"Eliksni Language"

"Talking"

'Thinking'


Chapter 4: ...It pours

Adolviks marched through the ship with haste, his footsteps echoing through the corridors as smaller Eliksni scrambled out of his way. The Kell being flanked by Zepis as the pair advanced towards the science lab of Itaklos.

The Vandal having called for the pair several minutes prior, stating it to be an emergency. The lock on the door flashed from red to blue and the metal plating slid open, the pair lowered their heads as they passed underneath the frame and into the slightly cramped room.

Differing experiments lay half finished around the lab. Itaklos and Phisken themselves were hovering over a terminal, the pair turned to see the Kell and the commander enter the room and look towards them.

"Report, Itaklos. What is this emergency?" Adolviks barked as he did his best to manoeuvr himself around the lab. Zepis let out an annoyed grunt as he kicked a scrap piece of metal on the floor.

"Please be careful." Itaklos fixed Zepis with an irritated expression "These are sensitive materials."

"Just tell us why we are here?" Zepis growled out in annoyance and crossed his arms, Itaklos stared at him for a few moments before he let out an exasperated breath and turned to Phisken, the Vandal nodded his head and turned back to the terminal, pressing several buttons the map the probe was generating was brought up.

"An hour ago, this location here-" Itaklos pointed to another area, north of the probe which also showed signs of artificial construction, although at a smaller level to the city to the north west "-Began generating individual sources of power."

"Individual sources?" Zepis asked in confusion, Itaklos turned to him and elaborated.

"Shortly after the probe made landfall, an energy source was seen heading towards this location. Readings were unlike anything I have seen previously, although the speed and altitude were consistent with some form of aircraft."

"How long after the Probe made landfall?"

"Within ten minutes." Itaklos elaborated "The probe then detected another signal, emanating from the structure. An outbound signal."

"They're were dozens of inbound and outbound signals picked up by the probe." Adolviks asked "What made this one different?"

"This one was encrypted, Kell." Phisken spoke up for the first time "And was sent outside of the probes sensor range. However, the direction the signal bounced to seemed to head to the Northern most continent."

"Was that not the frozen wasteland?" Zepis tilted his head.

"Evidently, not a wasteland." Itaklos replied in a slightly grim tone "Within the six hours, the probe detected a number of signals from the structure, the majority were outbound."

"I sense you have more to say?" Adolviks narrowed his eyes at the Vandal, Itaklos nodded his head.

"The probe detected life signs from the structure. Little more than a hundred at the moment. However, approximately an hour ago, the probe received the signal of the same power source that it detected from on of their presumed vehicles."

"A response to our probe?" Adolviks asked, a slightly more concerned tone in his voice, Itaklos looked to him before rubbing his hands together nervously.

"Possibly. Five of the life signs have broken off and made their way to the energy signal."

"...What are the dangers if they discover the probe?"

"The Probe is still transmitting to us. If the inhabitants can detect the lower bandwidth the probe is using to transmit on they could potentially trace the signal to us."

"Can the probe be shut down remotely?" Zepis asked in an urgent tone of voice. Phisken flinched slightly before looking at the pair.

"The initial evidence suggested that the planet might not have been advanced when the probe was constructed." He spoke hesitantly "...Therefore remote deactivation of the probe was forgone in favour of extended signal range."

Adolviks and Zepis stared at the pair with wide eyes before Zepis released a hiss on anger and Adolviks gripped his head in his hands.

"Can we shut off the signal from our end?"Adolviks asked, looking towards Itaklos. The Vandal nodded his head.

"We can. The Probe would remain active and continue to take readings, but we would not longer have accurate data on the planet...However it would still be sending information to our last known co-ordinates."

"They would still realise that someone is up here but they would have faulty information. I'm heading to the bridge to monitor the situation from there." Adolviks spoke out and turned to Zepis "Go to Nilvaks. Tell him to have his squads prepared at a moments notice."

"Yes, Kell."

"Itaklos." He turned to the Vandal "Monitor the probe. The moment that it appears to have been discovered I will terminate the link."

"What of the away mission?" Zepis whispered to the Kell "If they have discovered evidence of our presence here-"

"We have yet to determine that. However our situation is, ultimately, desperate and we need those scans from Vrovkys if we have any hope of bettering our situation."

"Shall I change the co-ordinates of our arrival?"

"Take us further out of the area of the probe." Adolviks nodded his head "Six miles, assume they have some method of radar and tracking. Tell Friksis to modify Yroken-7 to scramble the signal of motion detectors and surveillance devices within a one hundred metre vicinity. That should give them some modicum of freedom."

"I shall."

Adolviks paused for a moment before looking back to Itaklos "How close are we to scanning range of the planet without the use for the probe?"

"According to our instruments...3 hours."

"Hmm." Adolviks nodded his head "I will prepare for scanning and orbital observation of the planet. This continent where the probe landed will suffice for now. We have already confirmed the existence of a civilisation there." he turned around and marched out of the room, turning a right and heading back towards the bridge. His mind tense from the escalating situation.


"Hey, Professor G!" Coco called out with an amused smile, the other members of Team CFVY flanked behind her, all rubbing their eyes in a tired manner or yawning.

"Professor Goodwitch." Glynda corrected with a less than amused expression "Or will we need another discussion about appropriate student behaviour?"

Coco tensed slightly before letting out a slightly nervous laugh "No, no. Early wake ups...they make me say stupid things." she turned to the rest of her team "Right guys?" at which point they all pointedly looked away from her "Traitors!" she hissed at them.

"Miss Adel." Glynda interrupted her "Try to remember that you have been called here for a mission."

"Yes, Professor Goodwitch." The fashionista nodded her head "So, what's the mission then?"

"I will explain on our way to the Bullhead." The Professor tapped her tablet and signalled for the students to follow her. They all trailed behind the teacher as they made their way to the hangars "At approximately 12:55AM, Vale Air-traffic detected an unauthorised entry into the airspace. At 12:58AM the unidentified object made landfall in the Emerald Forest. Roughly 3 and a half miles from Beacon Academy." she looked over her shoulder at the inquisitive students "Observation of the object is unknown and Atlas have denied that they launched it."

"So...What are we doing then?" Coco asked, titling her head slightly. Glynda took the interruption in stride and continued on.

"Grimm Activity in the Emerald Forest prevented the Academy from acting, however now that it is sunrise Team CFVY is being deployed to retrieve the unidentified object and return it to Beacon Academy for further study."

"Neat." Coco nodded her head, then leaned towards Velvet with a slight smirk "Bet its aliens!"

Velvet released a barely amused huff before shaking her head "Probably some private company trying to test some kind of new rocket and accidentally overshot it."

"Don't be a downer." Coco frowned "I'm still betting on aliens." she turned around "Yats, fox? What are you gonna go with?"

"I'm siding with Velvet." Yatsuhashi rolled his eyes "It certainly makes more sense than extra-terrestrials."

"Boo! What about you Fox?"

"Sure, I'll go with aliens." The blind boy shrugged his shoulders "Although if they're looking for intelligent life, they might have come to the wrong place."

"Ouch…" Coco shook her head and turned back around to see Glynda's annoyed expression.

"Students. Try and treat this with an ounce of professionalism." The blonde narrowed her eyes "Unless further tutoring is required."

"Nope." Coco shook her head "We've can be professionals."

"Good." Glynda nodded her head and turned back around "Now then the pilot will take you to the co-ordinates of the object. You will secure the area, ensure it is not some form of explosive device and then retrieve it for further study at Beacon. Clear?"

"Crystal." The team nodded their heads.


"Signal is moving towards the probe. 5 life forms." Vasgir called out "Estimated 3 minutes until they are on top of the probe."

"Cut transmissions from the probe." Adolviks called out, Byviks nodded his head worked on the panel in front of him. The Servitor in the ceiling made several groans and beeps signalling that the transmissions from the probe had been cut off. "Time until scanning range?"

"2 hours 27 minutes." Vasgir replied "Our position is not at 423,430km from the planet."

Adolviks nodded his head and moved to his chair, sitting down he interlocked his hands and leaned back while narrowing his eyes "Has Zepis delivered his report?"

"Nilvaks and his squadron are ready for combat and Aniksas and her specialists are prepared for deployment within the next two days."

"Inform Friksis to prepare the Walkers in the event of deployment and ensure that all our Skiffs are fully repaired." He clicked his mouth before thinking of something else "Also request a report on the Jump Drive and tell him to send a list of materials we shall require to Zepis."

"Yes, Kell."

Adolviks nodded and closed his eyes 'So much depends upon what occurs next...Great Machine give me strength to see it through and protect my House.' he thought to himself.


The Bullhead came to a stop over the Emerald Forest. Coco stood up from her seat and walked over to the cockpit "Don't bother setting her down. Open the hatch, we'll jump out."

"Yes, ma'am." The pilot nodded to her "I'll prepare the cables for when you radio back."

"Sure, sure." Coco nodded her head and span around "Okay lets go grab and alien device!"

"Foreign object." Yatsuhashi corrected as he stood up "Its not going to be aliens, Coco." he shook his head and made his way to the side door.

"I mean...it could be…"

"It isn't going to be." Velvet shook her head "You don't need to make the mission more exciting by imagining scenarios."

"Come on." Coco muttered "It's basically 'someone dropped their crap here, go pick it up' at least let me have my imagination."

"Can we just go?" Fox asked, getting up from his seat "I don't want to anger Goodwitch by being late."

"...I'm with him." Yatsuhashi nodded and sent Coco a look, the girl rolled her eyes and casually strolled out of the open door, the rest of her team following suit.

Coco crashed down onto the ground, straightening her outfit out and flicking the dirt off her boots. Yatsuhashi was far less graceful in his landing, cracking the ground beneath his feet as he landed, although he winced at the sound and looked slightly embarrassed.

Velvet landed on a the top of a nearby tree and proceeded to jump from branch to branch on her way down before rolling to a stop and standing up. Fox hooked his blades into the side of a tree and slid down before hitting the ground without a sound and walking up to the others.

"Right then." Coco nodded her head "These are the co-ordinates, lets find us some alien-"

"Coco." Yatsuhashi interrupted her and pointed behind her with a slightly raised eyebrow. Coco blinked and him then turned around and saw the small crater behind her.

"Huh." She slumped her shoulders "That was quick." she walked towards the edge of the crater "Now lets see what kind of doo-hicky we're dealing with!" she looked down and then her face promptly fell "...Nevermind. I think this was some kids backyard experiment."

The others joined her and silently came to the same conclusion, the mystery object, despite being quite large, looked to be hastily welded together with several lights which seemed to blink for no reason.

Coco slid down the side dirt incline and sauntered up to the side of the object before tapping her knuckles on it. Hearing a clang she stood back and cupped her chin with her hand "Yep." she nodded to herself "It's definitely a piece of crap."

"Coco." Velvet sighed, their team leader turned around and threw up her arms.

"Look at it!" She lowered her arms and shook her head "Nevermind." she placed her hand to her earpiece "Pilot. Object secured. Lower the cables...and a ladder." when she received an affirmative she turned back to the metal cylinder with barely contained disappointment "Man...Professor G bigged this up and all too…"

"Perhaps you can use this as a learning opportunity to curb your expectations." Fox pointed out with a small smile. Coco turned to him with flat look.

"I seem to recall someone else betting on aliens as well Foxy."

The blind boy's face remained impassive "I was merely humouring you, you can't expect every mission to end in a firefight or involve a Grimm hunt."

"I'd rather none of them did." Coco muttered under her breath and rolled her shoulders, looking up as the Bullhead lowered cables towards the group "Just help me get this little package wrapped up. I don't really want to stay out here any longer than we have to."


The Bridge of the Akrilis-Fel was a flurry of activity following the shutdown of the probe, Adolviks having ordered that all resources be diverted towards repairs to the ships defensive capabilities and ordering the readiness of all armed squadrons.

The door opened up and a gravelly voice called out "Adolvikskel." the larger Eliksni turned to see the white armour of Nilvaks enter the room, the Eliksni baron standing the same height as Zepis.

Adolviks made a curious noise before stepping off his chair and moving towards the Eliksni "Baron Nilvaks. I do not recall requesting your presence on the bridge."

"You did not, Adolvikskel." Nilvaks bowed his head slightly "Rumours of the planet and the state of our troops warranted my concern and need to seek you out."

"Hmmm…" Adolviks hummed and nodded his head "You are here now, what plagues your mind Baron?"

"I have heard word that this planet is...is home to humans."

"That has yet to be confirmed." Adolviks pointed out "However, their similarity in language to the humans is disconcerting."

"I was hoping to inquire what our method of confrontation would be."

Adolviks upper right arm cupped his chip while the upper left supported it at the elbow, his lower arms crossed themselves as the Kell became thoughtful "Aniksas is due to launch a reconnaissance mission. She and Vrovkys will analyse local bio-matter and take readings of the planet which we cannot detect from orbit. After that...It will entirely depend upon what we can discern from the planet."

"How so?"

"Provided Aniksas maintains her cover, our next objective will be information retrieval." Adolviks elaborated "That will be headed by Zelkron's scavengers."

"Request permission to join them, Adolvikskel."

Had his face been visible, Adolviks eyes would have been seen to have widened in surprise, although his body remained rigid in the wake of Nilvaks request "For what purpose am I to allow this?"

"I would prefer to oversee the protection of the Scavengers myself."

"Not because of your familial relation to Zelkron?"

"…"

"You have my permission." Adolviks held up his hand to stop Nilvaks from speaking "However, the mission itself is still hypothetical at this point." he lowered his hand "Nor will I condone the use of heavy artillery in a recovery mission." he placed a hand on Nilvaks shoulder "I have faith in Zelkron's abilities. A faith I expect you to share."

"It is a faith I would share, if this were explored space." Nilvaks replied "I...I do not desire to send my son into the unknown."

Adolviks stared at him for a few moments before he removed his arm "Your concern is understandable. However, remember your position. You are a Baron with centuries of experience. Zelkron, for all his talent as a scavenger, is only a mere 70 years old. It would be a greater blow to the functionality of this ship to lose you than Zelkron."

"Not to me, Adolvikskel." Nilvaks muttered under his breath, Adolviks stared at him for a few moments before he slowly nodding his head.

"Very well." Adolviks replied "I will allow it. Assign yourself and a small detachment of guards to Zelkron's unit." he let out a hiss of mirth "Although I cannot deny that Zelkron will be displeased by this."

"He will be, but he will also remain alive." Nilvaks replied "I will not keep you any longer, Adolvikskel." he turned to leave when Adolviks called out to him.

"One further thing, my duties have kept me from it…"

"The Nursery avoided most of the damage." Nilvaks replied and turned around, a spark in his eyes "The hatchlings are safe, as are the carers."

"Good, good." Adolviks let out a sigh of relief "I had wanted to visit-"

Nilvaks cut him off with an amused laugh "Frylas would have sent you back to the bridge, you know how much she hates having you away from your duties."

"My daughter seems to believe that the House would collapse if I stepped away for but a moment." Adolviks replied in an equally amused tone "I should visit upon her, if only to bare the brunt of her anger once more."

"She enjoys her…" Nilvaks took an intake of breath and made several clicking noises "Independence."

"She also enjoys our reformation too much." Adolviks replied and placed his head in one of his hands "Had we been another House or in the old times…"

"All the more reason for change." Nilvaks replied with a softer tone "I suspect that played a part in our decision to join Misraaks?"

"It did." Adolviks confirmed "We had already received rumours prior to our departure that he had somehow befriended The Saint."

Nilvaks widened his eyes and slumped his shoulders "...Either Misraakskel is a formidable warrior who would put Devilskel to shame-"

"These are changing times." Adolviks shook his head and his tone got harder "The Darkness has already begun closing in." he looked to the side "And this system...it troubles me."

"In truth...it troubles me as well." Nilvaks affirmed then looked back up "I will depart, ensure the troops are maintained. I will leave you to Frylaskel."

Adolviks head snapped down to Nilvaks retreating figure "Perhaps my Daughter is not the only one abusing our reformation."

He was rewarded with the sound of an amused laughing hiss echoing through the corridors.


"So…" Alani asked as she scratched the side of her head, her apron covered in grease and her goggles resting atop her head, leaving behind a perfect outline of their coverage where her eyes were "You've given me...A piece of crap."

"Miss Alani." Glynda admonished with narrowed eyes "Act professional."

"Right, right." The tanned woman rolled her eyes and looked back at Ozpin "So you've given me a pile of shit."

Glynda's face scrunched up in annoyance while Ozpin remained impassive to her rather crude language "I was hoping you would tell me. This crashed in the Emerald forest nearly 6 hours ago. And no-" he raised his hand from his cane and cut her off "It did not come from Atlas."

"I could have told you that." She kicked the dirt coloured probe, resulting in a rather weighty metal clunk "Its looks like someone welded it together in their garage and slapped a rocket to the back of it."

"I am aware how it looks." Ozpin nodded his head "However, I like to imagine that Vale isn't home to too many rocket scientists."

"I ain't a rocket scientist either." The woman raised an eyebrow "So what do you actually want me to do here?"

"I was hoping you would be able to disassemble it and inform me what it does." Ozpin clarified "It did crash in the Emerald forest, barely two days before the prospective students are due to arrive, I would like to imagine there is a purpose to it."

Alani stared at Ozpin and then at the device "...If you're going to tell me you think this is a potential bomb and you brought it here and let me kick...I will demand a raise from you."

Ozpin released an amused chuckle "I doubt it is an explosive device, Miss Alani. Otherwise I suspect it would have detonated on arrival or in transit."

"I'm just saying." The woman held up her hands and slowly backed away from the device "I don't like the way it beeps at me."

"Will you be able to disassemble it or not?" Glynda interrupted with a tired expression, Alani turned to her with a look of mock offence.

"I'm insulted Glyn! I hope you aren't doubting my skills, are you?" The blank look she received prompted her to release a snort "Yes, I can probably take it apart. See what it actually is." she looked down at it with an amused expression "Although it still looks like a garage experiment to me." her eyes gleamed "Hey, if we find out it was a kid who made this, can I keep them?"

"No."

"Blech, the witch strikes again. Another champion of humour, slain by her wicked ways."

Glynda frowned and turned around before strutting out the room, Ozpin released a tired sigh and gave Alani a bemused expression "Must you always attempt to irritate her?"

"Ain't my fault she gives funny as shit reactions." She smirked "Relax Oz, I'll have this think taken apart by the mid-day and tell you what it does."

"Thank you, Ms Alani." He nodded his head slightly "I will be expecting a report by the end of the day. With the new students due to arrive, I would hate to take chances."

"Yeah, yeah. Make sure the little rascals aren't in trouble, I get you." She rolled her eyes "Also, make sure to send any of the techy ones to me! The engineering class is virtually dead without the little bunny girl."

"I will ensure to forward perspective students towards you." Ozpin automatically replied as he walked out of the room.

"That's what you said last year and most of the students I got could barely swing a hammer in a straight line!" She called out, although Ozpin had already fled the room. Alani's lips formed a line and she turned back to the cylinder.

"Now then…" She hummed and crouched down at the device "...What do you do, my little metal friend?"


AN: Just letting you all know, these are all re-written chapters. I've been sitting on these for a while as I wrote my other stories.