A/N: I know this has been a long time coming and I'm not satisfied with what I came up with. I have fallen so far behind in everything I have been doing for this story. Lots of procrastination, sure, but I had a busted laptop, had to move for work and everything. Ugghhh... I can sit here and bitch about it all day, but if you ask Reilly, I have bitched enough. So for what it's worth, I don't own Titanfall, Respawn and EA do. Please enjoy.
CH. 9- Smooth Motions
"Captain Alex M. Tapley, retired. Departing!" A single voice called out in the silence of the hangar. It was followed by several sharp bell rings and a piercing whistle.
The nearly silent rustle of cloth could be heard as the crew dropped their salutes after the whistle halted. The only thing left to be heard was the perfectly shined shoes of the Captain as he made his way past the rows of men and women in the IMC.
His face was clean shaven and emotionless. Several members of Hazard could see that there was some moisture at the corner of his eyes as he passed them.
David's face stayed in one position, but his gaze shifted from the Captain to Commander Roe, who stood on the stage in front of the troops. Silently watching her mentor as he exited the room.
Her eyes held less emotion than her hardened face.
After a few more moments she approached the podium at the center of the stage. Folding her hands behind her back she slowly ran her eyes over the crowd. They settled on the section with Hazard and she locked eyes with every person in turn.
"I want to thank the Captain." She started in a near whisper. The microphone barely picking up her voice. "He has set a high bar of excellence and success that I wish to emulate and expand on."
David couldn't remember the rest of her dialogue, his mind whirling around in circles at the way things were unfolding. His frustration grew and he clenched his fist, digging his nails into his palms. The pain forcing him to focus on something else.
It didn't last long, ten minutes at most. Before she stepped away and everyone gave one last crisp salute.
Crew began dispersing into the various passages or going to the new Hazard CO to congratulate her on her promotion. She made a point to smile to everyone who shook her hand, exchange some words or even a joke.
"David." She said his name as she tightly gripped his hand. "We've been ordered for downtime as you know."
"Orders still stand?" The rhetorical question escaped him.
"Unfortunately they do." David could feel her grip tighten on his hand. "But training is not dismissed from the workload. I expect you at 0530 next cycle."
"Aye aye, ma'am." David nodded slightly at her orders. She regarded him a moment longer before nodding and letting go of his hand.
.
"Run it again!" The voice of Commander Roe yelled at the Pilots below her. The three of them were panting and one was even resting his hands on his knees. Several groans could be heard from the trio. Other Pilots standing on the balcony with her snickered at their misfortune.
The quick glare she shot their way silenced them quick, they were going to be next if she had anything to say about it.
"Acknowledged." Spyglass's deep voice resonated in the room. "Beginning simulation in 5..4..3..2..1. Simulation, start."
The area around the Pilots turned into a series of hard light ramps, ledges, walls and other forms of obstacles. One of the Pilots groaned and he started at a jog before turning into a full out sprint.
"I know you three are new to Hazard!" Roe started as she watched them run the course again. One eye always on the clock. "But even with the Captain retiring, we still have standards to meet! You will meet them all!"
Excellence was a common practice in elite squads, there was no time to shirk duties and relax. Hazard had to reach peak condition again, quickly.
There was a scraping sound besides her and she looked to see another group of Pilots enter. Her stern face softened slightly as she recognized the group.
"About damn time you all showed up." She gestured to the arena below. "The rookies are flailing down there, give them some guidance."
The eyes of all four Pilots were drawn to the trio trying to clear the last of the obstacles. They would pass each other or get in the way of others. None of them even attempted to even help any of the others.
A the new arrivals shook their heads.
"Aye aye, ma'am." White responded to her order with a mock salute. He turned his head to look at the other three. "This is going to be fun."
He pivoted on his foot, the boot squeaking on the polished tiles as he turned. The others followed suit as they made their way down to the practice floor.
.
"So, Hammond's with stun rounds and your kits only." White instructed the other Pilots as they entered the antechamber. "This isn't in a sim pod, so I don't want anyone dying during a training exercise."
Everyone murmured their assent as they pulled the named weapon off a rack and began pocketing several clips of the training rounds.
White watched the other two Pilots, Turner and Mantesteva move to the weapon racks.
David examined the magazine, ejecting a single round and holding it between his fingers. His eyes narrowed as he inspected it. The round was as small as a marble, and glowed a faint blue light.
These things were small, fragile and contained enough static electricity to make muscles seize up.
In other words, they hurt like Hell.
Pushing the orb back into the clip he quickly slid it in to the handgun.
"Pilot Turner." Hannah's voice came in to his helmet. "Please remove bladed weapons for the safety of your squad."
"Understood." David pulled several blades out and placed them gently on the table. He hesitated when his fingers touched the SONAR blades. He wanted to try them out, he wouldn't aim them at anyone. "Are you ready, Hannah?"
"I am always ready, David."
David picked the handgun off the table again and slid it into a holster on his right thigh. The SONAR blades tucked neatly away on his left thigh.
David tugged on on a last few straps. Assuring that his gauntlet on his left arm was secure without the usual weight of a hidden blade.
"Let's do this."
.
Commander Roe stood by the railing, hands gripping the cool metal. The new Pilots stood a few paces off to the side. Whispering to themselves as they eyed her and the newly generating arena.
Hardlight was an amazing thing as the obstacles changed and rotated. The arena was three separate mazes leading to the elevated platform in the center. A single flag planted atop it.
"Alright kids." The other Pilots silenced themselves as they turned their heads to them. "These are the standards I will be holding all of you."
She looked back out to the arena before raising her voice.
"Start the exercise!"
"Acknowledged." Spyglass's deep voice resonated in the room. "Beginning in 3...2...1. Start!"
.
David's boots were near silent as he sprinted through the hard light course. With a jump he snagged an overhead bar and kicked his legs forward. Releasing the bar at the last moment he was sent up and over a high ledge.
Could he have used his jump kit? Of course, this was more challenging for him.
Landing on his back and sliding a bit with momentum he rolled to his front and quickly pushed himself up. The course was still easy for him, but he had run it so many times that it was muscle memory at this point.
That was what Roe was trying to show the new Pilots. That things got easier with time, but they couldn't waste the time they had.
Focusing his mind again he ran along a wall and with one fluid motion hurled a SONAR knife ahead of him. The blade flew smoothly and embedded deep within the wall.
"Multiple targets detected!" Hannah droned into his ear. "Warning. I am detecting irregularities in the signal. Helmet is now synchronized."
David's vision slightly turned a blue tint and he could see the outline of several people climbing the tower in front of him.
There were three others ascending with him. Someone was playing with their new gadgets as well.
Trying not to waste any more time, David leapt up and gripped the edge of the top. With a strained grunt he pulled himself up and was met with the sight of Mantesteva fighting off two White's.
David blinked a few times to make sure he wasn't seeing things and when nothing changed he groaned as he climbed up to join them.
"Just another day in paradise..."
.
Roe and the rookies watched the now three way fistfight evolve into chaos. She hadn't expected White to be equipped with prototype hologram equipment. Or David's knives that according to the readouts were SONAR transceivers. She hasn't seen Mantesteva use hers yet, but she could see heavy gear attached to her arm.
"Look at them move! Are they even human anymore?"
"I heard about that guy right there, heard he was part of an experiment. Made him tougher."
"I'm sure that lady's eye can track any kind of movement. Nothing can escape her."
Roe listened to the Pilots with a half smile. The sight of experience would push them forward. Her smile died however when she watched David attempt to subdue one of the White's up there.
It was a hologram and David soared through it and went hurtling over the edge.
"Shit!"
Mantesteva was the one who yelled and with a quick motion her arm lashed out and a grapple exploded out the wrist guard. The end connected with David and he yelped in pain as it grabbed his cod piece.
"I got you now!" She pulled him up and retracted the cable. The speed in which he came back was incredible.
Until he was stopped by a boot to his gut.
David grunted and coughed as the air was forced from his lungs. Somewhere in his mind he was thanking her, that fall could have killed him if she hadn't used the grappling hook. Whatever air that was still there was forced out as his back crashed to the floor and he quickly rolled to evade any attacks.
"Don't get distracted now!" White shouted as he shot Mantesteva twice with the stun rounds. Once in each knee.
Howling in pain she dropped to her hands and knees. Her visor snapped up just in time to catch Turner's boot.
The force of the blow launched her into a backflip and she crashed to the floor unconscious.
.
"Did you see that?! That was fuckin' amazing!" One of the newer recruits gushed. "I hope one day I'll be that good."
"Better start praying, there is no way in Hell you'll catch up to him." Another recruit scoffed.
Roe only looked over at the recruits with a critical eye. She had read the brief files on all of them, better to know who was on her team. The first one was taller than most. About the same height as the Lieutenant himself. He was broad too, bigger than most of the other Pilots.
He had dark hair that was shaved on the sides and was pulled back into a tight topknot. The most recognizable thing about him was the various tattoos on his head and face. They were a cultural thing for him, and the IMC couldn't restrict that.
Roe's eyes shifted to the one who rebuked him, a tiny woman with light brown skin. Her accent placed her as from the Frontier. She had a very active resting bitch face, Roe could only guess with the scowl the woman had on her face.
"But maybe if you beg," she started again, "he will agree to be your mentor." She nodded to the duel. "I wouldn't mind taking a few lessons from these guys as well."
The last of the three had been idly quiet the whole time. Even though he worked alongside the others, they were edgy around him. He was still wearing his helmet as well.
"Integration into this squadron might be harder than we imagined." He stated quietly. His voice coming through the helmet distorted.
Roe racked her brain for a moment to recall his file. There was a lot of black ink covering things in his papers. But she had pieced some things together. The man was given the call sign Rusky. He was not large of stature, but he radiated a sense of superiority. His test scores were almost all perfect.
What he lacked in combat proficiency he made up for in sheer intellect. That intelligence had landed him in another one of Marder's projects.
Simulcra.
She didn't know what it was, and even with all her persistent digging around with contacts in IMC R & D she couldn't find anything. The only thing she could do was leave it be for now.
Her eyes wandered back to the skirmish and she witnessed White spinning away from David and used his momentum to draw his sidearm and fire several rounds into the LT's legs. The mechanical appendages promptly shut down and gave out under his weight.
David collapsed into an angry heap at the Commander's feet.
"Round is over." Spyglass' voice boomed. "Lieutenant Commander White is the Victor."
.
David was sitting on a table, his legs out in front of him as a technician worked to reboot the electronics. His helmet sat in his lap as he glared a hole through the poor man who had to help him.
He wasn't mad at the man, no, not that at all. It was that even in the end, even with his 'upgrades' he still couldn't measure up. He was glad Jake wasn't here, he probably looked weak being carried out on a stretcher since his legs failed him.
"Don't be too hard on yourself." Commander Roe's voice broke his concentration. "White is very skilled in what he does. As are you." She looked at the man working on the Lieutenant. "What's the damage?"
"Lucky shots mostly, his legs must have been damaged in a previous firefight, and the exposed inner workings couldn't handle the stun rounds." He straightened himself out. "Legs should be fully functional again in about ten minutes."
"Thank you, you're dismissed."
The man nodded before he grabbed his tools and quickly left them alone.
"Feeling better?" Roe finally broke the silence as David still glowered at his still inoperative legs.
"Turner." He didn't move an inch. She sighed as she crossed the room to grab something.
"David!" She raised her voice as she walked over to him. Pushing a wheelchair beside him. It bumped lightly into one of his hanging legs.
His eyes gained focus and his face contorted into a mixture of emotions before being quickly subdued. Replaced with the more common blank slate.
"Can I just go to the bay? I want to talk with Hannah." David asked as he dropped himself into the chair.
"Yeah, I can help you with that." Roe nodded as she braced the chair. David's larger frame had her bracing as his weight settled.
"Attention all hands! Brace for jump, I repeat, brace for jump!" A voice called over the intercom system.
"I wonder what that's all about?" Roe asked as she got David ready for the transition into FTL.
"We are jumping early, something went wrong." David stated as he felt the tug of transition. A new fire lit in his eyes.
.
"All I'm saying is that if nothing happens about this I will file a formal complaint." Captain Richard's voice carried throughout the bridge. Almost everyone was listening in while trying to maintain the ship's course.
"There will be no need, Captain." General Marder responded almost flippantly.
"No need? All due respect, General." The Captain emphasized the rank heavily. "An Intel operative, your Intel operative, was assaulted in his quarters on my ship! We have the culprit detained and you want me to release her?" A vein started to bulge in the Captain's forehead. "I don't see why I shouldn't uphold justice and just throw her out the airlock now."
"Send her to me." The General tried again. "I'll deal with her, so there is no need to do anything rash."
"Until you get CentComm to approve this, from Earth. She will be locked up and under watch here. When I hear word I'll release her to you. Captain Richard's out."
The link was closed and the bridge was silent. The Captain looked over his shoulder at the still bruised man.
"I don't care how you do it, but get what you can out of her. You understand?"
"Crystal, sir." Martin answered with a small smile. He wasn't one normally for vengeance. But the woman had attacked him and taken something from him.
Martin's boots made almost no noise as he made his way towards the brig. The Spectres behind him weren't as quiet. Their metal feet clanking loudly, he would need to fix that for any stealth ops. He focused his mind as he thought of his new orders. No morals interrogation and he had to be quick. They had jumped rather quickly after a distress signal had been received from a research outpost.
He shrugged as he entered a lift, he didn't need to worry about that for now, he was going to obtain new data for the Simulcra program and he was alright with that.
.
"Give me a sitrep of what we know." Captain Richard's barked out as the hatch closed behind Martin. His voice demanding no hesitation.
"Sir! The research outpost was attacked and a signal was sent out. The local garrison was deployed to secure the area and investigate."
"Vice Admiral Grave's is smart." Richards mused as he held his chin in thought. Making a mental note to shave as his growing facial hair scratched at his fingers. "When we drop out of FTL I want the ship brought up to full alert. Weapons prepped, fighters and ground support ready to deploy."
"Sir?" The officer was complying with the orders but couldn't help but question the orders.
"Graves sees a trap coming. We better be ready if it really is one." His eyes glanced over the different squadrons. "Get Castle and Monster squads ready for hard drop. Notify Hazard and Tiger squads to be on standby." Captain Richards stared at a screen that gave a countdown until arrival.
"The tides of war are shifting quickly." He muttered into his hand as he scratched at his face. "But is it in our favor?"
Post A/N: So I hope this is satisfying enough for now. I do have the next one started and with my new fancy laptop I should be able to catch up slowly enough to my friend over in the BoB. We will see though. So until next time, Pilots, Keep on keepin' on!