, since bone-snapping recoil doesn't bother me as much as it does most people," Hill replies. Pew pew. "Also tends to work well as a bludgeon."

[The Bushranger]

[Briefing Room-OA Debriefing]

Red nods, salutes, and turns sharply to head out to do just that.

[Lost_Deep]

Shooting Range

"Statement: I am looking forward to the shotguns for a similar reason, yes."

He begins his firing regimen with the next weapon. He will happily do this in silence for a bit, giving Hill a chance to direct the conversation.

[Darkcomet]

[Shooting Range]

"Works with sniper rifles too, but that's not exactly my specialty. You should look into the anti-materiels, though. Might even get to use them on a humanoid target, gods know there's plenty of hyperdurables out there," Hill says, mostly because he is one of them. "Might not want to fire those inside though."

Pew pew.

[Lost_Deep]

Shooting Range

"Statement: I've heard the horror stories. I'm saving those for last." He says it with relish. He's looking forward to those, yes sir. He's looking forward to those.

[Darkcomet]

[Shooting Range]

"They've got what's basically sniper laser cannons, if you're feeling particularly unsubtle. After that the precision starts breaking down and you get sustained-beam sweeper cannons. Those are...well, yeah." Pewpew. "Heaviest I've used is this big heavy assault blaster, just point that thing at something and hold down the trigger 'till it's dead."

[Later: Spire and Sanctuary-General]

Two announcements go out.

At the Spire, Officers Nick Richards, Allomyrina, Balthazar Chedid, and Doern Hill, Asset Raymond Russel, and Emissary N'alae are ordered to report to the Conference Room.

On Sanctuary, Airman/Engineer Blu Skreen (the idea being that this happens after the current Outside scene), Major Noelle Xanatov, Chief Engineer Anthony Cross, and the other Operation Ascendant pilots are ordered to report to a transport for transit to the Spire, where they too are to report to the Conference Room.

[Deathkeeper]

Spire Conference Room

Nick arrives promptly and without delays, in his non-combat uniform which he still really wishes he could swap for his old coat. Eh, at least he can laugh that even his superiors call him Nick.

[The Bushranger]

[Spire Conference Room]

Red, wearing his usual cocksure and completely annoying grin, steps into the conference room next. His hands still greasy from robot repair work, as he wipes them annoyedly on a towel that he then tosses away.

[Lost_Deep]

Shooting Range

"Statement: I will be the last one to deny the joy in heavy weaponry, but there is a certain point where skill becomes a non-issue. I can see such weapons being nice on occasion, but do not believe that they would fit me in the long term." He begins scoring headshots again. "Even shotguns require a certain amount of finesse for maximum damage. And the idea of sniper cannons... well, in situations where subtlety is a non-issue, I can imagine those to be quite useful."

[UncleWolf]

Transport

Blu reports as ordered, wearing her uniform and much worn hat. Those who know her even moderately well will have noticed she's somewhat distant compared to how she normally is and appears to be quite skittish. Of course, with a known subjective time of 8 months of dimensional travel, it's rather understandable.

[Darkcomet]

[Spire Conference Room]

Okay, that's entirely enough waiting. I will assume everyone is here and post anyway, and anyone who missed this can post as if they were here.

Vyrn himself is present in the room, and once everyone arrives, he stands and speaks. Strangely, he is holding a long black case of some sort.

"I am sure all of you have noticed by now that you are all the participants of Operation Ascendant, and all that implies. I will let the Emissary explain."

"The structure the Borg were building at the base was a transwarp gateway that would have allowed a full-scale invasion. It was not large enough for use by full-scale Borg ships, but their smaller vessels would have been able to use it easily. We averted a massive invasion that I doubt anyone was prepared for. The amount of damage the Borg could do with even a fraction of the Nexus's potential assimilated is..." N'alae shakes her head. "Incomprehensible."

"Therefore, it is my honor to present you all with these," Vyrn says, as he opens the case. This reveals a number of medals, most gold and bearing the image of a spiral galaxy, one of those for each participant in Operation Ascendant. Then there are are four others, silver and with the image of a bird wreathed in flames flying upward. A phoenix, most likely.

"All of you have earned the Golden Realm for your service against an apocalypse level threat," Vyrn orders, and if everyone's cooperating, he will personally pin the medals on them. Then he gets to the other ones. "And for those injured in the line of this service, I present you with the Ascendant Phoenix." These ones go to Hill, Balthazar, and Blu first, before he reaches N'alae. "Of course, due to the secrecy of certain aspects of the operation, you know you cannot wear this publicly. But it is yours to have."

N'alae takes it regardless. "Of course." She sounds like the situation isn't new to her, oddly enough.

"...But for all else, wear these with pride, for you have earned them."

The observant, through it all, might notice that Vyrn himself appears to sport the Golden Realm on his ever-fancy uniform.

[Shooting Range]

"Personally, I want to see if they come out with some shotgun-type energy weapon, just for the hell of it. Think I'd miss the kick, though." Pewpewpew. "Might as well use this skeletal structure of mine."

[Another Time-Backup Airfield]

Surgeon Squadron, a group of EvAV-2 transports, arrives and deposits a retrieved mech in the area. Soon followed is a team of engineers and medics rushing up to it, followed by the ever-present Emissary N'alae. First off, they'll mostly be scanning the thing for lifesigns and any way to get someone out of it, with suitable scanners available.

Even N'alae gets in on that one, though curiously, she seems to be focusing on figuring out if there's room for two in the cockpit for whatever reason. Weird. She's probably planning some trick or something.

[Halae]

[Backup Airfield]

There is indeed signs of life within the craft, a single pilot in the chest cavity. Apparently unconscious, if they can tell such things. Unfortunately, there's only room for a single pilot in the cockpit. The core opens at the back when it has power - but without power, it's just one big hunk of well constructed metal. The only thing going is life support, at the moment, but that'll run out eventually. They need to get power to this thing to get the pilot out.

[Darkcomet]

[Backup Airfield]

"Get some of the gunship power cells and rig them to this thing!" N'alae orders, probably figuring they can fix any jury-rigging damage later.

The engineers will be trying to rig said power cell to the mech from the outside, which is, naturally, a bit difficult. Then they'll start trying to transfer charge to it to get anything moving, even slightly, so they can get the pilot out.

Which, of course, they will do, if they can.