“Tch, no one asked for your help Sable...”
“Rest assured I would have put in a request were comms functioning normally.”
Kircher’s reply in response to the utterance over the headset had Rohner frowning from his place on the front deck, from where he’d been preparing to receive what turned out to be a feint approach.
“Still have your wits about you bridge dweller? Because all I’m seeing is a tactical blunder disguised as a strategic counter play. Or would you rather the Command Crusader throw itself into harm’s way over trivial visits.”
“Those numbers are anything but trivial, and their intervention proved successful in cutting off the approach before it could reach its full strength. We should be—”
“What they should have done, is mind their own business. Rather we could’ve reorganized into a stack formation as per the offset playbook, in turn enabling us to increase our median speed. Then whoever did manage to board us would have found themselves trapped once we exited the highway. Then it would’ve only been a matter of sweeping the Crusader ahead of the final castle.”
Kircher forced himself to internalize his frustrations with the vet, somehow managing to convey his next words with a level-headed tone.
“I sincerely hope you maintain this level of enthusiasm and collaborative spirit once comms are restored.”
“Then let’s see about restoring them shall we...”
Soon thereafter Crusader C274 was weaving its way to the rear of the convoy with Rohner taking up a position of authority on the back deck. His orders, to inflict superficial damage to the strong side of C471. Needless to say the officers onboard, including those who precipitated his rise to security representative, were hesitant to follow the directive.
It being a waste of ammo was one thing, but to fire upon an ally when they were being subjected to an active boarding could lead to dangerous misunderstandings. Whether those onboard mistook them for members of Cloud Nine or processed the act as a betrayal, return fire was on the table.
Sensing the hesitation from those around him Rohner loaded a fresh magazine and made to fire when he felt a pair of eyes settle on him from behind. Assuming the spectator was part of C362’s deck rotation he had every intention of ignoring them, or at least that was the plan until a near imperceivable level of hostility made itself known in the individual’s intent. Turning in a controlled manner he sought the source of the unwelcome sensation. You could imagine his surprise at being greeted by the gaze of a young female deck officer with undercut blonde hair.
That surprise didn’t show however, not one to have his expectations displayed so readily. It was then that the girl’s features darkened before something less hostile presented itself in her body language. A posture indicative of a soldier, trained up by someone stressing diligence and freedom in the same breath. Then the realization struck him.
Ah, this brat’s like me...
As unexpected an encounter this was however, Rohner still had more important things to attend to. Namely his plan to make use of the Eidol. So he pushed his suspicions regarding the girl’s identity to the back of his mind and painted the wall of C471 with a level of indifference you sooner expect to find at a station’s firing range.
“I’d like to see if any of you can challenge that grouping! Now hurry it up, one mag limit! Or are you worried you’ll miss!”
It took a few seconds, but the other security officers did follow suit after exchanging glances and shrugs. Taking a page from their rep’s book, they too treated the act as an exercise in target practice.
Hayes taking particular care in the placement of his grouping, that nearest to Rohner’s own. Perhaps in an attempt to upstage the man who’d appropriated his post. And while no definitive winner could be declared without taking measurements, each cluster of marks was impressive in its own right.
What the hell is that scruffy old man trying to accomplish?
Kircher couldn’t help but feel this way as he both listened to and watched the impromptu firing session from the bridge entry way. He had half a mind to ask the nature of the man’s intentions but found it likely his plan centered around the Eidol. A topic the other officers and the convoy as a whole were out of the loop on. No need to stir panic among the roster’s superstitious types. Granted what occurred next would require some form of explanation upon arrival, even if it was omitted from the reports.
What could best be described as a series of fasciculations traveled across the shade encompassing the convoy, originating from the wall that the bullets had left marked. At the same time an otherworldly sequence of sounds occupied the frequency of both the group and local channels over comms.
The ensuing event proved equally staggering as out of nowhere strong gusts of hot air forced themselves from the ground up, violent enough to create a minor but audible shockwave as the rising air detoured through each Crusader’s corridors. A discomforting silence followed, as if the sudden barrage of auditory stimuli had canceled out the voices of the drums.
“What the holy hell just happened?!”
Jericka!
“This is Kircher, are you receiving?!”
“Loud and clear Officer Swarek. Seems the interference has run its course.”
Miss Endellion! Which means...
“As I’m sure you’re both aware we have our hands full with an active boarding attempt, which is why I’d ask that C274 resume its position at the front of the formation, yielding C362 the space necessary to slide over for support. And Officer Rohner?”
Silence as the man didn’t feel a need to confirm his presence in the call.
“I’ll be expecting an explanation of your actions when we reach Varza, but until then I’d like to request your continued cooperation as well as thank you for the contributions you’ve already provided.”
“Our position out front, should I take this to mean you’re letting C274 set the pace until we reach the final castle?”
“That’s correct. Though I’d ask that you hold off on any substantial adjustments until we’ve handled the matter of the boarding.”
“Pardon my curiosity, but are you taking liberties with these orders or do they happen to belong to the Convoy Commander?”
Oi oi, now isn’t the time for that!
“Commander Dandridge is otherwise occupied subjugating enemy forces, in his absence I will see to giving direction to this convoy.”
“In that case I’d appreciate it if you’d keep us posted on his condition.”
The implications behind the request weren’t hard to figure out. Because if the CC did somehow become indisposed, command would officially fall to Sumiye herself as the acting Head Communications Officer. Should she suffer a similar fate or be deemed unfit for command the job would then fall to the most qualified security representative. A bylaw that intentionally made use of indeterminate phrasing to account for a given crew roster’s attitude relative to the convoy in question. In other words, crew chemistry and federation politics were very much at play here.
This made it possible for personnel with less years in the field to assume command if it was believed they were the right person for the job. Having set themselves apart in the lead up to the command shakeup in a way that made them a desirable choice for the job. Now whether Rohner would be the favorite to assume that role was another story. Because even though he had set himself apart through his knowledge of the Eidol, that achievement had yet to be made available to the rest of the roster. Nor would it if the parties involved had anything to say about it.
“But of course.”
With the conclusion of that tense exchange both Crusaders promptly began repositioning in accordance with the Head CO’s orders. And seeing that the task of relieving C471 had fallen to C362, Rohner saw no further need to remain on deck and headed for the ladderway. Though he did reserve a final fleeting glance in the direction of the blonde as her Crusader moved behind their own. Only to find that she too had already diverted her attention towards the aiding of C471. Yet more proof they were of a similar disposition. And all the confirmation he needed in regard to her identity.
“So she’s the daughter of fall’s mentee, Ayfer if I’m recalling correctly...”
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
He contemplated the hearsay surrounding the girl and her teacher as he sought the entryway of the bridge, but soon found his way blocked by their intrusive CO, who hovered over the ladderway with a look of disapproval. To such an extent one could be excused for believing that the man’s nerves had been given new life alongside the restored comms.
“What did you do? And why delay in carrying it out?”
Alas Rohner no longer held any interest in appeasing the man. Not when it played such a meager part it what came next. His escape down the ladderway was marred however by the appearance of an unfamiliar attendance at their feet. Another young girl by the looks of it, this one with long brunette tresses.
Safe to say if it wasn’t for the federation uniform, both crew members might have taken her for an agent of Cloud Nine and responded with deadly force. It was as they both tried to place the girl that she reached the top rung of the ladder and finally spoke.
“Greetings comrades. And if it’s not too much trouble, I’d also like to inquire about the sequence of events that just transpired.”
*
The prospect of having one’s life flash before their eyes was something Esma had first become informed of in her youth, when her older brother had fallen headfirst out of the antiquated oak adorning the yard of their guest house. She’d watched the accident occur from the veranda of the house and sat stunned as he miraculously managed to rotate himself mid-air, offering up his right shoulder in place of his neck.
It was in the aftermath of the fall, during one of her visits to his room turned hospital ward, that he’d conveyed to her the rapid recollection of his life in the moments following his slide from the tree branch. To which she’d responded, “You’re twelve, what’s there to recollect. Your first erection?”
As implied she hadn’t taken his claim very seriously. And yes, at the ripe age of ten Esma was both familiar with and willing to wield such words as “erection” for the sake of earning a laugh from her brother. Mostly out of sympathy for his condition. Although disgruntling her parents through accounts of her behavior from the staff also brought her great pleasure.
The same couldn’t be said about her own brush with the phenomenon, however. The assertions made to her brother all those years ago as he fidgeted with the sling on his arm becoming more lamentable by the second. But while his downfall, never had there been such an apt term, had come at the hands or in this case branches of a tree, her perch had been that of a Crusader. As such Esma would probably follow Jericka’s example of staying cooped up in the bridge for the foreseeable future as a means of coping with her own newfound trauma. A process that had started with berating her actions leading up to the fall.
Much like Lux, who had been on the opposite end of the back deck from her, Esma had been in the middle of questioning the behavior of C471’s deck officers. It was as she strained to make out what they were firing upon that a sequence of unique sounds filled the headset she still wore on her person. At the same time she witnessed what she would later describe in her report as an ominous ripple approaching C362, the darkness of the unexplained shade its conduit.
So enamored by the occurrence as it grew closer, Esma had leaned over the railing a bit further to see how it would travel across the space between Crusaders. Never could she have expected the strong burst of hot air that greeted her the moment she did so. Before she had time to pull back and avoid the debris laden gust, hot air had flowed into the gaps of her half-open jacket, effectively separating her feet from the deck. Her uncharacteristic lean over the back deck’s railing serving as the final piece of a puzzle depicting her tumble from the Crusader.
She couldn’t say for certain whether a scream had escaped at the time, but her change in perspective from ground to sky offered the briefest of glimpses at the railing that had betrayed her only seconds before. And Esma could feel her heart sink as neither Lux nor Youn were there to cry out for or witness her costly mistake.
In the off chance I both survive the fall and avoid being run over, no one will even know where I am or what became of me. And once they do put it together returning to recover me is out of the question for a Galen Run. I’ll be left to die of exposure. That is unless a member of Cloud Nine takes pity on me or maybe that mysterious shade returns.
With all these realizations racing through her mind it’s a small wonder Esma still had time to confront the images of her past as they shot by one after another. Some lingering longer than others. As if the contents of those painful memories demanded some form of reparations from her.
As expected the images only abated when her back finally contacted the ground, except it wasn’t a hard rocky surface that greeted her but a cooler smooth one. At the same time a rather reserved metallic gong resonated as the air was forced out of her lungs, causing her to sputter and heave in a comparatively unreserved manner. The sound of something else landing just above her head and clattering to a rest adding to the deluge on her senses.
It wasn’t until Esma managed to regain a fraction of her wind that she noticed the subtle vibrations and gentle hum around her. Confusion quickly gave way to understanding as she blindly felt around for the object that had followed her down, her rifle. She should count herself lucky it hadn’t struck her in such a vulnerable state.
I’m on a platform...but which one?
Her question was soon answered upon sitting up with a groan and meeting the gaze of a certain broad-shouldered engineer, stood across the way on a platform of his own. Composed as ever might she add. Something that ticked the rookie off in more ways than one.
“How you doing over there buddy?”
And as if his inquiry had reminded her body to resume its normal functions, a dull ache spread across her mid and upper back. Not far behind but to a lesser extent her neck followed. As she cradled the latter her emerald eyes took on a scathing glare. Unwarranted Esma knew, but expected given how inundated she was at current. Fortunately her tone remained cordial.
“I’ve been better.”
“Gust just now take you unaware?”
Esma carefully got to her feet and re-shouldered her rifle as she responded.
“Any idea what it was?”
The man shrugged as he approached the railing.
“Think you’ve got it in you to jump back over?”
Esma shrunk away from the suggestion, placing a firm grip on the tether behind her.
“Pardon the vulgarity, but abso-fucking-lutely not.”
“Yeah...guess I was thinking you might have some leftover adrenaline we could make use of.”
“Believe me there’s still plenty. So much that I fear another dose will send me into cardiac arrest.”
It was on the tail end of this exchange that a familiar blonde head popped over the railing.
“Cade! You seen Esma? I swear I only took my eyes off her for like a second to watch the trippy shadow go away.”
The engineer looked up at the sharpshooter while pointing at the person of interest across from him. Lux blinked a couple times from her upright firing position.
“Over eager much rookie, didn’t know you had it in you!”
Esma couldn’t help but lose her patience again, balling both fists at her sides as she yelled up at her “teacher.”
“I guarantee whatever it is you think your referring to is benign to the point of atrophy!”
Her irritation being met with a dismissive finger.
“Hold that thought Esma, duty calls!”
On cue the platform beneath the misplaced security officer lurched forward as the Crusader her companions were on moved laterally across the space they’d since vacated. Leaving her with her thoughts and a touch of regret at refusing Cade’s offer of helping her back over.
Suddenly feeling very vulnerable out on the platform by herself, Esma quickly retreated into the belly of the unfamiliar Crusader. Not that the layout and appearance of C274 had any notable differences from the previous accommodations. But after spending the better part of an afternoon acquainting herself with C362’s many charms, namely its various dents and dings, it shouldn’t surprise her how foreign the change in scenery felt.
It was at the junction of the corridor that Esma came to a tentative stop, unsure what to do with herself as she hadn’t run into anyone yet. Sounds of busy work coming from the other side of the engine room door notwithstanding. She did know one thing however, that she’d rather take the proactive approach of making her presence onboard known rather than wait around anxiously to be discovered. Recalling the number of folks who’d been on the back deck, Esma decisively headed straight for the ladderway. At the base of which she could hear two voices coming from the top.
“Well, I’d better introduce myself...”
*
“The Eidols ditched, let’s get word to Hite.”
The pair of Hussards who’d been following closely since even before Dominique’s approach made its all-out assault had stood witness as the entity condensed its size and fled the immediate area for reasons unknown.
“Don’t you think we should wait until the results of Dominique’s visit are more apparent?”
“Think moron, if the Eidol’s gone then comms are back up. And if comms are back up they’ll be able to coordinate their efforts and repel the attempt. Besides, they’re taking too long. Highway ends up ahead.”
The disheveled man began to pull away without another word, but his colleague remained persistent in his insistence they stay longer. Pulling up alongside him to continue making his case.
“I am thinking, the situations changed. That’s the command Crusader their raiding. Even if they fall short of acquiring the cargo, there’s a real chance they target the CC as recompense.”
“Weren’t you present for the briefing? That CC’s a Sable who reached the rank of lieutenant in Forst Cavea itself. He’s likely to thrive in a frontal confrontation with Dominique and the others.”
And they had very little intel on the heir apparent should he fall. That and killing the commander could just as easily reinvigorate the convoy as dishearten it.
“It’ll be enough knowing the visit weakened the convoy’s overall fighting potential.”
To think the day would come when a feeder of Baugh’s would be satisfied with a mere reduction of the enemy’s resources. Let alone ignore the chance afforded by a comrade’s captivity. It would seem change had become necessary after all.
“Well...can’t say I didn’t try.”
Confused by his words the senior Hussard turned to regard his companion, only to be greeted by the barrel of a pistol. One crack later and the man’s body crumpled from his saddle and fell to the wayside. His bike continuing a short ways before coming to rest in a heap on the ground.
Rather than continue the rest of the way back the remaining Hussard logged the location of the still functional bike and saw to moving its rider’s body to somewhere less conspicuous. A hassle to be sure but a necessary one as it would become obvious upon further inspection that a pistol killed him in place of a deck officer’s rifle. Should this be discovered by another party member, it could give away the game prematurely. Hindering Reed’s chances of establishing himself as the de facto leader of Cloud Nine.
The objective after all was to make the transition appear as a natural one. One that wouldn’t make all the effort put forth this day null and void. Obscuring communications between Hite and the bulk of those faithful to him was an important first step. It would also be in their best interest to keep those posted in the castle somewhat ignorant to the successes of the visits. Because sowing discontent through purported shortcomings was the quickest and easiest method for making members more open to a regime change. Such was the toady’s thoughts as he dragged his victim behind his chassis.
And with the body tucked safely out of the open he could turn back around and get a clearer outcome of the second visit. With any luck Dominique would suffer a fate similar to Matus, another loose end that would need to be put down when the opportunity presented itself. But unbeknownst to the Hussard, things would not be unfolding as expected at the gatehouse. Not before or after the convoy's arrival.