Nodoka and the rest of the crew listen on to Alberts' story. Nodoka is left somewhat appalled by what happened, but by the end, she is left with a few tears running down her cheek. "Birdie.. sweetie.. I.." She says, speechless. "I have to.. agree with Alberts. I'm thankful he didn't do it. Then I wouldn't have met such a lovely and bright woman that you are, Elena." Nodoka continues as she gazes warmly at her. "Yeah. It's a shame.. but.. blyat.. What the hell did the people onboard do to deserve a Nazione Maltesa battlegroup bearing down on a single liner?" Alexei adds, wondering what the hell caused all of it.
Elena speaks up right after Alexei asks. "They didn't. They got caught in the crossfire from my family's idiocy. You already know what the Graham's did, supply a particular cartel that's now dead thankfully. Well, dear old dad was a greedy piece of crap, and felt that he wasn't getting paid enough, we commonly took trips to Sigma-19, these were business trips. The liner would go near the cloud and a few freighters would load up the "Cargo" and take them to Omicron Beta. He'd accompany them to insure that he get's paid. This time he get's the bright idea to take something to sell back to them, what he didn't know was that it was a derelict Nomad cell, when it's useless it looks more like the high quality artifacts that dealers love, so he thought it was less valuable and as wanted as it was." She explains. "What he also didn't know was that this group were one of those weird ones, the ones who worshiped the Nomads like gods. So he get's it, and get's out. It's not until he left the system that they figured out that it was stolen, and when they did they swarmed in pursuit. The liner attempts to get away, it failed. The Cartel leader boarded the ship and made his way to our suite, gunning down my parents and brother... They didn't kill me, or drug me because he realized something. He created a power vacuum, while my uncle was more of a loyal asswipe he knew that he could do better, so he made the choice to raise me, make me an unflinching pawn to bring in more slaves and distribute Cardamine most likely... Then, the Corsairs arrived, so did the Songbirds. I... I still can't remember much about that day or the ones leading up to it... A few faces here, the sound of gunfire there... But I remember Alberts, saving me from that nightmare. That's what all I could piece together from my uncles testimonies, and blackbox recordings and surveillance footage salvaged from everything I could find. She looks to Nodoka and Alexei, a somber look on her face. "There's a reason why I for the longest time detested my name, refused to even be called by my first. Because the blood in my veins in tainted by that legacy, one I'm still working on-and may very well continue to work on 'till I'm dead... But recently I've taken my name back, and I'm making it something better. Something I can look at with Pride."
Nodoka moves closer to the somber girl in the seat adjacent to her, and hugs her tightly. "You're doing a terrific job so far, Elena. I love you so much, and I'm proud that you wish to redeem your name. Me and Honya are here for you every step of the way, sweetheart. Just like the rest of your loved ones are. Right Honya-chan?" She consoles, turning her head to her other partner. "Hai, Hanamura-sensei." Honya responds in kind, smiling to the girl.
"Now.. let us get onto some more positive news, shall we? IRG has been overly quiet as of late, and thankfully, thanks to Honya, we are nearly prepared to have a finished prototype body replication system constructed. How she did it, I'll never know, but she looked over some of the old manuals and found some sketches from Erzie of the various systems and what not, even the molecular structures of the various materials the bodies are made of. I doubt IRG would be too keen about knowing this, so we have the Science teams down in Deck E doing high-sec work to get it up and running. The techs say that with Honya's guidance they should have it complete before the 10th." Nodoka proclaims, turning to Cass and smiling. "If anyone asks you about your body, tell them it was manufactured by StarCat Holdings K.G." Nodoka continues, raising concern from Bride and Honya. "StarCat Holdings?" Honya proclaims, only to be interjected by Bride. "K.G.?"
Nodoka looks to the two of them. "StarCat Holdings Kabushiki Gaisha. It's a front company that Ouroboros will be maintaining in secret, based out of Gran Canaria. The Erlanger's Registered to it. It may be a Kusarian Name, but it's registered to the local government on Gran Can, hence the K.G. part of it." Nodoka explains. "We'll be using it for covert smuggling and public hauling work to fund our operations."
Elena and Cass look at them in shock. "Wait what!?""This soon!?" the two move close to Nodoka. "The Seraphine can support a project like this!?""H-how long do you think it'll take once it's ready?""You have some of Erzie's sketches?""Multiple?""How much else did he leave?" The two deliver an onslaught of questions and as everything hits them at once. Noel looks at the two and giggles. "So this is a big deal yes? I'm glad that it sounds like that trip is going to happen sooner than I thought."
Nodoka looks to the two in shock, and smiles. "Yes, Yes, within a week or two, Yes, and mainly schemata and some loose documentation. It wasn't all of it, but it was enough for Honya and the science team to put two and two together. It actually uses the same system Honya had devised, but integrating IRG design techniques and new more compact BCI motherboards for installation of AI, as well as a more sturdy body overall, much more resistant to damage and wear and tear compared to IRG's bodies and the genuine article."
She turns to Noel. "Mhm. It also means clandestine operations in Kusari can commence soon."
Jae-un looks to Nodoka. "Can I have one of them? I'd rather not be up **** creek and bleeding out somewhere away from home."
She turns to her. "As much as I'd like to be certain of your safety, I'd rather you being moved into these kind of bodies be for emergencies only when your original one is giving out. Even with IRG's design, it's still somewhat better than an actual genuinely created human body."
Elena looks at Nodoka, then to Honya and chuckles "Honya you are a miracle worker. I thought it'd take months just to get a first draft. And you go and make a working version in record time! Cass leans in. "Speaking of projects, Elena was thinking of coming to you about obtaining certain weapons." Elena nods her head. "Oh yeah! Thanks Cass, you're a life saver. I need some Photon cannons... A lot actually. Kusari Sunfrenzies in particular if you can, for that new project I told Honya about, she knows the one right? But yeah, don't really care where you get them from, but I need at least ten to take apart and examine." She leans back and stretches out before continuing "I'm more then willing to pay for them, it's only fair all things considered."
Honya is seen blushing. "It's nothing really.." she proclaims, only for Cassiopeia to chime in.
Nodoka chimes in, answering Elena's request. "Shinta will be dispatched to acquire the weapons you seek. We don't have the resources right now to send out ships to Kusari." Nodoka says, only for the pink-haired girl to materialize at the end of the table. "Was I called?" Shinta asks.
"Yes. Harpy Squadron has a tasking for you which we'll be sponsoring. You are to, upon entering Kusari with your body, acquire 10 Sunfrenzy-class Photon cannons and bring them to the Seraphine. Consider it part of a familiarization flight. You'll be paid by both them and High Command. Handsomely, for that matter. 50 million credits."
Shinta's eyes widen and glisten, her face smiling. "Yay! Okay, Do you want me to do it now?" She asks.
Nodoka shakes her head. "No. Once your body is developed, we will commit you to that tasking, until then you are to commit to learning from the curriculum Mieko and Jae-un have gathered for you."
Shinta pouts, visibly upset. "It's not fair. I've been analysing it for 5 days straight and read it all 572,391,029 times!"
Nodoka is left surprised by Shinta's speed. "Well then.. Honya. when able to, provide more curriculum. Public records, historical data from Kusari state archives on the neural net."
Mark laughs at the exchange "Sounds like the poor kid needs some outside exposure, the mission is important sure. But if Cass is anything to go by, she still needs time for relaxation" Seline pipes in as well. "All work no play Hanamura, I'm not gonna say let her go get the guns, but let her do something other training."
Nodoka takes a moment to recieve the other Harpies' feedback. "I see. It's just we're concerned about Shinta fitting in. I'd rather she not get caught, after all. But.. Given she seems to have analysed the first data set, consisting of historical data from the past 400 years, then I'd says she probably knows enough. Thing is, outside the ship there's not much she can do, really. We've been keeping her neural net access on a tight leash."
"Maybe she could do cargo runs with Cassiopeia? I'm sure she could keep her from too much trouble." Alberts looks over too the pair of AI. "Yes, I suppose I could do some trading with her. Provided that she's okay with it." Cass looks to Shinta and smiles. "It'd be a good way for her to get some experience under her belt, plus it'd also bring us more money. Something that we all could do with a bit more of given what we're working on." Elena adds.