2022-04-23: The Fuse of Battle

• Log: 2022-04-23 The Fuse of Battle
• Cast: Sousuke Sagara, Kaname Chidori, Celise Reneaux, Riku Asakura, Chibodee Crocket, Garrod Ran, Sayla Mass, Teletha Testarossa, Shelby Korts
• Where: Unmarked Warehouse, Nouvelle Tokyo
• OOC - IC Date: 8:34PM, April 24, 0096
• Summary: Stinging from losing their captive, the Shuffle Alliance retreat to a safehouse where they may nurse their wounds, patch their machines, and plan the next move. They soon realize, their long night isn't over yet. This scene follows on from Run, Run, Run!.

---

<Pose Tracker> Sousuke Sagara has posed.

It's a slow trickle getting everyone in. These safehouses often aren't MEANT to house a full battlefield, but they'll figure it out. That's why you keep the big ones ready, sometimes.

Waiting as people filter in are two people in Mithril's armored, all-black-but-for-colored-stripes ARM Slave piloting suits; a woman with short black hair and pink slashes and a man with long wavy blonde hair and blue ones. Melissa Mao and Kurz Weber. Weber is on an upper level of the warehouse, peering out through a window with a sniper scope; equal parts defense and recon. Mao is on the floor barking orders at the engineering crew as people file in.

"So that went FUBAR in a real hurry, huh?" she says; her voice is rough, a little bit of a smoker's husk to it. "Well, the locals should get your machines up and running soon enough. Uruz 6 and I have got a couple fresh machines, we'll keep perimeter secure." She looks up at the blond, barking, "Weber!"

"Yeah, yeah," the blond man says, standing up and hopping the railing to descend. "Doesn't look like you were followed, at least."

Uruz 7's ARX-7 Arbalest has parked in one of the smaller slots, kneeling down and exposing its back for the pilot to climb out. He hasn't, restlessly thumbing through scans, keeping an eye on a particular blip on his monitors.

"Sergeant," the onboard computer AL says. "The engineers will require you to exit the arm slave for maintenance procedures."

He doesn't move for several seconds, breathing slowly.

"Sergeant."

Sousuke bites out a curse and then forces himself up, climbing out of the pit of the ARM Slave cockpit, still in his school uniform shirt. "Transfer that scan to my phone," Sousuke orders, and then slips off the edge to march toward the lockers.

"Understood," AL says, to an empty space.

<Pose Tracker> Kaname Chidori has posed.

For Sousuke, the blip has come to a rest... just where it's supposed to. Meanwhile, a shiny, golden bracelet dangles off of Kaname Chidori's wrist as she steps into the safehouse and looks around--and she spots it. A kitchen, like a shining beacon of hope on this grim evening.

She makes a beeline for it, rummaging through the cupboards, fridge, and freezer for anything she *might* be able to cook with.

She's angry, tense, and stressed. Tonight she was supposed to share leftovers with Sousuke and be back home in time to catch the football highlights. Tonight was supposed to be relaxing, goddammit.

Instead, she's been sucked into another set of life-threatening shenanigans. It's a wonder she's not still shaking from the car crash; she's not too happy about ruining her favorite pair of white thigh-high socks, either.

But perhaps most consternating of all: "WHO THE HELL BUYS THREE BAGS OF BAKING SUGAR BUT NO GODDAMN FLOUR?!"

<Pose Tracker> Celise Reneaux has posed.

Before the ambush on the Shuffle Alliance's convoy, Celise Reneaux had split off. The Gundam Halcyon had been called in to deal with a side engagement -- and a pair of unmarked, unknown Wanzers were dispatched. But, that peeled her off their efforts; now, she is just catching up.

The former Neo-Belgian Gundam stands out: a relatively slim profile, in dark and light blue with a little white. It has two rings, currently stowed on its back. It does a leap -- and sets down next to the Arbalest and the rest. The Mobile Fighter lands unceremoniously; the machine kneels down, and the cockpit opens.

Celise comes out -- riding down on a wire, her hand gripping it.

She swapped from a windbreaker and hat to the form-fitting black, yellow, and red tricolor Mobile Trace suit. She looks around for a second.

Then, she frowns at what Kaname asks. "...sounds tense," she opines to no one.

<Pose Tracker> Riku Asakura has posed.

Riku with the help of Chibodee and a giant Turtle managed to put to rest a piece of the legacy of Riku's father. However, during that distraction, people were hurt and the object of the mission was lost. The prisoner was rescued by terrorists, as has been explained to Riku. There are some things he was missing, but it's not anyone's fault but Riku's.

Ultraman Geed was called off from rescuing the transport and then called to a safe house. This makes it very alarming (likely) for techs when an Ultraman walks up, before vanishing into light and out of a portal Riku leaps out. He doesn't look hurt, though he does look tired from the exertion of the fight.

Though the yell makes him jump, looking over towards the source of the yell and decides to start helping out there first. Popping his head into the kitchen, he asks, "Do...you need someone to run to the store for some things?"

<Pose Tracker> Chibodee Crocket has posed.

The only people who tend to see Chibodee Crockett after a fight are the Gals. The Gals aren't here -- Chibodee doesn't risk them this far from home. So as such some of you may be surprised at the state of him.

Gundam Maxter has been hauled off to start being repaired with the other Gundam-sized mechs. In the meantime, Chibodee is still in his Trace Suit. His face is streaked with messily cleaned up blood. Chibodee walks with his mouthguard wrapped up in a rag and is using it to wipe his mouth. There's a bruise over his right eye from a hard impact that, as he can find a seat, he takes out a squeeze-pack of petroleum jelly to work around the edge before rubbing some powder into what is threatening to be a larger cut.

Chibodee pauses. He opens the rag, spits into it, and closes it back up.

"You got any ice?" he asks of somebody who looks like they belong here.

<Pose Tracker> Garrod Ran has posed.

Much to Garrod's surprise, Kid is not, in fact, trying to strangle him. The young chief of the Freeden's hangar probably *wants* to, and he's probably grumbling up a storm as he works, but Garrod's neck remains intact and unclenched, at least for the time being.

Kaname's yell is loud enough to make Garrod wince, and to revise his opinion of her just a little bit. There are slightly more pressing concerns than groceries, at this stage. "We didn't outright lose anyone out there, did we? Other than Takuma getting 'rescued' by whoever his buddies out there were ... I don't think I've seen those weird little mechs before like the one we were fighting."

<Pose Tracker> Sayla Mass has posed.

        7:52PM, 24 April 0096 - Dr Mass orders all units bar the Impermanence Gundam to retreat to rendezvous Echo Eight One. The enemy commander sends hers away.

        7:58PM, 24 April - The blip on Sousuke's tracker starts moving towards Echo Eight One.

        8:01PM, 24 April - A message comes through the Alliance's secure text. 'Heart-2, Anthusz, Impermanence and Civilian all safe. Captive lost. Regrouping."

        8:13PM, 24 April - The Impermanence lands, and Sayla disembarks with a still unconscious Captain Testarossa, taking her to the improvised medical room. "25 minutes to recover, rest, patch up. If Captain Testarossa has recovered by then, she'll lead the briefing. If not, I will."

        NOW: 8:34PM, April 24 - Dr Mass emerges from the room, walking tiredly, moving past the raging Kaname to grab a shitty instant coffee. 4 minutes to meeting. She's not going to interrupt the civilian- the coping method is a little disruptive but... Under the circumstances, it's more than acceptable. "Check the dates. They've probably just been stacking non-perishables without thinking." Sayla's... not calm, but she's trying not to show frustration and tiredness. "Everyone's intact, beyond the captive." She responds to Garrod, while reaching into the freezer as water boils. Icepacks, and pleny of them. "Chibodee- heads up." She tosses it, he's a big gundam fighter, he can catch. This is what Sayla does- makes sure everyone can keep moving. "...You may want to keep an ear out, Miss Chidori. You're not part of this, but you're involved. These are not ideal circumstances."

        She takes her coffee- black, at this point, and sips it. She grimaces, but it has the intended effect. She steps out, grabbing a folding chair and taking a seat. 75 seconds.
Shelby_Korts teleports in.

<Pose Tracker> Kaname Chidori has posed.

Assembling her stack of ingredients, she shakes her head to Riku. "Sounds like a bad idea," she grumbles. "The curry's gonna be a bit runny, that's all." She gives him a small grin, though-- "Thanks. I appreciate the thought." Apparently she was focused enough to miss the hubbub surrounding his arrival, or she'd probably be a bit more starstruck.

Speaking of which. "--oh, you're... holy shit, you're Chibodee Crockett!" Ahem. Right. Not the time. She pauses, and calls out to the rest. "Uhh, anyone got any food allergies? I'm making curry. There... ssshould be enough for everyone?" She pauses and looks at the dates, at Sayla's recommendation. "Yeah."

She sounds quite calm--but to a Newtype, she's still a raging storm, keeping it together with the act of cooking.

She nods to Sayla, then pauses a moment. "I'm getting the feeling that 'involved' is the same as 'part of this', right now. I think you'd have to drag me out of the room... and maybe Sousuke, too." She looks over at the Arbalest.

<Pose Tracker> Teletha Testarossa has posed.

Tessa Testarossa was unconscious.

In the world of the dreamless whispers, the only thought was of nothing. Drifting. Receiving. Even when asleep, one's mind was sparking with the onslaught, the neverending voice at the back of the mind. The unconscious spoke words that faded into nothingness and spoke so much, that ignored the outside world because they knew so much more, that crept into the darkness as there is nothing but an antenna only to disappear.

The time between the knock in the van and consciousness would be forgotten but the Whispers never stopped. As it always has been. A lump of meat that could listen, attend, hark, that could only respond on instinct on the ride over, slumping against Kaname all the while there. Slumping against Sayla. There was nothing she could do. Nothing worth doing for a lump that could only be good for commanding and building and knowing.

Her brow furrowed. Even unconscious, the mind still dreamt as she tried to wake. To make sense of the ensuing storm around her to stop listening to us again.

This already hap772FAEDF77FA71FC25231F3A8E11109176240066A8F7EC48A61B0A0754C6783E.

And so Tessa jolted awake, panting.

---

8:46 PM. Tessa Testarossa was awake, as bright eyed as she could ever be after coming from a dreamless state. Not that she showed it in her countenance, having tested the bandages and thanked Athrusa properly.

The door opens. The gal walked out, a half-hesitant walk of testing muscles after a crash. She's sipping on a water bottle, Tarabaman Promo included. "Haa...this was the second best case scenario." To no one in particlar. Being who she was, the rest of the facility already had eyes on her, as it were.

"...Good job, everyone. We're still in the middle of everything, but we're not done for the count." And a weary smile from a bandaged commander. There was no time to really rest.

<Pose Tracker> Shelby Korts has posed.

        Security for the safehouse is critical: So it's a little strange when someone new arrives in the bay packed with Mobile Suits and Arm Slaves and mecha of all varieties clad not in Mithril fatigues or a pilot suit, but fairly casual clothes-- and stranger still, riding a moped with the rental plates taken off of it. But, she had appropriate call-and-countersigns to arrive here without getting shot, handcuffed, or turned away.

        Shelby Korts steps off the scooter and walks it in a fair distance before setting the kickstand and taking off the helmet and a fairly basic surgical mask, taking a moment to re-orient herself as though she were getting used to ... something. It's tough to determine with a spacenoid, especially one whose visits to Earth have been rather sparing in the last three years.

        She's sent on her way to find others-- a whirlwind of thoughts and images and memories and ideas and-- and--

        Clenching her eyes shut and shaking her head, Shelby presses onward. Her presense is sensed before seen, for sure. "Excuse me, I'm looking for Doctor Mass?"

<Pose Tracker> Riku Asakura has posed.

Riku nodded his head to Kaname, then took up a leaning spot as people started rolling in. "Well, I like my curry a little runny anyway. Soaks into the rice better." Thinking for a moment, Riku asks, "What kind of curry? I'm not sure what kind you have on this Earth.."

Though his thoughts were interrupted by Chibodee who looks worse for wear. "Ah...sorry about that.." he said to the man. The fact that it was his father that created the Darklops still has him a bit...funny about it. "I am not sure how they managed to summon that...but it is a city would have been bad."

Riku also addresses Sayla, "Sorry I wasn't there for you guys," he says, with a bow. This ends when Teletha speaks up about it being the second-worst outcome, and he tilts his head to her. Then realizing he hasn't been introduced. "Oh sorry, I'm Riku Asakura, nice to meet you," he says with a bright smile.

<Pose Tracker> Celise Reneaux has posed.

Celise glances sideways at Chibodee.

She is always a little awkward around the Crest Bearers. She fought for the Devil Gundam, until some sense was knocked into her, but that isn't the sort of decision a person can undecide. (They also pretty soundly defeated her earlier in the Gundam Fight.) Still, this is a martial artist thing.

"A coupole of nasty hits?" she asks. She has a nice red spot on her neck; she slammed into the side of her cockpit when she fought those Wanzers. She winces a little, and looks at Sayla for a moment. Then, she looks at Kaname. She brightens.

"I love curry," she says. She glances in Tessa's direction -- smiles -- and then she looks back at Kaname. "Need any help?"

She looks up, though -- and blinks when a person she recognizes is here. She didn't quite expect to see her. She lifts a hand and waves. "Shelby," she says. "Did you come down to help?"

<Pose Tracker> Chibodee Crocket has posed.

Chibodee catches the flying ice pack without even looking up to see it, grabbing it in one of his big hands and immediately putting it into place on his face. "Thanks doc," he says, and quiets down. Smart people are going to need to talk about stuff for a minute.

"Yeah that's me, hi," he mumbles at Kaname. He doesn't want to interrupt anybody saying mission information. This is another weird-feeling room.

"Don't worry about it, bro," he directs to Riku all the same. "Everybody's got a plan until they get punched in the face. In my case," grinning with still reddish teeth, "I just don't make plans because I get hit in the face a lot." Glancing to Celise. "Trace Chambers don't got no seatbelts y'see. Don't you worry about me. I drink my bug milk." (Vitamin enriched 'milk' generated by the quart for refugees to keep the worst nutritional diseases at bay, actually generated by plants, but served alongside insect protein.)

Chibodee gestures in the direction of Sayla when Shelby arrives and asks for her. The ice stays put.

<Pose Tracker> Sousuke Sagara has posed.

Sousuke only tears his eyes from his tracker screen when Sayla emerges with the Captain. "Capt-" he says, but seeing the Doctor has her in care, he leaves it off.

Kaname making a ruckus, maybe paradoxically, relaxes him. Mao sees him passing, and raises a hand to thump him on the shoulder, giving him a serious look. "Your suit's in the changing room, Sousuke," she says. "Get changed. Tonight's not over, right?"

His eyes cut to the side. "I don't think it is, no."

She nods, and nudges him lightly toward the changing rooms as she herself moves to her M9. Perimeter patrol is important.

Meanwhile, Kaname looks meaningfully at Arbalest. Nobody has taught AL about flashing the running lights yet and so it does not respond.

Sousuke emerges later in the armored piloting suit of an ARM Slave pilot, helmet under one arm. He took his time in there. Thinking. Worrying. But he's out in time to see the Captain up. "Captain," he says, saluting at once. He thinks of saying something. He doesn't, instead turning to the others who've come; Garrod, Chibodee, Riku, Celise. He nods to each in turn. He's rubbing his shoulder, where he had to jerk his machine aside. Arbalest is already having its arm repaired. It'll be a patch job, but it'll do. Good.... ....good.

They're going to need 'that', aren't they, he thinks, and finds a seat to slump into. His eyes scan, first to the Captain, then to Kaname. She's cooking up a storm, the bracelet on her wrist.

<Pose Tracker> Garrod Ran has posed.

"Just the usual don't-you-dares," Garrod answers Kaname on the question of allergies. "Arsenic, strychnine, cyanide, zombie-death super habaneros ..." He grins to punctuate the list. Apparently, if he DOES have food allergies, he's been fortunate enough not to encounter them yet. "Curry is just a bit spicy, right? I should be okay."

He looks around at the others, his expression still relatively guarded. He does nod a greeting to Riku - then double-takes, "So you're the big silver guy? Huh, didn't think you'd look so normal when you're ... well, not a giant."

Shelby's unexpected arrival *almost* puts Garrod on the defensive, but the fact that she knows where they are and isn't being chased right back out presumably means she's supposed to be here; Celise's casual greeting seems to confirm it, and Garrod relaxes a little more, actually wandering a bit closer to the kitchen.

Not out of sight or earshot of anyone else, mind you, but if he can get a plate of food - curry - that much faster, he could stand to eat.

<Pose Tracker> Kaname Chidori has posed.

"Oh! Uh, yeah, actually--I could use a hand getting the rice started while I work on the sauce." Kaname smiles a bit at Celise, then gives Sousuke a wave. She's happy to see him, of course, but she doesn't look, or seem, quite as *worried* about him as he was about her.

(In her defense, he can handle himself.)

Ground beef goes in the pan to sear, while she starts mixing up the sauce, switching back and forth between pan and bowl to make sure the beef doesn't burn. Seems even with another pair of hands in the kitchen, she's used to doing a lot of it by herself...
POT: Celise Reneaux is no longer set observer.

<Pose Tracker> Sayla Mass has posed.

        Seeing Tessa emerge puts Sayla at ease, a little. They'd ruled out concussion, but there was... something happening there. It was unpleasant to be around the closer she got to rousing, It's part of why Sayla went and got the coffee.

        She sees Shelby arriving, and stands to wave her in. "Miss Korts. Thank you for responding." That brings everyone here. She lets out a sigh. "I'm glad for the response. We don't have a lot of information right now." The way Tessa spoke, she was up to speed. They were probably going to have some conversations later about decisions that were made. "...Captain, we're ready to begin when you are." This is not a straight up 'everyone take your seats' but it might as well be.

        She looks over to Riku. "I am afraid we don't have time for you to explain interdimensional theory, Riku. I'm sure people have questions, we can answer them after tonight." One crisis at a time, people. One crisis at a

<Pose Tracker> Celise Reneaux has posed.

"No kidding," Celise answers Chibodee. Even if she makes a bit of a face at bug milk. She knows the stuff, but mostly by reputation. She might not have a lot of money now, but she was born a rich girl.

She rolls her shoulders -- then smiles at Garrod and waves at Riku. "Celise Reneaux," she says. "The reporter." And former Gundam Fighter for Neo-Belgium.

She looks back at Kaname, then she nods her head. "Sure, of course!" she says. "Leave it to me. I've cooked plenty of rice."

She is thus preparing the rice, measuring it and the water out, as she looks at Sayla. She nods; she can listen and prepare.

<Pose Tracker> Shelby Korts has posed.

        She stands there, arguably closest in age to Kaname, Tessa, Sousuke, and Garrod-- Riku too. Pink hair cut in a bob, blue eyes, and large glasses, a comfortable hoodie in two-tone purple, black leggings, and a t-shirt that looks well-worn and loved with a stylized cartoon raccoon in a trash can. Her sneakers add to her ability to stay quiet, though she wasn't actually aiming for that, and --

        -- her gaze drifts to Chibodee first and gives him a nod, a brief look to Sousuke as if to just speak her greeting with only a glance, then her attention moves on to Celise as she moves further in, pausing to look her over. As ever, it's like she can see straight through the other woman with her presence alone. "Celise." Another brief pause, then her eyes press closed. What is that noise? It's like being with Eva. When they open again, Shelby calmly replies, "Yes. Doctor Mass requested reinforcements."

        Shelby's taking stock of everything: The machines on the way in, the condition of the pilots, the smell of the food and the commander in her bandages. Sayla looks ... well, she's using 'Miss Korts,' rather than 'Shelby,' so that gives the spacenoid some good ideas on what the situation is like right now.

        Crossing her arms, she does try her best to look a little serious, but there's a definite scrunch on the Newtype's face. She can't control what she sees, or hears, and ... noise. It's not just the people around -- that's easy enough to sort out. It's just ... noise.

<Pose Tracker> Riku Asakura has posed.

"Nice to meet you all," Riku says to basically everyone he hasn't met. Garrod (in the flesh instead of a giant), Shelby, Celise, and Tessa. Though when Sayla mentions not giving an interdimensional lesson today, he blinks not getting it immediately, then it clicks a second later. "Oh, sorry sorry...I didn't mean to make things complicated."

Garrod addresses him more directly, and he nods. "You're...from that Gun...gun..." it's on the tip of his tongue... "Gundam?" He's not knowledgeable of all the giant robots, yet. He also takes a seat when Sayla starts trying to herd cats for the meeting.

Or dinner...meeting dinner? Meener? Dinting? Dinting! That's it.

<Pose Tracker> Chibodee Crocket has posed.

Chibodee nods courteously to Celise. Gundam Fighters are Gundam Fighters. It's a small, elite group. He'd be chattier if his jaw wasn't so achy, and wasn't distracted by the smell of ground beef. The odor is intoxicating, foreign, reminding him of the first meal he ordered when he decided he was truly Wealthy -- a meatball submarine sandwich on Neo-America with real cheese on it, and actual potato fries as opposed to fauxtato. Chibodee cried after the first bite. His mother had never tasted real beef in her life.

He's a lucky man, Chibodee knows. So he puts his body on the line to fight for this world, even when it's a mess, even when he doesn't like it. Even having those experiences briefly -- Chibodee will never be able to repay those debts. So he fights on.

<Pose Tracker> Teletha Testarossa has posed.

The scent of curry did encourage a small pep in her step, as lightly bandaged as she was. It was more cosmetic than anything; A gauze pad on a cheek, a bandage on the side of her head. Braid slightly frazzled, a woman mostly of sane countenance. Her thoughts were raging as usual, but in terms of whatever psychic thrashing she was sending out into the world, it had subsided into the usual state of someone stressed out. Spiky, but not undesirable.

"Kaname. Sayla. Thank you for back there." A light bow of appreciation. "As I said, this was the second best case scenario. Everyone escaping with their lives, with or without the hostage in hand."

And she turns to everyone else. "Athrusa. Chibodee. Riku. Garrod. Thank you all for coming." The smallest of sighs, brow furrowing into a displeased frown. "As we are in the middle of a high-stakes situation, we can skip on the introductions." Considering that she would much rather be munching on curry and checking out the Tarabaman rerun episode that she missed while out at sea...

...No, this was a serious situation, all things considered. "To put it simply, Takuma has been kidnapped by the people who wanted him in the first place. Needless to say, we cannot have him be taken away for reasons critical to Mithril's central objectives." Mouth opening. Mouth closing. Takuma had something. Something specific, something that they had to know. "We've managed to secure a blood sample of Takuma, but the fact they dared to go so far as to attack a military base...It can only mean disaster if he's gone."

"...There is another objective in the matter. They've secured a hostage: Lieutenant Commander Andrey Kalinin. His rescue is to be considered a..." ...Yes, this is how to word it. Impersonal. Stripped...Of her personal baggage of it, lest there be accusations of personal bias. "...A secondary concern. I believe he can hold out." He has to. It's who he is. He can't croak. Tessa chose to hold onto that hope, no matter how foolish it was. Assuming he was dead was something that was deadly for the enemy time and time again.

She maintained order in her head by saying this was no different.

"Are there any questions? This may be the last time we'll be able to talk for the rest of the night, so air your concerns and problems here and now." A psychological shove from the commander's seat to a roundtalk. She can't maintain the positions of captain and soldiers when everyone was so varied. Not in this instance, where individuals came into play much more than squads.

<Pose Tracker> Garrod Ran has posed.

"Yeah, the Gundam X," Garrod nods to Riku. "The one with the -" These are fellow Shuffles, he reminds himself; he can tell a *couple* of secrets. "- the Satellite Cannon, that *really* big gun I used when we were fighting that Gillvalis thing."

Normally he might not have clarified that much, but there's at least one other Gundam pilot in the room. He doesn't have the leisure to elaborate further on which Gundam is which, though, as Testarossa begins speaking of business. Garrod quickly procures a chair and sits down; he has a feeling he'll need to know what this is all about.

Not that there's a great deal to know yet? Or is there? Well, she did call for questions.

"Do we have any idea where they'd have taken Takuma? Could we kidnap him back again, or ..." He trails off, frowning. Now that he's out and *said* it, it sounds like a dumb idea - and besides, this was an interception strike which managed to get the better of three Gundams, an Ultraman, that white Arm Slave Sagara was verbally pried out of, and anything else Garrod missed. Attacking an actual *base* belonging to the bad guys ... well, Garrod wouldn't want to do that without the Moon shining in the sky. And if it were in the city (again), not even then due to collateral.

Then again, strategies aren't really his thing, are they?

<Pose Tracker> Sousuke Sagara has posed.

Continued, immediate action. Sousuke is tense. Not even Kaname favoring him with a wave and a smile eases him much. The worst confusions of the evening are over, but now everything is tumbling in his head, over and over.

A secondary concern.

Kurz walks in the door, returning from overwatch duty. He's throwing up and catching his AS helmet like a basketball. "I wouldn't worry about the old man," he chuckles, before he catches it one more time and flashes the assembled crew a grin. "If anything can kill that guy, I don't think they make it on Earth."

"...Indeed," Sousuke says, straightening a little. "The Commander is one of the most ferocious combatants I know."

And then, an artificial male voice suddenly speaks up from the vicinity of the warehouse. "ALERT: Incoming data package from URUZ TWELVE, J. DANIGAN. Forwarding to URUZ SEVEN."

Sousuke blinks, surprised by the intrusion, and fishes out his phone. "He can do that?" he mutters to himself, before setting the phone down on the table in front of him. A voice comes out of the speaker.

"Uruz 12 here! One way comms, I'm goin' dark again to keep tailing them after this. We trailed the enemy to the border. They're crossing in the direction of Area 11. Seems like they're using full-on smuggling to get across this time, too. Probably don't want another incident like what lost them the kid the first time." Some muttering off-mic, and then, "Oh, yeah? Shit." Closer again: "Scratch that, Nguyen got a better position on the mic. They're going to Nagoya, and they're in a big hurry. Whatever they're doing, they're doing it tonight. We'll cross and keep after them in ECS Invisible. Get your butts to Nagoya! Uruz 12, out!"

<Pose Tracker> Celise Reneaux has posed.

Celise presses the button on the rice cooker, then steps back. She keeps quiet at this point, because Tessa explains the important details. Her nose wrinkles; she can only guess what sort of problem it would be if one of their officers was kidnapped, too. Celise's fingers thread together.

She pops her knuckles.

"We'll have to rescue them both," she says. She has some skill at being a reporter. She knows how to sound a certain way; in this case, calm and confident, certain of herself. She looks at Tessa and smiles. "Don't worry."

But that's bravado, too. She has messed up before. She could, now. But saying it seems like the right thing to do.

She looks at Garrod, then she nods. "Garrod's asking the right question, mm?" she says. "But... the Lieutenant Commander. Do you think he's there, too? Because that might mean two birds and one stone."

She glances at Kurz. Then, she frowns -- before her eyes widen a little. "Nagoya? Well--uh--guess we know where to go..."

Ryoko_Subaru teleports out.
POT: Asuka Shikinami Langley is now set observer.

<Pose Tracker> Riku Asakura has posed.

"I hate to make things sound worse, but they fielded..." a pause, "A Darklops, which is what Chibodee, the Kaiju, and I fought. That one is destroyed, but they were produced in large numbers, According to Ultraman Zero. I have no idea how many they have, or HOW they got them. If they deploy another..."

"Well, it'd be bad news," Riku says with a shrug. Though he pauses when Tessa says someone that is a part of the group is a 'secondary concern'. Riku has never met this person, but this has him staring at her. "Do we know where he is..? I'd be willing to split off and go get him if you think we don't have the people."

This gets interrupted by Kurz saying he's alright and followed by Sousuke's confirmation. This just doesn't sit right with him. The radio message further adds complexity to this. They have to move, and soon. This guy can't fall into their hands.

<Pose Tracker> Kaname Chidori has posed.

Soon enough, the warehouse fills with the smells of turmeric and spices as sauce and meat are married together; she starts plating the rice and pouring the curry over top with Celise's help. "Wanna help me pass it out?" she asks quietly, somehow managing to get four plates in two hands for her first trip. Sousuke gets his first.

And it's as she's passing out the other three that she hears what the target is. A pang of fear goes through her as the danger of the night gets disconcertingly real again; that's where Ashford Academy is. She has friends there.

Shit.

"Wait. What's-- do we know what's so important about this Takuma guy? Why'd we need his blood, and more to the point, what's in Nagoya...?"

She takes a deep breath in, then out, and goes back for more. Food. Food is the happy place. Everyone's going to like it. That's what has to matter right now.

<Pose Tracker> Sayla Mass has posed.

        The situation laid out in front of her, Sayla nods. She knew about Kalinin, their leader had decided to taunt him. Her phone beeps, and she checks. A mechanic runs down to her, and whispers in her ear. She pauses. "...Focus on the others then, Shirley and Janet will probably be happier without other people meddling." She'd make this Chibodee's call, but... The situation is relayed. Nagoya. She tsks.

        "Captain, I understand your reasoning. But you've got more than the SRT here. And I've just been informed the Maxter won't be repaired in time. This lets us split into two teams. Once we locate their base, I propose that Chibodee can lead a team to rescue Kalinin, while those of us with Mobile Weapons deal with the Takuma situation-"

        Kaname interrupts, and Sayla can feel that fear. She gently reaches out to touch her arm with one hand, careful not to startle. She's going for reassuring. "...Miss Chidori raises the pertinent point, Captain Testarossa." She pauses. "But I can make an educated guess. You mentioned the drug in his system. And I've seen children like him before. The ones Jamil and Tris-" She stops herself. She knows where that goes. "The ones they'd pull out of the Cyber Newtype labs. Some you could find people to take them in, but some were like him. In need of years of therapy to get close." And therapists are in short supply. She takes a sigh. "...To them, that boy is a component, isn't he? A pilot? A weapon? We need as much information as possible, Captain. It's our only shot."

<Pose Tracker> Chibodee Crocket has posed.

Chibodee waves off concerns about Maxter. He knows the robot is a pain in the ass to fix when Shirley doesn't bring the special ingredient (love) into the mix. Honestly, all he wants now is to pour curry down his throat and go to sleep.

<Pose Tracker> Garrod Ran has posed.

Nagoya? Garrod's not quite sure where that is, but the report from Uruz 12 does mean that whatever the Shuffle Alliance is doing, they have to do it *quickly*. And Riku's additional intel about the Darklops makes the green-haired boy's expression darken another few shades.

Then Sayla makes her educated guess - and drops Jamil's name into the middle of it, making Garrod sit bolt upright in his chair. Never mind that Takuma and Tiffa couldn't possibly be more different than they are, but if Sayla's right about the parallel ... actually, what would that mean?

It loops back to 'don't leave him in their hands,' at any rate, but could they even catch up to try and effect a rescue with what they have or can get?

"If their base is in the middle of nowhere and we're pretty sure they don't have that Kalinin guy at the same place," Garrod suggests uncertainly, "we *could* just try to take it out as soon as the Moon's up and I can get a firing solution on it ... but if it's in the middle of a city, that's out." He sounds a lot more certain about the disqualifier than the other conditions.

<Pose Tracker> Shelby Korts has posed.

        Though she's late to the party, Shelby listens with rapt attention: Someone named Takuma, their blood samples. Secondary objective: Rescue the hostage Lieutenant Commander Andrey Kalinin. Asked if anyone has any further questions, the pink-haired Newtype shakes her head. She gets the broadstrokes.

        Sayla brings up drugs in his system in response to Kaname. On cue, the spacenoid's arms shift, thumb applying pressure to the inside of her forearm in a steady, almost muscle-stripping manner. Flashes-- memories-- bits of her own history in the jumbled mess of her past, in her mind--

        "Nhh. I'll have to recalibrate for atmospheric combat, but it shouldn't take too long. I didn't want to push my luck after sneaking down here, so ... I've got my Jagd Doga hidden nearby."

<Pose Tracker> Celise Reneaux has posed.

"Mm-hm!" Celise says. "I'm happy to," she answers Kaname. She takes her own set -- balancing them carefully. She follows after Kaname, passing over plates one after the other.

She's starting to eat when the problem -- and then the plan -- is explained. Her fork hangs out of her mouth for a moment. She nods to Sayla's suggestion, because she could certainly help with that. Damage to the Halcyon is light.

She glances sideways at Shelby, then. "We can get it up and running," she says. "Their mechanics here are top notch."

<Pose Tracker> Kaname Chidori has posed.

Kaname frowns as Sayla explains what Takuma most likely is. "They're still doing that to kids...?" Ugh. She tries not to think about it. Her dad wouldn't have been involved in that, she's pretty sure, but...

He's the sort of person who would, isn't he?

She pushes that out of her mind. "That means he's a victim... we need to help him," she concludes, shutting herself up with a mouthful of curry rice. That girl, the one he called his sister... does she think of him that way? As a brother? Or just a tool?

<Pose Tracker> Teletha Testarossa has posed.

Tessa began to take the questions in stride, brow furrowing in thought as she mulled over how to properly answer. How much to say, how much she could half-talk about, and what was off the table unconditionally. Thoughts upon thoughts interrupted by Uruz 12's transmission, eyes widening at the sudden drop of information. "There's our target. We leave within the hour."

Of course, it never was simple. It never was that simple. Not when people were (rightfully) questioning. Tessa couldn't crumble under this. Not when the obvious was at stake, not when others just didn't have the wherewithal to learn why Mithril was taking the stance it was. Even with the blood sample, this wasn't enough.

"...Yes. You're right on the money again, Sayla. When we- Lieutenant Commander Kalilin and I, I mean, watched on an interrogation of him at the base, he gave signs of being drugged. Extreme aggression. A want for something. Unrestrained physical bouts of anger and outbursts." Yes. This was fine to divulge. This was, technically, right.

"He was arrested for assaulting a police officer while screaming about his sister. I'll spare the details of the injuries, but the early prognosis is...grim." Thread the needle. The how. The when. The where. The why can be implicit. If the wrong conclusion is reached, Mithril is still in the clear.

"As of right now, securing him is Mithril's top priority in the area."

<Pose Tracker> Sousuke Sagara has posed.

"Christ," comes the voice of Melissa Mao, who apparently also got that communique; she comes stomping in, tossing her helmet at Kurz, who catches it gamely. "If it's Nagoya, they're probably hitting the Britannian government buildings!"

"Scenic Nagoya!" Kurz quips. "Haven't been there since my stint in Krugis..."

"Yeah, well you'll love what the new management has done for the place," Mao grunts, her lips crooked. "Hate to say it, but stopping something like that's gotta take priority over backing up the Commander." She glances to Sayla. "Sgt. Major Melissa Mao, don't believe we've met, Doc. Sorry if my two bozos give you trouble."

Kurz looks proud of himself. Sousuke doesn't particularly do anything but the camera points at him for three seconds anyway.

She opens the refrigerator with the body language of a person who requires beer immediately, then grimaces, then closes the door and leans against the refrigerator as if its failure must be punished. Once her irritation clears she looks at Tessa, worry plain on her face. She grimaces properly at Tessa's answer, but says nothing. Supporting the Captain's the job of an officer, after all.

Sousuke and Kurz exchange their own looks, but Sousuke...looks down at his arrived curry, after a moment.

He eats with quiet efficiency and doesn't say a dang thing about what he's already guessed and can't tell anyone about.

<Pose Tracker> Garrod Ran has posed.

Well, there's not much else Garrod can think of to suggest until he knows more; for now, he takes a cautious bite of the curry that Kaname whipped up for them - and then a less cautious bite, nodding appreciatively. This *is* really good curry, especially considering that the ingredients just happened to be laid in at the safehouse. The details which Captain Testarossa fills in do help explain why Takuma was a captive in the first place - and whether that aggression was from the drugs, or just Takuma's normal personality, it sounds more and more like the bad guys are planning to use him as some part of a weapon.

"At least Tiffa wasn't being used like that," Garrod mutters under his breath - and then the safehouse door opens again, almost as if Garrod's idle comment was some manner of summons.

Sayla will certainly recognize both of them; some or all of the others might already know Jamil Neate, captain of the Freeden, code-named Red Joker. Fewer of them are likely to recognize the young girl who's with Jamil: small, slender, seeming frail, her hair dark with hints of purple, her eyes wide and - right now - reflecting her utter terror.

"Eh?" Garrod does a double-take, and rises, setting his plate aside. "What's wrong, Tiffa?"

"Don't go to fight!!" the girl cries out. "You can't win ... nothing can win against that! If you fight it, you'll all die, the city will be destroyed ... there's no way you can beat that thing!"

<Pose Tracker> Chibodee Crocket has posed.

Chibodee glances up from his curry rice, eating with his grungy ceramic chopsticks. "Quitter talk," he says, barely glancing up before returning to his bowl. "That's how you lose, thinking that way."

<Pose Tracker> Riku Asakura has posed.

Riku gets the plate, and quickly starts eating it. Transforming and fighting take a lot of energy. He swallows as the briefing is expanded a bit to catch people who weren't there from the very beginning up. Riku is not knowledgeable about cyber newtypes or the atrocities of the Titans. However, the fact that a man needs help, and might be exploited is enough for him.

He still doesn't like abandoning their comrade, but Ms. Mass already has a plan, and he sighs in relief and nods. If Chibodee is heading that up, then it's fine. He goes back to eating, and Riku has a big appetite.

Though this gets interrupted again by an old man and a young girl coming in, followed by the young girl telling them they can't win. His head comes up towards her. He looks worried, not for himself or the fighting team, but for the girl herself.

Swallowing, he turns to face her and gives her a smile. "Are you okay? You look really scared. Just take a deep breath, okay?" Riku has a soft spot for children. "Chibodee is right...sort of. Standing around doing nothing won't get us anywhere...so can you tell us why?"

<Pose Tracker> Kaname Chidori has posed.

"Yeah, that sounds about right," adds Kaname. "I was teasing him at Sousuke's--" A bit of an understatement-- "And he went from totally calm to lunging at me. Dragged Sousuke's bed pretty far, too..."

She's mid-chew when the girl speaks up. Her anxiety spikes again, at that. She doesn't say anything, though; she's technically just an involved bystander at the moment. The questions are there, though--what does this girl *know?* Why does she know it, and... why is it going to be worse if they fight it?

<Pose Tracker> Celise Reneaux has posed.

"He seemed pretty on-edge," Celise offers, helpfully, about Takuma. "The way he moved the bed felt like it was a little out of the ordinary. Like he had something in him."

Tiffa barges in, Jamil Neate in tow.

Celise opens her mouth -- then stares at Chibodee for a second, before she looks back at Tiffa. He isn't wrong, she thinks. She glances sideways at Riku, then looks back at her. "If you kno something, we'll be really grateful, if you can tell us."

She might not be an Ultraman, but sometimes she has to interview kids.

<Pose Tracker> Shelby Korts has posed.

        Shelby's eyes are settled on Kaname for a moment before her head turns to look at Celise, still gripping her own arm a little firmly. "Oh, I-- I can take care of it myself. There's a few settings I have to change, but it's not ... it's not hard, I, um. It's Zeon tech, so it's. Um."

        Shelby's eyes close as her head slants in a visible grimace. The inside of her head is pounding again; thoughts and tattered flashes of memory and surrounding voices a bit of a jumble inside her mind, and aggression outbursts druggedNO focus, Korts, goddamn it--

        New information, and a declaration to move out in an hour. "Ngh. W-We don't have much time, anyway." she adds to Celise. Saved by the deadline, the Newtype muses to herself-- and frowns at the girl that runs in shouting, attention shifting back and forth between Garrod, Tiffa, and Jamil, also taking the time to track Kurz and Mao's entrances. Her mouth opens, and then looks to Tessa and Sayla. "I'll... I-I'll only need a short time to get ready, so I can deploy as you see fit."

<Pose Tracker> Garrod Ran has posed.

Jamil explains, "Tiffa here is a Newtype, with a strong precognitive gift. I don't think she's ever been this terrified by a vision before, though."

Garrod lets out a breath, trying to act outwardly like Tiffa's warning - and more to the point, the urgency with which she spoke - didn't kick his heart into overdrive. "Tiffa ... thank you for coming to warn us. But Chibodee and Riku are right - we can't just turn away from this. Besides ..." He manages an awkward smile. "I've proven your visions wrong before, right?"

Tiffa ducks her head, hugging herself tightly, not wanting to meet anyone's gaze - even Garrod's. "Even the Moon won't help this time. I saw you try, Garrod, and it didn't work."

<Pose Tracker> Chibodee Crocket has posed.

Chibodee Crocket has a high degree of mystical awareness but it works in a very specific manner involving people who are extremely sweaty and angry hitting each other at full strength. Most Newtype stuff is not comprehensible to him. But he tries earnestly.

"Okay," he says, actually looking up from his bowl this time toward Tiffa. "Okay. Let's say we don't do anything. Is that, like, better?"

<Pose Tracker> Riku Asakura has posed.

Riku rubs the side of his head, leaning back again. The girl was obviously shy...and traumatized by these visions of the future. He takes a breath, "That sort of reminds me of the man who named me...who almost became my foster father. You see he had a little star...a...sort of magic energy and it gave him the sight of the future...and a mean fighting game skill." he says with a smile.

"But while something might be very firm in the future, and it might be terrible...we can always turn it around," he says, "So when you want to tell us, I'll listen. But I'm not going to not do anything."

<Pose Tracker> Celise Reneaux has posed.

"Sure, if you've got it," Celise says, with a comfortable smile. She doesn't mind being turned down -- even if there's a flash of concern, when Shelby grimaces. She keeps an eye on her for a second. Both eyes, but particularly the artificial one that glints. Make sure she's all right, Celise thinks.

She sits up, a little, in the chair. And then she looks at Tiffa, and--

And she looks a little out of her depth. She has no particular psychic power; nothing more than the occasional awareness. Her eyes blink a couple of times.

She doesn't chime in -- let Chibodee and Riku take point, she thinks, and not crowd the girl. "I better get the Halcyon ready, if we're taking off soon."

She polishes some of the last of her curry off, then sets the plate down.

<Pose Tracker> Sayla Mass has posed.

        Sayla already has concerns about Weber. He's got an exact combination of traits she can't ever seem to like. But Mao has the point. "That means trying to coordinate with the Britannians and that..." She shakes her head. "...They're not going to work with us, and they're not going to let us cross the border legally. We need a transport that can go in hot on short notice. I'll make some calls." The good doctor grimaces. "It sounds like Red Eye... That drug from Mars, but more aggressive. Someone with his body mass shouldn't have been able to move that bed, or inflict the damage you're describing." She grimaces, but the assumption may make Tessa's life easier.

        And then Jamil walks in with Tiffa and Sayla's expression hardens. "Jamil." There's no formality here, but Sayla would have liked warning. She scans to Shelby, already struggling. "Go. I'll transmit coordinates." Shelby has enough trouble around newtypes, but around Tiffa? Giving a look of 'you could have just messaged to me, it would be better for morale' to Jamil, Sayla looks to her. "Tiffa, I am taking your warning on board, and Captain Testarossa and I will integrate it into our plan. But Chibodee's right, doing nothing is unacceptable. " She sighs. She can't believe she's about to do this.

        "Do you know about 3G? They used to fight Zonders, a long time ago, and now they fight something equally awful. One of them is a friend of mine." She places her barely touched curry on an empty seat, and walks over to her. "His name is Guy Shishioh. Last week, Riku and I helped him save someone, and do something impossible." She's omitting lots, and lots of details here. She casts a glance to Riku that screams 'don't you dare contradict me right now'.

        "And he did a lot of things like that during the Gryps Conflict." Like fight Jupiter. "He tells me that 'Courage can make one percent into a hundred percent.'" This is the sort of logic that Gundam Fighters like. That will fall flat on soldiers, but she's not talking to soldiers. "So, if your precognition isn't a hundred percent certain, I'm pretty sure Chibodee, Riku, Garrod and Celise can fill the gap. Trust them, okay? Let them fix that math."

        One thing that wil be clear to Jamil Neate, if no one else in the room, is that while the statement is technically true, Sayla doesn't believe a word of it. But that's not the point here. She's trying to get through the terror of a girl a little younger Sousuke, Kaname and Tessa. She's trying not to baby her. "I know you can't tell us much, but anything you can helps us skew that math."

        She stands up, looking to the group. "Miss Chidori, we're on a strict time limit here. I cannot spare people at this second to give you an escort back to your apartment, and the terrorists know your face. It's a risk for you to travel alone. Dr Hsieh can maintain this safehouse until we have people to spare, or you can join us on the transport." Her eyes track to Sousuke wordlessly eating curry, without complaint. "All things considered, it may be better for you on the transport, but it's ultimately your decision. We still have about 15 minutes before repairs are complete." She looks to Jamil. If he's here, then- "If you brought the Saint Lance, I'll be deploying. If not, I'll aid Captain Testarossa from the transport."

        She sighs, before taking another, more informal speech to Kaname. "...And if there's any of that curry left, can you see if there's a container to store it. I think Miss Korts would appreciate it, when she's less shaken." Provide a simple task, in a time of chaos. It helps sometimes.

<Pose Tracker> Chibodee Crocket has posed.

Chibodee Crocket, a man who would be dead a thousand times over were it not for the miraculous power of real courage, doesn't add anything else. Dr. Mass covers it. He's got curry to eat and a nap to take.

<Pose Tracker> Sousuke Sagara has posed.

Tiffa rushes in, and Sousuke watches her prophecy their doom.

His jaw sets, suddenly irritated, but Chibodee and Riku become interested in it - defy it.

Sousuke's instincts are similar, but not the same. Prophecies, visions...that's not how the world works, he thinks, polishing off his portion.

'Courage can make one percent into a hundred percent.'

Miracles. Rainbows in space.

He rises, eyes casting to Chibodee, to Riku, Tiffa. Jamil, Garrod - then finally, cutting past to Kaname for several long seconds, before moving for the door. "I'll check on Arbalest," he says, and turns to head toward the garage.

<Pose Tracker> Kaname Chidori has posed.

Kaname's quiet a long moment. She exhales quietly, pressing her lips together. There must be something she can do.

She doesn't know what... but there must be *something*. So, with a resolute nod, and a look toward Sousuke, she decides, "I'm coming with you. I can't just... sit here and wait."

Since there's some time before they have to leave, she goes rummaging around for a container, eventually finding one. After a thorough rinse-out, she empties the rest of the curry and rice into it. "Miss Korts, uh... hi. I'm Kaname. I don't know if you're coming with us, or staying here, or what, but...!" She hands the container to her with a smile. "Here! I hope you like it."

"--Ah! Sousuke..." As the soldier takes his leave, she goes after him. She hasn't had much chance to talk to him since his apartment...

<Pose Tracker> Riku Asakura has posed.

Sayla gives Riku a look, but Riku isn't about to contradict her there. It did feel very nearly impossible...in fact, he was laid out in that fight. That woman was nothing to take lightly, and even taking her as seriously as they did he still nearly died.

"That's...a very good saying, I like it," Riku says, with a laugh. "I got a very low percentage to beat Belial...RE.M. gave me something like...a few percent? But...we did it. We beat a giant monster who devastated entire worlds..."

"We'll come back and I'll make sure Garrod doesn't do anything stupid and die," he says, with a grin at Garrod.

<Pose Tracker> Garrod Ran has posed.

Garrod isn't sure what else to say after Tiffa's last statement - that not even the Moon could help - but his uncertainty gives Chibodee, Riku, and Sayla time to speak, to rebut the prophecy. And Garrod knows, from personal experience, that the girl's visions have been averted. But it ultimately comes back around to one thing, and Chibodee - heir to one of the five Shuffle Crests - was the one to clinch it.

"They're right, Tiffa. We can't just ignore this. Whatever awful weapon the bad guys need Takuma for, we have to get in their way however we can, save whatever lives we can. And once we're there, I'm sure we'll find something - there's no such thing as an unbeatable weapon, and I don't think there's anything that can just shrug off the Satellite Cannon. I mean -"

He looks at Riku, a rueful grin crossing Garrod's face at the pledge to bring him back alive. "That Gillvalis thing? People thought *that* was unbeatable too, right? And we took that out, working together."

Tiffa barely relaxes, but she does nod mutely. It's Jamil who speaks up instead. "The Saint Lance is good to go if you need it, Heart-2. I wish I could lend you our other pilots as well, but they're on other jobs at the moment."

Garrod busies himself scrounging up some more curry for Tiffa while the adults talk business. He's worried, for sure, but that's no reason not to do what he *can* - and if he likes curry, Tiffa'll probably appreciate a plate too, right?

<Pose Tracker> Sayla Mass has posed.

        Sayla nods to Jamil, her dishonest pep talk seems to have worked. "I know. If you did, the Freeden would be here. It'll have to be enough." She looks around, people starting to split off, nap, get ready. "...We move out in 25. Do what you need." They don't have long before everything unfolds.

        She'll need to work out the plan with Tessa. She needs to get that transport. And she needs to... She sighs. "I'm going to get ready, I just need something from the medbay."

        Someone has to prepare for the most likely outcome.