*With a quick breath, Bret blows onto one of the sockets of his bionic arm, checking certain parts with his own sight as he continues to listen to Vixen*
Bret: We should be here for a few weeks while the V gets its refit as ordered by the higherups...Simply consider this a a bit of a vacation and learning experience for Licentia...
*A frown forms on his brow as he activates a dry charge from his arm piece, shaking his head a bit as he looks down the barrel*
Bret: I really need to stop my target practicing with Daniel so much before I wear this out and have to get it replaced..
Vixen frowned softly, but hid it within a moment, looking over the arm. "I do wish there was a better alternative than cybernetics...They never truly help anyone over the long-term." She sighed quietly, leaning back on the bed and lounging against the back wall. So what if she was a little biased on personal experience- it didn't change the fact that mechanical augmentation had never helped anyone she knew, only made them worse.
"I mean, sure, its your arm, but...with all the routine cleaning and such, as well as the fact that you have a gun with you at all times...I guess i'm just worried that its a bit much."
*Bret gave out a deep sigh as he knew she was right, putting the few pieces back together before reattaching it to his arm. moving its fingers in a series of steps to check its connection*
Bret: I know Vix..I'm only keeping this until I deal with...."Him"...Then I'll look into an actual biological replicant...
*With a bit of a smile, he leans against Vix, nuzzling into her cheek and giving a bit of a smile*
Bret: Cheer up Vix...We're supposed to be enjoying all this for the next few days...No need to feel so down...
Nodding again, Vix tried to smile. "I'll do my best. Though my best will probably involve buying a travel-bag full of jewellery..." She smirked slightly, looking at the travelling pack and wondering how much would fit inside with all of their luggage already. "I hear that this Freeport is a bit of a trade hub." Standing up, she gave Licentia a small pat on the head, and stretched her back. "You've never really told me about him that much, you know. Not in great detail...why is he all that bad?"
*With a sharp twinge on his muzzle, the connection sting back to place, taking a deep breath and listening to her, his mind returning to his first confrontation with Vulpe*
Bret: All I know..Is that I cannot...and will not accept his existance..And nothing more will be said on him while we're here..
*Bret hops off the bed and walks over to Liventia, picking her up into his arms as he walks over to the nearby exterior window, pointing out at the large green gas giant*
Bret: See that Licentia?..Its Planet Tirane...Livadia Shipyard is there...Can you say Livadia?
Licentia just looked up at Bret, giggling as if he was some kind of amusement to her. She showed no interest in the space around them; deciding to pay more attention to the room around her. Vixen didn't come closer, instead crossing her arms and frowning, staring at Bret for a few moments before she looked down and sighed. "Fine...I'll drop it for now. But soon, you'll need to give me an explanation. And I won't take no for an answer."
Walking up beside him and smiling slightly, she teased a hand in the air above Licentia, who grabbed at her fingers, absorbed by the attention of her mother. "So. I think we should explore the station a little, don't you?" She turned her gaze to Bret himself, as Licentia grabbed a finger and shook it about a little. "But...maybe we should leave her with Loreley for the time being? I know Zoner stations are neutral, but I still don't feel safe with taking her into a crowded base."
*A smile creeped up on his muzzle as he watched their daughter frolic a bit, bringing a paw up and ticking Licentia's belly, causing her to squeal in laughter before looking up at Vix*
Bret: I would prefer not to tell you but...Maybe one day I will...And yes, I'll call loreley up here to take care of her while we're out...
*Bret walks back to the bed as he lets Licentia leap out of his arms onto the bed, watching her roll and hop around on the sheets as He tabs a message to Loreley, informing her to come up and babysit for a little...After a few minutes pass, Loreley enters the room, allowing Vix and Bret to leave down the halls of the station...A few minutes into their silent walk, Bret stops near one of the many shops, peering at what appears to be a small selection of wedding dresses, his muzzle turning red for several moments before speaking*
Bret: You know Vix...I just had a wild thought..
==DATE--DECEMBER 25TH-819 A.S.==
==LOCATION--EVYN AND FEYA'S RESIDENCE--PLANET CAMBRIDGE==
*The gentle warmth and sound of laughter is heard throughout the small building as a familiar and new sense of togetherness is found from the small group of people, almost everyone talking and enjoying a bit of the festivities from a newly discovered holiday to be celebrated...From a nearby doorway, Brettonias rests against the hardened beam, enjoying the sights of everyone while he speaks to himself*
Bret: Date...December 25th..819 A.S....Days in space...775...Despite the problems of my life being as it is...Dealing with family members...The problems of an outside world..I am pleased to know that I have people who I can trust to help with those problems...
*Bret quickly moves out of the doorway as a series of mischievous children and Naoko run past him, all of them running after Naoko as the drone appeared to be covered in garlands and assorted things glued onto its frame, clearly in a state of distress...Following them with a bit of a grunt of annoyance in her stance, Vixen passes by, giving Brettonias a bit of a look as if stating... "We are not having any more kids" ...With a smile Bret turns and walks into the kitchen, spying a card game being played with several friends and family members*
Miki: RUMMY!...
Jenson: Miki...For the last time...We're playing...poker...
*A deep sigh emits from several of the seated characters as they continue to play, several hands lifted to keep their cards hidden, although Miki seeming to still not able to play correctly, most of his cards showing from being flipped around...With a bit of a shrug, Daniel gives a bit of a nod toward Ilo, throwing in several chips into the small pile in the center of the table*
Ilo: How many cards Daniel-san?...
Daniel: I wager 15 credits...and with that 2 cards...
*Brettonias keeps a close eye as he watches the changes in positions from the other players, giving a smirk as he lifted his bionic arm up, giving a bit of a scan as he checks all their cards...With a smirk he shakes his head, keeping an eye on the game for several more minutes, watching the exchanging of cards until the final hand...With a look, Ilo calls to Veris*
Ilo: Its your call Veris-san...What do you have?...
*With a deep smirk she tosses her cards onto the pile, to the dismay and groans of the other players*
Veris: Sorry ladies...Full house...So how many does this make now?
*The clinking of credit chits can be heard as Veris drags the pot to her already amassed pile, smiling and smirking as the other players toss down their cards in defeat...Brettonias turns and gives a a bit of a laugh as he walks into the other room, watching Charles play with Rosoa, one of Daniel and Veris's triplets, seeming to take apart his new toy that he got...With a bit of a gruff, Feya shakes her head at the pair*
Feya: You know we went through a bit of trouble getting that for him and all you two are concerned on is how it works?... I mean gees, next time we'll just get you both a pair of circut boards or holotainment bands to mess with..
Charles: Baka...Side's...He likes it as well...
*The arguement continues as Bret walks away, passing Evyn sleeping on the couch and walking up behind Agatha, pausing as she continues to look out the window, watching the heavy snow continues to fall...She turns her head a bit and spies him behind her, keeping her arms folded as if in a distressed moment*
Agatha: You ever fall for someone despite the fact that that person was taken by another?...No...Of course you haven't...
*Bret raises a brow as he stands beside her, looking out into the outside world*
]Bret: Jeremy?...
*Agatha gives a but a few nods in reply*
Bret: The one thing about being ourselves and associating with humanity onto a sense of love and such...is that its something no one has the answers to..I'm shocked that Daniel and Veris can stand each other let alone have a family...But...
Agatha: Forget I said anything...Just leave it at that...I doubt he even has feelings for me cause of what I look like...
*With a bit of a nudge, Bret gives a smirk, standing right beside her for a moment*
Bret: In my opinion of Jeremy Hunter in the times I've met him..He could be a bit fickle onto such...Though I'm not him so I don't know what his response to the matter will be if you ever confessed to him..
*Agatha gave a bit of a nod as she turned her head down, pressing against the wall before shaking her head*
Agatha: Whatever...Forget I said anything..
*They both stand silent for a moment before a beeping noise comes from the direction of the couch Evyn was laying upon, a deep grunt sounding as Evyn threw up a paw, covering her face with her other arm*
Evyn: It's for you Agatha...Deal with it so my migraine goes away...
*Agatha quickly rushes over and takes the device, scanning its contents for a few moments before grabbing her coat of the top of the couch*
Agatha: Emergency recall order from Headquarters..I need to get back to Minor as soon as possible...Which means now..
==END OF PART 1==
==DATE--JANUARY 2ND-820 A.S.==
==LOCATION--LIVADIA SHIPYARD--OMICRON 74==
==BEGINNING OF PART 2==
*The sharp clatter from the crowds onboard Livadia sounded like the fall of a gentle rainstorm compared to the smile upon Brettonias face, full of a deep pride as he finally received the news...The Maverick V was finished...His weeks of waiting were finally paying off, aside from the generous payment that was spent upon the retrofit project...As they walked passed a series of station viewing windows, he stopped for a moment and looked out among the station, finally spying the craft that had been with him through so much...With a deep, appreciative sigh, he suddenly felt a bit of pressure onto his right shoulder...
Vixen: Well there it is... How's it look to you?
Bret: Definitely smaller for one thing...I just hope that they didn't mess up too much of it on my request...
Vixen: Judging by the looks of things.. I expect a few tiny changes.
*Bret tuned his head and gave a nod as his arm wrapped around her, pulling themselves from the window and continuing their trek through the crowded station...Finally reaching the boarding area, Bret showed the dock manager his ID and security codes, escorting them down through the long tube onto the V...They finally stopped at the side port of the V, and with a generous handshake to the manager, finally boarded.. What they saw, took their breathes away... Everything from the ground up looked like it was redone...New flooring up to the interior's lighting panels.. With a few nods of approval, the began to make their way up to the the bridge, admiring the sheer new detailing the engineers did in such a short time, turning it from an old research vessel, into a machine fit for the leader of any House...As the reached the cockpit, Bret signaled Naoko forward, aiming near a convex port to the side*
Bret: Naoko.. Go ahead and lock in...Give me the full reviews and details of all new systems onboard...Vix, go ahead and have a seat while I get things moving...
Naoko: //Aye sir...Beginning scans...Standby Sir\\
*After several moments, the entire area around them became a symphony of lights and sounds, every console lighting up and displaying details on their functions...The moment was almost breathtaking for the pair as they looked around the room...Brettonias's ears turned suddenly to the sharp ping on one of the consoles, reaching over to find a small light flashing before giving it a press*
--This is Livadia Control to the Maverick five--You are clear to launch--Eris be with you--
*A chuckle escaped Bret's lips as he gave an affirmative nod, responding in kind*
Bret: Livadia Control, this is the Maverick Five...Thanks for everything you've done in such a short time...Moving out at quarter impulse for 3 klicks before engaging main drives.
*A slight shudder sounds through the cabin as they detach from the station, the vessel seeming to slide through space as its main engines started to light up, slowly gaining speed until they cleared the docks..The moment that Bret saw they were clear, he reached over and gave Vixen's restraining belts a tightening, a slight grin on his face as she looked at him in curiosity*
Bret: Hang onto your tail hun...Naoko...Take us about 40 degree's heading towards Freeport XV...Fire the engines to maximum and take us home..
*With a few shimmers from Naoko, the vessel turned about through the shipyard, and its trio of engine's suddenly fired, burning a steel blue as they reached maximum output for several minutes, burning a trail past Tirane and the emerald shine of its sun...As the glimmer of steel from the nearing Freeport, an incoming message signal began to call again.. Taking no time, Bret rung it up onto the main view screen*
--This is a Priority One message to all vessels in the area--Reports of an unknown attack in Minor have been reported--
--All vessels are to stay docked the surrounding systems of Omicron Delta-Kappa-Minor until further notice--
--This message will repeat on hourly intervals until more details come in--
*Bret quickly reached onto the console, his hands furiously moving as he began to make adjustments*
Bret: Change in plans you two..Naoko divert us to Delta and get us there as fast as we possibly can..
*With a slight roll in its port, Naoko began to shimmer as the ship rolled past the station, quickly entering the nearby jump hole, the familiar lighting from the anomaly shinning through the ship as Vixen looked on to him, a familiar tone on his face as she leaned back, knowing that he was worried about his sister Agatha*
==SEVERAL HOURS LATER==
==NEAR FREEPORT 11--OMICRON DELTA==
*The lights from the final jump into the system finally dimmed as the Maverick V entered the ice fields near Planet Nauru, smaller fragments of ice bouncing off the shimmering steel of its hull as the deep throom of its engines began to warm up, quickly barreling through the ice as it made its way out...Inside the cockpit a curious look befit Bret's muzzle as he gazed out, shaking his head from the sight of the nebula*
Bret: Something's wrong.. Vix look.. The color density of the cloud has darkened so much... I..I can't tell if its human created or...something more sinister...
*Vixen gave a slow nod as she clutched herself, a slit chill sounding down her spine as she continued to look into the clouds*
Vixen: I feel...Cold...We shouldn't be here..
Bret: I'm not leaving til we reach Minor and find out what the hell happened...Keep us heading straight towards the Minor jump hole Naoko...Don't stop for anything..
*The ship continued it's path as it flew past a familiar set of satellites, sending a few messages of warning not to proceed...They were ignored as the trio continued, finally arriving at a series of towers guarding the Minor Jump hole...However, they themselves did not respond...No friend or foe message...Nothing...Just dead steel pillars guarding silence*
Vixen: You sure about this?..
*Bret said nothing as he motioned the ship forward, entering the jump hole and began its jump into the unknown*
==END OF PART 2==
==DATE--JANUARY 2ND-820 A.S.==
==LOCATION--UPON ENTERING OMICRON MINOR==
==BEGINNING OF PART 3==
*The shimmer of blue and white from within the jump hole shone across the titanium skin of the Maverick V as its worried crew waited for the jump to reach its destination...Within upon the bridge, its captain and fellow members sat and waited, the time seeming to pass in moments as they traveled upon the leagues of stars passing them by...Finally, the ship came to a halt as it entered a nebula of familiar green and dust...And the quickly nearing hull of a Core Battleship* "EVASIVE MANEUVERS! Forward Shields to maximum! Fire all port thrusters! Climb! Climb! Climb!" Bret hollered as their craft burned hard to its port, scrapping its bottom hull along the still burning wreck as the V turned sharply, narrowly ending their lives before their search began...As the ship leveled out, Bret finally removed his dug in claws from his chair, trying to compose himself as he turned his attention to Vixen, finding her just as shook up as himself*
"Are you alright?"
I'm fine. Just.. What the heck was that?
*Naoko began to shimmer in his port as he turned towards the two. //Sir...That was a Guild Core Battleship...Or should I say the remains of one Sir\\ For a pause, Naoko directed the ship to turn its new scanner upon the still burning wreck, letting out a mechanical-like sigh in turn* //Sir...I regret that I can find no life signatures aboard however...It appears to not be the only wreck Sir\\
*Bret and Vixen turned as they began to see the sight of hulks floating by, as if entering a vast graveyard of ships, some burning and others asunder as the view of Toledo began to come into view...The former planet of ice, now a ball of flame and fire.. Within the Bridge both Vixen and Bret sit, stunned from the sight before Bret pressed upon the console* "By Eris I hope this works...This is the Maverick V hailing on all frequencies.. Anyone in the area... Please respond"
*Dust and Echos was all that responded in the cold nebula, the moving hulks seeming to be the only occupants of the system. As the vessel continued its course around the fiery remains of Toledo, another hulk came into view, its size and shape familiar to everyone*
"Its... The Isis. Naoko bring us alongside and see if we can try to establish a connection to the Isis... Vix.. Let's suit up and check things out to see what happened here. *The pair left the bridge until they stepped upon the lift, Brettonias letting out a worried sigh*
"I'm sure that Agatha made it out alright."
*As the lift came to a halt and its doors opened, silence was all that came from Brettonias as they entered the airlock, suiting up quickly and making final checks until an alarm sounded, announcing the connection between each vessel. As Brettonias pressed the airlock release, the rush of escaping atmosphere sounded, both of them taking their first few steps forward until they passed from the reaches of the V's artificial gravity, suddenly floating down the length of the tube until they came to the charred entrance of one of the Isis's outer ports. A gloved paw came up as Brettonias stopped Vixen mid-flight, bringing his bionic arm around only to blast a hole in the blast door, allowing him to pry it fully open, exposing the dark interior, and a floating corpse of one of the ships officers. A sharp frightened gasps escapes Vixens lips as she grabs onto Brettonias's arm, in turn given a reassuring squeeze upon her shoulder*
]"Lets not stay here any longer than we have to."
T-that's easy for you to say.. You're used to stuff like this.
"We got about 30 minutes of air in these suits. Lets not stay longer than needed."
*The pair made their way through the derelict vessel, passing more floating bodies of crewmen and women unable to save themselves, the sense of dread and despair starting to grip their hearts as they finally made their way onto the bridge. Debris filled the open space as they slowly made their way toward a series of panels still lit.*
Bret. Over here. Looks like some power is still running. We should be able to see if Agatha's ship made it out."
"Good. I'll see what I can do"
*He began to make a search of what remained of system, going through the few files he could until the cracked viewscreen before them lit up*Look!*The screen showed the identification of the ship they were worried about, the OCV-Bane.of.the.Wolf. Its flight path heading on an erratic path until it vanished* "It appears that the Bane went off on its own after.. Something.. attacked the Isis."*As Vix finished her talk, the paneling sparked and killed, ending its final operation. Brettonias quickly turned and began to float towards the exit, still silent until he reached the archway of the door, letting out a deep sight*"Come on. We're done here"
*The trip back upon the V was cold and silent through the dark corridors of the dead Isis, as they crossed back along the airlock tube, Vixen tried to reach out toward Brettonias, giving pause as she knew what was on his mind, retracting her hand before it touched. As they stepped onto the bridge, even Licentia's outstretched arms and calling to be lifted gave Brettonias no reason to speak, his mind feeling the prospect of losing a loved one and its cold grip. "Naoko... Take us back to Freeport Eleven.. I think we've seen enough" said Vixen as Naoko shone for a moment in its holder, keeping silent as the ship began to tilt, the sight of the Isis leaving the viewscreen as the V's drives were engaged, making their way back towards the Omicron Delta jumphole. An hour slowly passed as the ride was slow and silent, interrupted only by moments of noise escaping from Licentia and her boredom. As the silhouette of Freeport 11 came into view, another shape appeared docked, causing Brettonias to quickly sit up in his chair* "I don't believe it" *Before then was the damaged hulk of a Geb class Carrier, fire-teams among its outer hull as multiple plumes of smoke escaped from it. As the V passed near the hulk, its callsign shone out like a beacon of hope as the ship quickly began docking procedures upon the the station. *
==END OF PART 3==
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