Chapter 7: Trespass
21:09; 17th June; 1648; Testament Era
Quasi-Bahamut Class Aerial City-Ship "Musashi" – Okutama
Masazumi walked along the gradually emptying street as night crept ever closer. People heading home, shops closing for the day and so on. Despite their current situation, people still went on living as if nothing had changed. It at least was gratifying.
She herself had just been on the "Asakusa" and watched alongside Toori and Horizon as the two newest warships; the "Yamamoto" and the "Mirai" detached from their respective docks. Fully equipped, fueled and crewed for the military expedition – which purpose is to stop the ongoing piracy dead in its tracks, led by Vice Chancellor Futayo herself aboard the "Yamamoto" and Thane Adele Balfetto aboard the "Mirai". With 3rd and 4th Special Agents Margot and Naruze with each their squadron of fellow witches to command.
It was immensely satisfying to watch, to say the least. The small flotilla was the result of hours of extensive planning. Thankfully, the Stranded leaders were easy to persuade on the issue of marking their ships. They were gratified by the knowledge that the Musashi is going to take action against the growing piracy in the region, though those of the clans that subsist mainly on fishing were hesitant until they were comfortably reassured that they won't have to wait for long.
A low growl interrupted her train of thought, and reminded her yet again that it is time for supper. It was largely the reason she now headed for the Blue Thunder instead of the student dorms. A small cafe run by the mother of Toori and Kimi. To say she was surprised when she discovered, that was an understatement.
The shop however still seemed to be open - much to her joy - when she eventually arrived at the cafe, and could not help but smile hungrily at the scent of baked bread tickling against her nostrils.
"Oh, this is a late visit."
Masazumi's gaze was drawn to the woman who stood outside the store with a broom in hand. The cafe's owner; Yoshiki Aoi. "Good evening. Still open for business?"
The woman met her at the door and gave the girl a welcoming smile, "Just for a bit longer. You'll be my last customer for the evening." and entered the cafe, with the Vice President following her in. "So, would you like the usual?"
"Yes, thank you."
"Yo." another greeted. The cafe was not all that big, with no more than a few tables. One of them happened to be occupied. At it sat the aging Sakai Tadatsugu. Though he looked and acted rather aloof and lazy, he still managed to radiate an aura of power. He is the current principal of Ariadust Academy, but not being a student meant he possessed zero political power. Where he goes, 'Musashi' often accompanies him, but this time he was deep in conversation with Mary Stuart when he noticed the Vice President.
Masazumi approached their table and bowed, "Good evening Sakai, did not expect to see you here."
"No need to go formal here, Masazumi." the man chuckled. "Feel free to sit with us."
"Oh, I don't want to intrude."
"I don't mind." Mary said with a generous smile that easily matched that of Yoshiki, "I wanted to meet with you earlier, but since you were busy..."
Yoshiki gave the final push as she came and put the platter covered with the usual along with a cup of tea on the table. It was like a mental nudge of sorts, which Masazumi surrendered to as she finally went and sat down, "Thanks."
"You're welcome." the shop's owner said as she went back to cleaning.
Masazumi gently picked up the cup of tea and took a sip. A pleasant sigh escaping her lips as the hot liquid poured down her throat before she finally regarded Mary, "So... what is it you wanted to talk about?"
"Actually, I would like you to show me around a few places."
"Oh? Aren't Tenzou able to?"
"You guys have been so busy lately, and I did not want to be a burden."
"Um, I guess I can accommodate you tomorrow morning if you'd like. We could meet up after I'm done teaching at the primary school for the day. Is there any particular place you'd like to see?"
"Well..."
Sakai shrugged, "Said she'd like to see the Asama shrine."
Masazumi blinked. "Ah, that's where Tomo lives." and thought of her fellow classmate, who despite her profession of shrine maiden are oft referred to as the Sniper Maiden for her skills with a bow and arrow. Tomo thought of the nickname as annoying, but well deserved to say the least after she sniped the turret off a warship, and overpowered a charged ether cannon blast to do it. "Actually, I got some business there myself. So we can go there right off the bat."
"Okay, thanks." Mary replied appreciatively, "I would like to know a little more about Shinto rituals, so I thought that would be the best place for it."
"I'm sure Tomo will be happy to inform you. On my part, it's about my mouse, Tsukinowa."
"Oh, I heard Tomo provided you with one." Sakai said tugging at the pipe he usually kept unlit.
"Hasn't acknowledged me yet though." Masazumi shook her head, "With everything that has gone on, there hasn't been enough time and room for bonding. Probably wandering around the Musashi, unless Tomo found it."
"What type is it?" Mary asked.
"An ant-eater. Originally thought it would be a dog."
The old man laughed, "Random selection, and you got a newborn cub for a mouse. Cute."
Mary giggled in turn at the sound of that, "Aw, now I wanna see it."
"Maybe you'll see it tomorrow the—" Masazumi was interrupted as she was contacted through divine transmission. Their attention drawn to the appearing image of Naomasa.
"Hey." the 6th Special Agent greeted simply and flatly. "May I have a word with you?"
"Why, of course. What is it?"
"We would like permission to take the 'Bontenmaru' and go check the Pelruan reactor."
The "Bontenmaru". That's one of our remaining cargo ships, Masazumi noted to herself. "Maintenance, or repair? Did something happen?"
"As you probably know, the reactors are equipped with sensory equipment for the purpose of alerting us in case of malfunctioning or tampering. We got one such call just now, but it was clearly delayed. So it's not functioning as well as we thought it would."
As if to press how serious the issue is, a written permission was provided via an additional sign frame. Naomasa's too much of a stoic to let urgency show unless the situation called for it. Masazumi took a moment to read it before she signed it, "Alright, looks good. You got the permission. Good luck out there, and be careful. Until Massy's mood improves, Vectes' is a powder-keg."
"I'm aware. It is not going to be a problem. Good evening."
"Never a dull moment, eh?" Sakai grinned.
"Always something." Masazumi raised her shoulders to shrug it off, "And I need to tell Neshinbara too, so he may notify Pelruan's mayor about this. But... I think I'll wolf this down first."
"Don't forget to take it easy, girl. Doubt your father would lambaste you for catching a break every once a while."
"I'm sorry, but my father would take a rusty sword to you – and me - if your laziness rubbed off on me."
"Jud. Point taken."
21:30 – 14 A.E.
Vectes - Pelruan – Outside Town Hall
Several hours had been spent to thoroughly check out the Vectes Naval Base to excruciating detail, and finally they had gotten back to Pelruan to join up with the others. Anya felt just about ready to hit the sack. Exhaling in pure relief when she could finally climb out of Will's old pickup truck along with Dom and Bernie, both of whom looked a whole lot more awake than she did.
"Thanks for the help, mr. Berenz."
"Not a problem." the deputy mayor replied with a respectful nod, "Just call in if there's any trouble."
"Will do."
"Good night then." he said, and promptly drove off.
These people had no idea how much of a paradise this place seemed like to her and the others. And they would certainly not understand if some of her comrades suddenly woke up screaming. Dr. Hayman often ranted about how damaged many Gears are from more than a decade of near-constant fighting. It was no exaggeration that most Gears are more noisy while asleep than they are awake. Except people like Baird, that is. He always slept soundly according to the rest of Delta.
"Let's get inside, shall we?" Dom asked, already opening the main entrance.
The much more elderly Bernie brushed past him with surprising nimbleness, "Ladies first."
Coming from a sniper, that was the case of a mirthful chuckle all-around. Without another word, they all stepped inside to find the room they and the rest had been given – each step through the short corridors of the building sounding like a full-force stomp in the following silence. And before long, they came across Lewis' office, which door was wide open.
Anya gave a passing glance into the room, but caught sight of something that made her slow to a stop. A most peculiar object stood atop the table at the mayor's wooden desk. It resembled the tower further inland to a degree, except this one was barely large enough to fit in one hand. Fascinated and curious, she changed course and went in.
"Anya?" Dom could be heard asking as he turned and followed her in. "What is it?"
"I believe..." she indicated the item as she ventured to the desk and leaned against it for a closer look, "... this just might be the device Lewis spoke of. The thing that may be used to communicate with Musashi."
Dom did not venture much closer, but he examined it with some slight interest. "Sure it ain't just a miniature model of that tower?"
"Honestly, if it's a phone, they should have made it look like one." Bernie commented quietly, "Looking like that, it could be any-"
She stopped as the device's eccentric lines of light suddenly began to pulse - fluctuating between darker and lighter hues of teal. Almost as though the thing is breathing.
"Okay..." Dom started, "That's weird."
It was right about then that Anya made out a feature on the device in the form of a lone button. Just like the lines, it too pulsed along at the same steady pace. "Maybe it's an incoming call."
"Don't tamper with the thing. Lewis ain't here, so let's just leave it alone."
But it did not seem the device was going to let itself go unanswered. The pulse stopped, and an image materialized just above it – which automatically focused on the person closest to the item. In this case, Anya. She took just a second to look over the image's frame before her eyes settled on the person who showed up. A bespectacled young boy with brown hair and curious teal-colored eyes.
"Greeting citizen." the boy said with a gesture that might just be a bow, not easy to tell with such a narrow frame, "I apologize for the lateness of this call, but I need a message delivered to Mayor Lewis."
Anya assumed he thought she was a Pelruan denizen, and acted accordingly; "He's not available at this time. He went home early."
The boy adjusted his glassed with a single prod of a finger, nodding in understanding. "Very well. Could you relay my words to him then?"
"Alright. What about?"
"It is naught but a notification. One of our ships - the "Bontenmaru" - has departed for your island to give the Ether-vein reactor a little checkup. We would just like you to know of this in advance."
"I got it. When will it arrive?"
The boy glanced at something off-screen, "Hm, about six hours from now."
Anya postponed the rapid thought-process that went through her head with that knowledge, "Alright, I'll let him know."
"Thank you. That's it for now. Have a splendid evening."
"You too." she said before the transmission shut down, and immediately made her way for the door. "Come, we got to let the others know."
21:14 – 14 A.E.
Vectes – Pelruan – Town Hall – Reserved Room
The atmosphere within the room was tense. Around the lone table placed in the middle sat the three of those who had gone to see the tower earlier – playing cards, one of Gears' very few pastimes.
Cole was naturally bad at the game, if only because of his oft complete lack of a poker-face. His expression seemed to constantly shift from a grin to a frown depending on his hand. It was like reading a book with really big letters. Baird's on the other hand had settled into a near-permanent sneer, and drew cards like he intended to punch someone. Marcus himself though maintained a stone-faced expression that made him look as though he had been carved from the side of a mountain.
It was nearing its end, and something clearly had to give... until their collected attention was blown to pieces as the door flew open. A quick turn of attention revealed the arrivals to be Anya, with the others following in her wake.
"Hey, you just interrupted a kick-ass round, baby." Cole guffawed as he shifted in his chair, which creaked under his mammoth frame. Fortunately their armors and weapons were off, or the furniture would of fared much worse. "So how did that base check out, nice and cozy?"
"Perfectly." Bernie replied with a thumb up, "But the wallpaper has got to go."
"If it's a Sharks' wallpaper, I'd prefer it to stay." Baird shrugged.
The aging Gear did not raise to the bait, "How did it go at that reactor?"
"Went to shit." Marcus growled as he put the cards face-down on the table. "Baird here could not make sense of it."
"Blondie couldn't?" Bernie asked with notable surprise, "Will wonders ever cease?"
"Anyway..." Anya interrupted, "We just happened to intercept a communique via the communicator Lewis got - in a manner of speaking - from Musashi."
The room got a whole lot more quiet with that. Marcus raised an eyebrow but an inch, "Go on."
"Fortunately, the one who called in thought I was a member of this community. He said a ship is set to arrive here to check up on the reactor in six hours. And yes, it's a reactor – just like Lewis said."
"Did he give you any specifics about it?" Baird cut in rather impatiently.
"Er.. he referred to it as a Ether-vein reactor." she did a shake of her head at his bewilderment, "And what that means.. I'm just as lost as you."
"Point is..." Marcus said calmly, "... we got a real shot here to see them up close. And possibly do something more than sitting on our asses."
"So what we're gonna do is?" Dom asked, "What?"
"Hoffman said we need to assess the threat-level of this new force. What do we know so far?"
"They got serious tech." Baird snorted his contribution to the list.
"They are human." Anya added.
Marcus nodded, "Except that, we know nothing. There are too many unknowns here. And I don't think talking to them is gonna be enough."
"We're gonna have to get really sneaky then." Cole noted.
Anya instantly looked worried, "What, infiltration? Isn't that too reckless?"
"What we'll do is not set in stone yet." Marcus reassured her. "Anya, you and Bernie coordinate with Mitchell and Gettner. Did you notify Prescott about the state of this island?"
"Yes, I did. The first ravens will arrive with personnel to prepare the VNB for large-scale habitation tomorrow. Should I ask them to post-pone it?"
He thought it over for a spell, then responded in the negative. "No. Stopping it now would do more harm than good. Dom, Baird, Cole – you're with me. We're gonna head back to the reactor and hunker down till that ship arrive." - "Use this next hour to rest and prepare, after that; we move out. And Anya..."
"Yes, Marcus?"
"Prescott's waiting for a report on the VNB. Handle it."
21:28 – 14 A.E.
Vectes – Pelruan – Town Hall
And handle it, she agreed to do. Anya stepped out of the room and entered another one. Not that it was a whole lot more silent. She just needed to collect her thoughts for the report.
Once it had all fallen into place, she pressed a finger to her earpiece. "Control. This is Anya speaking. Anyone awake over there?"
"We hear you." Mathieson, her replacement at the CIC – an unfortunate former-Gear who lost both his legs – replied tiredly. "The brass will be here in a moment."
"Roger that." Anya answered evenly and sat down at the room's lone table while she waited for further response... which was imminent as Prescott's voice suddenly blasted into her ear:
"This is the Chairman." the man announced, "Speak to me, lieutenant. Is Vectes the solution?"
If she could choose, would rather speak to the colonel, yet she smiled. "Yes. The VNB is completely clean, functional and inhabitable. Both power and water is richly available."
"Excellent news. Fantastic." Prescott genuinely gasped, it was probably the best news he had heard in a long time. "Ravens will be dispatched along with the Sovereign as soon as able. The relocation starts now!"
If that had been all, Anya would have been glad to leave it here. But there are a few more areas to cover.
"Anya." this time it was Hoffman, "Marcus told us of a new faction in the region, Musashi, and that the locals have trade agreements with them. What is your assessment thus far?"
"It's complicated." she solemnly said. "From what I've gathered, Musashi recently put their isolationist stance on the shelf and spread their reach across the region, and since established what has come to be called the 'Musashi Protectorate' which include an unknown number of Stranded settlements. Pelruan joined it shortly after its forces protected them from a Stranded raid. Basically, in return for food and a level of cooperation, they offer both technology – means to rebuild – and protection."
Hoffman sounded slightly peeved, "Sergeant Fenix told us they are COG citizen."
"And still are, sir." Anya assured him. "Just an additional flag on the pole."
"An issue we will have to deal with eventually." Prescott sighed. "It could lead to division within our own ranks. That is something we cannot let happen. Not at this stage."
She held her breath, worried by the severe turn this conversation took. The chairman probably noticed the unease, which had perhaps spread throughout the CIC at the other end, as he continued with a steadfast tone:
"However, for now our greatest priority is to save lives. The relocation to Vectes shall proceed, all else will have to wait."
Anya exhaled, relieved. "Yes sir."
"Now, is there anything else we should know?" Hoffman asked as he came to the fore.
"Yes, we found out just a little while ago that a ship from Musashi will stop by to check the reactor further inland in a few hours." Anya reported, "Delta will approach and decide there whether to communicate or commence infiltration."
"Good. Radio back with any developments. Command out."
Anya let her finger fall, and slumped against the chair - suddenly feeling so very tired. Only able to rise to head back to the others as their game of cards took a turn for verbal abuse.
03:11 – 14 A.E.
Vectes – Pelruan harbor
"Done already?"
"Almost. Mitchell and Bernie are putting on the finishing touches. In all honesty, I don't like seeing my bird dressed as a tree."
Gettner rarely went far away from her chopper. Flying and taking care of it was a huge part of her coping mechanism about everything that has happened over the years. Anya had to suppress a wave of surprise before that prior question came out. "Please bear with it for now."
"Yes, yes. Doesn't mean I'm happy about it."
"Noted." she stated without sounding too crass. Peering through her binocular at the horizon along a wide arc – searching for any trace of the ship that is supposed to come shortly. Though it was in the middle of the night, they were helped by the clear moon.
So far though, nothing.
Gettner turned and squinted in an entirely different direction, like she had just seen something. "Look north. Is that...?"
Anya jerked to follow the pilot's gaze. There, she could plainly see an approaching flare of light. A closer look revealed it to be the ship they waited fore - the strange light coming from its middle. Most importantly, it is flying.
She pressed her earpiece; "Delta. Target is inbound. I repeat! The target is inbound!"
03:13 – 14 A.E.
Vectes – Pelruan Reactor
"Roger that." Marcus affirmed, and gestured to his comrades; "Delta – stand to."
They had been hunkered down beyond the treeline that circled the so-called Ether-vein reactor for the better part of three hours. None of them used foliage to cover themselves, and instead relied on the dark of night and shadows to mask themselves. Waiting for what was to come.
"Still got it?" Cole asked Dom, who was the only one of them with Commando training.
"I guess we'll find out."
"Enough, be quiet." Marcus groused with narrowed eyes. He was almost startled as he felt the slightest tremor beneath his feet. His first reflex was to look around at all the topsoil he could see for any disturbances that could translate into e-holes.
Dom clapped a hand against his back and gestured, "Above."
Marcus' gaze left the ground. It took a whole lot of effort to break the decade-old habit and look to the skies, where a large shape suddenly blocked out the moon. It was a flying ship, just what Lewis told them about.
The ship had the looks of a fancy-looking spear with a thick shaft, its frame covered in geometric sharp edges, giving it a block-like appearance despite the former resemblance. A wave of constant-pulsing energy around its waterline was especially eye-catching and illuminated the ship's frame nicely.
One thing was preparing for it, but actually seeing it. That was an entirely different ball-game. Cole let out a long whistle as he stared at it, while the others had frozen into place.
It came to circle lazily around the tower, as if to prepare to moor - which was seemingly confirmed when a flurry of cables shot out from the ship that fastened against the pulsating lines on the tower itself. In turn, the cables began to glow strongly for reasons the Gears could not discern. It was all Marcus could do to describe what was going on.
A minute passed, and the ship eventually and fully stopped – hovering just ten feet scarce of the ground.
"Baird?" he growled.
The blonde looked like his brain had crashed, and only rebooted once the sergeant addressed him. "What! The hell do you want me to say?"
"Just be ready to move."
A large cargo-door opened close to its rear, from which a number of ropes shot to the ground. Marcus had to squint to make out anything at this distance. A number of digital-looking panels popped into place around the ropes, which purpose were completely unknown to him. It was a puzzling sight, but nothing compared to what happened next.
Some people started coming out of the cargo-door. Marcus thought they were going to climb down... and nearly got something stuck in his throat as the crew did not climb... but walked down on the ropes.
They are actually walking down a near-vertical surface, chatting and wandering like it was no big deal.
"What... the... hell...?" Baird's eyes looked about ready to vacate their sockets in disbelief. "All of that... do you have any idea how many laws of physics this scene violates?"
Marcus shrugged, "Doesn't matter. They're doing it."
But at the very least, the newcomers are indeed humans. Most looked like they are in their teens to early twenties. All the teens dressed in a black-white-gray-red uniform. The males' being of the more loose and formal kind, while the females' clothing appeared to be almost universally skintight. The exception being the grown ups that wore fancy overalls, and the number of armed guards that carried weapons that was hard to identify based on those slim frames - submachine gun maybe.
The individual who stood out the most was the young brunette at the center of the group that went to inspect the tower. Allen key in mouth, and sporting an oversized prosthetic arm that did not look like it strained her at all.
And once at the tower, the very same woman effortlessly did what Baird could not; find and open a door. She just brought up one of those strange digital screens - sign frames maybe - and opened the entrance seamlessly with a single prompt – allowing her and the others with her to move on into the reactor's interior.
Only leaving the guards to spread out in twos and threes around the perimeter.
"So what do we do now, Marcus?" Dom asked cautiously.
Marcus contemplated what they had seen so far. A previously unknown faction in possession of absurdly advanced technology. Information on them so limited they would have no choice but to take their words at face value and hope it is correct if they choose to contact them first - benevolent or not.
They needed a complete picture of this faction before any real contact can be established. That left him with fewer options than he liked.
And from that, his decision was made. "Delta. Let's see if we can get aboard that ship unnoticed."
"Thought as much." Dom mused, "I'll take point."
"Baird, cover the rear."
"Rearguard-duty. Great." the blonde grumbled, but did as told.
"Anya." Marcus spoke as quietly as possible. Finger resting against his earpiece. "We are moving in. Will report back as often as reasonable. Failure to do so for ten hours indicates mission failure. Wish us luck."
03:18 – 14 A.E.
Vectes – Pelruan harbor
Anya clapped a hand over her mouth as she received that, a gasp dying before it could leave her throat.
"What is it?" Gettner asked, disturbed by the Gear's negative change of expression. "Did something happen?"
"He... they have decided to commence with infiltration."
"I'm sure they'll be fine." the pilot tried to reassure her, "After all, that bunch of cockroaches managed to get through the hollows just fine without much in the way of backup."
"It's not the same. We know almost nothing of what the newcomers are capable of."
"Shit. That is exactly why it needs to be done. Better an enemy we know than an ally we don't know. Get your act together and answer him."
Anya swallowed nervously, and pressed her earpiece; "C-copy that Delta. Be careful."
03:21 – 14 A.E.
Vectes – Pelruan Reactor
"Did she call back?"
"Yep, she did."
By now, Delta had already circled most of the area in their bid to get closer to the ship above, to the ropes that lead up to it. So far, the foreigners showed no sign of noticing the team as they cautiously went from shadow to shadow.
"Hey." Cole whispered, "Don't you think that huge-ass ship should have noticed us by now?"
Baird spared a single glance at and across its frame. "No sign of guns. I'm guessing this ain't a warship. Maybe it doesn't have the systems to find and track us."
"Works for me." Marcus breathed. Staying low like the others as they finally breached the treeline, just a rock throw away from the closest rope they had little choice but to use. Their resident former-thrashball player eyed it with the sort of nervousness he shows with every kind of airborne transport.
Dom indicated it, "So... who'll be the first to try that thing?"
That all of them reeked of reluctance was bloody obvious. "Hrm. I'll go." Marcus decided, and scrubbed his thick-soled boots against the grass to clear the mud underneath after a good look at the rope close-up. It was meticulously clean, and he imagined the interior of the ship was the same. "If this works, let's not leave any overly obvious footprints."
"Right."
Once his boots was comfortably clean, he approached the rope and faced it so those strange signs flanked him before he finally planted a boot against it. A strange sensation crept over him, but he ignored it and took another step, then another. Marcus quickly decided that It felt no different than walking across a chasm on a bridge, and what a bizarre chasm this is from his current perspective. He tossed a glance at his comrades below, all whose eyes were comically round with astonishment.
"Aw shit." Baird said, scratching his noggin like a migraine assaulted him. "What next?"
Marcus shrugged, "We go up."
"Oh, alright. Up. You first."
Before long, they all steadily walked along the length of the rope. Cole furthest in the rear. The only reason Baird went on third was enough curiosity to slaughter a menagerie of cats.
"This is freaky as all hell!" Cole very nearly shouted. "What if this thing shorted out?"
"Don't jinx us."
"Worry about what may be ahead." Dom said. "Need to find someplace to hide for the time being."
Marcus shortly reached the top, and peered into a well lit mixture of a miniature hangar and a cargo-hold. There was little inside aside from a few stacks of materials. No sign of on-board security. Maybe the possibility of infiltration never occurred to these people, or all of the security details are focused on vital areas.
"Clear?"
"Clear. But this place is no good. Let's see if we can find a cabin."
Delta climbed aboard the ship and continued on cautiously. In regard to noise from the ship itself, all they could hear was a gentle hum from its engine. If it's engine noise at all. Otherwise it was quiet.. untill-
"Get behind cover!" Dom hissed abruptly when he heard someone approaching.
All as one, they bolted to the side and threw themselves onto their haunches just behind the largest stack in sight. Warily listening as commotion entered the area in the form of two young people – a giggling girl who was being chased by one who they assumed to be her boyfriend. It reached a peak, causing the noise to turn into a clamor when he finally caught her. Nothing hostile, just a young couple frolicking about.
It ended quickly though as a burst of weird static invaded the space, followed by the voice of a young woman who regarded the couple with great familiarity; "Now, if you're done playing around – come down and give us a hand."
The girl half of the couple fidgeted intensely at the interruption, "Aw. You got the worst timing. We'll be right there."
Dom waited till the couple had left before he looked up to see if they are gone. "Coast's clear."
Not the stealthiest group in the world, a series of groans exploded as they pushed themselves out of hiding and moved on, Dom once again taking point while Marcus himself acted as rearguard. For now, their mission would continue without a hitch. All that remained for now was to find a place where they could stay concealed for the duration of this trip.
04:23; 18th June; 1648; Testament Era
Vectes – Pelruan Reactor
Naomasa gave a nod of satisfaction as she finished the adjustments on her end, and slid the data-block back into its slot. There were more problems present than she thought there would be. Primary systems functioned without any issue, but minor systems and its alarm system suffered from enough bugs to break an elephant's back.
"Perhaps we were too hasty." she concluded, and wrote down notes for future reference, so they might avoid building faulty reactors in the future. Exhaling a sigh past the Allen key she often held lazily in her mouth, the young engineer eased herself back into the main shaft – in which the core could be plainly seen in the shape of a shrine. "All done over here. How about the rest of you?"
Fifteen feet above, one of her colleagues poked her head out of one of several maintenance shafts, "Just finished!"
"Same here!" another called out further above.
Naomasa hummed appreciatively, "Good work. Now see if the others need help."
"Jud!"
She turned her attention to the core, which continued to pulse steadily. It was a pale shadow compared to the one in the Mikawa reactor – which looked like a grandiose temple. Immediately - as if reacting to her - it posted data for her to review. Consistent with previous readings, the ether density in the air here is slightly lower than it is at England. The further they moved themselves from it, the lower the ether density.
It was a bothersome situation. Naomasa hoped for the irregularities to disappear eventually. Till then, it will keep the Engineering club's hands full. For now, she simply recorded all the readings for later review.
"Naomasa!"
She blinked and checked the time. Another fifteen minutes had gone by while she stood there submerged in her thoughts. She half-turned and smiled at the one who addressed her with a bright smile; Mishina Hiro, a transfer student from Izumo – the place where the Musashi was originally built. "Feeling tired?"
"Jud, but I will deal." Hiro grinned. "I thought we'd find trouble here, judging from what I've heard."
"Don't think they even know we're here. Even then, they'd be too spooked after what Adele and Nate put them through – so don't you worry."
"I'm not afraid. We got you here after all."
Naomasa could not help but smile warmly. It was known to the whole crew that – for the sake of security – she had made sure they brought her Jizurisuzaku along. The God of War she built from scavenged parts lay concealed on the top deck of the "Bontenmaru". She wouldn't let any of Massy's men put their hands on her crew, not on her watch.
Her expression turned half-serious momentarily as the chatter above became increasingly casual, and triggered a crew-wide divine transmission; "All done with your assigned duties?"
A chorus of affirmatives answered her.
"Then hurry up and clear out." she ordered and prepared to reboot the reactor as her fellow engineers climbed down from each their assigned station and left. Once only she and Hiro remained, she went ahead with the reboot. Around them, the reactor darkened as all but the most essential systems stopped, then lit up again. Naomasa nodded appreciatively as status report flowed in, showing no abnormality within the system.
"All good to go?" Hiro asked.
"Jud." Naomasa confirmed and exited with the younger student so they could seal the reactor. Immediately after, she addressed her co-workers; "Good job everyone. We leave for home in ten."
More than just a few cheered in anticipation and relief at the thought of returning back home - all ignorant of the stowaways their ship now carried. Soon to be the first of those upon this world to see the city-state from which these foreigners came.
Author notes: Another chapter done. Delta is in for a sneaky visit to the Musashi. But whether they will keep going without a problem, or if they will end up in a... ahem... student contention, is still up in the air.
Being self-critical can be good. But it can also be a real pain in the arse. Sometimes it just need a a knee delivered to its crotch, or endless self-criticism results in a complete freeze.