"Granny, I'm here! I'm sorry I'm late!" he yelled out into the hangar, ignoring the snickers of the actual engineers. "My roommate had kicked my boots under my bunk!"
A loud clang of metal sounded from one of the catwalks above his head.
"You should have been here half an hour ago!"
"I'm sorry!"
"Apologize to the commander, boy! Her aid came looking for you and I had to tell her you weren't here. Get your thick skull over to her office before the Princess gets impatient!"
"Crap... I'll be right there!"
As Qwenthur ran back out of the hangar and navigated around various Base-Zone personnel, he wondered what exactly had he done this time to incur the wrath of the commander. No matter how many times the base was packed down and reconstructed he knew the way to her office better than the back of his hand. Havia and he always managed to talk each other into something stupid.
At least on the battlefield we regret it immediately. Around the base there is no telling when someone will catch us out on something or Froleytia will slam our separate quarters with a porn check.
"Hey, you're later than me." said a soldier coming from another corridor ahead.
Qwenthur smirked and punched the man's shoulder as he passed him by. "I'm going first though."
He suddenly jerked to a halt as Havia's fingers hooked into his collar.
"Oi, why are we called up this time?" the young nobleman asked, serious concern on his face. "We haven't pulled any stupid stunts since we moved back to Alaska. There was only that thing with the chair while Baby Magnum was in for repairs on the e-stat drive."
Qwenthur shrugged. "I don't think I did anything. I assumed it was you this time."
"Thanks, Havia, for saving my ass on dozens of occasions." Havia snorted. He gave him a shove as a means of releasing him, only to shake his head and run a hand through his brown hair.
The blond engineering student let slip a sly grin. "I thought you were the type who only needs the underside of Froleytia's boots as a reward."
"I don't want to hear that coming from a guy who has a thing for ladies' armpits." Havia sighed, giving his boot a kick to set them both moving again. "So, no idea what this is about, then."
"Not a clue. Granny only said an aid came looking for me."
The two young men paused to straighten their arctic camo operation uniforms, cycled a few deep breaths, then Havia hit the door release and it slid into its recess. They filed in and to their surprise found they were not the only ones before their commander.
Three females were already in the Japanese styled room. Major Froleytia Capistrano sat on a cushion behind her low desk and the battalion's teenaged Elite sat in front to one side on another. A young woman with vaguely familiar fiery orange hair tailed down her left side knelt on the bare mats beside the desk. She wore the uniform of an officer like the Major, but neither man could place her face despite their frequent visits to the heart of the Base-Zone. As she briefly examined them in two seconds flat they noticed her eyes were an unnaturally deep green.
"You two were slow." said the blond girl, not a hint of emotion sneaking through her composure.
Qwenthur and Havia shared a glance and swallowed. Melinda Brantini always perked up at the sight of the former. Something was up if she was all business. They quickly knelt down next to their 'Princess' like the ginger, somewhat glad they were used to the foreign customs the commander entertained.
"Now then, let's get right to it." Capistrano began, as formal as if there was a black uniform in the room. "The Baby Magnum will soon be completely repaired and upgraded as much as can be, given its designed purpose. The Thirty Seventh Mobile Maintenance Battalion is almost back to full strength, but we will be stationed here in Alaska for some time."
Qwenthur resisted the urge to question her. While she was the most relaxed commander he was aware of, Major Capistrano was talking now, not Miss Froleytia. He was sure Havia was thinking something along those lines as well.
"Command is in a panic. That someone could strike right at an Elite while they are piloting their Object calls all of our operations into question. The Legitimate Kingdom is maintaining a defensive posture across all fronts and for once the general military is working hard to track down any potential cyber-attacks before they can take effect."
The Major paused to take a deep breath, then exhaled and glared down at her tablet on the desk. "As our battalion's Object control was successfully subverted we will be testing new measures against cyber-attacks. Another Object will provide security... But..."
The redhead's slight dip of her head did not go unnoticed by the three so-called heroes.
"Command has ordered that First Lieutenant Melinda Brantini is to stand down as pilot of the Baby Magnum and another Elite will run through the tests."
"What?!"
The three of them jumped slightly at the shock and venom in each other's voices, then recoiled as Capistrano slammed a fist down next to her tablet. The protests of the stylus in her other hand cut off any further objections.
With a dark scowl the woman looked up and fixed each of them with an even stare. "I cannot over turn or bend these orders. Until we can be absolutely certain there is no lasting effects on her mind the Princess is not to enter the cockpit."
"But I'm alright now!" Melinda gasped.
"You've got to be kidding!" Havia snapped, lunging forward onto his fists. "What are we supposed to do if an Object attacks before our back up arrives? Fight it on foot without support? Fuck that!"
"The testing Elite is already here." Capistrano gritted out, slowly placing her mangled stylus down. "She will sortie as a last resort."
Qwenthur pulled Havia back in line. "But Froleytia, the Princess is the most familiar with Baby Magnum's controls and nuances which could be the difference between life and death with a general first-generation Object. The test pilot might lose against a second gen."
Capistrano sighed heavily. "Command believes you two will be able to even the odds at the very least. Also, the test Elite was trained for a more complex second-generation Object. She should have little trouble adjusting to Baby Magnum - on paper."
Suddenly it dawned on them. Melinda turned her attention to the ginger haired officer, quickly followed by Qwenthur and Havia.
Capistrano cleared her throat. "This is Special Situational Assistant Analyst Coira Cunningham. She completed her Elite training but has since transferred about several battalions, until joining us after the Tri-core operation."
"I... Apologise for the intrusion." the redhead said with sincerity and a politely inclined head, despite her flat tone. "I hope I can suffice until the Princess is cleared for duty."
Qwenthur spared a glance at Melinda and immediately wished he hadn't been privy to that deadly expression.
"Private Havia Winchell, report to the radar station in operations. Cunningham's workload will be your problem for now. First Lieutenant Melinda Brantini, you have your regular exercises and tuning sessions to attend. A technician will be arriving with our backup to evaluate any possible side effects of the cyber-attack on your brain." Capistrano eyed the girl as a warning, then turned a measured glare on Qwenthur. "You will be helping with repairs and tests on the Baby Magnum. This is why you are with my battalion in the first place. No mistakes."
The student swallowed. He got the short straw this time: Havia can't screw up watching for scanner pings, but anything could go wrong with machines.
Capistrano rubbed her temples, then picked up her Japanese pipe and clamped her teeth down on it. "If you have any questions, ask your department heads. I have a mountain of paper and data work to get done. Special Assistant, stay for a bit. The rest of you are dismissed."
Qwenthur, Havia and the Princess silently stood and filed out of the Major's office. They walked a way down the hall before Havia stopped and let out a ragged exhale.
"Seriously, this is the pits. Titan tits must have a lot on her plate to give a briefing like that."
Qwenthur had to agree. He looked over at Melinda but she was facing down the hall. "Princess, are you alright?"
"This... Is so... Humiliating." she uttered quietly, barely suppressing a shiver. "After I ejected the effect of the Mirror of Truth was broken. I saw what had happened with my own eyes, not the distorted interface of my Object. We already ran dozens of brain scans and perception drills..."
"Damn honchos back in safe nation." Havia muttered.
Qwenthur sighed. "I'm sure the battalion will be back to normal in no time. They'll see you're just as fit for operation as always."
"I'm perfectly battle ready!" she snapped, spinning to face them even as she scowled at the deck. "All the tests came back clear, but still they put me on standby. Then they take away my Object...and even replace me."
He put a hand on her shoulder and gave her a gentle squeeze. "The guys in charge are idiots. Froleytia won't let them keep you grounded for long. You are our Princess after all." he said with a hopeful smile.
She relaxed somewhat. "If Flide-chicken was still alive I'd roast him with slowly my plasma canons turned down low."
Qwenthur and Havia flinched at the perfect monotone.
The door to Capistrano's office opened again and the redheaded officer stepped out. Once she saw them looking at her the Elite walked over to them with strangely heavy steps. She saluted sharply, putting them all on edge. There was something very unusual about her walk. Up close they could gauge her age better. She was older than the major, and maybe even Havia - the only one of the trio who was old enough to be a soldier by pre-Object standards.
"Uh, Coira Cunningham, was it?" Qwenthur ventured.
She nodded. "I apologise again, for becoming a fifth wheel like this. You three and the major are tight-knit, and the battalion likes that." she said stiffly. "I've never piloted an Object during a real operation and never believed I would get back in one again. I'm just as shocked as you are. Still, orders are orders."
Qwenthur's brow shot up.
"What do you mean you never piloted during an operation?" Havia asked, frowning at the implications.
Coira sighed quietly but kept her composure. "I had an... Accident while in training. It didn't stop me meeting any performance targets but it was decided I shouldn't be deployed. My object went to another Elite while I was recovering anyway, so I was reassigned to the engineering corps."
"Oh, now I remember. I saw you around the hanger a few times when not much was going on." Qwenthur thought aloud, recalling flashes of orange. "The Oceania operation."
Coira nodded. "I also saw you hanging from a construction arm twenty-five meters up in the air."
The blond flinched.
"Oi, I'm pretty sure you were on guard duty back when that annoying magazine reporter dropped in." Havia butted in. "You were on camera once or twice."
"I've moved postings often. I get bored." the Elite replied without hesitation. "At that time, I was on the protective detail making sure the film crew didn't go anywhere dangerous. I've been back in operations this month, but it looks like the battalion won't be seeing any action for a while."
Havia shook his head and put a hand on her shoulder. "Miss, you should know by now that when you say something like that then we will definitely be seeing some action."
"And not the kind Froleytia usually gives us." Qwenthur added with a knowing smirk. "The kind that finds us first."
Coira frowned. "The Thirty-Seventh has defended Alaska twice from second generation Objects. I doubt there will be a third time."
Qwenthur shrugged, then his phone pinged. He pulled it out and flinched. "Crap, granny needs a bunch of parts asap. I better run. It was nice to meet you, Cunningham."
Havia chuckled at his comrade's hasty departure.
"/ /Havia, get your butt over to operations./ /"
"Oh hell..."
Capistrano's disapproving grunt carried over the radio with remarkable clarity. "/ /Now, Winchell./ /"
The man jogged off muttering things unintelligible.
His departure had the side effect of leaving the two Elites standing awkwardly in the hall. Melinda stared at her replacement with barely concealed resentment. Despite this Cunningham stood perfectly straight and maintained her composure.
"Orders are that you must not enter the cockpit of Baby Magnum until cleared by the technician. They said nothing about proximity." the redhead stated plainly. "I believe it would be beneficial if you accompanied me to the hangar and instructed me on your Object's operation."
The Princess's fists tightened and her upper lip twitched. "You're an Elite, aren't you? Figure it out yourself!"