Full Metal Panic!
Chapter One
Currents of Time
By Steve Edward
Based on the original story by Shouji Gatou and the original animation series by Fumihiko Shimo, Koichi Chigira and Shouji Gatou, which these creative geniuses made Kaname Chidori, Sergeant Souska Sagara among the many in Full Metal Panic! come to life.
Author's note: TDD-2 does not exist in the current Full Metal Panic Universe. However if the name sounds familiar it is of a real person but who is no longer amongst us in this world. The Samuel Eliot Morison TDD-2 is named after famed military historian and author Samuel Eliot Morison (1887-1976) whose military books among others chronicled military history of many nations.
Story time line: The author has set the story line taking place in the 2030's.
Preface: Captain Teletha Testarossa and the crew of the Tuatha de Danaan investigating an illegal research laboratory in the Western Pacific vanish from the sensors of Mithril advanced surveillance satellites and when no disaster buoy's are launched it becomes a desperate race to find the missing submarine and as the captain and crew of the Samuel Eliot Morison soon find out, the Tuatha de Danaan is boarded by folks not too friendly and just who they are will stun the crews of both submarines as they each encounter their opposit selves when the Devil's Triangle is unleashed!
And now, Full Metal Panic!
Monday, 1900 Hours, Tuatha de Danaan TDD-1, Dragon's Triangle
Commander Richard Mardukas turned away from the bridge display then addressed Captain Testarossa "Madam Captain. We have arrived in the area of the disturbances. Sonar is all clear, surface clear as well." Captain Testarossa replied "Very well commander. Initiate remote sweep with Exploration Turtles One and Two. Lieutenant Chidori?"
Lieutenant Kaname Chidori turned towards Tessa from her control station "Yes Madam Captain?" Captain Testarossa spoke "Follow prescribed search grid as assigned to Turtle One. Petty Officer Nelson, please do the same for Turtle Two." Both acknowledged the orders and Commander Mardukas announced "Launch hatch one and two open and flooded. Lieutenant Chidori and Petty Officer Nelson you may have your Turtles depart.
Under remote control the specially outfitted submersibles departed the Tuatha de Danaan and began a tedious search. Turtle Two, would make the first discovery and that of a wrecked and crumpled underwater installation after three hours. It would be Lieutenant Kaname Chidori who would announce the findings of Turtle One "Sensors confirm presence of a Lambda Drive Crystal power signature," then turning to Captain Testarossa she continued "Tessa! Magnetic field buildup! It is going to discharge!"
Captain Testarossa replied "Helm! Hard left rudder! Engines to maximum power! Get us out of here now!" as both Chidori and Nelson both issued orders to their remote controlled vessels to return in homing mode, the discharge took place enveloping the turtles first then traveling through the control cables surrounded the Tuatha de Danaan, then the world that the crew of the Tuatha de Danaan knew ceased to exist.
Monday, 2300 Hours, Melida Island Mithril Western Pacific Combat Support Base
Major Azura Roux braking the jeep to a halt in front of the Officers Quarters exited the vehicle followed by Ensign Aryl and Lieutenant Alice Wren. A Mithril Guard seeing the major approach buzzed the entry door to allow entry then coming to his feet spoke "Good evening Madam Major. Will you please sign in?"
Ignoring the guard, Roux broke into a run towards the elevator then replied "Later sergeant. We have business with Captain Simms!" The sergeant replied "Is the captain expecting you madam?" as the elevator doors slammed shut. Picking up the phone, the sergeant dialed the quarters of Captain Simms and spoke when a sleepy voice answered "Captain Simms? You have three visitors on the way up now sir. They refused to sign in." Captain Andrew Simms peeked at the hands of his divers watch and replied "Well that's just great; who are they?" The guard replied "Major Roux, Lieutenant Wren and Ensign Aryl. All three looked like they would not take no for an answer. Do you want security to respond?" Andrew replying as his door was beginning to move from the pounding replied "Only if you hear gunfire. Thanks for the heads up, that will be all for now." Then hanging up Andrew called out "Ok I am up! Stop trying to break down the door!"
Tuesday, Current Time Unknown, Tuatha de Danaan TDD-1, Position Unknown
Sergeant Major Melissa Mao struggled to manually open the water tight door while bracing her feet on the bulkhead while Sergeant Souska Sagara and Sergeant Kurz Weber on either side of her pushed and pulled on the activation lever. Melissa spoke "Ok, until we can get normal communications back work off the sound powered circuits. Weber, you will head aft and try engineering, and check for survivors. Sagara, you and me will head forward. I'll head for the hanger and you try to get to the bridge. What ever the hell happened has put us on the bottom. If we can muster enough people we can get damage control going and maybe get us upright. This list is not good for us at all." Sagara replied "Yes Sergeant Major," then with a squeal of metal the door clamps released and with sighs of relief of not finding water or flooding the trio split up.
Lieutenant Commander Andrei Kalinin winced, feeling a stab of pain from his arm. Examining himself, Andrei determined it was not broken but badly bruised and in the dimmed lights of the bridge he quickly surveyed his immediate surroundings.
Commander Mardukas lay slumped across from him with Captain Testarossa next to him, both appeared to be unconscious but he could see their respective chests rising and falling. Lieutenant Chidori nearly out of her chair, also unconscious her head on the console an expression of surprise frozen on her face. But Petty Officer Nelson who had been the remote operator of Turtle Two appeared to have not fared as well as the others and Andrei moving slowly about checking for life signs found Nelson dead. Andrei whispered a prayer and closed the sailor's open and lifeless eyes for the last time.
Commander Kalinin briefly looked at each data screen. All were blue with no data. Bracing himself, Andrei made his way to the aft section of the bridge to the central computer control console and lifting the unconscious crewman manning the station removed a data key from around his neck the inserting it into a nearby access port began to initiate a restart of all systems and while the massive computer of the Tuatha de Danaan began to restart, Andrei headed back forward to attend to Captain Testarossa.
Tuesday, 0300 Hours, Melida Island, Mithril Western Pacific Combat Support Base
The glass enclosed conference room was a hub of activity. Commander Lewis Strong turned his attention towards it briefly then looked back at the Situation Room World Map, with a flashing icon. The icon labeled TDD-1 was bright red, and it marked the last known position of the Tuatha de Danaan. The intercom chirped then the voice of Captain Simms coming through the speaker said "Lewis? Anything yet?" as Commander Strong turned and looked up at Captain Simms who was observing him; he replied "No sir. We have tried every band including commercial VLF. Still no answer nor have we detected or picked up a disaster buoy signal."
Andrew closed the connection and then turning back to the conference table spoke "Ok, from the top again; all three of you." Andrew sitting back down across from Major Azura Roux folded his hands on the table as she spoke "Unlike my previous experience captain, this was more subdued. It would creep into my consciousness, if you will like an itch, but would fade away. There was no personality, no emotional level to it."
Doctor George Albert replied "Like a feeling of being sought or being drawn to it?" Azura replied "It was not seeking contact. It was more like broadcasting its former self. It was not something tangible you would want to physically hold, it was cold feeling."
Nine months ago, Captain Andrew Simms personally experienced something he never wanted to do again, and it occurred during a joint mission with Captain Testarossa to the Artic Circle to bring under control a run-away Lambda Driver Reactor. The crystal powering the reactor was later discovered to have an alien life form within.
Major Roux had been assigned as a replacement Chief Engineer of the Samuel Eliot Morison, but in truth using her position she wanted to acquire the Lambda Driver Crystal. Since that mission, Roux's true identity had become known. Azura was a early "Whispered" and now in her mid-30's, she was classed as a "Seeker" one that could detect or sense "occupied" Lambda Driver Crystals. But in her description it was a dead crystal, so why had she been able to detect it in the first place?
A week earlier, Captain Testarossa in a mission briefing advised that an underwater laboratory housing a small test facility had been discovered Southeast of Taiwan in the Philippine Sea. Andrew had not been informed by Major Roux who had notified Captain Testarossa of the possible discovery. Learning only then and arguing that he should take the mission minus any "Whispered" had been vetoed by Testarossa. He had later that day watched the Tuatha de Danaan set sail with trepidation and could only wish Testarossa the best of luck.
As a sailor Andrew had his share of superstitions when it came to the sea. Things happened at sea that was sometimes unexplainable and though he had sailed through the Philippine Sea many times both with the US Navy and with Mithril he avoided certain areas completely. Commander Drake Ward had ribbed him on occasion for it because he had seen Andrew do the same thing when they served together in the Atlantic.
Now he wondered if legend was rearing its ugly head again. Another matter that Captain Testarossa was looking into was a spat of disappearances involving both ships and several aircraft that just so happened to be in the same area as the facility. Before departure, Andrei had assured him that the Russians had halted any further testing of Lambda Driver Reactors since the last time had resulted in a significant but short term change to the earths magnetic fields and even its global weather.
The Dragon Triangle or Devils Sea as it was also known, the Asian equivalent of the infamous Bermuda Triangle had become highly active in terms of mysterious events taking place yet again. Now it may have claimed a victim that if its loss became known to certain military powers could trigger an all out treasure hunt for the remains of that vessel.
But where to look was the easy part. Melida Island had continually monitored Tuatha de Danaan up to the moment it had vanished. The so called Dragon Triangle, stretching from Miyake Island off the east coast of Japan, then in a line southeast to Yap Island then to Twain and back to Miyake was roughly the same size as that of its better known counterpart the Bermuda Triangle in the Atlantic off the East Coast of the United States. Still Andrew Simms suppositious or not would do his damnableness to find Tuatha de Danaan and its crew even if it took him the rest of his life to do it.
Addressing Lieutenant Alice Wren and Ensign Aryl, Captain Simms spoke "Ok from your perspectives what caused you both to sense that Tuatha de Danaan was in danger? And Lieutenant Wren, you said you had a brief merging with Tessa is that correct?"
Lieutenant Wren replied "I did not have a direct sense that Tuatha de Danaan was in danger until the brief merging and all I felt was intense fear, just like Aryl and it woke both of us up at the same time."
Ensign Aryl spoke "Captain, it was like we were sharing a dream together, but not from the same perspective. I was sitting at a console looking at readouts then my view changed and I saw Tessa." Lieutenant Wren replied "I saw Kaname, then my view changed and I was looking at the helm then after that everything went blank."
Major Azura Roux spoke "It was about the same time I had the highest sensitivity to the crystal, captain. The only explanation would be an intense energy release, similar to what was seen in the Artic Circle, nine months ago." Andrew spoke "So instead of being constrained it may have expanded beyond the projected field of influence?"
Roux replied "Yes captain."
Commander Ward spoke "A massive magnetic field release perhaps? If I remember correctly, Lieutenant Chidori was to be one of the operators for the survey turtles if they were launched. So something she saw in sensor telemetry alerted her. Very likely her warning to Tessa was both a mental and verbal. Then Tessa's reaction was to giving an order to the helm, but shoving a 45,000 ton of submarine out of danger does not happen quickly enough, no matter what maneuvering system you have. Tessa realized that as did Kaname and likely both were subconsciously screaming their heads off when what ever hit them did."
Major Roux replied "There is also the fact that no explosive detonation occurred anywhere near or on the last known position of the Tuatha de Danaan. This would seem to clearly signify that the surge was electrical in nature. Perhaps a system overload has taken place, and they are in an area that if such an event crippled them, and they ended up on the bottom they would still be well within the safety limits of the hull. Captain Simms, please I urge you to mount a rescue mission."
Captain Simms turned to Commander Ward then said "I've already made my decision. Drake, muster all hands for quarters at 0500 hours so that I can address them as a whole and give any a chance to consider first right of refusal before sailing. Major Roux?"
Azura stood and replied "Yes sir?" Andrew spoke "Prepare for loading four salvage and rescue sleds and have one additional turtle loaded. Can you prep it with the same sensor package that was used by the Danaan turtles?" The major replied "Yes sir, I can and I will have a special sensor pallet installed on the Morison in one hour." Andrew coming to his feet was stopped by Lieutenant Wren "Captain Simms?" as Andrew turned looking towards her "Yes, you and Aryl can go if you want to. Get ready for departure lieutenant."
Tuesday, 0600 Hours, Tuatha de Danaan TDD-1
"Attention all hands, commencing restart of Reactor One in 15 minutes." The voice of a crewman in Main Control echoed through the hanger as Lieutenant Commander Andrei Kalinin made his way towards sickbay. Still listing the result of the Tuatha de Danaan coming to rest on an underwater slope, it was more of a minor inconvenience than one to be concerned with at least now.
Just how wide spread the effect of the magnetic field disturbance had been on the submarine was telling. What crewmembers that were able to perform their duties were having to check every single circuit breaker and fuse system onboard. The more critical circuits had come first and with many lighting systems out, the interior was dark, gloomy and cold in many areas.
The casualty list was a somber reminder too. Besides Petty Officer Nelson, nine others had died, with over ninety injuries and included in the casualty list was Captain Teletha Testarossa and Lieutenant Kaname Chidori, both still unconscious with eighteen others.
Pulling the heavy watertight door open and walking into the passageway, Kalinin encountered Sergeant Major Mao who instead of wearing a gun belt was wearing a tool belt.
The Sergeant Major acknowledged the Commander's presence "How is things forward sir?" Kalinin replied "Not too bad, but getting better as the hours progress. What's the status here Sergeant Major?" Mao running an electrical probe on an open breaker box replied "This section should be up in an hour; at least that is what main control told me. I am doing some final checks before they activate the power grid again." Kalinin nodded then continued towards sickbay.
Though nearly invisible to the human eye, the laser light flickered briefly its targets a group of Deep Ocean armored battle suites. There were six in all spaced apart so that no single suite if targeted and hit would affect the next. "Approaching upper hull entry, Madam Captain," spoke the lead combat suite. The woman's voice confident and firm, her eyes flicked across the heads-up display.
"Have you confirmed identification Sergeant Major?" as the lead suite touched down lightly, swiveled her sensors back towards their floating combat base the Tuatha de Danaan and replied "Yes Madam Captain. Either someone is playing a joke with us or there is another one of us we did not know about, but the entryway is stenciled TDD-1."
The woman's deep blue eyes showed neither surprise nor concern at hearing the report and she replied "Very well Sergeant Major, investigate at your leisure. Let's see what's inside that Toy Box shall we," then closing the connection Captain Kaname Chidori sat back in her chair and briefly closing her eyes waited for the combat team to make entry as her first officer returned with a tray of tea.
The woman set the tray on a nearby pedestal then spoke "Madam Captain, would you like your tea now?" Opening her eyes, Captain Chidori turned the command chair then said to her first officer "Commander Testarossa that would be nice thank you."
Sergeant Major Mao shut the electrical panel and paused briefly before moving. Looking to the overhead she wondered if she had heard something. Listening carefully and not hearing anything else, Mao shrugging her shoulders cranked on the wheel of the water tight door and opening it entered the hanger bay.
Turning to her left Mao saw a couple of the hanger crew staring at the diving chamber normally used for Deep Ocean combat suites and spoke "Hey guys what's up? One of the men pointed at the doorway to the chamber replied "Hey do you think that the Morison got here already?" Mao let go of the electrical probe and releasing her tool belt bolted towards the men "You idiots it took us three days and that was because we were snooping around! Get the heck away from that door now! We are being boarded! Alert the bridge!"
Mao knew that three combat diver suites could be sent out in each chamber. One group was in the starboard chamber and looking over to the distant port side chamber, the indicator lights were also showing that chamber in use as the announcement broke over the hanger speakers "All combat personnel to the hanger bay. Repel boarders. We are being boarded by unknowns. Repeat all available combat personnel to the hanger bay we are being boarded!"
Hopping onto a small tow tractor, Mao turned on the electric motor and sped towards the starboard diving chamber. She did not make it in time as the door opened, revealing a combat suite and its occupant a woman. The electric motor of the Gatling gun spun briefly as the operator leveled the weapon onto the tractor but the solider did not fire and Mao slamming the bakes on, skidded to a stop just a meter from the suite and looked up in shock at the occupant who was doing likewise at her, as each said simultaneously "Hey that's me?"
Tuesday, 0900 Hours, Samuel Eliot Morison TDD-2
Delayed two hours for an additional passenger, the submarine speeding towards the last known position of the Tuatha de Danaan while its crew made preparations for search and rescue; its captain and executive officer with the chief engineer in on the meeting by intercom were in consultations with their guest.
The Mithril Council had been adamant that Captain Simms delay his departure. The expert that was already enroute to Melida Island was to board and sail with the submarine and she was bringing additional equipment. Commander Drake Ward having read the name Doctor Brenda Little and her assortment of educational accomplishments had jokingly commented that they would have to prepare the guest quarters for a little old lady.
Captain Simms pacing in frustration on the dock had seen her transport vehicle arrive followed by two tractor trailer loads of equipment. Greeting the doctor on the pier and at first assuming she was Little's assistant and finding out otherwise turned towards Commander Ward and said "Well Drake help the little old lady onboard," as he viewed the trucks yelled out orders to get the equipment onboard.
Doctor Little viewing the briefing room monitor spoke "All of you should know that the control crystals in custody of Mithril also reacted at the moment the Tuatha de Danaan apparently for the lack of a better word vanished."
The video record playing was of the experiment carried out by Captain Simms nine months earlier in Engineering Lab One, when what is now known as Control Crystal Two reacted to Major Azura Roux's presence."
Commander Ward replied "How is that possible? They are in a heavily shielded underground facility a little more than 10,000 kilometers as the crow flies from where the Tuatha de Danaan was."
Doctor Little replied "That sir is something I am interested in as well. Chief Engineer Roux experienced a brief but strong aftereffect as did two other "Whispered's, and of course Major Roux is a "Seeker". She can sense an activated crystal at considerable distances, and I do recall her behavior when it happened before. Nevertheless, based on what we know and have observed it has to do with magnetic fields."
Major Roux spoke "I regret my original behavior Brenda, it was hard to ignore." Andrew turning in his chair raised an eyebrow then said "Like trying to kick your door down in the middle of the night doctor?" Brenda Little laughing lightly spoke "Actually it was more like interrupting lunch, saying that she needed to take Arbalest II to Melida because of a sudden emergency and leaving me with an empty storage hanger before I could say no."
Turning back to the monitor, Captain Simms brought up the area where the Tuatha de Danaan had gone missing, then freezing the flashing icon spoke "With the amount of equipment you brought with you I can assume besides being a search and rescue this will be scientific because Mithril wants to know what lead up to what occurred?"
Brenda replied "Yes and if at all possible recover Tuatha de Danaan and her crew. You have an advantage that Tessa did not and that is of the extra sensor equipment. The torpedo casings are Mk. 53's but instead of warheads contain miniaturized sensors capable of measuring magnetic, electrical and other parameters including salinity of the water and temperature. They will transmit the information through the wire control system or if the control wire is severed will transmit via underwater communication frequencies their findings."
Major Roux replied "You are aware that it may have been an underwater installation where the Lambda Driver Reactor Control Crystal was in operation?" Brenda replied "Yes Azura I am. Mithril believed that it is or was a Chinese supported and operated facility. However shortly before the Tuatha de Danaan arrived in the area, some kind of incident took place and the Chinese lost all communications with the facility. The discussions that have been taking place indicate that the Chinese government declined to send a ship or submarine to investigate since the facility was in international waters, and not wanting to draw attention to themselves unlike the Russians which caused all that havoc months earlier they abandoned the facility, apparently after remotely triggering a self-destruct."
Captain Simms spoke "They had a self-destruct option built-in?" Brenda unsmiling replied "Yes Captain Simms they did. If there were any scientists still alive, they died when it was triggered, but from our experience with studying the crystals they can survive a considerable amount of punishment and unless that explosive device that was used was directly under it, which I doubt considering what magnetic fields do to electrically operated triggers I think the only thing that happened was they imploded the lab structure or structures onto themselves; which leaves us with a Lambda Driver Reactor Control Crystal that is feeding off what is in the area."
Commander Ward spoke "Feeding off of what Doctor Little?" Brenda slowly turned her chair then said "Why magnetic and electrical fields of course. The crystal we are dealing with is not what one would call an intelligent crystal, and as Azura explained to you earlier it merely has a "ghost" of its former occupant who gave its last programming if you will and that is to gather energy."
Captain Simms replied "But no instructions to safely release it which results in a massive magnetic and electrical pulse." Brenda replied "That Captain Simms is the crux of the matter and which I believe may be responsible for both aircraft and vessels that have vanished from earth since man first recorded such events taking place."
Captain Simms looking up at the monitor replied "So we have crystals that can generate that kind of power? I know we use the much smaller crystals in the Lambda Driver System of the Arbalest class of Arms Slaves, which when properly directed by the operator through the interface system can generate a shield to deflect weapons because of the magnetic properties; however are you saying that there is a possibility that there are even larger control crystals that have yet to be discovered?"
Brenda typing on her keyboard brought forth a display of the earth and then spoke "Yes and the smaller crystals could conceivably trigger the hypothesized larger crystals. In essence captain, giving them a jump start like one would do when jumping a vehicle with a dead or low battery. Like the more infamous Bermuda Triangle, the Dragons Triangle or Devil's Sea as it is better known in Asia which we should be soon entering the epicenter of the disturbance shares the same characteristics as the Bermuda Triangle. Magnetic variations, disturbances with navigational equipment, and even time distortions; however none of these phenomenons have been proven to have caused any of the vanishings as they are still only theory. But there is one other concern. When one area misbehaves if you will the other area inevitably too follows suit," then as Doctor Little typed again on her keyboard Captain Simms observing the monitor replied "We know the myths that each were linked to each other, but in a direct perspective if one was to align the Bermuda Triangle with the opposite side of the globe, it would place the opposite end directly off the coast of Southeastern Australia and not in the Philippine Sea. So why is the Bermuda Triangle acting up?"
Doctor Little replied "Remember my analogy to jumping a dead battery? Remember the energy released had to go somewhere, magnetic or otherwise. About the moment the Tuatha de Danaan vanished, this peculiar display took place in the Triangle as viewed by satellite. The electrical discharges were incredible, but what was more interesting was that there was no weather in the immediate area of the discharges for nearly 600 kilometers. Don't you see Captain Simms? If there are control crystals even larger than the ones that we have found which do contain a life force, these large crystals have to be deep underwater and water conducts electricity as well as carries it."
Major Roux replying over the intercom said "Then that would make for one huge jumpstart," as Captain Simms looking none too happy spoke "And sailing or flying through that anomaly could really ruin your day and mine."
Tapping the intercom Captain Simms spoke "This is the captain, bring the boat to five knots in 15 minutes and Marcy please prep as many of the sensor equipped torpedo's as the good doctor wants. Azura meet me with the doctor on the bridge in 30 minutes." Doctor Little spoke "Are you concerned Captain Simms that what ever happened to the Tuatha de Danaan could happen to the Samuel Eliot Morison?"
Andrew replied "Doctor, the sister ship of this submarine which is just as advanced as we are and well armed as we are has vanished without even a disaster buoy being launched and we carry eight in all; yes dammit I am concerned and worried, but I am also hopeful we can find them and bring all of them back with us. You have studied the effects of the Lambda Driver and the reactor system associated with it. I hope that with all the brilliant minds we have onboard that we can make it transpire."
Doctor Little spoke "Make what transpire sir?" as Captain Simms leaned towards her he replied "Simple. When we get to where they were at last and they are not in pieces on the ocean floor then I want you to figure out a way toget usto where they went and when the time comesbringus both back from wherever they went." Turning and leaving, Captain Simms left the briefing room with Commander Ward leaving Doctor Little staring at the monitor.
Walking alongside Captain Simms, Commander Ward spoke "That is a rather high order Andrew." Simms glancing at his long time friend and executive officer replied "I am putting the shoe on the other foot. What if I had won the argument to take the original mission and instead of Tuatha de Danaan it was the Samuel Eliot Morison that vanished. Do you think that Teletha would stand idly by and do nothing? No she would not. She would be doing exactly what I am doing now and that is make an effort to find out what happened and if she has to move heaven and earth to bring us back she would do it too. I owe her and Mithril more than I can ever repay her, and by God I am to do anything and everything that I can to bring them back!"
Tuesday, 1100 Hours, Tuatha de Danaan TDD-1, Alternate Reality
When Captain Teletha Testarossa woke up in her sickbay it was with a searing headache. Still lying on the bed she turned her head towards the other bed next to her and saw Lieutenant Kaname Chidori stirring as she too woke up and said "Lieutenant Chidori? Kaname can you hear me?"
A uniformed individual standing at the foot of her bed spoke "Quiet! Do not speak unless spoken to." Teletha's vision blurred but then cleared as she focused on the speaker, one of the mercenary soldiers that were among the Tuatha de Danaan's combat support teams. Teletha replied "Soldier? Do you not know who your commanding officer is?"
Fingering the bolt of his weapon then quickly racking and loading a live round and raising the weapon replied "Yes I do and it is not you, so shut up and lie down like a good little girl."
But another voice interrupted that of a woman who spoke "Sergeant! That will be enough. Wait outside." Teletha turning her head towards the sound of the voice looked on in shock as the owner appeared dressed similarly as the soldier came into view.
Dressed in black and in a mini-skirt no less was herself and as Teletha blinked in disbelief her other self spoke "So it is true. How interesting. The captain will enjoy this." Then Teletha's other self glanced at the other bed and spoke "And there is one of her as well, this could prove useful."
Teletha regaining her thoughts spoke "Just who are you and where are we?" The alternate Teletha replied "Why you are on your own boat of course of which you are captain at least for now, but as for where you are now that will be entirely up to my captain to inform you, and of course allow me to introduce myself. I am Commander Teletha Testarossa of the Eastern Naval Alliance. So who are you supposed to be?"
Teletha replied "I am Captain Teletha Testarossa of Mithril. Now may I see your commanding officer!" as the alternate Teletha ran the tip of her tongue over her lips replied "So I am a captain from where ever you came from. Well I am sure my captain, Captain Kaname Chidori will find that entertaining."
Lieutenant Kaname Chidori hearing her name replied "I am not a captain." The alternate Teletha smiled at Kaname and spoke "Well you may not be from where you came, but my dear Kaname is," then turning towards the outer area of the sickbay spoke "Guards! Take these two to the hanger immediately."
Sergeant Souska Sagara and Sergeant Kurz Weber sat on the deck of the hanger with legs crossed and arms behind their heads as prisoners. The gravity of the situation had set in and for some seeing their alternate selves had been too much. Several had tried reasoning with their alternates to no avail. To Souska it would have been like arguing with ones mirror image reflected in a mirror. Souska had seen both Sergeant Majors. Their sergeant major was trussed up and lying on her side gagged; the other looking down at her counter-part in glee seemingly enjoying the experience.
But the shock for the crew and even Souska was seeing their captain with her alternate. Teletha's tan uniform with its below the knee tailoring verses the alternate Teletha's uniform black uniform mini-skirt and the apparent differences of each in terms of their characteristic traits. Beside the uniform, the alternate Teletha was well armed, the side arms within easy each and her walk verse their Teletha was to him more physical as if she was flaunting herself. It was both disturbing to see and to accept.
Lieutenant Kaname Chidori under guard and walking behind the pair of Teletha's, stopped briefly looking through the crowded deck and finally seeing Souska tried to wave in acknowledgement, but the guards behind her would have nothing of it and shoved her onward as she protested out loud "Hey can't I at least tell someone I am ok?" and one guard replied "No you can't. No talking unless spoken to first, now move it or loose it!"
Lieutenant Commander Andrei Kalinin hidden within the ductwork viewed the hanger deck. The warning of the Tuatha de Danaan being boarded had given little time for him to evade what he viewed as enemy soldiers. Unable to make it to sickbay to try to help Captain Testarossa make her escape, Andrei continued to study their alternate selves.
He had not yet seen his alternate self or that of Commander Mardukas who had been separated from other crewmembers because of his rank. The alternate Teletha was completely different in both personality and her overall general behavior. She was in his mind acting more like that of a combat soldier and one willing to use her charms to get what she wanted.
But Andrei was not expecting what he observed next, when the alternate Kaname Chidori arrived in her captains shuttle.
The alarms sounding announced the arrival of the alternate Kaname as the inner door of docking bay 2 opened. A turtle sitting within the cradle turned and mated with the disembarkation platform.
The alternant Sergeant Major, Melissa Mao left her other self and approached the platform and rendering a salute spoke "Attention on deck! Tuatha de Danaan arriving!" then snapping to attention, brought her weapon to port arms as the shuttles hatch opened.
Sergeant Souska Sagara and Sergeant Kurz Weber seeing who stepped off the craft looked at each other then back to the platform.
Their alternate selves had appeared and with them came Captain Kaname Chidori, the tight fitting and very low cut black uniform rather noticeable. Lieutenant Kaname Chidori seeing her alternate self groaned "Oh my god any shorter…" then a guard tapped the muzzle of his weapon on her shoulder and said "One more word and that will be it! Do not disrespect our leader!" Kaname glancing at her Teletha then merging said "Leader? What do they mean by that?"
The reply was not expected by Kaname as the alternate Kaname spoke out loud from the bottom steps of the platform, "You should address that to me and not your captain." The alternate Teletha spoke "You heard her too Madam Captain?" as the alternate Kaname seeking Lieutenant Chidori made her way towards her counter-part replied "Yes I did. How interesting, so there are other "Whispered" as well."
Captain Chidori looking at her counter-part Lieutenant Chidori then kneeling down and placing her fingertips beneath Kaname's chin spoke "Our own mothers could not tell us apart." Then releasing her, the alternate Captain Chidori approached Captain Testarossa who had been joined by the alternate Teletha who spoke "She wears such a lame uniform. How can one move in such a thing," then without warning suddenly brandishing a knife slit the seam of Captain Testarossa's skirt then ripping it till it reached Captain Testarossa's waist. The alternate Kaname replied "Perhaps she had little use for running my dear." Standing, the alternate Kaname taking her arm around the alternate Teletha and planting a kiss on her forehead spoke "Now tell me, what you have found so far…"