At least coffee was the right decision if she went by how easily it was accepted. She had her own now and wrapped both hands around it without drinking as if it'd protect her from the cold looks she received. She hated that kind of judging analysing look and immediately felt uncomfortable again. Not even a thanks or a smile.
— I'm Zoe?
She was a bit surprised. Yesterday she'd been mostly ignored, sure but she was still around.
— Cromwell.
She added then. Realising she should probably give her whole name.
— I also work for Enma. I guess she didn't care to tell anyone.
She explained disappointed. Maybe if she just left no one would notice or miss her?
His brow furrowed into a slight frown, mostly because he didn't ask for her name, it would have been redundant given that he already knew what it was. He was more curious about her origins and who she actually was prior to this form of employment, or indentured servitude. Whichever was more applicable.
— And why is a Bretonian working for one of us?
It was in their nature to not care, the concept was foreign to him, and he had to wonder why Zoe found that line of thought so disappointing.
Claire wonders a little as a person with Bretonian accent from yesterday offering her a drink. The accent of the enemy propaganda, prisoners and begs for mercy whenever yet another Bretonia ship was set on fire. This is causing complete and utter distrust towards this person but at the closer look, Britonian looks harmless. Sudden appear of the person with an enemy accent would not shake her royal posture with the head being lifted a little upwards, this posture was trained over the years and now she couldn't help herself, but to look down at the Sirians.
Her uniform got a little worn, despite bots cleaning and ironing it overnight. But nevertheless, Claire did her best for this to look flawless, again not for this Outcast and mercenaries, of course. She used to do that back in Orleans, when every morning, the best people of the planet were waiting to greet her. It pains now when he's remembering all of it. The next moment she's losing control over her lips and starting to look a little bit angry.
Ah yes, there's that Bretonian waiting for her to reply if she will get this coffee or not. At least Gabriel is around and he seems to keep everyone in check.
— Coffee? Sure...
Claire then taking a cup and putting it right at the table so it will cool off and maybe someone else will take care of it. She has no intention to drink anything from the hands of Bretonian. But refusing could also get them angry for whatever reason. They shouldn't really, as their boss seems to show her a very specific and special treatment for her, which is disgusting by itself but should keep her safe to a point.
Then again, most of them look like a simple mercenary, and those usually change their bosses quite often. It's just a gang, scum, thugs, pirates, drug dealers, and slave traders. Shivers run around her body when she thinks about what she got herself into. This mix of complete neglect and a certain fear is somewhat paralyzing. She would let them converse and hopefully hear something useful.
Enma walked into the room soon after, waking up early to plan everything, as she planned to move out by now. She looks much calmer and less caring than yesterday, Approaching her desired fiancée and employees. She got that commanding voice now, not being too loud though, just something that is incredibly hard to debate.
— Alright, get ready to get to your ships, we are leaving as soon as possible. I will upload the route and other data into the corporate account. There is no reason for us to stay here any longer. Good thing that you are drinking coffee, by the way, this is going to be a long flight.
She said while switching her look between everyone but Claire. Despite waking up quite a long time ago, En looks somewhat sleepy. And indeed she would love to go to bed now, instead of planning movements of their wing and then actually flying. Does she also feel like it's colder here today than it was yesterday? Maybe it was alcohol that was warming her up. Because everyone seems to feel quite confident. No additional clothing or blankets are in use from what it looks.
Loyola then closing to Claire, instantly remembering to look down at the princess' hand and discovering that the ring is not there. In spite of her mood being ruined almost instantly, Enma does not say a word. Outcast has no desire to deal with it right now, coldly deciding to have a conversation about it a little bit later. Coldly passing Claire, she's heading to the sofa, seating down and crossing her legs.
Then they would all hear a loud sound of speakers right outside of the armored door of their section.
— This is Don Alberto de Velázquez. Enma Loyola, I mean Traitora, you are to surrender yourself and a gallic bitch that you brought to the station on my mercy at once.
Enma only cringed a little, saying to everyone, but not very loud.
— Who? De Velázquez?... Alright, everyone calm, get your arms ready, there's a backdoor here.
Then speakers from the other side of the door are booming once more.
— You had your chance.
Armored door them flew out with an explosion, as Outcast gunmen stepping into the apartment. Gunning down a few LG guards. Quickly approaching the room and opened fire, Enma took her pistol and fired back not really aiming, maybe even hitting someone. Enma then rushed to get Claire out of the line of fire and closer to the backdoor, leaving the rest of the shooting to her people.
Literally pulling Claire out of the room, they almost made it exit just as old fashioned bullet cuts the skin at Enma's head. Making the blood flowing down to her face, it even looked like a serious injury. Failing to open a backdoor with her ID, Enma shots the control panel with her gun and then it somehow opens. She takes her communicator, giving an order to her personnel at the station.
— Everyone, make it to your ships, we are leaving NOW. Fight back if you have to!
Loyola then looks at the obviously scared face of Claire. She cannot speak to her at once, as she ran out of breath by now.
— Don't panic, I will get you out of here... Wait, where's the ring? I am not leaving it here to this De Valashesquezprfg or whatever noname.
— The ring? The ring... I took it when I left the room. It's in my pocket. Who are they?
Despite Enma telling her not to panic, she panicked. Especially after noticing the blood gushing out of Enma's face. It didn't seem like she could have a proper moment of peace before something started happening again. The explosion shocked her, She was tossed into cover, but she managed to catch a glimpse of the Outcast invaders - multiple men, heavily armed and armoured. She wanted to ask why were they after them, but it came to no surprise that they'd want a valuable noble or to get vengeance on whatever this woman did.
She was dragged behind Enma as they headed towards the backdoor hallway.
The time for small talk was over, it was now time to dabble in the arts of his profession. Springing into action with a fragmentation grenade as Loyola's opponents stormed the quarter. It would result in the death of two men, while also mortally wounding a third. He was incredibly swift in the way he darted in and out of cover while he and a few surviving guards exchanged fire with the aggressors. It was his precise bursts of what seemed like green needles that were claiming the most lives however. Something you expected given his price tag. As lethal as he was proving to be however, he only had so many bullets and so much in the way of reinforcements. With the two people he was instructed to protect beginning to fall back, he began to retreat as well. Despite his condescension towards his non-native colleagues, he would still cover them as everyone made a dash through the rear exit.
— Don't stop moving, they'll try to cut us off.
He said loudly as he ran with the group for their ships.
Sure she'd wanted to get out of the awkward and uncomfortable situation but not in this way. Very clearly not this way. The argument had her on edge right away and the explosion had her scramble for cover and she fired back fairly quickly. This was a situation she knew. One that terrified her but also kept her focused. Mostly on surviving. But seeing Enma and Claire retreat reminded her that it was also her job to fight here.
Together with Gabriel she backed up, covering the two from the attacking Outcasts.
— What route do we escape this?!
She yelled over at Gabriel mostly, considering he seemed to have the station's layout down and was the only one to fight close by. Her ship was certainly not close by and also mostly useless to pick up this many people. But leaving it behind would be an issue too. Why did she get involved with Enma...
— I have no idea, must be some randoms who want to take me out. I told you that I will get myself into a risk? There we go!
Enma would grab Claire by the hand, leading her in rush by the thin corridors. Sometimes Claire's hand would almost slip out as Enma's palm got really covered in cold sweat from stress. Breaking away from her group that was still fighting, basically abandoning them, caring only for herself and this princess for now. The hostile group will likely think that them, as the most important targets are being defended in the center of LG combatants.
Loyola couldn't tell if the LG group will make it or not... But if they win they stay alive, and if they lose there's no reason to stay and die with them. Enma spent most of this morning acquiring a new ship for them to travel. As time was short, only a Dromedary that was modified into a passenger shuttle was found. But she wasn't sure if the key was transferred to her account yet.
Being spooked by a random person at the corridor turn, Enma is unloading six laser shots into him, before a guy could even say a word. Finally making it to the hangar, Enma is trying to activate the promised shuttle-freighter hybrid, but it didn't work. Quickly rushing to her Sabre, getting inside of a cockpit as soon as the ladder rolled in and getting Claire on her laps, Enma is requesting an undocking procedure and it's not being denied... Gladly. Looks like this firefight got nothing to do with the Don running this station. Must be some minor pricks that are trying to get some prestige or whatever, it doesn't matter now.
— The Outcast Queen speaking, we have made it to hangar and undocking now. Every hero who's still holding them off can pull back now and evacuate.
As they launched in space, Enma sighs and breathing deep to recover her breath. Her hand moves into one of Claire's pockets, then one that was most suitable to carry a ring. Taking Claire's hand for one more time and pulling a ring onto exact same finger.
— I don't think I allowed you to take it off... I mean your highness.
Enma smiles, being obviously stressed and trying to ease it with some degree of humor. Getting her hands on the navigation, setting a course to Hokkaido, overloading engines to get the maximum speed. Maybe she will just start losing everything again? What is she even doing? What for? To be a girl that lives in a castle and married with noble? Just living to get childhood dreams to come true? Loyola is having a clear moment of doubt that it's worth it, but she already started and it's too late to stop. Or rather she will stop respecting herself if she will stop now.
— I hope my boys and girls will make it because, without them, we are fucked...
En is pronouncing it with a really low and almost lifeless voice, really close to a whisper.
The most important thing they needed to make sure of was that they could not be followed into the hangars and pursued thereafter, otherwise this skirmish would extend beyond an acceptable threshold.
— Straight to the hangar.
It wasn't clear what he had planned, at least until they arrived at their final destination. Once there he seemed to wait for a few seconds, letting the bulk of the gunmen catch up. It was likely that Zoe would express concern once the gunfire resumed, but he'd reassure her with a firm glance. Taking position near his ship and waiting until the rival Don's men took their first step into the hangar, remotely accessing the tractor beam of his Rapier to throw fuel tanks into the enemy. A single green salvo would fire from his ship's main guns, causing an explosion which seemed to shake the station and even detonate some freighters parked near the entrance, it had killed several if not dozen of the pursuers and blocked their passage. Despite this, the Don and Gabriel would glare daggers into one another from opposite ends of the smoldering wreckage that formerly served as a passageway. It was a staring contest that lasted all of six seconds before Gabriel turned towards Zoe.
— Let's go.
His ears were definitely ringing from the noise of the blast, but their escape was secured now. The loose end in the form of the rival Don could be cauterized some other time.