09-13-2018, 08:35 PM
Eliza Valdez sat in the fluorescent lit cargo hold of the Golden Chrysanthemum freight vessel Komorebi. The ship was a somewhat aged 'Dromedary' Border Worlds Freighter that had seen it's fair share of damage caused by radiation, asteroids and Naval patrols alike. A vessel so ordinary and in place at this setting that the only thing that was off was Eliza herself in it's hold and the tied up Kusarian girl sitting opposite of her with tape on her mouth and frightened eyes that were locked on the Maltese girl. Valdez had no plans to hurt her, but she couldn't afford the risk of letting the young Chrysanthemum interfere in the big plan that was in play. Everything up to this point had been calculated with surgical precision - the target, the stolen supply vessel that was expected to deliver them to it's location and of course the infiltration to secure said target for the Maltese Legion.
By now the auburn haired girl had learned the hard way that things rarely go completely according to plan but it was too late to give up. This mission looked impossible on paper and in reality the odds felt even worse. But fate loved only those who were willing to gamble everything. Eliza's fingers were beating onto her XV-15C's barrel nervously in a semi-rhythmic fashion. The jet black rifle had been equipped with a sturdy red dot sight, a flash hider and a compact flashlight near the end of it's barrel. A compact and deadly weapon in the hands of a skilled marksman and Valdez hoped her training with it was enough to qualify her as one. If this operation ended up a success the Legion would have something on their hands that people could only dream about. The Maltese's azure eyes locked back with the Kusarian's. Eliza wasn't quite sure which one of them two was looking more distressed at that very moment. She wanted to comfort the frightened girl that looked younger than her by at least a couple of years. After all it was Eliza that was heading for the belly of the beast, not the Chrysanthemum. A voice over Eliza's earpiece broke the thickening silence. It was her lifeline for this operation and the current pilot of the stolen freighter.
Eliza hated being called by rank. The statute such a rank brought her reminded her of a certain blonde that had put her own ambitions for power above any and all morals and ideals. Such lust for power had brought the Legion's downfall once and the auburn haired girl did not want to see it happen again. In her own mind she had not earned the right to be treated with such high regard, not at least until this job was over smoothly and successfully. Once the TACCOM went silent she could already hear her own heart beat all the way up in her eardrums. Keeping a cool head was a must and she had already blew that part. Perhaps it wasn't too late to turn back now? Part of her wanted to give up, a considerable one at that. Though the planning and the risk they already took could not let her go home empty handed.
Her hand let off the earpiece as she finished her sentence and stood up. Judging by the Kusarian's extra frightened face, the ex-captain of the Komorebi understood very well what Valdez was talking over the comm. Eliza casually slid the sling-held rifle around her waist before dusting off her behind from whatever dirt the improvised seat she had was covered in. This all felt like a surreal Tal Ravis inspired adventure. For a moment the Maltese even considered pinching herself to check if it was all real but shrug it off. She had to look serious enough for the tied up Kusarian to follow her orders. Eliza grabbed the spooked pilot by the arm and pulled up in a motion to signal her to get up. There wasn't much time to be wasted. The Chrysanthemum cautiously complied and the two made their way towards the cockpit. Valdez's free arm rested on the XV-15, it was just the two of them in the hallway leading to the cockpit. She had to be ready in case the other girl tried anything. The final metal door cracked open and revealed the sight of the pilot seats. A sigh of relaxation, the Maltese needed the Kusarian alive and well anyways. Eliza shoved the captive onto the co-pilot seat and put her now free hand on the girl's shoulder, holding her firmly.
By now the auburn haired girl had learned the hard way that things rarely go completely according to plan but it was too late to give up. This mission looked impossible on paper and in reality the odds felt even worse. But fate loved only those who were willing to gamble everything. Eliza's fingers were beating onto her XV-15C's barrel nervously in a semi-rhythmic fashion. The jet black rifle had been equipped with a sturdy red dot sight, a flash hider and a compact flashlight near the end of it's barrel. A compact and deadly weapon in the hands of a skilled marksman and Valdez hoped her training with it was enough to qualify her as one. If this operation ended up a success the Legion would have something on their hands that people could only dream about. The Maltese's azure eyes locked back with the Kusarian's. Eliza wasn't quite sure which one of them two was looking more distressed at that very moment. She wanted to comfort the frightened girl that looked younger than her by at least a couple of years. After all it was Eliza that was heading for the belly of the beast, not the Chrysanthemum. A voice over Eliza's earpiece broke the thickening silence. It was her lifeline for this operation and the current pilot of the stolen freighter.
"We are approaching the nav-map location marked on the computer. You better get ready, 'Coronel'."
Eliza hated being called by rank. The statute such a rank brought her reminded her of a certain blonde that had put her own ambitions for power above any and all morals and ideals. Such lust for power had brought the Legion's downfall once and the auburn haired girl did not want to see it happen again. In her own mind she had not earned the right to be treated with such high regard, not at least until this job was over smoothly and successfully. Once the TACCOM went silent she could already hear her own heart beat all the way up in her eardrums. Keeping a cool head was a must and she had already blew that part. Perhaps it wasn't too late to turn back now? Part of her wanted to give up, a considerable one at that. Though the planning and the risk they already took could not let her go home empty handed.
"On it. Proceed according to plan. I'll bring the girl to you in a moment."
Her hand let off the earpiece as she finished her sentence and stood up. Judging by the Kusarian's extra frightened face, the ex-captain of the Komorebi understood very well what Valdez was talking over the comm. Eliza casually slid the sling-held rifle around her waist before dusting off her behind from whatever dirt the improvised seat she had was covered in. This all felt like a surreal Tal Ravis inspired adventure. For a moment the Maltese even considered pinching herself to check if it was all real but shrug it off. She had to look serious enough for the tied up Kusarian to follow her orders. Eliza grabbed the spooked pilot by the arm and pulled up in a motion to signal her to get up. There wasn't much time to be wasted. The Chrysanthemum cautiously complied and the two made their way towards the cockpit. Valdez's free arm rested on the XV-15, it was just the two of them in the hallway leading to the cockpit. She had to be ready in case the other girl tried anything. The final metal door cracked open and revealed the sight of the pilot seats. A sigh of relaxation, the Maltese needed the Kusarian alive and well anyways. Eliza shoved the captive onto the co-pilot seat and put her now free hand on the girl's shoulder, holding her firmly.
"If you do as we say I guarantee you that you will have the highest chance of all three of us to get out of this alive. Do you understand?"