Nor watched as the shuttles lifted off to go to the stationed Faith Breaker for the troop deployment, the ship rather intact as the leading commander had explained that Tenno and Grineer forces were often at odds with each other, but for some reason, Grim was not having that, a few challenges and battles here and there, but nothing too drastic as Ki's own authority over the members and the stationed Grineer also allowed them to dawn Steel Meridian gear as they helped in the effort. Nor lightly chuckled under his helmet, give the soldiers a chance and they will help in anyway they can, as he turned back and entered the perimeter of the inner base, heading for the hanger as cannons and guns were rigged up for protection, the fleet was gone for the time being and Sargus had informed him that the project was well off the ground, but to keep a low profile, he had ordered Medaz' to stay put and not attempt to leave Mars at any point, not that he needed that as it also gave the Felguard the ability to start production on Ignis flamethrowers, protective gear to further resist the flame's touch, and the opportunity to start working to further improving the base. Good news about that is that the site they had designated as theirs had a lot of room to grow and it allowed them to draw upon the Empire's resources to do that as Nor entered the meeting room with Ura, Ben, and Wraith debating options and his entrance had them bow or salute before they returned to it with Nor joining in.
As it currently stands, there were plans for an additional landing pad, increasing the drops and the number of available void crafts, on the northern ridge with an underground tunnel system connecting the rest of the base, the further expansion for their reactor system under the meeting hall which would give them more power, or constructing a medium-scale foundry in the center of the whole base so that large amounts of weapons, armor, and materials could be constructed, along with more Exoframes and void ships, parts or fighters as well. The problem at the moment would be resources, they were due another shipment within the week from the Imperial forces, but the greater issue was what they would use their available resource on. Wraith spoke as he inquired, the trooper mask breathing and huffing in tone. "In my experience, we would make excellent use of an additional landing pad, with the resources to come in for our efforts, we could accelerate some of our projects and base facilities for a shorter length of time."
Hur Ben countered as he asked. "But that would pull more of our power reserves, using our current reactor could be devastating, I say we improve on our current reserves and then we can start thinking of the additional landing pad, Heretek."
"And the foundry is out of the question?" Ura waved a hand as she asked. "Without those power reserves, we are sitting ducks, but we haven't been tapping into the full reserves, we have only been taxing the reactor for so little, we can push it a bit more for our purposes."
"Indeed, but we must exercise caution." Wraith remarked as he rubbed the lower portion of the mask. "I cannot truly guarantee the full operation if we were to push through such a dangerous movement, to this point, I will agree with the Head, let us construct a new reactor or refine and improve our current one for the time being." Nor nodded as he added his own input.
"Well, that will serve the most logical scenario, but once it is up and running, get the second landing pad out." Nearly all spoke their piece as Nor raised a hand. "I understand that getting the foundry out is the best course of action, should we require further forces on deployment, but getting the second landing pad will supply us with more resources, but also hide us a bit more, the General wants us to remain quiet for the time being, we are not actively doing operations as intended, instead we are to supply the other zones with our forces." All nodded as the Head cleared his throat on a subject.
"Well, that will serve us more profitable than doing things alone for a while." He opened a small graph chart and had Nor look at it. "Our projection of forces have grown greatly, I had to suspend the Animo soldiers for the time being to increase our regular numbers and, with those soldiers heading off across Mars, they will also support us with more data and records, as is our recent innovation of Ignis flamethrowers, the choice weapon for Scorches and Hyyeka Masters." Nor nodded as the Head continued. "Furthermore, due to our innovation of the Vanguard EXO troops, I have drafted up a full sector to be used for their initial conduct and operation, Heretek Wraith had personally overseen the installment of such soldiers and their frames, but I wish to know... why are we shipping such soldiers across Mars?"
"Because we would be the only ones with the frames and the tech to get it done." Nor turned as he looked out the shutter, observing Firbolg shuttles lift off and soar across Mars. "The General and Kril have understood that anything different while still Grineer is our work and is not to be used to increase military operations any further, we lend them those same frames so that security will increase and that any damaged will be sent back to us, we are just standing on the brink." He turned back as he continued. "If Vay Hek makes an unprovoked move on us or any Grineer settlement in hopes of finding the Felguard, his forces will be met with not only the General's, Kril's, and any local garrisons in their command, but also will be facing the Vanguards on an open front, he will lose too much if he were to push his luck, a few settlements destroyed would be the extent of our damages, but in return would be the hundreds of Galleons that he would lose, that hurts more than just any mere insult." All nodded as Nor called for a close. "You are all dismissed to your posts, good luck to you all." They all left the room as Nor was left to look at the development of the base, facilitating the extension of the generator, using the method of adding a secondary reactor to generate all the extra energy to power the base a bit more. As apparent as it was that the Felguard were doing well on the planet, it was a concern as well as no Grineer settlement had ever seen such a weapon of destruction before without the Tenno getting wind of it and taking it down, the accompanying soldiers alongside the Vanguards would also be at risk if the Tenno got too close and were more than observant to the different looks and appearance.
He shook his head as he put the chart away and opened up a channel to Lech Kril, who was in the process of ordering the garrisons about for security from the recent sandstorms hitting his bases before he turned his attention to the open channel. "Ah, Nor, sorry to be swift and blunt, but I have to stabilize my outposts before these winds rip them apart!"
"Understood, just looking for work to operate on." Kril nodded and redirected the channel to Sargus Ruk as Nor straightened up and spoke. "Sir, I am requesting any active duties that you have."
"Understood, let me sort through the active tasks on Mars." He pulled up a list that Nor too looked at before he selected one on the surface. "There are reports that there are Tenno insurgents on the planet, but they have fortified themselves too much that a full-on assault is risky, I need you to see what you can do, we need those insurgents terminated or forced to yield for now."
"Will do, General." Nor stood up as the channel closed to his touch and he headed out to the hanger bay as he commanded. "Ready a Firbolg shuttle and a Vanguard EXO soldier, have two Lancers for good measure, we are heading out." All he took with him was the Druk as the Lancers and Vanguard were primed for combat with Grakatas and Grakaton as their weapons as the shuttle, having taken some feedback on how heavy the Vanguard was, was retrofitted to lift off with no problems as it soared to the site that Nor had gained from the General, the sands twisting and turning as the Grineer vessel headed for the Tenno location before they arrived, the insurgents, having spotted the vessel and primed themselves for combat, was ill-ready for the colossal mechanized soldier with two Lancers stomping out with weapons ready, but the greatest surprise was Nor stepping off, hands behind his back in a watching posture. The click of the Grakaton sounded as Nor stepped past and spoke. "Greetings, Tenno, you don't know me and I don't have the requirement to know you, but you are baring arms toward Grineer forces, do I take this as a declaration of war?" Many dropped their weapons and fell to the ground in fear as the more stubborn shook in fear as Nor's glance seemed to fuel them with such. "Bring forth your leader, I wish to speak with them... if there is one." The gaze swept across the defenders before some broke from the welcoming community and soon returned with a disfigured man, his left leg replaced with a mechanical leg that the Tenno must have made to help them move along.
"What do you want, Grineer!?"
"You do realize that your band of insurgents have been active in recent Grineer settlements, correct?" As if to prove a point, Nor pulled out a data pad that he brought with to analyze their actions. "You have been striking at Grineer supply lines, outlining fortifications, and mining sites. But your actions shortly ceased as you shored up with this peculiar area, repelling any hostile Grineer activity to expel your presence here." Nor lowered the pad and he didn't press the matter as the lead looked ready to unleash, despite the firepower against him. "Blood doesn't need to be stained upon these sands once more, we can just leave it as is and we can call it even for now, the General himself gave me authority to put any of you unwilling soldiers down if I have to."
"Any soldier can claim to be under General Sargus Ruk's orders!"
"Yes, but none are too willing to speak that, under his orders, he has sent my services here to relieve the presence of hostile action, there will always be conflict, but he has allowed me to either operate with peaceful resolution or hostile aggression, so which one are you more willing to partake here, soldier?" This caught the captain by surprise as silence filled the air before he gulped and opened his mouth again, though his step back was evident of his changed standing.
"Well, I will be honest, this is the first time that a Grineer has requested for peaceful interactions..." The leader rubbed his jaw before he lightly hummed. "There is something that we could work out, there is a massive stockpile being gathered in the Fallen Canyon, we have speculation that it is being kept from the people across Mars, we would like some way to obtain this stockpile." Nor hummed his own as the Fallen Canyon was just a wide valley, no anti-orbital weapons employed in that area, but it has started to see active Grineer presence in there after Vay's attempted madness, the connection was too palpable that it was uncanny.
"I know of this stockpile, it was suddenly set up for Vay Hek's forces on Mars when his attempted control of the arid planet came to pass, he is unable to reinforce that garrison, but it is under our own belief that they will not surrender the supplies without a fight, active combat is what you wish for us to partake..." Nor shook his head as the leader scowled, but the look dropped as Nor explained, the his troops still at the ready, but the weapons lowering. "I have taken it upon myself to refrain from combat for the time being, but I will not be leaving your troops with empty hands, may I see your databanks?" The leader hesitated before nodding.
"Fine, but leave your... troops with the transport, you will come alone to make things... much easier to trust you." Nor did not object to this as he turned to his soldiers.
"Stand down and return to the shuttle, I will be with you all shortly, standby for further action." They nodded before heading back in and the ship closing before Nor headed in, the soldiers forming behind him to shoot if he became hostile. They soon traveled through the encampment as women and men all cowered before the imposing soldier striding through, but to their surprise, a ball hit Nor and all looked at it as a child rushed over to pick it up before looking up to the figure that the ball landed near, wide eyes to the being as it stared at them with the same look through the mask before she asked.
"Are you made of metal?" Tensions grew, but Nor dismissed it as he bent on one knee and spoke.
"Actually, I am not, you must be thinking of Corpus Moa proxies, they are constructed with metal, robotics, and tools, but it is a common practice for Grineer to sever useless or nonfunctioning limbs and replace them with cybernetic replacements."
"Do you ever battle the monsters?"
"The Infested are an issue, but one I am taking a short break from, I have a few wise individuals who even say that, after an Infestation has occurred, the living spores that make the Infestation a menace in infesting, shortly dies out, leaving only the monsters." The child bit their lip before asking another question, all really confused and scared to say anything.
"Are you a good guy?"
Nor chuckled before he spoke. "No, I am not a 'good guy', I am just a soldier, you want to believe that I serve like my brothers and sisters in Steel Meridian, but we have had some falling out with each other, so no, I am not, but the question was kind and wise to ask, thank you, little one." Nor stood back up as he continued to follow, all quiet before they arrived to the comm center, the members saluting before the leader brought Nor before a terminal.
"If you have any way to access their mainframe, it would be helpful, we vow to not engage in any more conflict with the Grineer force under the command of..."
"General Sargus Ruk as a whole, a special division as a unit." Nor started as he activated the captured data console as he sorted through the data streams that he managed to get into, sorting the chatter and irreverent information before isolating the outpost and pulling from their logs and records. As it turned out, they were hoarding a massive stockpile in their encampment, too sizable to be standard so he sorted through the data a bit more as the Tenno watched him and eyed each other in confusion as Nor seemed not rushed or terrified as he soon discovered the majority of the stockpile being listed under 'stolen' or 'missing' as Nor spoke, rubbing the mask jaw. "It is as I thought, Councilor Vay Hek seems to have left orders for the garrison stationed in the site to act as raiders as they steal and attack local convoys of both genetic material and raw materials, but for comms to get through, he had to have been close enough to Mars to send the signal." He leaned back in thought as the soldiers slowly eased themselves as the Commander continued. "It is apparent that the madman is gunning for someone in question as all the attacks have been branching out in hostile aggression to locations close by, but between the hostile sandstorms and native wildlife, not to mention armed forces under the command of Kril, Ruk, or General-loyal soldiers with Tenno settlements, their strikes have ended up in vain at best."
"But, the Councilor has no claim to Mars, his authority is only on Earth, right?"
"Correct, but his pride and ego has been damaged for some time." Nor leaned forward as he thought about it. "it is possible that he has set up various settlements so that he is alerted to the slightest change in control, he wants someone to disrupt the system for, in his mind, they are the target he is gunning and, with that in his mind, he will not cease this 'manhunt' until they are in his grasp and in a body bag." He shook his head and turned around. "I cannot provide the access codes to get in, but what I can suggest is you provide a distraction while the rest start to siphon the supplies off the forces, it is wise to do so soon, the troop movements will soon place a small division of Lech Kril's forces within the area." Without a word, they just nodded and guided Nor back out, letting him pass through the camp as the whole camp watched him go, not a single shot fired and their lives spared as Nor stopped before the ramp and turned to the members. "Let your prayers be blessed with hope, hope that we will not engage in battle with each other." He turned back and boarded the ship as it took off and flew off in the distance as all just watched before resuming their day, making a living out on the arid wastes of Mars...