2023-04-04: Palau Falling - Family Solidarity

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<Pose Tracker> Suberoa Zinnerman has posed.

One of the conference rooms on the Ra Mari II was converted into the Garencieres Team's intelligence and counter-espionage facility during the last Banshee attack. The consoles salvaged from the freighter have not yet been put back into storage, and it has become something of an impromptu meeting hall for the now-shipless crew. Due to its recessed floor and the dome-shaped observation screen overhead, Tomura nicknamed it 'The Pit' about a week ago, and it seems to have stuck.

Zinnerman is sitting at the main command/communications console at the moment, reviewing notes from the Battle for Palau. Gilboa, Ivan, Kwani and Alec are still ashore on the asteroid base, helping secure it and move it back to its original position; this just leaves Flaste and Tomura in the Pit today, the former shuffling a deck of cards at the central table in the Pit while he waits for Gilboa's scheduled check-in.

Overhead, projections of the operation to move Palau back to its original position are being displayed. It will take some time to get it back to Side 6, but barring interference from the Federation, it should be possible.

Tomura is fixing up the electronics warfare console, plugging some jury-rigged parts cobbled together from the Ra Mari II's supplies to boost its processing power. 

<Pose Tracker> Marida Cruz has posed.

         Marida's boots clack in rhythm as she approaches the impromptu Garencieres battle station, flipping through her personal report of the Battle of Palau. It had been nothing short of miraculous that their combined efforts were able to stop Char Aznable from dropping Palau. Her mind drifted to reports she had read of Axis Shock and its similarly miraculous outcome.

         As Marida enters the observation toom to hand-deliver her report to the Captain, Flaste and Tomura both perk up to greet her, Marida returning a nod to both of them. Walking up to the main console, Marida stands at attention, back completely straight, and holds out her report for Zinnerman to take. "Captain, I've just finished up my report of the battle. Is there anywhere specific I should put it?" 

<Pose Tracker> Banagher Links has posed.

Banagher has been Zinnerman's shadow since the battle, when Audrey and Leina aren't taking his attention. After the most recent battle against the Banshee, the young pilot is more shaken than ever. Jumping at shadows, eyes wide whenever he senses a fearful emotion... And though Loni was saved by his (reckless) heroic actions, the cost of the battle is still haunting him.

Sitting on the ground against a wall, Banagher tinkers with Haro quietly. He hasn't slept. He couldn't face a Banshee nightmare after nearly being corrupted. He's created a little nest of blankets around himself, dragging them from his quarters all the way to the Garencieres Team's 'Pit'

He just needs to unscrew this panel and clean the inside.

...

Though his hand is steady, Banagher misses the screw. Then again. Then a third time, scratching Haro's panel. With a sigh, he leans his head down against the companion robot, closing his eyes. 

<Pose Tracker> Mineva Lao Zabi has posed.

To say that Mineva's own presence at the battle was reckless is an understatement--at least as much so as Banagher's. Explaining herself to him and Leina was difficult, but...

She's still shaky. Distraught. Coming face to face with the man she knew as a father, seeing firsthand what he's become... the toppling of her naive belief that she could reach him...

Her hands are steady, though, as she makes her way into the Pit with two steaming-hot mugs; one of tea, one of coffee. She places the tea beside Banagher. "Would you like a hand?" she asks softly, looking over toward Marida and Suberoa and giving them a wave. She takes a sip of her coffee. 

<Pose Tracker> Suberoa Zinnerman has posed.

Zinnerman hangs up his headset as Marida approaches him, turning to the young redhead. "I'll take it," he answers her, taking the tablet and reviewing it carefully.

As ever, it is matter-of-fact. Highly-specific. Marida Cruz to a T, a blow-by-blow account that is strictly a professional soldier's report of the events of the fight.

And as ever, Zinnerman asks the same question: "How are you feeling, Marida?" An old and familiar routine.

Flaste glances over from Marida to Banagher and Mineva. "Kid. Take a break. While you're this shook you're gonna make more mistakes than you manage to fix anythin'. Come up here and talk to someone." He taps the table-top pointedly.

Tomura lets out a 'gah!' from under the console after the sound of a spark, and he pushes himself out, rubbing a new welt on his face. "A break sounds great, since you mention it!"

Flaste responds to the young mechanic filling the gap in the conversation by chucking a cold compress at him, the damp flannel hitting him square in the face.

Looking up from Marida's report, Zinnerman nods. "Flaste is right. You're all going through a lot, and keeping it inside is going to affect your performance in the future." His gaze falls on Mineva and his lips thin for a moment, before he continues: "I'm glad you made it back safely, Mineva." 

<Pose Tracker> Marida Cruz has posed.

         As Marida hands over the tablet, her arm returns to her back and she gives a respectful bow. "I am..." She momentarily recalls the things Ennil El had said to her. The things that had cut deep into her unfortunately human heart. For a second she wonders if she should bring it up.

         "I am doing fine, Captain. Thank you for asking." Not in front of the others. She would need to discuss this with Zinnerman alone.

         She turns to Banagher and Mineva. "The Captain is correct. Your mental condition is just as important as your physical condition on the battlefield. You must take advantage of the time you have after one to make sure you are ready for the next."

         Her gaze moves to Mineva specifically. It must have been exceptionally hard for her out there. She was aware of the relationship Mineva had with the Red Comet. The Princess had probably never expected she'd have to fight against him. "I am also glad you are in good condition, Princess. You did wonderfully out there." 

<Pose Tracker> Banagher Links has posed.

The moment Audrey appears, Banagher shuffles over in his blanket nest, making room for her and wrapping some of the blankets around her. The tea is accepted with a gentle smile. "Thanks, love."

"Audrey! Audrey!" Haro chirps, his voice a bright spot in Banagher's gloom.

Taking a sip of tea, Banagher leans into his girlfriend gently. "I would, but maybe a little later. Flaste is right."

Stowing his multi-tool in one of Haro's exterior compartments, Banagher offers the little companion to Audrey. Haro immediately flaps his winglets in excitement.

Wrapping one of the blankets around himself (laying atop his head like some kind of shroud), Banagher offers Audrey a hand to help her stand too -- should she wish. He walks over to Flaste, looking at the man with haunted eyes.

"Audrey and Marida have it worse." Banagher says, softly. He sips his tea. "Having to face..."

Char.

Banagher doesn't say the name.

Tomura's comical distress earns a wide blink from Bangher. "Do you need help-- uh." A glance to Flaste. "...in a little while, I'd be happy to help, Tomura."

"...while I was out there, I felt a lot of weird things. Even while fighting Miss Loni. Full Frontal did -- something." Banagher scowls. "And there was this voice, like a young girl, screaming."

Sip.

"I'm really glad you're okay too, Miss Marida. That battle sounded like -- a really, really awful time. The fact that you're both alive is a miracle." Banagher squeezes his eyes shut. "I should've been there." 

<Pose Tracker> Mineva Lao Zabi has posed.

Mineva leans against Banagher for a moment, smiling at Haro's excitement toward her. She holds the cup in both hands for a moment, taking a long pull from it... she accepts the adorable sphere, hugging it close in her free arm. As Banagher stands, she accepts his hand, smiling. "Thank you," she nods, and with a Haro in one hand and a mug in the other, she makes her way over alongside him to the others.

"It's..." She exhales slowly, and shakes her head. "It's not a competition. We all struggled, and suffered... but we all came back alive." There's a faint smile on her face at that.

A look at Zinnerman. "You don't approve of what I did... and you're probably right not to," she nods. "But... I couldn't just stand by. Not..."

Not again.

But that's not all of it, is it? It'll take a lot to untangle, but... she just... knew. She knew she had to do this.

"Thank you, Marida." There's a faint smile on her face at the compliment. "But I was struggling. I let him get to me, and I wasn't nearly aware enough of the battle around me. If we hadn't forced a retreat when we did..."

She was close to that ruinous light. Dangerously.

"I was reckless." 

<Pose Tracker> Suberoa Zinnerman has posed.

Zinnerman's expression changes slightly when Marida answers him. She's said what she always says when he inquires after her emotional state in the wake of a battle, but something is different this time.

She hesitated.

He grunts and nods, slotting the tablet into a storage socket on the side of the console, and steps down from it to join the others at the table. As he passes Marida, he places a big hand on her shoulder. "We'll talk later," he says, firmly, before turning his attention to the others.

Mineva speaks up. "... My duty remains, as ever, your protection," he answers her. "We might have lost you. Still... I understand. Doing nothing, in a position like that, would have felt unacceptable to me too." He shakes his head. "I don't approve, but I am proud."

It's a complicated melange of emotions. Adults are like that. Flaste leans over, playing the taskmaster. "However. If you're going to make a habit of this, we'll have to make sure Gilboa and Marida give you some proper coaching when we get the sim consoles back up and running. You're right - throwing yourself into that battle after a single sortie was reckless - it's our duty to make sure you can handle yourself." He glances over to the Kshatriya's pilot. "If you're okay with that of course, Marida." Gilboa, of course, doesn't get a choice in the matter - he's not here, after all.

Banagher tries to talk about what happened. "It sounds like it was good, in the end, that you were there for Loni, Banagher. She... is going to need friends, after what happened at Torrington." Not to mention what she must have gone through exposed to that strange energy that empowered Amuro.

"Can you describe what happened in any greater detail? I felt something, too."

Tomura shrugs, nursing his face-burn. "I'm workin' with old components and tryin' to make them talk to relatively modern computers, but Zentradi tech is pretty high-end even when it's old. Some more help would be appreciated, but!" He claps Banagher on the back. "Right now, we're focusing on you three, alright? We weren't out fightin', after all." 

<Pose Tracker> Marida Cruz has posed.

         Marida's steely gaze darts over to Zinnerman as he passes, a silent acknowledgement shared between captain and lieutenant.

         "Banagher, part of maintaining your mental condition is allowing your fellow soldiers to share your burdens. It may be true that having the Unicorn out there might have changed the result, but the battle has already passed. It is not productive to think about what we should have done. That energy is best spent on considering what we will do next time."

         "And Princess, you mustn't sell yourself short. Between us, Char, and Celestial Being, it was a chaotic battlefield and emotions were high. It's good that you are aware of the mistakes you made, but also consider that despite our retreat, we managed to keep Palau from falling and you managed to get away from the Red Comet relatively intact. Do not discount those victories. I would be more than happy to run you through simulations to help you become more comfortable in the cockpit."

         As she speaks, she walks over to Tomura and pulls out a handkerchief from her pocket, handing it over to him to help his burn. 

<Pose Tracker> Banagher Links has posed.

Haro makes a triumphant series of beeps and boops, clearly quite pleased to have Audrey's attention.

"You're right." Banagher admits, as Audrey says it isn't a competition. "But I'm still worried. We both got way too close to that energy. It would've gotten me, if not for Judau."

An arm is wrapped around Audrey's shoulders, gently pulling her close.

"And facing him... You were so brave and strong. But the Captain is right. If you want to be able to face him, you need to get stronger. Just like me. I'll help too, if you want it." Banagher offers, softly. "Besides, the consoles are kinda fun -- Leina and I battle each other all the time."

The conversation turns back to what Banagher experienced, and he takes a sip of his tea, buying himself time to think. "I... accidentally Newtype Bonded with Full Frontal. I didn't mean to, he just made me so angry."

The young pilot's shoulders slump. "So I can pick up on some of what he's doing. During the fight, it felt like... This horrible, cold energy. Dark. His presence became overpowering, but -- I couldn't focus on it, because Miss Loni needed me. I -- hope she'll be okay. She's been through so much. At the end of the fight, I tried to get to her spirit. Miss Loni asked me for help, but this awful energy pressed her down, away from me."

"It was just like the Banshee." Banagher murmurs, looking down into his mug. "I panicked. I thought it was coming for me again. And then the orange stuff nearly got me."

Leaning in a little more closely to Audrey, Banagher frowns, his eyes faraway. "Then, once these, uh. Men with fairy wings? Arrived..." A glance to Zinnerman, as if to ask, 'is that a thing?'. "I thought things were okay, but I heard a girl screaming and screaming. The Unicorn reacted to it."

"And once that Miracle happened, with the birds, it felt so familiar. I almost went out to help, but..." But the Unicorn was too damaged, and Banagher was in a rough state.

Tomura claps Banagher on the back, waking him from his reminiscing. "Oh--!" His tea nearly spills, but he's drunk enough that it only sloshes inside the mug. "That sounds pretty interesting. Once we're done, maybe, then."

"You're right." Banagher says, with a nod to Marida. "I need to prepare for next time. The Banshee, and -- him, they're still out there. I have to be ready." 

<Pose Tracker> Mineva Lao Zabi has posed.

Mineva's shoulders fall, slightly, as the captain admonishes her for her recklessness. He may be proud, but still...

"Of course, Captain. I don't plan to make a habit of taking the helm of a war machine... but I do intend to stand against him." Against her father. Even leaving aside her feelings of responsibility... her presence there upset him. Against someone like that, every little bit counts.

She nods, "You're right, Marida.... and thank you." If it hadn't been for the Phenex, though... would they have even had enough time? "... seeing me out there... feeling me on the battlefield... I think it hurt him. Leina said he might just mercy-kill me, but... no, I think he doesn't want to fight me."

"Maybe we can use that."

There's a brief glare as Banagher mentions he bonded with Full Frontal. She's still annoyed about that. "Full Frontal sent out some sort of psychic shockwave from that monster of his. Most of the damage to the Hyaku Shiki Jaeger's armor is from a hit the Zeong got while I was trying to recover from that..."

The offer of simulator training with the others does make her smile, though. "I think I'd like to train with you when we can," she nods...

And wrenches her eyes shut at the thought of losing Banagher to the thing that took Char. She squeezes Haro tight, and leans into him a little. "...promise me you won't lose yourself to that." 

<Pose Tracker> Suberoa Zinnerman has posed.

"Fairy wings?" Tomura almost cracks a grin. "You really haven't been sleepin', huh Banagher?"

"Tomura." Zinnerman chides the youngest man on the crew, before treating Banagher like he didn't just get accused of hallucinating. "We're still going over what happened. Full Frontal and Lieutenant Akkanen's new machines are... beyond anything I've seen before," the old salt admits. "There are some rumours running around that its technology should be beyond what we can make, but... it's hard to say how credible those are. Certainly it seems as though psycoframe was involved in their weapons development, if they were able to induce wide-scale psychic experiences that way."

"We can look into it," Flaste says with a nod. "And these 'fairy men', too. Even if you were just seeing things, Banagher... maybe you saw them for a reason."

Mineva explains that Char was hesitant to fight her and she still means to stand against him, and Zinnerman considers. "That is a valuable thing to consider, but still: Be careful, and don't hesitate to call on us for backup. ... I would be a fool to try and stop you," he says with a wry smile, "and wasting time that could be used to help you survive and win, to boot."

"We don't have a ship any more," Flaste points out, "but we can still monitor the battlefield from the Pit."

Zinnerman nods in agreement when Mineva asks Banagher to not lose himself to the strange power that has infused Char. "We don't understand enough about this power. I understand it restored his Sazabi." 

<Pose Tracker> Marida Cruz has posed.

         "We're dealing with powerful minds on all sides. We shouldn't discount anything out of hand, Tomura." Marida walks over to Banagher and places a hand on his shoulder. "If you'd like, I can give you some coaching as well. To help you keep an even disposition in battle. It would protect you against any further accidents, especially if you end up facing Char himself."

         "Princess, I would be remiss to let you go out like that alone, even with training. Your safety is my duty, and we can't be sure how much this energy is affecting Char's judgement."

         She then turns back to Zinnerman. "It's quite a power. I've seen nothing like it before. I agree that we should exercise the utmost caution when engaging any enemies infused with it." 

<Pose Tracker> Banagher Links has posed.

Banagher wilts under Audrey's brief glare. He doesn't have any defense for his actions, even if they were accidental.

"I promise." Banagher vows to Audrey, seriously. He presses a quick kiss to her cheek. "I'll never get that close to it again. You too, okay?"

He feels like he has no right to ask anything of her, but... Banagher can't bear thinking of Audrey corrupted by the same energy as her father. The thought brings a frown to his face.

"You don't think he'd try to... grab you and corrupt you, like he did with Sayla?" Banagher asks, tentatively. "Maybe that's why he didn't try to kill you?"

Banagher flushes with embarrassment. "I swear, there were three of those fairy men! Leina saw them too! They purified Miss Loni!"

It sounds ridiculous even to his ears. Thankfully, the Captain moves the conversation along.

"I didn't see the machines Full Frontal and Lieutenant Akkanen were driving, but if they had enough Psychoframe to send that big of a shockwave out, that seems -- really, really bad." Banagher frowns. "Please let me know if you find anything out, Flaste. About the machines, or the, um. Fairies."

Another flush. Anser did say Psychoframe causes hallucinations... Maybe the fairies are the same as that black dog?

"You can always call me for backup too, Audrey." Banagher says, working up a little smile. "I'll be with you as fast as the Unicorn can fly." That smile is so soft, even as Banagher looks up to Marida. "Thank you. I'd appreciate that. I get way too emotional while fighting." 

<Pose Tracker> Mineva Lao Zabi has posed.

Mineva gives Banagher a questioning look. "Fairies... hm. The world's big enough for me to believe something like that's possible," she decides. "And those wings the golden Unicorn made... well. It's hard to say what it means..."

She sighs, and nods. "I wasn't planning to go out alone... because I do think he may want to take me. I know why seeing me like that upset him--he wanted me to stay away from things like that, to just... be me. Without the burdens of leadership, without being drawn into the conflicts."

There's a brief chuckle. "... he did a bad job of raising me to stay away from that, though, didn't he? He helped me learn to care."

"Maybe he saw I wouldn't be able to stay away from that much, at least," she adds quietly. "But... I think if he tried to turn Sayla, he'd try to turn me, too, given the chance." 

<Pose Tracker> Suberoa Zinnerman has posed.

"... There is a difference, I think, between being used as a political symbol, and choosing to step onto that path," Zinnerman says after a moment's consideration of Mineva's words. "If he wanted you to have the freedom to choose the way you lived your life, he can hardly complain if you choose to walk a path he wanted you to avoid."

"Now. The power Char has... Direct contact does seem to be the danger - but you were in contact with the Shamblo longer the last time you fought it, is that right?"

"And it was like she - Unicorn, I mean - came back new," Tomura pipes up. "Like the fight never happened."

"It's a strange power, for sure," Flaste says thoughtfully. "Neither of you can afford to hold anything back if you confront him again." 

<Pose Tracker> Marida Cruz has posed.

         "Keeping at range will be key." Marida gives a nod. "We could also potentially coordinate a series of strong attacks in such a way as to not give the Sazabi the chance to restore itself. We may have needed to retreat, but we've bought precious time to strategize."

         Marida places her chin in her hand as she mulls it over. She would have to pore over the records of the battle to get a better sense of what the Sazabi could do.

         "I will say, it's quite a boon to have Captain York and the Three Ships on our side. I also don't know exactly how Celestial Being managed to be there, but presumably stopping Char is also in their best interest." 

<Pose Tracker> Banagher Links has posed.

Banagher smiles faintly as Audrey manages to chuckle. "We won't let you fight him alone, no matter what happens. One of us will be there with you, every time."

"I'm glad you care so much. It's a beautiful part of who you are." Another little smile. Haro, seemingly in agreement, flaps his winglets. "The Captain is right. You get to choose what you do with the life you have."

Banagher shudders at the effect 000 had on the Unicorn. "I don't want the Unicorn to get hurt, but seeing her just mend back together was just as bad. It made me think--"

The young pilot goes quiet. His tea, now gone cold, is still in his hands. Banagher takes a sip anyway.

"If I see him. I won't hold anything back." It's a promise. Even with Audrey right here next to him, Banagher can't pretend he hasn't seen what harm Char has done -- both to the world, and the people he loves. "Thankfully, the Unicorn is designed to fight from a distance."

Banagher thinks of the five shots from the beam magnum he shot into the Shamblo. It would've recovered from that damage, but it definitely slowed the monstrous mobile armor down.

"Eight is going to be with us until we stop him. I'm sure of it. She promised me... She wasn't going to abandon me until the chase for the Box is over. We can trust her." 

<Pose Tracker> Mineva Lao Zabi has posed.

"I can't imagine Celestial Being's mandate of conflict-intervention involves the extermination of all life," Mineva agrees with Marida. She nods to Zinnerman as well, "You're right."

Though if he comes out of this alive... no, he doesn't have any right to criticize her decisions. Not after everything he's done.

"Good," she tells Banagher. She's quiet for a long moment, mulling over the feelings she senses from him. before steeling herself and adding, "As far as I'm concerned, Char Aznable died four years ago. Regardless of any ties I may have had to him, I expect you all to do the same." She looks each of those present in the eyes, one after another. "That is an order." 

<Pose Tracker> Suberoa Zinnerman has posed.

Flaste and Tomura salute instinctively as Mineva speaks with a voice of authority, before they even realise what they're doing.

It takes Zinnerman a little longer, but he does eventually put a hand to his head. "Yes, Highness. Orders received and understood. I'll inform the rest of the crew when they return."

The glimmer in his eyes is unmistakable - pride in her courage. 

<Pose Tracker> Marida Cruz has posed.

         Marida stands at attention and gives a crisp salute. "Understood, Highness. Marida Cruz will give her all for the mission." 

<Pose Tracker> Banagher Links has posed.

Audrey goes quiet. Banagher watches her, concern in his eyes. But as she speaks up, taking on the voice of a born ruler...

He blushes, just a little. The blanket shrouding his head slips down to his shoulders, letting brown hair floof out. Everyone else in the room salutes, but Banagher isn't a member of the Sleeves, not really. And he can't imagine Audrey would want a salute from him.

Instead, he takes one of her hands in his own, gently pressing it over his own heart. "Anything you ask of me." He promises, radiating affection. "For as long as you'll have me."

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