11
Suzie swung in her chair as she listened and nodded, Gwen the first to speak, "But why are you the one on the ground? Can't a 'bot do it?"
"They make a different sound to a human" Ianto replied, "Bots can help herd but to get the precise sounds to excite them we need human footfalls."
"I can do it" Andy said gamely.
"No offence but it was my idea" Ianto replied calmly, "Jack has … sorry. The Captain must stay here to liaise, he can see what we are all doing. I have to be down there to see my end of things going the way I need it to."
"As much as I hate to agree, Ianto is right. You can say Jack Tiger. Being back down there has rattled you" Jack said gently, reaching out to close his hand over Ianto's and Lisa stiffened down the other end of the table, Idris reaching under the table to seize her knee in a punishing grip. His face never changed, he didn't look her way but it was clear that if she said anything he would take her head off.
"Tad, I want to be with you" BJ said calmly, "If Gwen and Suzie are going to fly support, I want to be with you. I am cleared for flight, you can't fly and run."
"Cheeky" Ianto smiled, "OK. Deal. This will have to be quick and nasty, we can only do it once. They learn, they remember and if we don't get it done right, they will shy from it next time."
"Captain!" Kolt ran in from the flight deck, his face flushed "Sir. Capital City is under attack. The Western Quadrant is experiencing earth tremors and some buildings have already fallen."
Everyone rose, running for the away vessels and Jack took a moment to pull Ianto to him, smashing their lips together in a public display "I love you. Be safe. Come home."
"Yes" Ianto said simply, no need to expand as he took another kiss for luck, then turned at the doorway to look back at Jack, "And I love you too."
Then he was gone, sucking around the doors to run for the pilot seat as Idris clambered in behind BJ. Jack glanced at Lisa, "Well? Gonna stand there or go after them. He did tell me you are a fierce warrior woman and he always admired that. The love is there, even if it is more a sibling thing now. Go. You still have a place at his side."
She nodded and ran for the closing doors, running up the ramp as it slowly ascended and Ianto made no comment as she slid into the seat behind him. They rose and then shot out into the black, Lisa gasping as she felt it for the first time. His power. Myfanwy was firing on all engines again and she swooped with ease, the other three vessels flanking her smaller but just as fast with Suzie, Gwen and Andy at the controls.
"Right, we get those we can to safety. Human life is most important. Goods or belongings can fall to the dirt" Ianto said over the coms, "They will drag suitcases and such, beg for grandma's fucking fur coats … leave them. Weight is costly. Pets are allowable but not fucking pot plants!"
Agreed!" they all called back, Jack listening intently as Ianto's' voice gave orders and directions, taking charge.
The next few hours were a blur. Like a war scene and I guess in a way it was. These things had declared war and the casualties were mounting as a tall building swayed off to port, Lisa calling it out as Ianto swung his vessel in that direction "BJ, take the controls."
He undid his harness and clambered to the side doors, slapping the door open and as they folded back along the hull he cursed softly, people on the roof of the building crying out for help as they clung desperately to the railings.
"Oh my goddess" Lisa cried as she got there in time to see Ianto leap from the open door towards the nearest woman with a child in her arms. He scooped her up and clipped the belt of his harness around her then looked up as Myfanwy felt the clip and yanked him back. Lisa caught him as he slammed into the bay, unclipped the woman who collapsed to the floor sobbing, her child looking up at Lisa with silent fear ad Ianto swung back and leapt again as Idris fed his line.
"IANTO!" she screamed as the tower started to topple more and he ignored her, doing the same jump a dozen times before there were only a couple of men left, both of them looking forlornly at their safe families.
Ianto glanced back towards the cockpit, "BJ, what do I always tell you about flying a sentient ship?"
"Trust her" BJ called back, turning in time to see Ianto leap once more and the tower made a horrible noise as it crumbled, Ianto seizing both men who also grabbed for him.
They disappeared from view in the falling masonry.