So the day went, rest, preparation, and efforts that bore fruits. Aside from Zutel and Posa pulled in by Vult and Vaukt, Kazak brought in the first spread of the conspiracy to another unit. Aside from Zurrak and Gers being unhooked as replacements, Mizak and even Avak saw themselves unhooked. With time, it would lead to the Scout Snipers seeing themselves joining the ranks of the growing rebellion in the shadows. As Mizak saw to his unit's dispatches periodically, he and Avak remained to provide support to Vult's team.
As expected, Vaukt sent in the updated list of targets. Aside from the three pylons that remained unchanged, there were some more AA sites, even several artillery batteries and anti-tank gun positions marked on the map. Some of the targets overlapped with teams from the 2nd Spec Ops Group, save for the pylons. The Scout Snipers were the first out the door at dusk to insert by foot. Mizak, Avak, and Kazak would set up as overwatch while Zurrak and Gers acted as pathfinders to locate and mark landing zones. By the time night fell, they were in position.
Once the uninterrupted procession of newly-inducted members of the growing movement in secrecy were tended to, other preparations were in order. Kazak's old team, he included, were inserted just as evening fell with the intention of gathering rudimentary intelligence. Elements hidden or obscured from initial long-range and orbital topography scans. No matter the technology, the sprawling metropolis of Tallum's city center was labyrinthian. Eons-old patchwork of kilometer-high superstructure, multiple tiers of roadways, skylanes, with infrastructure upon infrastructure. Getting boots on the ground for traditional, eyes-on target finding and recognition was necessary in these incredibly densely-built up areas.
This steady stream of intelligence fed back to the team at the restaurant would be reviewed and disseminated by Corr, Volx, and Vult in the coming hours. Adjustments to General Vaukt's initial plans made accordingly to accommodate, as well as new additions for elements overlooked or missed in the initial scans. The more preparation and planning performed now would make for fewer surprises later. Being the leading edge of a spearhead offensive was stressful enough as it were.
Despite the harrowing days in the field leading up to this moment, the general mood of the team was energetic. Electrifying, even. A return to old form, no longer being mismanaged and misused as a frontline combat unit beneath the incompetence of Grimm. General Vaukt's influence and sway with the new High Marshal saw them squarely back where they belonged. Element of surprise, beneath the cover of darkness, and to move swiftly while remaining unseen. No more supporting Irken Elite or engaging frontline VDF forces.
Ultimately though, it meant a finality. An end to a long, brutal, bloody campaign for the Empire. With the impending fall of Tallum, Vort would be conquered wholesale with meager pockets of insurgents refusing to lay down their arms in defiance. Nothing a fully-staffed and supplied occupational garrison couldn't take care of over time. A somewhat bitter and guilty line of thought knowing full and well they intended to turn their backs on the very banner they currently bore.
There was not much sleep to be had by members of the team. A proper schedule and rotation had been set and observed, everyone was well-fed and hydrated...but sleep eluded them. The anticipation, the excitement...it was nearly overwhelming at times. On the eve of one of the Empire's largest, if not the largest, military actions to-date. Even with the underlying, ulterior motives currently in play...soldiers were still soldiers at heart. They all shared the same thoughts, feelings, and emotions pertaining to the possibility of battle.
Hesa laid back in bed with Vult, an arm wrapped around him, head on his chest, relaxing after some time entwined once more. Though she seemed somewhat, restless, quieter, even somewhat more distant than usual. Something ate away at her internally. That feeling of the unknown, though going into the maw of the behemoth itself. Something seemed extremely dangerous about all this deep down. Cold feet? Maybe, but it'd be something she could overcome once they get going easily.
Beside her, Vult remained in a light doze. Staving off for a few moments of rest that would likely be in short supply in the coming days with what lay ahead. Not that it mattered as he barely slept at all. This time it wasn't entirely her fault, either. He felt it in her nude form against him all the same. The tension in her body, uneasy breathing, and all but clinging to him. His right hand remained nestled behind his head beneath the pillow, the other idly squeezing and kneading her shoulder in the nighttime gloom of their shared quarters.
"Gonna cramp up if you tense up any more." He teased in a hushed tone. "...hard as a rock right now. What's the matter?"
"Nothing, well...nothing major," Hesa attempted to play it off lightly in that it was really nothing. "I guess I'm just getting cold feet before we do this big thing. I hope it'll go away once we get moving."
Curious now at her implications, his nearest eye cracked over to reveal a sliver of dark blue.
"Sure it will. Anticipation Is always the worst when you know something's coming." He reasoned aloud with a deep sigh. "...little nervous myself if we're going to be honest. Scale of this operation is huge and we're just a small part of it. Lots of moving pieces...lots of things to go wrong...or inopportune wrenches to be thrown into those gears...but...everything goes as planned, we're done with Vort and one step further away from the Empire."
"Yeah...I think that's part of why I'm worried. Lots of unknowns...There's a lot to go wrong but everything could also go right." She sighed, her violet eyes looking up to him, "Anticipation, a real bad feeling about all this, guilt? I don't know which is which right now."
His brow furrowed slightly, adjusting his head to make eye contact with her proper.
"Guilt? Over what?" He queried, earnestly confused.
"I mean...we're eventually going to do what we're going to do, but we're also helping wrap up the single biggest holdup so far in the second Impending Doom. It seems a bit...weird to do that. But maybe I'm just reading too much into it. I guess even our Vortian friends knew that they were doomed here and it was only a matter of time?"
"Ah." He realized with crystal clarity. "...I'm not...happy to be doing this but I am relieved. They know it is a grim necessity that we maintain appearances until further notice. I can only take solace in knowing the days of serving the Empire are numbered and we only need to be patient until opportunity strikes...maybe then I can spooch laying down those standing against it until then. I wish there was another way."
"Doubt there is...but, yeah, there's that at least." She shifted to bring herself to eye level and plant a kiss on his cheek. "Wherever you go, I go, that much I know for sure."
"Not like you have much of a choice otherwise," Vult smirked at her, adjusting his own posture to better accommodate her body against him. "Knowing the direction we are heading and the efforts taken to mitigate the tragedy we inflict is the only solace I take in all of this. At the very least it lets me sleep comfortably at night. So long as it isn't in vain, it will mean something."
"Really looking forward to whatever good comes out of this." She shifted to look at the nearby clock on the nightstand, about an hour and a half left until they needed to go. She rolled her eyes and rested her head against his. "I also really don't want to get up right now."
"You and me both…on both fronts." He responded, looking up at the ceiling momentarily before drawing his attention back to her. "Just imagine though...one day, we won't have to. No more fighting, no more war...no more Empire. Just whatever fate brings us...together. Even if it's just sleeping in."
A light laugh followed, "Oh, that will be great. One nice, long break. Sleeping in would be nice too. Not to mention not needing to hide what you and I are getting up to in here." She pulled her head back to look him in the eyes with a smirk. "Rather happy to have this with you, just wish we didn't have to hide it."
His arm around her slackened, slipping from her shoulder to her waist. His palm squeezed the taut, trained flesh of her side affectionately.
"Wouldn't call it hiding...more of a...delayed concealment." He mused with a light chuckle. "I'm far from ashamed of you and what we have. Moreso I do not want it to be used against the others or the one weakness in our plans that the Empire can exploit. No need to give them another advantage on top of a mountain of existing ones, right?"
"Didn't think of it that way. Guess that's why they pay you the big bucks as Commander, hm?" She chuckled and delivered a lengthy kiss. "You think any of the others stumbled on this like we have? I only found out about one other couple so far."
Before his prepared cleverness could respond in kind, Hesa's lips found his own. A familiar, welcome sensation he reveled in every opportunity offered. Something that happened with such rarity due to circumstance that he greedily invited it. After several moments, contact was only broken in need of breath as he rested his head to hers.
"Assuming they've had similar experiences mentally and physically, it isn't that far-fetched," He deduced with mild amusement. "I personally haven't seen anything to warrant such curiosities, but that doesn't mean it isn't happening...unless you want to consider the Captain and Calla, but that falls under entirely different circumstances."
"That will be interesting to see play out once she gets a body...how we do that short of breaking into one of the cloning worlds and stealing a copy of the DNA sequences there, I have no clue. Though, remember earlier, back in the plant with Haxx?" She paused to chuckle, "He's developed something like you and I have with Volx of all people. I didn't expect it, but when I was talking to him, how he was reacting to her injuries. It was pretty clear to me that she's his lover as you are mine."
Vult recollected said events from the days prior. Having the chance to wind down and rest properly left him with a great deal of food for thought, however high or low the priority.
"I do...I still find that difficult to fathom...but at the same time, it isn't that unbelievable, either." He mused aloud. "Despite clashing personalities, both have a great deal of respect for the other...or at least enough to follow orders and not cause too much disruption anyway. You really believe that they are like you and I?"
"I think so. I think I would be in a similar position if something happened to you, or possibly distraught if it was worse."
He couldn't find fault with that logic. Even mentally concocting a similar scenario involving Hesa brought him discomfort. They both, while indentured, accepted the dangers involved with their duties beneath the Empire's banner. That death was very real and far closer than either of them could possibly imagine. A possibility that often went ignored or fell on deafened antenna with the aid of PAK programming...but now roared in demand to be heeded.
"I...want to say I would do my best to remain composed for the safety of the others...but I don't know how'd I'd react in all honesty." Vult admitted with some reluctance, taking a moment to release Hesa's side and locate one of her hands to intertwine his with. "A very real possibility I hope never comes to pass. For you or anyone."
Another moment's consideration followed before he spoke again. A change of topic away from the morbidity of the fragility of life beneath constant threat was needed.
"...on the possibility of the others being involved as we are...I have little evidence to support it, so call it a hunch...but Aero and Vard have given me an inclination to the possibility. Have you seen or heard anything yourself or am I making great mental leaps?"
"I haven't seen any solid proof, but, with the way she looks at him, the way she talks about him? I can honestly see the two as a couple." She chuckled, "What a height difference, though."
"So I have noticed...she's taken to calling him "Vardy"." Vult added with a bemused smirk. "...whatever the case may be, their synergy has improved immensely. Either one of them has a task I've given them, they work together and see it through as quickly as they can muster. Why this has been decided against by our ancestors baffles me. These...feelings, they make us stronger, together. The Empire values strength above all else, does it not? Why deny an entire race that when only good can come from it?"
"The only thing I can guess is that they valued total control more than strength." Hesa mused at the thought, "I personally would prefer what we have, a stronger team with a strong bond and freedom to think over the strength by sheer numbers under total control."
"Maybe...whatever the intention was at the time has long since passed. After what we saw on Devastis and Calla's recounting of events from a hidden, forgotten time...it has to be stopped." Vult concluded with conviction. "...and let's be honest for a moment...of a single, troublesome, incompetent Invader can cause our entire people such duress...imagine the pandemonium when the time comes for us to begin moving in our own direction."
The heavy gunner grinned, "They're not gonna know what hit 'em." Though the grin soon faded, "Though, I imagine it's going to get really ugly once that time comes. It'll be entirely necessary, though."
"It will be, but unlike now, it will be for a good cause. Not only for our people, but the universe at-large." Vult offered some semblance of comfort with his words. "I've got the best and brightest available and making new "friends" every day. We're going to give it our best effort."
"I have a good feeling about that at the end of the day." She smiled and pressed her forehead against his. "You think we need to start getting ready now or do we have a chance to enjoy each other's company a while longer?"
Vult leaned to look over his lover's shoulder. The projected time from his sitting armored gauntlet on the nightstand showed they had under an hour to muster. While tempting being the highest-ranking present and in command to mitigate his own orders for the sake of personal reasons, he fell back on leading by example with a long sigh.
"Much as I'd like to spend the rest of the day here beside you, we probably should get moving."
Seeking to unravel his grasp from around her and begin to rise, the sheets fell to their waists. Leaning over, he gave Hesa one final, parting kiss before making to crawl out of the bed they shared.
"Probably for the best we are squared away before everyone else anyway. Fewer opportunities for questions to arise at a moment such as this." The Commander reasoned, seeking out his discarded clothing from before.
She smiled at him after the kiss, stretching before climbing out of bed herself, gathering her own clothes strewn about the bedroom floor. "You're right. At least for now, then maybe we could afford a few more minutes in the future, hm? Once the others know, anyhow."
Vult smirked to himself as he went about donning his uniform, article-by-article.
"For now, yes...but there will be a time not even the heat death of the universe is going to pull me away from you. Until then, however, discretion and discipline...maybe after we leave Vort I can convince Vaukt to ensure we have ample R&R."
"Yes, and hopefully the Tallest don't send us chasing something dangerous for a while…" She huffed as she started getting dressed once again, "Though knowing Vaukt seems to be, I'm sure he can concoct something mundane and make it look important so we can spend more time relaxing."
"I don't think we'll have to worry much on that front," Vult summarized, finishing with tucking his undershirt to secure his belt. "He does have an entire division of forces to look after...among other things. Once again...a hunch-"
He paused, throwing his uniform shirt on to begin fastening the buttons, leaving only the layered, armored coats synonymous with their unit remaining.
"...but I believe the new High Marshal may have him as a...target of interest."
"Interest...like you think she's onto him?" She asked, somewhat worried about the implications of what the interest of the new leadership in him could mean for them. "Or is it more that she likes the work he does?" She left her own armored coat off for the moment, draped over her shoulder as she caught up to him herself. "You think we may need to have one of the snipers do something preemptively, or?"
However serious or dire the implications may have been, Vult couldn't help but chuckle as he finished dressing fully, adjusting his gauntlets.
"No, nothing nefarious...more...how you look at me...unless she really is prying in an attempt to test his loyalty or something of that nature. She would make a better Invader than a military commander were that the case. No...I believe she is...smitten with him to some degree."
She rubbed her chin, mulling over the thought in her head for a few moments before laughing and putting on her coat. "That would be a very interesting development considering how much we were inhibited by the PAKs before...unless something is off with her's...or something. I have to admit I don't have much to go on beyond what you told me before." She paused to gather some energy packs for her PRC, given her GPMG met its end in the sewer cistern some time before, leaving her the heavier weapon as an alternative. "Though this does introduce both some concerns and new implications at the same time, at least from the sound of it."
"Whatever the case may be, there are more pressing matters to worry ourselves about." He reasoned, checking his sidearm to ensure it was fully charged and ready before locking it into its holster at his right thigh. "Vaukt is wise enough to look after himself and doesn't need us to smeetsit him."
Situating and straightening his uniform out proper, Vult adjusted his overcoat belt, snugging it up, and balancing the weight of the pouches and their contents.
"I look forward to asking him more about it in the future when the time and situation are appropriate though." He smirked at Hesa before checking the time at his wrist again. "...should have plenty of time to get assembled downstairs now. Be sure to eat your fill and hydrate before we step off."
"I might make myself something in the kitchen," she mused as she made sure everything on her person was set. "You want me to make you something while I'm at it?"
"When have I been known to turn down food?" Vult smiled at her as he took up his battered helmet off the table before approaching Hesa to lean in for one final, lasting kiss. "I'll be downstairs. Poor leadership on my part if I don't shoulder my responsibilities and all."
Hesa's hand came to rest his cheek as they shared yet another kiss, enjoying the moment before looking him in the eyes with a soft smile, "I'll bring out your food once I make it." She went to grab her own dented, visorless helmet, PRC, and remaining gear to bring it downstairs and set it on one of the tables before going into the restaurant's commercial kitchen and starting various stoves and other equipment to make some food for herself and Vult. Others followed in due course, geared up and ready to move. It'd be their last hot meal on Vort for a while that wasn't a ration pack if this went longer than intended.
The Commander, fully prepared and as well-rested as one could be beneath the circumstances, made his way down the hall, destined for the stairwell. The final fleeting rays of a setting sun over the horizon brought with it the evening to come.
Before he reached the end of the hall, his gauntlet chirped with a received message. Curious, he stopped to check it:
TO: CMDR Vult - RED1
FROM: CPT Corr - PURPLE1
SUBJ: LT Volx
Commander,
The Lieutenant did not respond to my earlier communique to assemble in preparation for tonight. It is not like her to miss formation. I have not personally checked on her yet. Would you mind checking her quarters while I tend to inventory?
- CPT Corr - ASOG-SS
Vult's brow furrowed in a mixture of confusion and mild concern. Corr was correct in his assertion. The Lieutenant was among the most prudent, disciplined, and hardlined in their ranks. For her to be unresponsive to official missives or orders was out-of-character.
Typing back a quick reply to take on this impromptu task and sending it, Vult turned around to track back down the hall towards the room where Volx had taken up quarters. Stopping short, he gave the door a sharp triplet of knocks.
"Lieutenant?"
There was some slight commotion behind the door, muffled, but still present. After a few moments of silence passed, the Lieutenant opened the door, partially dressed, though nothing too revealing. Upon seeing it was her commander, she immediately snapped to attention, "Sir, apologies for not being in full uniform. Is there something you need?"
Before he could voice concern or attempt to open the door regardless of her response, Volx was quick to appear. Partially dressed and rather fatigued in appearance. Vult returned her salute lazily before speaking.
"Nothing pressing...Corr notified me that you had not responded to his message for formation before we step off." He explained, attempting to look past the short-statured Lieutenant. "Is everything alright? You look tired."
"Yes, sir, everything is fine," she caught herself between breaths, "No fatigue that can't easily be recovered from, sir." She paused, "Apologies, sir, I haven't been in a position to check my messages in the last several minutes. I'll make sure to get to the Captain right away."
Her quickened response and erratic behavior did not ward off the Commander's suspicions. Never one to be so anxious or nervous, she was hiding something. Equal parts concerning as it was curious, Vult remained unconvinced. Rather than interrogate her further or leave her be, he stepped forward, pushing the door open wider.
She did nothing to stop him, only stepping aside. She kept her composure as best she could but it seems her responses did nothing. "Commander?" She asked, unable to formulate a question at the moment, wondering what it was he was after. Did he know?
His cursory scan of the room didn't produce much in the way of results. Just another room not unlike the one he and Hesa had called home for the past few weeks. The Lieutenant, disciplined as she was cold, had kept it neat and orderly as if it were her own aboard the ship. Not a speck of dirt or dust anywhere to be found. As if there wasn't a civilization-ending war beyond the walls.
"...I heard another voice in here before you opened the door." He explained his intrusion. "Who were you speaking with? Is someone else in here with you, Lieutenant?"
There was some hesitation from Volx, but she eventually answered, "Yes, sir. Sergeant Haxx is here in the room as well, sir."
Hearing his name called and outed proper by none other than Volx, the Sergeant sheepishly made his appearance. Emerging from the adjacent bathroom, Haxx wore...nothing. Nude as the day he was hatched, his attire clutched hastily in his hands before him. To see someone typically so brash and reckless be timid and vulnerable was a sight to behold.
"Sergeant." Vult addressed.
"Commander."
"Do you want to explain why you are in or will your commanding officer do so for you?" Vult pressed, wary to not sound terribly upset about it.
"I...not...particularly, Sir." Haxx admitted with an awkward smile. "I...uhh...little help, Ma'am?"
Volx sighed seeing Haxx emerge without even bothering to put anything on and shook her head. He was a foolish man, but he was her's. "Sir, I don't know how else to put this other than bluntly. The Sergeant and I were...fucking, to use the Vortian term I picked up from the prisoners, sir."
"Smooth." Haxx chided her crass language and bluntness. Ironic.
Vult turned his attention back to Volx. This was not exactly a surprise, given prior events, nor was it expected. Something in between. A confirmation of suspicions and putting rumors to rest, as it were. He did not seem all that upset by it...but elation was void from his visage as well. A very complex situation with emotions to match.
"...I appreciate your honesty, Volx...is this going to impact your command over him?
"Sir, I-" Haxx attempted to interject, only to have Vult gesture for him to be quiet.
"I need to have confidence in my officers, Lieutenant...do I still have it in you?"
"Absolutely not, sir. If anything he might listen to me more than he did before." She shot the Sergeant a glance, knowing how he was in prior days. "Nothing will be impacted, sir. If I get the least bit of sense it'll be a problem, I'll come to you personally and inform you."
A sufficient answer for him. A single nod of affirmation was given before he spoke.
"I will hold you to it, Lieutenant. Corr wants you- both of you, downstairs…" He paused, checking his gauntlet for the time. "Five minutes…"
His attention drifted to Haxx, still sheepishly standing there with his bundle of clothes before him.
"...make it ten. That will be all."
"Yes, sir." Volx snapped to attention once again. As the commander left the room, she shot Haxx a sly grin. With some time left to spare, the Lieutenant left their room with a casual pace. Plenty of time to get a cup of black brew to go downstairs. The Sergeant, on the other hand, was hastily still putting on his clothes as he practically bolted out the door. Typical.
Leaving the two lovers caught red-handed to their own devices, Vult continued as he originally planned. Down the flights of stairs, through the lobby, and into the restaurant. Beneath the early evening darkness illuminated by a combination of chemical lights and the occasional headlamp from their helmets blinking on to check something before turning out just as quickly, discipline was maintained.
The scents of freshly-prepared food lingering in the damp, overcast air intertwined with freshly-brewed, caffeinated bean water native to Vort. Yet another ironic implication as the longer the Empire and its soldiers were stationed on Vort, the more accustomed they became to what it had to offer. The cuisine, the drinks, and even its culture to some extent as more Vortian words and phrases joined their native tongue's lexicon.
Nevertheless, the Commander helped himself to one of the brewing pots, pouring himself a steaming mug with the aid of an activated chemlight nearby. He turned around to take stock of the growing gathering. Corr managed the affairs of Purple Team and could be trusted to do so without a second thought. He and Volx ran the tightest of ships whenever it came to team discipline, even down to inventory and packing.
That left Red Team, his own. With Kazak's unofficial transfer and reassignment back into more familiar territory while working alongside them, he was left to manage Red Team's affairs alone. Aero, being the next highest in rank, had her hands full as the unit's combat engineer. That and he wasn't entirely certain she was cut out for a leadership role with so much at stake. Time would tell but tonight would not be that night.
The tall, willowy First Sergeant in question sat at one of the booths. Tools of various shapes and sizes laid out before her, taking stock of their condition, as well as various components and pieces utilized in the field. Rha may have been the team's demolitions expert, but he was not the only specialist in dealing with various types of charges. Some of which sat on the table, pre-made by Aero's hands, and ready for use once primed and armed. Anything necessary to make an immediate clearing or getting past deterrents of various shapes or sizes.
Vard sat across from Aero at the same booth. His devices were charging, synced, and updated accordingly. Extra power cells had been provided. He had spent much of his downtime preparing macros and other programs to utilize against Vortian systems. Security, communications, navigational...anything and everything to dictate the tide of battle in their favor, he aimed to hold the preemptive edge in electronic warfare.
Sula sat at another with the two most-recent additions to the team. All three medical experts took stock of their supplies. Anything that was in deficit or lacking was acquired from the requisitioned supplies General Vaukt ensured would be at their disposal. Unlike dealing with Grimm or being the VDF's punching bag like before, there was no going half-measure with this. No making due. The less left to chance or happenstance, the higher their chances of success.
Zutel and Posa had long since been downstairs, the two medics were prepped and ready, going over their final inspection with Sula, Zutel enjoying a canned energy drink. The two stood out slightly with their slightly different uniforms and inferior armor and equipment, but it was far better than going in with no armor at all in what was about to unfold. The two joined the others on Purple team when Corr called for an inspection.
Corr ran through everyone, double checking equipment, making sure nothing was left out of the ordinary. He even picked out some of the more mundane things like Rha leaving one of his grenade pouches unsecured. All in all, the currently mixed team was ready to move. They'd have no marksmen going in, but at the very least their snipers were already on the ground, gathering much needed information. Fully satisfied, and right as the Commander came around, he turned to him, "Commander, Purple Team as assembled is ready to move, sir. Also just got word in a few minutes ago, Sergeants Zurrak and Gers found us potential LZs."
Holding his mug as he walked the room, spot-checking and occasionally pointing things out, he nodded at the Captain's assessment as he took a sip of his drink.
"Everyone double up on ordnance and power cells like I asked?" He queried of his second-in-command. "Going into the belly of the beast on this one, Captain. Doubt we'll have much chance for resupply."
"Yes, Commander. Everyone has double their power equipment, including our two new medics carrying extra ammunition for their mass drivers they brought with them. Worst case if we run out of ammunition inside, we'll have to use enemy weapons." Corr answered, "Your team doing well without your second, sir?"
"We'll manage. Everyone present has trained and worked alongside one another. Cohesion and trust is there." Vult reasoned, watching as Haxx function-checked his PRC. "Haxx."
The Sergeant's head shot up, looking through the darkness to his commanding officers. "Sir?"
"As much as I'd like us to have the firepower, leave that here. The weight will slow you and the Captain's team down." Vult elaborated, gesturing to the stacked weapons lockers. "Should be another GPMG in there. I'm sure your back will thank you."
Equal parts relieved as he was uncertain at this change in armament, he nodded, rising to his feet. "Yes, Sir."
"Speaking of weapons…" Vult muttered, turning back to face Aero. "First Sergeant?"
Her pink eyes shot up, looking around the room for the source. "Yes, hello? Sir?"
"There's a rifle in one of those crates for you. Should be the only one with an under barrel scatter attachment. I need something more than point-blank range out of you to be of any use."
Even in the darkness, the wide smile on the pink-eyed woman's visage could not be missed. New guns? New gear? It was her hatch day!
"Yes, sir!" She eagerly obeyed, hopping up to lay claim to her waiting prize.
Hesa grabbed it from a nearby crate and looked to Aero. "Heads up," She tossed it her way, a modified plasma rifle with the under-barrel shotgun attachment. Hesa figured as much for herself and left the PRC she came downstairs with on the table. Opening another crate, she grabbed a GPMG of her own and attached a sling and an infrared 1.5x scope. She went into another room with a lit candle within, devoid of any windows, running a final check over her own Baakron revolver and adjusting the sling of her machine gun before blowing it out and stepping out of the room and making her way over to Vult. "Good to go when you are."
Vult watched this flurry of activity continue, noting the mood. They were devoid of distractions. Laser focused, meticulous, and prepared for what lay ahead of them. The intelligence briefings appeared to be heeded very closely after all. Unlike their prior excursions behind enemy lines, isolated from all manner of support, they were to march into the waiting jaws of a tempered monster. A wounded, cornered beast bloodied by the Empire's onslaught, yet to relent. Those that remained were hardened and determined as they were disciplined. Where their familiars would retreat and be routed, they were going to stand and fight to the bitter end.
Before he delved too deeply into the labyrinth of his own thoughts, the familiar form of Hesa reappeared. Attention garnered, he gave her an affirming nod before gesturing to the room before them.
"Make your way around Red Team and double-check gear. Not looking to pass parade, but there shouldn't be a single empty pouch or missing piece of equipment. Any additional pockets need an extra power cell, grenade, or medical supplies in them."
"On it," Hesa went around, making sure Vard and Sula had everything topped off, fetching some more tech equipment for Vard and some minor medical supplies for Sula. Items in pockets could come in handy if it came down to it. She also went about helping Aero get her ammo sorted from the sudden switch of her shotgun to the rifle.
While Hesa aided Red Team with the final inventory of their equipment and gear, Vult approached Corr. Leaning closer, his voice remained low in a hushed tone between them.
"I need to make a call. Handle things here until I return." Vult informed, patting the Captain's armor pauldron in camaraderie before making for the dining hall adjacent.