Andromeda
Raasha soon began examining the troublesome malignant code present in the spider's implants. It was troublesome examining and understanding a whole other computational hardware structure, but at its most basic everything was hardware, and from that he could divine a solution.

"My apologies in advance, this will likely sting as the new software updates..."

Indeed a jolt of pain ripped across his body, marginally worse than those normally inflicted by the implants, but not cripplingly so.

"There, that should stop the hardware twitching. Let me know if any other adverse effects manifest themselves, it is difficult to account for everything without fully devoting myself. To answer your queries, I have in fact seen your ACSes before. Certainly impressive pieces of kit, though with their fair share of drawbacks, of which you are living proof, no offence. I would temper your expectations if you think it will be trivial to smash through with brute force, avoiding detections and retreating should that fail is likely our best option in terms of survivability."

KrankysFirebrand48
After apparently just staring intently at the spider for several minutes, the imposing Qunit turned his attention to the human.

R: "I do have access to a Type-2 Qswitch, yes, but reliable relocation of solid objects is entirely dependant on myself, the object, and the destination all being outside of any interdiction fields. Of course, if you don't mind having your body scattered across the surrounding lightyear, then I can certainly attempt relocating you regardless."

He chuckled, it was a deep, bassy noise.

Gose Brank
After he was done saying his piece to the Alsinian and Bastonians, Raasha took a shallow breath, before re-opening a Qcomm link he'd kept blocked until now. To those physically present in the room, he visibly became rather distant in his thoughts, his eyes focusing on empty space, periodic flashes of dim light visible in his irises.

He blinked and found himself amidst the digital landscape he and his kin called home. Rolling waves of random transmissions made up the ground, geometric structures formed of complex programs stretched up past the sky, itself a kaleidoscope of machine code. He knew his way around here, they all did, so he knew where he could find her. It was difficult navigating through the Chibutian maelstrom of overlapping code structures without damaging something, the last thing he wanted was to accidentally overwrite a function and shut down the power to an entire continent back in reality. There was thankfully enough unused variables and empty disk space to navigate deep enough to find her directory.

A light tap, a courteous request for contact, and his sister soon entered their shared digital mindspace in much the same way he had.

F13Y1: "The prodigal son returns and graces me with his presence. I do hope you have more important things to discuss than a friendly hello to your old sparring buddy; I have about... 150 milliseconds before the eggheads I'm speaking to might notice something's up."
Raasha: "That's plenty of time, I just have a favour to ask."
F: "I'm listening."
R: "Myself and some... newfound acquaintances are mounting a covert operation against an old MISE facility. Naturally, I concluded you're better at this sort of thing than I ever was."
F: "If you think I'm hauling ass a quarter of the way across the galaxy to help you and your band of misfits you're sorely mistaken."
R: "Not quite what I'm asking, no... I want access to your cloaking algorithms."
F13Y1 paused; the code behind the "Hood of Koro'nabii" as the troops liked to call it was something she'd been instrumental in developing, and a closely guarded secret even amongst her own siblings.
F: "...Out of the question. Leave."
R: "Sister, please-"
F: "I said leave."
R: "Sister..."
F: "Don't think no-one's noticed just how long you've been gone. We know something happened between you and Mom. The only reason you aren't classed as a Category Black is because... because part of her still loves you."
Raasha sighed.
R: "...This isn't the time for that conversation, I'm sorry. But this is bigger than any of our familial struggles, this could be connected to the Board."
F: "Go on..."
R: "On top of that, Elohim is here, one of those Seeker... *things* is here. I play my cards right, I might be able to find them."
F: "Leads on our big sisters... alright, fine. I'll get you access. Just promise me that you won't abandon us... I really don't wanna put those old sparring sessions to use."
R: "I promise, as much as I can."

He navigated his way back out of the constantly shifting Chibutian clusterfuck, and idly retraced his steps back to his body. Without realising, he passed near to a wide open space, one he knew all too well. She was there, of course, playing with a new Qunit. It was yet without a body, still an infant, yet even glancing at it Raasha felt something unsettling. His eyes met with Hers for but a moment, and he continued on his way before anything could be said.

Snap back to reality. Raasha blinked several times as his eyes readjusted. He relaxed, not noticing he had been tense in the first place.
R: "Well, I'll be getting access to the cloaking techniques I mentioned soon..."

            Gose
            Within the armor, Yang nudges Yin slightly as if inquiring what's with the abrupt decision, but Yin simply shakes his head, with the headpiece of the armor following his action.
            "Thank you."
            The two silently leave the room and picked a corner to "sit" down, doing nothing but listening to other's inputs.

                Fawx Gose Dumb Brank KrankysFirebrand48

                The Viaelaon was not lying when he mentioned the pain which ripped through Etar, only hoping the updates to his implants wouldn't let the pain come back again.

                "Thank you."

                He'd reply to the entity which fixed his implants, deciding to speak audibly to the group.

                "When's the drop? Lemme know ASAP, I need to do last minute tune ups."

                He would say, beginning to depart back to the deployment ship.

                "What kept you?" Command blasted out as Etar reboarded the ship.

                "I was being briefed. The ACS needs a lot more work done to it before it launches." He would reply. "Point being, we need to turn off the damn limiters on these thrusters, and unlock some of the weapons. I'm gonna need all the firepower I can get for what's on the surface."

                "You are in no position to be making demands." Was the reply. "Permission denied."

                "Like hell." The spider would reply, crawling his way into the cockpit, situated deep in the torso of the machine, an octagonal chamber with computer monitors spanning the walls showing the outside, many insertion points to control the machine with his implants, several hand and leg controls, and an oxygen mask as well. Having been given usage of this ACS, he quickly figured out how to bust down one of the interior walls and make modifications to the internal controls -- to which he would, flipping the switch which would have the limiters for thruster speed and acceleration on, and unblocking the most powerful weapons the ACS had -- its arm-mounted railguns, the size of ship cannons, powered by the most efficient fusion reactor underneath Etar, running power to the myriad engines and weapons, including the special-made Lucium battleaxe he would use as a last resort weapon.

                As the system booted up, the internal lack of light from the cockpit would first be bathed in a dim orange glow from the startup strings, then quickly flash to a head-view of the ACS, its sensors and cameras mounted all around the head giving superb vision in many different spectrums of light.

                • Gose replied to this.

                            Gose
                            The SSS team started stiring and picking up whatever equipment they had put on the floor to be able to comfortably sit down. The Comminator, still hiding his emotion behind the helmet took interest in the offering of equipment though.
                            'Do you possess any sensory equipment that I can make use of? One that will allow me to see electrical pulses within machinery and flesh?' he said.

                            • Gose replied to this.
                                a month later

                                Brank Fawx Andromeda KrankysFirebrand48
                                "Very well then, Bandula can guide you to the preparation area, I shall be here a few more minutes, I have certain things to discuss."

                                Elohim nodded, and lifted his arm, beckoning people to leave the room, and he awaited until they were all gone.

                                Meanwhile, the group made its way to the docking area, it was room that came to a tall trapezoidal ceiling, like many within the ship, likely within a tremendously large hexagonal module. nevertheless, a wall within the room was dotted with MISE-styled docking bays, within one of them, the craft that'd take them to the location awaited.
                                Gathered across the other side of the bay was several large doors, one of them open and with a guard within it, a slime person of relatively bulky proportions stood guard:

                                "Ey yall!" He beckoned the group. "Take what ya need, orders from the boss, we got a wide assortment here."
                                Located within several shelves and storing units were a variety of equipment that ranged from a variety of older nations, several old MISE implements ranging from defensive modular armors, attachments, weaponry, to even more advanced equipment of an eclectic variety, overall, the medium storage unit carried personnel equipment that ranged from personal defence revolvers to even small yield tactical devices.

                                Back at the meeting room, Elhoim sat back onto the hyperweave chair as it lightly swivelled backwards. He pondered for a second...

                                "RED" - The word echoed throughout the vacant room. A presence swelled up besides the old lizardman.

                                "What do you think of them? Quite the eclectic bunch, I'm not so sure they'll make it, but fortune favours the bold, so they say."

                                A voice crept from the darkness within the room, the miniscule slivers of the finely crafted modular plating, the microscopic holes within the weave of the chairs, it whispered in a delayed cacophony:

                                "One must not underestimate the Vaiaelon, he was the wolfman's disciple after all..."

                                "I am all too aware of that, if anything, it makes me more weary to work with him..."

                                "Perhaps you overestimate your creators"

                                "It could be... it could be." - He snapped his finger, the presence subsided again. He got up from the chair and left the room, making his way to the docking area.

                                Elohim, after a few minutes, emerges from the corridor that the others came from. He sits upon a metallic bench and refers to the whole group:

                                "This is the last time we will be able to prepare, after this, we shall board the docked shuttle. It will perform a progressive series of FTL jumps that will get us to the rough proximity of the Vault system, from there on we will board another specialised shuttle, designed specifically to get us into the surface safely."

                                          Gose
                                          Two of the Bastonians refrained from looking at the possible equipment. However, the Comminator and Gosha were all over them. The Comminator taking an interest in various imaging and detection gear. Choosing to attach an arm with a small MISE sensor suite onto his shoulder. Gosha picked up a medium blade with a hardlight cutting edge. He found a long-range rifle and brought it to the Hermidian who declined it, patting his own sniper, presumably preferring familiarity. Gosha nodded to Elohim as he beckoned the other Bastonians. He moved to the Hermidian. They bumped their elbow together and grinned. Gosha and asked him:
                                          'Ever raided an IPD node?'
                                          'Never. Was it a breeze, commander?'
                                          Gosha grinned again and jokingly said: 'Not harder than the final assessment. Nah, I know you've heard the major general's breakdowns. What about you, trooper?' he said gesturing to the Comminator as he was walking to the shuttle. He responded with telepathy: 'Many, commander.'

                                              14 days later

                                              After having guided the group to where they needed to be, Bandula sat off to the side and began checking over her gear. After the offer was made, she shook her head at the guard, "I'm good, thanks; brought everything i'd need in advance," she responded, wiping down the large rifle with her hand and nodding at it. She unsheathed a blade and went at it with a whetstone as she waited for them to be ready to leave. After some time bandula stood up and entered the shuttle.

                                              "You're one helluva cocky bunch, arent'cha?" she asked rhetorically to the bastonians, chuckling under her breath as she sat down on one of the seats, not strapping in.

                                              After that, she simply leaned back, and waited.

                                                Brank
                                                Gosha turned to Bandula.
                                                'Just keeping morale up. Standard procedure. They wouldn't let us bring booze though.' he said jokingly, subconsciously running his hand along the blunt side of his blade.

                                                  5 days later

                                                  Gose
                                                  Raasha took to the weapons racks with a passive interest. Something caught his eye, and he hefted a VSA standard issue DMR, a weapon that proportionally looked more like an Anti-Materiel Rifle to species of more standard size. He spoke to the slime man cordially.

                                                  R: "I cannot imagine Chibutian industrial firms selling to an enemy of the Pact so readily, making this battlefield salvage, I take it? It is a reliable piece of equipment to my knowledge; I wouldn't blame you."

                                                  He turned his attention to some of the MISE weaponry on display. He was familiar with Musavian weapons systems from his duties on the Embassy, though this was his first time seeing personnel weaponry up close. He made sure to take notes, should something of a similar persuasion be pointed their way in the coming engagements.

                                                  KrankysFirebrand48
                                                  Raasha chuckled at hearing the jovial banter of the Bastonians. He muttered to himself.

                                                  R: "Ah humans, so easy to keep entertained..."

                                                  Once he was done examining the gear, he didn't actually take any of it with him. He considered summoning his armour now, but decided the added bulk may be demanding too much of their shuttle. He shrugged and boarded the craft, laying down on the walkway towards the rear of the vessel rather than try cram himself into one of the seats. He hoped all would be embarked before he had to get up and make way.

                                                  • Gose replied to this.

                                                        Gose

                                                        While Etar was unaware as to the powers of his accompanyment, he was not foolish enough to assume his standard-issue ACS was to be enough in case the group needed heavier firepower for a protracted fight. It'd be hard to find, or make, compatible equipment, though...At least, until he found the weapons repository that was prepared. Sadly, very little of it was capable of being mounted on his machine, but a few makeshift PD batteries and smoke dischargers wouldn't go unwanted. He, himself, grabbed a small carbine in case he needed to poke out of the mecha, but that was if worst came to worst.

                                                        Situated alongside the lander, his ACS was exposed to the vacuum of space, connected by a short tube from the ship to his suit. Hopefully, an atmospheric landing was possible with the affixed plate to the underside of his machine...only time would tell.

                                                        • Gose replied to this.
                                                            5 days later

                                                            KrankysFirebrand48
                                                            The Commitator’s sensor suite immediately springs into action as he attaches it, processing the local environment and conversing with the ship itself, it’d flood the armor with sensory data, however the ship explicitly denies it its function, only being able to converse with the smaller docked shuttle for now.

                                                            Fawx
                                                            Andromeda
                                                            MISE weaponry were always an interesting production from their time, there are various constants across many designs, their modular and parametric production styles evidently showing through the handheld weaponry displayed before him. Their mastery in explosives, highlighted by their hyperatomics, reflected on this philosophy, every weapon was consistently a fine piece of work, packing a punch several times above its size, yet firing in deceptively small calibers.

                                                            Andromeda
                                                            The modular nature of MISE equipment allowed PD batteries and smoke dischargers to be easily retrofitted into Etar’s power armor, with a little help of the slime person present and a little tinkering in adapting the suit’s own power generator and sensory suite to converse with the modules properly, a series of small turrets sprung to life, covering the PA’s whole body in a protective hardkill bubble.

                                                            With preparations complete, the team collectively boards the docked shuttle, carrying whatever equipment they deemed necessary. What they saw at first was only a small boarding room that communicated with the main ship, but with the DWV sizing up at 30km of length, even this small shuttle was the size of a corvette at around 500 meters, jutting awkwardly from the side of the larger vessel.

                                                            Elohim is the last to enter, as the rest of the team gets acquainted with the rather large vessel’s still deceptively small interior. Being an old MISE creation, the bulk of the spaceship was depressurised and automated, they were left with a small section meant to be livable, the docking area, and a rather quaint hangar underneath, where the vessel connected with the ship they’d use to descend into the planet itself.

                                                            “Well everyone, you’re free to roam around, there’s not much to see inside. We’ll begin the FTL sequence soon.” - The ship jostled ever so slightly, detaching from the larger main vessel which still floated amidst the thunderous clouds of the Hollowed Reach, hidden within the bizarre spacetime phenomena. It quietly bolted away from the converted hauler, as it FTL’ed away.

                                                            The trip was an unremarkable few hours of complete nothingness as the ship took several consecutive FTL jumps, only stopping once to cool its FTL drive. Soon, the ship came to a halt and a distinct hissing sound from the drive finally stopping signified arrival.

                                                            The vessel stood at what by all considerations was on the border of deep space, past a anomalously thin cloud of debris that surrounded the system, the backdrop was caustic rainbows from the nebula itself, but the inside of the system was devoid of almost all forms of debris, and orbiting the star, a solitary green planet. A small meeting is held where the spot they’d drop in is passively scanned, a large clearing obscured by deep jungle, big enough to land their vessel. A few km away, the scars of Elohim’s previous landing still exist, three deep tunnels dug into the ground, projecting a straight line from the barrel of a massive geometrical emplacement atop the node, and off into space.

                                                            The team is beckoned into the smaller vessel, and make contact with the system’s automatic defensive systems. Elohim’s signature is recognised, miraculously still categorized as if he were employed at the SORB, and they are allowed free passage into the planet itself. The ship cuts its way through the great emptiness, intersecting various oddly spaced planes of interdiction at no recognisable pattern, until they are overhead to the green planet.

                                                            The planet itself is unique, there seems to be little to no large bodies of water, yet the surface is covered in an endless thick jungle, which does not relent even in the poles. They do not get much of a chance to observe, before the ship activates cloaking and drops obliquely into the atmosphere, at this point, defense would not ignore them anymore.
                                                            The ship perfectly mirrors the sky it cuts through, cleverly avoiding clouds by floating with an elegance that betrays its heft. Gravitational engines slowed its descent as it touched down upon the clearing, granting one last view of the compressor beam in the distance before it engulfed itself amidst the thick jungle.

                                                            A small door opened on the back and let the team out, sensory suites, if they were capable, connected to the ship, eachother, and the other vessel that observed the planet far away. The team left the ship and were met by something unexpected amidst the thick and thriving jungle: Silence. The sound of wind brushing against the foliage was all that they could hear beyond the quiet hissing of the vessel itself.

                                                                      4 days later

                                                                      Gose
                                                                      "Well....that was......interesting?"
                                                                      The twins, still in the humanoid armor, remaining to be seated in the corner of the holding bay, but has observed from afar to see all the unique and alien equipment getting shared among the group before entering the shuttle and departing, seemingly forgetting about their existence.
                                                                      "so...what now?"
                                                                      "......"
                                                                      Yin pondered for a short moment, before seeming out of the humanoid armor.
                                                                      Yang, shocked and confused by Yin's reaction, her body followed his action out of sheer reaction and start packing up the armor, but she still manage to slip out a short question.
                                                                      "Huh?"
                                                                      "The guard, slime origin, maybe there's some compassion for their own kind? Not like Elohim told us to leave immediately anyway."
                                                                      "Ah...i like your idea..."
                                                                      The two of them, getting back their usual posture of twin children wearing suits and ties, start walking rather slowly toward the slime guard, hands waving to minimize any susceptive hostility.

                                                                        9 days later

                                                                        Bandula scoffed, the sudden and utter silence causing her ears to flick, and her eyes to narrow into the brush.

                                                                        "Too quiet. They didn't put a single animal on this whole-ass planet?" she questioned Elohim, stepping down from the vessel. "Not a single bird or whatever?"

                                                                        With her semi-rhetoric question out, she began inspecting the area around the vessel, taking mind of the thick foliage and shade from the sun, and trying to make out any possible pathways or breaks in the treeline they could possibly go through. At the same time, her eyes peered over the members of her group once more to see what actions they were taking- particularly the Qunit, Raasha.

                                                                        • Fawx replied to this.
                                                                          8 days later

                                                                          Gose

                                                                          Raasha's eyes again went dull and unfocused as they descended to the planet's surface. His attention was seemingly elsewhere, though his forepaws moved about in odd patterns, almost like radar dishes scanning around. He blinked his eyes back into focus as he waited for the others to disembark before following them out onto the rough terrain, though again seemed to grow distant as his hands moved about, as though feeling the air around him. Finally he spoke up.

                                                                          R: "Not a sign of animalistic life for kilometers, not even microfauna... A diverse plant ecosystem such as this could not possibly have evolved independently of animal interference. It's unsurprising that the forest was deliberately placed here as a cover, but I believe it wasn't just seeded, rather laid out. If the entire floor is artificially placed, then every inch could house a trap or an alarm... That is to say, watch your step."

                                                                          He said to no-one in particular. He again reached out in front of him, this time with more purpose in his movements, then paused. His brow furrowed with frustration.

                                                                          R: "We are still amidst an interdiction field... I will be unable to summon my armour for now, which complicates things."

                                                                          He grumbled, but continued to examine his surroundings all the same.

                                                                          Brank
                                                                          A voice pierced its way into Bandula's mind. It was a quiet and disrupted noise at first, though with concentration its message became clearer, as well as its sender, Raasha offering a brief glance.

                                                                          "I apologise for the crudeness of this message, but as you know MISE administrators were nearly unmatched in their mastery of the aligned. It is simply a precaution to evade detection. With that said... you know who I am. You know what I am. I know what you are. So why is it you have not impeded my presence here? You likely clashed with my siblings during the Schism, why do you trust me to be in the presence of Elohim, or indeed yourself? Answer."

                                                                          The words themselves were not malicious, but the tone that carried them implied authority, possibly even a level of hostility. He did not trust her, at least not fully.

                                                                                21 days later

                                                                                Fawx

                                                                                She glanced back at the fox-man for a moment, before looking forward once more. Her ear flicked, and her mind offered a concise response.

                                                                                "What use would you have for killing me, when one of your own kin took hand in creating me? You've done nothing showing that intent, so I have no reason to fight you. It is as simple as that."

                                                                                Her tone was neutral, but leaden in nature. She let out a huff of air before making a followup response.

                                                                                "And if you wonder that F12Y2- Wytoo- is dead or destroyed; She isn't. Your people imprisoned her, and my people freed her. She works with us out of free will, not necessity."

                                                                                • Fawx replied to this.
                                                                                    22 days later

                                                                                    Brank

                                                                                    Raasha visibly untensed, a quiet sigh of relief escaping him.

                                                                                    "I must admit, I am relieved to hear that... I had worried for my old mentor. If she is finally happy with life, then that is good. I suppose I must thank you for putting my mind at ease, in that regard."

                                                                                    He didn't further address the topic of their vague and uneasy alliance, seemingly intentionally so.

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