What’s Familiar won’t Always be Right

"Yes, Captain."

"V, are you feeling well, V. Your pupils are dilated, and your skin is so flush–"

"Captain! Well, aren't you a sight for sore eyes. I had half a mind to come looking for you if you kept me waiting with Rayce any longer." Thella and Rayce were waiting to greet the pair by the time the elevator doors opened at the ground floor, a few stories above the Nospace Altar.

"...Are we interrupting?" Rayce commented after seeing the pair, more cozy than usual.

"The two of you have done well to follow my orders. I have just spoken with the Silver Council and briefed them on the events of the mission."

"And I hope you didn't expect us to keep our mouths shut when they came to question us about everything that happened, that is everything that wasn't by the books?" Rayce questioned,

"Apologies for the interruption, Sergeant Oswin and Lieutenant Rayce, but the Captain was informed that we would find you at the barracks, what are you doing here?" Vronica raised the question of her arrival, with their exchange running long enough for the second trip of the elevator to make its stop on that floor.

"Ask her, she's the one that came looking for us." Rayce pointed to the open elevator doors at the familiar Khatim.

"I'm glad I was able to catch up to you." Officer Réne expressed, hoping that Captain Gage would hear her out. 

"Officer Réne?"

"Save it. I am talking to your boss now. Look Captain, I know we got off on the wrong foot. In fact, something tells me that this is only going to keep happening, so let me set the record straight for you. This mission was assigned to you by the Council, which means you are under the watchful eye of the Council, and I am the one that represents the Council…"

"So, we won't be able to breathe, sneeze, or even shit without the Council knowing about it, right? Look lady, this isn't the first time we've been scolded and knowing our Captain, it won't be the last. We do our job, and we do it well. If you want to help, get in line, if not, get out of our way." Ridge arrived as the last member of the Captain's Sword Company, barely catching the last of Rayce's words that echoed loudly in the corridor as he came to a stop behind his Captain.

"Well does…he…whoever he is, speak for you, Captain Gage?"

"My Sword Company will serve the Silver Council, whoever wants to hold the stick and call themselves the king is welcome to do so. As long as they respect the authority of the Silver Council and all the people it protects."

"You expect me to take the mission statement that they feed all Blanks as your honest intention?"

"I cannot lie. That is not a freedom my kind enjoys." Captain Gage held firm, watching for her next move. But Officer Réne was no fool, she was outnumbered, and up against a Blank of impressive renown, she would need to mete out patience for the sake of her mission.

"Right then. Hear me, Cloudjumpers. You've received your orders, your Captain will do well to brief you for your next mission. Prepare yourselves for departure in the next three days. Gather what you need from the on-base armory, for perishable supplies, we will restock at Procella. Dismissed." Officer Réne once again entered the elevator before ascending to the next floor.

"So what are we actually doing, Captain? Did the Council really chew you out?" Ridge questioned, after noting the injuries and burns beneath Pierce's uniform whilst he was hiding behind him.

"It was nothing I did not expect or deserve for taking on authorized actions in the manner I did. However you may feel about Officer Réne, she did make one fact clear, she will be in charge of this mission. At the end of the day, we answer to her so that means we should heed her instruction."

"Will do, Captain. I'll work on making the arrangements for our departure."

"Thank you, V. Take Thella and Ridge with you to EJ and make your way to Procella. Rayce and I will head to the Armory. "

"You do remember that Officer whats-her-name gave us three days to prepare, right?" Ridge questioned, wishing to have as much time to himself, especially if they were being sent to Procella of all places. 

But Captain Gage was already fast at work, handing out the rest of his orders to the Sword Company.

"She may have said three days but she will no doubt be knocking on our barracks doors, expecting us to be at the ready before then. So, we will prepare now, and rest later. After you complete the stocking of your supplies and have ensured that our ship has been properly outfitted, you may indulge yourself until we are summoned. Rayce, let's go."

"Do you think we will get to see that fine minx of Khatim before our mission?" Rayce posed the question to an uninterested Pierce as they made their way down the hall. Heading to the western side of the base, the Armory.

Soon after, Vronica made her way to the Hangars with Thella and Ridge in tow, both raising a mountain of questions for the overwhelmed Pygmy. 

From their Captain's decision to continue to Shahat Base to his interrogation at the hands of Silver Command before getting a leash from a stranger.

Ridge tried to make sense of their Captain's decision to invite even more people onto the ship but Vronica simply resounded the Captain's words and continued onwards. 

After completing the pre-flight checks, their departure from the Hangars receives authorization allowing them to depart.

With its thrusters pulsing in the shimmering dark of Lua's atmosphere, the IMS-EHJ circled over the alabaster surface, between the winding fissures spanned freight-train tracks moving cargo between the various depots of the many Colony Habitats dotting the gray lunar landscape.

"Alright. If you're going to keep avoiding the topic, then I'll just come out and say it. I mean I can't be the only one thinking about this, right? Thella? Let's recap, we have a sociopathic Monocerian, an obsessive Pygmy, and an egomaniacal Khatim running around my ship…"

"You mean the Captain's ship, Ridge?" Said Thella, as she monitored the incoming prompt for docking access to the Hub City of Procella

"Yes, the Captain's ship. What I'm getting at is that we just got rid of the Major and the psycho criminal Ozrickt. Why would we go out of our way to pick up another pain in the ass?"

Elsewhere on Luna.

Captain Gage and Rayce arrived at the Special Zone for Council and Command personnel. From this Special Zone, an entire private railway line takes its passengers down one hundred and twenty stories.

"You're quiet, it's unnerving. What's going on?"

"Does my silence bother you, Rayce?"

"Only when it's paired with some unfortunate news. Considering how things have played out since we arrived, I'd say it's fair to assume that it's been a trying day."

"We may experience further setbacks moving forward with our mission."

"How's Khatim supposed to set us back?"

"I'm not talking about Officer Rene." The magnetic brakes caught the elevator, as the gates opened up allowing the staff to disembark before it returned to the surface. With the rest of the complex lighting up parts of it as the carriage momentarily illuminated the shadowed space above and revealing the immense size of this underground complex.

"We shouldn't be here after the elevator docks, we don't have any protective suits." Following the luminescent path to the pressurization chamber just as the section alarm began to ring. Once its accompanying countdown was completed and they were safe behind the doors, the minute atmosphere of the cavern was vented, leaving it as good as the s[ace boundary far above.

Beyond the pressurization doors, are a series of checkpoints, each one requiring some kind of authentication to verify the nature of the visit. Approaching the sharp triangular opening showered would shower you in a buzzing light, performing all manner of biometric scans before either allowing you to pass or stunning with pulsing Drace Radiation.

The unsettling red light passed over them before the gates of the passageway glowed with calming verdant hue, unshackling the triangular structure and relieving the way forward. Every block would have this checkpoint, each one requiring its own scan for confirmation before they would reach the towering bulkheads at the end of the corridor. 

At a staggering 12m high and 24m wide while being a full meter thick, the opening easily dwarfed them in size while still having an entrance way meant to accommodate the staff traveling on foot, with below passageways connecting to the other facilities of the base, allowing for heavy machinery to pass on above unimpeded.

"Captain Gage!" Meeting them at the exit of the passageway was a series of guards stationed with the specific purpose of guiding and monitoring anyone that made their way into the Armory. They were fitted in their tailored uniform beneath properly sized and fitted armor. Appearing as the standard for what Silver Council forces should look like.

'True models for a squad of Enforcers. Covering each other's shoulders, and ready to respond at a moment's notice. Even with their masks, I can follow their gaze.' Even Rayce's typical lack of focus was nowhere to be found as they followed along with the guards, on an instinctual level he found himself behaving in the same way he would when interacting with his Captain. 

"The two of you are earlier than I was hoping. You were only expected two days from now, even then I wouldn't have imagined you making the personal trip to the Armory, at the very least you would have your Systems and Gear Engineer with you." Once again, S.C.A.I.R Officer Réne appeared beneath their notice, as if emerging from out of a hidden veil through shadows to stand behind the series of guards.

"And yet, you just happened to rally several Hunters to your side, disguised in standard issue combat gear and armed to appear as Enforcers. I'm going to guess that you either expected us or someone else who is just as problematic?"

"Hunters?" Exclaimed the Captain.

"And what of it?"

"Such firepower should've been considered a viable use of force if a probable threat had been identified. However, since we were given clearance by Silver Command, it is known that we would be acting on their orders. So how are you able to mobilize such heavily armed forces?"

"Sigh… 'Heavily armed' is the operative term. While these fine Enforcers aren't armed to the expected standard of a Hunter, they are exempt from the arming regulations. As far as Silver Command is concerned, an Iridium-Viper without its fangs or venom is no cause for concern

"You really think you've done something here and what, all to threaten us?"

"I don't have to do anything except ensure my mission team is properly protected. Your Captain may have convinced you that nothing's changed but allow me to adjust that notion for you. This is a mission given to you by Silver Command, however you are not in charge, not while I'm still around. Now do we all have a better understanding of our current situation?"

"..."

"If we don't, then I'm not opposed to the idea of having you remain on-base under the strict supervision of our finest Enforcers, Because right now, I am the difference between your team receiving its reinstated Rank and a violent execution. Don't make that choice an easy one for me, Captain."

"She seems to have us by the throat. Dead on her orders, or lick her boots. What do you say, Captain?" Rayce said mockingly, with an unusually smug expression considering how loud he had been boasting not too long ago.

"Then I look forward to working with you, Officer Réne. We are here to stock up on supplies, but something tells me you have already taken the liberty of selecting the supplies we will need?"

"I'm glad you have made peace with our current arrangements."

"That's it? Really? After everything you said about her, you're just going to quietly let her step over you?"

"Officer Réne is welcome to behave however she likes, as long as it does not impede myself or my Sword Company's ability to adhere to the mission at hand."

'He still refuses to submit…' The fur on the crest of her head furled and flattened quickly after hearing the Captain speak.

"That being said, I have some idea of how to prepare for this mission. Are you interested in hearing what I have to say?" Pulling out a data slate and handing it over to the Khatim.

She took a look at the slate, making a note of the most curious items that are listed, and their justification of their use. While the reasoning of Captain was hard to argue against, the requests made her investigate the intentions that drove him so persistently.

"Captain Gage, help me make sense of this. I understand that you are in need of adequate supplies however some may argue that this is excessive…"

'Hmm, perhaps, I could use this in my favor.'

"Are the justifications I provided not adequate? If so I speak with Sergeant Vronica to update our requests."

"No, in fact, let me get your request through approval."

"Are you sure? You seemed so opposed to what I had to say only a moment ago."

"You are correct, however I believe our cooperation might benefit our mission rather than harm it. So, I will heed your request for supplies, and in turn you will heed my order. A very specific one I had mentioned when we first met."

'If I am to subjugate this Sword Company and bring it under my heel, I cannot do it alone.'

"You want something…from him?" Rayce questioned, trying his best to imagine what Officer Réne would want from his Captain that he could not offer.

"Yes. I do."

"Then say what it is you want, Officer Réne ."

"What any leader needs, good counsel. When we depart in the next two days, we will do so joined by my accompanying Pygmy, Officer Quixote R07. His capabilities in dealing with insurgent forces with limited law enforcement resources will be an invaluable asset. I'm sure I don't need to convince you of the machine's value."

"Oh, well that isn't much of a loss if you ask me. Shake on it, Captain and we can move to the more fun part of this engagement. The part where we get to know each other better." Rayce had his eye on the Khatim as he spoke but his focus was quickly corrected by his Captain's stern response.

"No!"

"Are you certain?"

"Yes!"

"And why not, what reason could you have for turning down the chance to make our job so much easier? Are you trying to tell me that we can use the extra help, do you even remember what we're trying to do?" Rayce finally let his frustration bubble over, as he lifted his Captain off his feet without a struggle.

"You would ignore sound reason even from your own subordinates?" Officer Réne prodded, knowing she held an undeniable position in that moment.

"You are not asking me to accept more help, you are asking me to leave Vronica behind!"

"Again with the droid…what are you afraid of making it mad?" Rayce continued his rant, shaking Captain Gage by his collar.

"I will not leave her behind anymore than I would leave you or the others behind." His words came out with a heavy conviction, annoying Rayce even more for he knew that he couldn't say anything to convince him otherwise.

"You say you won't leave her behind, but what if she chose to leave you? If she abandoned her dear Captain, then what would he do?"

While Rayce could not see what happened next, he could feel it all the same. The horn on his head crafted the image from the movement of the air and shift in the pressure. Before his muscles could register the actions, Captain Gage had already freed himself and crossed the distance between himself and Officer Réne .

By the time his hands could register that the Captain had slipped his grip, he was standing behind the Khatim, just close enough to make what action he took next count.

"When you choose your next words, know that it is a courtesy that I still let you breathe." Captain Gage said.

"Blanks should not be so quick to anger, especially in the company of such capable Hunters. Then again, is it all that strange to seek a puppet protecting a machine? It would be poetic if it wasn't so ridiculous." She teased as she turned around and got even closer to him, her arms folded and her tone without a single quiver in her voice.

"They will die before they fire their first shot, but you will fall before they can reach for their triggers."

"Threaten me all you like, but upon my word as a member of the Silver Council, no Pygmy but my own will join us on this mission. You may refuse me, you may even harm me, but by your very nature, you will follow me."

"..."

"I want to hear you say it. I want to hear you submit or…"

"You will execute me?"

"You think so little of me, Captain Gage. I know for a fact that you don't fear your own death, but what of theirs, or rather, what of Vronica's?" While her words were shared with little fear, the Hunters almost seemed to move as if under a command.

Drawing their weapons before Captain Gage could react, they held their sights at the Blank's head, ready to fire upon him but what was stranger even making Rayce hold his tongue was the unmistakable sound of their tremble. 

That the very people trained to hunt down Blanks were shaking in front one was enough to trigger his heightened senses.

"Captain…I'm going to need you to calm down." Said Rayce, while trying to silence his instincts gnawing at his skin.

"I want to hear you say it, Captain Gage…Now!" The unaware Khatim further pressed him.

"I understand. Sergeant Vronica…will not accompany us under your command."