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Starship Kaiyō

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RP: YSS Kaiyō Mission 36: Kōsaten no Hoshi

Unlike the rest of the team, Erika’s disguise was a projected simulacrum of an NMX uniform around her, the image flawlessly simulating the crinkling of fabric as she moved. What she felt underneath was the form fitting material of a type 31 field operative suit, a slinky black body suit when its emitters were turned off. A garment she’d become way too familiar with over her career.

She cast her eyes to William, and what little clothing he had. Her face involuntarily curled up towards her eyes, and she was glad of the skull helmet covering her face. “I wouldn’t worry too much.” The operative said “Most NMX Neko’s haven’t seen a male before. I don’t think they’ll know what to do with you.” She said with a professional cadence, looking forward.

As the ship came into the station and Aiko gave her command Erika headed towards the nozzles and joined Asuka, the Impaler carbine strapped around her back bouncing slightly as she jogged. She grabbed the other side of the nozzle to lighten her load.
 
Despite there not being eyes immediately on them, Sif gave Aiko the NMX salute to acknowledge her orders. And once the latter had stepped out, she'd turn to Molli. "Looking a lot more intimidating and broody, that's for sure," she'd say with a little bit of teasing mixed in. "I like it. Though I miss the accent." She'd whisper the last bit before moving to the panels, ready to initiate the refueling process once Asuka and Erika got the hoses attached.

The Impaler was sitting snuggly by her side. The weapon was familiar to her, having handled, disassembled and reassembled it far too many times a Yamatian soldier typically did. She was also rather comfortable with the NMX uniform, moving around with it without a hint of difficulty, reflecting the worn and slightly scuffed texture.

While waiting by the console, Sif took time to study the controls, just to make sure she didn't accidentally jettison the hoses after it was plugged in.
 
Neko-Molli crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing to compliment a most brooding expression. "Cheeky," she said to Sif, before taking position beside the spigots to assist in the refueling procedure. She hadn't refueled many starships in the past, but she could recall her old body's childhood in her father's garage. Plenty of Nepleslian hovercars had tricky refueling mechanisms, whether it was due to their odd design or the modifications their owners made. She learned quickly then, and could learn even quicker with a mind that thought in zettabytes per second.

"I'll make sure to chew the fat at the next reading," Molli said to Sif via telepathy, "If you're that fond of the accent." Unlike her rifle-toting friend, Molli's weapon of choice for the operation was a type 45 pistol hidden in a shoulder holster beneath her uniform. She'd always favored armaments for close range, like pistols and shotguns, but decided to go for subtlety. Of course, given the high-explosive rounds her weapon was chambered in, she wasn't lacking in firepower, should the squad require it.
 
As a Lorrfolk, trying to blend in as a proper NMX soldier would be basically impossible - at least, not without having to deal with her horns. It was possible she could consider having her horns removed for the operation, then regrown or something later but... that still had its own issues. There were other ways to go about it, but at the end of the day, it'd be far simpler to just in as fodder for the war machine.

For the moment, this meant she had to simply wait inside the hutch alongside William. She couldn't survive in the void of space after all. Isuke didn't have any issues with the minimalist garb she had to wear for this mission, although the general idea of it brought up some unpleasant childhood memories. Well, at least it meant she had an idea of she should act in this situation.

"Things could always be worse. At least they give their prisoners something to wear at all!" she offered with a wry smile. "Hah... well, guess it's time to shelve the fun and teasing for later. Time for business."
 
With the dome lid affixed and the patrol ship's struts on the grey base of the refueling hangar, the ship's cargo ramp lowered. A slew of NMX Nekovalkyrja rushed out purposefully. In their center was a slower moving woman who seemed to walking on the toes of her black boots. Her head was shaved and the pale gleam caught the few lights in the ring like it had been shined for days leading up to this moment.

"So we're going to need a Procreation Specialist for those," she called out to the small hangar. It was hard to tell if she was speaking to those posing as relief crew or at the true NMX crew. Her pointer finger laced out from her hand that had a mostly long set of nails, though some her pinky and ring finger were broken off and stuck out from the otherwise claw-like maw. She had pointed at the hutch where she could see the near nude forms through the viewport.

Closest to the ramp, Asuka was the first to get accosted. A huffy NMX shoulder checked her before she grasped onto the nozzle that she and was at. "Watcha doing there aye?! We're going to starboard stern not prow, lousy blondes!" She herself was colored like the void from her hair to her eyes with an orangey mud-toned skin just bright enough to not obfuscate the freckles on her nose.

"Chincha, Master Fighter." Hefting the nozzle with Erika and Asuka, she pointed her chin to the gold V on her shoulder when she said she was a middling enlisted rank. "Who's yous?"

Sif, too, was eyeballed by an NMX that had come sprinting out of the cargo ramp. It was like the girl had already sized her up, though, and looked past the newly red-headed girl in order to start manhandling the panel, ready to pull it off with or without Sif's help to get at the hose.

With her firsthand knowledge of the mechanics of garages and gadgets that go, Molli's innate expertise showed as she handled the equipment and the NMX approaching her to take over looked a little put off. Deferentially, she asked, "Don't need help with that, do ya?"

The baldie spat out, "So, who's the keeper I will just have to thank for you girls getting in our way?"
 
William rolled his eyes at Erika's and Aiko's remarks a ghost of smirk on his lips. That was until Isuke joined him. He was so wrapped up in his own lack of clothing, he hadn't realized Isuke was in a smiliar predicament until she joined him in the hutch. He had initially been man-spreading in the center of the hutch, but as the lorrfolk entered William quickly tried to shift over. His eye had moved to her face, then quickly shot away again. "Welcome to team 'Nearly Nudists.' I have to believe this is partly out of spite for that time I tried to shoot her." The Major said as kept his eyes on the landing NMX ship.

At the NMX soldiers appearance, the ID-SOL's gaze turned harsh. Blue eyes, lit by cybernetics, tracked them as they approached. Malice and contempt waring in his gaze, silently fighting for which of the two emotions he felt most strongly.
 
Isuke couldn't help but chuckle at William's response, offering him a reassuring shrug alongside an easy-going smirk. "Glad to be here. I'd say I can help keep you company, but I get the impression we'll not be allowed to have a leisurely talk after this. They might even split us up, we'll have to see how it goes, huh?"

Obviously, she had basically no issue being seen nearly naked by William. She wouldn't call herself some kind of exhibitionist or anything, but she wasn't a shy girl by any stretch of the imagination either. Still she wouldn't have the fun of being able to tease or anything, given the NMX were already here. Well, time to settle into the guise of being a captive...
 
"We will be coming aboard," Aiko said straightaway, answering the enemy leader's question with a demonstration of her authority. She approached the bald NMX Neko directly, her hands still clasped behind her as she tread past the ship's crew that hustled against her path toward the refueling equipment. "The two prisoners are mine. They require transit to your destination and so I am here to hitch a ride. You will accommodate me."

The princess stopped in front of the glabrous girl and ended up probably a step too close to be polite. But these were NMX and Aiko had no intention of displaying any sense of Yamataian nicety to them. The Mishhuvurthyar and their soldiers neither wanted nor deserved it, so Aiko's present attitude flowed naturally to doubly serve their mission and satisfy her sensibilities. She towered over the other Neko, and looked down onto the wicked soldier's polished dome with contempt in her eyes alone while her face remained otherwise placid.

"Intelligence priority," Aiko added. "Not simple chattel for implantation and labor. Yet. Your processors will not touch them before Warlord Yaggorahurl's own minions do. Once they are delivered, those accompanying me are to remain as relief crew for your ship," she said, as if to sweeten the deal with the false offering. "Confirm your understanding and then relay me to the bridge."
 
The arrival of the NMX forces made Molli's back stiffen, and her movements in progressing the refueling process grew more methodical and precise in her attempt to sell two illusions: that she was the enemy, and that she was a Nekovalkyrja. The biting remark to Asuka made Molli's brow furrow in annoyance, "Cut the bellyaching and act like a soldier rather than a whelp fresh from the vat," she said in an authoritative tone rooted in protectiveness for Asuka. Her frosty demeanor matched the intimidating black and red-striped boards on her uniform which signified the rank of Elite--the same rank she held in the Cauldron Lake garrison. "You're here to refuel a ship, not bandy with my squad." The less they exchanged idle chatter, the less likely they'd catch on to any oddities in behavior, Molli reasoned.

When an NMX soldier arrived with a question of taking over refueling, Molli shook her head. "Help the others," she said curtly, before continuing her task. She'd occasionally spare a glance to Aiko and the bald-headed NMX woman, her long ears pivoting towards their conversation. It was a strange feeling to act so harshly to soldiers she once considered allies, but there were from a different garrison, one that likely hadn't grown closer over shared turmoil the way the girls at Cauldron Lake did. They were, in many ways, an anomaly among the enemy for their compassion and kinship.

It was a shame that so many had to be cut down, though Molli often questioned if they truly had to. Memories of the bloodshed, vividly preserved by her digital mind, rushed back, and her hands squeezed the refueling equipment tightly as her heartrate spiked. Molli closed her eyes and took a moment to collect herself before continuing the task.
 
"About time," Sif would say to the sprinting Neko, though without a venomous bite to it though not exactly friendly either. She gave assistance to pull it off and heft the hose to where it needed to go, wherever it was. "The sooner this gets done, the sooner I get back to my actual duties," she would say with a bitter sigh as she wrapped her tail around her waist to keep it from getting caught in anything. She kept her voice low, trying to keep it just between her and her 'partner'.

She kept her eyes forward, but minded the periphery of her vision to keep track of what was going on as well as take the lay of the land. While she had the mindset of a soldier pulled in to assist, considering that her experience was isolated to the armory, she also had to remain aware of everything without looking like a tourist. It was a balancing act of keeping her head down and scouting for bodies and exits without making it obvious. If anyone asked however, she already had a story cooked up about being newly reassigned because the previous technician got shot up. Surely that was believable enough. Not like she was wearing the garb of a high-ranking officer or anything.
 
"Ursula." Erika replied to the 'Master Fighter' with a dismissive inflection that didn't invite further discussion as she continued to help carry the umbilical. "Common Fighter. Only just spun up before this deployment."

She twisted her body slightly so the tube wouldn't be in the way of a motion to her holster when Aiko made the call. Ironically the princess's natural disdain for the NMX mirrored the defensive posturing common among NMX Neko commanders, but there was a line between power posturing and hatred.
 
The blonde in question didn't have to feign the bristling at the "greeting" given her by the onyx haired NMX. She didn't bump back, though she tensed as if about to. "Dusugu. Common Fighter Dusugu. And I'm here to do a job, not get interrogated," she answered, with the bare minimum of courtesy. Her steps adjusted to go to the starboard side, though she didn't try or have to hide the irritation on her face. Everyone hates being micromanaged, though part of her was very curious, in other circumstances, how a spat between Molli and Chincha would go. It would definitely be an entertaining scrap. Careful, she thought, don't want to seem too bright eyed and bushy tailed.
 
The bald NMX studied Aiko as she considered her options with a quiet brooding.

"I like you," she said finally. "I don't like many, but you've got gall asking for so much. I'll give you an inch." She studied the bed of one of her long nails, surreptitiously tucking the broken off ones out of sight. "You may take your prisoners to sick bay. But what Sahacre does with them from there to prepare their bodies and minds for what Yaggorahurl has planned for them, I have no control of.

"I need your crew —my crew, now— inside once they're done breathing down my refueling team's neck. Helmsman is half asleep and our technicians have been working around the clock fixing an aether leak in engineering while this bay is full of unlisted ordnance headed for Yaggo's flagship that a cargo specialist should start indexing before we deliver it. Makes sense why you hitched with us, we'll be headed for him once we get out. Have the best people for the task take over those postings.

"As for me, I'm Overseer Superior Rancéde and captain of the XSS Mordrakka, enjoy your stay, princess." She put a long nail up to her temple in a salute accompanied by a sweet smile that did nothing to mitigate the chilling last word she had said. In a twirl, she left the cargo bay ramp to return to her captainly duties aboard the Mordrakka.

~
Outranked by Molli's bars and assured by her bearing, the NMX simply stood aside, arms crossed and bright yellow eyes watching. "Easy as she goes!" She gestured to the NMX Neko lugging the tubing with Asuka and Erika as she yelled across the relatively small hangar to her. "Don't wanna pull something again."

"Get off it, Leepa!" Chincha yelled back as she looked to Asuka and used her offered name in a serious tone, "Dusugu, word of warning: get a new posting before Rancéde lets them eat you alive. Goes for you, too, Ursula. And don't get hurt before then." Louder, she added as they coupled the hose with the ship, "Lock it in place here, louse! I swear— yes, like that, like that!"

"You and me both," Sif's partner began working alongside her, standard NMX greeting of discourteousness out of the way. "Engineering's fucked. Suppose you'll see soon enough. We could use someone who knows what they're doing when it comes to patching up shit. That you?"

Charbon had hung back, acting like security for the pair in the hutch and trying to stay out of sight before she could ascertain if the crew knew her. They didn't and so, she pulled William and Isuke out with a tug of her head towards the door.

"If they end up getting you on the table, try to soften your holes rather than clench." Charbon said sagely. "It will help mitigate the experience. I am being serious."
 
Phase 1 complete. They were in!

While working with her NMX partner, she took a good look at her just to familiarize herself with the face. Though she knew it'd hurt the moment the team had to go loud, she would at least try to spare her. If not from death, then from suffering. She seemed friendly enough. Even talking to her about a situation in engineering without prompting. Though Sif already overheard 'aether leak' from the Overseer Superior. Not very promising as far as she was concerned, but something to definitely take note of.

"If you count refurbishing guns and other broken shit they dump in the armory, then that would be an unfortunate yes." she'd respond to her partner. "So what happened? Someone puke on exposed conduits? Hammered the wrong panel? Or did someone get too frisky in the heat?" She ended with an exasperated sigh to make it seem like she was already dreading the job to come.

Sif wanted to keep the conversation going, trying to get as much information as she could about the situation in engineering while she got the girl's ear.
 
William tracked the NMX silently, while the other's played their parts. He counted off the number of combatants, what weaponry he saw each on sporting, and was coming up with ways to dispatch each one is his mind when Charbon pulled them from the hutch.

The Major moved subtly, standing protectively infront of Isuke. He really didn't like this plan. He hated it when it was just him. He knew Isuke was a hell of a fighter and a great warrior, but what they were risking was only confirmed by Charbon's comment about 'relaxing' if they got on the table. The look of abhorance in William's face was hard to hide. "If they try to put me on that table, I'm going with the nuclear option." He ground out through gritted teeth. "And just hoping my brain spider was working properly before I left the ship." He added morbidly.
 
Well, at least so far everything was progressing at least. Even if the immediate future for herself and William didn't sound the... best. Still, it would've probably been stranger if things weren't going that way. At least there didn't seem to be anything to suggest the NMX were suspicious of the group or anything.

Isuke reassuring pat William on the shoulder - which she realized as a bit harder then she thought, given the height difference - and chuckled softly to herself.

"I'm sure everything will be fine. And if you have to do that other option, give me a heads up, so I can find something to hide behind first."

Not that the pink-haired Lorrfolk was exactly thrilled at the potential future prospect waiting her. Still, as long as everything went to plan (or close enough), she could... probably live with it. Best to not think too much on the worst case scenarios though. That wasn't good for one's mental health.
 
Asuka cast her eyes toward Rancéde, though she was careful not to turn her head completely, and then back at Chincha. Unlisted ordnance? Why, don't mind if I do! "Well I never get hurt if I can help it. Sometimes it can't be helped, though." She shrugged, with a tiny grunt as she helped slam the mating connection home. Stepping back, she looked over the seal as if she understood the telltales of a tight fit. Surely Chincha would speak up if it wasn't.

Her hands rested on her hips as she turned this way and that, as if to limber up. "Sounds like you got a real winner as a boss. If she's so bad, why are you still here?"
 
Molli continued her work in silence, satisfied in knowing there was a loose hierarchy established by Aiko and herself. She wondered what Hoshi would think of her newfound confidence in taking command of a situation, and whether or not those ruminations unknowingly contributed to her decision to do so. Either way, it reaffirmed the Nepleslian's decision to ST into a Neko body -- these women would never have respected her otherwise.

"I have experience with starship maintenance," Molli replied, her ears twitching as she picked up on the conversation between Sif and her work partner, "As do the rest of my soldiers," she gestured to Asuka. Molli didn't actually know if Asuka had any experience with engineering, but it didn't matter--they just needed to look like they were experts. "Tell us what your problems are, and we'll jimmy a fix if the situation isn't completely hopeless." A chance for an escort onto the ship, a sensitive area at that, was one they couldn't afford to pass up.
 
Rio had been unusually silent ever since the briefing and start of the operation. She did not like the operation but it was the best chance they had. There was so much that could easily go wrong. So Rio kept going over the plan in her head, a small but constant worry in the back of her mind. Wondering if there was anything missed. Data that was there but thought illrelevant.

Even now Rio, looking like Sahty, was quiet as she helped to uncoil and connect a refueling hose to the underside the Mordrakka. A worn out clamp connector refused to fit, forcing Rio to fight with it. After several fruitless moments of fighting the worn and somewhat misshapen clamp she motioned for help, angrily shouting across the deck "This hose clamp is junk! I could use a hand over here. Someone help me get it closed!"
 
Erika bounced off the umbilical as it secured into place with whistle and thunk. She tilted her head at Chincha’s comment, her curious expression hidden behind the mask. “Indeed,” She said panning to Asuka for a moment. “If you have any advice beyond trying to keep our heads down?” She asked coldly.

Erika hadn’t quite decided if Chincha’s warning was intimidation or genuine. It was irrelevant anyway. Internally she was a coiled spring, all violence and stored intent which she let surface as a slight tension in her movements and posture.
 
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