[RP]Cydonia Rising [IC]

[sunphoenix]

[Enough! I am not sure what other little tricks you can do. But if dealing with the Umiak would't be a problem, I bet this war would have been over long ago.]

Sonni replies to Captain Blake, "Not to put too fine a point on this matter Captain Blaa'k, but most of my other 'tricks' are quite lethal... I need you to understand what you may be dealing with if you engage a hostile Loroi. As for... The Enemy, they outnumber the Loroi Union 10 to 1, without their numerical advantage we would have won this war long ago! That, and the fact that the Umiak - their 'resource reclamation' policies on colonized... Conquered worlds are destructive to those same worlds... as it was destructive to their distant now DEAD homeworld! They are willing to strip a world of it resources and pollute the environment until it can no longer sustain their life then they move on to another and do it all over again. The Loroi Union is not willing to destroy a world to utilize it wastefully... as such the industrial production of the Hegemony out produces the Loroi Union by a large degree... to the detriment of its client worlds. The Loroi are unwilling to practice such wasteful, short-sighted policies."

[Its... very "touching"... that you think of our well being. But we are trained for this and you will need assistance from us, because if you blow up the wrong parts of the station, we are stuck here. Without fuel, Cydonia will go nowhere. We have no clue what exactly is or was going on over there, so we need infos and data that are maybe still stored in the stations computers and there might be human survivors. Finally: the Commander has a point: It is _our_ station and I don't intend of leaving it in the enemies hands with whatever might be still aboard.]

Sonni smiles, "...you may have some small concept but I do not think you completely understand. Humaniti is unique in all the species we have encountered. You are the ONLY Species that the Loroi Union has Ever encountered, in ALL of known space, through ALL our long history that looks and is physiologically so VERY similar to our species. The chances of such a thing happening at random, as our Doranzer caste point out, are... astronomical! There is much of pre-Loroi history that is a lost to us and remains a mystery. Your species origin may, in fact, no... must have some common link to the Loroi! The topic is hotly debated by those of Torrai Command but, yes. YOU... as a Species are PRECIOUS to us... you may have clues in your genesis to our own history and origins shrouded in the mists of time! You may be family, we the Loroi may not be alone in the universe as Children and direct inheritors of the Soia-Liron. Some would call that an almost... religious revelation...!"

"But to clarify... I did not mean to suggest that ONLY Loroi assault the station... that would fail directly! I am the only Teidar survivor of our crewsisters and we have only a handful of Soroin left to us.. hardly enough to assault an entire crew of The Enemy in direct open combat even the... reduced crew of an Enemy scout ship! But I did mean that we should be left to handling the Loroi prisoner for your safety... though I understand your desire to have a observer on said rescue attempt. You know your station better than any of us could possibly. It would seem a two pronged attack would be best. One to sweep your station of the enemy and the other to infiltrate the crippled Umiak scout ship... which we are far more familiar with! As for the prisoner I can find them - scan for their mind, my range is ... about 1 of your kilometers in range, but I expect stiff opposition. The enemy know how vulnerable they are and the advantage their prisoner yields to them!"

[ P46 ]

[Hālian]

12

Sonnidezi's display of psycho- and electrokinetic power causes Malidasaria to suddenly be pulled away from the Nothing, awakening in a cold sweat in the barracks... and banging her head on the upper bunk. Back to sleep, Thoughtvenom!

[Charlie]

Post number: 35

{Well, at least the captain isn`t going o destroy the station right off the bat so thats good, and, I guess he has a open mind for the combined ops. It`s going to be tough going in there. Boarding ops are always risky. And those reports? I've never heard of them. But if it is AM why would it look like that Aurora. I don`t know anything, I guess.}

Charlie looked back to Sonni, she was looking at him. She seemed to be looking right through him, studying something, maybe him. She turned her piercing gaze back on to the display.

She stepped past a little Charlie, there was a momentary point of contact between them two, at the shoulder. It was brief but meaningful, it clearly meant something important. Charlie wasn`t sure what, however, it definitely had meaning in the conversation.

{Is she angry at me? I don`t understand. Is it because I know some things, about them? Does she want to tell me something?}

Charlie carefully listened to Sonni. The comment about Noel left a tinge of guilt, Charlie still wondered if he had warned the Captain or Command of the real extent of the Loroi`s Psy power things might have been different for Noel. Charlie also found it strange that the Loroi that got mind blasted was already wounded.

Charlie didn`t see but Sonni`s hand had moved closer to his own. It was hidden behind her back, so it was an invisible maneuver. Still, Charlie didn`t notice it until she had his hand in hers. It was difficult to feel anything in armor, still the gloves are the thinnest point in the armor. He felt clearly the squeeze she gave his hand. It amazed Charlie the such a gentle contact could make him so tight. He felt his throat tighten, his heart beat faster, his pupils dilate, even inside his armor his skin got cold. Whatever it made him feel, it was a sigh of her trust, it was pleasant.

She released her grip and moved forward somewhat. She started to speak again. But hearing her speak started him thinking.
{Huh, weather she knows or not, by saying that I have some knowledge about their abilities has put me on the Commanders Radar. I swear I can see him now, questioning how I got this intel... questioning my loyalty. Still, I don`t mind, I'm happy she trusts me enough to help. Still, I'm not imagining the Commander watching me... at least, I hope I am.}

Sonni pointed at one of the Marine`s on the bridge, a Corporal by the look of it, just a regular guardsman. But when she pointed to him, she must have used her telekinesis. The holster came undone and the handgun rose into the air not far from the poor Corporal. The mag slide out, as if of it`s own free will, and floated near the pistol. Charlie turned to look at Sonni, he saw the tiny sparks fly around her pretty hair. The sparks grew a little in strength. Moreover, he could smell faint trances of ozone, the kind of smell you get back on Earth if you were close to were a fresh lighting strike had been.

Suddenly her voice became transmitting in all of the speakers in the room.

[THERE ARE MANY WAYS OUR ABILITIES MAY BE USED TO ATTACK OR INCAPACITATE.]

She was floating herself now, not high, less than an inch.
{Never one for subtle displays?}
Charlie may have though it an imprudent thing to do considering a lot of people were on edge, but, he found it a pretty thing to watch, as usual. It bothered him less and less every time he saw it. It wasn`t so scary now, just something beautiful.
{The Commander already thinks I'm hiding something, this will clinch it. Still, why I am I so impressed?}

Sonni held the bridge silent even after she had sent the handgun to a console top. The poor Corporal didn`t dare approach it, hardly any human breathed.

Her rather dark and foreboding statement about human casualties hit home. There were going to be fatalities, even with a perfect mission, there were going to be bodies on that station.

It seemed like there was only two things in this life that made Charlie crack under pressure, Teidar Stormrage and Officers shouting. The Captain silenced everything with a tone hard enough to cut diamond. Regardless, it was good to hear that he at least was considering a rescue. {We will have to grab the stations fuel stocks anyway, it should be to hard to pick up survivors, right?}

[Sergent Aldridge, I wan't you to select a Team of Marines to aid the Loroi, if our friends are ok with that.]

[It's your call sir. Who will lead a away team? Perhaps it would be good to take combat engineer along. Someone with both combat skills and electronic warfare knowledge. We may be needed to hack station's systems. It's high possible that general 'lock down' procedure have been issued.]

"Yes, sir, it won`t be a problem. But, ah, sir. The Commander is right. I am the only certified Mac and Systems Tech among the Marines, yet, I am only certed on ground AFVs and extremely small hopper shuttles. And my Systems Tech certs are all for commercial grade private stuff, not anything close to military hardware."
Turning to Commander Ferox, Charlie had a list of the people in his head whom the Commander might recommend.
Time to see who it would be.
"Sir, if I might be so bold, does the Commander have any suggestions?"

Charlie looked to the ceiling thinking on what Sonni had said.
{Sonni might not know this, but, the Orgus gave a good account of what the Umiak did to worlds they own, everyone in the TCA knew.}

Charlie looked back to Sonni, not long enough to attract to much attention. But he cared enough to look.
{I know what is precious to me.}

Charlie turned to Captain waiting for an opening wheren he looked the least busy.
"Pardon my interruption sir, but I concur with Teidar Stormrage. A spilt attack would let us hit them from two fronts with high speed and flexibility, the only risk would be that the forces would not be able to assist each other. If one group ran into stiff opposition the other would not be able to move to help swiftly. That being said, should you deem it necessary to do so, I would more than be willing to accompany the Loroi strike force."

Charlie could say as many things as he liked, but in the end the decision rested out of his hands. He was a lowly Sergeant, technically an Ensign was a higher rank. Worse still, he was a very inexperienced Sergeant. Charlie had been a Corporal when he left the SANDF Armored Core. This along with his higher than average education levels had been what got him the Sergeant billet in such an incredibly short time. The real power and experience in the Marines on board lay with the Staff Sergeant.

[Suederwind]

[OOC: more will follow today.]

At the Loroi crew quarters:

Thoughtvenom felt a cold touch on her forehead, that got stronger over time, till she woke up. She looked into the eyes of a young Soroin Paset that hold one of those human ice packs on the bump on her forehead.

{Thoughtvenom, are you feeling well? You have been asked to visit the command deck of this ship. A human escort is waiting for you outside of this room.}

[Hālian]

13

Malidasaria takes the icepack and keeps it pressed against her head.

«Very well, Paset.»

And she gets up and walks out of the room.

[Suederwind]

[OOC: Ok, here we go again...]

On Cydonias bridge:

The Captain looked around and was thinking about a way to solve this problem. This mission had to be a success and there was not much time to lose. He listened carefully what all Human and Loroi officers had to say.

["Tei-dar" Stormrage, its nice that you give us some insight about Loroi ecological policies. Your "tricks" might be leathal, but you said it yourself: they have superiority in numbers. But that might not the case here. We have no clue how many of the Umiak are still alive and what they did to this station. Thats another thing we need to find out.
I am not sure what or who a Soia-Liron might be. But you don't need to be afraid, we are able to defend us and from the rest of what you said, I think we should discuss how we should attack the station further. As you clearly understand: we need a solid plan.]

Parat Twilightsaber looked at Stormrage and added:
[I am not so sure that finding this prisoner might be so easy, Teidar Sezon Stormrage. As far as I can tell, this prisoner is fraid and tries to shild himself from us. Thats why we can't sense him now. This might change if you are closer, but there is no guarantee for that.]

Then the door to the bridge opend and Corporal Whitehead lead in another Loroi officer, who had a clearly visible bump on her forehead and was cooling it with an ice pack. Twilightsaber looked over to her and said:

[Thoughtvenom? Are you feeling better? We have already started, as you can see.]

Meanwhile Captain Blake looked at Commander Ferox and answered:
[The best would be a Loroi and a Human leader of that away team, if we stick to the idea of attacking on two points at once. They will need someone with engineering and computer skills... I know this is against the protocol, would you like to join the mission? Your skills might be better needed over there.]

He paused and added:

[Now that we are finally complete, let us come back to the topic: I think we should follow Nelopaios idea of a parabolic course to the station. This course will buy us some time and we will not be detected so easily. Judging from that navigational data it will take us about 3 days to get there. If Cydonia stays in that "blind spot" and launch a shuttle that keeps its energy signature down, they might just think the shuttle is one of the numerous asteroids in that system. This could be a way to get there undetected. What do you think? In those 3 days, the designated away team should train togehter. Are you fine with that Mallas Nelopaio?]

[Hālian]

14

Then the door to the bridge opend and Corporal Whitehead lead in another Loroi officer, who had a clearly visible bump on her forehead and was cooling it with an ice pack. Twilightsaber looked over to her and said:

[Thoughtvenom? Are you feeling better? We have already started, as you can see.]

"I am, Parat."

[Senanthes]

Nelopaio continues to watch the situation unfold, in much the same manner as a cannonball on a trampoline in her mind. Closing her eyes a moment, she seems to be thinking, in reality her sanzai reaching out...

SpoilerShow

Her minds voice is weary, an officer heavily affected by fatigue, yet unmoved, {Has it occurred to you that, both times now that I've needed to trust you, you've gone freelancing? Both times in the shuttle, comedically enough... That each time I move to support you, I can't be sure of what I'm supporting? That moments like this make me wonder what you're going to do when we're at a critical moment?

Have you considered what may well have happened had your plan succeeded? That a shuttle would have been nothing but a footnote for an Umiak scout ship? That the enemy doesn't take prisoners? Did that slip your mind in whatever fantasy you were having? Oh yes... I'm VERY well aware of how vulnerable we were, Sonidezzi... I'm a naval officer, remember? I am also aware that, in the vastness of this region, clouded with stellar flotsam, we were well hidden until repairs could be made. Until that 'distress call' went out. They would have tracked your course by the signature of your own drives. By the signature of the reaction mass expended, and they would have destroyed this ship as well. You acted without foresight, and now feel the need to defend what would otherwise have been a passing humor to me at this point, something I was, until this moment, willing to call 'creative oversight' and let pass, which speaks volumes to me.

What were you going to do? Board the ship yourself? Ram the shuttle into it? Destroy it with weapons you didn't have? I've been you. I was Tiedar before a hole in my head rendered it otherwise. I know what we can do. And I know what THEY can do. You would have died, pointlessly, and we'd be out your abilities, a sister short, and that much less likely to succeed now... Not to mention your male companions life lost as well, which clearly is not insignificant to you. THAT... Most Loroi would call fraternizing with a potential foe. Personally, I don't care. Fine, you've found a male, as ridiculous as the situation seems, good, I'm happy for you...

On that note, have you thought about what lies ahead? We will be returning to the Union at some point. What will you tell him then? I don't know if you've heard the old stories, but they don't end well for a reason, Sonidezzi.

If you wish to blame me for supposedly acting contrary to efforts you don't bother to appraise me of Teidar, go ahead. In the end, whatever you do, regardless of why, reflects on me, and moreso, on the mission. I'm tired of attempting to guess which way you'll fall in any given minute... Thus far, I feel as if I've been treading water, and right when I thought an island appeared, I realized I had an anchor around my legs. I'll manage the weight, alone if that's how it must be, even if it drown's me.

As for more practical matters, yes, I'm quite aware that this Hadrid despises us. Fine. Let him. Anger clouds judgement. He'll show his own motivations easily enough. And it won't affect our efforts to either rescue or neutralize the prisoner, and deny the enemy their information. If it takes setting off the engine core of that ship by hand, I'll do it myself if needs be, to make sure it's DONE.} she sends, the entirety of her sanzai in such a neutral note that it's impossible to tell what the emotional overtones are... Save for the last word, which blasts out like a cannon going off, in such vehemence that it would have shaken the ship were it a shout, despite her damaged sanzai. The emotions there are unmistakable... Deadpan resolve, and forlorn determination. It's a sudden sense of distance at the end, setting her apart from her erstwhile sister-in-arms, whom she isn't sure she can trust...

Outwardly, the only thing she says as she opens her amethyst eyes, giving no evidence of her inner disquiet in her stoic expression is "I agree, Captain Black." Seeing Thoughvenom, her expression softens, and she offers a respectful bow of her head, "I'm glad to see you're alright after all."

[sunphoenix]

Sonnidezzi nods in agreement, "Yes... sadly we are seemingly always outnumbered against the Enemy... one Teider life is small.. but acutely felt in this situation - as I'm the only one that survived our crew. The Soia-Liron were the long gone race of progenators of our and apparently many other species that once controlled a Vast empire of space long before the Loroi had achieve spaceflight. They had technology and devices that were FAR in advance of our current day technology. The Soia also introduced a variety of alien organisms to many worlds in the local region. These species share a common biochemistry, though there is some evidence that many or most of them have been genetically engineered. All they left behind were ruined sites of their long gone civilization. The evidence remaining at these ancient Soia-era sites is very sketchy, as these sites suffered the worst of the catastrophes that marked the end of the period and the fall of the Soia dominion; Most useful evidence comes not from these sites of Soia-Liron habitation, but rather from the ancient settlements of the native subject races of the Soia. Only about half of these known Soia-Liron races appear to have survived the fall: the Loroi, Barsam and Neridi civilizations that exist today are directly descended from their Soia-era counterparts. We do not know exactly what caused their great empire to collapse but collapse it did."

Responding to Twilightsaber her voice somewhat... embarrassed, "Yes, my Mizol... that is a concern. Telepathic combat is not... my personal forte. but I will do my best."

On Thoughtvenom's arrival Sonni brightens smiling warmly that at least one crew sister's life has been saved but makes no comment only nodding a greeting in her arrival upon the bridge.

Listening to Captain Blake's proposal Stormrage takes it in stride replying,"That seems tactically sound and achievable. Does the Cydonia have two shuttles for use or will the Cydonia be attempting a more obvious, and I'll point out dangerous, boarding action of the northern dock facilities of the station? It is your decision of course Captain Blaa'k, but I would suggest the Cydonia keep a safe distance away for the station until it is secured but our twin assault teams."

The expression on Sonni's face turns suddenly agitated and ...one might think exasperated but it is not from anything spoken or done on the bridge.

Hide her fiery passionate emotions is also not Stormrage's forte either as she receives a sanzai message... pointedly she does not shift her gaze to the sender but responds with her own telepathic response.

SpoilerShow

"You seem to discount... that everytime you have trusted me I have not failed you either, nor made a mess of things nor placed the Argent fire Crew in a worse situation. I have always acted yes BOLDLY, but with deliberation and forethought."

"Did you ponder Why I was the one piloting the shuttle? Because all our Tenion are Dead! They died with the Argent Fire in battle. I was the only one who could pilot the shuttle reasonably well not to kill us all in the debris field. No other crewsister could do it well enough for it not to be a unwarranted gamble."

"YES I did consider precisely what would happen if that scout ship was functional and could still operate. Our 'littel' skiff is NOT a military vehicle its a convenience shuttle. It has NO serious passive sensors... any scan with it would have to be an active scan. If that Umiak scout ship was operable you know very well an active scan would be detected... we do not possess the Umiak ECM technical expertise as we rely on our farseers... perhaps too much. Anyone who did a scan from that shuttle was going to attract attention... it's a scout ship they are built to find just such active emissions."

"What would you have had me do? Send another sister who cannot pilot the shuttle to certain death? She would not even have a chance!"

"I knew if I did this I would attract a un-crippled Umiak scout right too us... but I also knew we needed that telemetry and the longer we were without it the more untennable our success would become. So I managed the threat... I moved the shuttle away and scanned far away from the Cydonia, establishing an undetectable transmission line with the Laser comm so as not to give away the Cydonia's position."

"But then what? Wait for my inevitable doom? I could not outrun a Umiak scout ship in a skiff... I could not avoid it long either? What would you have had me do? Self-destruct or wait for death?"

"And STILL the enemy has one of our people and is using them to find us! I chose to accept that and do something about it... If I could give them reason to not destroy the skiff immediately but give them logical cause to search for some hidden intel about other Loroi vessels in the area... hence my transmission ruse to draw them close. I know the Enemy does not take prisoners... but THIS scout ship apparently did for they have one of our telepaths imprisoned onboard!"

"What would you have had me do? Ignore that fact and let us lead the Umiak back to humaniti inhabited worlds?"

"I chose to act! No, I had no intention of 'attacking with weapons I do not have' and no you very well know detonating the skiff against a Umiak ship is futility in the extreme.. the Enemy armor their ships so densely it would be a pointless suicide!"

"I depowered the shuttle's power plant to cold so I could not even detonate it even if I wanted to... the Enemy sensors would pick that up - a powered up plant would have warned them of just such a possibility anyways. Yes! I broke a directive... I showed Charlie the power up sequence so he could repower the shuttle and the basics of its piloting and navigation systems. My plan was to hide in the landing gear bays outside of the skiff and either wait for the Umiak to bring it onboard unpowered to further investigate it or sneak onboard when they were close enough... you know I can open any electrically powered door with but a thought. My purpose was with Charlie to storm the ship.. as with it being a scout ship it should not have many Hardtroopers... and most of the crew should be space drones use only to micro-gravity. It was a totally illogical and totally crazy thing to attempt as it would be the VERY last thing the Enemy would expect! Which is Why it might have worked! My goal, rescue... or kill the Loroi captive and while I cripple the scout ship with my powers Charlie takes the prisoner to the shuttle and powers it up for us to make our escape."

"Yes, a lot of ifs. But the only workable plan that might result in someone, anyone... surviving an active scan of a star system being scouted by Umiak scout ships. What would you have had me do? Risk two sisters in this and not one? Who else could have done it instead of me? Anyone less skilled or trained it would have been a death sentence even if they chose not to try to board the Umiak vessel!"

"I understand your frustration... and I'm sorry that I seem to be acting of my own... its not my intention - the situation developed so quickly action was needed and the humans are keeping us all apart watching our every move. But you should trust me... I have all your interests in mind. 'Great things are demanded of those with great capabilities'... its the one thing I take of value from something my mother said to me. She also followed it up with '...its fortunate no such potential lies with you Sonnidezi'. Everyday I live, I act to PROVE HER WRONG!"

"Yes this might have abjectly failed IF I had to implement it and, it Certainly would have failed if two Umiak scout ships responded! But I had the option, once I got a clear scan of the system, to attack the station and crippled Umiak scout ship on my own... but I reasoned it was not that desperate a situation anymore. Such patiently extreme measures were no longer justified... and success would be improved with more forces to work with AND more diplomatic to include the humans in any operation to assault their station. I can act with discretion when its appropriate."

"You should believe in me... you wound my heart with you lack of faith! Should I have further burdened you with the knowledge of what I determined would be the risk, the potential cost of success and forced you to make a decision as to who would be sent to likely die? I choose myself! I'll not fail you or leave you at a disadvantage. My life is as always forfeit in the service of my sisters...! I'm not afraid to spent it when no other acceptable options are available. Believe in me crewsister..."

[ P47 ]

[Beliskner]

[The best would be a Loroi and a Human leader of that away team, if we stick to the idea of attacking on two points at once. They will need someone with engineering and computer skills... I know this is against the protocol, would you like to join the mission? Your skills might be better needed over there.]

[If you insist sir.]

[Senanthes]

Observing the conversation between Captain Black and Commander Hadrid, Nelopaio remains steadfastly focused on that, rather than the telepathic exchange with Sonnidezi... Her reply comes after a moment...

SpoilerShow

{Yes, Sonnidezi, you should have burdened me. That's what I'm for. It's neither a matter of control nor desire for said burden... But practicality. There is always the possibility that I know something in the larger picture of which you are not aware. Just as you may know something I am not aware of. I've no issues with your initiative... I take exception to the fact that you do so as if you alone have the burden to determine the risks taken in the name of everyone around you without even so much as communicating that you're doing so with someone who shares that burden, regardless of weather or not you recognize that fact. As for your personal issues with your mother, Sonnidezi... I wish I could do something to ease that... Perhaps in time, if we're still on speaking terms.}

{Why do I feel pressed to trust you?... It's not your lack of success, nor the fact that you act on your own...} she replies, her sanzai retaining that absolute, stoic calm, almost eerily so, for the moment, then slowly changing it's pitch to something else, indistinct at first, but there...

{It's because I can't be sure that you're fully aware of the larger picture, just as I can't be sure of what the larger picture is when you act without 'burdening' me. I take exception to that because like you, I've all our sisters lives to consider, including yours, and in being potentially cut out of vital information, I may make a VERY wrong decision, that something I don't know could have prevented.}

{And closing the matter with the shuttle... Now and forever. If it does you any good, I'd have said 'do it' under the circumstances. But I also would have been able to advise the Cydonia to change position as soon as possible to avoid your trajectory being backtracked, and devised means for you to rejoin us after, regardless... Instead, I was uselessly prodding Thoughtvenoms mind as she lay insensate on the deck, unaware that I could have been doing something necessary after summoning the Doranzer. You claim understanding... Very well. Put yourself in my place, Sonnidezi, set emotion aside, and tell me that you really DO understand why we're having this conversation.} she sends, the carefully flowing, open thoughts coming in as a contrast to the hotly emotional persona on the other end... Unnoticed by the bridge crew, she moves her hand out, subtly, the back of it touching Sonni's, opening a level of communion that her injury otherwise renders impossible. Beneath the 'static' of her damaged sanzai, clearly pushed aside with great effort, there is a certain appeal there, direct and unmistakable... The desire to extend faith is there, almost desperately so under the combined pressure of current events, and the frustration of trying to communicate her mind through a voice that doesn't work right... Yet held in check by a need bordering on obsession... A need to act in the best interest of those around her, regardless of the cost to herself. The damage to Nelopaio isn't just physical, the scars on her psyche, hidden by a mellow, sometimes reserved facade, are bared, just for an instant in the exchange, strong enough to nearly be touched, in the only means she has to fully impart the entirety of it all to Sonni...

[sunphoenix]

Stormrage feels the undercurrent of Sun Blooms static-filled sanzai... but also the presence of all her sisters listening perhaps not to the direct exchange but the emotional content of the rapport... and the sanzai emotions of her remaining crewsisters assail her mind...

SpoilerShow

Images surface in her mind of all the events of the past few days... the desparate battle with the Enemy Scout vessel, the loss of crewsisters as they died in battle... the overwhelming despair at the loss of Argent Fire...

More images surface of Stormrage's own actions... her finding the grievously wounded and dying Mizol 'Redsong' accompanied with the dual emotional pain of her fear of her imminent death and the pain of feeling her mind slip away in death. But also the loving attention Stormrage showed her by staying with her and singing her into the great beyond... a song she now realized all her crewsisters heard and felt.

How she braved the ruin of the bridge to save her captain Copper Spear.. and found a way to free her and carry her to saftey in the hanger...

Again Stormrage's confrontation with Twilightsaber on the hanger deck... her staunch unyielding in the face of doom... how her crewsisters felt comfort from her strength as she stood boldly blasting the debris away from their only means of escape... not giving into despair...fighting to the Very end and snatching a chance at continued life from the hands of death. She could feel the emotional relief her sisters felt as she made a way for them to survive and how their hopes soared to see her board the shuttle and pilot them to safety when no one else could.

More images flooded her mind of her organizing the crewsisters onboard the shuttle to prepare for survival followed rapidly by images of her delivering Yellow Sun's beautiful little boy child, 'Amber Eyes'...

All through this her crewsisters have been with her watching her taking courage in her tireless efforts to serve and protect them...
...
... ...
... ... ...

Then Sun Bloom's hand finds her's, touching her ...making everything shamefully clear...

Sun Bloom's thoughts drive home the point... Stormrage's life does not belong to her to expend at her own bidding! The trembling fear and undercurrent of pain & loss in the emotions of her crewsister's communal thoughts makes it clear to Stormrage... allowing herself to die... even if it were heroically necessary would have been an emotional blow to her crewsister's - ALL of them... and especially Sun Bloom for she would have bear the burden of wondering and never truly knowing - right or wrong... if she could have done anything to have made that loss unnecessary.

It is was clear to Sonni... she acted without thinking about how her loss would hurt her crewsisters... she acted not selflessly... but selfishly...

{... It is easy to die for a cause or even a noble purpose... but it takes much more strength & dedication... yes courage to Live for a cause and purpose.}

{Dying is easy... you don't have to face the consequences or deal with the pain of surviving the aftermath... its... selfish.}

{I am ashamed... I did not consider that my Death would hurt you all so terribly much...}

{I'm sorry, Sun Bloom... I should have told you what I intended... it was not right to not inform you. I ...feared you would not let me do ...what I ...felt needed doing... I should have trusted you. Please forgive me...}

{...We Teidar are so often drilled into the belief that we are either invulnerable... or expendable for the glory and triumph of the Loroi peoples... sometimes that...'gloroious death' is more real than the hardship of living...}

{On Maia... my homeworld... there is a shrine memorial center of fallen heroes... there is a fresco in the main lobby of a ancient battle...depicting a Loroi army charging to engage the enemy. It is called "Azure Tears of Deinar" Its ... Very beautiful. To the far left commanding the sisters are depicted three Torrai Coomanders - pointing and directing the army, one of which receiving a newly crafted weapon from a collection of Doranzer caste supporting their efforts. Around them standing near whispering to one of the Torrai Commanders is a Mizol and a few other moving at the fringes of the army... a vast host of armored Sororin armed with shining blades charging past them. With a listel or two with a spyglass taking notes on slates... ostensibly on the enemy formations. A line of mounted and armored Tenion cavalry lead the ground troops - lances gleaming! But all alone a single Teidar leads the charge of the entire army surrounding in a halo of soft green - suspended in flight, clad in golden armor wielding a single warblade in her hand; a warcry on her lips...}

{As a child I ... asked my clan battle instructor... 'why is she all alone?' and she would tell me... 'because the needs of the many supersede the need of the one...' I... guess... I guess... I misunderstood what she meant...}

{ I'll not do such a thing to you again... Sun Bloom... my crewsisters...}

{Please don't be scared sisters, for I've stood there too...}
{Between survival... and the right thing to do.}
{Because only the strong, admit their fears.}
{And when you really need me. I Promise... I'll always be here.}

To those on the bridge Sonnidezi lowers her head in an expression of perhaps ...shame... but she recovers quickly. However, her pretty green eyes are somber...

[ P48 ]

[Senanthes]

Those looking would see no change in Nelopaio's expression as she nods at Captain Blacks decision, holding her tongue on her opinion for the time being... Unseen and unfelt by the humans, she continues her more direct commune with Sonni...

SpoilerShow

{Dying is easy. I nearly did once, as seventy four of my sisters, all my responsibility, did. And after I woke up, I wanted to be with them... Instead, here I am. Now you understand. None of our lives are ours to give away... But they belong to everyone around us to feel when we're no longer with them. Teidar invincibility... I wish that were true. It's a notion pounded into my head as well, before all of this came to pass. I don't want, or need you shamed. I only need you to bear what you now understand in mind.} she sends, her sanzai carrying the multiplicative loss of being one of those left behind, when all around her lay dead or dying.

{...Maia is it? I've seen the rendition you speak of, Sonnidezi. It's my homeworld as well... Though likely I started later than you as Teidar, I remember seeing the same piece during my time there.} she continues, a certain glint of amused commonality coming through the haze of her sending, {I hadn't had time to read everyone's full dossier before we departed, otherwise I'd have approached you sooner... And I believe you. That you wont repeat whats been done. Trust in me, and I'll trust in you. It's how it's supposed to be.} Nelopaio finishes, her thoughts relaxing some, urging Sonnidezi to do the same. Clearly, there is a bit of intrigue at the revelation of a shared homeworld, one that she'll likely follow up at a later date... For the moment, she focuses on the meeting, letting the touch linger for a moment longer before folding her hands behind her back in an almost regal pose, maintaining the stoic outer demeanor expected of a Loroi officer.

Folding her hands behind her back, Nelopaio lifts her chin, "Given her experience in such affairs, I'd like Stormrage to continue in her respectable efforts, as would befit her position, leading our contingent for the actual boarding. I'll accompany the team, as a link back to the command crew of the Cydonia, as well as Mizol Parat Twilightsaber." she says, her tone confident. Turning to Twilightsaber, she fixes those amethyst eyes on her sister-in-arms, "Who, I fear, I must insist remain here. In the event the boarding action is unsuccessful, and the vessel is forced to destroy the station, there must be at least one officer to continue the mission. You are the best choice of us, without a doubt." she states.

[Suederwind]

[OOC: Sorry for the delay. I am kind of busy at the moment. I hope it will be better after tomorrow. Well, some music: Link]

Ensign Cho looked at the Loroi that were present and smiled as she saw Thoughvenom coming in. Then she somehow felt that there was something going on between Senanthes and Stormrage. It was clear to her, that they were discussing something else, than this new mission. But what?
{Clearly Stormrage is not looking very well and that Commander... A total mystery... is somehow so very cold. Or is it professional?}
Then, she lowered her head for a brief moment and as she was standing not too far away, she stepped a bit closer, gently touched her arm and whispered to her:

To stormrage:

SpoilerShow

[Are you allright?]

Captain Blake listened to Ferox short reply and aswered with a smile on his face:

[Do I really need to insist?]

He then turned his attention back to the Loroi Commander and said:

[That sounds acceptable to me, Mallas Nelopaio. Seargent Aldrige and his Team will accompany you and Stormrage. After you and that assault team have launched with the shuttle, we only have one..., Cydonia stays there to fire on the station or more likely on that enemy ship, in case of an emergency. We will then close in, dock and help you or destroy the station completly. Although I hope the later won't be necessary...]

Anderson then added:

[I suggest that we keep a laser com-link open to that shuttle at all time. So we would have a secure connection.]

In the meantime:

Parat Twilightsaber observed the conversation between Neliopaio and Stormrage. Not because she was curious, it was her duty to do that as a Mizol on such a mission. As they paused their conversation, she sanzaied to both of them:

SpoilerShow

{It seams you have found a way to sort out your problems. That is good, for you and all of us... This mission needs to be a success and the humans need our help. They have experience in fighting, but I doubt that in fighting the enemy, they would do any better than a diral full of younglings. Thats why we need you, both of you... working togehter. I know that this is not easy, this situation is a mess and not at all what I hoped and wished for. But I am willing to help you in any way I can. Please keep in mind: No one of you is alone! I and all the other sisters will be there for you. So, fear not... I... wonder... how those humans would handle such a situation...}

She then switched her attention to Thoughvenom and replied in sanzai:

SpoilerShow

{Its a releive to see you well again. Tell me, what has happened?}

Then, finaly she answered to Senanthes spoken words:

[I agree to your suggestion. But I must insist that both of you act with extreme caution. We don't know for sure what is going on on that station. We should try to avoid unnecessary losses.]

[Hālian]

15

«It's a relief to see you well again. Tell me, what has happened?»

Malidasaria responds telepathically, her "words" embarrassed, tinged with empathic energy, and rather garbled. ((OOC: The ungarbled version is included here for the players' use.))

«My mind severed from my body whilst diving into Beganenzit's in an attempt to reverse the Entity's damage thereto. After separating from Beganenzit, I was unable to bring myself to consciousness, and was somehow awoken by Sonnidezi's show of force, at which point I slammed my head against the roof of the sleeping quarters. causing me to become concussed and slip back into unconsciousness. ._.»

[sunphoenix]

Stormrage, looked up somewhat surprised at Ensign Cho's gentle gesture of concern...

Sonni met her gaze... and realized she had never been this close to one of the human females. She was curious suddenly about them having dealt and spoken most frequently with only the males of the species... Sonni studied Cho closely. It was fascinating how... similar the two species appeared, were Cho's skin not its pale shade but blue, ears pointed, and her hair perhaps a little more thick and lustrous Sonni could have taken her for a sister. She was... attractive, after a fashion, and not any larger built than a Loroi woman unlike the male gender of humanity... though human females - the few Sonni had seen seemed to have, on the average, larger breasts than Loroi females ... this was not really the case with Ensign Cho... though it was somewhat hard to tell in her crew uniform. Perhaps this was a natural adaptation of human females for more robust male children?

Cho smelled... oddly... it was difficult to describe actually in words for Sonni. Not an unpleasant smell... just different... curious like a peppery cinnamon smell... with something of a flowery fragrance mixed in. Perhaps Cho was wearing some kind of perfume ... it was hard to tell what the natural scent of her human flesh and what was apart from something she might have bathed in or put on or in her cloths. It was decidedly ...different from the musky scent of Charlie's flesh and Sonni had good opportunity to relish his scent when she kissed him... it had excited her actually.

Sonni was suddenly curious about what excited human females and wondered idly, if the same things in scent and sensation pleased male and female members of each species. Perhaps what might work on a male to lower the natural human lotai... might work on a female as well?

Then a further thought occurred to Sonni.. of all the crew there... only the female... intuited the storm of emotions Sonni had been just experiencing. Perhaps there was some... latent undefined empathy that human females possessed that they did not even suspect? There was an obvious blank where Cho's mind should be of course the Lotai... but its possible a species could be empathic and not telepathic?

Sonni decided it might also fulfill her directives to find out just how... empathic and sensitive human females might actually be as well...

Sonni leans closer looking deeply into Cho's dark eyes and smiles shyly, whispering back, "...I'm fine thank you for your sweet concern... sister from an alien world. Telepathy can be... a burden when your thoughts are not always private. Are human females always so... empathic or sensitive...? Are is it that YOU are extra-ordinarily intuitive, how curious?"

Sonni lifts a hand to lightly caress Cho's cheek affectionately...

A simple gesture very brief... but the ramifications... profound.

Briefly Cho is not alone her mind touched ... not invaded... but touched... deeply like having ones very soul caressed.. not invasive or forceful but comforting. For one very brief moment she knows truly what it means to not b alone.. to truly "feel" the presence of another being... deeper than even a purely physical touch of skin to skin. A Woman's touch... not forceful but accepting. In her minds eyes Sonni suddenly springs into her awareness all fire and brilliance her passions and desires hinted at as if through a mood light of vibrant greens, yellow and fiery orange hues...

But it is suddenly gone when the Loroi woman's cool touch is pulled away... and enticingly..one would almost say teasing brilliance only glimpsed at... then concealed again before any real details could be discerned.

Sonni found Cho's presence... her mind suddenly there on contact but unreadable... just like Captain Alexander Jardin and Charlie Aldridge... BUT... Sonni did notice a subtle difference... this was no doubt a woman's mind she had touched. The difference could not be explained in words... only felt in emotions... it was such a brief contact... and tantalizing in and of itself! Sonni wanted to examine Cho's mind... perhaps more... much more closely but she could feel the presence of Twilightsaber and perhaps Sun Bloom's disapproval of her ... intimate forwardness and she refrained from making the contact longer than a slight gesture of affectionate reply. As could all the Loroi on-board as suddenly a unreadable human female mind suddenly was revealed briefly in contact with Sonnidezi's mind.

It was like every human mind onboard was concealed in darkness all the time until one of the Loroi "illumitated" their presence with the physical contact of their natural Loroi touch telepathy. But even then the human minds were like black cloth on a black field - obvious but STILL unreadable.

...but Sonni resolved to get a more closer, deeper contact if it was possible - she would find a way.

[ P49 ]

[Senanthes]

Glancing over at the display, Nelopaio's expression doesn't change much for a moment... She does, however, offer the smallest of smiles to Cho, a gesture that meets her amethyst eyes as well in it's warmth, a slight change that communicates a more genuine friendliness...

Somewhat amused, she sends a brief sanzai...

SpoilerShow

{Don't tease her too badly, Sonnidezi. Ensign Cho has been through quite a bit, and is possibly the only one of the command crew to really make an effort at bridging the gap between us to start with} she sends, a combination amusement and mild protectiveness there, mostly the former.

After a moment, she nods, "It's good to see you again, Ensign Cho. And I apologise that we've not had the time to speak further. We may be preoccupied over the next few days, but I'll endeavor to make some time available if you wish." she says, quietly enough so as not to overtly disturb the meeting.

[Beliskner]

[Do I really need to insist?]

Hadrid did not rejoiced with the captain's response.

[No sir, you can give me a order or do not. I still do not recommend boarding this station.]

Hadrid looked at ensign Cho who was interacting with Stormrage and made wry face. Turning back to the captain.

[Before we depart sir I want to check weapons systems. I will grab Rockwool and check everything ourselves.]

[Dragoon]

Roland came onto the bridge, Looking haggard and tired. His head still sporting a bandaged from a blow he had received . He wasn't sure how it had happened one moment he was in med bay gun on the unconscious woman, the next he was in med bay with someone sealing his forehead with surgical glue.
The doctor had wanted him to stay longer, to check for any neurological damage, still not certain he hadn't been caught by some alien mental attack. A few sharp words on taking it easy and a hand full of pain killers had been the final decision.

"Captain reporting for duty," Roland reported smartly as he stepped up to the captain." I'm cleared for action, even if the Doctor nearly had a fit. I can be up to speed in a few minutes sir I only have a partial download of the briefing at this moment."

[Hālian]

16

«As for this... Entity... is it even amoungst us? Do you not remember that jumping to conclusions means jumping to your death?»