With a brief glance and amused smile aimed at Yumi (evidently noticing the micro-rocket launcher), Kaeleen said to Vern "That is correct, yes I am from Arlex Prime." She evidently wasn't too sure why he felt the need to state the obvious in this particular scenario. However, the rest of what was asked well, that was another matter. To which she said, evidently more interested than a statement of the obvious. "I'm sure it wouldn't get in the way, given that this is business, and personal grudges serve nothing when it comes to the task at hand." She paused, and then asked "Although could you forgive me being cynical about those tensions actually improving... Especially given what I was in the news for?" Meanwhile, Gideon took one look at the data and from it immediately drew a few conclusions. Firstly, it was highly likely that SSP was being specifically targeted. Secondly, the Black Markets may need working in order to shake up who provided support. The lack of Starlex attacks also raised the spectre of Starlex as a company having a hand in the Pirates too, but Gideon was inclined to call that a statistical anomaly, or bribery. Another message was sent to Kaeleen's device: <Historic analysis confirms SSP targeting. Likely source of support for pirates is probably black-market-buffered, but lack of Starlex attacks suggests either a statistical anomaly, bribery of pirates or intervention from 'our' part of the company.>
"I don't blame you. Rhineland always has been... Well. Rhineland." His shoulders barely moved, giving only a slight hint of a shrug. But noticing Kaeleen interact with her device, he also checked his wrist-computer to see a compiled report from Rhiner, based off Kira's input. "Hm... That is interesting." He looked at the pie-chart of the attack ratios. "No Rhineland systems were involved. I guess they don't get this far out. Or maybe they are not interested into their equipment. Or, if we are in luck, they do not have the firepower or manpower to raid RPS convoys." He didn't even grin about that fact but rather was curious about why that might be. He shook his head and locked the screen of his wrist computer. "Either way. I'm glad that the views of Rhineland are not being projected upon me. I will be in the cockpit. We are going to arrive soon." He nodded to Kaeleen first, then to Yumi ( @Wata ). "Good hunting, ladies." And with that, Vern took his leave.
Paul listened to the data streaming in as a scan was done, finding the information interesting but not immediately relevant to his current task. As he entered the armory he saw two of the other team members who were in the briefing room earlier. He gave a short nod to the one leaving as he walked passed them and went towards his locker muttering a simple greeting. "hello" He said it quietly and it came out more like a grunt than a proper word but he wasn't really here to talk he just wanted to grab his hammer. As such he opened his locker after punching in a short code and reached in to grab the hammer. The thing was almost as tall as he was, being meant to be used while in the DOPI it was quite heavy compared to most weapons but Paul was able to lift it with two hands. He could probably use it like this too but he felt going into combat with just a tanktop and jeans was a bit disrespectful. Hefting the thing over his shoulder he made to leave the armory so he could get back to his tank in the hanger.
When Paul walked in and muttered something, Yumi gave a similar grunt back in slight jest, maybe that was how he communicated. She left without further ceremony, but a wave for before heading for the hangar. Soon as she stepped inside the hangar's grand wide space proper, Kingslayer turned its head toward her. When Yumi got close, Kingslayer's cockpit opened and the mecha kneeled. It laid a hand for Yumi to step on on the floor. She casually hopped on it and Kingslayer lifted her to cockpit level while standing up. Yumi took her seat in the cockpit, Kingslayer's form was once again complete when the pilot hatch closed. Interfaces were booted up and Alspaer's voice was heard through a brief static. "Pilot in full control, ready to complete connection." Yumi took a deep breath, placing her head snugly on the head rest. "Ready." She replied. Not even a full second later she felt wires creeping up on the sides of her head. They didn't dig into her skull but remained in skin contact directly communicating with her implant. First came the mind numbing surge of information that Kingslayer's systems and chassis was, Alspaer quickly helped to filter this out and ease the pilot into the experience. This was constantly being improved and perfected by the AI. Then it quickly relented into a steady soothing hum. "Coronation complete." Alspaer's voice was almost a rumble inside the cockpit. On the outside, Kingslayer's posture slightly changed. It seemed more lifelike, less robotic in its movements no matter how slight they were. Raiken was pulled out of its sheath, mecha's metal finger checked the blade for chips and battle damage. "Mercury and Kingslayer are good to go, ready for drop." Yumi transmitted over the team wide comms. The Kingslayer returned the sword to its sheath, walking with unusual grace toward the hangar outer doors. Yumi wanted to peek outside through some viewport, space was cool.
"I'll take that as a hello." Kaeleen said to Paul, not quite sure what he had said, nodding to Vern as he left. She picked up her swords and went off to the Hanger, ready to get the show on the road. She replied to Gideon enroute <Very well, but with Rhineland not being attacked at all might make them even more likely as the supporters for the Pirates, if other factors such as armaments or products are not enough to keep the Pirates at bay.> Gideon replied: <Given Starlex is being potentially connected to the Halycon...> <Point taken.> Soon enough, Kaeleen arrived at the Hanger. First off, she put her helmet on before she fully suited up by stepping into her open Warsuit (attaching her pilot weaponry on the exterior of the suit given there was no room inside for the weapons), and let the suit close up and fit itself onto key points of her Battle Armour, so she could control the suit. With that done, Gideon powered up Apollyon going from the idle state needed to keep the just AI running and into fully functioning as a machine. The mech got up from it's resting position and stepped towards Kaeleen with an open hatch to the mech's cockpit. The Starlex Samurai naturally took a running leap towards her vehicle with the thrusters of her Warsuit engaged, landing inside with something of a thud. The interior of the cockpit was evidently having to compromise between being comfortable for a normal pilot, yet still fitting in a Warsuit. As shown with Kaeleen sitting upon a large chair that was rather snug for her Warsuit (and not because she had landed on it), as internal consoles booted up to show information that wasn't being linked to her Warsuit's HUD, and her system of mech control came online, fitting around her Warsuit's arms and legs. Gideon finally spoke, the AI's voice being rather deep and robotic in tone, but well, that was frankly part of his charm at times: "You really should have just let me pick you up." Kaeleen replied as she stowed her hand-held Warsuit weapons in the appropriate position. "Likewise, I'm more likely to end up getting inside Apollyon at speed, so shall we call that a practice run for this mission?" "Very well Mrs. Elstora. Don't blame me if the seat gives way." A jolt later around Kaeleen's arms and legs, and Gideon said "Link established, you are in control." By then the mech was fully operational, going by the stretching Kaeleen (and the mech) did before picking up the mech's rifle. She said over the team comes "Elstora in XR-434, nested in XR-717. Ready for the mission." Having said that, she went through a final check of all her systems, just in case there was some last minute tweaks to be done.
@TuskatheDaemonKilla Vern stopped just outside the door when Paul entered, giving him a nod in return, and then he decided to wait just outside the door. Once the two women left, the starship-mech-pilot hybrid decided to stop Paul once he was ready and just have a quick chat with him. "Just wanted to say more properly hello. I noticed you are not much of a talker type with the women, hm? I know that on Mars you all are a bit more conservative. Women doing light and civil duties, men doing the hard work. So I get that it's a bit awkward to work with women on the battlefield. But just see them as fellow soldiers, that will help you." The Rhinelander offered with a slight smile and straight-to-the-point manier. If one wasn't used to Rhinelanders being Rhinelanders, one could take that smile for a smug, taunting grin.
Crow watched as both the pilots of the king slayer and the XR pilots entered there mechs he stayed silent as he began rollign over the data Kaelleen provided. @Maleth "analysis of data, seems your own hypothesis seems likely, If we want conformation it maybe in our interest to capture the ship and pirate combatants and or leader for in depth interrogation, could lead to a source o corruption that would require rooting out." Crow said his voice sounding cold and calculated. the Voice of his AI Nyx chimed in. "You do know taking survivors and a ship would be quite difficult especially with how squishy both the meat bag pirates and survivors maybe. I would suggest a change in plans such as focusing on capturing of the ship and committing enough damage onto targeted enemy forces to render them unconscious before being taken into questioning." The voice sounding mechanical robotic and almost a hint of inhumanity as it said the word meat bag. "Negative. We shall proceed with current objectives without altering our strategy." Crow said his mech stood as several cables were released freeing the arm and allowing it to stand on its own unsupported. It moved and swayed like a combination of a living being and a robot. its tail seemingly moving as it did.
Paul looked at Vern with mild curiosity as he held his hammer over his shoulder. "Ok?" He answered the man, unsure what to make of the random advice. He continued walking after a second, a confused look on his face as he left the armory to get to his tank. Strange people around here, he thought to himself as he walked back up to the hanger so he could get properly suited up. He could tell Carla about this strange little interaction on the way to the battlefield. Maybe the Ai would know more than he did, most would think it would be strange to assume an AI would know more about human interaction than a person but well Paul wasn't exactly well equipped to interact with other people.
@TuskatheDaemonKilla "Just let me know if you need anything." Vern offered, startled by the reaction of Paul, but just shrugging it off and then continuing to the cockpit-mini-bridge. @BadDo9 "Alright. Rhiner. Keep an eye on the others in the hangar bay from Avalanche. Also keep your Anti-Air lasers ready once we deploy. In case we need additional firepower I will simply open up the hatch. You might not have your main armament, but we will aid with everything we have." "Affirmative. Avalanche Combat readiness... Inefficient, but will service either way. I shall hope we will avoid further damages, Vern." Rhiner responded with what sounded like an irritated sigh. Vern just chuckled at the response. "As for you Kira. It seems everyone is battle ready. We haven't seen the Starseeker in combat yet. So please run diagnostics once again and make sure all weapons are locked and loaded. I don't want any simulations to activate if we have to fight our way in or out or launch dummy ammunition. No games this time around." The older Rhinelander shivered a bit. Would he ever get used to the AI? Or more importantly, fully trust her? Her play on him earlier did not fortify his confidence in her. And in that very moment he also wondered how much the Kira AI actually can manipulate the Starseekers systems or control it. "What was Starlex thinking with this whole design..." He muttered under his breath before taking a deep one. At least everyone had a confidential file of the ones being on the starseeker, so they wouldn't know that it was forever since his last real flight in a combat zone.
< @Uriel1339 > "Of course no tricks, Vern. I don't know what you think of me but I'm not that careless." Kira responded. "Besides, it isn't my fault if you misread the mission clock." she said with an audible shrug while her processes began running diagnostics on all systems. ~~~~~ }}Diagnostics BEGIN{{ }}Armor Integrity: 100%{{ }}Hull Integrity: 100%{{ }}No Damage or Breaches Reported{{ }}Engine Systems Check{{ }}Grav-Jet Propulsion: Operational{{ }}Maneuvering Thrusters: Operational{{ }}Maneuverability: Maximum. Operation Nominal{{ }}Drone Systems Check{{ }}Drone Control: Operational; Full Compliment ; System Check... Complete. Operation Nominal{{ }}Weapon Systems Check{{ }}ATA Railgun: Charge Holding 35% ; Charging Tests... Complete. Operation Nominal{{ }}ATG Gatling Cannons: Standard Round ; Spooling... Complete. Operation Nominal{{ }}ATA/G Missile Chambers: Loaded, Priming... Complete. Ports Opening.. Complete. Operation Nominal{{ }}Interior Systems Check... Complete{{ }}All Systems Nominal{{ }}Starseeker Combat Ready{{ }}Diagnostics END{{ ~~~~~ "Everything's in top shape and ready for our first mission." Kira came back with her report a few seconds later. "I wouldn't worry too much about it. We've got this." said the AI, who truly was acting at least somewhat like the true Kira would. "How about you, Vern? You gonna stay up here on the stick, or you going to run into battle yourself? You do have your combat gear on." she noted as the planet came into view, and Kira began to dive towards the reported position of the failed colony Aspect. < @Uriel1339 @Wata @bossaroo @TuskatheDaemonKilla @Maleth @Vulpas > At first Yennri looked very much like any other green planet, covered with forests and other greenery, this one seemed to be one contiguous landmass interspersed with large patches of water, almost ocean-like lakes it seemed. However they were most interested in one area near one of said lakes, which is where Aspect was located. As they got closer they would be able to spy some of the buildings peeking out from the growth that had overtaken the colony once more, as well as the adjacent dry-dock. Soon after that, the ship would make a sharp maneuver to swing past a rocket that streaked past, causing Kira to announce. "Get ready, they know we're here!" she said over the team comms. "We're going to be making a quick pass, get ready to move out quick!" from there she would either control the ship through, or give Vern (Depending on what he was doing) a working route to the outskirts, where there would hopefully start with less resistance. As they got closer, the bay doors would be opened and the warriors allowed a chance to disembark, before Kira got marks on her radar. "Seems they're letting their own fighters out for some fun." Meanwhile, as the mechs would jump down to the ground (or roll, in the case of the tank) they would find themselves on the main road into the colony, big enough for two of them to walk shoulder to shoulder. An alarm klaxon began to wail soon after they were on the ground, meaning that they had little time to prepare. Soon in front of them the road broke into thee of a similar size, and down the middle road they could see a pair of raider-built mechs moving down towards them. Undoubtedly there was also infantry getting into position, presumably with weaponry they could use against this armor. In the distance they could see the Halcyon-class Hemterra, their goal. What they did next was up to them. [2 raider-mechs down the middle road, the left and right road are free of enemies for now. If you move down the middle road you will be joining combat ; 5 fighters in the air, not a threat yet]
