Opening the door into the Taurus conference room, Finn McCool, head of the Ingenuus Research Group, walked in, tapping away at his Datapad. Not believing some of the reports and rumors surrounding this "Ish'tar", he shook his head in awe and disbelief as he sat down at one end of the table. Looking away and typing on the table's monitor, he dialed in Rachel Snow's comm channel.
Rachel, I need you in the Taurus room right away. We're going t' have guests soon, one of which I believe you are familiar with. You won't want t' miss this!
As he finished sending the comm over, he keyed in a broader message t' both Brandon and Dr. Samson, but not before pulling out his personal flask and taking a sip.
Brad, Alessa - I need you both aboard the Ingenuus as soon as you can. Remember our meeting the with Order the other night? Yeah, they're coming here for a meeting. Sending you coords now. Oh, and brad? Bring some of that booze you had. We're going t' need it!
Signing off of the monitor, he studied further the images and reports. If they were true, it marked something grander than Finn could have anticipated, and would have vast implications for the Ingenuus Research Group, and potentially all within Sirius...
Alessa sat in front of a console in her lab of the Antarctica, while sipping a bottle of beer, once received from a friendly trader. She analyzed an unusual audio-wave recorded a day earlier and massaged her temples thoughful. Startled from the communication signal behind her, she wearily turned around and opened the transmission decorated with the banner of the Ingenuus Research Group.
After Alessa had finished reading, she opened the response window.
Hello Finn, thank you for the invitation. I will depart in a few minutes.
While uploading the coordinates to the Ataraxia, Alessa moved back to the audio-console, saved the log and drained the bottle of beer with a deep mouthful. Grabbing a bag she moved towards her private vessel.
Brandon looked over the transmission from Finn "Well it certainly has been some time since we've been to Caymen". He paused again and gulped down a healthy measure of his drink before leaning over to the pilot, Jimmy, strapped into his console on the bridge. "Lets swing by Freeport 11 before moving out to Caymen, I think Finn will want my old research notes on the Slomon K'Hara, even if they are outdated."
The IRG|Aurora.Borealis unmoored from the Shipyard and quickly accelerated along its route. It would take the better part of a day for Brad to get to Cayman.
Rachel was sitting at a desk, both of her feet up on the surface next to a large cup of what appears to be a sort of cola. Reaching a book, as the computer terminal in front of her was running some sort of diagnostic. All in all, the scientist looked bored.
Hearing that she had some sort of distraction down in one of the conference rooms was a great distraction. Nodding her head.
Thanks Finn, you're a lifesaver. Good timing, too. Was tempted to crash after ingesting a ton of sugar as a way to knock myself to sleep while I wait for this thing to finish analyzing. I'm spending a bit more of my budget to get a computer upgrade.
Speaking lazily to her tablet laying a few feet behind her. - Slowly standing up, stretching out her limbs, she grabs her tablet and starts out of her room. Brushing her pants off, stepping past the various labs on the way down to Taurus. As usual, she wasn't wearing the stereotypical scientist grab, a plain white shirt with a denim vest. The perks about being high enough in the chain. Nobody could tell you how to present yourself. Except McCool, though she didn't think he'd care very much.
Stepping into the conference room, she takes a seat at the large table. Drawing one leg up onto the chair surface, turning to look out of the large window on the wall.
Let's see who will be today's source of interest.. She says curiously.
The Tombstone took no time to get to the system, quickly showing up on scanners. The bridge was dark, with the exception of the golden hardlight AI standing there commanding the crew about as they entered system. Beginning to cruise off to the area given to them recently, Kole and Kelly, both on the ship in separate areas, were waiting for the vessel to arrive.
Kelly was sitting alone in a cell, with a jacket and mask kept tightly on her, and a group of guards outside her cell, she thrashed about every now and again in an attempt to escape, barking insults at the men outside her dark room. Kole on the other hand was actually in medical, after the assault played upon her by the Inquisitor, she was attempting to get all the recovering she could possible before venturing out of the ship.
The Tombstone was rather hard to mistake. The second generation cruiser, showing more upgrades than perhaps it should of been baring, including a synchronized cloak like the Osiris' did, closed in. The vessel couldn't be bothered to cloak past the Reaper stations, skimming past them with ease.
As the cruiser closed faster, it began relaying its ID to the Ingenuus, she was not short of an escort wing, it seemed, along with it was two Nephthys fighters and a lone Roc bomber, which docked on the cruiser as it stopped near the colossal vessel.
"Ingenuus tower, this is Horus Tombstone of the stealth battlegroup Horus, we have arrived on time, we hope, requesting permission to moor. Over."
The Talandar was running rather late, seeming to take forever to arrive, when an EM signature was detected. Uncloaking, the Talandar transmitted its IFF and ID data to the Ingenuus, closing quickly on the mooring points offered.
"Ingenuus tower; Order Talandar. Requesting permission to moor on the active."
Upon mooring, Dr. Erzie walked down the passageway, his prototype utility suit, Adonaios followed close behind him, clearly controlled by data protocol. James walked at a strange rhythm, bending over a cane that seemed to keep him upright, making his way toward the conference room. Upon arrival he commanded Adonaios to wait outside, then spoke in a slow, stressed voice, clearly taking large effort.
"My highest apologies for the delay... I had preparations to make before I departed... *clearing his throat and letting out a few hoarse coughs, clearly exhausted* Please... allow me... to rest... a moment."
The scars of the battles of his youth were apparent, regardless of what he tried to hide, heavy burns and cuts were evidently common in his past. His face nearly completely scarred, his hand also burned, and neck riddled as well. After finally settling in a seat, he placed a small paper booklet in front of him, squaring it off on the edge of the table. He sat there a moment, staring at the book, as if mentally preparing himself for what was about to unfold before looking up with a small grin, which looked no less than unsettling.
Horus Tombstone, you are cleared for mooring. Please follow the green and blue panels that have been programmed to guide to the meetings room. Ingenuus tower out.
As Finn was fiddling with his flask, while Rachel sat nonchalantly at the desk, a ding sounded in the room, marking approaching visitors outside the door. Looking up, Finn fumbled the flask till it went spiraling out of his hands, and landed on the table in front of Rachel with a clang. Giving Rachel a sheepish grin, he turned towards the door as it opened.
Dr. Erzie I presume? A pleasure - please, make yourself comfortable. I just heard word that the Tombstone is mooring as we speak, so we should have more coming in shortly. Also, may I introduce Rachel Snow, head scientist here at Ingenuus. Don't let her attire fool you! She's one of the smartest woman I've come t' know, and is an expert at her craft and field.
Sitting back into his seat, he reached over and grabbed the flask off the table, and put it back into his pocket.
Not sure if I mentioned this or not, but we shall also be joined by my colleagues whom you met in Delta. They should be here momentarily. By the way, is there anything I can offer you? A bite to eat, water, or something a bit stronger?
Intrigued in light of more people to be involved, James gazed over, his cybernetic eyes glowing a faint, but light blue. Relieved at the offer of hospitality, he lowered his head slightly, peering down at the booklet still in front of him, slightly re-positioning it.
"I ate on the way over... and I'm a quite literal light-weight, so some water... would be refreshing..."
Letting out a few hoarse coughs, the age of the man was apparent. He clearly looked weak, his facade fading by the minute. The heroic-sounding warrior scientist seemed more like a wounded warrior waiting to bleed out. Again, Dr. Erzie looked up and smiled meekly, trying to force out any possible worry.
Upon mooring, two guards went ahead of the three that were meeting on the Inguenuus. Kole came across first, a Coalitioner with dark brown hair, tall just like her mother, wearing civilian clothing, who had a guard helping her walk, seeming to have taken a few hard hits during events prior. Upon closer inspection, you notice her soft, golden green eyes, giving evident kinship to her mother. The three walked off to the meeting room. Not too far behind them was Aelita Stone with Kelly Hellion. Aelita, being the Veteran agent escorting the commander personally, had odd, cherry blossom pink hair and equally unusual steel pink eyes. Kelly, however, was just like her daughter, except taller and had armor on. Both walked down, the remaining crew that survived followed, which was about fifteen dressed crewmen from the gunship.
Reaching the room, Kelly and Kole bowed their heads as greetings, Stone saluting and turning to her guards "You can stand down, Finn and his fellow researchers are not hostiles, nor anything close. You can return to the Tombstone." Getting a salute back from the few guards, they departed back to the warship
While Alessa passed planet Braillia, she detected the Ingenuus and transmitted her identification code and received the docking permission immediately. Alessa noticed the two Order vessels already moored on the Ingenuus and loudly spoke to herself.
Uhhh, I am late.
Accordingly, Alessa took a small device and a bag and went towards the exit of the Ataraxi. Greeting some employees on her way, she rushed though the hallways, directly heading the Taurus conference room. Surprised by two black-suited soldiers crossing her way, she reached the entrance to the meeting room.
Watching from left to right Alessa saw a couple people, presumably branded from war sitting and standing around the table. Their appearance was daunting, but at same commiserative. Their look went from a person with cybernetic implants to a woman with strong physical handicaps.
Alessa slightly smiled at Finn and Rachel, noticing that Rachel worn leger clothes, which created quite a contrast to Alessas appearance. Passing everyone, she introduced herself with a friendly professional smile
Good evening, My name is Alessa Samson. Nice to meet you.
Even though, she thought to be the last arriving person, Alessa noticed that Brad was still missing. While waiting, she decided to drink a little and take a seat.